AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING REFRIGERATION IN ICE-MAKING AND REFRIGERATING MACHINES; ALSO AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FREEZING WATER ON THE PLATES OF ICE-MAKING MACHINES, AND FOR DETACHING IT THEREFROM, INCLUDING ALSO AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING AIR; AND A PIPE COUPLING FOR CONNECTING PIPES IN ICE-MAKING AND RETING MACHINES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Cassius Clay Palmer, of the City of Oakland, County of
Alameda, State of California, one of the United States, Engineer, for an Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING REFRIGERATION IN ICE-MAKING
AND REFRIGERATING MACHINES; ALSO AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS
FOR FREEZING WATER ON THE PLATES OF ICE-MAKING MACHINES, AND FOR
DETACHING IT THEREFROM, INCLUDING ALSO AN IMPROVED METHOD AND
APPARATUS FOR COOLING AIR; AND A PIPE COUPLING FOR CONNECTING
PIPES IN ICE-MAKING AND REFRIGERATING MACHINES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Cassius Clay Palmer at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th April 1880.
CASSIUS CLAY PALMER, of the City of Oakland, County, of Alameda, State of
California, one of the United States, Engineer. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
PRODUCING REFRIGERATION IN ICE-MAKING AND REFRIGERATING MACHINES; ALSO
AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FREEZING WATER ON THE PLATES
OF ICE-MAKING MACHINES, AND FOR DETACHING IT THEREFROM, INCLUDING ALSO
AN IMPROVED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING AIR, AND A PIPE COUPLING
FOR CONNECTING PIPES IN ICE-MAKING AND REFRIGERATING MACHINES."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in machines for generating cold
for ice-making and refrigerating purposes; it also relates to a novel way of utilizing
volatile liquid in such machines in order to increase its vaporizing capacity, and
consequently intensify its refrigerant effect.
The volatile liquid which I shall ordinarily use is chloride of ethyl, but any of the
volatile liquids used in this class of machines can be used in accordance with my
process with equal advantage.
My manner of using the liquid is to introduce it into the freezing cells in the
form of a spray or shower so that it shall the more readily be converted into a
vapour, and be distributed more evenly and uniformly throughout the cells, thus
producing a more uniform action and intensifying the refrigerant effect by the more
active vaporization of the liquid in the cells.
In the operation of ice-machines I introduce the liquid in the manner stated into
cells or chambers against the exterior sides of which the water is frozen, but in
refrigerating machines I introduce it in the manner described into a chamber or
Price Gd1

page_text: vessel through which the air pipes pass, so as to surround the pipes with a refri-
gerating temperature, and then I force the air through the pipes by mechanical
moans.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is an isometrical view of an ice-making
machino or apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section through the freezing chamber and one of
the cells or plates.
Figuro 3 is an isometrical view of a refrigorating machine or apparatus.
Figure 4 is an end view of the refrigerating chamber.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through the chamber.
Figuro 6 is a detail view of the improved pipe coupling or connection heroinafter
described.
Figuro 7 is a longitudinal section through the outer part of the coupling when
the parts aro scrowed together.
Figure 8 is a vertical longitudinal section through a freezing cell, showing the
system of pipes connecting it with the apparatus.
Figure 9 is a detail view of the water distributing buckets and their endless
apron.
A is the pump by means of which the circulation of the volatile liquid and its
vapor is maintained. The suction-side of this pump is connected to the freezing
cell or chamber B (Figure 1) by a pipo C, and a pipo D also leads from the pump
to the condensing tank E, whence another pipe F leads to the freezing cells; so that
the vapor is drawn from the cells by the action of the pump, and passes into the
condenser where it is converted into a liquid and returned to the cells to expand
again into a vapor in the ordinary way of operating ice-making and refrigerating
machines.
The cells B are simply vapor tight metallic chambers placed inside of a box, case,
or tank G, and against their exterior sides the water is frozen. The volatile liquid
is introduced into the lower part of the cell through one or more pipes & which are
perforated so that the liquid will be injected into the cells through the perforations:
in the form of a spray or shower and fall to the bottom of the cell. The suction
pipe C through which the vapors are withdrawn from the cell extends across the
top of the cell and may be open or perforated. By this means the vaporization
of the liquid is facilitated as it is delivered into the cells or chambers and between
the metallic side-plates on which the ice is formed in a finely divided condition, so
that it immediately expands into a vapor producing an uniform and intense degree
of cold.
By the ordinary method of operating theso machines the tank G (Figures 1 and 2)
is filled with water to the top of the colls, and the entire quantity of water has to
be kept at a low temperature in order to form ice upon the plates or sides of the
cells. By another method the water is sprayed upon the plates and the surface of the
ico forming thereon. By this latter mothod tho freezing process is somewhat accelc-
rated, but the temperature of the water unless it be used over and over again
(which is not the caso) is not sufficiently reduced to give the best results; and the
spraying operation besides acrates the water so that the ice is snowy or opaque
when formed.
By my Invention I employ only a small quantity of water in the bottom of the
tank, and use it over and over again. To do this I arrange a vertically moving
endless belt H on each side of the cell, and upon each endless belt I secure a number
of buckets I, I, at intervals apart. To the front side of each bucket I attach a
flexible brush or apron e, which presses lightly against the plate as the buckets
move upward. The lower part of the endless belt or carrier extends down and
dips into the water in the bottom of the tank, so that as the buckets pass around
the lower roller they will fill themselves with water. A number of holes or
perforations are made in the front of each bucket above the flexible apron, so that
the water will ooze out and run down the flexible brush or apron and thus pass in
a thin film from the apron on to the plate and be distributed upon and along the

page_text: surface against which the apron is in contact. The endless belt H is as wide as
the plate or cell and passes around the roller h at the top and another at the bottom,
and it is driven by power applied to pullics outside of the tank while the buckets
extend entirely across the belt and the apertures or perforations therein for the
escape of water extend for the length of the bucket so that the water is distributed
equally and uniformly upon and over the freezing surface.
The journals of the rollers may bear in the ends of the tank, or special bearing
plates J may be provided. The holes ; which these journals bear are elongated or
made at an angle to the freezing surface, so that as the ice increases in thickness
during the process of formation on the plates the pressure of the buckets against
the surface of the ice will force the rollers and the belt back, and to prevent the
upper edges of the buckets from scraping against the surface of ice I bend them
over so that their fronts form a curve, as shown in Figure 2, and thus present a
curved and rounded front to the surface in contact with thom. At the beginning
of the freezing operation, when the plates or surfaces are bare, the belt and tho
buckets will bave the position as shown in Fig. 2, but as the ice is formed and
increases in thickness the belts and buckets will be moved regularly backwards.
The best brush or apron that I have been able to find is a thin piece or plate
of india-rubber attached to the front side of each bucket so as to project outwards
and downwards at an angle and wipe against the freezing surface. I do not
however confine myself to any particular kind of brush or apron.
This method of raising the water from the well or bottom of the tank and
applying it in a thin film to the freezing surface greatly facilitates and accelerates
the freezing process. The water never leaves the tank, but is kept moving in a
continual film over the freezing surface and in an uniform manner, so that the ice
will form much more rapidly than if the water is sprayed or is frozen in bulk
and the resulting ice is perfectly clear and crystal.
When a batch of ice is formed I shut off the gas from the condenser and cause it
to pass through a heater K and thence back into the cells between the plates so as
to heat the sides thereof sufficiently to loosen the ice and détach it therefrom.
This is accomplished by the same pump A that circulates the gas through the
condenser. The top of the heater K is connected by a pipe L with the top of the
condenser, and its bottom is connected by a pipe M with the cell B during the
freezing operation; cocks m on the pipes L, M, are kept closed so that the gas is
forced through the condenser and liquified before returning it into the pump, but
in detaching the ice from the plates the cock on the pipe F that leads the liquid
from the tank E to the cells is closed, and the cock m on the pipe M is opened.
The gas instead of passing through the condenser will pass then from the top of the
condenser down through the heater and thence into the cells as a hot gas or vapour,
thus utilizing the same vapors for detaching the ice that I use for producing tho
ice, and accomplishing the circulation of the beated vapor without stopping tho
pump.
In constructing a refrigerating machine I substituto in place of the cells a
refrigerating chamber, shown at Figure 3 of the Drawings. This chamber consists
of a cylindrical or other shaped vessel N, having tubes passing through it from end
to end. These tubes extend from one tube-shect or head P at one end to the other
head P at the opposite end of the cylinder, like the tubes of a steam boiler, and
the ends of the tubes are fitted tightly in the heads, so that the space within the
cylinder or vessel between the two heads is perfectly vapor-tight. The shell of
such vessel at each end beyond the heads or tube sheets is extended and fitted with
an outer cap or head so as to form a chamber R at each end, and these two chambers
are connected by the tubes o, 0. The space within the vessel around the tubos is
to receive the volatile liquid and the vapor produced therefrom, and the chambers R
are to hold and apply the air to the refrigerating surfaces. One chamber is con-
nected with a fan-blower S by means of a pipe T, while the other chamber has an
outlet pipe T. By this or similar means for causing a body of air to move from
one chamber through the refrigerating tubes o, o, to the opposito chamber R a

page_text: circulation of the air to be reduced in temperature is maintained, and if the volatile
liquid be introduced into the vessel within the compartiment, and the pump A¹ set
in motion, an intense degree of cold will be generated around the tubes, and the air
circulating through them from one chamber to the other will by coming in contact
with the cold surfaces be reduced in temperature. During this refrigeration the air
will also be dehydrated by the congealing of the moisture and its deposition upon
the surface within the air tubes.
It will be noticed that the air is introduced into one chamber R, and discharged
from the chamber at the opposite end of the vessel through pipes of small area
compared with the arca of the chambers and their connecting tubes, so that the
tubes and chambers will at all times contain a body of air that will be kept in
contact with the cold surfaces a considerable length of time while passing from the
inlet to the outlet of the vessel. By means of a pump, a condenser, and the
necessary system of pipes for conducting the liquid to the chamber N, and leading
the hot gas to the condenser, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the Drawing, a regular
circulation of liquid and vapour is maintained through the apparatus.
Another improvement which I have made relating to this class of machines is a
coupling for connecting the various pipes used in ice-making and refrigerating
machines. One of the principal difficulties in connection with the construction of
these machines has been to join the pipes together so as to make all the joints
perfectly gas and vapour tight, owing to the continual contraction and expansion to
which the pipes are subjected. My improved coupling is represented at Figures 6
and 7 of the Drawing. It consists of a cylindrical enlargement a formed on the
end of one pipe or tube, and a cup shaped enlargement 6 formed on the end of the
adjoining pipe. The enlargement a is small enough to enter and sent itself against
the bottom of the cup-shaped enlargement b, and thus bring the bores of the two
pipes in line. A suitable packing c is placed in the cup-shaped head around the
pipe U, and is pressed upon the enlargement a, and a ring or follower d is then
slipped down around the pipe and upon the packing c, and by means of a nut or
gland V this ring is pressed against the packing, and thus forms a perfectly simple
and gas and vapor tight joint.
Having described my improvements in ice-making and refrigerating machines,
what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
First. The process or method of producing refrigeration by introducing a volatile
liquid into the cells or chambers of ice-making and refrigerating machines in the
form of a shower or spray.
Second. The process of pouring a thin film or sheet of water against the freezing
surfaces in ico-machines, for the purpose described.
Third. The improvement in the inanufacture of artificial ice, consisting in main-
taining a small body or quantity of water in the bottom of the tank, and causing
the same to be continuously taken up and spread in a thin film over the freezing
surface without being removed from the tank, substantially as specified.
Fourth. In combination with the tank and freezing cell I claim the vertically-
moving endless belt H, with its perforated buckets I, each of which is provided
with a flexible brush or apron e, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. The vertically-moving endless belt H passing around rollers h, h, at each
end of which the journals bear in elongated slots or openings j, j, said belt being
provided with the water buckets I, I, and brushes or aprons e, e, for the purpose
described.
Sixth. The improved method of heating the freezing plates of ico machines in
order to detach the ice therefrom, consisting in cutting off the vapor from the con-
denser, and passing it through a heater, and leading it thence into the cells in a
continuous circulation, substantially as herein set forth.
Seventh. In combination with the freezing cells B, pump A, and condenser E of
an ice-machine, I claim the heater connected by pipe L with the top of the con-
denser E, and also connected with the freezing cell by the pipe M, the said pipe L
having a cock m, and the said pipe M having a cock m, so that the gas can be cut

page_text: off from the condenser without stopping the pump, and be turned back from the
condenser into the cell, substantially as above specified.
Eight. The process of cooling air by passing it through tubes arranged within a
refrigerating chamber or vessel, in which cold is produced by the vaporization of a
volatile liquid, substantially as above specified.
Ninth. The refrigerating cylinder or vessel N, having the tube sheets P, P¹, con-
nected by the tubes o, o, and provided with the chambers R, R¹, at its ends, one of
said chambers connected with a fan-blower or other air moving apparatus, and
the other chamber provided with an outlet pipe T' in combination with pipe T,
pump A, pipo F¹, condenser E¹, and pipe D', all combined and arranged to operate
substantially as described.
..
Tenth. A refrigerating vessel or chamber N having air tubes o, o, passing through
it, and provided with chambers R, R', at its ends in combination with air-forcing
apparatus at one end and a discharge pipe at the other end, substantially as
described.
Eleventh. In an air cooling machine in which the air is caused to pass through
tubes that pass through a refrigerant chamber Q, I claim discharging the air through
a pipe T which is of smaller area than the arca of the tubes and air chambers of
the vessel, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Twelfth. A pipe coupling consisting of a cylindrical enlargement a on the end of
one pipe or section, and a cup-shaped enlargement b on the adjoining end of the
next pipe or section, in combination with the packing c, ring or follower d, and nut
or gland V, combined and applied in the manner specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Cassius Clay Palmer, have hereunto_set my
hand and seal, dated at San Francisco, California, U.S.A., this Twenty-
sixth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and eighty.