Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1891-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1392
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK MILLER, Manufacturer, of Lancaster, in the County
of Lancaster, State of Pennsylvania, U.S. of N. America, do hereby declare, the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—.
In the accompanying drawings,
i
Figure represents a vertical longitudinal section through the devices embodying
my invention;
Figure 2 represents a horizontal section through one of the generators taken just
above the circular perforated pipe which discharges therein the ammonia vapor
from the refrigerating coil.
A. designates a refrigerating room or chest which may be of any convenient size.
B B' designates two generators which may be supported on a platform a attached
to said room or chest, or independently if preferred. These generators_contain
liquid or other absorbent of ammonia gas or other volatile refrigerant. Each of
them is alternately heated and cooled at will by a double spiral coil W arranged
within it, the ends of the said coil extending out through the upper end of the said
generator and being provided with branch tubes 6162, making connection respectively
with a source of steam supply and a source of cold water supply, each steam tube b¹
being governed by a valve and each cold water tube 62 being governed by a
valve. The extension of the coil beyond the generator is in each instance
provided also with a valve governing the inflow from either branch tube.
this valve is not strictly necessary. Each generator is provided with a pressure
gage C of any ordinary construction; and also at one side with a vertical glass
tube D having tubular connections d with the interior of the said generator, the
height of liquid in the latter being shown by the said tube.
But
From the generator B a straight tube E provided with a valve e for cutting off
communication at will extends to a coil E' within a cooling receptacle or cooler F.
The construction of this cooler is similar to that of the condenser hereinafter
described; but it is smaller than the latter and not designed to lower the
temperature as greatly. It consists of a case or shell enclosing the said coil and
having a cold water inlet and cold water outlet f¹ at its top and bottom respectively,
although the flow of water through it may be reversed if preferred. A tube E²,
similar in use and function to E extends from generator B₁ to said tube E joining
the latter between the valve e and the cooler F. This tube E2 is provided with a
valve e¹ similar to e for opening and closing it at will. By this combination of
pipes and valves either one of the generators may be put in communication with
the coil E¹ the other being cut out; or both generators may be allowed to supply
the said coil simultaneously. But in practice one generator will generally be used
for giving off the ammonia gas to the said coil in the cooler while the other
generator is absorbing gas preparatory to such service in its turn.
From the said coil a bent tube G extends down to and within a drying or
separating tank or receptacle H, which has a water outlet tube extending down
from its lower end and communicating by branch tubes 2 with the said generators
near the lower ends of the latter. These branch tubes have valves h³ in them
controlling at will the flow of water from said separating tank H to the said
generators, so that it may be permitted to enter either one of them only, or both,
or neither. This tank or receptacle H is also provided on one side with a glass
tube H' communicating through suitable connections h h with the interior of said
receptacle so as to indicate the height of water therein. From the top of the said
separating tank or receptacle H a pipe I for ammonia gas or other volatile

page_text: refrigerant passes to the upper end of a coil J in a condenser K, the said pipe being
provided with a valve i for controlling it. The said condenser consists of a casing
having a water inlet k and water outlet k at or near its ends, in order that a current
of cold water may be supplied to the space surrounding the said coil.
room.
From the lower end of the latter a pipe L extends down within the refrigerating
room or chest A where it divides into two branch pipes L' L³ controlled by hand
operated valves and communicating with two liquid storage tanks or
receptacles M M' supported in any convenient manner within the said chest or
These tanks are provided with transparent externally arranged liquid gage
tubes similar to those already described. From the lower ends of these storage
receptacles, tubes m, m', controlled by valves m³, m³, extend downward joining in a
tube N controlled at will by a valve n and leading to the refrigerating coil O also
within the said chest or cooling room. From the outlet end of the said coil a pipe P
extends out of said chest or room under the said generators B, B', and has branch
pipes p, p, provided with hand operated valves p², p³ and extending up into the
said generators respectively. Each of these tubes communicates with a circular
perforated discharge tube Q or Q'arranged on or immediately above the floor of
the generator B or B', the series of perforations being in the upper side of the
discharge tube and the construction of the said discharge tubes being substantially
similar in all respects. The pipe P is provided with an automatic check valve P¹
to prevent the return of the gas to the refrigerating coil.
The operation is as follows: Hot water or steam being caused to flow
through the coil W of generator B and cold water through the similar
coil of generator B' and the former being in communication with the
cooler while the latter generator is cut off therefrom, the gas from
generator B passes first into said cooling chamber where it is cooled sufficiently
to bring the steam mixed therewith to the point of condensation, so that it
passes as liquid down the pipe G and into the separating receptacle H whence it
flows through outlet tube h and one or both of its branch tubes h² h³ to one or both
of the generators, being preferably directed to the generator B' in the case supposed.
The pure anhydrous ammonia simultaneously ascends from the discharge and said
tube G through the said separating tank or receptacle H to the pipe I and through
the said pipe to the coil J in condenser K where it is liquefied and passes into one
or both of the liquid storage tanks M M'. Thence it passes to the refrigerating
coil and by pipes P p' and discharge tube Q into generator B', the valve
governing admission to generator B being closed and the valve p' similarly
governing admission into generator B being open. The check valve P¹ prevents
any return of the gas which remains in generator B' being absorbed by the water
or other absorbent which the said generator contains. This continues until
generator B is exhausted and generator B' sufficiently charged. The coil W of
former is then supplied with cold water and that of the latter with steam, the
generator B is put into, and the generator B cut of, communication with the
cooler F and the other valves of the mechanism are operated, so far as change in
them is necessary, to allow the flow of the refrigerant to begin with generator Bi
and end in generator B, the action of liberating and absorbing the gas being simply
reversed.
By using two liquid tanks M M' connected by branch pipes and valves with an
inlet pipe and an outlet pipe which they have in common, I am enabled to supply
the liquefied refrigerant to one of them while drawing it from the other so as to
guard absolutely against the supply being at any time unexpectedly exhausted.
Of course one tank M or M¹ may be cut out of the circuit altogether by shutting
the valves in its branch inlet tube and branch outlet tube or both of the tanks may
be used together.
By supplying the gas to each of the generators through a considerable number
of fine holes in a circular pipe on the floor of it the process of absorption is hastened,
for the gas in fine jets comes simultaneously into a great many different parts of
the mass of absorbent all around the periphery of its base.

page_text: It is often desirable to use the same generators, cooler, separating tank, condenser
and liquid storing tanks for more than one room or cooling receptacle. To
illustrate this I have shown an additional room or chest A', located, for convenience
in illustration, above the room or chest A aforesaid, although this location is not
essential. In this room or chest A¹ is coil O¹ similar to coil O and receiving the
refrigerant from tanks M aforesaid or either one of them through one or both
branch pipes m m³, corresponding to pipes m m', and pipe N¹ corresponding to
pipe N. Pipes m² m² are provided with valves m m corresponding to valves m² m².
From the coil O' a pipe P2, controlled by valve p* extends to pipe P making
connection therewith. Thus room A' with its refrigerating system of pipes, valves
and coil is only a duplication of room or chest A and its corresponding devices.
Other rooms may be likewise brought into the refrigerating system and all cooled
together or any one of them cooled alone according to convenience and the
refrigerating power of the generators, storage tanks and other means employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my. said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a pair of generators with a
cooler for the liberated gas, pipes and valves making communication at will
between either one of the said generators and the said cooler, a separating receptacle
receiving the gas and condensed steam from said cooler and the necessary pipes
and coils of a refrigerating circuit substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In combination with a pair of generators, a cooler having tubular
communication with each of them, valves for cutting off either generator from said
cooler at will, a separating receptacle, a tube conveying the gas and the water of
condensation from the said cooler into the said separating receptacle, outlets for
water leading from the lower part of the said separating receptacle to the said
generators and an outlet pipe for gas from the. said separating receptacle
communicating with the pipes of a refrigerating circuit substantially as set forth.
3rd. In combination with the pipes and gas supplying and liquefying devices of a
refrigerating circuit, a pair of storage tanks or receptacles for the liquid provided
with common inlet and outlet pipes and branch pipes and valves leading from and
to the same whereby one of the said tanks may be supplied with the refrigerating
liquid while the other is drawn from or one may be used without the other or both
may be used together substantially as set forth.
AP
1
1001
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant."