A New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Making Ice.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1-97-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Making Ice.
I, JAMES HUMES, Gentleman, of No. 18 Broadway, City of New York, County and
State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the artificial production of ice and the principal objects are
to obtain good and practically clear ice from undistilled water and to quicken the
freezing process whereby a great saving in the cost of production is effected. The
invention consists in the mode of procedure by which the ice is made and in
the various peculiar and novel arrangements and combinations of the several parts
of the apparatus, all as hereinafter to be described.
Where
In my invention I employ an open-top metallic can or vessel which preferably is
quite narrow compared with its length and contracts or tapers slightly from the top
towards the bottom. Upon each of the two long sides of this vessel is arranged a
compartment for containing the brine or other suitable freezing medium. These
freezing mixture compartments which may be located upon one or more sides of the
vessel or can are each of less area than the side upon which it is located.
the compartment is formed like a pocket the same may be left open at the top and the
freezing mixture introduced therein through a movable nozzle which may be turned
or swung slightly on its joint, such nozzle being connected with a pipe leading from
the main supply. The purpose of having the nozzle movable is to permit of its being
raised clear of the can or vessel in removing the latter after the freezing process has
been completed and when it is desired to extract the block of ice thus formed. Each
of the pockets is provided with an outlet pipe emptying into a draining trough or
conduit. This outlet pipe extends through the bottom of the pocket and up to the
point therein to which it is desired to keep the level of the brine. A small opening
is formed in the pipe at the bottom of the pocket and the brino is continually discharged
through it and is thus caused to circulate through the pocket. In case the brine rises
above its normal level it will overflow into the top of the drain-pipe which is of such
capacity as to readily lead off the surplus and prevent the brine from overflowing the
pocket. If preferred, instead of having the pocket or chainber open at the top, it may
be closed liquid-tight and connected with suitable piping so as to form virtually a part
of the brine-pipe.
In one form I use a set of the freezing vessels constructed after the manner just
described, each of the same being supplied with the refrigerated brine by a
supply-pipe which leads from the refrigerating coils. These individual vessels are
arranged side by side and the freezing compartment of each is supplied with brine
through the movable nozzles which are connected with a branch-pipe each of which
has a valve which may be turned by hand to let on the brine or cut it off as the
case may be. Each row of the vessels is provided with a drain-trough into which
the drain-pipe of the brine compartments discharge themselves. These troughs
return the brine which has been used, to the refrigerating coils where its temperature
is again lowered before it is brought back to effect the freezing again. This
arrangement is found to be very compact and all parts of the apparatus are readily
accessible for the purpose of inspection or repairs but the most important advantage
arising from it is that each freezing vessel or can is individually removable without
necessitating the disturbance of any of the others or in any way interfering with the

page_text: freezing process taking place in each. Thus each can may be readily removed by
shutting off its supply of brine and turning up the nozzles out of the way, when
its block of ice has been formed therein and is desired to remove it.
Having reference now to the vessel just described, my process is as follows: The
vessel being placed in a room or compartment of temperature somewhat above
freezing, is filled with water nearly to its top. The freezing mixture or brine is then
circulated through the compartments or pockets at the sides of the vessel. The water
first begins to freeze on the inner walls of the vessel over the area thereof to which
the freezing temperature is thus directly applied. The ice continues to form in this
way and it gradually extends a slight ways out beyond the boundaries of the area or
zone to which the freezing temperature is directly applied and it continues to thicken
until the layers or bodies of ice meet and form themselves into a solid block. As
the freezing temperature is not applied to the body of water at any points other than
those in the vicinity of the compartments or pockets containing the brine, all the
remaining parts are maintained at a point above the freezing temperature to prevent
the water from freezing at such places and this results in preserving a body of water
in the bottom of the vessel, as well as a column of water at each end, so that all
sediment will descend into this lower stratum of water and escape being frozen in the
ice and the air naturally contained in the water finds an easy exit into the end
columns of water through which it may rise to the surface as the freezing progresses.
It will thus be seen that ice may be formed rapidly owing to the fact that where the
compartments are employed upon two opposite sides freezing takes place simultaneously
upon opposite walls of the vessel and continues to freeze until it comes together in a
solid block, although the freezing may be stopped short of this point. In the latter
case two blocks of ice may be formed instead of one and where only one compartment
is employed the freezing, of course, will take place only from one side. The
protection or insulation of parts of the vessel against the application of the freezing
temperature may be brought about either by keeping in contact with said parts air
that is above freezing temperature or by the use of suitable protecting jacket or
covering for the metal can, parts of which are exposed by cutting away the jacket
or covering for the application at such place or places of the freezing medium.
Various modifications may be made in the details of my invention and I do not,
therefore, limit myself to the specific constructions herein mentioned. I desire it to
be understood that the forms of my invention herein mentioned are to be looked upon
as contemplated forms constituting types or examples of my invention.
Dated this 1st day of July 1896.
A New or improved
ethod
and Apparatus for Making
I, JAMES HUMES, of 18, Broadway, New York, United States of America,
Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to the artificial production of ice, and the principal
objects are to obtain good and practically clear ice from undistilled water and
to quicken the freezing process, whereby a great saving in the cost of production is
effected.

page_text: The invention consists in the various peculiar and novel arrangements and
combinations of the several parts of the apparatus, all as hereinafter fully described,
and then pointed out in claims.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I have illustrated a type of
my apparatus in the accompanying drawings, wherein-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of my improved freezing vessels or cans
arranged in connection with the pipes for the freezing mixture or brine and a drain
trough or conduit for returning the freezing mixture to the refrigerating-coils after
it has been used.
Figures 2, 3, and 4 show, respectively, a vertical cross-section, a horizontal section,
and a longitudinal vertical section of the freezing vessel and its contents after the
freezing process has been completed, the side compartments for the freezing mixture
being omitted.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a set or system of freezing vessels like that contained
in Figure 1.
Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference indicate like parts
throughout, 2 designates a four-sides open-top metallic can or vessel which is quite
narrow compared with its length and contracts or tapers slightly from the top toward
the bottom, as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 2. Upon each of the two long
sides of this vessel is arranged a pocket or chamber 3 for containing the brine or
other suitable freezing medium. These freezing-mixture pockets, which are located
directly opposite each other, are illustrated as open at the top and the freezing mixture,
such as the ordinary brine, is introduced into the same through a nozzle 4, which may
be turned or swung slightly on its joint 5 where it is connected with the pipe 6 leading
from the main supply-pipe 7. The purpose of having the nozzle movable is to raise
it clear of the can or vessel when it is desired to remove the latter after the
freezing process has been completed and when it is desired to extract the block of
ice thus formed.
The outlet-pipe 8 of the pocket or chamber 3 empties into a drain trough or
conduit 9. This outlet-pipe extends through the bottom of the pocket and up to the
point therein to which it is desired to keep the level of the brine. A small opening 10
is formed in the pipe at the bottom of the pocket and the brine is continually
discharged through it and is thus caused to circulate through the pocket. In case the
brine rises above its normal level, it will overflow into the top of the drain-pipe,
which is of such capacity as to readily lead off the surplus and prevent the brine
from overflowing the pocket.
In Figure I show a set of the freezing vessels constructed after the manner just
described, each of the same being supplied with refrigerated brine by a supply-pipe 7,
which leads from the refrigerating-coils. (Not shown.) These individual vessels are
arranged side by side and the freezing-compartment of each is supplied with brine
through the movable nozzles 4, which are connected with branch pipe 6, each of
which has a valve which may be turned by band to let on the brine or cut it off, as
the case may be. Each row of the vessels is provided with a drain-trough 9,
into which the drain-pipes 8 of the brine-compartments 3 discharge themselves.
These troughs return the brine which has been used to the refrigerating-coils, where
its temperature is again lowered before it is brought back to effect the freezing again.
This arrangement found to be very compact and all parts of the apparatus are
readily accessible for the purpose of inspection or repairs, but the most important
advantage arising from it is that each freezing vessel or can is individually removable
without necessitating the disturbance of any of the others or in any way interfering
with the freezing process taking place in each. Thus each can may be readily
removed by shutting off its supply of brine and turning up the nozzles +
out of the way when its block of ice has been formed therein and it is desired to
remove it.
Having reference now to the vessel just described, it is used as follows: The vessel,
being placed in a room or compartment of temperature somewhat above freezing, is
filled with water nearly to its top. The freezing mixture or brine is then circulated

page_text: through the compartments or pockets at the sides of the vessel. The water first begins
to freeze on the inner walls 11 and 12 of the vessel over the area thereof to which the
freezing temperature is thus directly applied. The ice continues to form in this way
and it gradually extends a slight way out beyond the boundaries of the area or zone to
which the freezing temperature is directly applied, and it continues to thicken until
the layers or bodies of ice meet and form themselves into a solid block, as indicated
at 13, in Figures 2, 3, and 4. As the freezing temperature is not applied to the body
of water at any points other than those in the vicinity of the compartments or pockets
containing the brine, all the remaining parts are maintained at a point above the
freezing temperature to prevent the water from freezing at such places, and this
results in preserving a body of water 14 in the bottom of the vessel, as well as a
column of water at each end, (shown at 15 and 16,) so that all sediment will descend
into this lower stratum of water and escape being frozen in the ice, and the air
naturally contained in the water finds an easy exit into the end columns of water,
through which it may rise to the surface as the freezing progresses. It will thus be
seen that the ice may be formed rapidly owing to the fact that the freezing takes
place simultaneously upon each of the inner walls of the vessel and continues to
freeze until it comes together in a solid block, although the freezing may be stopped
short of this point. This protection or insulation against the application of the
freezing temperature to the particular parts referred to may be brought about
by keeping in contact with said parts air that is always somewhat above freezing
temperature, as shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the said is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is-
1. A freezing vessel or can having on one or more of its sides a freezing-mixture
compartment extending over less than the whole of the area of said side or sides, and
having the remaining portions of said side or sides and the bottom insulated or
protected against freezing temperature.
2. In ice-making apparatus, the combination of a set of separate portable freezing
vessels 2, 2, each consisting of a portable can provided upon one side or two opposite
sides with a pocket or chamber 3 extending over less than the whole of the area of
said side or sides, an eduction-pipe for said pocket or pockets, a main supply-pipe 7
for introducing the freezing mixture to said pockets and movable pipe connections 44
detachably connecting the main pipe with the freezing-pockets whereby each can may
be individually removed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A freezing vessel or can, having on one or more of its sides a freezing-
compartment extending over less than the whole of the area of said side or sides,
and having other portions of the surface of the can insulated or protected against
freezing temperature.
Dated this 21st day of April 1897.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.