Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, WILLIAM WALLINGTON HARRIS, of 43, Regent's Square, Gray's Inn Road, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the construction of refriger-
ating apparatus the cooling effect of which is produced in a simple and automatic
manner, one of the principal objects being to obviate altogether the necessity
for using skilled labour in producing the result and in the case of those apparatus
designed for household and domestic use to reduce the manual acts of working
to the simplest possible proceeding and such as can be easily performed by any
ordinary domestic servant who has not had any previous training for the task.
The apparatus is constructed in such a way that the cooling medium is hermeti-
cally sealed in a series of tubes, which are capable from their great strength of
resisting a very high pressure. This strength however is employed mainly for
the purpose of obtaining absolute soundness of the joints, and by this means
prevents any escape of the cooling medium with which the apparatus is primarily
charged. This soundness enables the cold producing power, to be used over and
over again without intermission, leakage or deterioration of any sort for many
years.
The apparatus is constructed to work by gravitation on the absorption principle.
It is charged with a liquid which contains a gas, which gas can be separated by
the action of heat, and be reabsorbed when the water or fluid from which it was
originally driven is cool enough to receive it.
Its parts are proportioned each to perform the peculiar function required of it,
either for separating, absorbing, condensing or collecting, and this is particularly
so as regards the surface condenser, where the water used for cooling is so pro-
portioned in quantity that it does not need to be circulated or changed at all, but
remains quiescent between the periods when it is heated and cooled. It rises a
few degrees when separation is being effected and drops back again to the normal
temperature in the intervening period between the workings. By this means the
water used for condensing and cooling only requires replenishing at long intervals,
and this is done by simply keeping the tanks filled to the water lines by any con-
venient vessel.
The operation of producing the cold is confined to the simple act of heating
and cooling the separator, and this is done by applying a measured amount of heat
the total quantity of which is just sufficient to raise the separator to the required
temperature. For small apparatuses this can be done by using a spirit or oil
lamp, which is charged with a definite quantity of spirit or oil which when burnt

page_text: gives off the exact amount of heat that will effect the separation of the gas, and
which is arranged to burn out when the proper amount of heat has been generated
and passed into the separator. The separator may then be left to cool down
naturally or if quicker cooling effect is desired, it can be obtained by submerging
the separator in water, by raising a balanced tank. This balanced tank is filled
with a given quantity of water of sufficient amount to reduce the temperature of
the separator down to the point where rapid combination takes place, the re-
maining heat in the separator will then pass away through the sides of the tank
into the atmosphere and the temperature of the water drop to the normal before
it is again required for cooling purposes. Thus the same cooling water can be
used over and over again, which does away with the necessity for connecting the
apparatus to either a water service or drain.
In larger apparatus where a much greater quantity of heat is required to do
the work, and where a lamp would not be suitable, the heating may be effected
by gas controlled by an automatic meter which measures out a given quantity of
gas and then shuts off the supply, or the same action may be obtained by employing
a lamp of known heating power for a given length of time, but this requires the
attention of some one to look after it which is avoided when the lamp is allowed
to burn out or the meter itself shuts off the supply.
The cooling medium preferred and with which the separator is charged is
ordinary commercial ammonia consisting of ammonia gas and water of a
specific gravity of .87 but any suitable combination of gas and fluid may be used
if its absorbing affinity is sufficiently good and its liquefied gas has a boiling
point low enough to make it effective.
The apparatus consists principally of seven members.
1. Separator for separating and absorbing the ammonia or other gas from the
fluid in which it is contained, together with moveable water tank for cooling the
same.
II. Condenser for cooling the gas on its way to the receiver.
III. Receiver where the liquefied gas is collected.
IV. Cold producing tubes which are charged with a permanent quantity of
anhydrous ammonia for the purpose of absorbing heat from the chamber.
V. Overflow for the purpose of returning to the separator any surplus ammonia
or watery vapour that may have been passed over accidently.
VI. Lamp of measured heating power.
VII. Insulated cold box or chamber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS.
The separator consists of an outer shell with internal tube. The outer shell
is made to stand a high pressure but the inner tube may be as light as possible.
This tube is made in two parts the upper portion a thin but sound and gas tight
tube, and the lower a perforated one. The solid and upper portion of the tube dips
a short distance into the water which is contained in the separator when all the
gas has been driven out of it. From this point to the bottom of the separator it
is prolonged by constructing it of wire gauze of varying thicknesses, the upper
part near the water level having several thicknesses tapering down to the bottom
where there is only one, this arrangement of gauze compels the gas when it is
returning from the receiver at its highest pressure, to drive the fluid down the
tube to the lowest possible point. It then banks up the liquor in the annular
space made by the inner and outer tubes and escapes through the meshes, and so
enters the water at innumerable points and combines quickly with it, producing
a rapid absorption of the gas and an equally rapid cooling effect. The internal
tube can also be constructed by carrying the thin tube the whole length of the
separator, perforating it below the water line with a series of small holes. These
perforations may be arranged in rings or spirally. These holes may also be made
jagged either all on one side of the tube, or some on one side and some on the
other to assist in separating the gas. On the outside of the separator extending

page_text: from the bottom to about half its height is placed a thin metal screen which forms
an annular space around it. This screen acts as an insulator to keep the heat in
close contact with the separator while it is being heated. It also induces a
circulation of water which assists the cooling when the separator is immersed in
the water tank.
To insure rapid action of cooling and quick return of the gas to the separator,
the refrigerating tubes in the cold chamber are filled with liquid anhydrous
ammonia in excess of what the water in the separator is capable of taking up,
this excess acts first as an absorbent of heat and afterwards as a means of keeping
up a full pressure of gas to the separator until the water has again absorbed all
that it is capable of taking up. This surcharge of ammonia falls to a very low
temperature and forms a reserve of cooling effect which continues its action even
while the separator is being heated.
Should from any cause the water in the separator be carried over in the process
of working, to other parts of the apparatus, either as vapour or liquid, an overflow
is provided for bringing it back again, and this return is accomplished by simply
working the apparatus for a few times in the ordinary way. The overflow is
constructed in the following manner a pipe is brought up from the lowest point
of the refrigerating tubes, and is carried into the highest part of the receiver,
and out of this pipe at the level of the ammonia charge in the receiver a return
pipe is carried back to the separator which is bent down on its way to form a
dip or trap to prevent any gas passing by this route into the refrigerating
tubes. It allows however any liquid ammonia or ammonia and water to pass
freely, and so re-establish the proper distribution of the elements should they have
been accidentally disturbed, and thereby enable the different parts of the apparatus
to perform their proper functions in a correct manner.
The
The receiver is of sufficient capacity to receive the anhydrous ammonia con-
tained in the separator, but having a small additional space over and above this
to give sufficient surface area to allow the liquid to freely evaporate.
refrigerating pipes pass into and out of this vessel which is insulated to prevent
any heat from it passing into the cold chamber when it is filling up with liquefied
gas which at the time of separation is at a temperature higher than the chamber
itself.
The condenser is constructed of coils made of tubes of flattened section or
indented on alternate sides so as to reduce the area of the bore without diminishing
the surface, the object being to somewhat retard the flow of the gas and compel
it to give up any heat it may contain before it reaches the receiver. The tank
in which these coils are placed is made with a division making it practically into
two distinct vessels. The one nearest the cooling chamber is insulated on its
inner side so that any cooling effect on the water produced by the returning gas
from the cold chamber may be stored up and taken advantage of to assist in the
liquefaction of the gas. As the coil nearest the separator will generally be hotter
than the surrounding air this part of the tank is not clothed at all.
amount of
To properly charge the apparatus the separator must have its
ammonia solution, and the refrigerating pipes must be full of anhydrous ammonia
up to the bottom of the receiver. The rest of the apparatus must be absolutely
free from air. To obtain these advantages the gear described in the Specification
of the Patent No. 7472 dated 28th March 1898 is employed.
The lamp for heating is constructed of suitable form having a strong metal
receptacle for spirit. The top or flame plate which is made of thick sheet metal
is perforated with a series of holes arranged to spread the flame uniformly over
the bottom of separator, the area of the burner is proportioned to allow the spirit
to be consumed in a definite time. It is desired that the heat should be moderate
and steady for a given time rather than too concentrated for a shorter period.
Under the flame plate is stretched a thickness of wire gauze of suitable mesh,
and under this gauze in the receptacle of the lamp a quantity of silicate cotton

page_text: is filled in to act as a sponge to absorb the spirit and feed the burners. In the
centre of the lamp an air passage is provided to keep the flames on the inner side
supplied with sufficient air to insure an economical combustion of the spirit.
1000
I, WILLIAM WALLINGTON HARRIS, of 43, Regent's Square, Grays Inn Road, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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:
-
This invention has for its object improvements in the construction of refriger-
ating apparatus the cooling effect of which is produced.in a simple and automatic
manner, one of the principal objects being to obviate altogether the necessity
for using skilled labour in producing the result and in the case of those apparatus,
designed for household and domestic use to reduce the manual acts of working
to the simplest possible proceeding and such as can be easily performed by any
ordinary domestic servant who has not had any previous training for the task.
The apparatus is constructed in such a way that the cooling medium is hermeti-
cally sealed in a series of tubes, which are capable from their great strength of
resisting a very high pressure. This strength however is employed mainly for
the purpose of obtaining absolute soundness of the joints, and by this means
prevents any escape of the cooling medium with which the apparatus is primarily
charged. This soundness enables the cold producing power, to be used over and
over again without intermission, leakage or deterioration of any sort for many
years.
The apparatus is constructed to work by gravitation on the absorption principle.
It is charged with a liquid which contains a gas, which gas can be separated by
the action of heat, and be reabsorbed when the water or Huid from which it was
originally driven is cool enough to receive it.
Its parts are proportioned each to perform the peculiar function required of it,
either for separating, absorbing, condensing or collecting, and this is particularly
so as regards the surface condenser, where the water used for cooling is so pro-
portioned in quantity that it does not need to be circulated or changed at all, but
remains quiescent between the periods when it is heated and cooled. It rises a
few degrees when separation is being effected and rocks back again to the normal
temperature in the intervening period between the workings. By this means the
water used for condensing and cooling only requires replenishing at long intervals,
and this is done by simply keeping the tanks filled to the water lines by any con-
venient vessel.
The operation of producing the cold is confined to the simple act of heating
and cooling the separator, and this is done by applying a measured amount of heat
the total quantity of which is just sufficient to raise the separator to the required
temperature. For small apparatuses this can be done. by using a spirit or oil
lamp, which is charged with a definite quantity of spirit or oil which when burnt
gives off the exact amount of heat that will effect the separation of the gas, and
which is arranged to burn out when the proper amount of heat has been generated
and passed into the separator. The separator may then be left to cool down
naturally or if quicker cooling effect is desired, it can be obtained by submerging
the separator in water, by raising a balanced tank. This balanced tank is filled

page_text: with a given quantity of water of sufficient amount to reduce the temperature of
the separator down to the point where rapid combination takes place, the re-
maining heat in the separator will then pass away through the sides of the tank
into the atmosphere and the temperature of the water drop to the normal before
it is again required for cooling purposes. Thus the same cooling water can be
used over and over again, which does away with the necessity for connecting the
apparatus to either a water service or drain.
In larger apparatus where a much greater quantity of heat is required to do
the work, and where a lamp would not be suitable, the heating may be effected
by gas controlled by an automatic meter which measures out a given quantity of
gas and then shuts off the supply, or the same action may be obtained by employing
a lamp of known heating power for a given length of time, but this requires the
attention of some one to look after it which is avoided when the lamp is allowed
to burn out or the meter itself shuts off the supply.
The cooling medium preferred and with which the separator is charged is
ordinary commercial ammonia consisting of ammonia gas and water of a
specific gravity of 87 but any suitable combination of gas and fluid may be used
if its absorbing affinity is sufficiently good and its liquefied gas has a boiling
point low enough to make it effective.
The apparatus consists principally of seven members.
:
I. Separator for separating and absorbing the ammonia or other gas from the
fluid in which it is contained, together with moveable water tank for cooling the
same.
II Condenser for cooling the gas on its way to the receiver.
III Receiver where the liquefied gas is collected.
IV Cold producing tubes which are charged with a permanent quantity of
anhydrous ammonia for the purpose of absorbing heat from the chamber.
V. Overflow for the purpose of returning to the separator any surplus ammonia
or watery vapour that may have been passed over accidentally.
VI. Lamp of measured heating power.
VII. Insulated cold box or chamber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS.
The separator consists of an outer shell with internal tube. The outer shell
is made to stand a high pressure but the inner tube may be as light as possible.
This tube is made in two parts the upper portion a thin but sound and gas tight
tube, and the lower a perforated one. The solid and upper portion of the tube dips
a short distance into the water which is contained in the separator when all the
gas has been driven out of it. From this point to the bottom of the separator it
is prolonged by constructing it of wire gauze of varying thicknesses, the upper
part near the water level having several thicknesses tapering down to the bottom
where there is only one, this arrangement of gauze compels the gas when it is
returning from the receiver at its highest pressure, to drive the fluid down the
tube to the lowest possible point. It then banks up the liquor in the annular
space made by the inner and outer tubes and escapes through the meshes, and so
enters the water at innumerable points and combines quickly with it, producing
a rapid absorption of the gas and an equally rapid cooling effect. The internal
tube can also be constructed by carrying the thin tube the whole length of the
separator, perforating it below the water line with a series of small holes. These
perforations may be arranged in rings or spirally. These holes may also be made
jagged either all on one side of the tube, or some on one side and some on the
other to assist in separating the gas. On the outside of the separator extending
from the bottom to about half its height is placed a thin metal screen which forms
an annular space round it. This screen acts as an insulator to keep the heat in
close contact with the separator while it is being heated. It also induces a
circulation of water which assists the cooling when the separator is immersed in
the water tank.

page_text: To insure rapid action of cooling and quick return of the gas to the separator,
the refrigerating tubes in the cold chamber are filled with liquid anhydrous
ammonia in excess of what the water in the separator is capable of taking up,
this excess acts first as an absorbent of heat and afterwards as a means of keeping
up a full pressure of gas to the separator until the water has again absorbed all
that it is capable of taking up. This surcharge of ammonia falls to a very low
temperature and forms a reserve of cooling effect which continues its action even
while the separator is being heated.
Should from any cause the water in the separator be carried over in the process
of working, to other parts of the apparatus, either as vapour or liquid, an overflow
is provided for bringing it back again, and this return is accomplished by simply
working the apparatus for a few times in the ordinary way. The overflow is
constructed in the following manner a pipe is brought up from the lowest point
of the refrigerating tubes, and is carried into the highest part of the receiver,
and out of this pipe at the level of the ammonia charge in the receiver a return
pipe is carried back to the separator which is bent down on its way to form a
dip or trap to prevent any gas passing by this route into the refrigerating
tubes. It allows however any liquid ammonia or ammonia and water to pass
freely, and so re-establish the proper distribution of the elements should they have
been accidentally disturbed, and thereby enable the different parts of the apparatus
to perform their proper functions in a correct manner.
The
The receiver is of sufficient capacity to receive the anhydrous ammonia con-
tained in the separator, but having a small additional space over and above this
to give sufficient surface area to allow the liquid to freely evaporate.
refrigerating pipes pass into and out of this vessel which is insulated to prevent
any heat from it passing into the cold chamber when it is filling up with liquefied
gas which at the time of separation is at a temperature higher than the chamber
itself.
The condenser is constructed of coils made of tubes of flattened section or
indented on alternate sides so as to reduce the area of the bore without diminishing
the surface, the object being to somewhat retard the flow of the gas and compel
it to give up any heat it may contain before it reaches the receiver. The tank
in which these coils are placed is made with a division making it practically into
two distinct vessels. The one nearest the cooling chamber is insulated on its
inner side so that any cooling effect on the water produced by the returning gas
from the cold chamber may be stored up and taken advantage of to assist in the
liquefaction of the gas. As the coil nearest the separator will generally be hotter
than the surrounding air this part of the tank is not clothed at all.
To properly charge the apparatus the separator must have its proper amount of
ammonia solution, and the refrigerating pipes must be full of anhydrous ammonia
up to the bottom of the receiver. The rest of the apparatus must be absolutely
free from air. To obtain these advantages the gear described in the Specification
of the Patent No. 7472 dated 28th March 1898 is employed.
The lamp for heating is constructed of suitable form having a strong metal
receptacle for spirit. The top or flame plate which is made of thick sheet metal
is perforated with a series of holes arranged to spread the flame uniformly over
the bottom of separator, the area of the burner is proportioned to allow the spirit
to be consumed in a definite time. It is desired that the heat should be moderate
and steady for a given time rather than too concentrated for a shorter period.
Under the flame plate is stretched a thickness of wire gauze of suitable mesh,
and under this gauze in the receptacle of the lamp a quantity of silicate cotton
is filled in to act as a sponge to absorb the spirit and feed the burners. In the
centre of the lamp an air passage is provided to keep the flames on the inner side
supplied with sufficient air to insure an economical combustion of the spirit.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a refrigerating apparatus and cold
chamber, which is adapted to work with a spirit or oil lamp.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan.

page_text: igure 4 a plan of the same.
Figure 5 is an elevation and
Figure 6 a plan of a refrigerating apparatus adapted to work with gas.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of the separator and absorber.
Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 Figure 7.
Figure 9 is a local section on the line 9-9 Figure 7.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 are diagram views illustrating the action of the
apparatus.
Figure 13 is a sectional elevation of the condenser and
Figure 14 a plan of the same.
Figure 15 a section of a flattened tube for the condenser.
Figure 16 is an elevation of the refrigerating pipes.
Figure 17 is an end elevation and
Figure 18 a plan of the same.
Figure 19 is an elevation of the separator and balanced tank.
Figure 20 a sectional elevation shewing the lamp in position.
Figure 21 a plan of the lamp.
In Figures 1 to 4 A is the separator and absorber, B is the condenser, C the
receiver, the cold chamber, E the refrigerating pipe, F the overflow from
receiver to separator, G the balanced tank for cooling the separator, H a casing
surrounding the separator for the double purpose of keeping the heat in close
contact with it while it is being heated and to assist in circulating the water in
the balanced tank when it is being cooled, K is a light shield or covering to the
separator for the purpose of deflecting the heated air, and preventing it from
impinging against the bottom of the condenser tank, or radiating in the
direction of the cold chamber. J is the lamp.
In Figures 5 and 6 L is an automatic coin freed gas meter. M is the supply
pipe from the main, N the pipe to gas bracket 01 which is pivotted at 0 and is
fitted with an atmospheric burner. The meter is intended to measure out ex-
actly the quantity of gas required to perform one operation of producing cold.
When the burner goes out the separation has been effected, and all that remains
to do is to swivel the gas bracket into the position shewn by dotted lines 02 and
raise the balanced tank so as to submerge the separator in water. The quantity
of water contained in the balanced tank G and condenser B and B is sufficient
in each case to deal with the heat put into the separator, and neither require
to be connected to either cold water supply or drain, which would be the case
if it were necessary to change the water during the operation of producing cold,
or between the times when the apparatus was worked.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of the separator and absorber and shews the
construction of its internal parts, P is the outer shell, and P¹ an inner tube,
which practically divides the separator into two chambers. The inner tube P¹
is made of sound, but light material for the first portion extending downwards,
such as tin well soldered, and is so constructed and attached to the upper part 1³
that no gas can possibly pass from the inner tube P¹ to the annular space P3
formed by it, and the outer shell, except at the lower end P where the sound
and solid portion of the tube ceases, from this point to the bottom the remainder
of the tube P5 is constructed of porous material, such as wire gauze, two or
more thicknesses being used to form the upper part, and tapering to a single
thickness near the bottom. The object of this gauze is to compel the gas to
depress the liquid in the centre tube to as low a level as possible, and so enter
the fluid in the annulus through the pores in the mesh in a finely divided con-
dition at innumerable points, and thus ensure a rapid combination. As an
alternative method of construction the inner tube might be prolonged to the
bottom, the lower end being perforated with a number of suitable sized holes.
This inner tube P¹ is provided with a lining P which starts from the point
where the mesh is attached to the solid portion and extends upwards to a point

page_text: of
gas
which
corresponding with about the level of the liquid, when it is heated and
has been deprived of about half its volume of gas. This lining is for the purpose
of constructing easily one or more small passages P7 for the escape
accumulates from time to time in the annular space P³ during the period when
separation is being effected. These passages facilitate the escape of gas from
this chamber without disturbing the body of the liquid, which when heated is
collected in the centre tube as is shewn by diagram Figure 10. The discharge
of gas from the annulus to the bottom of the mass of heated liquid when in a
condition unfavorable to its reception, would undoubtedly cause immediate
priming. These small passages however prevent this action taking place by
making a way for the gas to escape as soon as the liquid in the annulus sinks
low enough to uncover the top of the entrances to these passages 18. The gas
from that moment is free to pass gradually to the surface of the liquid in the
inner tube without coming in contact with it, and at the same time this escape
of gas prevents the liquid in the annulus from falling sufficiently low to uncover
the bottom of the tube itself P4, by this means a permanent liquid seal is main-
tained. Figures 10 and 11 shew the positions of the liquid in the inner tube
when separation is being effected, and Figure 12 that in the annulus when
absorption is taking place.
In the centre of the inner tube is placed an arrangement R for the purpose
of circulating the liquid which is being separated, it consists of a dome shaped
bottom R with a vertical stem R2, the dome is perforated round its outer edge
near the bottom with a number of small holes to allow the fluid to enter freely,
and when heated pass up the vertical stem which is open at the top, and covered
by a shield, the stem is provided with a series of holes R3 at intervals in its height
to allow of its accommodating itself to the varying levels of the liquid as it is
deprived of its gas. The heated fluid rises up the centre and pours out first
from the top as shewn by Figure 10 and afterwards at the holes R³ in the sides
of the tube as the level sinks as the liquid becomes exhausted, each hole is
covered by a shield to throw the spurting liquid downwards, the gas being then
free to pass through the apparatus to the receiver. The valve S is for discharging
air and S¹ for the purpose of withdrawing exhausted liquid and inserting solution
while the apparatus is being charged. T is a tube for inserting a thermometer
should it be desired to ascertain the temperature of the boiling liquid.
The condenser Figures 13 and 14 is divided into two parts B and B. The
heated gas from the separator rises in coil B2 and parts with its first heat in
tank B it then descends coil B³ in a cooler condition and parts with its remaining
heat in tank B', this latter tank is lined with an insulating material as it receives
less heat than tank B during the process of separation and is afterwards cooled
by the cold gases from the receiver returning to the absorber, it is desired to
conserve this cooling effect as much as possible to assist the liquefaction when
the process is reversed. Tank B is not insulated but is allowed to part with its
heat as soon as possible by radiation from the sides as in a general way this
tank will be hotter than the atmosphere surrounding it.
Figure 15 is a section of a flattened tube for the condenser, the object of
flattening being to reduce the volume of the contents to assist liquefaction of the
gas, it being liquefied by its own pressure, the reduced volume allows this pres-
sure to be obtained more easily, and at the same time the full amount of the
cooling surface is retained which is most essential.
Figure 16 is an elevation of the refrigerating pipes E and shews their con-
nection to the receiver where the liquefied gas is collected. The end of pipe E
is fixed nearly flush with the bottom of the inside of the receiver, but pipe E
is allowed to stand a short distance above the bottom.
The object of this
difference of levels being to induce the current of anhydrous ammonia or other
liquefied gas to flow in one direction through the refrigerating tubes viz. down
pipe E to the bottom of the coil, and up through pipe E after its temperature
has been raised by heat abstracted from the cold chamber, and by this continuous

page_text: flow, due to gravitation ensure a perfect mixing of the contents of the refriger-
ating tubes with the anhydrous ammonia or other liquefied gas in the receiver,
and by this means bring the whole mass of the contents up to an uniform degree
of strength. F is the over-flow pipe which is connected to the receiver by a
branch pipe which is in communication with the top and bottom of the receiver.
this arrangement makes it impossible for the pipe F to set up a syphon action and
empty the receiver, its function being that of an overflow pure and simple which
returns from time to time any surplus liquid in the receiver, and by this means
passes back to the separator any water or watery vapour that may have gone over
to the receiver during working. E³ is a screw valve for allowing the proving
water to be drawn from the apparatus after its soundness has been ascertained
by hydraulic pressure.
In Figures 20 and 21 J is the container which is made of suitable size to hold
the measure of combustible required to produce the amount of heat necessary.
The container J is made of metal the body of which must be sound to prevent
the escape of spirit or vapour anywhere except through the burner.
The centre
is provided with an air passage J³, and over it and part of the container as shewn
by Figure 21 is stretched a piece of wire gauze J2 which forms the burner. The
quantity of air passed into the centre of the flame is regulated by a button J
at the centre which adjusts the inlet to the required amount. The body of the
container J is packed with silicate cotton or other suitable non-combustible
material to absorb the spirit or other combustible and convey it to the surface
where it is consumed.
It will be observed that in this apparatus all gauges to indicate either heat or
pressure that would be usually necessary to determine when the operation of
separating the gas is over, are obviated and rendered unnecessary. The lamp
burning out, or the meter shutting off the supply indicates at once that the
process has been effected.
In order to produce cold all that is necessary is to light the lamp or the gas
and allow it to burn itself out. If it is desired to hasten the operation the lamp
or burner may then be removed and the tank G raised so as to immerse the
separator A but this is not essential.
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:-
1. The peculiar form of absorber consisting of an annular chamber closed
at the top and connected at the bottom to the central chamber.
2. Forming the lower end of the central chamber referred to in the preceding
claim of wire gauze or making numerous fine perforations in it.
3. The combination with the subject matter of the preceding claims of a per-
forated pipe extending from near the bottom of the central chamber to about
the highest liquid level.
4. The combination with the subject matter of Claim 3 of deflecting plates
above the pipe and the perforations.
5. The combination with the subject matter of the preceding claims of a lining
forming a passage in the central chamber extending from just below the bottom
of its solid part to a point at some distance below the highest liquid level.
6. The absorber substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings.
7. The condenser consisting of two tanks one of conducting and the other of
non-conducting material having in them coils connected at their upper ends.
8. The combination with an absorber of a counterbalanced tank which when
in its lowest position is beneath the absorber and when in its highest position
has the absorber immersed in it.
9. The combination of an absorber, a condenser connected to it, refrigerating
pipes, a receiver having its top connected to the condenser and its bottom to the

page_text: refrigerating pipes, a pipe opening into the top and bottom of the receiver, and
a branch pipe connecting this pipe to the absorber.
10. Refrigerating apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawings.