Improvements in Apparatus for Cooling and Circulating Air in Vessels or Chambers Containing Fruit or other Perishable Produce
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
" Improvements in Apparatus for Cooling and Circulating Air in
Vessels or Chambers Containing Fruit or other Perishable
Produce."
(A communication from abroad by FRANCIS WILLIAM LORD, of New Wharf, Hobart,
in the Colony of Tasmania, Merchant.)
I, PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE, of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 consists of apparatus whereby the air from a refrigerator or other
cooling source shall be utilised to cool atmospheric air to any required temperature;
to rob it of some of its moisture, and to circulate and distribute it evenly throughout
a vessel or chamber where fruit or other perishable produce is stored.
In carrying ont my invention I construct an air tight chamber, which for
convenience may be referred to as the cooling box. This is divided into three
compartiments, and has two inlets-one from the refrigerating machine and the other
admitting ordinary atmospheric air-and two leadaway pipes, one carrying the air
robbed of part of its cold back to the machine, while the other conducts the cooled
atmospheric air into the storage chamber.
:-
In the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section on the line A-B (Fig. 2) of the cooling box, and
showing the leadaway to the storage chamber.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line X-Y (Fig. 1) while
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, giving a comprehensive view of the apparatus
and the means employed for drawing off the vitiated air from the storage
chamber.
A is the cooling box, which is divided into compartments a¹ a² a³ by the plates BB
into which are fitted tubes C C C. Atmospheric air is admitted into the
chamber a¹ by the pipe D, while cold air from the refrigerator enters the chamber or
compartment a through the pipe E and circulating between the tubes CCC returns
to the machine by the exit pipe F. The atmospheric air after passing through the
tubes flows into the chamber a³ from whence it is conducted to the storage chamber K
by the pipe G, and being liberated through the openings gg, is circulated through
the produce stored therein by means hereinafter to be described. A valve H is
placed in the pipe E to regulate the supply of cold air from the refrigerator, and
drain pipes d d are provided in the chambers or compartments a¹ and a³ respectively
to carry away any moisture that may condense from the atmospheric air on its
admission to same.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, (Sheet II), J J are the walls of the insulated
chamber K. In order to maintain a perfect circulation of the cooled air in the
chamber K, I employ an exhaust fan L, which is connected with an air chamber (,
and air ways M, that are carried into the corners of the chamber K. These air ways
have ports or openings m m at their extremities. Slide doors N are provided on the
cooling box to permit of the insertion of thermometers.

page_text: The modus operandi is as follows:-
Atmospheric air enters the chamber a¹ through the pipe D, where some of the
moisture held in suspension will be condensed and be carried away by the drain
pipe d. From thence it passes through the tubes C, C, C, which are kept cold by
air circulating around them from the refrigerator through E, and this further
condenses any moisture held in suspension, which is conducted away by the drain
pipe d', in the compartment a³. The cooled air can now pass from the cooling box
through G to the storage chamber, and is discharged preferably against the roof of
same through the openings g g. The storage chamber is kept supplied with fresh
air by the fan L exhausting the vitiated air through the air ways M, which are
preferably laid down on the floor of the chamber.
The ports or openings m m, are so arranged that an even suction pressure shall be
maintained as nearly as possible at all points of the storage chamber, and this effect
is further induced by the air chamber 1, thereby causing the air from the cooling
box to circulate evenly through the produce.
'
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A cooling box, such as A, divided into three compartments, the first compartment
being in communication with the outer air, the second compartment with a
refrigerating machine or other cooling source, and the third compartment with an
insulated storage chamber, communication between the first and third compartments
being established by means of tubes that pass through the second chamber but
without any internal communication therewith, as specified.
2. A cooling box such as that claimed in claim 1, in combination with an insulated
storage chamber provided with air ways preferably laid down upon the floor of said
chamber, and having ports or openings through which the foul air in the insulated
chamber may be withdrawn by means of an exhaust fan or other suitable appliance
and an air chamber such as for the purpose of equalising the suction pressure, the
apparatus being provided with the necessary drain pipes and with doors placed in
suitable positions for the insertion and withdrawal of thermometers, as herein
set forth.
3. The general arrangement construction and combination of parts in the
apparatus for cooling and circulating air in vessels containing fruit or other perishable
produce, substantially as specified.
Dated the 10th day of Octahan 100s
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.