Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making
Apparatus.
We, FREDERICK BARKER HILL, of 27 Culmore Road, Peckham in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, and JAMES SINCLAIR, of 114 Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Fire Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to refrigerating and ice-making apparatus, and is chiefly
designed to facilitate and expedite the production of chocolate and other substances
which require to be cooled or reduced in temperature during the process of
manufacture. Our said invention is, however, applicable for the production of ice.
Our said invention is particularly serviceable in the manufacture of chocolate,
confectionery, pastry and other substances such as for instance as explosives which
are formed in moulds, and the production of which has hitherto been a comparatively
slow process by reason of the length of time required to cool the moulds, thus necessi-
tating the use of a very large number of moulds to permit the manufacture to be
continuously carried on, several sets of moulds being filled, while the contents of other
sets are cooling.
By our invention we provide for very rapidly cooling the contents of the moulds,
so that the said moulds can be used much more frequently than heretofore, and
consequently a much smaller number of them will be required. Moreover, in the
manufacture of some substances, the rapid cooling is very advantageous.
In carrying our said invention into practice, we provide one or more artificially
cooled tables or slabs formed of metal or other suitable material of good thermal con-
ductivity, each of which tables or slabs forms the cover or top of a hollow casing or
tank or of a portion of such casing or tank. This tank we fill with brine or other non-
congealable liquid, and in this liquid we immerse suitable refrigerating tubes or
chambers, whereby the temperature of the said liquid may be reduced as desired, so
that articles placed upon the said table or slab will be rapidly and effectually
cooled thereby.
any
In some instances, we provide cavities, pockets or moulds in the said table or slab,
with or without jackets or casings for containing fluid, sand or other suitable material
for regulating the transmission of the heat from the chocolate or other substance
to the non-congealable liquid; or the moulds may be made separately and placed upon
the table or slab.
The casing or tank of which the slab or table forms the cover or top is preferably
somewhat shallow, and may be of any desired length and breadth. The liquid therein
is kept at a low temperature by a suitable refrigerating device such as a cold air pipe
or an ammonia refrigerator coil, tube or chainber arranged in the said casing or tank,
or in a tank or reservoir which is connected therewith either directly or by means of
tubes, and in which a large store of liquid is maintained at a low temperature.
We find it advantageous to use refrigerating devices such as that described and
illustrated in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated 6th December 1886
No. 15,914, in which the whole of the liquid anhydrous ammonia in the apparatus is
collected in refrigerating tubes or chambers and is then allowed to revaporize as
required, to reduce the temperature of the non-congealable liquid.
The refrigerator tank or reservoir is sometimes arranged to form the ceiling of a
room or chamber to be cooled. In this case, the bottom of the said tank is preferably
formed with V-shaped portions or corrugations. The aforesaid slabs or tables are so
arranged that the liquid may circulate freely in the casings or tanks heneath them;
one or more partitions are sometimes provided in the said casings or tanks to assist

page_text: the circulation therein, or to ensure the circulation of the liquid beneath the table or
slab. If desired we provide mechanical circulating devices such as a screw, pump or
the like.
Suitable devices are provided for regulating or controlling the circulation of the
liquid so that the circulation may be arrested in one casing without interrupting that
in another casing or in the main tank or reservoir.
We sometimes provide the-table or, slab, with flaps or covers hinged or otherwise
conveniently attached thereto, which can be turned down to lie flat upon the table, or
can be connected together to form the sides of a chamber over the said table, which
thus serves as a floor therefor, and articles placed in the said chamber are effectually
and rapidly cooled, while the access of warm air to the slab or table is prevented. Any
desired number of cooling tables or slabs may be combined with a single refrigerating
tube or chamber, or with a single set of such tubes or chambers.
In some cases two cooling slabs or tables are placed one above another a short
distance apart so that, by providing flaps at the sides of the said tables to close the
intervening space, a cold chamber will be formed between the lower slab or table and
the bottom of the casing attached to the upper slab.
It is obvious that the arrangement of the parts in our improved apparatus may be
modified in various ways without departing from the nature of our said invention.
Dated this 27th day of December 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making
Apparatus.
We, FREDERICK BARKER HILL, of 27 Culmore Road, Peckham, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, and JAMES SINCLAIR, of 114 Cannon Street, in the City of London,
Fire Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in;
and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to refrigerating and ice-inaking apparatus, and is chiefly
designed to facilitate and expedite the production of chocolate and other substances
which require to he cooled or reduced in temperature during the process of manu-
facture, and to provide for cooling such chocolate or other substances by means of
apparatus which is also used for the production of cold for other purposes.
Our said invention is particularly serviceable in the manufacture of chocolate, con-
fectionery, pastry and other substances which are formed in moulds, and the production
of which has hitherto been a comparatively slow and expensive process by reason of
the length of time required to cool the moulds containing such substances, and the
necessity for the use of a very large number of such moulds to permit the manufacture
to be continuously carried on, several sets of moulds having to be filled while the
contents of other sets are cooling.
By our invention, we provide for very rapidly cooling the contents of the moulds,
so that the said moulds can be used much more frequently thau heretofore and a much
smaller number of them will be required. Moreover, our said invention can be used:
with great advantage in the manufacture of substances which require to be very
rapidly cooled.
I.
"
་
:
We accomplish the desired result by combining with suitable apparatus for the
production of cold, one or more slabs or tables which are formed of metal or other
suitable material of good thermal conductivity, and beneath which circulates brine or
other non-congealable liquid for conveying the cold from the refrigerating tubes or
chambers to the said slabs or tables. The chocolate and other substances to be.
treated are placed upon these slabs or tables, and will be rapidly cooled by the
liquid circulating beneath the same.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings, we have shown how our said invention may he
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of one form of our improved
apparatus.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a portion of the said apparatus.
Figure 3 is a transverse section, showing the cooling slab or table provided with
covering pieces or flaps hereinafter described.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section illustrating another form or modification
of our said apparatus, wherein we employ two artificially cooled slabs or tables
arranged one above the other.
Figures 5 and 6 are vertical longitudinal sections, showing other modifications of
the said apparatus, and
Figure 7 is a front elevation, illustrating a further modification thereof.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
a is a tank or vessel for containing brine or other non-congealable liquid. b, bare
refrigerating tubes or chambers, which are immersed in the said liquid, and which
are connected with suitable apparatus for the production of cold.
We prefer to use, for this purpose, apparatus such as that described and illustrated
in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated 6th December 1886, No. 15,914,
in which the cold is produced by the ammonia absorption process, and wherein the
whole of the liquid anhydrous ammonia is first collected in the refrigerating tubes or
chambers and is then allowed to evaporate, as required, to reduce the temperature of
the brine or other non-congealable liquid.
c, c are the slabs or tables, beneath which the said brine or other non-congealable
liquid circulates for the purpose of cooling the chocolate or other substances, which
may be placed upon the said slabs or tables in moulds or other suitable receptacles.
In the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, A is the ammonia boiler or still.
which is formed of two horizontal tubes A¹ connected by suitable pipes A². These
pipes extend longitudinally within the said tubes A', and the horizontal parts of the
said pipes are perforated on their upper side to ensure uniformity in the action of
the apparatus. The lower tube A¹ is, inoreover, provided with suitable pipes A³ for
the circulation of steam or hot water for the purpose of heating the ammoniacal
liquor in the boiler. Bis the separator or rectifier, which is connected with the boiler
or still A by the pipes B¹, B. C is the cooler or condenser, which is connected by
the pipe B with the said separator or rectifier. D is a pipe which connects the
condenser with the refrigerating tubes or chambers b, and which is provided
with a hend or trap D1 to prevent the flow of gas from the condenser into the
saidi tubes. The pipe D is, moreover, provided with a cock or valve D² for con-
trolling the flow of the liquid ammonia and the return of the ammoniacal gas
through the same. The refrigerating tubes bare connected with the boiler or
still A by a pipe E provided with a cock or valve E¹ for permitting the return of
ammoniacal liquor from the said tubes into the boiler or still when required. The
said cocks or valves are constructed with suitable casings or covers which can be
firmly secured so as to form hermetical joints and prevent any leakage of ammonia,
and which can be released and turned with the plug of the cock or the spindle of the
valve, when it is desired to open or close the said cock or valve.
The slab or table c forms the top or cover of a tank or vessel c¹ which is in com-
inunication with the tank or vessel u. The said tanks or vessels a, c¹ are provided
with jackets or casings a¹, c²; the spaces between these casings and the corresponding
tanks or vessels are filled up with a suitable non-conductor of heat.
For ensuring the effectual circulation of the liquid in the said tank or vessel c',
we provide a partition d arranged as shown, so that the liquid cooled by the
refrigerating tubes 6 will descend on one side of the vertical portion of the said
partition and flow beneath the. horizontal portion thereof, and will then rise and
flow back between the said partition and the slab or table c, and ascend on the
other side of the said vertical portion of the partition, as indicated by the arrows

page_text: '
in Figure 2, and will then be again cooled by contact with the refrigerating
tubes b.
..
We provide a trap-plate or valve din a convenient part of the partition d, which
valve is movable about a pivot or axis and is provided with suitable means by
which it can be adjusted from the exterior of the apparatus to shut off or open com-
munication between the tank or vessel c¹ and the tank or vessel a. When the tank cl
is thus shut off from the tank a, the apparatus can be used simply for cooling a room
or chamber, or for the production of ice.
i .
To increase the circulation of the liquid, we sometimes employ a rotating "screw e
fixed upon a shaft e¹ which extends through a suitable stuffing-box in the side of the
tank or vessel a, and which may be driven by means of a belt from any suitable
motor.
The operation of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 is as follows, viz. :-On
heat being applied to the ammoniacal liquor in the boiler A by the circulation of
steam or hot water through the pipes A³, some of the said liquor from the lower
tube A' is first forced through the pipe A2 into the upper tube A¹ until the level of
the liquor in the said lower tube is below the perforations in the lower part of 'the
said pipe A, and the level of the liquor in the upper tube A¹ is above the perforations
in the upper part of the said pipe as shown in Figure 1. Ammoniacal gas is then
forced through the said pipe A2 and rises through the liquor in the upper tube A¹
above the upper portion of the said pipe; the gas is thus well washed. The said
gas then flows through the pipe B¹ into the rectifier B and thence through the pipe B³
into the condenser, in which it is liquefied. Any liquid which may collect in the
rectifier B returns to the boiler A through the pipe B². The anhydrous liquid
aminonia flows through the pipe D into the refrigerating tubes b. The impoverished.
liquor in the boiler A is then cooled by the circulation of cold water through the
pipes As, and, as soon as the pressure is sufficiently diminished, the liquid ammonia
in the tubes 6 is allowed to volatilize, thus producing cold and reducing the temperature
of the brine in the tank a; the ammoniacal gas from the tubes b passes through the
pipe D, the condenser C and rectifier B back into the boiler A, in which it is absorbed
by the impoverished ammoniacal liquor. Or, if the immediate production of cold is
not required, the cock or valve D2 is closed after the anhydrous liquid has been
collected in the refrigerating tubes B, and the liquor in the boiler A is then allowed
to cool. More or less cold can then be produced, when required, and the brine in the
tank a thus reduced to any desired temperature, by opening the said cock or valve D²
and keeping the same open for a longer or shorter period.
In some instances, we dispense entirely with cocks or valves and substitute for the
pipe E, a pipe F, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, provided with a trap F which
must be of greater length or depth than the trap D' in order to prevent the return
of gas from the tubes b to the boiler A through the said pipe F, and the con-
veyance of heat from the boiler A to the refrigerating tubes b. The said pipe F
serves for the return of any surplus liquid ammonia from the said tubes b.
The brine or other non-congealable liquid cooled by contact with the tubes b
descends and flows through the tank. c first below and then above the partition d,
and then ascends in the tank a through the space between the vertical portion of the
partition d and the adjacent side of the said tank, as indicated by the arrows in the
drawing.
:
We find it advantageous, in some cases, to provide our apparatus with covering
pieces or flaps f, as shown in Figure 3, which are hinged or pivoted at "¹ to the edges
of the table c, or are otherwise conveniently attached to.the said table.
These flaps
are so arranged that they can be raised into the position shown, or folded down upon
the surface of the table to form a cover therefor, or turned down so that their inner
surfaces are level with the top of the table and form extensions thereof, 'as shown
by the dotted lines. When raised to the vertical position shown by 'full linės
in 'Figure 3, the said flaps formn the sides of a chamber over the table, which
chamber will contain a large body of cold air, the said flaps or sides of the

page_text: eventing access of the warmer an outside, to the space immediately
over the said table. A cool chamber can thus be readily provided, 'in' which con
fectionery or other articles may be rapidly cooled.
We sometimes combine more than one table c and tank c¹ with a single tank,
as shown in Figure 4. "In this case, the upper tank is provided with a trap-
plate or valve, which is pivoted at , and whereby the circulation of the liquid
through the said tank may be controlled.
We find it advantageous to provide the apparatus shown in Figure 4 with flaps
similar to those shown in Figure 3, extending from the lower table c to the bottom
of the upper tank c¹, thus forming between the two tanks c¹ a closed chamber for
containing cold air.
Figure 5 shows a modification of our apparatus wherein the slab or table c forms
the top of the tank or vessel in which the refrigerating tubes or chambers bare
arranged. The partition d is so constructed that the liquid can descend at one end
thereof and ascend at the other end thereof, suitable means being provided, if desired,
for assisting the circulation of the liquid.
The slab or table c is, in some cases, provided with a series of conical or other
suitably shaped depressions or pockets g, as shown for example in Figure 6, adapted
to receive the substance to be cooled or the inoulds containing the said substance.
To prevent too rapid reduction of the temperature of the said substance, we some-
times introduce sand or some other suitable non-conductor of heat into the space
between the depression or pocket 9 and a casing or jacket surrounding the same.
An advantage of this form of our apparatus is that the moulds containing the substance
to be cooled are not so liable to be accidentally overturned as when they are merely
supported on a plane surface.
In Figure 7, we have shown a further modification of our improved apparatus,
in which the tank or vessel a is utilized for cooling the room or chamber in which the
chocolate or other substance is to be treated, or for cooling a separate room or
chamber. The said tank or vessel containing the non-congealable liquid and the
refrigerating tubes b, is so arranged that the bottom of the said tank forins the
ceiling of the room to be cooled. The bottom of the said tank preferably
corrugated to increase the strength thereof and the area of its cooling surface. The
tank c is arranged at a suitable distance below the tank a and is connected there-
with by means of pipes h, h¹ so that a circulation of the liquid from one to the
other of the said tanks will be maintained. The slab or table c shown in this figure,
as well as that shown in Figure 5, may, if desired, be provided with hinged covering
pieces or flaps as shown in Figure 3.
It is obvious that we can somewhat further modify the construction of our improved
apparatus without departing from the nature of our said invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. The herein described method of providing for the cooling of chocolate and
other substances by the circulation of artificially cooled non-congealable liquid
beneath one or more slabs or tables upon which the said substances are to be
placed.
Second. An apparatus comprising one or more slabs or tables each forming the
top of a tank or vessel in which are arranged refrigerating tubes or chambers,
or which is connected with another tank or vessel having refrigerating tubes or
chambers arranged within it, substantially as, and for the
specified.
purposes, above
Third. The combination of a slab or table beneath which is circulated artificially
cooled non-congealable liquid, and covering pieces or flaps so connected with the
said slab or table that they can be turned up to form a cold chamber above the
same, substantially as herein before described.
Fourth. The modification of our invention wherein the slab or table is provided

page_text: with suitable depressions or pockets, with or without the jackets or casings for
containing non-conducting material, substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth.
Fifth. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with reference
to Figures 1 and 2, or with reference to Figure 4, or Figure 6, or Figure 7 of the
accompanying drawings, with or without the covering pieces or flaps, and operating
as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated this 27th day of September 1890.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
F. B. HILL.
JAMES SINCLAIR.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicants.