IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SNOW
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Noel Mackay, of Liverpool, in the County
"
of Lancaster, Engineor, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN
APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SNOW."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Noel Mackay at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1881.
FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SNOW."
This Invention relates, first, to the production of snow by freezing water, vapour,
or spray in spaces partly or entirely vacuous as regards air or like gas. In the
term snow 1 include rine or hoar frost and every condition of congealed dow or
vapour; second, to the production of cold by the compression and expansion of air
or gas; and, third, to apparatus for the manufacture of the said snow.
The first part of my Invention has for its object to enable a larger quantity of
snow to be obtained with less expenditure of power in the production of cold than
heretofore. For that purpose water spray or vapour is caused to enter a chamber
or space, in which a vacuum more or less perfect is maintained, or a vacuum is
maintained in a space or chamber around apparatus for producing snow by means
of a rotating drum.
The chamber or space is maintained at a sufficiently low temperature by means
of any suitable fluid caused to circulate around the said chamber or space, by air or
gas caused to circulate through the said chamber or space or both.
The object of the second part of my Invention is to produce or obtain by com-
pression and expansion of air or gas a greater degree of cold with less expenditure
of power than heretofore. For that purpose air or gas is compressed by a suitable
pump or pumps, and allowed to expand twice or oftener in two or more chambers
(two usually being sufficient), preferably one within the other, before the said
air or gas is discharged into the atmosphere or returned to the compression pump
or pumps.

page_text: The object of the third part of my Invention is to further increase the efficiency
of apparatus for producing or obtaining cold by the compression and expansion of
air or gas. For that purpose air or gas expanded at two or more stages, as above
set forth, is passed through coolers from stage to stage, and the low temperature of
the coolers is maintained by the circulation there through or around of the air, or
gas after it has been finally expanded and is on its way to tho atmosphere or to the
compression pump or pumps.
The object of the fourth part of my Invention is to still further increase the
efficiency of apparatus for producing cold by the compression and expansion of air
or gas. For that purpose the compressed air or gas is caused to expand into a
chamber or space in which a partial vacuum is maintained, and is thence removed
by means of a pump or pumps, and ejected into the atmosphere or again
compressed.
•
The object of the fifth part of my Invention is to enable an increased quantity
of snow to be produced by air or gas compression and expansion apparatus, in
which two or more expansions of the air or gas takes place. For that purpose the
air or gas is caused to pass through water, or has water injected into it after each
expansion.
The object of the sixth part of my Invention is to construct apparatus suitable
for carrying the above five parts of my Invention into effect. For that purpose I
employ in combination for each stage of expansion one or more compression and
exhaust pumps, one or more coolers or interchangers, and one or more expansion
and refrigerating chambers, fitted and provided with suitable pipes and connections
for conveying the air or gas from one part of the apparatus to the other.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Noel Mackay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th April 1882.
FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN "AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SNOW."
This Invention relates, first, to the production of snow by freezing water, vapour,
or spray in spaces partly or entirely vacuous as regards air or like gas. In the
term snow I include rime or hoar frost and every condition of congealed dew or
vapour; second, to the production of cold by the compression and expansion of air
or gas; and, third, to apparatus for the manufacture of the said snow.
The first part of my Invention has for its object to enable a larger quantity of
snow to be obtained with less expenditure of power in the production of cold than
heretofore. For that purpose water, spray, or vapour is caused to enter a chamber
or space in which a vacuum more or less perfect is maintained, or a vacuum is
maintained in a space or chamber around apparatus for producing snow by means
of a rotating drum. The chamber or space is maintained at a sufficiently low
temperature by means of any suitable fluid caused to circulate around the said
chamber or space by air or gas caused to circulate through the said chamber or
space or both.
The object of the second part of my Invention is to produce or obtain by
compression and expansion of air or gas a greater degree of cold with less expon-
diture of power than heretofore. For that purpose air or gas is compressed by a
suitable pump or pumps, and allowed to expand twice or oftener in two or more
chambers (two usually being sufficient), preferably one within the other, before the
said air or gas is discharged into the atmosphere or returned to the compression
pump or pumps.
The object of the third part of my Invention is to further increase the efficiency
of apparatus for producing or obtaining cold by the compression and expansion of
air or gas. For that purpose air or gas expanded at two or more stages, as above
set forth, is passed through coolers from stage to stage, and the low temperature of
the coolers is maintained by the circulation therethrough or around of the air or
gas after it has been finally expanded and is on its way to the atmosphere or to the
compression pump or pumps.
The object of the fourth part of my Invention is to still further increase the
efficiency of apparatus for producing cold by the compression and expansion of air
or gas. For that purpose the compressed air or gas is caused to expand into a
chamber or space in which a partial vacuum is maintained, and is thence
removed by means of a pump or pumps, and ejected into the atmosphere or again
compressed.
The object of the fifth part of my Invention is to enable an increased quantity
of snow to be produced by air or gas compression and expansion apparatus, in
which two or more expansions of the air or gas takes place. For that purpose the
air or gas is caused to pass through water, or has water injected into it after each
expansion.
The object of the sixth part of my Invention is to construct apparatus suitable
for carrying the above five parts into effect. For that purpose I employ in
combination for each stage of expansion one or more compression and exhaust
pumps, one or more coolers or interchangers, and one or more expansion and
refrigerating chambers fitted and provided with suitable pipes and connections for
conveying the air or gas from one part of the apparatus to the other.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional views of apparatus illustrative of the method of
carrying the first part of my Invention into effect. 1 is a chamber or vessel sur-
rounded by a jacket 2, between which and the vessel 1 brine or other fluid, cooled
below freezing point by any suitable means, is caused to circulate; 3, inlet and
outlet ways; 4, way or passage connected to a vacuum pump or chamber; 5, pipe
formed with nozzles, through which water enters the chamber 1 in the form of
spray to be congealed into snow; 6, door through which the snow is removed.
Instead of spray, water vapour may be caused to enter the chamber 1.
"
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a modification of apparatus illustrative of the first
part of my Invention. 7 is a drum, through which brine or its equivalent is caused
to circulate, and on which a sheet of ice is produced and removed in the forin of
snow by a scraper or cutter 8, substantially in the manner set forth in the Speci-
fications to Her Majesty's British Letters Patent, No. 2706 of the year 1880, and
No. 1330 of the year 1881, granted to ine. The chamber 9, in which the drum
works, is surrounded by a jacket 10, and in the space between the jacket and the
chamber brine or other cooled fluid is caused to circulate in any well known
manner; 11 are inlet and outlet pipes connected to a vacuum pump or the
equivalent, and rarefied air or gas is caused to circulate through the chamber 9, so
that a partial vacuum is constantly maintained therein.
It will be obvious that many varieties of apparatus may be constructed for
carrying into effect the first part of my Invention, the essential feature thereof
being the maintenance of a vacuum or partial vacuum in the space or chamber in
which snow is being formed.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of apparatus illustrative of a method of carrying the
second part of my Invention into effect. 12, 13, are two chambers within which
air or gas is caused to receive a double expansion. Air or gas obtained under
pressure by means of a suitable pump enters the outer chamber 12 through the
way or passage 14, and passes off through the way or passage 15 after undergoing
expansion to a second pump, to the opposite side of the piston of the pump used in
compressing the air or gas before entering the said chamber, or to a suitable
receiving vessel. The said air or gas then enters the inner chamber 13 through the
way or passage 16, and passes off through the way or passage 17, after again being
expanded, to the atmosphere, to a vacuum chamber, or to a pump or pumps.
Suitable appliances are provided for admitting water vapour or spray into the
chambers 12 and 13, and the said chambers are preferably surrounded by a jacket,
through which brine or cooling fluid is caused to circulate.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of apparatus, showing a method of carrying the third
part of my Invention into effect. Here air or gas from a compression pump or
pumps enters the cooler 18 through the way or passage 19, and passes by the
pipe 20 to the first expansion chamber 21. From 21 the air or gas passes by the
pipe 22 through the second cooler 23, and thence by the pipe 24 to the second
expansion chamber 25. From 25 the air passes by the pipes 26 through the
coolers 23, 18, back to the pump or pumps or to the atmosphere. Between the
cooler 23 and expansion chamber 25 suitable valves or pumps are interposed. to
regulate the expansion from one chamber to the other.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrative of the fourth part of my Invention.
27, chamber in which snow is formed by congelation of spray issuing from the
pipe 28; 29, pipe leading to compression pump; 30, pipe leading to vacuum pump.
The compressed air which enters the chamber 27 expands into a partial vacuum,
and attains a lower temperature and acts more effectively in the production of snow
than it would do if it expanded into the atmosphere.
Under the fifth part of my Invention air undergoing two or more expansions
has water spray injected into it substantially as shown in Fig. 1, or is caused to
pass through water in the manner illustrated by Fig. 6. 31, chamber partly filled

page_text: with water through the pipe 32 from any convenient supply; 33, pipes dipping
into the water, and opening into the chamber 34. Air or gas is caused to enter
the chamber 34 through the pipe 35, and flow down the pipes 36 into the water
in 31. The air then ascends through the water to the top of the chamber 31, and
flows out of the pipe 30 to the expansion chamber, where the moisture taken up is
congealed into snow. .
The chambers and parts are made of metal or suitable material, and doors for
the removal of the snow are made in any convenient way. Jackets through which
cooling fluid is passed may surround any of the chambers, or lagging or other
suitable means for preventing radiation may be used. Any convenient number of
compression or vacuum pumps can be employed, and the air or gas may be expanded
more than twice.
Fig. 7 is a plan view, and Figs. 8 and 9 are views partly in section and partly
in elevation, of apparatus under the sixth head, showing how the various improve-
ments described and illustrated under heads 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 may be advantageously
combined in one machine. 37, compression pumps; 38, 39, vacuum pumps or
expansion cylinders; 40, 41, snow vessels; 42, condenser; 43, 44, coolers or
exchangers; 45, door to inner snow vessel; 46, compressor for forming blocks
of snow; 48, engines. Air or gas, hereafter called air, is forced by the pumps 37
through the pipes 49 into the condenser 44, where it descends, the dip pipes 50,
rises through the water in the condenser, and passes by the pipes 51 through the
body of the cooler or interchanger 44, thence through the pipe 52 to the vacuum
pump or expansion cylinder 38, where it is expanded and expelled through the
pipe 53 into the snow vessel 40. From the snow vessel 40 the expanded air passes
by the pipe 54 through the body of the cooler or interchanger 43. From 43 the
air passes through the pipe 55 to the second vacuum pump or cylinder 39, whero
it is further expanded. From 30 the air is expelled through the pipo 56 into the
inner snow vessel 41; it thon passes by the pipes 57, 58, through the tubes in the
coolers 43, 44. From the cooler 44 the air is drawn through the pipes 59 into
the compression pumps 37, whence it again is caused to flow through the condenser,
and repeat tho round. Water spray or vapour is injected or caused to enter the
snow vessels in any convenient manner, and any convenient means is used for its
removal when formed. The inner snow vessel is shown fitted with a sliding door 45,
past which the snow is allowed to fall from time to time into the box 46, where it
is compressed, to form a block, by means of a screw and piston or equivalent means.
60, water supply pipe for condenser.
It will be obvious that the construction of the various parts and their arrange-
ment and connections may be in many ways varied to produce tho desired
results.
Having now described and illustrated the Invention in such manner that others
will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I claim,-
First. The production of snow in a vacuo or in a partially exhausted chamber,
substantially as set forth under the first part.
Second. The production of cold in the manufacture of snow by a double or
multiple expansion of air or gas, substantially as set forth under the second
part.
Third. Passing air or gas which has been expanded twice or oftener through
coolers, substantially as set forth under the third part.
Fourth. In the manufacture of snow, allowing air or gas to expand in a chamber
or space in which a partial vacuum is maintained, substantially as set forth under
the fourth part.
Fifth. In the manufacture of snow, by the use of air or gas expanded twice or
oftener, passing the said air or gas through water, or injecting water into the
said air or gas after each expansion, substantially as set forth under the fifth
part.
Sixth. In apparatus substantially as herein described for carrying into effect all
or any of the improvements claimed under the above five heads.

page_text: Seventh. In the manufacture of snow, using the same air continuously throughout
the entire apparatus, whereby it is alternately compressed and expanded, charged
and recharged with moisture, enabling snow to be formed at each consecutive
expansion.
Eighth. Apparatus constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as specified
under the sixth part for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Noel Mackay, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.