IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CON- VEYING MILK AND OTHER PRODUCE OF A PERISHABLE NATURE FOR DISTRI- BUTION AMONG THE CONSUMERS."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wilson, of No. 29, Orchard Street, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CON-
VEYING MILK AND OTHER PRODUCE OF A PERISHABLE NATURE FOR DISTRI-
BUTION AMONG THE CONSUMERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th November 1878.
"IM-
JAMES WILSON, of No. 29, Orchard Street, in, the County of. Middlesex.
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING MILK AND OTHER PRODUCE OF A
PERISHABLE NATURE FOR DISTRIBUTION AMONG THE CONSUMERS."
My Invention has reference to improved means for conveying milk and other
produce of a perishable nature to the consumers, whereby such produce, and more
particularly the milk and cream, is protected from deterioration and from being
tampered with after it has left the dairy, so that it shall be possible for the con-
sumer to receive the same in a perfectly pure and wholesome condition. For this
purpose instead of conveying the milk and cream from the dairy in large cans or
receptacles, from which small quantities are drawn for each consumer, I fill the milk
and cream at the dairy into a number of small vessels or jars, by preference of
earthenware or glass, each of which contains a measured quantity, such as may be
required by each consumer, such as for instance half pints, pints, or quarts. These
jars, which are by preference made either cylindrical or of tapering form with
straight sides, so as to be easily cleansed internally, are provided with a lid that can
be secured by any suitable known means, such as a screw, or by projections or claws
on the lid, which by turning are brought underneath projections on the mouth of
the receptacle, the opening of the lid except by the consumer being prevented by
affixing a seal or lable thereon.

page_text: The jars are then placed in a receptacle or conveyance on wheels of the following
construction:-
:-
A receptacle, by preference of rectangular shape, is constructed of materials that
are bad conductors of heat, such as two layers of boards between which is a layer
of felt or other bad conductor, and is mounted on wheels with intervening springs,
there being by preference two wheels at one end and a single wheel at the other, so
that the vehicle can be readily guided and propelled by one man. The receptacles
may however be made of larger dimensions, and be propelled by a horse or other
power if necessary.
The receptacle is divided internally by preference into five compartments, there
being one central compartment accessible through a lid in the top or other con-
venient part of the receptacle, into which is introduced a vessel containing ice, the
ice being by preference placed upon a perforated tray in the upper part of the vessel,
arranged so that as the ice melts the water can flow down into the lower part and
escape through a small bent pipe in the bottom.
On two opposite sides of this compartment are two or more compartments
accessible through doors at the ends, sides, or top of the receptacle, in which are a series
of trays arranged one above the other on ledges so as to slide in and out. These
trays, as also all the division walls of, the compartments, are made of perforated
metal or wire gauze strained on a framework, so as to allow the air in the receptacle
to circulate freely through all the compartments. Each tray is by preference divided
by partitious into a number of cells, each of which serves to receive one of the
before-mentioned jars containing the milk or cream, so that these are prevented
from being upset by the jolting of the vehicle. The cells of the several trays
may be made of different sizes to suit the different sized vessels containing the
produce.
The above described compartments extend by preference right across the recep-
tacle, so that there remain in this other small compartments ou each of the other
sides of the ice compartment of the same width as this. These are accessible through
small side doors in the receptacle, and contain shelves or trays on which are placed
eggs, butter, and other produce.
A small fan may be placed within the receptacle, driven by means of a band from
a pulley on the wheels of the vehicle, in order to produce a perfect circulation of the
air therein.
In this case the ice chamber may be situated at one end of the receptacle, and
have one or more passages formed through it, through which the air is propelled by
the fan, so as to be first effectively refrigerated, and then on issuing to circulate
through the different compartments.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th May
1879.
JAMES WILSON, of No. 29, Orchard Street, in the County of Middlesex.
"IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING MILK AND OTHER PRODUCE OF A
PERISHABLE NATURE FOR DISTRIBUTION AMONG THE CONSUMERS."
My Invention has reference to improved means for conveying milk and other /
produce of a perishable nature to the consumers, whereby such produce, and more
particularly the milk and cream, is protected from deterioration and from being
tampered with after it has left the dairy, so that it shall be possible for the. con-
sumer to receive the same in a perfectly pure and wholesome condition. For this
purpose instead of conveying the milk and cream from the dairy in unsecured closed
cans and receptacles, from which small quantities are drawn for each consumer, I fill
the milk and cream at the dairy into a number of small vessels or jars, by preference
of carthenware or glass, but which also may be of tin plate or other metal, each of
which contains a measured quantity, such as may be required by each consumer,
such as for instance half pints, pints, or quarts. These jars, which are by pre-
ference made either cylindrical or of tapering form with straight sides so as to be
easily cleansed internally, are provided with a lid that can be secured by any
suitable known means, such as a screw, or by projections or claws on the lid which
by turning are brought underneath projections on the mouth of the receptacle, or
by a stopper fitting accurately the mouth of the said vessels, the opening of the lid
except by the consumer being prevented by affixing a seal or lable thereon.
The jars are then placed in a receptacle or conveyance on wheels of the following
construction:-
A receptacle, by preference of rectangular shape, is constructed of materials that
are bad conductors of heat, such as two layers of boards between which is a layer of
felt or other bad conductor, or a vacant air space, and is mounted on wheels with
intervening springs, there being by preference two wheels at one end and a single
wheel at the other, so that the vebicle can be readily guided and propelled by one
The receptacles may however be made of larger dimensions, and be propelled
man.
by a horse or other power if necessary.
The receptacle is divided internally by preference into five compartments, there
being one central compartment accessible through a lid in the top or other con-
venient part of the receptacle, into which is introduced a vessel containing ice, the
ice being by preference placed upon a perforated or open tray in the upper part of
the vessel, arranged so that as the ice melts the water can flow down into the lower
part and escape through a sinall bent pipe in the bottom.
On two opposite sides of this compartment are two or more compartments
accessible through doors at the ends, sides, or top of the receptacle, in which are a
series of trays arranged one above the other on ledges so as to slide in and out. These
trays, as also all the division walls of the compartments, are made of perforated
metal or wire gauze strained on a framework, so as to allow the air in the receptacle
to circulate freely through all the compartments. Each tray is by preference divided
by partitions into a number of cells, each of which serves to receive one of the
beforementioned jars or vessels containing the milk or cream, so that these are pre-
vented from being upset by the jolting of the vehicle. The cells of the several trays
may be made of different sizes to suit the different sized vessels containing the
produce. The above described compartments extend by preference right across the
receptacle, so that there remain in this other small compartments on each of the
other sides of the ice compartment of the same width as this. These are accessible
through small side doors in the receptacle, and contain shelves or trays on which are
placed eggs, butter, and other produce.
A small fan may be placed within the receptable, driven by means of a band

page_text: from a pulley on the wheels of the vehicle, in order to produce a perfect circulation
of the air therein.
In this case the ice chamber may be situated at one end of the receptacle, and
have one or more passages formed through it, through which the air is propelled by
the fan, so as to be first effectively refrigerated, and then on issuing to circulate 5
through the different compartments.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings show respectively a longitudinal
section and a transverse section on line X, X, of one arrangement of the before
described conveyance for dairy produce.
The casing A is constructed by preference of two layers of boards with a layer of
felt between them, and is supported on two large hind wheels and a small front
wheel. The space within the casing is divided into five compartments, namely, one
large compartment B accessible through doors at C, having trays D which can be
slid in and out through the doors; secondly, a smaller compartment E accessible
through a door or doors at one or both sides, also containing sliding trays D; thirdly,
a refrigerating chamber F; and, lastly, on each side of this two compartments G, G,
accessible through doors at H in front, which may either have shelves or sliding
trays like the other compartments.
The chamber F has at top a receptacle I, into which is introduced through a
cover at K a vessel L containing ice, and so constructed that the water produced by
the melting of the ice may fall down through the chamber, escaping through the
bent pipe M. In the lower part of the chamber are fixed a number of partitions
N, N, projecting alternately from opposite sides, as shewn, so that the ice water in
descending has to flow in a zigzag direction over all the partitions N before arriving
at the escape pipe.
Below this chamber a small recess is formed in the bottom of the casing, in which
is placed a small fan or blower O, the spindle of which is extended to the side of
the casing, where it carries a small pulley O' driven by a band from a pulley on one
of the road wheels, so as by the motion of this to impart rotary motion to the vanes
of the fan. The recess containing the blower being made to communicate with the
compartiments B, E, and G, through openings, as shown, while the mouth of the fan
opens into the chamber F, the air is drawn by the motion of the fan from the lower
parts of the several compartments into the fan, and is propelled by the same up the
chamber F. In travelling in a zigzag direction over the partitions N, as indicated
by the arrows, the air becomes effectually cooled by contact with the cold water
flowing down, and also by contact with the sides of the ice vessel, so that it issues
in a cold condition through the orifice P, whence it circulates through the several
compartments, keeping their contents cool, and eventually finds its way back to the
fan again.
In the trays of the several compartments are placed vessels Q, Q, of various sizes,
each containing some definite measure of milk or cream, and closed in such a manner
that their contents cannot be tampered with, thus ensuring the delivery of the
dairy produce to the consumer in the same condition in which it left the dairy, as
already stated. The small compartments G, G, may serve to contain other dairy
produce, such as butter, eggs, poultry, and the like.
The above described arrangement might also be employed without the use of the
fan, apertures being provided at the top and bottom of the refrigerating chamber F
for the ingress and egress of air from the several compartments.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew respectively a longitudinal section and a transverse section of
a simpler construction of the conveyance. In this arrangement the casing A. is not
divided into compartments, but is merely provided with sliding trays D, which are
accessible through doors at C, C. A central chamber F is provided for containing
the ice receptacle; the water from which escapes through the pipe M. Apertures

page_text: are provided at P through which the air in the casing can circulate through the ice
chamber, access to which is gained through the lid K.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I claim,-
First. The use for conveying milk and other produce of a perishable nature of
a truck or conveyance, consisting of a closed casing containing trays or shelves, and
a chamber for the reception of ice, whereby the milk or other produce, which is con-
tained in sealed vessels of definite measurement placed on the trays, is maintained
in a cooled condition and prevented from deterioration during its transit from the
dairy to the consumer, substantially as herein described.
Second. In trucks or conveyance constructed as described in the preceding claim
the provision of means for effecting the circulation of the air through the compart-
ments and refrigerating chamber, substantially as herein described, with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wilson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JAMES WILSON. (L.S.)