IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1886.
Complete Left, 14th Oct., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 15th Jan., 1887.
I, ADAM NEUBECKER, of Offenbach-on-the-Main, Hesse, in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFRIGERATING MACHINERY OR APPARATUS "to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus.
The improved refrigerating apparatus comprises a receiver, an evaporator, a com-
pressor, a condenser, a pump, a levelling-vessel, and suitable connections.
A proper refrigerating substance which has become liquid is placed in the receiver
and is then conducted into the evaporator where it evaporates by heating to a low
temperature, an external liquid, (preferably a solution of salt.)
The vapors flow from the evaporator into the compressor and thence into the
condenser where, under the combined action of a higher tension and a lower
temperature produced by another external liquid, they are again precipitated, and
accumulate in the receiver in a liquid state, and thence they recommence their circular
motion.
Suppose that this process of producing cold, as well as its theoretical principles, is
known, in the following description of improvements I will first aim at approaching
as nearly as possible, the mechanical process to the conditions which theory asserts to
give the best and most useful result, and to prevent any escape of the volatile
refrigerating substance.
(1) In order to lower the differences of temperature which are required to convey
the heat at the very lowest degree, a peculiar arrangement of the evaporators and
condensers is provided for.
(2) In order to prevent the vapors from being overheated during the process of
compression, the liquid refrigerating substance is conducted into the compressor.
(3) In order to prevent the escape of gas out of the compressor, the stuffing-box is
peculiarly and carefully arranged.
(4) In order to have the gas-pipe conduits tight and safe, the cut off valves or stop-
cocks are peculiarly arranged.

page_text: I also propose to show how the lubricating-oil can be recovered and be made use of,
and how the rectification of it takes place inside the machine.
A more detailed description will make it clear why the conditions just enumerated
have been adopted and by what special contrivances they may be arrived at.
The mechanical theory of heat teaches that in this process of refrigerating the higher
the temperature at which evaporation is produced, the greater will be the quantity of
cold (ice) produced; and that the relative force required is less, the lower the
temperature by means of which condensation is effected. The lower temperature
i.e. the temperature at which evaporation takes place and its useful purpose still
requires some further reduction of teinperature a so-called "difference of temperature"
-in order to convey the quantity of heat necessary for evaporation from the external
heating liquid to the volatile refrigerating substance through the walls of the
evaporator. The higher temperature depends equally upon the supply of cold water
at hand, and it must also be raised in order to produce a slight difference of
temperature, so that the volatile refrigerating substance may be able to convey its heat
to the cold water through the walls of the condenser.
Although in mechanical processes the temperatures needed for useful refrigerating
purposes and those of the cooling water cannot be changed, some care may nevertheless
be taken that the differences in temperature which the evaporator and the condenser
require should be brought down to a minimum, and which ought to be maintained.
The motion caused by the working of anything or expansion of fluids generally
involves an increasing of the surfaces, which are, however, limited for economical
reasons, and great attention must be paid to the given surface being made best use of.
It is well known that counter-stream apparatus at an equal extension of surface are of
better effect-i.e, require less difference of temperature than the parallel-stream
apparatus or the boiler apparatus, or the combination of the three systems.
All apparatus used hitherto with refrigerating-machines have been lacking more or
less in the principle of counter-stream, whether the very imperfect boiler apparatus be
used to convey the evaporation and condensation in a direct manner, or whether
serpentine pipes are used, which are put into a reservoir in form of a boiler. The
evaporating and condensing apparatus constructed according to this invention are
however strictly based on the principle of counter-stream. The volatile refrigerating
substance in both of the apparatuses must pass through long pipes, as well as the
counter-streaming (heating) liquid which is to be refrigerated in the first instance,
and, secondly, the cold water which is to be heated. In consequence of this, the
difference of temperature between the volatile refrigerating substance and those
liquids which convey or absorb the heat is reduced to the very lowest degree;
therefore the temperature of evaporation relatively to the temperature of condensation
has been brought as near as possible to those two extreme temperatures; and secondly,
*the heating and refrigerating liquids are better made use of, which in particular have
an essential effect upon the quantity of cooling water required for condensation. In
consequence of the acquired advantage in the first instance the compressor has more
power, because it absorbs thicker vapors and requires less motion, as the tension of
compression remains lower.
The apparatus in question may either be composed of straight current-pipes, the
same as in the evaporator, said pipes being connected by caps or of zigzag-shaped pipes,
the same as in the condenser. It is most important that the cooling surfaces particn-
larly of the condenser is kept clean from slime, so that the transmitting power of the
heating capacity of the 'cooling-surface is not diminished. Cold water, apparently
quite clear and pure, after a short time leaves some slime in the pipes.
In order to keep the pipes clean and free from all dirt, a brush apparatus is adjusted
at the condenser.
Each apparatus, whether for evaporating or condensing, consists of a rectangular
box, which is divided by wedge-like partitions into single rectangular canals, which
are placed over each other, and which direct the external liquids to flow upward in
wide zig-zag lines. The evaporating and condensing liquids flow in through pipes and
they flow out through other pipes. The canals take up a number of pipes placed

page_text: beside each other, but only as many as are needed for the cross-section through which
the volatile refrigerating substance must flow. The vapors of the volatile liquid
substance in the pipes flow in zig-zag lines downward, and thus maintain a steady fall,
by which means on the one hand the liquid introduced into the evaporator flowing
downward greatly influences the heating-surface, and on the other hand the precipitated
liquid finds its way downward into the receiver.
In each canal of the condenser a brush apparatus in shape of a socket is placed
across each row of pipes. All these brushes are moved by some appropriate mechanical
power as, for instance, by an endless chain on a drum or they are moved backward
and forward in some other way. The evaporator does not want such a cleaning as long
as it works with a liquid circulating in a closed circle.
The condenser may be made of corrugated sheet metal, such construction offering
the advantage that besides profiting by the entire action of the counter-stream
principle for the cooling with water, the air will likewise partake in the cooling process
by coming in contact with a large area of surfaces.
All the liquid introduced into the evaporator is reduced into vapor, and therefore
the vapor which comes out is thoroughly dry, and is possibly overheated already.
Theory shows that overheating results in the case of vapors compressed into this state,
and that an augmentation takes place in the work of the compression which is required
for vapors constantly saturated for purely isothermical compression; but the vapors
remain saturated if part of their mother liquor is mixed up with them, if they come
into contact with it. In this case a volatile refrigerating substance is conducted into
the compressor during the process of compression by means of suitable mechanism.
A conduit of pipes, joins the receiver to injecting valves which are set into motion by
the working of a lever and eccentric in such a way that they open when compression
begins and close again before the compressor is quite lifted. The liquid in the receiver
is under the highest compression, and of course thence continues to be injected into
Then the injection stops
the compressor until it has reached the compression needed.
of itself and therefore only takes place during the proper point of compression.
Instead of the projecting valves round or flat side valves or cocks may be used,
which are set into motion in the same way or by some other appropriate mechanism.
While Linde and others make use of a resisting-liquid in order to prevent the
escape of the volatile refrigerating substances, from the stuffing box of the compressor,
I place in a stuffing-box or annular chamber a box or chamber, only filled with gas
and not with a liquid. To keep this chamber open, a movable gas-ring, is inserted in
the packing of the annular chamber. The escaping gas is caught in the gas-ring and
the gas chamber] and returned into the machine as follows, ie, the gas-chamber is
permanently connected with an adjusting-vessel by means of a pipe. From this vessel
an auxiliary pump is sucking, not in a direct manner, but by means of an adjusting
valve, and a pipe connection, and forces the gas which has been caught back into the
machine, in the present case into the condenser.
The adjusting-valve aims at the uniformity of the tension of the gas in the levelling
or adjusting vessel, as well as in the gas chamber, connected with it, with the external
atmospheric pressure.
The donkey-pump is constructed in such a way that it can draw with certainty all
the gas which has escaped into the levelling vessel; but as soon as the tension in the
latter is lower than the atmospheric pressure the adjusting valve closes; and then the
pump is emptied. The valve in question is attached to a membrane, which is weighted
by the external atmospheric pressure, and internally by the tension of gas. If the
pressure in the levelling vessel rises beyond that of the atmosphere in consequence of
the gas having penetrated into it from the annular chamber, then the membrane raises
itself along with the valvo and the donkey-pump begins to work again.
The donkey or auxiliary pump preferably has the piston-rod of the compressor
lengthened at the back, and in this way there is no cause for the gas to penetrate into
the open air.
gas
By means of the mechanism just described the tension of the gas in the chamber
is kept equal to the external atmospheric pressure. The annular chamber which

page_text: separates this gas chamber, will not allow any gas to escape out of it, and at the same
time no air can get into it.
It is well known that all the gases diffuse into one another independently of their
tensions, and in spite of their equal tensions a trifling exchange of either gas will take
place before and behind the stuffing-box if the latter is not perfectly tight, as is
generally the case. In order to meet and make up for this deficiency of the interior
gas escaping and the external air penetrating into it, the bush of the stuffing-box is
provided with a slot, which is oiled from a lubricator. This oil has to fill up any
deficiencies in the packing, and is to prevent the two gases coming into contact with
each other, and thus to prevent their diffusion. The oil-space within the bush of the
stuffing-box serves also in a manner well known for lubricating the piston-rod. The
oil is not made use of in the saine sense as the liquid separation by hydraulic packings,
for it is not under any tension, nor under the pressure of compression, nor under that
of suction, while the latter are.
These contrivances for preventing the escape of gas into the open air are more
especially adapted for machines which work with a refrigerating substance the tension
of evaporation of which is higher than the external atmospherical pressure; but they
may also be used with refrigerating substances which evaporate lower than that at the
atmospherical pressure, if only the tension of condensation is higher. If the tension
of evaporation is nearly the same as that of the external atmospheric pressure, then it
suffices simply to join the suction-pipe of the compressor to the gas chamber. This is
the case with Pictet, who uses anhydrous sulphuric acid. Theory teaches however,
that the liquids used for producing cold (ice) are the better and the more appropriate
the more volatile they are i.e., if under the same proportions of temperature, they
evaporate, however high the tension may be. While the simple contrivance made use
of by Pictet is limited to a definite refrigerating substance and only works well if the
temperature kept exactly at 10° Celsius, the contrivance in question may be worked
with any refrigerating substance, especially with such which are most volatile.
The arrangement of the contrivance above described allows of many variations
without altering the essential part of it. The donkey pump for instance, instead of
being joined to the compressor may also work as a separate pump, either single or
double acting in a vertical or in a horizontal position, as, for instance, a pump which is
sucking out the levelling-vessel and eventually advances the work into the suction pipe
of the compressor, instead of the condensor. The chamber belonging to this separate
pump needs the same protection as the principal stuffing box, which may be brought
about by connecting it with the levelling vessel by means of a small pipe.
If the compressor is arranged so as to have its driving mechanisms put into a closed
box and having instead of a piston moving backward and forward, a shaft turning
round, then the packed piston is put in the place of the permeable annular chamber,
and the box might serve at the same time as the gas chamber and the levelling vessel.
For this purpose an adjusting valve is added to it. The shaft stuffing-box directly
becomes an external stuffing box well protected. The levelling valve may also be
placed under the influence of a piston instead of a membrane which is also weighted
externally by the atmosphere and internally by gas. The donkey-pump may further
be replaced by an ejector.
In one form of ejector the compressed vapors of the refrigerating substance flow
into a nose pipe or nozzle, and work on the levelling vessel in a sucking manner, the
ejector being put into communication with the levelling valve.
The united vapours
flow back into the compressor through a pipe.
With another form of ejector the liquid under pressure in the gathering-pot instead
of going straight into the evaporator, flows into the blast pipe of the ejector, and sucks
from the levelling vessel through the pipe-conduit and when united with the absorbed
gas the liquid is propelled into the evaporator.
Partitions must be placed in the pipes between the compressor, condenser evaporator,
gathering-pot, levelling-vessel donkey-pump, which partitions make it possible that
either of these apparatus, or even the pipe may at once be separated, as may be
necessary, so that any leakage or any other damage may be easily remedied; but the

page_text: part in question must, if possible, first be emptied by means of the compressor, and
the volatile gas must be propelled into the other apparatus.
In order to prevent any escape of gas during such manipulations, it is absolutely
necessary that the partitions in question should be perfectly firm against a high
pressure of gas. The well known cocks provided with taper plugs are very well suited
for this. These taps answer their purpose in one direction only. For instance, if
the corner tap, and the delivery tap are closed, they are only tight when the separation
If the pressure
ensues, in consequence of some pressure which acts in one direction.
acts in the opposite direction, then the plug is raised and the cock is not tight. The
partitions of the machine in question, however, must keep tight in either direction
alternately, depending on the partitions being inserted either before or behind the tap.
The cocks, serving for the purpose just mentioned, are constructed as ordinary stop
cocks, the ends of which are not placed in line, but at an angle of one hundred
and twenty degrees with each other. If there is to be a separation in one direction
then the higher pressure is also on the tap, as it is in the reverse way.
;
The steam engine preferably used is a closed one, that is to say the cylinder is
contained within a steam chamber continually supplied with steam. In an engine
operating by superheated steam the lubricating oil used is thrown out with the vapours,
in the engine used, however, it accumulates and would cause some disturbances during
the process if it were not released from time to time; but this cannot be done without
being very careful, for the oil, being under the high pressure prevailing in the engine,
absorbs a considerable quantity of the volatile refrigerating substance, which, in
consequence of the diminution of the external pressure, is released again, and would'
consequently be lost. The most judicious way of proceeding is to accumulate the oil
in a pot because it is carried away in small particles from the compressor into the
condenser but here it is precipitated with the condensed vapours, and in the end
separates itself from the liquid refrigerating substances in consequence of the
difference in the specific gravity. In the gathering-pot it separates itself either above
or below, according as these substances may be of lower or higher specific gravity than
the oil. If the latter case be adopted, the oil will then be lower than the refrigerating
substance. The pipe which conveys the oil into the gathering-pot does not touch the
bottom of it, while another pipe leads from the bottom of the gathering-pot into the
adjusting-vessel. When the trap is opened, the oil flows under the higher pressure
from the gathering-pot into the adjusting vessel. There it will find atmospheric
tension, in consequence of which it releases the greater part of the absorbed gas,
which is brought back into the engine by means of the donkey-pump, &c as has been
described already.
In order to release the oil from the least particle of absorbed gas, a small heating
core is inserted at the bottom of the adjusting-vessel for the purpose of heating the
oil, and it can be released through a tap for instance, into a bucket and when it has got
cool and has deposited any dregs it contained it is again fit for use.
It will be seen that a highly-volatile refrigerating substance of any well known kind
such as ammonia is conducted in a liquid form from the receiver into and through a
counter-streaming evaporator, the external chambers of which are continuously
supplied with a suitable vaporizing liquid such as a solution of salt the volatile
substance being thereby converted into vapour, with consequent lowering of tempera-
ture in the vicinity of the evaporator. The vapours thus produced are conductor to
the compressor and, in order to prevent overheating, this compressor is supplied
through passages and valves with a portion of refrigerating material from the receiver.
Any loss of gas is prevented by the arrangement of the gas chamber, and stuffing-box
in connection with the leveling or adjusting vessel, the latter being employed in
connection with a donkey pump or ejector or valve in either of the various ways
described, or any modification thereof in such a manner as to conduct back to the
machine any portion of gas that may escape from the compressor. It will also be
seen that the stuffing-box of the compressor is provided with appropriate lubricating
devices, so arranged as to also prevent diffusion between the external air and the gas in
the fore chamber. This lubricating-oil after serving the above purposes is gradually

page_text: accumulated in the receiving vessel or chamber whence it is transmitted to the lower
part of the adjusting or leveling vessel and separated from any absorbed gases without
loss of either. The compressed gases are conveyed into a counter-streaming con-
denser, the external chambers of which are continuously supplied with a suitable
condensing-liquid, and the refrigerating substance thus converted again to a liquid
form is returned to the receiver to again make the circuit above described. By
arranging the various connecting-pipes so that they can be readily separated, and
providing them with suitable taps or cocks, as set forth, any necessary repairs can be
easily made without loss of refrigerating material and with but little delay in the
operation of the machine.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Refrigerating Machinery or Apparatus,
°
I ADAM NEUBECKER of Offenbach on the Main, in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, in
the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 relates to improvements in refrigerating apparatus.
The improved apparatus hereinafter described comprises a steam-engine the vapours
of which are reduced into their liquid state by mechanical compression.
The said apparatus also comprises a receiver, an evaporator, a compresser, a
condenser, a pump, a levelling vessel and suitable connections.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional diagramatic view of a portion of the improved refrigerating
apparatus showing, the receiver, the evaporator, the compresser the condenser, the
pump, the levelling vessel, and connections also in dotted lines the relations of the
apparatus to certain modifications of the pumping devices.
Figure 2 is a cross section of either the condenser or the evaporator, showing the
internal construction which is substantially alike in both.
Figures 3 to 7 illustrate respectively the arrangement of certain modifications to be
hereinafter referred to.
Figure 8 illustrates the construction of certain gas cocks or taps placed in the pipes
between the compresser, condenser, evaporator, receiver, levelling vessel and donkey
pump.
Figure 9 is a sectional side elevation drawn to an enlarged scale, of the condenser
with cleaning devices.
Figure 10 is a plan view of the same.
Figures 11 to 14 illustrate certain details in the construction of the condenser.
Figure 15 is a general view of the improved refrigerating steam engine in side
elevation.
Figure 16 is a top or plan view of the same.
Figure 17 is an end view.
Figure 18 is a sectional view illustrating a modification in the arrangement of the
levelling vessel, donkey pump, and compresser connections.
In operating the apparatus a proper refrigerating substance in a liquid state is
placed in the receiver A at 1 and is then conducted into the evaporator B by pipe 2
and the throttle valve (or cock) 3, where it evaporates, by heating to a low temperature,
an external liquid, (preferably a solution of salt).
The vapours flow from the evaporator through pipe 4 into the compresser C, and
thence through the pipe 5 into the condenser D, where under the combined action of
a higher tension and a lower temperature produced by another external liquid, they
are again precipitated and accumulate in the receiver A in a liquid state and thence
they recommence their circular motion.

page_text: Suppose that this process of producing cold, as well as its theoretical principles, are
known in the following description of improvements I will first aim at approaching, as
nearly as possible, the mechanical process to the conditions which theory asserts
to give the best and most useful result, and to prevent any escape of the volatile
refrigerating substance.
These improvements are to be carried into effect as follows:-
In order to lower the differences of temperature which are required to convey the
heat at the very lowest degree, a peculiar arrangement of the evaporators and
condensers is provided for.
In order to prevent the vapours from being overheated during the process of
compression, the liquid refrigerating substance is conducted into the compresser.
In order to prevent the escape of gas out of the compressor, the stuffing-box is
peculiarly and carefully arranged.
In order to have the gas-pipe conduits tight and safe, the cut off valves or stop-
cocks are peculiarly arranged.
I also propose to show how the lubricating oil can be recovered and be made use of,
and how the rectification of it takes place inside the machine.
A more detailed description will make it clear, why the conditions just enumerated
have been pursued, and by what special contrivances they may be arrived at.
The mechanical theory of heat teaches that in this process of refrigerating the higher
the temperature at which evaporation is produced, the greater will be the quantity
of cold (ice) produced, and that the relative force required is less, the lower the
temperature by means of which condensation is effected.
The lower temperature (i,e., the temperature at which evaporation takes place) and
its useful purpose still requires some further reduction of temperature (a so-called
"difference of temperature") in order to convey the quantity of heat necessary for
evaporation from the external heating liquid to the volatile refrigerating substance
through the walls of the evaporator. The higher temperature depends equally upon
the supply of cold water at hand, and it must also be raised in order to produce a
slight difference of temperature, so that the volatile refrigerating substance may be
able to convey its heat to the cold water through the walls of the condenser.
Although in mechanical processes the temperatures needed for useful refrigerating
purposes and those of the cooling water cannot be changed, some care may nevertheless
be taken that the differences in temperature which the evaporator and the condenser
require should be brought down to a minimum, and which ought to be maintained.
The motion caused by the working of anything or expansion of fluids generally
involves an increasing of the surfaces, which are, however, limited for economical
reasons, and great attention must be paid to the given surface being made best use of.
It is well known that counter-stream apparatus at an equal extension of surface are of
better effect i,e, require less difference of temperature, than the parallel stream
apparatus or the boiler apparatus, or the combination of the three systems.
All apparatus used hitherto with refrigerating machines, have been lacking more or
less in the principle of counter-stream, whether the very imperfect boiler apparatus be
used to convey the evaporation and condensation in a direct manner or whether
serpentine pipes are used, which are put into a reservoir in form of a boiler. The
evaporating and condensing apparatus B and D, constructed according to this invention
are however strictly based on the principle of counter-stream. The volatile refrige-
rating substance in both of the apparatuses must pass through long pipes as well as the
counter-streaming (heating) liquid which is to be refrigerated in the first. instance,
and, secondly the cold water which is to be heated. In consequence of this, the
difference of temperature between the volatile refrigerating substance and those liquids
which convey or absorb the heat is reduced to the very lowest degree, therefore the
temperature of evaporation relatively to the temperature of condensation has been
brought as near as possible to those two extreme temperatures; and secondly the
heating and refrigerating liquids are better made use of, which in particular have.an
essential effect upon the quantity of cooling water required for condensation. In
consequence of the acquired advantage in the first instance the compressor has more

page_text: power, because it absorbs thicker vapours and requires less motion, as the tension of
compression remains lower.
The apparatus in question may either be composed of straight current pipes, the
same as in the evaporator B, said pipes being connected by the caps 10, or of zig-zag-
shaped pipes, the same as in the condenser D. It is most important that the cooling
surface, particularly of the condenser is kept clean from slime, so that the transmitting
power of the heating capacity of the cooling-surface is not diminished.
Cold water,
apparently quite clear and pure, after a short time leaves some slime in the pipes.
In order to keep the pipes clean and free from all dirt a brush apparatus 11 is
adjusted at the condenser D.
Each apparatus, whether for evaporating or condensing, consists of a rectangular
box, which is divided by wedge-like partitions 6 into single rectangular canals, which
are placed over each other, and which direct the external liquids to flow upward in
wide zigzag lines. The evaporating and condensing liquids flow in through pipes 7
and they flow out through other pipes 8. The canals take up a number of pipes 9
placed beside each other, but only as many as are needed for the cross-section through
which the volatile refrigerating substance must flow.
The vapours of the volatile liquid substance in the pipes flow in zigzag lines
downward, and thus maintain a steady fall, by which means on the one hand the liquid
introduced into the evaporator flowing downward greatly influences the heating-
surface and on the other hand the precipitated liquid finds its way downward into the
receiver.
In each canal of the condenser D, a brush apparatus in shape of a socket, 11, is
placed across each row of pipes. All these brushes are moved by some appropriate
mechanical power as, for instance by an endless chain on a drum 12ª, Figures 9, 10
and 11 or they are moved backward and forward in some other way. The evaporator B
does not want such a cleaning as long as it works with a liquid circulating in a
closed circle.
The condenser may be made of corrugated sheet metal, Figure 14, such construction
offering the advantage that besides profiting by the entire action of the counter-stream
principle for the cooling with water, the air will likewise partake in the cooling process
by coming in contact with a large area of surfaces.
All the liquid introduced into the evaporator B is reduced into vapour, and
therefore the vapour which comes out is thoroughly dry, and is possibly overheated
already. Theory shows that overheating results in the case of vapours compressed
into this state, and that an augmentation takes place in the work of the compression
which is required for vapours constantly saturated for purely isothermical compression ;
but the vapours remain saturated, if part of their mother liquor is mixed up with them,
if they come into contact with it. In this case a volatile refrigerating substance is
conducted into the compressor C during the process of compression by means of
suitable mechanism. A conduit of pipes 2, 12 and 13, joins the receiver A to
injecting valves 14, which are set into motion by the working of a lever 15 and
eccentric 16, in such a way that they open when compression begins and close agair
before the compressor is quite lifted.
The liquid in the receiver is under the highest compression, and of course thence
continues to be injected into the compressor until it has reached the compression
needed. Then the injection stops of itself, and therefore only takes place during the
proper point of compression.
Instead of the injecting-valves 14 round or flat slide valves or cocks may be used,
which are set into motion in the same way or by some other appropriate mechanism.
While Linde and others make use of a resisting liquid in order to prevent the escape
of the volatile refrigerating substance from the stuffing box of the compressor, I place
in a stuffing-box or annular chamber 17 a box or chamber 18, only filled with gas and
not with a liquid. To keep this chamber 18 open a movable gas-ring 19 is inserted
in the packing of the annular chamber 17. The escaping gas is caught in the gas-
ring 19 and the gas chamber 18, and returned into the machine as follows-i.e, the
gas-chamber 18 is permanently connected with an adjusting-vessel F by means of a

page_text: pipe 19. From this vessel F an auxiliary pump is sucking, not in a direct manner,
but by means of an adjusting-valve 20 and a pipe-connection 21 and 22, and forces the
gas which has been caught through pipe 22 back into the machine, in the present case
into the condenser.
The adjusting-valve 20 aims at the uniformity of the tension of the gas in the
levelling or adjusting vessel F, as well as in the gas chamber connected with it, with
the external atmospheric pressure.
The donkey-pump is constructed in such a way that it can draw with certainty all
the gas which has escaped into the levelling vessel; but as soon as the tension in the
latter is lower than the atmospheric pressure, the adjusting valve 20 closes, and then
the pump is emptied. The valve in question is attached to a membrane, which is
weighted by the external atmospheric pressure, and internally by the tension of gas.
If the pressure in the levelling vessel F rises beyond that of the atmosphere in
consequence of the gas having penetrated into it from the annular chamber 17, then
the membrane raises itself along with the valve and the donkey-pump begins to
work again.
The donkey or auxiliary pump preferably has the piston-rod of the compressor
lengthened at the back, and in this way there is no cause for the gas to penetrate into
the open air.
By means of the mechanism just described the tension of the gas in the gas-
chamber 18 is kept equal to the external atmospheric pressure. The annular
chamber 17 which separates this gas-chamber, will not allow any gas to escape out of
it, and at the same time no air can get into it.
It is well known that all gases diffuse into one another independently of their
tensions, and in spite of their equal tensions a trifling exchange of either gas will take
place before and behind the stuffing-box 18, if the latter is not perfectly tight, as is
generally the case.
In order to meet and make up for this deficiency of the interior gas escaping and
the external air penetrating into it, the bush 40 of the stuffing-box is provided with a
slot, which is oiled from a lubricator 23.
This oil has to fill up any deficiencies in the packing, and is to prevent the two
gases coming into contact with each other, and thus to prevent their diffusion. The
oil-space within the bush 40 of the stuffing-box serves also in a manner well known for
lubricating the piston-rod. The oil is not made use of in the same sense as the liquid
separation by hydraulic packings for it is not under any tension, nor under the
pressure of compression, nor under that of suction while the latter are.
These contrivances for preventing the escape of gas into the open air are more
especially adapted for machines which work with a refrigerating substance the tension
of evaporation of which is higher than the external atmospheric pressure, but they
may also be used with refrigerating substances which evaporate lower than at the
atmospheric pressure, if only the tension of condensation is higher. If the tension of
evaporation is nearly the same as that of the external atmospheric pressure, then it
suffices simply to join the suction pipe of the compressor to the gas-chamber. This is
the case with Pictet, who uses anhydrous sulphuric acid. Theory teaches, however,
that the liquids used for producing cold (ice) are the better and the more appropriate
the more volatile they are i.e., if under the same proportions of temperature, they
evaporate, however high the tension may be.
While the simple contrivance made use of by Pictet is limited to a definite
refrigerating substance and only works well if the temperature is kept exactly at
10° Celsius, the contrivance in question may be worked with any refrigerating
substance, especially with such which are most volatile.
The arrangement of the contrivance above described allows of many variations
without altering the essential part of it. The donkey-pump E, for instance, instead
of being joined to the compressor may also work as a separate pump, either single or
double acting, in a vertical or in a horizontal position. It may be worked by an
eccentric, a strap &c., for instance, as the pump G, Figure 3, which is drawing liquid
out of the levelling vessel F through the pipe-conduits 24 and 26, and forcing the same

page_text: through the pipe 25 into the suction pipe 4 of the compressor, instead of the condenser.
The chamber belonging to this separate pump needs the same protection as the
principal stuffing-box, which may be brought about by connecting it with the levelling-
vessel F by means of a small pipe 26.
If the compressor is arranged so as to have its driving mechanism put into a closed
box (as, for instance, is the case with H, as shown in Figure 4) and has instead of a
piston moving backward and forward a rotating shaft then the packed piston is put in
the place of the permeable annular chamber 17, and the box might serve at the same
time as the gas-chamber 18, and the levelling vessel F. For this purpose an
adjusting-valve 20ª is added to it. The shaft stuffing-box directly becomes an external
stuffing-box well protected. The levelling valve may also be placed under the
influence of a piston instead of a membrane, as for instance, at I, Figure 5, which
piston is weighted externally by the atmosphere and internally by gas. The donkey-
pump may further be replaced by an ejector, such as K or L.
In the form of ejector K the compressed vapours of the refrigerating substance flow
through the pipe 27 into the nose-pipe or nozzle Figure 6, and work on. the levelling
vessel in a sucking manner, the ejector being put into communication with the
levelling-valve through the pipes 21, 22 and 23." The united vapours flow back into
the compressor through a pipe 29.
With the form of ejector L the liquid under pressure in the receiver A, instead of
going straight into the evaporator, flows through pipes 2 and 30 into the blast-pipe
of the ejector and exhausts from the levelling-vessel through the pipe-conduit 21, 24,
and 31, and when united with the absorbed gas the liquid is propelled into the
evaporator through pipe 32.
Partitions must be placed in the pipes between the compressor, condenser,
evaporator, receiver, levelling-vessel, and donkey-pump, which partitions make it
possible that either of these apparatus, or even the pipe, may at once be separated, as
may be necessary, so that any leakage or any other damage may be easily remedied;
but the part in question must, if possible, first be emptied by means of the compressor,
and the volatile gas must be propelled into the other apparatus.
In order to prevent any escape of gas during such manipulations, it is absolutely
necessary that the partitions in question should be perfectly firm against a high pressure
of gas. The well known cocks provided with taper plugs are very well suited for this.
These taps answer their purpose in one direction only. For instance, if the corner
tap M, and the delivery-tap N, Figure 8, are closed, they are only tight when the
separation ensues, in consequence of some pressure which acts in one direction. If
the pressure acts in the opposite direction, then the plug of the tap is raised and
the tightness ceases. The partitions of the machine in question, however, must keep
right in either direction alternately, depending on the partitions being inserted either
before or behind the tap.
The cocks, serving for the purpose just mentioned, are constructed as ordinary
stop cocks a, the ends of which are not placed in alignment, but at an angle of one
hundred and twenty degrees with each other.
If there is to be a separation in one direction of b, then the higher pressure is
also on the tap, as it is in the reverse way c.
The steam engine preferably is a closed one, that is to say the cylinder is contained
within a steam chamber continually supplied with steam. In an engine operating
with superheated steam the lubricating-oil consumed is thrown out with the vapours,
In the engine used, however, it accumulates and would cause some disturbances during
the process if it were not released from time to time; but this cannot be done without
being very careful, for the oil, being under the high pressure prevailing in the engine,
absorbs a considerable quantity of the volatile refrigerating substance, which in
consequence of the diminution of the external pressure, is released again and would'
consequently be lost. The most judicious way of proceeding is to accumulate the oil
in a receiver A, because it is carried away in small particles from the compressor into
the condenser; but here it is precipitated with the condensed vapours, and in the end
separates itself from the liquid refrigerating substances in consequence of the difference

page_text: in the specific gravity. In the receiver A it separates itself either above or below,
according as these substances may be of lower or higher specific gravity than the
oil. If the latter case be adopted the oil 33 will then be lower than the refrigerating
substance.
The pipe 2 which conveys the oil into the receiver A does not touch the bottom
of it, while another pipe 35 leads from the bottom of the receiver into the adjusting
vessel F. When the tap 34 is opened, the oil 33 flows under the higher pressure from
the receiver into the adjusting vessel F at 36. There it will find atmospheric tension,
in consequence of which it releases the greater part of the absorbed gas, which is
brought back into the engine by means of the donkey pump &c, as has been
described already.
In order to release the oil from the least particle of absorbed gas, a small heating
core 37 is inserted at the bottom of the adjusting vessel for the purpose of heating the
oil, and it can be released through a tap 38 for instance, into a bucket 39 and when it
has cooled and has deposited any dregs it contained it is again fit for use.
It will be seen that a highly volatile refrigerating substance of any well known kind
such as ammonia-is conducted in a liquid form from the receiver A into and through
a counter streaming evaporator B, the external chambers of which are continuously
supplied with a suitable vaporizing-liquid such as a solution of salt-the volatile
substance being thereby converted into vapour with consequent lowering of temperature
in the vicinity of the evaporator. The vapours thus produced are conducted to the
compressor C, and, in order to prevent overheating, this compressor is supplied through
the passages 2, 12, 13 and valves 14 with a portion of the refrigerating material from
the receiver. Any loss of gas is prevented by the arrangement of the gas chamber 18,
and stuffing-box 17, in connection with the levelling or adjusting vessel F, the latter
being employed in connection with a donkey pump or ejector or valve in either of the
various ways described or any modification thereof in such a manner as to conduct
back to the machine any portion of gas that may escape from the compressor. It will
also be seen that the stuffing-box of the compressor is provided with appropriate
lubricating devices, so arranged as to prevent diffusion between the external air and
the gas in the fore chamber. This lubricating oil, after serving the above purposes, is
gradually accumulated in the receiving vessel or chamber A, whence it is transmitted
to the lower part of the adjusting or levelling vessel F and separated from any absorbed
gases without loss of either. The compressed gases are conveyed through the pipes 5
into a counter-streaming condenser D, the external chambers of which are continuously
supplied with a suitable condensing-liquid, and the refrigerating substance thus
converted again to a liquid form is returned to the receiver A to again make the circuit
above described. By arranging the various connecting pipes so that they can be
readily separated, and providing them with suitable taps or cocks, as set forth, any
necessary repairs can be easily made without loss of refrigerating material and with
but little delay in the operation of the machine.
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 :—
First. In a refrigerating machine, an evaporator or condenser separated internally
into compartments by wedge-shaped partitions, whereby the several compartments are
alternately inclined in opposite directions in combination with pipes placed in said
compartments for the passage of a refrigerating substance, substantially as described.
Second. In a refrigerating machine, the combination, with the pipes 9 of annular
cleaning brushes 11, placed on and surrounding said pipes, substantially as described.
Third. In a refrigerating machine the combination, with the receiver A and the
compressor C, directly connected by pipes and valved passages, of the counter-
streaming evaporator B, the counter-streaming condenser D, and pipes for connecting
the receiver, evaporator compressor and condenser in a continuous circuit, substantially
as described.
Fourth. In a refrigerating-machine the combination, with the receiver A, the
compressor C, and the evaporator D, of the levelling vessel F, having valve 20 and

page_text: valved heating coil 37, and pipes for connecting said receiver, compressor, condenser,
and levelling vessel, substantially as described.
Fifth. In a refrigerating-machine the combination, with the pump E and com-
pressor C, of the fore chamber 18, annular chamber 17, and lubricating vase 23,
substantially as described.
Sixth. In a refrigerating-machine, the combination, with the receiver A evaporator B,
condenser D, and compressor C, connected in a circuit by pipes, of the valved
bevelling-vessel F, the pump or ejector E, the chamber 17, having lubricating vase 23,
fore chamber 18, and gas-ring 19, pipes for connecting the levelling vessel F to the
receiver, pump, and chamber 17, and pipes and valved passages for connecting the
receiver and compressor, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.