improvements in Connection with Refrigerating, Ice Making, and Cooling Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1888
Specification Accepted, 4th May, 1888
improvements in Connection with Refrigerating, Ice Making, and
Cooling Machines.
I, JOHN HENRY NEWTON of 7 Lime Street, Hull, Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my Invention is to improve the construction of refrigerating and ice
making apparatus in such a manner that the required diminution of the normal
temperature is obtained by the alternate compression and expansion of air, and an
intermediate reduction of temperature, by means of a cooling surface; the water used
for cooling said surface being kept from actual contact with the air during the cooling
process and the whole of the moisture contained in said air eliminated.
In order that my Invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying four sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 represents a front elevation
of the device according to my Invention, and Figure 2 a sectional plan of the
cylinders appertaining to the same. Figure 3 is an elevation of one end of the device
showing the expansion cylinder with the valves and valve gear; Figures 4 and 5 are
sectional elevation and plan views respectively of the condenser, and Figures 6, 7, 8
and 9 are sectional and diagrammatic views of the valves; similar letters of reference
being used to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
In carrying out my Invention I employ a crank, A Figures 1 and 2 formed upon a
crank shaft B, fitted centrally in suitable bearings between a compression cylinder (',
and an expansion cylinder D, Two connecting rods, E and F serve to transfer the
motion of the crank to the two cylinders C and D. But the connecting rod Fis
coupled by a pin to a fork formed in the strap which terminates the connecting rod E.
and serves to couple the latter to the pin of the crank A. The compression eylinder (
is provided with a piston G, Figure 2, worked by the connecting rod E, pivotted at H.
Two or more valves a opening inwards allow of the ingress of air during the outward
stroke of said piston, and the enclosed air is compressed by said piston during it back
stroke, thus compressing the enclosed air, which becomes raised in temperature during
said compression, the increase of temperature being of course in inverse ratio to the
volume of the air during compression. When the full amount of compression is
attained the conical valve I (sliown in detail in Figures 7 and 9) is moved from its

page_text: seat against the tension of the spiral springs, thus admitting the compressed air into
the condenser by means of the pipe K. Said condenser J, shown more particularly
at Figures 4 and 5 is formed of two tube plates L. L', into which are inserted the
tubes t, which connect the two chambers M M', across the water space or chamber J,
where a large superficial area is presented to the cold water that is caused to circulate
through said water space or chamber by means of an ordinary plunger pump N,
driven by the eccentric strap and sheave O upon the shaft B, drawing said water from
any available source through the suction pipe and delivering the same into the water
space or chamber J₁ through the pipe, whence it is finally discharged after circulation
through the flanged pipe 1. The air, having its temperature raised by compression, upon
being admitted to the chamber M, and into the tubes t, is thereby spread over a large
tubular surface, where the heat is rapidly absorbed by the circulating water while the air
is yet under pressure. The air, cooled in this manner passes into the chamber M', and
thence by the pipe P, through a controlling stop valve Q to the expansion cylinder D,
where it is allowed to expand by the action of the piston S which is worked by the
connecting rod F, engaging with the fork formed on the end of the connecting rod E,
in the manner before described; and, the action of the two pistons are alternate
during the operation of compression and expansion. I may in certain cases surround
the compression cylinder or cylinders with a water jacket, and connect the same to the
water chamber J by means of a pipe y" Figure 1. .1 employ circular, or disc rotary
valves for admission and emission of air into and from the expansion cylinder, shown
more particularly at Figures 6, and 8. R is the admission valve, and is rotated in
unison with the crank shaft B, by means of mitre wheels, indicated by the dotted
lines y y Figure 1 whereby the counter shaft supported by the brackets transfers
the rotary motion of said crank shaft B through the counter shaft to the
valves R and R' by means of the spur wheels of equal diameter m m³ m¹ Figure 8.
The degree of opening of the radial ports in said valves and the corresponding seats
thereof are shown in the diagrams at Figure 6, from which it will be seen that the
cooled air is admitted under compression through a proportionately small orifice and
also to the chamber W of the valve R' after expansion when relieved of pressure;
from whence it may be conducted to a refrigerating chamber, or to an ice making
tank according to the requirements of the application of the apparatus.
v>
I may employ two or more compression cylinders of different diameters, so that
said compression cylinders are arranged either side by side and actuated from a
compound crank shaft--the compressed air passing into the condenser by means of
branch pipes joined to the pipe K-or, if desired, independent pipes may be employed;
or, furthermore the cylinders may be arranged end on, (in series) in which latter case
one piston rod may be employed to work the several pistons, suitable stuffing boxes
and glands being provided in the usual manner at each end of the cylinders: tho
discharge valves would, under this arrangement, be fitted in the cylinder heads beside
the piston rod; or, said valves may be introduced in the sides of the cylinders, and be
actuated from the main shaft through the intervention of eccentric straps and sheaves.
The discharge pipes of the cylinders may be connected to the condenser independently
of each other; or, branch pipes connected to a main pipe may be employed. But
under whichever arrangements of the cylinders above referred to by the method
which I adopt of opposing the movement of the piston in the expansion cylinder to
that of the pistons of the compression cylinders, I am enabled either to neutralise,
or to produce a tendency to neutralise, the direct pressure that is applied to the latter
in order to produce compression. I prefer in some cases to carry a counter-shaft ¹,
driven by a mitre wheel g engaging with the one upon the shaft B. shown by the
dotted lines y. The continuation of said shaft may be used for the admission of
air into the compression cylinder C through a suitable rotary valve we, shown by
dotted lines, as a substitute for, or as an auxiliary to, the valves a in the piston G. 1
may perforate the guide plate of the valve with suitable holes, as shown in
Figure 7 so that the moisture combined with the atmospheric air under the usual
conditions of compression may be thus retarded, and also drawn off by a pipe y, and
I may further "burr' or roughen the ends of the tubes t t within the tube plate L so
"

page_text: that the passage of moisture into the expansion cylinder D may be avoided, and I
may provide a cock or valve in the lower part of the chamber M³ for the purpose of
drawing off such surplus water.
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, cooling, or ice making machine, the employment of
compression and expansion cylinders, driven from one rotary crank by means of a
fork extension and pin with surface cooling arrangement and rotating admission and
emission valves, substantially as herein described and shown.
Second-In a refrigerating, cooling or ice making machine, the arrangement of
rotary valves with the means of driving same, shown in detail at Figures 6 and 8
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Third: In a refrigerating, cooling, or ice making machine such as referred to in
the foregoing claims the method by which heat is abstracted from air, by means of
compression and expansion in balanced cylinders, substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth In a refrigerating, cooling, or ice making machine the employment of
two or more compression cylinders substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
:-
y 1888.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.