Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 14th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 17th May, 1887.
I FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of 85 Commercial Road, Lambeth, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object is to provide Apparatus for producing cheaply and efficiently, clear block
ice in moulds and for facilitating the removal economically therefrom of the blocks
of ice produced.
To produce cheaply and economically blocks of Ico in moulds, the moulds are placed
in a tank, in such a manner, that the brine, or refrigerating medium shall freely circu-
late around them. The tanks are made of or lined with a nonconductor of heat, and
are placed by preference close to each other and connected one to another in such
manner that the brine or refrigerating medium passes from one to the other, each in
its turn becoming the first, intermediate and last of a series,
To enable clear block ice to be produced in moulds, each mould is provided with a
passage through the bottom, opening into a way beneath the moulds, the passage and
lower parts of the moulds are insulated from the brine to prevent the water therein
from becoming frozen and a piston plunger, or equivalent device is employed to give
to and fro motion to the water in the way beneath the moulds and through the passages
into the moulds.
To enable the clear ice produced to be economically and easily removed from the
moulds means are provided for shutting off the brine, or refrigerating medium from
the space around any mould, or from any tank containing a number of moulds and for
allowing the said brine to run into the brine suction tank, or other receiver.
Where one Freezing Tank is used and it is found more convenient to lift out the
moulds for the purpose of releasing the ice from them, two or more moulds are
connected and lifted out together and are replaced when refilled with water without
removing the brine from the freezing tank.

page_text: For the speedy and economical relieving of the ice from the mould, when the said
moulds are fixtures in the freezing tanks, each mould is surrounded near the top with
pipes or passages having openings therein directed towards the outer surfaces of the
moulds, through which warm water is caused to flow over such surfaces, these pipes
or passages may be fixtures in the tank or tanks, or one set of such pipes or passages
may serve to relieve the ice from any convenient number of moulds by changing from
one mould to another. Flexible piping is then used to connect the above apparatus
to the source of the warm water supply. A drain pipe with cock or valve is provided
to carry off the warm water.
To preserve the relative positions of the moulds and enable the blocks of ice to be
easily removed, the said moulds are connected together by tie bars arranged to serve
as supports for lifting and freeing the blocks from the moulds.
Eyelets which are by preference made of rope frozen into the blocks of ice are
provided when it is desired to lift the ice out of the moulds.
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1000e
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Making Ice in Moulds and Removing
it therefrom.
I FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY of 85 Commercial Road, Lambeth, in the county of
Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
The object is to provide apparatus for producing cheaply and efficiently clear block
ice in moulds and for facilitating the removal economically therefrom of the blocks of
ice produced.
First. To produce cheaply and economically blocks of ice in moulds, the moulds
are placed in a tank in such a manner, that the brine or refrigerating medium shall
freely circulate around them. The tanks are made of or lined with a non conductor of
heat and are placed by preference close to each other and connected one to another
in such manner that the brine or refrigerating medium passes from one to the other,
each in its turn becoming the first, intermediate and last of a series.
Second. To enable clear block ice to be produced in moulds, each mould is provided
with a passage through the bottom, opening into a way beneath the moulds; the
passage and lower parts of the moulds are insulated from the brine to prevent the

page_text: water therein from becoming frozen and a piston, plunger or equivalent device, is
employed to give to and fro motion to the water in the way beneath the moulds and
through the passages into the moulds.
Third. To enable the clear ice produced to be economically and easily removed
from the moulds means are provided for shutting off the brine or refrigerating medium
from the space around any mould, or from any tank containing a number of moulds
and for allowing the said brine to run into the brine suction tank or other receiver.
Fourth. Where one freezing tank is used and it is found more convenient to lift
out the moulds for the purpose of relieving the ice from them, two or more
moulds are connected and lifted out together and are replaced when refilled with water
without removing the brine from the freezing tank.
Fifth. In the speedy and economical relieving of the ice from the moulds when the
said moulds are fixtures in the freezing tanks-Each mould is surrounded near the
top with pipes or passages having openings therein directed towards the outward
surface of the moulds through which warm water is caused to flow over such
surfaces.
Sixth. These pipes or passages may be fixtures in the tank or tanks or one set of
such pipes or passages may serve to relieve the ice from any convenient number of
moulds by changing from one mould to another. Flexible tubing is then used to
connect the above apparatus to the source of the warm water supply. A drain pipe
with cock or valve is provided to carry off the warm water.
Seventh. To preserve the relative positions of the moulds and enable the blocks of
ice to be easily removed the said moulds are connected together by tie bars arranged
to serve as supports for lifting and freeing the blocks from the moulds.
Eyelets which are by preference made of rope frozen into the blocks of ice are
provided when it is desired to lift the ice out of the moulds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is a plan, Figure 2. a longitudinal section through A. A. and Figure 3.
a transverse section through B B of apparatus for making ice in moulds under the
first, second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh heads of my invention. 1 is a series of
four tanks containing moulds 2. The tanks are made of wood or other suitable
material having low heat conducting properties, or of metal lined with such material.
The moulds are of metal. 3 ways leading from tank to tank, 4 brine supply pipes,
5 brine overflow pipes, 6 brine drain pipes, 7 valves for opening and closing brine
supply pipes, 8 plugs for opening and closing brine overflow pipes, 9 plugs or valves
for opening and closing brine drain pipes, 10 partitions for opening and closing the
ways 3., 11 division pieces to ensure efficient circulation of brine round moulds. The
moulds 2. rest on and are embedded in nonconducting material 12. on the bottom of
the tanks 1. and are held in position by bolts 13., 14. passages through the bottoms of
the moulds leading into ways 15. beneath the tanks. The ways 15. open into
chambers 16. at the ends of the tanks 15. 17 pistons fitting within the chambers 16.
and receiving reciprocating motion by means of gear 18., 19. 20 pipes for supplying
warm water for thawing the ice from the moulds. The said pipes 20. fit round the
tops of the moulds, and are made with perforations, so that the water is caused to flow
over the surfaces of the moulds. The pipes 20. may be movable from mould to mould,
21. draw off pipes and cocks for the removal of the warm water, 22. are tie bars for
connecting moulds together so that their relative positions may be preserved, 23. are
eyelets frozen in the blocks of ice to facilitate lifting.
When in use the moulds are filled with water to be frozen, the draw off cocks 21.
and drain pipe plugs 9. are closed, a partition 10. is inserted say between the first
and second tank of the series commencing at the left hand. The brine overflow plug
leading from the second tank of the series is opened, the remaining plugs being closed
and the brine supply valve to the first tank of the series is opened. The brine then
flows through the first tank and by the ways 3. to and through the fourth third and
second tanks of the series whence it passes by the pipe 8. to the refrigerator. Whilst

page_text: the brine is flowing through the tanks around the moulds guided by the division
pieces 11, the pistons 17 have reciprocating motion given to them so as to cause the
water in the moulds to rise and fall, when the water in the moulds in the first tank
is frozen, the supply valve to the first tank is closed, a partition is inserted between
the first and fourth tanks and the supply valve to the fourth tank opened. The draw
off plug in the first tank is opened and the brine allowed to flow out of the tank, say
to the refrigerator, the draw off plug is then closed and the warm water supply
turned on.
When the ice is thawed off the moulds it is removed and the warm water
allowed to flow away, Instead of water for thawing off, hot or warm air may be used.
The moulds are then refilled with water, the brine overflow plug in the first tank is
opened, the partition between the first and second tanks removed and the overflow
plug from the second tank closed. The fourth, third and second tanks are consecu-
tively disconnected and reconnected as above set forth.
Figure 4. is a vertical section and Figure 5. a plan of a series of moulds and water
agitating appliances carried in a frame 24. The same figures of reference are used as
in the previous views. In this case only one tank may be used and the frame and
moulds are removed therefrom when it is desired to throw off the ice.
Having now particularly described the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. Apparatus for making ice in moulds in which a series of tanks are connected
together, substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Second. Constructing ice moulds each with a passage through the bottom, opening
into a way leading to apparatus for giving motion to the water in the moulds.
Third. Apparatus for shutting off and removing brine from around moulds,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of a series of moulds and water agitating appliances in
one frame for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. Surrounding moulds near the top with pipes or passages having perfora-
tions or openings substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. Connecting moulds by tie bars, substantially in the manner and for the
purpose set forth.
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