IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS OR IN APPARATUS FOR COOLING AIR FOR THE PRESERVATION OF EDIBLE SUBSTANCES AND BEVERAGES OR FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Albert Samuel at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1882. A communication
from abroad by M. Joseph Lissons of Saint Peter Street Montreal Canada.
ALBERT SAMUEL of 52 Cheapside in the City of London “IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFRIGERATORS OR IN APPARATUS FOR COOLING AIR FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
EDIBLE SUBSTANCES AND BEVERAGES OR FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES." [A com-
munication from abroad by M. Joseph Lissons of Saint Peter Street Montreal
Canada.]
This Invention, relating to improvements in refrigerators, or in apparatus for
cooling air for the preservation of dietetic substances and liquids consists in the
construction of a receptacle or safe, of transparent walls having a dead air space
between them. For this purpose a light wooden framing of square or other
suitable configuration is provided so as to conveniently carry the double sheets of
glass for forming the transparent sides, and top and bottom of the receptacle with
intervening air spaces. These transparent walls with their non-conducting dead
air spaces prevent the undue secretion of any moisture evolved from the ice, which
is detrimental. This double glass wall receptacle is provided with a door or doors
of suitable size, and similar construction, so as to give every facility of access,
while its transparent nature allows its contents to be always visible, and thus
minimises the necessity of opening the door or doors which always allows the
admission of a certain amount of warm air.
Within this transparent receptacle or safe for receiving domestic provisions, is
arranged a tray or box for holding the ice for cooling or reducing the temperature
of the enclosed volume of air. At the bottom of the said tray (which may be
placed in any convenient or desirable position) is provided a sliding trough for
receiving the water from the ice as it gradually melts which is subsequently
conducted away by a small tube connected to the aforesaid trough and commu-
nicating with the outside of the refrigerator. This waste water tube may be of
any convenient form, passing through air tight apertures provided in the double
glass walls of the refrigerator, but a very suitable arrangement is in the form of
a syphon-tube, that is, the final egress of the tube is arranged at an intermediate
position above the lowest level of the curvature thereof. By this means a small

page_text: column of water would always be retained in the tube, up to the level of the outer
exit, whereby the same would be effectually sealed against the ingress of any
external air.
This refrigerator being constructed on the excellent non-conducting properties of
an enclosed or ded air space, effects a great saving in the ice employed while the
temperature is always maintained at a very low degree. And so long as the
union of the glass plates within the frames are absolutely tight, the air within the
refrigerator is perfectly dry, while on the other hand should any small leak exist, there
will be an immediate indication of the same, by the formation of humidity or
condensation upon the glass walls of the refrigerator in the immediate locality of
permeation.
According to this construction and arrangement of refrigerator, there exists the
further advantage of being able to read from the outside the indications of a
thermometer suspended within the same, without opening its door or lid or in any
way interfering with its security.
These refrigerators may be constructed of any size and utilised as show cases in
addition to the preservation of the articles placed within them.