IMPROVEMENTS IN ICE MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, Patent Agents, of
52 Chancery Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ICE MACHINES" which invention
has been communicated to me from abroad by Oscar Vezin, of the City of Elizabeth,
in the County of Union and State of New Jersey, United States of America,
Engineer, 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 an ice producing apparatus and it consists in the
devices and their combinations hereinafter described and as more at length recited
in the claims.
Figure 1, is a vertical elevation partly in section, of an apparatus containing my
invention; and
Figure 2, is a plan of the apparatus.
The apparatus embodying my invention is designed to employ a gas as the cold-
producing agent, which by alternate and successive liquifaction and vaporization in
the apparatus is employed continuously to cause the frigorific effect.
A is a rotary pump, mounted upon a suitable standard a. An induction pipe a¹,
leads into the pump at the bottom and an eduction pipe a², leads from the pump
at the top into a chamber B. The pipe a', is provided. with a valve a³. The
chamber B, for the reason hereinafter stated, I denominate the "separator," and
this separator should be located, substantially as shown, above the level of the
Pump A.
I find it in some measure desirable, although I do not consider it essential
to the successful operation of my apparatus, to have the pipe 6, leading from the
bottom of the separator chamber, downwardly to and below the pump, and there
communicating with the induction pipe a', a valve 61, being provided, as shown, to
sever and cut off this communication at pleasure.
From the upper part of the separator chamber B, a pipe c, leads to a condenser
coil C, arranged in a tank c', adapted to receive and have circulate through it the
necessary water for condensation purposes. This coil leads to and communicates

page_text: with a chamber D, in the lower part of the tank, and I denominate the said
chamber D, the "accumulator." From near the bottom of the accumulator a
pipe d, leads to and communicates with a chamber E, which is arranged within a
tank E, being preferably suspended therein by the hangers e, as shown, and the
said tank being desirably supported, as by the posts or standards e², thus con-
stituting what is commonly called the "refrigerator" in ice machines. The pipe c,
is provided with a valve c', as shown, and a pressure gauge c³, provided with
valve c, is in communication with said pipe, as shown. The pipe d, is provided
with the valve d¹, as shown. A pipe E, leads from the refrigerator chamber E, to
and opens into the induction pipe a¹, immediately below the pump, and this said
pipe E³, is provided with the valve e³, and a vacuum gauge e, having valve e³, is
set in said pipe, as shown. The said pipe E, at or near its opening into the
induction pipe a¹, of the pump, is provided with a check-valve, shown at e.
The pump A, is desirably provided with a water jacket a; and the separator
chamber B, is in like manner provided with a water jacket 6', a water circulation
through these jackets being effected by a pipe b³, leading from a supply, as in the
condenser tank, a pipe a, leading from the chamber jacket to the pump jacket,
and an overflow pipe as shown at a®.
The rotary pump A, the induction and eduction pipes, and the pipe b, when used,
are filled with a liquid, which preferably extends to a level or line in the
separator chamber B, somewhat above the line of the mouth of the pipe a³, opening
thereinto, as shown in the drawing, Figure 1. The liquid is prevented from
entering the pipe E³, by the check-valve e. The liquid employed for this purpose
should be such as will not by its presence act deleteriously upon the apparatus in
connection with the gas employed as the refrigerant agent, nor to impair the utility
of the gas as such agent. I have found it preferable to employ glycerine as the
liquid for this purpose.
When it is desired to charge the apparatus thus constructed, with the refrigerant
gas, all the valves commanding the circulation through the machine are opened,
together with the valve a', in the pipe as, leading from the eduction pipe a², the
valve a³, being closed. The pump being then operated, the air in the chamber B,
the condenser and its accumulator and in the refrigerator is exhausted by the pump
being drawn off and into the pump through the pipe E2, and thence expelled
through the pipe as. The pipe as, is furnished with the enlarged end a³, into which
the liquid rises, the air being driven off through the liquid and bubbling through
it, while the external air pressure prevents the escape of the liquid. The enlarged
end a operates to furnish an increased area or surface .of the exposed liquid
whereby the ejection of liquid due to its agitation by the passage through it of the
air is avoided. When a vacuum in the apparatus is thus established, the valve a?,
is closed, and the gas may now be admitted through a pipe e', having valve es,
leading into the refrigerator E, the valve d¹, in pipe d, and the valve e³, in pipe E²,
being closed.
My described apparatus is particularly adapted for employment as what is
commonly known as a "hand-machine," that is to say, one which is to be operated
by hand power, and at such times as a comparatively limited quantity of ice is
desired to be produced. The features of my described apparatus are however
capable of being employed in large machines where comparatively large quantities
of ice, or extensive refrigeration, is demanded, and steam power is used as the
motor.
When the apparatus is to be used as a “hand-machine," the valve & is closed
and the remaining circulation valves are opened. The pump is then operated and
by its action the gas in the chamber E, is rarefied and volatilized therein and
gradually drawn through the pipe E, into and through the pump, moving with
and through the liquid seal thereof, and discharged into the chamber B. In this
.chamber the gas will rise and separate itself from the liquid, and thence it will be
forced and pass into the condenser C, where it will become liquified, from whence it
will flow into the accumulator D. I find it preferable to place a diaphragm e³,

page_text: composed of two perforated or gauze plates with pebbles interposed between them,
as shown in Figure 1, in the chamber B, and intermediate the mouth of the pipe a³,
and the mouth of the pipe c. By this device, should any of the liquid have a
tendency to be thrown towards or into the pipe c, by the agitation caused by the
rise of the gas from the pump into the chamber B, such result would be prevented.
The tank E, being filled with water the vaporization of the gas in the chamber E,
will effect the congealation of the said water about the exterior of the said
chamber; and the gas being substantially wholly exhausted from the chamber E,
the ice formed may be loosened from the exterior of said chamber by opening the
valve d', and allowing some of the warm, compressed and condensed or liquified
gas accumulated in the chamber D, to flow into and warm the chamber E.
When the apparatus is employed as a large ice machine the tank E, may be
filled with a non-congealable liquid in which cans containing water are immersed;
and then the valve d¹, maintained more or less opened, to act as a regulating
valve to control the flow of the gas. The pump being operated continuously the
chamber E, will act as a continuous refrigerator.
When the pipe b, is used, the liquid constituting the seal will be circulated by
the pump through said pipe, the pump and the chamber B, the gas being drawn
into the pipe a¹; through pipe E, and moving through the pump and to the sepa-
rator B, with the liquid. I find that this circulation of the liquid may, if desired,
be omitted, either by closing the valve b¹, or wholly dispensing with the pipe b,
and that the gas will be quite as effectively drawn through the pipe E, by the
action of the pump and will be carried thence through the liquid into the sepa-
rator B, the back pressure on the liquid serving to keep the same in constant and
proper position in and filling and thus sealing the pump.
By means of the rotary pump filled with a liquid seal as described, I am enabled
to wholly dispense with the employment and presence of the valves which have
been hitherto used in pumps in ice machines. Such valves, usually reciprocating
valves, have not only been a fruitful source of leakage of the gas, but have entailed
friction which had to be overcome to operate them, and moreover, frequently
became disarranged or disordered. I am, by means of my described liquid-sealed.
rotary pump, enabled to avoid friction and at the same time to prevent leakage of
the gas at any point in the pump. The compression condensation and consequent
liquifaction of the gas, as well as the vaporization of the same in the refrigerator
chamber, are effected in equal volume with less power than that required in ice
machines of the usual construction.
My machines are moreover much less expensive to construct and much less
liable to get out of order than ice machines as at present designed.
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
1. In an ice-machine in which a gas, as the refrigerant agent, is compressed,
condensed and liquified and then vaporized, a rotary pump and its induction and
eduction pipes, all filled with a liquid as a seal, as described, in combination with
a chamber into which the gas mingled with the liquid of the seal is discharged by
the pump, and therein separates from said liquid, as and for the purpose specified.
2. In an ice-machine in which a gas, as the refrigerant agent, is compressed,
condensed and liquified and then vaporized, a rotary pump and its induction and
eduction pipes, in combination with a separator chamber, as described and a pipe
leading from said chamber to said induction pipe, together with a liquid as a
seal, as described, filling said pump and said pipes, whereby the gas is discharged
into said chamber mingled with the liquid and therein separates from said liquid,
and the liquid of the seal is continuously circulated through said pump and said
pipes, as set forth.
3. In an ice-machine the combination with the chamber to which the refrigerant
agent is supplied and in which it is volatilized, of a rotary pump and its induction

page_text: and eduction pipes, and a liquid as a seal, as described, filling said pump and pipes,
together with a pipe leading from said chamber to said induction pipe, as and for
the purpose set forth.
4. In an ice-machine the combination with the condenser coil into which the
compressed gas employed as the refrigerant agent passes and liquifies, of a chamber
into which the condensed and liquified gas flows and accumulates, together with
a chamber suspended in a tank adapted to contain water to be frozen, and a pipe
intermediate said chambers, provided with a regulating valve, whereby the con-
densed and liquified gas which is volatilized in the second chamber and accumulates
in the first chamber may be passed into the second chamber again, as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. In an ice-machine the combination of a rotary pump and its induction and
eduction pipes, and a liquid as a seal, as described, filling the same; a chamber
into which the gas employed as the refrigerant agent is discharged mingled with
said liquid and therein separates from said liquid; a condenser coil having com-
munication with said chamber; a vaporizing chamber having communication with
said condenser controlled by a regulating valve, and a pipe leading from said
vaporizing chamber to the induction pipe of said pump and provided with a check
valve, all as specified.
6. In an ice-machine the combination with a rotary pump and its induction and
eduction pipes, filled with a liquid as a seal, as described, and a chamber into which
the gas employed as the refrigerant agent, mingled with said liquid, is discharged,
and therein separates from said liquid, of a perforated diaphragm in said chamber,
located intermediate its gas inlet and outlet, as described.
7. In an ice-machine the combination with a rotary pump and its induction and
eduction pipes, filled with a liquid as a seal, as described, and a chamber into which
the gas employed as the refrigerant agent is discharged mingled with said liquid,
and therein separates from said liquid, of a water jacket surrounding said pump
and a water jacket surrounding said chamber, together with pipes leading from
a water supply to said jackets and giving a water circulation through said jackets,
as and for the purpose specified.
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