Improvements in and relating to Refrigerators.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 24th Apr., 1897
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerators.
I, STEPHEN WOODWARD GAINES, of 371 Bourse Building, in the City and
County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention is directed to improvements in refrigerators, and more particularly
to that class of such devices which are transportable and which are hence adapted
for employment in the shipment of goods of a perishable nature, from the producer
to the market.
The object of the invention is the production of a refrigerator of box-form, which
is of comparatively simple construction, and hence cheaply made, and by the use of
which is obtained the maximum efficiency in the preservation of the goods while in
transit, provision being made for the employment of a refrigerant, and also for
maintaining the low temperature produced thereby, for a considerable period of
time. A further object of the invention is to provide means by which, when
necessary, the refrigerator may be re-charged with the refrigerant without in any
way disturbing or exposing the contents; also to provide a construction, the
separable parts of which are easily manipulated, and which as a whole is light of
weight, but strong and durable, and very compact.
The details of construction and operation of my invention are fully and clearly
set forth in the following description which is to be read in connection with the
accompanying drawing which forms a part thereof, and in which-
Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved refrigerator, and
Figure 2 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view.
Referring to the said drawing by letter, A denotes the casing of the refrigerator,
which is rectangular in form, and provided with a cover B, hinged thereto, and c, is
a hasp-lock for fastening the cover when lowered to prevent access by unauthorized
persons. The casing and its cover are constructed of non-oxidizable material, such
as galvanized sheet iron, and the sides, ends and bottom of the casing are made
double, a space being formed between the outer sheets a, and the inner sheets a¹,
which space is filled with closely packed deadening felt a² or equivalent material
which operates as an efficient non-conductor of temperature. The casing sheets
are secured together at intervals by rivets a³, a³, and all joints and the rivet-heads
are soldered, by which the casing is rendered perfectly water-tight. At the outer
edges of the casing are secured, by rivetting or otherwise, strengthening bands a, a,
for resisting strain; and bands a³, are similarly secured to the underside, which in
addition to further strengthening the structure, provide against wear, and serve as
runners. Below the upper edge of the casing is a strengthening band a', which
provides a seat for the flange b, of the cover, and produces with said latter flange,
water-tight joint. The cover B has its sides and top made double, and the space
is filled with tightly packed deadening-felt, as in the construction of the casing.
The flange b, is formed of a separate strengthening band which is rivetted to the
cover sides as shown. Handles d, d, are provided at the ends of the casing for
convenience in moving and carrying the apparatus.
Within the casing is a box e, for containing the goods to be preserved. This
box is constructed preferably of galvanized sheet-iron, and is of rectangular form,

page_text: and has a cover e¹, hinged, thereto as shown. The dimensions of the box are such
as to provide at all sides a space a, between it and the casing-sheets a¹, and I prefer
also, to provide, as shown, a similar space y, between the base of the box, and the
bottom of the casing. The box is removable from the casing and is positioned to
provide the spaces referred to, by step-pieces ffwhich are castings of galvanized
iron, secured to the sides and bottom of the casing by rivetting, or otherwise.
These step-pieces also serve to prevent lateral movement of the box.
The pan for the refrigerant is shown at g, and in practice rests on the box-cover,
entirely filling the horizontal area of the casing and consequently closing the
spaces. The pan is of galvanized sheet-iron, and open at its top, and the
bottom gl is provided with a number of perforations 92 9². The vertical dimension
of the pan is such that when in place, the top is flush with the upper edge of the
casing, and when the latter is closed, its cover contacts with the pan-top, and
thereby prevents movement of the pan and the box on which it rests. The pan
is
provided with handles 93, 93, for ready manipulation.
In practice the box with its perishable contents is inserted within the casing,
resting on the step-pieces before referred to, and the refrigerant-charged pan is
then placed on the top of said box, and the casing cover being lowered and secured,
the apparatus is ready for transportation. Where ice is employed for the
refrigerant, the water therefrom passes through the perforations in the pan-bottom
over and down the sides of the box containing the goods, and collects at the bottom
of the casing from which it may be withdrawn from time to time through an
opening provided with a suitable faucet, as 7. The employment of the non-
conducting material in connection with the casing and its cover precludes the
penetration of temperature, and the whole interior of the casing is therefore
subjected to the cooling influence of the refrigerant without material modification
from the outer atmosphere. The refrigerant is therefore preserved by its created
temperature, and melts very slowly, and will therefore last a comparatively long
time. The low temperature of the interior of the casing also keeps the water
coming from the ice at an effective degree, and owing to the location of the
refrigerant above the box and the arrangement of the spaces, the cold water, by
falling over and down the sides of the box, and collecting beneath the latter, has
the effect of distributing evenly the low temperature necessary to the preservation
of the goods.
The location of the pan above the box, also enables the re-charging of the pan
without disturbing or exposing the contents of the box, as it is merely necessary
that the casing-cover be raised, to replenish the refrigerant.
The apparatus is simple in construction, may be manufactured at a comparatively
low cost, is strong and durable and compact, and is highly efficient in operation.
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 a refrigerator, the combination with an outer casing, of a removable box
for containing the goods to be preserved, positioned within the same to provide a
space between it and the casing, and a pan for containing the refrigerant arranged
above said box, and provided with a perforated bottom, whereby the water from
the refrigerant is caused to pass from the pan around the sides of the box, and to
collect at the bottom of the casing, substantially as described.
2. In a refrigerator, the combination with a casing and its cover constructed with
double metallic sheets and an interposed non-conducting material, of a removable
box for the goods, positioned within the casing to provide a space at its sides and
bottom, a pan for the refrigerant adapted to rest on said box, and provided with; a
perforated bottom and a valved outlet in the bottom of the casing, substantially as
described.
3. In a refrigerator, the combination with a casing constructed as described, and
provided with strengthening bands, of a box for the goods to be preserved,

page_text: removably arranged therein, step pieces for supporting the box above the bottom
of the casing, and for positioning the same to provide spaces at its sides, a pan for
the refrigerant adapted to rest on the box and to fill the casing horizontally, and
provided with a perforated bottom, and a cover for the casing adapted, when
closed, to rest against said pan, substantially as described.
Dated thie 23rd day of March 1807
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.