IM- PROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATIVE PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING MEAT OR OTHER FOOD OR BEVERAGES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bell, James Bell, and Joseph James Coleman, all of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATIVE PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING
MEAT OR OTHER FOOD OR BEVERAGES."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 15th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bell, James Bell, and
Joseph James Coleman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
15th March 1877.
HENRY BELL, JAMES BELL, and
County of Lanark, North Britain.
AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING
JOSEPH JAMES COLEMAN, all of Glasgow, in the
IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATIVE PROCESSES
MEAT OR OTHER FOOD OR BEVERAGES."
This Invention has for its object the better and more economical preservation of
meat or other food during transit by sea or on land, or whilst being stored, and the
improvements are also applicable in breweries or otherwise in connection with
beverages.
•
In carrying out the Invention in the case of meat, the meat is placed in a chamber
which is by preference made as nearly air tight as is conveniently possible, and the
walls of which are constructed in the best known manner for diminishing the con-
duction of heat through them.
The Invention consists essentially in causing air to circulate through the chamber
containing the neat and through improved apparatus, in which last it is compressed,
then cooled in its compressed state by means of water, and next re-expanded, the
object being to maintain in the chamber a temperature never exceeding 50 degrees
Fahrenheit, and never so low as to cause the freezing of the meat, which would
injure it.
The improved apparatus, which may be worked by a steam engine or other con-
venient motor, comprises three or more air compressing pumps, the piston rods of
which are worked at different angles from the same shaft. Water is injected into
the air when in its compressed state, a part of such water being led into each com-
pressing pump during the act of compression, and the other part being introduced
in spray so as to meet the current of compressed air flowing from the pumps. By

page_text: introducing the water in this way a better cooling effect is obtained with a given
quantity of water than when all the water is led into the pumps. From the com-
pressing pumps the mixed air and water are led by pipes to the floor level of the
chamber, at which part suitable valves are provided for separating the water, and
In passing
from which part ascending pipes are arranged round inside the chamber.
up these ascending pipes the compressed air becomes further cooled by the colder
air in the chamber, and any water rising with it gradually separates from it and trickles
back to the water discharge valves.
It is preferred that the re-expansion of the air shall take place in cylinders like
those of steam engines, in which it does work in moving the pistons whilst expand-
ing. Such work not only renders less power necessary in the steam engine which
works the apparatus, but also renders the expanded air cooler than it would be if
expanded without doing work. The compressed air is led from the upper ends of
the ascending pipes in the chamber to the expansion cylinders, which cylinders are
provided with valves like those of steam engines, and the pistons of which are con-
nected to the shaft which drives the compressing pumps. The driving steam cylinder
or cylinders, the compressing pumps and the re-expansion cylinders are all arranged
relatively to the shaft in a manner to render the driving power and the resistance
uniform, the speed of working being regulated so as to maintain the temperature
in the preservation or storage chamber as uniform as possible, and between a
minimum not low enough to induce freezing, and a maximum of 50 degrees
Fahrenheit, but preferably not higher than 40 degrees.
In dealing with solid food other than meat and with beverages, the operations of
the apparatus may be regulated to maintain whatever temperature below that of
the atmosphere is desirable in each case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Bell, James Bell, and Joseph Jamos Coleman in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 14th September 1877.
HENRY BELL, JAMES BELL, and JOSEPH JAMES COLEMAN, all of Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATIVE PROCESSES
AND APPARATUS FOR PRESERVING MEAT OR OTHER FOOD OR BEVERAGES."
Our said Invention has for its object the better and more economical preservation
of meat or other food during transit by sea, or on land, or whilst being stored, and
our improvements are also applicable in breweries or otherwise in connection
with beverages.
In carrying out our Invention in the case of meat, the meat is placed in a chamber
which is by preference made as nearly air tight as is conveniently possible, and the
walls of which are constructed in the best known manner for diminishing the con-
duction of heat through them.
Our Invention consists in causing air which circulates through the chamber con-
taining the meat to pass through improved apparatus in which it is compressed, then
cooled in its.compressed state by means of water and otherwise, and next re-expanded,
our object being to maintain in the chamber a temperature never exceeding 50
degrees Fahrenheit, and never so low as to cause the freezing of the meat, which
would injure'it.
About twenty years ago an American, Dr. Gorrie, exhibited in London and else-
where cold producing machines, which he had constructed in his own country, and
in which air was compressed in one cylinder, cooled whilst compressed, and re-
expanded in another cylinder in a manner to utilise its expansive force. In some
of his machines Dr. Gorrie effected the cooling of the compressed air by injecting
water into it whilst being compressed. Before the year 1857 Sir William Thomson
suggested the compression of air, its cooling whilst compressed, and its subsequent

page_text: re-expansion as a means of cooling apartments; and Professor Rankine and Professor
Piazzi Smyth had such apparatus constructed also before the year 1857; whilst the
same principles are also adopted in apparatus described in the Specification of British
Letters Patent granted to Franz Windhaussen, and dated 5 March, 1869 (No. 669).
A variety of details are described in the Specifications of several Patents of later
date than Windhaussen, above referred to, but up to the present time such appa-
ratus has not been found to yield completely satisfactory results, owing to
difficulties that have been met with in attempting to apply it to various practical
purposes.
One difficulty met with in most applications of the system of obtaining cold by
the re-expansion of compressed and cooled air is the formation of ice or congealed
particles when the re-expansion is taking place, and which interferes with the proper
working and operation of the apparatus.
In the application to preservative purposes contemplated by us it is also objec-
tionable to have frozen particles carried by the re-expanded air into the meat
chamber, and one part of our Invention is specially directed to the prevention of
this inconvenience.
Our Invention also comprises an improved mode of combining the various parts
of the apparatus, with the view of avoiding the use of heavy fly wheels, of improving
and rendering uniform the general action, and of rendering the apparatus the better
adapted for ship or railway transit.
In ordor to prevent tho formation of ice or congealed particles (generally spoken
of as " snow "in connection with such apparatus) in the ro-expanding air, we carry
out the cooling of the compressed air in a more effectual manner than heretofore,
and we subsequently treat the air so as to separate moisture from it, finally before.
its ro-expansion subjecting it in a long course of specially arranged piping to an
atmosphere cool enough to insure the deposition of any remaining moisture that
would be liable to freeze. Care is however taken not to so completely remove
moisture as to cause the air to have an undesirable drying action on the meat or
other food subjected to its action, nor must the pipes be subjected to so low a
temperature as to freeze the water deposited in them.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append two Sheets of explanatory Draw-
ings to be herein-after referred to, and representing a modification of our improved
apparatus. In these Drawings the same reference numerals and letters are used
to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan of the apparatus
partly in horizontal section, and Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in vertical section.
These Figures are not intended to represent the several main parts of the apparatus
in the relative positions that may be best or most convenient for them on shipboard
or in other situations, but are arranged to show the connections between the parts
in a convenient manner. The Figures on Sheet 2 of the Drawings are enlarged
views of some of the parts.
On a bed frame or sole plate 1 of a rectangular form in plan there is carried in
three bearings at one end a transverse horizontal shaft 2, having on it two pairs of
cranks 3, 4, 5, 6, the cranks of each pair being at right angles to each other, and on
its outer ends two light fly wheels 7. The two outer cranks 3, 6, are connected by
rods & to the piston rods 9 of two horizontal double-acting steam cylinders 10,
having valve chests at their outer sides, with valves worked by rods 11 from single
eccentrics 12 on the crank shaft 2. The two inner cranks 4, 5, are connected by
rods 13 to the piston rods 14 of two horizontal double-action air-expansion cylinders
15, which have valve casings at their under sides (indicated by dotted lines at 16 in
Figure 2), and are provided with common slide and separate expansion valves worked
by meaus of rocking shafts 17 and rods 18 from pairs of eccentrics 19 on the crank
shaft 2. The piston rods 9, 14, of the steam and air expansion cylinders 10, 15,
pass through stuffing boxes at both ends of those cylinders, and are continued
through stuffing boxes into four air-compressing cylinders 20, fixed on the bed.

page_text: frame 1, at the end opposite to that carrying the crank shaft 2. One of these air-
compressing cylinders 20 is shown enlarged on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, Figure 4
being an end elevation, and Figure 5 a vertical section. The valves are automatic
disc valves, opening by the pressure of the air, and closing by springs, being con-
structed and arranged in a well-known manner that will be easily understood from
Figure 5. The air enters by pipes 21, above the cylinders and through valves 22,
in the upper parts of the cylinder ends, and it passes out through valves 23 in the
lower parts of the cylinder ends, and by pipes 24 beneath the cylinders, the various
connections being made as shown in the Drawings, in order to facilitate access to
the internal parts for examination, cleaning, or repairs. At each end of each air-
compressing cylinder 20 there is fitted a small pipe 25 for injecting water to absorb
some of the heat developed during compression, and this water drains into the
discharge pipes 24, from the lowest part of which it is led by pipes 26 to any
convenient kind of trap discharge apparatus. The air-compressing cylinders 20 may
be made with jackets, with cold water circulating there through for cooling or
assisting to cool the air whilst being compressed; we however believe that the
injection of water (as by the pipes 25) into the air itself is the most effective and
economical way of cooling the air during compression, particularly when combined
with our improved apparatus, herein-after described, for completing the cooling
action, and for subsequently separating moisture from the air. The water which is
injected into the air-compressing cylinders 20, and into other parts of the apparatus,
is forced by means of two pumps 27 at the sides of the bed frame 1, and worked by
rods 28 from eccentric pins of the fly wheels 7.
The compressed air passes from the discharge pipes 24 of the compressing
cylinders 20 by pipes 20 D, into the apparatus the completing the cooling of it and
separating moisture from it. This apparatus, which is shown enlarged and in
vertical section in Figure 3 on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings, comprises two
vertical cylinders A, B, or vessels of any convenient and suitable form, and a set of
pipes C. The first vessel A is formed with an inlet D at its lower part for the
admission of the compressed air from the compressing cylinders, the air_passing
upwards through this first vessel A, then across by a connecting passage E to the
top of the second vessel B, in which vessel it descends, and from the lower part of
which it passes into the set of pipes C. At the top of the first vessel A there is
fitted a pipe for the introduction of water of ordinary temperature (or colder when
conveniently obtainable), such water being forced by a pump so as to overcome the
internal pressure of the compressed air. This water injection pipe F is fitted with
a rose nozzle G or other appliance for spreading or dividing the entering water and
distributing it over the area of the vessel A, it being important that the air and
water should intermingle intimately whilst the air passes upwards and the water
downwards. To insure complete contact and action between the water and air, so
that the water may abstract as much as possible of the heat rendered sensible by the
compression of the air, the vessel A is provided with suitable materials down through
which the water may drip whilst the air passes upwards through the interstices.
For this purpose we employ a number of perforated inetal diaphragms H, which are
fixed across the lower part of the vessel A, but above the air inlet D, and it is best
to arrange these diaphragms with the holes in each opposite the solid metal of the
next above and below, in order that the subdivided currents of air may have their
directions continually changed, and be thereby made to impinge upon the wetted
surfaces of the diaphragms. Similar diaphragms I are fitted in the second vessel B,
or any equivalent arrangement of materials may be substituted for the diaphragms I.
The purpose of this second series of diaphragms I in the second vessel B is in a sense
the reverse of that of the first series H in the first vessel A. The first series H are
for bringing the air and water closely together; the second series I are for separat-
ing as completely as possible from the air any moisture it carries over from the
vessel A into the vessel B. The jets of air passing through the perforations in each
plate I in succession impinge on the next plate, and deposit the suspended moisture
on the plates. At the bottom of each vessel A, B, there is a casing J, K, to receive.

page_text: the water, which may be withdrawn therefrom periodically or continously through
any suitable water trap valves.
Assuming that the water employed and introduced by the pipe F is of the
ordinary temperature, it cannot of course reduce the heat of the air below that
temperature, and at this temperature the air will still retain some moisture, botli
nechanically suspended and invisible, which will be precipitated and possibly
congealed on the air being subsequently expanded and becoming of considerably.
lower temperature. It is the purpose of the set of pipes C to cause the separation
and deposition from the air before it reaches the expansion cylinders of any moisture
which would thus tend to congeal, and thereby interfere with the proper working of
the apparatus. These pipes C are placed in an atmosphere of a lower than the.
ordinary temperature, and being inclined upwards from the vessel B, the moisture
deposited in thom in consequence of the additional cooling of the air in passing
through them drains back from them into the vessel B. We place the pipes C in.
the chamber M in which the meat or other substances to be preserved by maintain-
ing a low temperature are placed, and thereby obtain the required cooler atmosphere
in the most convenient and economical manner, and without risk of freezing the
water deposited in the pipes, the temperature in that chamber being always kept
above the freezing point. The pipes Ċ should be of considerable length, the precise
length in each case depending on the temperature intended to be maintained in the
chamber M, and other circumstances. Where several chambers (M) are to be kept
cool by the refrigerating apparatus (for example a number of vans composing a
railway train, or several separate compartments in a ship), the pipes C may be
arranged in only one compartment of the series. At their higher ends the pipes C.
communicate with a single pipe N (Figures 1 and 2), which lead the air to the air
expansion cylinders 15, and after the air has been expanded in these cylinders it
proceeds by the pipe P to the chamber or chambers M, wherein it is discharged in.
its expanded and cool state, being distributed by pipes fitted with valves, which
can be adjusted so as to secure as uniform a temperature as possible throughout the
chamber or chambers. The air drawn into the compressing cylinders 20 by the pipes
21 will generally be led to those pipes by pipes (not shown in the Drawings) from
the chamber or chambers M, so that the same air continually circulates through the
entire apparatus and has to be deprived of only the heat which it absorbs each time,
it passes through the chamber or chambers M.
Whilst not restricting ourselves to any particular relative arrangement of the
parts of our improved apparatus, we may state that when it is fitted in a ship, it
will, we believe, bo found most convenient to place the cooling and moisture
separating cylinders A, B, within the chamber M, or in one of a series of such
chambers, whilst the compressing machinery may be most conveniently placed above
the chamber or chambers M, in which case the various pipe connections (29, D, F,
N, P.) can be made vertically, or otherwise more directly than as shown in the
Drawings.
In cases in which the whole power of the machinery will not always be required,
we have the parts connected together, so that a portion can be disconnected and
remain idle, when sufficient action is obtainable with the remainder. Thus, for
example, the shaft 2 may he made in two parts and coupled in the middle, so that
on uncoupling it, one half of the machinery can be worked without the other
half.
When both pairs of cranks 3, 4, 5, 6, and the parts in connection are working,
the general action will be rendered most uniform by placing one pair of the cranks
at angles of 45 degrees of the circle relatively to the other pair.
It is an important practical advantage of our improved combination of machinery,
that in the event of any one cylinder getting out of order, the part affected can be
disconnected, whilst the rest of the machinery can continue to work effectively on
suitably adjusting the expansion and other valve gear.
In the cases of butter, fruit, or some other solid foods, or of beverages, it may not

page_text: be necessary or desirable to adopt the same limits of temperature as those herein
prescribed for meat.
Our improved apparatus can, however, be variously worked or regulated to suit
the requirements of different cases.
The cooling action of the machinery depends on the power developed by the
steam cylinders, (10), as is well understood, and the temperature in the chamber or
chambers M can consequently be regulated by suitably adjusting the steam throttle
valve.
This adjustment of the steam throttle valve may be effected automatically by
means of apparatus of the kind successfully applied by Joseph James Coleman (one
of us) to apparatus for compressing gaseous matters and vapors, for the purpose of
separating volatile hydrocarbons, and comprising a bell-shaped vessel connected to
the throttle valve lever, and dipping into a liquid so as to rise and fall with the
varying pressure in its interior, and which interior communicates by a pipe with a
vessel containing the gaseous mixture requiring to be compressed.
In applying such regulating apparatus to our improved refrigerative apparatus we
form or place in the chamber or chambers M a closed vessel or vessels communicating
by a pipe or pipes with the bell of the regulator, and the air in such vessel or vessels
expanding or contracting with changes of temperature, causes the raising or
lowering of the bell and consequent adjustment of the steam throttle valve.
The automatic regulation may also be obtained by means of electric circuits con-
trolling electro-magnets, which are arranged to act on the steam throttle valve,
such electric circuits being completed or broken by means of mercury acting either
as in an ordinary thermometer, or, as we prefer, in a thermometer in which the
mercury is combined with a suitable non-conducting oil or liquid.
In this apparatus the oil or non-conducting liquid is contained in a bulb of glass,
communicating with one limb of a U shaped tube, the other limb of which is open
to the atmosphere, and which U shaped tube contains mercury, sealing the oil.
One circuit wire is fused into the tube, so as to be always in contact with the
mercury, and two other circuit wires are applied, one in the inner limb containing
the oil, and the other in the outer limb above the mercury. This electric thermo-
meter is placed in the chamber (M), the temperature of which is to be regulated,
and when the temperature in that chamber is between certain extremes, for which
the thermometer is constructed, the mercury does not touch either of the two upper
circuit wires. If the temperature increases beyond its upper limit, the expansion
of the oil forces the mercury into contact with the outer circuit wire, and a current
then passing causes an electro-magnet to act on the steam throttle valve, so as to
increase the steain passage.
We consider it important to prevent the temperature in a chamber (M) in which
meat is placed ever becoming so low as to cause freezing, and accordingly the lower
limit of the thermometrical apparatus is placed at a point a little higher than the
freezing point, so that in the event of the temperature reaching that limit the con-
traction of the oil will cause the mercury to rise into contact with the inner circuit
wire, and thereby allow a current to pass, which, acting through an electro-magnet
on the steam throttle valve, will reduce the steam passage.
The electric circuits provided as described may be arranged to sound electric
bells or alarms, so as to attract the attention of those in charge when either limit of
temperature is approached, and either in addition to or instead of the automatic
nction on the steam throttle valve.
Having thus particularly described our said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the precise
details herein described and delineated, but that what we believe to be novel and
original, and claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
1. The combination of refrigerative processes for preserving meat or other food or
beverages, wherein compressed air is cooled, first, by injecting water during com-

page_text: pression; secondly, by intermingling opposite currents of water with the air;
thirdly, by passing it through considerable lengths of piping traversing the chamber
or chambers containing the substances to be preserved, and having a temperature
never below the freezing point, all substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
2. The arranging or combining together of steam engine, air-compressing, and
air-expansion apparatus in the improved manner, substantially as herein-before
described.
3. The application of the perforated diaphragms (H) or equivalent materials for
insuring the effectual cooling of the compressed air by breaking up and inter-
mingling the opposite currents of air and water, substantially as herein-before
described.
4. The application of the perforated diaphragms (I) or equivalent materials
arranged for the repeated impingement of the air and separation of moisture thereby,
substantially as herein-before described.
5. The application of the pipes (C) provided for the passage of the compressed air
to the expansion cylinders, and traversing, the chamber in which the meat or other
food is or beverages are subjected to the refrigerant preservative action, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Henry Bell, James Bell, and Joseph James
Coleman, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twelfth day of Sep-
tember in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
HENRY BELL.
JAMES BELL.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)
JOSEPH JAMES COLEMAN. (L.S.)