IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF BLOCK-ICE AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Charles Smith at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1883.
HENRY CHARLES SMITH of Richmond in the County of Surrey
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF BLOCK-ICE AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN
This invention relates to a simple economical and efficient mode of and apparatus
for producing block-ice.
Heretofore block-ice has usually been produced by freezing water enclosed in
moulds or cells of various forms and dimensions according to the shapes and sizes
of the blocks required but as the process of freezing has in such cases taken place
gradually from the inner surfaces of the cells inwardly or in other words from the
outersides of the blocks towards the centre it was found that any solid impurities
or foreign bodies held in suspension in the water were by the process of
congealation caused to accumulate and be imprisoned in the centre of the block
thereby impairing its appearance and value, whilst at the same time the centre of
the block was of a less dense or solid texture and presented a white or clouded
aspect. Moreover the removal of these blocks of ice from their enclosing cells was
sometimes accompanied with some difficulty.
°
Now the object of my invention is to produce clearer blocks of ice free from
foreign bodies and of a more uniform transparency and texture throughout. This
I accomplish by carrying on the process of congealation from the centre of the
block outwards the nucleus being formed round the exterior surfaces of deep cells
or closed tubes or pockets of copper or other metal which are caused to dip or
project downwards to any required distance below the surface of the water to be
frozen contained in a wooden or other tank. Or the said pockets may be reversed
(id est) caused to stand up from the bottom of the tank. Each tube or pocket has
one or more diaphragms or partitions formed therein extending from its mouth to
within a short distance of its closed end and brine or freezing liquid is caused to
flow through it from circulating pipes connected with opposite sides thereof. The
water in the tank is first congealed in a thin film round the exterior of the said
tubes or pockets and the block is gradually formed and increased in size by the
formation of successive films of ice on the exterior surfaces until the required
dimensions are obtained. The release of the block of ice from the tube or pocket
[Price 2d 1

page_text: is effected without removal or disturbance of the said pocket, by simply admitting
therein brine or other liquid of a higher temperature whereupon the block detaches
itself by its own gravity and drops into the water of the tank, the tank being of
such a depth as to allow of sufficient water being run off to admit of the blocks
clearing the tubes; or the tubes themselves may be raised from the tanks.
If the pockets or tubes be standing vertically from the bottom of the tank the
block slips off it by its own buoyancy (it being submerged in the water of the
tank) so soon as the brine or liquid of higher temperature has had time to thaw
the inner sides of the block.
To facilitate this separation or release of the blocks the tubes or pockets are
The tanks may be of any
slightly tapered towards their inner closed extremeties.
convenient size and any number of tubes or pockets connected together by union
or other joints with suitable brine circulating pipes may be placed therein. When
the pockets stand up from the bottom of the tank any good non-conducting
material should be placed round the interior or exterior surface of the pocket or
tube to prevent the block adhering to the bottom of the tank and so facilitate the
detachment of the block.