Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Ice, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Laft
1000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Ice, and
Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES BARR of 53 Lambeth Road, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object certain improvements in the manufacture of ice
and in apparatus therefor which will produce ice free from air cells or discoloration
and which will effect the freezing of the water in a quicker manner than has
heretofore been possible by other machines.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide an ice tank or tanks provided with
pumps or agitators, the pistons or equivalents of such pumps or agitators preferably
fitting between a partition and the side of the tank so as to take and deliver the
water and cause a thorough agitation thereof. The tank has an auxiliary bottom
forming a passage for the water from the agitator. On the top of this auxiliary
bottom, I place a series of ice moulds, these moulds being placed side by
side in series in the tank and at a suitable distance apart so as to leave passages
round each tank for brine. In the auxiliary bottom I form holes of suitable shape
so that a passage or passages are formed for the water to pass from the agitator
into each ice mould, each mould being rivetted or otherwise secured to the
auxiliary bottom aforesaid so as to make them watertight and prevent the brine
mingling with the fresh water in the mould. Between each ice mould I arrange a
series of pipes for the passage of ammonia or other suitable substance for
producing cold, these pipes being preferably arranged in a series of coils or worms
in close proximity to the tanks and submerged in the brine. Each set of coils is
connected one with the other if desired and the ammonia is fed to these coils by
means of a pump.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The spaces between each ice mould are filled with brine so that the brine shall
surround each mould and submerge the ammonia pipes. The ammonia is fed into
the pipes, the ice moulds filled with fresh water and a constant to and fro motion
imparted thereto by the agitators. In some cases the ammonia pipes might be
entirely dispensed with and the brine pumped in and circulated round the tanks by
means of a pump or other suitable means.
It will be seen that by actually submerging the ammonia pipes in the brine, I
bring the ammonia into direct contact with the brine and both of them into direct
contact with the ice moulds so that the operation of freezing the water is
accomplished in a much quicker manner than would otherwise be possible.
Furthermore, there being a cock on the ammonia supply pipe, I can easily regulate
the exact temperature required and retain the apparatus at that desired temperature
by the regulating of the said ammonia cock. When ice is formed in the apparatus,
it is removed in the usual manner. The cold brine can be drawn from the tanks
and fed direct into another apparatus to again carry out the process of freezing,
while hot brine can be pumped in in its place to thaw off the ice in the moulds and
enable it to be more easily removed.
Dated this 26th day of November 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Ice, and
Apparatus therefor.
1, JAMES BARR of 53, Lambeth Road, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, 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 has for its object certain improvements in the manufacture of ice and
in apparatus therefor which will produce ice free from air cells or discoloration and
which will effect the freezing of the water in a quicker manner than has heretofore
been possible by other apparatus.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a plan of my apparatus for making ice in moulds;
Figure 2 a longitudinal section ;
Figure 3 a detail view in section of the orifice at the bottom of the mould for
admitting water thereto.
Figure 4 a plan of the plate 1; and
Figure 5 a general view in elevation showing a series of three tanks.
Figure 6 an end elevation partly in section.
Referring to these figures I provide an ice tank or tanks A having pumps or
agitators B, the pistons or their equivalents of such pumps or agitators preferably
fitting between a partition A¹ and the side of the tank A, so as to take and deliver
the water and cause a thorough agitation thereof. The tanks are made of wood or
other material of low conducting properties. I make the tank with an auxiliary
button a of metal having its edges well inserted into the walls of the tank and
forming a passage C for the water from the agitator B. Below this metal
auxiliary bottom a and partly supporting same I arrange a wood board A² forming
an insulation to prevent the water freezing in the passage C, the board being
inserted loosely and supported on scantlings & placed across the bottom of the tank.
In some cases I may make the tank entirely of metal and surround it with
insulating material. On the top of this auxiliary bottom I place a series of ice
moulds D of metal, these moulds being placed side by side in series in the tank,
and at a suitable distance apart so as to leave passages E F round each mould for
brine.
In the auxiliary bottom a and the insulating board A², I form holes G of suitable
shape so that a passage or passages are formed for the water to pass from the
agitator B into each ice mould D, each mould being secured to the auxiliary
bottom a aforesaid, by being bolted by the screws H to a plate I, which is sunk in
the insulating board A2. The moulds rest on an insertion of rubber or other
water tight material laid between each mould and the auxiliary bottom a, and by
this means the moulds are made water tight and the brine is prevented from
leaking into the moulds. By this arrangement also the moulds can be easily
removed when required from the tank by unscrewing the screws H.
each ice mould or at any suitable point within the tank I arrange a series of
pipes J for the passage of ammonia or other suitable substance for producing
cold, these pipes being arranged in a series of coils or worms in close proximity to
the moulds and submerged in the brine. Each set of coils is connected one
with the other by pipes K and the ammonia or other suitable substance fo
producing cold is ted to these coils. K¹ is an agitator between the side of the
Between

page_text: tank A and the partition A³ to cause a thorough agitation of the brine in the tank
between the moulds. Both agitators K and B are worked by the cranks K and B¹.
L is the brine drain pipe and M the fresh water drain pipe for draining the water
before thawing off. The said cranks B' and K are worked by the reciprocating
rods (Figure 5) and connecting rods P. Q is the ammonia feed pipe for
supplying ammonia to the pipes K; R, cocks on this pipe for regulating the
supply, S pipes for drawing the ammonia from the pipes J, during the operation
of freezing.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The moulds are filled with fresh water and the spaces between each ice mould
with brine so that the brine shall surround each mould and submerge the ammonia
pipes J. The ammonia is fed into the pipes through Q, and a constant to and fro
motion imparted to the fresh water in the moulds by the agitators causing the
water in the moulds to rise and fall. When the water in the moulds is frozen,
the ammonia supply valve is shut, and the brine allowed to drain away from the
tank through L and fed direct into the next tank to again carry out the process of
freezing, while warm brine is admitted in its place through N to thaw off the ice
in the moulds and enable it to be more easily removed. In ordinary cases it will
only be necessary to fill the tank a few inches at bottom, so as to start the thawing
of the ice off the moulds at the bottom thereof and the effects of the atmosphere
will assist the thawing off at the sides. When the ice is thawed off the moulds, it
is removed in the usual manner, and the warm brine emptied from the tank. The
moulds are then refilled with fresh water and the operation repeated. In some cases
ammonia pipes might be entirely dispensed with and the brine pumped in and
circulated round the moulds by means of a pump or other suitable means. It will
be seen that by actually submerging the ammonia pipes in the brine I bring the
ammonia into contact direct with the brine and both of them direct into contact
with the ice moulds so that the operation of freezing the water is accomplished in
much quicker time than would otherwise be possible. Furthermore there being
cocks R on the ammonia supply pipe I can easily regulate the exact temperature
required and retain the apparatus at that desired temperature by the regulating
of the said ammonia cock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
°
1. In apparatus for making ice in moulds, in which a series of moulds are
connected together with spaces or passages around them for brine, the com-
bination therewith of a series of pipes or worms for the passage of ammonia
or other suitable substance for producing cold, said pipes being submerged in the
brine, substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In apparatus for making ice, the combination of a series of moulds and
brine agitating appliances in one tank or frame, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for making ice of the kind set forth, the use in combination
therewith of an inlet and outlet cock at or near the bottom of the tank for
shutting off and removing brine from around the ice moulds, and for admitting
warm brine into the tank for thawing the ice off the bottom of the moulds to
enable it to be removed therefrom, substantially as described.
4. Connecting the moulds to the auxiliary bottom of the ice tank substantially
as described, whereby the moulds can be removed from the tank without taking
the tank to pieces.
5. The special arrangement of pipes or passages for the delivery and discharge
of ammonia to and from the submerged ammonia pipes J in the brine tanks
substantially as described and shown.
6. In an apparatus for making ice, an ice tank having an auxiliary bottom
formed of metal with its edges inserted into the walls of the tank aud partly
supported by an insulating board substantially as described.

page_text: 7. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved apparatus for making ice in moulds substantially as set forth.
Dated this 31st day of July 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.