Improvements in Methods of Electric Refrigeration and Producing a Change of Temperature.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of Electric Refrigeration and Producing
a Change of Temperature.
I, MARK WESLEY DEWEY, of 150 North Salina Street, in the City of Syracuse, in
the County of Onondaga, in the State of New York, United States of America,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
METHODS OF ELECTRIC REFRIGERATION AND PRODUCING A CHANGE OF TEMPERA-
TURE, 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 a new and improved method for producing cold or removing
heat, to cool, produce ice, or change the temperature in desired localities, and is
similar in some respects to my method of electric refrigeration set forth in United
States Letters Patent issued October 15th, 1889, No. 413,136.
The main object of my present invention is to distribute cold produced by electricity
in a certain locality to or through one or more localities remote from that where the
cold is produced.
My invention is designed particularly for use in breweries, packing-houses, and
cold-storage depots; but it will be obvious that the same may be used for cooling
purposes of all kinds, or for effecting any desired change in temperature.
My invention consists in establishing an electric circuit having one or more parts
adapted to be cooled and one or more parts adapted to be heated by the current,
locating said part or parts cooled within or in contact with a receptacle containing an
uncongealable medium, agitating said uncongealable medium, locating a second
receptacle having a tortuous passage and containing an uncongealable medium in
proximity to said cooled part or parts and in contact with the uncongealable medium
in the former receptacle and circulating the medium contained in the second receptacle
in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a humid locality to be cooled, and diffusing,
dissipating, or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit by
locating the latter part or parts within or in contact with a conduit and passing a
current of water through the conduit.
To this end my invention consists, essentially in subjecting a medium to a
temperature-changing effect produced by an electric current in one or more parts of
an electric circuit and in circulating said medium through a conduit or pipe leading
to or through a locality wherein the temperature is to be changed.
My invention further consists in certain combinations of steps of the method, as will
be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a general view of apparatus for accomplishing my method or
for accomplishing certain steps in the method.
and
Figs. 2 and 3 show a tortuous receptacle within another containing an agitator;
Fig. 4 shows the parts or junctions to be cooled in proximity to a receptacle, but
not within or in contact with the same.
Referring specifically to the Drawings, A-in Fig. 1 represents a section of a

page_text: receptacle or refrigeratory to be cooled. A¹-is an envelope of heat-non-conducting
material inclosing the same. B--is a conduit or pipe leading from the receptacle
at and returning to the same at-. The pipe-B-leads to or through several
localities to be cooled or to have the temperature changed therein. A tortuous
passage is formed by the pipe at two different locations-c-and-c'. The tortuous
passage at c-is formed by serpentinely-shaping the pipe and at--by coiling
said pipe. The latter locality is indicated more particularly by a line--d-inclosing
the coil. The line-d-indicates the walls of a receptacle, vault, or room, which may
be isolated from the external temperature in any suitable and well-known manner to
prevent the conduction of heat thereto. The pipe or the tortuous pipes thereof may
be arranged in any desired manner at the localities to be cooled; but I prefer to
arrange them in most cases overhead or alongside the walls.
The cooling at the distant localities-c-and-c-is effected by circulating,
distributing, or forcing through the pipe-B-by means of a suitable pump a medium,
preferably an uncongealable liquid, after the latter has been subjected to the cooling
effect of an electric current. The circulatory apparatus cools the surrounding air in
the rooms, cellars, or other localities, and as the hot air always tends to ascend to the
ceiling it comes in contact with the cold coils, becomes cooled, and leaves upon the
coils, in cases when said coils are very cold, the humidity in the form of rime, thus
obtaining in the entire room a temperature equal to that of an air cold and dry. The
principal advantage of this system is the great saving in manual labor, as there is no
carrying of ice to be done.
The medium contained in the reservoir and circulated in the pipe-B-may be a
solution of chloride of calcium, magnesium, or sodium, but in some cases simply water
or air.
e is the inlet or nozzle for admitting the solution and-e-is the outlet for
removing the solution from the reservoir. Molds-f-f-for forming blocks of ice
are indicated in dotted lines within the said reservoir.
The apparatus for cooling the medium herein before referred to may be the same or
similar to that described and shown in my prior patent above referred to, and for that
reason I shall not describe the same herein minutely, but will proceed to point out
and describe, the improvements connected therewith.
C is the electric circuit having parts adapted to be cooled and other parts adapted
to be heated by the current from a suitable source of electricity-D. The device
shown in the drawings for accomplishing the change of temperature in the parts of
the circuit is, for the sake of simplicity, an ordinary thermopile; but I do not
limit myself to this construction, as before mentioned. The source of electricity is
connected to said pile, so that the parts cooled will be those located within the
receptacle or reservoir-A, and the parts heated will be those located within the
cooling conduit or pipe-E.
g-indicates the pipe for connecting the conduit-E-with a suitable head of cool
water. is the outlet-pipe for said conduit, and-"-is a regulating-cock in the
outlet-pipe for regulating the flow of water through the conduit.
C is an adjustable resistance in the circuit-C-to regulate the current therein,
and C is a current-reverser to reverse the location of the cooled and heated parts
for the purpose of heating a medium to be circulated instead of cooling the same.
Said current-reverser may be dispensed with when it is not desired to effect either or
both operations with the same apparatus. Another circuit--F-leads from the
dynamo D-to an electric motor for working the pump located in the pipe-B-and
contains a suitable current-regulating device-Fin the shape of an adjustable
resistance.
Part of the operation of the apparatus, briefly, is as follows: The electric current
produces, by means of the thermopile or other device, a convection or conduction of
heat from the receptacle and the medium or solution contained therein through the
bars of the pipe or parts forming the circuit between the receptacle-A-and
conduit E and deposits the heat thus removed in the parts of the circuit located in
the conduit-E, where it seeks to become disengaged or released. The cool water

page_text: permitted to flow through the said conduit disengages, diffuses, dissipates, or conducts.
the heat from the heated parts therein and carries it away. This operation is con-
tinuous and simultaneous therewith. The medium in the receptacle cooled is circulated
or forced through the localities to be cooled by means of the pump and motor.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, A-represents two sectional views of a
receptacle containing the cooled parts of the circuit-C-and an uncongealablo
medium; but in this case the medium in this receptacle is not circulated through the
pipe-B. Another receptacle-G,-preferably a tortuous one, as shown, is located
within the receptacle-A-and contains the medium to be circulated through said
pipe, and is connected with the terminals of the same for that purpose.
The nozzle-e-is provided for introducing the medium to the inner receptacle.
This receptacle or tank-G-is given a winding shape, in order to retain the solution
therein a longer period of time or to insure a more thorough and equal change of its
temperature between its reception and discharge.
To still further insure this change of temperature, a stirring-helix-H-is provided
within the lower part of the receptacle-A-to stir or agitate the medium therein to
equalize its temperature in all parts of the tank.
-is the pulley of the helix, which may be turned by a belt connecting the same
with a pulley on the shaft of the electric moter operating the pump, or said helix
may be operated by any suitable means. The pump for circulating the medium
through the pipe may be a double-acting one, if desired, and worked by any suitable
and convenient means.
The receptacle--A--in Figs. 2 and 3 may he enveloped in insulating material the
same as the receptacle in Fig. 1. In some cases the pipe-B-may be covered with
a non-heat-conducting substance between the receptacle or reservoir and the locality
to be cooled to prevent the absorption of heat thereby; but the pipe is bare at said
locality. In some cases the tortuous receptacle may be formed of a serpentinely
shaped or coiled pipe having a great many folds or convolutions.
Fig. 4 represents the receptacle-A-in close proximity to the cooled. parts or
junctions of the thermopile, but not in contact therewith. While this latter plan is
not as effective as when said parts are within or in contact with the receptacle, it
may be employed in some cases with good results, especially when a good conductor
of heat is interposed between the parts and the receptacle, or when a good non-heat
conducting substance incloses said parts, to confine the temperature produced by the
parts to the portion of the receptacle in proximity thereto, as indicated by the dotted
line--a-in the figure.
As I contemplate employing any or all of the devices shown and described in my
prior patent above referred to, to accomplish the method herein described, I do not
limit myself to the devices which are shown and described herein.
It will be evident that many changes in the construction and relative arrange-
ment of parts may be resorted to and also variations may be made in the method,
without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; and I would have it
understood that I do not limit myself to the particular construction, arrangement of
parts shown, or to the precise or exact method herein described.
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 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an electric
circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, subjecting a
medium to the cooling effect of said part or parts, and circulating or distributing
the said medium through a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be
cooled.
2The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, sub-
jecting an uncongealable medium to the cooling effect of said part or parts, and

page_text: circulating the said medium in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to
be cooled.
3-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an electric
circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, subjecting an
uncongealable medium to the cooling effect of said part or parts, and simultaneously
there with circulating the said medium in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a
locality to be cooled.
4-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an electric
circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, subjecting
an uncongealable medium to the cooling effect of said part or paris, and circu-
lating the said medium in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a humid locality
to be cooled.
5--The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an electric
circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, subjecting an
uncongealable medium contained in a receptacle or reservoir to the cooling effect of
said part or parts, and circulating the said medium in a conduit or pipe leading from
and to the reservoir and through the locality whereat the temperature is to be
changed.
6 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an electric
circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, subjecting an
uncongealable medium contained in a non-heat-conducting receptacle or reservoir.to
the cooling effect of said part or parts, and circulating the said medium in a conduit
or pipe leading from and to the reservoir and through the locality whereat the
temperature is to be changed.
7 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, sub-
jecting an uncongealable liquid contained in a receptacle or reservoir to the cooling
effect of said part or parts, and circulating the said liquid in a conduit or pipe
leading from and to the reservoir and through the locality whereat the temperature
is to be changed.
8-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the currert, sub-
jecting an uncongealable medium to the cooling effect of said part or parts, and
circulating the said medium in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a receptacle
or room containing humid air to be cooled.
9-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current,
subjecting an uncongealable medium to the cooling effect of said part or parts, and
forcing the said medium through a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality
to be cooled.
10-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current,
locating said part or parts within or in contact with a receptacle containing an
uncongealable medium, locating a second receptacle containing a medium in proximity
to said part or parts and in contact with the said uncongealable medium, and circu-
lating the medium contained in the second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading
to or through a locality to be cooled.
11 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current,
locating said part or parts within or in contact with a receptacle containing an
uncongealable medium, agitating said uncongealable medium, locating a second
receptacle containing a medium in proximity to said part or parts and in contact
with the said uncongealable medium, and circulating the medium contained in the
second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled.
12-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, locating

page_text: said part or parts within or in contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable
medium, agitating said uncongealable medium, locating a second receptacle having
a tortuous passage and containing a medium in proximity to said part or parts and in
contact with the said uncongealable medium, and circulating the medium contained
in the second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to bo
cooled.
13 The method of electric cooling or freezing consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, locating
said part or parts within or in contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable
medium, locating a second receptacle containing an uncongealable medium in
proximity to said part or parts and in contact with the uncongealable medium in
the former receptacle, and circulating the medium contained in the second receptacle
in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled.
14-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, locating
said part or parts within or in contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable
medium, subjecting a second receptacle containing a medium to the cooling effect
of the uncongealable medium in the former receptacle, and circulating the medium
contained in the second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a
locality to be cooled.
15 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current locating
said part or parts within or in contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable
medium, locating a second receptacle containing a medium within the former
receptacle, and circulating the medium contained in the second receptacle in a conduit
or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled.
16 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled by the current, locating
said part or parts within or in contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable
medium, subjecting a second receptacle containing a medium to the cooling effect
of the uncongealable medium in the former receptacle, and circulating the medium
contained in the second receptacle through a tortuous passage or coiled pipe located
in a locality to be cooled.
17 The method of electric cooling or freezing consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, subjecting a medium to the cooling effect of
said part or parts cooled and circulating or distributing the said medium through a
conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating,
or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
18 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, subjecting an uncongealable medium to the
cooling effect of said part or parts cooled, and circulating the said medium in a conduit
or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating, or
conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
19The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, subjecting an uncongealable medium to the
cooling effect of said part or parts cooled, and circulating the said medium in a conduit
or pipe leading to or through a humid locality to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating,
or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
20-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts, adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, subjecting an uncongealable medium contained
in a non-heat-conducting receptacle or reservoir to the cooling effect of said part or
parts cooled, and circulating the said medium in a conduit or pipe leading from and
to the reservoir and through the locality whereat the temperature is to be cooled, and

page_text: diffusing, dissipating, or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the
circuit.
21 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, subjecting an uncongealable medium to the
cooling effect of said part or parts cooled, and forcing the said medium through a
conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating,
or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
22-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, locating said part or parts to be cooled within
or in contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable medium, locating a second
receptacle containing a medium in proximity to said part or parts cooled and in
contact with the said uncongealable medium, and circulating the medium contained
in the second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be
cooled, and diffusing, dissipating or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts
of the circuit.
23 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, locating said cooled part or parts within or in
contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable medium, agitating said
uncongealable medium, locating a second receptacle containing a medium in proximity
to said part or parts cooled and in contact with the said uncongealable medium, and
circulating the medium contained in the second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading
to or through a locality to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating, or conducting the
heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
24 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, locating said part or parts cooled within or in
contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable medium, agitating said
uncongealable medium, locating a second receptacle having a tortuous passage and
containing a medium in proximity to said part or parts cooled and in contact with
the said uncongealable medium and circulating the medium contained in the second
receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled, and
diffusing, dissipating, or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the
circuit.
25-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, locating said part or parts cooled within or in
contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable medium, subjecting a second
receptacle containing a medium to the cooling effect of the uncongealable medium in
the former receptacle, and circulating the medium contained in the second receptacle
in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled, and diffusing,
dissipating, or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
26-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, locating said part or parts cooled within or
in contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable medium, locating a second
receptacle containing a medium within the former receptacle, and circulating the
medium contained in the second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading to or through
a locality to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating, or conducting the heat from the
heated part or parts of the circuit.
27 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, subjecting a medium to the cooling effect of said
part or parts cooled, and circulating or distributing the said medium through a
conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating,

page_text: or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit by locating said
heated part or parts within or in contact with a conduit and passing a current of
water through the conduit.
28 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more
parts adapted to be heated by the current, locating said part or parts cooled within
or in contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable medium, subjecting a
second receptacle containing a medium to the cooling effect of the uncongealable
medium in the former receptacle, and circulating the medium contained in the
second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading to or through a locality to be
cooled, and diffusing, dissipating, or conducting the heat from the heated part or
parts of the circuit by locating said heated part or parts within or in contact with a
conduit and passing a current of cool water through the conduit.
29 The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, locating said part or parts cooled within or in
contact with a receptacle containing an uncongealable medium, locating a second
receptacle containing a medium within the former receptacle, and circulating the
medium contained in the second receptacle in a conduit or pipe leading to or through
a locality to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating, or conducting the heat from
the heated part or parts of the circuit by locating said heated part or parts
within or in contact with a conduit and passing a current of cool water through the
conduit.
30-The method of electric cocling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the current, locating the part or parts adapted to be cooled in
proximity to a receptacle to be cooled, and diffusing, dissipating, or conducting the
heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
31-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the electric current, locating the part or parts adapted to be
cooled in proximity to a receptacle to be cooled, inclosing the said receptacle and
cooled part or parts in an envelope of non-heat-conducting material, and diffusing,
dissipating, or conducting the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
32-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and one or more parts
adapted to be heated by the electric current, locating the part or parts adapted to be
cooled in proximity to a receptacle to be cooled, inclosing the said receptaclo and
cooled part or parts in a suitable inclosure, and diffusing, dissipating, or conducting
the heat from the heated part or parts of the circuit.
33-The method of electric cooling or freezing, consisting in establishing an
electric circuit having one or more parts adapted to be cooled and locating said part
or parts in proximity to a receptacle to cool the same.
34-The method of electrically changing temperature, consisting in subjecting a
medium to a changing effect produced by a current in one or more parts of an electric
circuit and circulating said medium through a conduit or pipe leading to a locality
whereat the temperature is to be changed.
35-The method of electrically changing temperature, consisting in subjecting a
medium to a changing effect produced by a continuous current in one or more parts
of an electric circuit, and circulating said medium through a conduit or pipe leading
to and from a locality whereat the temperature is to be changed.
36 The method of electrically changing temperature, consisting in subjecting a
medium to a changing effect produced by a current in one or more parts of an
electric circuit, and simultaneously therewith circulating said medium through a
conduit or pipe leading to and from a locality whereat the temperature is to be
changed.
37 The method of producing a change of temperature electrically, consisting in

page_text: subjecting a medium contained in a receptacle or reservoir to a changing effect of
a current in one or more parts of an electric circuit, and simultaneously therewith
circulating said medium through a conduit or pipe leading from and to the reservoir
and through the locality whereat the temperature is to be changed.
38-The method of producing a change of temperature electrically, consisting
in subjecting a medium contained in a non-heat-conducting receptacle or reservoir to
a changing effect of a current in one or more parts of an electric circuit, and
simultaneously therewith circulating said medium through a conduit or pipe leading
from and to the reservoir and through the locality whereat the temperature is to be
changed
39 The method of producing a change of temperature electrically, consisting in
subjecting a liquid contained in a receptacle or reservoir to a changing effect of a
current in one or more parts of an electric circuit, and simultaneously therewith
circulating said liquid through a conduit or pipe leading from and to the reservoir
and through the locality wherein the temperature is to be changed.
40 The method of cooling or freezing, consisting in removing heat from a medium
by or through the convection or conduction of heat produced by electricity and
circulating or passing said medium through a locality to be cooled.
41 The method of cooling or freezing, consisting in removing heat from an
uncongealable medium by or through the convection or conduction of heat produced
by electricity, and circulating or passing said medium through a locality to be
cooled.
42-The method of electrically changing temperature, consisting in removing heat
from or disengaging heat in a medium by or through the convection or conduction of
heat produced by an electric current or currents, and circulating or passing said
medium through a locality wherein the temperature is to be changed.
Dated this 16th day of April 1890.
MARK WESLEY DEWEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.