Improvements.relating to the Manufacture of Ice and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements.relating to the Manufacture of Ice and to
Apparatus therefor.
We, ANTHONY GAPPER SOUTHBY, of 96 Chestnut Avenue, Forest Gate, in the
county of Essex, Engineer, and FREDERICK DELACOURT BLYTH, of Grange Road,
Leyton, in the county of Essex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the manufacture of ice by the evaporation of water in a
vacuum the vapour arising from the water being either pumped away or absorbed
by a chemical absorbent such as sulphuric acid and to apparatus therefor, and it
comprises the improvements hereinafter described.
According to our invention we make block ice in moulds filled with or placed in
the water to be frozen the surfaces of the moulds not in contact with the water to
be frozen being clothed with a material capable of absorbing a large amount of water
by capillary attraction and saturated with water. The said clothing is disposed on
horizontal or more or less horizontal layers or is separated into portions of limited
vertical height by impervious diaphragms or the capillary passages of the clothing
are separated or more or less separated by impervious or more or less impervious
ligatures into portions of limited vertical height. The water, absorbed by the clothing
is evaporated on one side of the moulds by subjecting it to the vacuum of the ice
making machine so that the water freezes on the other sides of the moulds instead
of as hitherto evaporating a portion of the water the remainder of which is thereby
turned to ice. We make the clothing of such thickness that it may retain sufficient
water in its pores to produce during its evaporation the desired thickness of ice on
the moulds.
We sometimes form trays on the upper horizontal surfaces of moulds capable of
holding just sufficient water as by its evaporation to produce the desired thickness
of ice on the under surfaces of the moulds. Or we make galleries or the more or
less vertical sides of moulds and fill them with sufficient water to produce by its
evaporation the desired thickness of ice on the other surfaces of the moulds and these
galleries we sometimes make with sloping sides overlapping one another. In all
these cases we can add glycerine or a salt capable of lowering the freezing point
of the water to be evaporated and with which we saturate the clothing or fill the
trays or galleries and we especially do so when employing trays or galleries.
The moulds in which we make block ice may contain a limited depth of water
and be placed in a chamber of the ice machine so that a layer of ice forms over
the surface of the water in the moulds and we fit the moulds so that we can tilt
them to any desired. angle. When the ice has formed of sufficient thickness to
keep the water in the moulds we tilt up the moulds so as to allow the air and
vapour which always collects under ice when made by its own evaporation to rise
to the raised side of the moulds when the water will continue to freeze into solid
blocks by the evaporation of the ice first formed.
We prefer to arrange the tilting apparatus so that it can be worked from
outside the chamber by means of shafts or rods passing through stuffing boxes or
by other suitable means.
When all the water in the moulds is frozen we sometimes repeat the process
with a further supply of water the moulds being made deep enough to contain it,
and we prefer to allow the water to flow into the moulds in small streams so that
it may be reduced in temperature to about freezing point as it runs out of the
moulds.

page_text: We automatically regulate the flow of water into the moulds in what is called
the rapid process of freezing by utilizing the reduction of pressure in the freezing
vessel when all the water contained in it is turned to ice.
We do this in a variety of ways as for instance by causing the decrease of
pressure to actuate a piston, diaphragm or float which either directly turns on a
cock or valve so as to admit a certain amount of water when by the renewed
higher pressure the cock or valve is turned off or the decrease of pressure indirectly
moves a detent' which sets in motion other apparatus moved by a weight or spring
to open and shut the cock or valve.
"Or we sometimes cause the variation in pressure to actuate a piston diaphragm,
float or gauge so as to inake an electrical contact which either directly sets in
action magnetic power to open and shut the cock or valve or indirectly sets in
motion other apparatus to open and shut the cock or valve by means of a weight
or spring.
We sometimes regulate the duration of the opening of the cock or valve by an
escapement and-pendulum or balance wheel.
In the exhaust pumps for producing the vacuum or for pumping away the vapour
it is very desirable that the piston should not be unnecessarily burdened by having to
lift the exit valve but as the degree of compression on both the exhaust and com-
pressing sides of the piston is constantly varying so that the point of the stroke at
which the valve should be opened is uncertain the ordinary ways of actuating this
valve are not applicable. We produce the desired result by balancing the valve by
means of a spring or weight so that it will open of itself, but at the end of the stroke
we close it by any suitable means and keep it closed till the piston by its retrograde
motion causes a reduction of pressure on the inside of the valve. The valve will
then be kept closed by the greater pressure on the other side of the valve till the
piston in its next stroke again increases the pressure on the inside of the valve till it
equals that on the outside of the valve when the valve will again be opened by
the spring or weight to be again closed at the end of the stroke as herein before
described.
In order to be able to put different vessels in communication with the ice making
machine and in order to do this so slowly as not to overburden the pump with the
air contained in the vessel and to obviate the necessity for employing cocks and
valves of such large size as are required for the purpose and which are expensive and
require great power to open and shut them we use the following arrangement, that
is to say, we use a valve (preferably of the kind described in the specification for
Letters Patent No. 2288, A.D. 1885) in the pipe connecting the vessel and ice
We operate this valve by any
making machine closing towards the machine.
suitable arrangement capable of opening it when the pressure is equal on both
sides of the valve and we fix a small bye pass communication, closed by a cock or
valve, from one side of the large valve to the other so that by opening the bye-pass
cock or valve the vessel it is desired to put in communication with the machine is
gradually exhausted of its air when the main valve can be freely opened while when
we wish to disconnect the vessel from the machine we close the main valve and
bye-pass communication and open a communication between the vessel and the air.
We sometimes make the bye-pass, cock or valve three-way so that when it is closed
to the machine it opens a passage for air to the vessel and vice versa.
Dated the 20th day of October 1888.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Manufacture of Ice and to
Apparatus therefor.
We ANTHONY GAPPER SOUTHBY of 96 Chestnut Avenue, Forest Gate in the
County of Essex, Engineer, and FREDERICK DELACOURT BLYTH, of Grange Road,
Leyton, in the County of Essex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly describeu
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of our invention is to manufacture ice in moulds when-the refrigeration
is produced by the evaporation of water in a vacuum, the vapour arising from the
water being either pumped away, or absorbed by a chemical absorbent, such as
sulphuric acid, and to apparatus therefor, and it consists in the improvements herein-
after described.
Hitherto great difficulty has been found in producing ice fit for commercial
purposes, by this process of producing cold, the ice, unless great care is exercised,
being produced in the form of slabs or at best in the form of agglomerated
snow.
In carrying out our invention, to make the ice, we provide moulds, which we
either fill with or place in the water to be frozen, and the surfaces of the moulds
which are not in contact with the water.to be frozen, we clothe with a material
capable of absorbing a large amount of moisture by capillary attraction, which
material we saturate with water. This clothing is disposed in horizontal, or more
or less horizontal layers, or is separated into portions of limited vertical height by
impervious diaphragms, or the capillary passages of the clothing are separated, or
more or less separated, by impervious, or more or less impervious ligatures, into
portions of limited vertical height. The clothed moulds are placed in. a suitable
vessel connected with the cold producing machine, and the water absorbed by the
clothing is evaporated by producing a vacuum in the vessel, so that the water in
the moulds becomes frozen. The clothing should be of such thickness, that it
will retain sufficient water in its pores to produce, during evaporation, the desired
thickness of ice in the moulds.
We sometimes form trays on the upper horizontal surfaces of moulds, capable
of holding just sufficient water to produce, by its evaporation, the desired thickness
of ice on the under surfaces of the moulds; or we make galleries on the more or
less vertical sides of moulds, and fill them with sufficient water to produce, by its
evaporation, the desired thickness of ice on the other surfaces of the moulds, and
these galleries we sometimes make with sloping sides over-lapping one another.
In these cases, we may use brine, or other material capable of lowering the freezing
point of the water to be evaporated, and with which we saturate the clothing, or
fill the trays or galleries.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show respectively in sectional elevation, elevation, and in sectional
elevation, moulds constructed according to our invention, and which are to be filled
with water to be frozen. Fig. 4 shows a sectional elevation of an arrangement of
moulds to be placed in the water to be frozen,-Fig. 5 being a cross section taken
at right angles to Fig. 4.-Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional elevations at right angles
to one another, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of apparatus. Fig. 9
shows in sectional elevation an arrangement of apparatus for automatically turning
on water to the moulds during the ice-making operation, and Fig. 10 shows a
similar view of a slight modification of part of this apparatus.-Fig. 11 is an elevation,
partly in section, of a further modification,-Fig. 12 being a side elevation at right
angles to Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 details, on an enlarged scale, of the inlet pipe and
cock. Figs. 14 and 15 show in front elevation and side view, an arrangement of
apparatus for effecting the same object, but worked by electricity. Figs. 16 and 17
are respectively a sectional elevation and plan of an arrangement of pump.,valve,
1

page_text: and Fig. 18 shows in sectional clevation an arrangement of valve for connecting and
disconnecting the ice-making apparatus with the cold-producing machine.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, A A are the ice moulds to receive the water to
be frozen, and which may be in the form of slightly tapering cylinders, closed at the
bottom or narrower ends, and open at the top. These cylinders may be either 5
enclosed in an outer case connected with the cold-producing machine, or they may
pass through holes in the covers of vessels in connection with the machine, in such
a manner as to make air-tight joints. This may conveniently be done, as shown,
by fixing round the mould A, near to the top, a rim A' formed with a rounded
edge to rest on a ring of india rubber or other suitable material laid round the
hole on the cover of the vessel, or in any other way, so that the saturated clothing
on the outside of the moulds may be exposed to the action of the exhauster of the
cold-producing machine. These moulds may be made of tinned copper or other
suitable material, and they may be provided with diaphragms A² of metal (see Fig. 1),
soldered on, or of other material, such as rings of vulcanized india rubber set about
or the moulds may
1 inch apart, and between which the clothing A³ is arranged;
bo covered with one continuous sheet of clothing A³, firmly secured on the mould
by ligatures of wire A' (see Fig. 2), about ths of an inch apart. The clothing A³
of the moulds must be capable of absorbing from th to th of the weight of water
it is desired to make into ice. It may consist of swan's down calico, and in order
to contain the above proportion of water, it should have a thickness equal to from
3rd to th the sectional area of the water space in the mould.
Fig. 3 shows a mould which is particularly intended as an ice cream freezer. It
is an ordinary ice cream pot of tinned copper, with a rim A¹, and arranged to fit
into the cover of a vessel connected with the cold-producing machine, as before
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. Instead of being fitted with diaphragms,
as before mentioned, it is provided with conical galleries A³, of tinned copper soldered
on as shown. These galleries are filled nearly full with weak brine, and the forced
evaporation of the liquid contained in the galleries, when subjected to the vacuum,
causes the cream inside the pot to freeze. We may here remark with reference to
these Figures, that the ice may be produced on either side of the mould, which
will have to be slightly modified accordingly; for instance, the clothing, or the
galleries, will be applied inside the mould, and the inside of the mould will be in
connection with the cold-producing machine.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that the moulds A are made
taper in ono direction, and rectangular in the other. They are also open at front
and back (see Fig. 5), but closed at the sides (see Fig. 4). The spaces B between
In this case a number of
the moulds are open and closed in the contrary sense.
moulds, say six, are cast in one piece, say in iron, which may be galvanized or
otherwise protected from oxydation.
The spaces or passages B between the moulds A open into vertical passages B
in connection with a dome B². The dome B' has an outlet B³, which is connected
with the cold-producing machine, a valve, such as that shown at Fig. 18, being
provided in the connecting pipe. The moulds are open at both ends to the
entrance of water, as will be presently explained, and their upper external
surfaces are made with beads or lips a, which form shallow trays for water.
A valve Cat the bottom of, and inside the casing, admits water to the passages B
and B round the moulds, and to fill the trays, such water, previous to the operation
of ice-making being caused to enter by the pressure of the atmosphere due to the
vacuum created in the passages by the exhauster, and when the trays are filled
and the clothing is absolutely saturated, the surplus water is allowed to run away
by stopping the exhaust, and opening the "let off" cock D on the top of the
dome B. The valve is of the screw-down pattern, and is provided with
rod C¹, which extends upwards through a stuffing box in the dome B, and i
provided with a hand wheel by which the valve may be operated from the outside
The bottoms and sides of the moulds are covered with suitable clothing A, and
means are provided for making the passages both air and water tight. Lagging

page_text: of wood or other non-conducting material B* are employed between the moulds,
wherever water can pass, to prevent the formation of ice in those parts.
A tank E, which may be of galvanized sheet iron cased in wood and felt, to
prevent the passage of heat, and of a size to slip easily over the mould, casing and
lagging, so as to allow a little space all round, is then brought up over the mould
casing, and sufficient water to fill the moulds is run in. This tank is supported by
chains which pass over pullies on the mould casing, and are attached to the counter-
weights or other raising and lowering appliances. The apparatus is now ready for
the ice-making operation, and, on starting, the machine, by exhaustion, draws away
the vapors arising from the water in the trays and clothing, and thus causes the water
in the moulds to freeze.
For making clear ice, the tank E will be raised and lowered by any suitable
machinery outside the mould casing, so that the water may run into and out of
the ice moulds, to wash off the bubbles of air, but in this case, the tank should
be made nearly twice as deep as the casing, so as not to expose the moulds to
currents of air when the tank is lowered.
The clothing material may be cemented on to the surfaces of the moulds, or may
be bound on with wire, but in any case the material must not be allowed to dip
into the water in the trays on the tops of the moulds.
When the ice is formed in the moulds A, the tank E is lowered, and the mould
casing is filled with warm water through the valve C, to detach the ice, and to fill
the trays and moisten the absorbent material for the next operation.
In some cases we may use moulds to contain a limited depth of water, which are
placed in a chamber connected with the cold-producing machine, so that a layer of
ice may form over the surface of the water in the moulds.
The moulds are arranged so that they c can be tilted to any desired angle.
When the ice has formed of sufficient thickness to keep the water in the moulds,
we tilt up the moulds so as to allow the air and vapors which collect under the
ice to rise to the higher side of the mould, when the water below the ice will
continue to freeze into solid blocks by the evaporation of the ice first produced.
When all the water in the moulds is frozen, we may repeat the process with a
further supply of water, the moulds being made deep enough to contain the same,
and we prefer to allow the water to flow into the moulds in small streams, so that
it may be reduced in temperature to about freezing point as it enters into the
moulds.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show the arrangement of such moulds. In this arrangement,
A are the moulds, which are mounted so as to be capable of being tilted in a
casing F, of galvanized sheet iron, strong enough to withstand the pressure of the
atmosphere. On one side of this casing F is a door F, and on the other side are
glass sight holes F2, by means of which the ice moulds A may, from time to time,
be inspected.
The ice moulds are of light galvanized sheet iron, and are placed on shelves G*,
of angle iron, provided with trunnions G, which work in bearings or sockets G₁
fixed to the sides of the casing F. The shelves are connected together by a rod G³,
and a tooth quadrant G is attached to the end of one tray. A pinion Gʻ, mounted
on a shaft which passes through an air-tight stuffing box in the end of the casing,
gears with the tooth quadrant G³, and by means of a handle which is attached to
the shaft, motion may be communicated to the pinion and to the shelves with the
moulds upon them, which can thus be tilted as desired.
H. Hare pipes and cocks for filling the moulds with water to be frozen from
suitable vessels outside the casing.
The casing is connected with the machine by a pipe, which, for the size of these
moulds (2 feet x 14 feet), should not be less than 3" in diameter.
The flow of water into the ice moulds in what is called the rapid process of
freezing, is automatically regulated (so as to make large blocks of solid ice), by
utilizing the reduction of pressure in the freezing vessel, when all the water contained
in it is frozen, to turn on a regulated fresh supply of water. This may be effected

page_text: in several ways, as, for instance, by causing the decrease of pressure to actuate
a piston diaphragm or float, which directly turns on a cock or valve, so as to
admit a certain amount of water (the renewed higher pressure given off by the
water, acting on the piston, diaphragm, or float, to turn off the cock or valve), or
indirectly moves a detent, which frees other apparatus, worked by mechanical or other
and shut the cock or valve.
means, open
to
Fig. 9 shows an apparatus in which the lowing of the pressure, when all the
water is turned to ice, acts directly to move a valve and admit a fresh supply of
water to the mould. I is a flexible diaphragm pump (or it may be a series of
Aneroid diaphragms J, fig. 10) contained in a casing K in connection with the
ice mould. (The reservoir J of the Aneroid may be exhausted of air, and the
diaphragms be distended by a spring, as in a barometer, or it may contain a small
amount of air, or the vapours of a liquid, but in these cases temperature will affect
the pressure).
The reservoir I or J is capable of being placed in communication with the
casing K, and consequently with the ice mould, by means of the cock L, worked
from outside of the casing K.
The diaphragm of the pump I or J is adjustably connected to a lever M, which
has an adjustable fulcrum on a rod M', which can be raised or lowered, as desired,
from outside the casing.
N is a cylinder closed at bottom, and provided with a pipe N¹, which extends
through the bottom and nearly to the top of the cylinder. This cylinder is closed
by a cover in which is a stuffing box for a valve rod, the valve N2 of which closes
the top of the pipe N¹. This valve rod is adjustably connected to the lever M.
N' is a water supply pipe, which enters the cylinder N at the side, and extends
nearly to the bottom thereof, and by means of which the cylinder is always maintained
full of water.
Before commencing to make ice, the cock L is opened, and the pressure in tho
reservoir I or J, and the casing K and ice mould, is thus equalised. The cock Lis
then closed, and the apparatus is ready for use.
The pressure in the ice mould is always constant when ice is forming in the
presence of water, but when all the water has been turned to ice, the pressure in
the ice mould and casing will be diminished, and the diaphragms, under the
influence of the greater pressure in the reservoir I or J, will rise and open the
valve N³, so as to admit a fresh supply of water to the mould. The amount of
water admitted may be regulated by the size of the passage from the ice mould to
the casing K, and by regulating the position of the fulcrum of the lever M on the
rod M', or the passage may be closed and a regulating cock and pipe substituted
for this purpose. The valves or cocks for the admission of the water to the ice
mould, are liable to freeze, and therefore means must be taken to guard against this
inconvenience. Such means are shown in the drawings, and more especially in
Figs. 9 & 13, the one figure showing the arrangement for a valve, and the other
figure for a cock. The comparatively warm water enters the cylinder, and surrounds
the exit pipe and the cock or valve. Any other convenient arrangement for effecting
the purpose may however be adopted. With the diaphragm pump I, it is well to
A safety-tube,
have a safety valve to prevent the disruption of the diaphragm.
such as is used in laboratories, charged with oil, will answer well for the
purpose.
1
Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show a modified form of apparatus in which a series of
Aneroid diaphragms and a cock are used, the pressure releasing a detent which
frees other apparatus, by which the water is automatically turned on and off. In
this arrangement a pump P, with loose fitting piston, and a piston rod passing
through a stuffing box, is used to turn on and off the cock O by means of a
Un either end of the
spring R, which is attached to the plug of the cock O.
spindle or plug of the cock O, is mounted a snail cam, or notched disc 01, 02
the tooth or notch on each disc being set at right angles to the other, and arranged
to act in opposite directions. The disc O' is detained by the lever M, which i

page_text: raised by expansion of the Aneroid diaphragms, as before explained. The disc 02
is detained by a pawl t, which is lifted by a pin on the piston rod of the pump P.
The piston and piston rod are returned to their normal position at the bottom of the
cylinder, by the weight W, and as the piston is loose in the cylinder P, any water
in the lower part of the pump will pass to the upper side of the piston.
The spring R projects through a slot in the piston rod, so that in whichever
direction the piston moves, the spring will be at tension, so long as the discs 01 0²
are retained by their respective detents. For example, the weight W, in carrying
down the piston and piston rod, will bend the spring R downwards, the plug of
the cock being prevented from turning by the disc O', but when the diaphragms J,
under the influence of the greater pressure, raise the lever M, the disc O¹ is
released, and the cock O will then be turned by the spring to admit the water
from above the piston P, to the ice mould. At the same time the pressure of
water below the piston causes the piston, and piston rod and weight, to rise, which
bends the spring R in the opposite direction, until the pin on the piston rod raises
the pawl t, and frees the disc 02, when the spring R will act to turn off the cock.
By this time the pressure in the ice mould having become normal, the lever M
is again in position to retain the disc O', when its notch comes round under the
influence of the spring R, and the normal conditions are reëstablished.
The
casing K, it will be understood, must be in communication with the ice mould
during the operation of producing ice, otherwise the apparatus would not work,
as there would be no difference of pressure on opposite sides of the diaphragms.
The variations in pressure may also actuate a piston, diaphragm, float, or gauge,
so as to make an electrical contact, which, through electro magnetic action, directly
opens and closes a cock or valve, or indirectly sets in motion other apparatus to
open or close the cock or valve.
An arrangement of apparatus of the last named kind is shown in Figs. 14 and 15.
K, as before, is the casing in connection with the ice mould. Qis a mercurial
siphon gauge of well known construction, such as that of an ordinary wheel
barometer. The change of pressure in K causes the mercury to raise the float,
which tips up one end of the lever Q', so as to make contact with the piece Q³
at the other end. An electric current thus passes to the electro magnet Q³, which
raises a detent Q1, and releases a two-toothed disc or wheel O' on the spindle or
plug of the cock O. On the same spindle is mounted a drum R, carrying a cord
and a weight R¹, by which motion is communicated to the drum at certain times.
The drum is capable of being slidden into or out of contact with the disc 0¹, in
order to wind up the cord and weight. Its normal position is however in contact,
being locked thereto by the pins Q of the disc. To control the speed of movement,
of the plug, a pendulum R2 and escapement R³ are provided, the said pendulum
being pivotted at R*, and actuated by the pins Q, working in the escapement R³,
as the disc O rotates. In this instance, the plug of the cock O has a rotary motion,
instead of an oscillating motion, as in the former cases.
It will be evident that many other arrangements of apparatus may be devised
for taking advantage of the difference in pressure between the ice mould and a
sealed chamber, and the arrangements described above are simply given by way
of example.
In the exhaust pump for producing the vacuum, or for pumping away the vapor,
it is very desirable that the piston should not be unnecessarily burdened by having
to lift the exit valve, but as the degree of compression on both the exhaust and
compressed sides of the piston is constantly varying, so that the point of the stroke
at which the valve should be opened is uncertain, the ordinary ways of actuating
this valve are not applicable.
We produce the desired result by balancing the valve by means of a spring or
weight, so that it will open of itself, but at the end of the stroke we close it by
any suitable means, and keep it closed till the piston, by its retrograde movement,
causes a reduction of pressure on the inside of the valve. The valve will then be

page_text: kept closed by the greater pressure on the other side of the valve, until the piston,
on its next stroke, again increases the pressure on the inside of. the valve to equal
that on the outside of the valve, when the valve will again be opened by the
spring or weight, to be again closed at the end of the stroke, as herein before
described.
V is a
Figs. 16 & 17 show an arrangement of apparatus applied to an exit valve box
on the top of a pump cylinder, to produce the effect just described.
valve, which is capable of being raised off its seat by a comparatively light
spring X. A strong spring y, mounted on the spindle or axle Z, is pressed down
on the valve at the end of the stroke by any suitable means, such as an excentric
or cam on the driving shaft, in connection with the lever Z. The spindle Z passes
through a stuffing box in the side of the valve box. The pressure in the valve
box keeps the valve closed until the return of the piston again equalises the
pressure on the two sides of the valve, when the spring X will again lift it.
In order to be able to put different vessels in communication with the ice
making machine, and in order to do this so slowly as not to overburden the pump
with the air contained in the vessel, and to obviate the necessity for employing
cocks and valves of such large size as are required for the purpose, and which
are expensive, and require great power to open and shut, we use the following
arrangement, that is to say, we use a valve (preferably of the kind described in
the specification of Letters Patent No. 2288, A.D. 1885) in the pipe connecting
the vessel and ice making machine, arranged to close towards the machine. We
operate this valve by any suitable arrangement capable of opening it when the
pressure is equal on both sides of the valve, and we provide a small bye pass closed
by a cock or valve from one side of the main valve to the other, so that by
opening the bye pass cock or valve, the vessel it is desired to put in communication
with the machine is gradually exhausted of its air. The main valve can then be
freely opened. When it is desired to disconnect the vessel from the machine,
the main valvo and bye pass are closed, and communication is made between the
vessel and the air.
The bye pass cock may have three ways, so that when it is closed to the machine,
it opens a passage for air to the vessel, and vice versa.
Fig. 18 shows a valve adapted for the above purpose. V is the valve which can
be lifted or lowered by the handle & valve rod (the latter passing through a stuffing
box), when the pressure is equal on both sides of the valve. W is a cock having
three ways communicating respectively with the space above the valve, the
atmosphere, & with a passage leading to the machine. The way connecting with
the atmosphere is comparatively large, & that communicating with the passage
comparatively small, so that when the spaces on both sides of the valve are put
in communication, too much air may not pass to the machine to overburden the
pump. inch is quite large enough for small machines, while inch is not
too large for large machines. The size of this passage may however be regulated
by a screwdown valve W', as shewn in the figure.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The apparatus to be used in the manufacture of mould ice, as herein shown and
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In the manufacture of ice in vertical moulds, clothing the surfaces of the
moulds which are not in contact with the liquid to be frozen, with a material
capable of absorbing moisture by capillary attraction, and which is divided up
into portions of more or less limited vertical height, by metal or other diaphragms
or ligatures, and evaporating the moisture so absorbed in vacuo, as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. In the manufacture of ice, the use of moulds placed horizontally, and

page_text: clothed, on one or both of their more or less horizontal surfaces, with a material
capable of absorbing moisture by capillary attraction, as herein shown and
described.
4. In the manufacture of ice, the use of rectangular moulds formed, on their
upper sides, with trays to receive water, said moulds being placed horizontally
in suitable vessels in which evaporation is produced by creating a vacuum, as
şet forth.
5. The mode of manufacturing ice herein described, and consisting in evaporating
moisture applied on or to the surfaces of the moulds which are not in contact with
the liquid to be frozen, by pumping away or drawing off the vapor arising from
the moisture, or, in other words, creating a vacuum in the vessel containing the
moulds, as set forth.
6. The application to moulds for making ice, of a number of small reservoirs or
galleries to contain water or aqueous solution to be evaporated in vacuo, as shown
and described.
'
7. Making ice in shallow moulds contained in a suitable vessel, in which evaporation
takes place when a vacuum is produced, means being provided for tilting the moulds
to permit of the escape of air bubbles or vapor from below the first formed layer
of ice, substantially as shown and described with reference to Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of
the drawings.
8. In the manufacture of ice by evaporation in vacuo, the use of apparatus in
connection with the ice mould for automatically supplying regulated quantities of
water to the moulds, the action of which is due to the difference of pressure in the
apparatus and in the ice mould, as described and shown with reference to Figs. 9
to 15 of the drawings.
9. In apparatus to be used in the manufacture of ice, the arrangements of valves
as herein shown and described with reference to Figs. 16, 17 and 18, for the purpose
set forth.
10. In apparatus to be used in the manufacture of ice, the combination of an
ordinary self-closing valve with a bye pass, a three-way cock, and a regulating
screw or plug, as herein shown and described, with reference to Fig. 18, for con-
necting the ice-making vessels or moulds with the cold-producing machine, as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of Act 1980