Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, MARCEL AUDIFFREN, of Grasse, in the Republic of France, Professor, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the kind operating by
expansion and compression of elastic fluids, such as ammonia, sulphurous anhydride
or the like, and it has chiefly for its object to obviate all the losses which have
heretofore been caused in all apparatus of this kind; it also relates to an improved
mode of construction of the apparatus and to their application to industrial and
domestic uses.
I will proceed to describe a form of apparatus suitable for domestic purposes; it
will be easy to deduce therefrom the construction adapted for industrial uses.
Such an apparatus comprises two metallic lenticular receptacles hermetically
closed and connected by a tube which sets them in communication. One of the
receptacles is larger than the other and serves as a condenser, while the other serves
as a refrigerator. The mode of adaptation of the tube to the sides of the receptacles
connected together by the said tube may be of any desired kind; it is sufficient
that strength and tightness should be secured. The system fulfils these two
conditions by the lateral soldering of the nuts. The aforesaid tube is prolonged
for 5 or 6 centimetres into the condenser. In front and on the opposite side is a
shaft prolonged for some centimetres outside the condenser and terminated by an
exterior crank. Counter-brackets may be fixed upon the sides for strengthening
the tube and shaft. The whole apparatus bears, by the exterior parts of the tube
and shaft forming journals, upon the edges of a water receptacle into which half
the condenser dips.
Thus the refrigerator, tube, shaft and condenser are rigidly united and they are
actuated by the said crank; all these parts are perfectly secured one to the other
so as to render the whole apparatus perfectly tight. The refrigerator is filled to
about one-third with a very volatile liquid, preferably sulphurous anhydride.
In the interior of the condenser is arranged a suction and force pump which
draws the vapours from the liquid contained in the refrigerator and forces them
around it and on the sides where they condense. The vaporization of the liquid
produces a lowering of temperature in the refrigerator, which is communicated to
the water or to an incongealable liquid contained in the box into which the
refrigerator dips.
The heat resulting from the condensation of the steam in the condenser is
absorbed by the water in the said receptacle which is renewed according to
requirements. The vaporization and condensation are greatly promoted by the
rotary movement of the apparatus which energetically stirs the interior and exterior
liquids.
In the interior of the condenser is arranged a mass or lump of cast iron or of lead
of sufficient weight for preventing the pump from participating in the rotary
movement of the apparatus, and which has the form of the bottom of the condenser.
This mass or lump is suspended by two arms, one placed upon the aforesaid tube
and the other upon the shaft. Two brackets or standards fixed to the mass or lump
receive the journals of the double-acting oscillating cylinder. This cylinder is an
ordinary pump body provided with two suction valves and with two delivery valves.
A piston with metallic packing is connected by its metallic rod to the interior

page_text: crank keyed upon the shaft. The journal is hollow and firmly fixed upon the valve
chamber. A pipe passes with little friction on the one hand into the before-
mentioned tube and on the other hand into the journal setting the refrigerator in
communication with the valve chamber. Its insertion with little friction enables
the tube to turn without carrying away the said pipe, and the cylinder to oscillate
freely, while ensuring a sufficient tightness for the communication of the refrigerator
and valve chamber.
In an apparatus constructed as herein set forth the only escapes possible being
produced in the interior it follows that the pump is not necessarily a precision
apparatus; the interior escapes have only the inconvenience of diminishing the
mechanical production. They may however be reduced to a large extent by the
following arrangement; the stuffing box is a simple sleeve fixed upon the cover of
the cylinder and in which slides the piston rod with little friction. The interior of
this sleeve is hollowed out in such manner as to form a circular chamber around
the piston rod. The side of this chamber is pierced, with a hole into which is fitted
a pipe terminating at the bottom of the condenser and following freely the
oscillations of the cylinder the extremity of this pipe dips into the cylinder and
always remains at the bottom of the condenser.
When under these circumstances the piston moves downwards, the pressure,
being smaller in the cover, diminishes also in the chamber by reason of the escapes
from the sleeve. The compressed vapour from the condenser then causes the liquid
to rise as far as the circular chamber in which the said. pipe terminates. This liquid
forms a joint and at the same time abundantly lubricates the piston rod. Moreover
the small amount of liquid which passes into the cylinder will perfectly lubricate
the piston packings.
When at the end of an operation all the liquid has passed from the refrigerator
to the condenser an automatic valve closed during the rotation by the centrifugal
force opens by the action of the weight and enables the liquid in the condenser to
return to the refrigerator.
This valve comprises a well-planed plate fixed by its edge against a side of the
refrigerator as far as possible from the axis of the apparatus and in a plane
perpendicular to this axis. To its smooth face is applied another plate likewise
planed and adapted to move about a pivot. A pressing screw, by means of a
spring, presses the two plates sufficiently one against the other. The second plate
which is narrower than the first plate is prolonged on one side and terminates in a
small mass of some hectogrammes. It is limited in its rotary movement above the
aforesaid pivot by two stops. Two elongated openings are pierced, one in the first
plate and the other in the second plate, and they coincide when the edge of the
inovable second plate is in contact with the stop nearest to the axis, whilst all
communication is intercepted when the same plate bears against the other stop.
A pipe extends from the opening in the first plate, passes into the tube, whose
diameter is larger so as to leave an aunular space sufficient for the passage of the
vapour. This pipe leaves laterally through an opening which is hermetically closed
by it, and terminates near the bottom of the condenser.
If the apparatus is caused to turn, the said mass, by virtue of the centrifugal
power, forces the second plate against the second stop and the communication
between the refrigerator and the condenser is intercepted. If the rotary motion
discontinues, it is sufficient to place the crank in such a position that a guide mark
shall be above in order that the mass by its own weight shall force the second plate
against the first stop so as to establish the communication. The pressure which 5
prevails in the condenser is sufficient for forcing away all the liquid which is above
the orifice of the said pipe.
Of course this automatic valve may be replaced by any other apparatus which
gives the same result, that is to say which causes the liquid in the condenser to
return into the refrigerator.
In a modified arrangement the suction and force pump is replaced by a simple
rotary pinion pump. In this case the before-mentioned shaft and tube are firmly
5

page_text: united; upon the shaft is keyed a pinion of the pump which is suspended by its
cheeks from the shaft. A mass is attached to the pump by a prolongation of the
cheeks. A sleeve wherein the large tube turns with little friction is fixed upon
a cheek of the pump. The lateral opening of this tube terminates in an annular
chamber formed in the sleeve. The side of this chamber receives the suction pipe
which is fixed at the other side upon the pump and opens into the suction chamber.
From the delivery chamber the vapour is forced through another tube which
descends to the side of a condenser without touching it a little above the said mass.
A third pipe of somewhat smaller size also terminates in the suction chamber and
passes downwards to the bottom of the condenser through or by the side of the
mass so as to dip into the liquid which remains permanently in the condenser.
The plane occupied by the shafts of the pinions forms an angle of about
45 degrees with the horizontal plane so that during the operation the mean position
of this plane is nearly horizontal. This combination facilitates the lubrication of
the pinions. In fact during the rotation the pinions draw the vapour from the
refrigerator and compress it in the condenser. The pressure being smaller in the
suction chamber than in the condenser the liquid rises through the third pipe into
the interior of the pump and lubricates the pinions. The supply of this liquid is
regulated by the small size of the third pipe; it must only be a small fraction of
the volume of the gas which circulates with it in the pump.
By reason of the approximate horizontality of the plane of the pinions, the
lubricating liquid occupies the passages through which the escapes might take
place, particularly those of the teeth which engage with each other and form a
partition between the two chambers and also the intervals between the circular sides
of the pump and the top of the teeth.
After an operation it is sufficient to turn the crank backwards in order to force
the liquid into the refrigerator, unless use is made of a return pipe operated as
hereinbefore set forth, or through a cock operated from the outside.
My improved apparatus which I have described is specially designed for domestic
uses, the crank being turned by hand; but I may also place it in a casing with non
heat-conducting sides and operate it mechanically by the aid of weights or otherwise
acting upon a series of toothed wheels so as to always maintain the temperature of
the casing below zero.
This apparatus may also serve for industrial uses by augmenting its dimensions
and actuating it with the aid of an engine.
Dated this 17th day of November 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, MARCEL AUDIFFREN, of Grasse, in the Republic of France, Professor,
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:―
My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the kind operating by expansion
and compression of elastic fluids, such as ammonia, sulphurous anhydride or the
like, and it has chiefly for its object to obviate all the losses which have heretofore
been caused in all apparatus of this kind.
The said invention also relates to an improved mode of construction of the
apparatus and to their application to industrial and domestic uses.
The improved apparatus represented in the accompanying drawings in a

page_text: carent form for domestic purposes but it will be easy to deduce therefrom the
construction adapted for industrial uses.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus through the axis of rotation.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the arrangement of the pump.
Figure 3 is a transverse section perpendicular to the axis.
Figure 4 is a sectional plan of the apparatus drawn to a reduced scale.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus actuated by a rotary pump.
Figure 6 is a transverse section perpendicular to the axis.
Figures 7 and 8 are detail views.
The
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the apparatus comprises two metallic
lenticular receptacles R and C hermetically closed and connected as shown_in
Figure 1 by a tube T which establishes communication between them.
receptacle C is larger than the other receptacle and serves as
while the other R serves as a refrigerator. The mode of adaptation of the tube T
a condenser,
to the sides of the receptacles may be of any desired kind, it is sufficient that
strength and tightness should be secured. The system represented in the drawings
fulfils these two conditions by the lateral soldering of the nuts. The aforesaid
tube T is prolonged for 5 or 6 centimetres into the condenser C. In front and on
the opposite side is a shaft A prolonged for some centimetres outside the condenser
and terminated by an exterior crank M. Counter-brackets d may be fixed upon
the sides for strengthening the tube T and shaft A. The whole apparatus is
supported by the exterior parts of the tube T and shaft A forming journals, in
bearings in the edges of a water receptacle E into which half the condenser
dips.
Thus the refrigerator R tube T, shaft A and condenser C are rigidly united
and they are actuated by the turning of the said crank M all the said parts are
perfectly secured one to the other so as to render the whole apparatus perfectly
tight. The refrigerator is filled to about one-third with a very volatile liquid
preferably sulphurous anhydride.
In the interior of the condenser is arranged a suction and force pump which
draws the vapours from the liquid contained in the refrigerator R and forces them
around the condenser and on the sides where they condense. The vaporization of
the liquid produces a lowering of temperature in the refrigerator, which is
communicated to the water or to an incongealable liquid contained in a box D into
which the refrigerator dips.
The heat resulting from the condensation of the steam in the condenser C is
absorbed by the water in the said receptacle .E which is renewed according to
requirements. The vaporization and condensation are greatly promoted by the
rotary movement of the apparatus which energetically stirs the interior and exterior
liquids.
"In the interior of the condenser is arranged a mass or lump of cast iron or of
lead Figure 1 of sufficient weight for preventing the pump from participating in
the rotary movement of the apparatus, and which is made of the form of the
bottom of the condenser. This mass or lump is suspended by two arms B B one
placed upon the aforesaid tube T and the other upon the shaft A. Two brackets
or standards KK fixed to the mass or lump Z receive the journals.n n' of the
double-acting oscillating cylinder H. This cylinder is an
provided with two suction valves gg and with two delivery valves glg¹. "A piston P
ordinary pump body
with metallic packing is connected by its metallic rod J to the interior crank m
keyed upon the shaft A. The journal 'n is hollow and firmly fixed upon the valve
chamber gg.
A pipe N passes with little friction at one end into the before-
mentioned tube T and at the other end into the journal n, setting the refrigerator
in communication with the valve chamber. Its insertion with little friction enables
the tube T to turn without carrying away the said pipe N, and the cylinder to
oscillate freely, while ensuring a sufficient tightness for the communication of the
refrigerator and valve chamber.
In an apparatus constructed as herein set forth the only escapes possible being

page_text: produced in the interior, it follows that the pump is not necessarily a precision
apparatus; the interior escapes have only the inconvenience of diminishing the
mechanical production. They may however be reduced to a large extent by the
following arrangement; the stuffing box may be made as a simple sleeve l fixed
upon the cover of the cylinder and in which slides the piston rod J with little
friction. The interior of this sleeve is hollowed out in such manner as to form a
circular chamber around the piston rod J. The side of this chamber is pierced
with a hole into which is fitted a pipe terminating at the bottom of the
condenser and following freely the oscillations of the cylinder; the extremity
of this pipe dips into the cylinder and always remains at the bottom of the
condenser.
When under these circumstances the piston moves downwards, the pressure,
being smaller in the cover, diminishes also in the chamber h by reason of the
escape from the sleeve. The compressed vapour from the condenser then causes.
the liquid to rise as far as the circular chamber h in which the said pipe
terminates. This liquid forms a joint and at the same time abundantly lubricates
the piston rod J. Moreover the small amount of liquid which passes into the
cylinder will preferably lubricate the piston packings.
When at the end of an operation all the liquid has passed from the refrigerator R.
to the condenser C an automatic valve closed during the rotation by the centrifugal
force opens by the action of the weight and enables the liquid in the condenser to
return to the refrigerator R.
A well
The construction of this valve is represented in Figures 7 and 8.
straightened or planed plate Z is fixed by its edge against a side of the refrigerator
as far as possible from the axis of the apparatus for instance at L and in a plane
perpendicular to this axis. To the smooth face of the said plate is attached
A screw
another plater likewise planed and adapted to move about a pivot a.
nut by means of a spring presses the two plates sufficiently one against the other.
The second plater which is narrower than the plate 2 is prolonged on one side and.
terminates in a small mass or weight y of some hectogrammes. The plate ris
limited in its rotary movement about the aforesaid pivot a by two stops bb. Two
elongated openings o o¹ are pierced, one in the plate z and the other in the plate r
and they coincide when the edge of the movable plate r is in contact with the stop b
nearest to the axis, whilst all communication is intercepted when the same plate.
bears against the other stop 61. A pipe F extends from the opening o in the
plate and passes into the tube T, whose diameter is larger than the said pipe so
as to leave an annular space around the same sufficient for the passage of the
vapour. This pipe F passes laterally through an opening in the tube T which
opening is bermetically closed by the said pipe F which terminates near the bottom
of the condenser.
If the apparatus is caused to turn the mass or weight y by virtue of the
centrifugal power, forces the plate against the stop and the communication
between the refrigerator and the condenser is intercepted. If the rotary motion
is discontinued, it is sufficient to turn the crank M into such a position that a guide
mark L on the refrigerator R will be above in order that the mass y by its own
weight shall force the plate against the stop b so as to establish the
communication. The pressure which prevails in the condenser is sufficient
for forcing away all the liquid which is above the orifice of the said pipe F.
This automatic valve may of course be replaced by any other apparatus which
gives the same result, that is to say which causes the liquid in the condenser to
return into the refrigerator.
In a modified arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6 the suction and force pump
is replaced by a simple rotary pinion pump. In this case the shaft A and tube T
are firmly united; upon the shaft A is keyed a pinion P of the pump which is
suspended by its cheeks from the shaft A. The weight Z is attached to the pump
by a prolongation of the cheeks. The sleeve m wherein the large tube T turns
with little friction is fixed to or forms part of the cheek of the pump. The lateral

page_text: opening of this tube T terminates in an annular chamber formed in the sleeve..
The side of this chamber receives the suction pipe N which is fixed at the other
end to the pump and opens into the suction chamber = From the delivery
chamber a the vapour is forced through another tube K which descends to the side
of a condenser without touching it, a little above the said mass or weight Z. A
third pipe t' of somewhat smaller size also terminates in the suction chamber ¹ and
passes downwards to the bottom of the condenser through or by the side of the
mass or weight Z so as to dip into the liquid which remains permanently in the
condenser.
The plane occupied by the shafts of the pinions forms an angle of about
45 degrees with the horizontal plane so that during the operation the mean position
of this plane is nearly horizontal. This combination facilitates the lubrication of
the pinions. In fact during the rotation, the pinions turning in the direction of the
arrows, draw the vapour from the refrigerator R and compress it in the
condenser C. The pressure being smaller in the suction chamber than in
the condenser the liquid rises through the pipe t' into the interior of the pump and
lubricates the pinions. The supply of this liquid is regulated by the small size of
the pipe it must only be a small fraction of the volume of the liquid which
circulates with it in the pump.
By reason of the approximate horizontality of the plane of the pinions, the
lubricating liquid occupies the passages through which the escape might take
place, particularly those of the teeth which engage with each other and form a
partition between the two chambers and 2¹ and also at intervals between the
circular sides of the pump and the top of the teeth.
After an operation it is sufficient to turn the crank backwards in order to force
the liquid into the refrigerator, unless use is made of a return pipe operated as
herein before set forth, or through a cock operated from the outside.
My improved apparatus which I have described is specially designed for
domestic uses, the crank being turned by hand; but I may also place it in a casing
with non heat-conducting sides and operate it mechanically by the aid of weights
or otherwise, acting upon a series of toothed wheels so as to always maintain the
temperature of the casing below zero.
This apparatus may also be applied to industrial purposes by increasing its
dimensions and actuating it by means of an engine.
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 :-
A refrigerating apparatus operating by the expansion and compression of a very
volatile liquid, comprising an entirely closed casing containing a suction and force
pump set in motion by the rotation of the apparatus itself, the pump being
maintained in its normal position by a weight fixed at its lower part and
preventing it from participating in the rotary movement of the apparatus.
Dated this 12th day of June 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.