IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING AND FREEZING
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
KINGSFORD, of Essex Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Third day of July,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty, in the fourteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said James Kingsford, my exors, adñors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said James Kingsford,
my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Kingsford, my exors, adiñors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
Invention
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING AND FREEZING," being communicated to
me from abroad; in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that
I, the said James Kingsford, shall cause a particular description of the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her
said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as

page_text: in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Kingsford, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say :-
By reference to the accompanying Drawing the nature of the Invention,
and the plan and arrangement of the apparatus, will be readily apprehended.
(a is the cylinder of a pump with valves so arranged that exhaustion will take
place on one side of the piston and condensation on the other. The lower
valve of the induction pipe (e, e,). rises with the piston, and air or any gas or
vapor may be drawn into the cylinder through (e, e). At the same time,
whatever is above the piston is compressed and forced along the eduction
pipe g, g, through the upper valve. On the descent of the piston similar
action through the same pipes takes place in the opposite spaces of the cylinder
and through the opposite valves of the pipes. The exhaust vessel in Figure 1
is (d), and the reception vessel is (j), surrounded by the water therein, the
water c being constantly supplied at one part and running off at another. The
receptacle () is made to enter the exhaust vessel, and, after coiling up and
down or around several times for the purpose of exposure to the current
passing out into (e, e), see k, Figures 1 and 2, lies along the vessel in one of
its upper angles. This horizontal part or continuation of the receptacle has
certain perforations and perforated branches opening into the exhaust vessel.
It is obvious that when the cock (t) is fully or partially open, the air or
vapor that had been drawn out of (d, d, d, d,) will enter it after having been
forced into and through (j,,,j). The second or smaller pump (b, b, b, b,)
in Figure 1 is not ordinarily essential. It will, however, in some cases be an
important auxiliary, being worked simultaneously with (a, a, a, a). It will be
seen that if the cocks (u, w, and r) are closed, and (u and s) are open, the
exit from (a, a, a, a,) is made into (b, b, b, b,) through (i, i), and the
contents thus received are again discharged through (h, h, h,) into (i, j, j) as
before; but if the above condition of the cocks is reversed while the first
pump acts as described, the second pump will exhaust the vessel (c, c, c, c,)
if it be tight through (i, i,) and discharge its contents into the atmosphere
through (h, h,) and (r). Or if (r, s, and w) are closed while (v and u)
are open, and (c, c, c, c,) is also open to air, it is obvious that by a simul-
taneous working of the two pumps atmospheric air will be forced by (b, b, b, b₁)

page_text: into the coiled receptacle, and thence into (d, d, d, d), whence it will be drawn
by the exhaustion of (a, a, a, a,) and forced into the pipe (9, 9), and escape
into the atmosphere by a cock opened in any convenient part of this pipe, but
not necessary to be shewn in the Figure. The exit of air from (j.j.j, j,), to
(d, d, d, d,) may be either as above if (t) is open, or through a tube extending
from the restorer to (p) while (t) is closed. The object of these varieties of
action and combination will be apparent at a later stage of this description.
.
Now, for the purpose of refrigeration, I apply the above combination (laying
(b, b, b, b,) out of consideration for the present, as its use is only incidental
and occasional) in two ways, and as the conversion of water into ice is a
main purpose of the Invention, and as a knowledge of the means for doing
this will be sufficient for applying the process to the other useful purposes.
To freeze water, the exhaust vessel (d, d, d, d,) may be made as shewn in
Figures 1 and 2, Figure 1 being a section of the apparatus, and Figure 2 a plan
of (d, d, d, d,) with its covering removed. These shew a chamber open at top and
divided into compartments by partitions (o, o). Each of the compartments is
intended to receive a chamber or vessel (m, m, or n, n,) into it, reaching the
bottom and touching the side which the partitions do not touch, but not touching
the side opposite nor the partitions. When the cover is on it is air-tight on the
partitions and vessels. It is obvious by this arrangement the way through the
vessel from end to end is indirect; thus, supposing air entering at the cock
(p) to be drawn by pump (a, a, a, a,) out at (e), the air (p) will strike the first
partition (o, o,) one side of the first water vessel (?) which fits against the side
of the chamber as well as the top and bottom. The air must therefore turn
the partition and flow in the narrow space between it and the water vessel to
the opposite part, where it encounters the second partition, and so on alter-
nately on each vessel containing air. Now if a pump is kept working at a
given number of strokes per minute, there will be a certain opening to be
given to the cock (p), in order to maintain a given uniform tension in the air-
tight vessel (d, d, d, d). In other words, you may by the cock (p) regulate
the degree of expansion the air is to experience in entering the vessel, and the
water in the vessels will be frozen. This supposes, however, that the cistern
or vessel (d) is protected against external conduction and radiation. The
expanded air thus having a current in the cistern may be made to impinge
against or glide along objects or substances it is desired to cool; or other
matters than water may be placed in the vessels. In the above process my
clement of expansion is the atmosphere. But for the next I connect with the
pipe (p) a tight vessel containing a volatile liquid or other alcohol sulphuret
of carbon, of which I find ether at present the most available. This now

page_text: becomes expanded, and its cold vapor enters the cistern and performs the
office before described to the expanded air. But this vapor it is necessary to
restore to its liquid form, else the process would be too costly; therefore I have
provided the vessel (j, j,j), into which the vapor will be compressed, and it
will be restored to its liquid condition by passing through the cistern c, through
which water flows constantly, and the liquid will be carried back to the ether
vessel. Second, I coat the water vessels within the cistern with cloth or some
absorbent substance held in contact with their surfaces. I construct branching
tubes (2), Figures 1 and 2, projecting from the tube k, and made with minute
orifices to produce jets on each exposed surface of the water vessels.
I now explain the objects and operation of the second pump (6). In case.
of an extreme degree of exhaustion leaving but slight density to the air, a vapour
within the cistern, the forcing operation will be more complete by admitting
through (s) and (i, i), as before explained, the discharge of a into b. Again, if
the water in (c) of the restorer is not naturally cold enough for the best
action, it may be shut off from the atmosphere and cooled by exhaustion, its
vapour being drawn off through (u) and (i, i), and forced into the atmosphere
through (h, h,) and (r), as before explained. This second pump may be
worked in the way before explained as a condenser, simply to throw and
compress atmospheric air into the restorer, where, being cooled, it may escape
through (t) into the cisterns and expand, the cock (p) being closed, or through.
a separate tube leading to (p), the latter being open. Or the operation just
described may take place without (a, a, a, a,) and independently of its exhaus-
tion. In this mode last pointed out the expanded air, leaving (d) may be
drawn or pass through (c) before its final escape, and thus contribute to cool
(j), or the water around it; also by connecting by an open passage the space
on one side of the piston with (d) and the space on the other side with (c)
or with (), a single pump may sometimes perform the offices described above.
to the two in combination. This second pump b, b, b, b, should admit of being
disconnected from the driving power or engine so as to be used only when
needed.
Figure 8 illustrates still another combination and process. The cistern-
(d, d, d, d,) has its interior occupied by water vessels (v, v, v, &c.) Into this
the water m, m, percolates through minute orifices in the top of the cistern,
protected against being clogged by ice, and so disposed that the water vessels
receive the small jets or drops equally over their lower surface. The cistern
is kept in a state of exhaustion through the orifice or tube (e) while watery
vapour can pass through the orifice or tube (f) into the receptacle (9),
within which the hollow cylinder (k) revolves on or around the axis (i,j,)

page_text: which is also hollow, or has a perforation through its length and opens.
into the cavity of the cylinder. This perforated axis is connected at one:
end (as i) with a tube leading to the exhaust of the large pump (a)
of the combination shewn in Figure 1, while the small pump (6) of.
that combination exhausts the cistern (a), the other extremity (j) of the
perforated axis opens into the restorer (j) of the same combination and.
receives from it either the restored ether or expanded air before described.
By such means the cylinder (k) is kept at a low temperature so as to condense
or arrest in the shape of frost or dew the watery vapor thrown off from the
wet surface within the vessels (v) in the exhausted cistern. By such ar
arresting process evaporation continued, and the thin film of water con-
tinually frozen in the vessels as fast as it is supplied from the percolater or
assemblage of orifices. But as frost would clog the extra surface of the
arrester (k), as I term this piece of apparatus, it is continually scraped off by
edges in contact with the outer cylindric surface of the arrester during its
revolution. The frost falls to the bottom of (g, 9, 9, 9), whence it is removed
from time to time through suitable openings not necessary to be shown in the
Figure. Revolving motion is communicated to the arrester by the power.
which works the pumps. This mode of operation admits numerous modifi-
cations, and the parts numerous equivalents, without changing the process.
and method. Its special valve rests in two things in presenting water in a
thin film upon the surface of water already frozen. Figures 4 and 5 of the.
accompanying Drawing show apparatus, by which a volume of air, or any gas,
with slight renewals for waste, may be alternately expanded and conducted,.
and a cold liquid be passed out and conducted either to the cistern to cool the
water chambers and freeze water in the contained vessels, or conducted to a
trough protected by nonconductors of heat, into which the water vessels may,
be placed side by side, and covered by a nonconducting lid, or injected into the
exhausted chamber before described, and arrest the watery vapour emenating,
from the water percolated into the same, substantially in the manner above:
described. The liquid thus described the "arrester," and the exhausting.
cylinder the "cistern and restorer." I proceed to describe this part of the
Invention. In Figure 4 (a) is a cylinder having its piston (p) packed in
some suitable manner, and containing in its body two sets of parallel tubes,
an upper and a lower (the circular sections appearing in Figure 4. The tubes.
of each set, as they may be chambers of any form or section, are connected as,
one space or receptacle by a cross tube or tubes or openings of some kind,
and this one receptacle is connected by one of the flexible coiled pipes or
hose gorg', or some equivalent arrangement, with the pump (6 or 6¹). By

page_text: this means the piston may rise and coil or fold, the flexible tubes still pre-
serving the connection with the pumps, and allowing liquid to be forced by
either pump into that set of tubes, as above, with which its flexibe hose or
pipe connects it. The flexible pipe or hose may be of india rubber or metal
pipes, with universal joints, or couplings, or tubes, involved and sliding in
one another, but the tubular chambers lead out by long, narrow, and
parallel slits (also seen in section in Figure 4) through the piston, and termi-
riate at the lower surface of the latter in diaphragm pierced with numerous
simall orifices to allow the liquid to be forced out in a shower into the cylinder
beneath the piston, Now, to receive the shower the bottom of the cylinder
contains two sets of tubes or chambers, in like manner as the piston,
except that the narrow slits lead up into the cylinder and spread when near
and at their extremity, so as in the aggregate to occupy nearly the entire
bottom surface. The upper set are all connected by entering at their extre-
mities into a cross tube (e', e', e'), and the lower by entering in like manner
(e, e, e). It is obvious that the liquid showered down upon the bottom would
by gravity into the funnel-shaped slits or openings and run down into the
tubes cr chambers, coming in drops there will be room for the escape of air, or
vents may be provided, or the slits may pass down in full size. But it is
essential that the shower in one part of the operation should enter the upper
set of bottom tubes or chambers, and in another the upper. To effect this
there is provided the frame valve (c, d, c), with triangular bars, like an
inverted grate, connected at suitable intervals for strength, and worked back
and forward by the stem (c, c), which passes through the side, and is worked
by the moving power. There should be a recess just above the bottom face
for the frame valve to work in, and perhaps (as the valve does not lie upon
that face except at certain parts) it may be found expedient to introduce a
lower frame simultaneously working. The pumps (b) and (61) give suction in
their spaces above the pistons when descending, and pressure or forcing in
their space below; the valves (not shown in the Figure) in the induction pipes
(i, 1), which prevent regurgitation, do not close completely, but allow a partial
regurgitation that may be regulated as to quantity. Below each piston there
is air (or an air vessel it may be) above the liquid. There is also a slide
valve (u, v) or (u, v), to stop the exit liquid where desired, and auxiliary
valves at the lower extremity of (g') and (9'), that are self-acting and close
when the forcing action of the pump connected therewith is removed.
By this arrangement, or any that is equivalent, the forcing action may be
regulated or checked at pleasure. The air or gas will be continually under-
going augmented compression by reason of the pistons contracting the space

page_text: above named into suitable receptacles and under suitable regulating arrange-
ments, as described in explaining the other Figure. It is obvious that the
pump (b, b, b', ',) may be used to inject volatile liquid, as ether &c., during the
ascent, and this being cooled by partial evaporation will be received into the
appropriate set of tubes, and drawn off in the manner already pointed out, and
after being employed for refrigeration be drawn up again into (6¹, b¹, b', b¹).
At the same time (b, b, b, b,) may draw up and inject mercury, oil, or other
suitable liquid to aid in restoring the vapor to its liquid condition, and both
may pass out together into a suitable receptacle and separate, and thence
be drawn off one by (b, b, b, b,) and the other by (6¹, 6, 6, 6',) for renewed
injection.
I claim the combining apparatus, as herein described, for the purposes
herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Kingsford, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of January, in the year of our Lord

page_text: beneath it during its descent faster than the escape of liquid through the
flexible pipes relieves it; when the piston ascends the liquid from above is
forced through a valve into the space beneath. To explain the action in full,
suppose the cylinder (a) occupied beneath the piston by air or gas of any
tension desired, suppose the induction pipe (b) of (1) to lead out of the
reservoir that holds the cold liquid after the performance of its cooling
office, also () to lead out of a reservoir holding liquid at the ordinary tempe-
rature, or that has been suffered to assume the ordinary temperature after
former or repeated use, the steam or other engine that moves the whole being
in action, and the main piston (p) ascending, the descending piston of (b)
forces cold liquid through (9) and its appropriate chambers in a shower
through the expanding gas, while the liquid enters at bottom the tubes or
receptacles (say the upper set) appropriated to it and passes off through (e¹)
or (e, e, e', and Figure 4). The arrangements for securing and regulating
its exit are not shewn, and need not be described, as any suitable ordinary
method might be adopted. During the operation just described, the openings
to the lower chamber or set of tubes have been covered by the bars (d, d, d, &c.)
of the frame valve. At or near the change of stroke this last is suddenly
shifted to cover the alternate openings, also the cut off valve (v¹, v³,) closes,
and during the main pistons descend the pump (b, b, b, b,) forces its liquid
through (9, 9, 9',) and the piston, as above described, in a shower which is
now received into the orifices leading to the lower chambers or set of tubes,
and passes out at (e) or e, e, e, Figure 1) under suitable regulating arrange-
ments. This liquid having become warmed will be allowed, if required to be.
used anew, to stand and become cooled.
Figure 5 shows another method of affecting the same object. Here the
piston is not shown, but is substantially the same as already described, and
through orifices in the lower surface the hollow cylindric valves (h,h,h,) and
(h', h, h,) play up and down. Each of these has an orifice in their curved
surface, which opens a communication from the hollow (c, c,) and (c, c,) into
(n, a, a, a,) when the valve is at a certain height, but closes it at a certain
point in the descent. There are two plugs, perforated throughout, that fit
the interior of the cylinders, and the liquid which is showered from the
working piston from the bottom of (a, a, a, a,) and has run down into the
hollows (c, c), and (c', c'), is forced by the valves descent through the perfora-
tions in the plugs. Now, one of these valves is to receive the liquid that is
showered down during the pistons ascent and cooled, and the other what is
showered down during the pistons descent and warmed. The cooled and
warmed liquids are to be received from the valves through the perforations