An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Production of Block Ice.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Production of
Block Ice.
We, PIERRE ALBAN SCHWERER, Notary, of Grenoble, and AUGUSTIN
CHAIX, Gentleman, of Saint Martin d'Uriage, both in the Department of Isère,
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process for the economical production of ice in the
form of transparent and homogeneous blocks. The process consists essentially in
freezing water as it flows in a very thin film or is sprayed in fine rain upon surfaces
slightly inclined from the vertical in an ambient temperature a few degrees below
zero C. (about 4 degrees or-5 degrees C.) the inclination and height of these
surfaces being so proportioned that the water flowing over them will become frozen
in the course of its descent. The ice is thus formed by gradual accretions in the
form of a very transparent block of any desired dimensions.
For carrying our invention into practice we employ a special arrangement of
apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 represents &
longitudinal section, Figure 2, a plan, and Figure 3. a transverse section of the
apparatus.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The apparatus comprises a rectangular chamber whose end walls a are single or
double, the interior being divided into any suitable number of compartments by
transverse partitions b, b, slightly inclined from the vertical. These partitions are
formed of boarding or other suitable material. b. fixed to. uprights c, cl, which are
splayed apart at their lower ends so as to give the surfaces b, b, an inclination
from the vertical of about 0 05° per metre. Pipes & run along the upper edge of
each partition on either side from which thin films of water are discharged over
the whole area of the inclined surfaces,b, b, cocks e being provided for controlling
the flow. Instead of the pipes d,..rotary reaction nozzles f. may "benused for
discharging the water upon the surfaces b, or both means of delivery may be
employed conjointly.
The longitudinal walls g of the chamber are single or double, of boarding for
example, made removable and fixed by bolts to the posts c. The ice is formed
naturally under the action of the external cold, a temperature of 4 or 5 degrees C.
being sufficient. The sides g of the chamber are removed during the production
of the ice by the gradual freezing of the water supplied by the pipessd or nozzles f
flowing down the surfaces b, whereby a. block of transparent ice is gradually formed
in each compartment. As the air is constantly renewed through the sides and top
of the chamber which is entirely open, the heat abstracted from the water during
its transformation into ice cannot prejudicially, affect the rate of production. When
the blocks of ice have been thus formed in each compartment, the sides g of the
chamber are replaced and the. space between themi and the ice blocks filled with
sawdust to protect the ice from variations of external temperature, and if the ice
is to be preserved for any length of time a layer of non-conducting material is
spread upon the blocks and covered with planking and over the whole is afterwards
erected a light removable roofing.
Ice may be produced by this process when the external temperature is above
freezing point by installing the apparatus in a chamber refrigerated by any.suitable
means

page_text: The apparatus may be made of any dimensions and of any design and the
accessory arrangements may be modified to suit the particular nature of the
application.
Dated this 18th day of September 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
DR MOTIVATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for the Production of
Block Ice.
We, PIERRE ALBAN SCHWERER, Notary, of Grenoble, and AUGUSTIN
CHAIX, Gentleman, of Saint Martin d'Uriage, both in the Department of Isère,
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to a process for the economical production of ice in the
form of transparent and homogeneous blocks. The process consists essentially in
freezing water as it flows in a very thin film or is sprayed in fine rain upon surfaces
so that the water being exposed in a divided state quickly loses its caloric in an
ambient atmosphere at a temperature a few degrees below zero C. (about-4 degrees
or-5 degrees C.) the inclination and height of these surfaces being so proportioned
that the water flowing over them will become frozen in the course of its descent.
The ice is thus formed by gradual superficial accretions which ultimately form a
very transparent block of any desired dimensions.
For carrying our invention into practice we employ an arrangement such as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section on line 1-2;
Figure 2 a longitudinal vertical section on line 3-4;
Figure 3 a top plan; and
Figure 4 a ground plan.
The same letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The structure comprises a rectangular chamber with double walls a the interior
being divided into any suitable number of compartments 1 2 3 by transverse
partitions bb whose surfaces may be slightly inclined from the vertical as shewn
in respect of compartment No. 1. These partitions are formed of boarding or
other suitable material 6 fixed to uprights which are splayed apart at their
lower ends so as to give the surfaces bb an inclination from the vertical of
about 0 05° per metre. But the surfaces may be vertical as shewn in compartments
Nos. 2 and 3.
The water is supplied by a main pipe h and branch pipes which as in com-
partment No. 1 may pass above the middle of the compartment parallel to the
sides 6 these pipes i having perforations as at j or provided with spreaders or roses k
as in compartment No. 2 from which fine jets are projected upon the surfaces b,
the spreaders being attached to branch nozzles m by short lengths of rubber tube l.
Instead of the pipes i being over the middle of the compartments they might
run along the upper edge of each partition on either side or be otherwise arranged
so that thin films of water shall run down over the whole area of the inclined
surfaces bb cocks being provided for controlling the flow. Instead of the perforated
pipes or spreaders rotary reaction nozzles may be used for discharging the water
upon the surfaces bor both means of delivery may be employed conjointly.
Or a form of reaction nozzle such as shewn in compartment No. 3 may be
used. It consists of a rubber tube n about eighteen inches long and of a diameter
$

page_text: proportioned to the pressure of the water which pipe is sprung on to a branch p on
pipe and of greater diameter than the rubber tube n so that at the point where
the change of diameter occurs the pipe n becomes throttled or contracted in such
way as to cause the tube n to be swung to and fro by the water passing through the
constriction whereby the stream is caused to sweep through a large semicircle. This
arrangement enables large blocks of ice to be formed in the open air by dispensing
with the enclosing walls and using only posts disposed in quincunx or otherwise as
shewn in compartment No. 3 and fixed in the ground or braced together above.
The longitudinal walls of the chamber are made removable and fixed by any
suitable means. The ice is formed naturally under the action of the external cold
(a temperature of--4 or-5 degrees C. being sufficient) by gradual superficial
accretions produced by the freezing of the water flowing down the surfaces whereby
a block of transparent ice is gradually formed in each compartment. The sides of
the chamber are removed during the operation in order that the air may be
constantly renewed through the sides and top of the chamber which is entirely
open so that the heat abstracted from the water during its transformation into ice
cannot prejudicially affect the rate of production. When the blocks of ice have
been thus formed in each compartment the sides of the chamber are replaced and
the space between them and the ice blocks filled with sawdust to protect the ice
from variations of external temperature and if the ice is to be preserved for any
length of time a layer of non-conducting material is spread upon the blocks and
covered with planking and over the whole is afterwards erected a light removable
roofing.
Ice may be produced by this process when the external temperature is above
freezing point by installing the apparatus in a chamber refrigerated by any
suitable means.
The apparatus may be made of any dimensions and of any design and the
accessory arrangements may be modified to suit the particular nature of the
application.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The herein described process of producing block ice by gradual superficial
accretions, by projecting spraying or otherwise causing the water to flow in a
thin film down an exposed surface in an ambient temperature below freezing so
that it becomes frozen in its descent as specified.
2. The installation or structure for carrying this process into practical effect
whether in the open or in a refrigerated chamber and the means described of
projecting the water on to the freezing surfaces substantially as specified.
Dated thie 24th day of Annil 1906
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.