Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making Apparatus.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making
Apparatus.
I, FREDERICK Barker Hill, of 27 Culmore Road, Peckham, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
My invention relates to refrigerating and ice-making apparatus, and comprises
various improvements hereinafter described.
One object of my said invention is to provide in a simple and efficient manner for
simultaneously cooling and drying air and for circulating the same through one or
more refrigerating chambers, or otherwise utilizing it.
Great inconvenience has been heretofore experienced by reason of the formation
of hoar frost or snow upon the refrigerating tubes used for cooling air. Now an
important feature of my present invention is the provision of suitable means
whereby the said hoar frost or snow will be removed from such tubes as it is formed
thereon, thereby keeping the cooling surfaces always in the same condition and in
the most favourable condition for producing cold and for collecting the moisture
from the air passed over or in contact with such cooling surfaces.
For this purpose I find it advantageous to combine, with the tubular or other
refrigerating surfaces, rotating screw blades or conveyors which also serve as
scrapers. These screw-blades or conveyors are caused to slowly rotate in contact
with the surface or surfaces of the tube, so that they scrape the frost or snow from
the said surface or surfaces and convey it away to a suitable box or receptacle in
which it can be used for cooling purposes, or whence it can be removed from time
to time in any convenient manner to be used for cooling purposes.
Or I combine with the refrigerating surfaces annular or other suitable scrapers
arranged to move to and fro or up and down in contact with such surfaces for the
purpose above specified.
I employ refrigerating tubes of circular, annular or other convenient form in
transverse section. And I produce the cold therein by means of ammonia, ether,
compressed air or other suitable medium. Or I pass the air to be cooled through
tubes immersed in brine the temperature of which is reduced by means of a
refrigerator working on the principle of the ammonia absorption or other suitable
process. Or I produce the cold by any suitable process on the exterior of tubes or
coils through which the air is passed. These tubes are provided with screw-
conveyors or scrapers for the purpose above specified.
I provide for circulating the air to be cooled through spaces in or around, or
both in and around the refrigerating tubes. The screw-conveyors or scrapers are,
moreover, arranged either within or outside of, or both within and outside of the
refrigerating tubes or surfaces.
I find it advantageous to combine several refrigerating tubes of annular form in
transverse section and to provide for circulating the air first through the space
within and then through the space around each of the said tubes in succession.
The cooled air is circulated through suitable chambers for the purpose of main-
taining a low. temperature therein, or is otherwise utilized.
In some instances, I arrange one or more annular refrigerating tubes in a suitable
tank for containing brine to form a store of cold, or to be circulated through an
ice-making machine, and I arrange within each tube a screw-conveyor or scraper
for the purpose above specified, and provide for the circulation of the air through
each tube.
For cooling milk and other liquids, when it is desired to cool the same without

page_text: The
subjecting them to a temperature below the freezing point, I find it advantageous
to arrange the refrigerating tubes or surfaces at or near the bottom of the tank,
and to fill the said tank with fresh water; I can then, without reducing the
temperature of the water below thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit, keep the refrigerator
in action until a coating or layer of ice of any desired thickness is formed around
or upon the refrigerating tubes or surfaces beneath the surface of the water.
water thus reduced in temperature is caused to circulate through suitable coolers
for the milk or other substances. By forming a layer of ice around or upon the
refrigerating tubes or surfaces as above mentioned, I am enabled in a short space
of time to provide a store of cold which will maintain the water in the tank at the
required low temperature for a considerable time.
The refrigeration may be effected by the action of ammonia or other suitable
chemical agent, either directly or by the circulation of a cold carrier such as brine
or by means of air compressing machinery. The cooling agent acting upon the
said surfaces either internally or externally.
When this apparatus is required for cooling air, I sometimes make the
refrigerating tubes annular in transverse section and arrange screw-conveyors
within or without them or both for the purpose above specified. When the said
apparatus is only required for cooling milk and other substances, I can make the
refrigerating tubes circular or of other suitable form in transverse section.
Dated this 16th day of December 1890
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making
Apparatus.
I, FREDERICK BARKER HILL, of 27, Culmore Road, Peckham, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer 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 and ice-making apparatus and comprises
various improvements hereinafter described.
One object of my said invention is to provide in a simple and efficient manner
for simultaneously cooling and drying air, and for circulating the same through one
or more cooling chambers, or for otherwise utilizing it.
Great inconvenience has been heretofore experienced by reason of the formation
of hoar frost or snow upon the refrigerating surfaces used for cooling the air. Now
an important feature of my present invention is the provision of suitable means
whereby the said hoar frost or snow will be removed from such surfaces as it is
formed thereon, thereby keeping the said refrigerating surfaces always in the same
condition, and in the most favorable condition for producing cold and for collecting
the moisture from the air passed over or in contact with such surfaces. For this
purpose, I find it advantageous to combine, with the tubular or other refrigerating
surfaces, rotating screw-blades or conveyors which also serve as scrapers.
These
screw-blades or conveyors are caused to slowly rotate in contact with the surface or
surfaces of the tube, so that they scrape the frost or snow from the said surface or
surfaces and convey it away to a suitable box or receptacle, in which it can be
used for cooling purposes, or whence it can be removed from time to time in any
convenient manner to be used for cooling purposes. Or, in place of the scrapers, I
use spiral brushes arranged to rotate in contact with the refrigerating surfaces.
In some instances, however, I combine, with, the refrigerating surfaces, annular
or other suitable scrapers or brushes arranged to move to and fro or up and down
in contact with such surfaces, for the purpose above specified.
I employ the refrigerating tubes or chambers of circular, annular or other

page_text: convenient form in transverse section. And I produce the cold therein by means
of ammonia, ether, compressed air or other suitable medium. Or I pass the air to
be cooled through tubes immersed in brine or other non-congealable liquid the
température of which is reduced by means of a refrigerator working on the principle
of the ammonia absorption or other suitable process. Or I produce the cold in any
other convenient manner on the exterior of tubes or coils through which is passed
the air to be cooled and dried. These tubes are provided with screw-conveyors,
scrapers or brushes for the purpose above specified.
I provide for circulating the air to be cooled through spaces in or around, or
both in and around the refrigerating tubes. The screw-conveyors, scrapers or
brushes are, moreover, arranged either within or outside of, or both within and
outside of the refrigerating tubes or chambers.
For cooling milk and other liquids, when it is desired to cool the same without
reducing their temperature below the freezing point, I find it advantageous to
arrange the refrigerating tubes or surfaces at or near the bottom of the tank, and
to fill the said tank with fresh water; I can then, without reducing the temperature
of the water below thirty two degrees Fahrenheit, keep the refrigerator_in action
until a coating or layer of ice of any desired thickness is formed around or upon
the refrigerating tubes or surfaces beneath the surface of the water. By forming
such layer of ice upon the refrigerating surfaces, I am enabled, in a short space of
time, to provide a store of cold which will maintain the water in the tank at the
required low temperature for a considerable time. The fresh water reduced in
temperature as above described is caused to circulate through suitable coolers for
the milk or other substances. The refrigeration may be effected by the action of
ammonia or other suitable chemical agent, either directly or by the circulation of a
cold-carrier, such as brine, or by means of compressing machinery, the cooling
agent acting upon the said surfaces either internally or externally.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of one form of my improved apparatus,
the screw-conveyor and scraper being shewn in side elevation.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line a, a, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, showing a cooling chamber with
my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 5 a plan, partly in borizontal section on different planes, illustrating
another form or modification of my apparatus.
Figure 6 is a transverse section illustrating a further modification of my
invention.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation illustrating my improved apparatus for cooling
liquids and for cooling and drying air.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation shewing means for removing hoar frost or snow
from both the interior and exterior walls of the refrigerating chamber.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a is a refrigerating chamber of annular form in
transverse section, which is supported centrally within a suitable casing b. The
space between the chamber a and casing b is closed at one end by a partition c',
and is partially closed at the other end by a partition chaving one or more
apertures in it, as at c. The said casing is, moreover, provided with an inlet-pipe d
and an outlet-pipe e.
which is
To provide for the removal of the hoar frost or snow from the interior wall of
the refrigerating chamber a, a screw-conveyor f is arranged to rotate in contact
with the said wall. This screw-conveyor is mounted upon a shaft 9,
supported in suitable bearings g¹ at the ends of the casing b, and which is provided
with a pulley whereby it may be driven by a band or belt from a suitable motor.
The said screw-conveyor serves as a scraper for removing the hoar frost or snow
from the surface of the chamber a, and also as a conveyor for withdrawing the

page_text: hoar frost or snow from the space enclosed by the said chamber into a box or
receptacle, whence it may be removed from time to time to be utilized for cooling
purposes.
The air to be cooled is to be either forced or drawn through the apparatus by a
fan or blower or by other suitable means. The said air enters by the inlet-pipe d
and flows through the space enclosed by the annular refrigerating chamber a in
contact with the interior wall of the said chamber, the screw tending to cause the
air to travel in a helical path; the air then passes through the aperture or
apertures in the partition and flows through the space c in contact with the
exterior wall of the said chamber, and is discharged through the outlet-pipe e. The
air is thus cooled and dried by its contact with both the interior wall and the
exterior wall of the said refrigerating chamber.
It is evident that any moisture contained in the air will be deposited chiefly
upon the inner wall of the chamber a, and will be converted thereon into hoar
frost or snow, which will be removed therefrom, as it is formed, by the screw-
conveyor and scraper, whereby it will be drawn into the box or receptacle i.
In Figure 3, j is a cooling chamber which is connected by a pipe k with a fan!
for drawing the air from the said chamber and forcing it through the inlet-pipe d
into the casing b. The outlet-pipe e of the said casing is connected with a pipe m,
through which the air, after being cooled and dried by contact with the surfaces of
the refrigerating chamber a, is returned to the cooling chamber j.
For convenience of description, I use the term " refrigerating chamber" to
indicate the chamber in which the cold is produced, or into which a cold-carrier,
such as brine, is conducted from a tank containing the chamber wherein the cold is
produced, and the term "cooling chamber" to indicate the chamber in which the
cooled and dried air is utilized.
In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a modification of my invention wherein four
refrigerating chambers a provided with scrapers or conveyors as above described,
are arranged within a single casing 6 connected with a series of cooling chambers j
by pipes k, m.
The said chambers a are of annular form in transverse section, and suitable
partitions are arranged in the casing so that the air will flow through the
chambers a in succession. Other partitions care, moreover, provided in the said
casing, so that the air, after it has passed through the chambers a, will pass around
the said chambers in succession, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4.
The screw-conveyors f, in the apparatus shown in Figures 4 and 5, are driven by
means of worms formed or fixed on a shaft hand geared with worm-wheels h³ fixed
on the shafts g, as more clearly shown in Figure 6.
In Figure 6, I have shown a further modification of my said invention, in which
I employ a tank n of brine or other non-congealable liquid, having immersed
therein a number of refrigerating chambers a, and a number of tubes P through
which is to be passed the air to be cooled, and which are provided with screw-
conveyors or scrapers f, as above described, arranged to be driven by worms h¹
fixed on a shaft and with worm-wheels h³ fixed on the shafts
It is evident that, if desired, other suitable means may be employed for removing
the hoar frost or snow from the interior surface of the tubes p as it is formed
thereon.
The brine contained in the tank n may be used as a store of cold, or may be
circulated through an ice-making machine. It is, moreover, obvious that, instead
of arranging the refrigerating tubes a in the tank n, a cold-carrier, such as brine,
from any suitable refrigerator may be caused to circulate around the tubes
cool the air passing through the same.
to
In Figure 7, I have shown an apparatus designed for cooling liquids without
subjecting them to a temperature below the freezing point. 9 is a tank for con-
taining fresh water, and having arranged within it refrigerating tubes or chambers a.
r is an elevated tank, into which the cold fresh water from the tank g is raised by
means of a pumps and pipes s', and which is connected by a pipe t with the cooler u.

page_text: This cooler is connected with the tank g by a pipe t¹. The water elevated by the
pump, therefore, flows by gravity from the tank r through the cooler u back into
the tank g.
When this apparatus is also required for cooling air, I make the refrigerating
tubes annular in transverse section and arrange screw-conveyors within the same
for the purpose above specified. When the said apparatus is only required for
cooling milk and other substances, I can make the refrigerating tubes circular or
of other suitable form in transverse section. By carrying on the production of
cold in the tubes a to such an extent as to make a layer of ice on the exterior of
the said tubes, I can form, as above stated, a store of cold, without at any time
reducing below the freezing point the temperature of the liquid to be cooled.
Figure 8 shows an apparatus wherein provision is made for the removal of the
hoar frost or snow from both the interior and exterior walls of the refrigerating
chamber a. The said chamber is, in this case, arranged vertically, and a screw-
conveyor and scraper surrounding the said chamber, is carried by rods v' firmly
attached to a cross-bar v² fixed on the shaft g. This shaft is driven through the
medium of bevel gear-wheels w, w¹.
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 :-
First. The herein described method of simultaneously cooling and drying air,
consisting in circulating the same in contact with refrigerating surfaces, whilst
removing any hoar frost or snow from such surfaces as it is forined thereon, for the
purposes above specified.
Second. The combination, with a refrigerating surface, of a scraper or brush
movable continuously in one direction or alternately in either direction in contact
with such surface, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Third. The combination, with a refrigerating chamber which is annular in
transverse section, of a rotary screw-blade or conveyor extending through the said
chamber in contact with the inner wall thereof, substantially as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Fourth. The combination, with one or more refrigerating tubes or chambers, of
scrapers or brushes arranged to move in contact therewith, and suitable means for
drawing air from one or more cooling chambers, causing such air to pass in contact
with the said refrigerating tubes or chambers, and returning the cooled and dried
air to the cooling chambers, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fifth. The modification of my invention wherein I arrange the tubes through
which the air is to be passed, in a suitable tank, and provide for the circulation
around the said tubes of a cold-carrier such as brine, substantially as described
with reference to Figure 6 of the drawings.
Sixth. The herein described method of forming a store of cold, by freezing water
on the refrigerating surfaces and allowing the ice thus produced to melt as the
temperature of the water surrounding it rises above the freezing point.
Seventh. The method of cooling liquids without reducing their temperature
below the freezing point, consisting in circulating through the cooling apparatus,
fresh water from a tank in which refrigerating tubes or chambers are arranged,
substantially as herein before described.
Eighth. The combination of the fresh-water tank, the refrigerating tubes
contained therein, the cooling apparatus, and means for circulating the fresh water
through the said cooling apparatus, substantially as described with reference to
Figure 7 of the drawings, for the purposes above specified.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.