Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making. Machines.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct.. 1889
Complete Specification Left, 15th July. 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
;.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making.
Machines.
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 machines and comprises
various improvements hereinafter mentioned.
"My said invention 'is chiefly designed to improve the construction of apparatus for
refrigeration or for the production of ice by the intermittent process by means of the
expansion and absorption of ammonia.
My improvements are, however, partly applicable to apparatus for producing cold
by other processes.
One important feature of my said invention is the provision of suitable means
whereby, after the liquid ammonia has been forced from the boiler into the refrigerator,
the ammoniacal gas may be rapidly absorbed, thus permitting the return of the
ammonia from the refrigerator to the boiler in much less time than would otherwise
be practicable. In ainmonia absorption refrigerators or ice-making machines as
heretofore constructed, the absorption of the ammoniacal gas from the refrigerator
takes place on the surface of the liquid in the boiler, and is necessarily a slow process,
the liquid being of higher temperature at the surface than at any other part thereof,
and having its temperature raised at the surface by the condensation of the gas. But,
in my improved apparatus, I provide a separate absorber which can be put in com-
munication with the boiler, the condenser and the refrigerator as required, and in
which the ammoniacal gas can ascend through a body of liquid. This liquid may be
supplied to the said absorber from the boiler after evaporation or distillation, and the
liquid charged with the gas may be returned to the boiler by the pressure from the
refrigerator or by gravity or otherwise.
Another important feature of my said invention is the combination, with an apparatus
constructed as above stated for cooling a room or chamber, of means for making ice;
the absorber being so arranged that it can be used either with the cooler or refrigerator:
or with the ice-making apparatus. In this case I prefer to use another absorber
which is connected with, or forms a part of the ice-making machine, and into which
liquid may be forced from the boiler, and from which the said liquid charged with
gas may be returned to the boiler by gravity or by pressure. This absorber is also,
if desired, so arranged that it may be connected with the refrigerator.
I thus provide very efficient apparatus for cooling rooms or chambers and for
making ice either simultaneously or at different times:
The apparatus which I provide for: the production of ice comprises a vessel or tank
in which, when clear ice is to be made, the liquid to be frozen is continuously
circulated by means of a rotating screw or other suitable device. Into this vessel or
tank project freezing chambers which are slightly conical or taper, and an important
feature of this part of my invention is the construction of the apparatus in such a
manner that the liquid in the said vessel or tank will be frozen on the exterior of the
said chambers, and the hollow blocks of ice thus formed can be very readily removed.
The liquid ammonia is forced into the said chambers and is then allowed to expand
and return to an absorber; or brine reduced to a very low temperature by any sait-
able process is caused to circulate through the said chambers.
To ensure the proper circulation of the liquid in the vessel or tauk, I provide the
latter with partitions which can be readily removed to permit the withdrawal of the
hlaalre of ine

page_text: In some instances, I arrange a series of the freezing chambers at each side of
the tank, leaving a space between them of slightly greater length than the blocks
of ice to be produced, so that the blocks from one series of chambers can be first
removed, and then those from the other series. I thus economize space in the said
tank. Moreover I sometimes arrange several rows or series of freezing chambers
one above another in the said vessel or tank.
When the apparatus is arranged above the level of the room or chamber to be
cooled, I sometimes arrange in combination with the refrigerator, a tank which is
preferably arranged at a lower level than the refrigerator-tank and is connected
therewith in such a manner that a constant circulation of the liquid from one tank
to the other will be maintained by gravity or otherwise during the refrigeration of
the liquid.
I prefer to make the bottom of the cooling tank with a series of V-shaped
portions or corrugations and to arrange suitable gutters beneath the said tank, so
that any moisture collecting on the bottom of the said tank will flow to the lower
edges of the corrugations or V-shaped portions and fall into the gutters, whereby
it will be conducted away to any convenient place. I thus provide for preventing
the dripping of moisture from the under surface of the tank into the room or chamber
to be cooled.
Dated this 15th day of October 1889
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Refrigerating and Ice-making
Machines.
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 machines and comprises
various improvements hereinafter described.
My said invention is chiefly designed to improve the construction of apparatus for
refrigeration or for the production of ice by the intermittent ammonia absorption
process. My improvements are, however, partly applicable to apparatus for the
production of cold by other processes.
One important feature of my said invention is the provision of suitable means
whereby I am enabled to rapidly reduce the pressure in the ammonia-boiler after the
liquid ammonia has been distilled and collected in the refrigerator, and to effect the
absorption of the ammoniacal gas from the refrigerator much earlier after the distilla-
tion than has heretofore been practicable.
In the use of ammonia absorption refrigerating and ice-making machines as hereto-
fore constructed, it is necessary, after the distillation of the ammonia, to reduce the
temperature of the liquid in the boiler until the pressure is sufficiently diminished to
permit the vaporization of the liquid ammonia in the refrigerator, and until the liquid
in the boiler is sufficiently cool to permit the absorption of the ammoniacal gas
thereby. This cooling of the said liquid necessarily occupies a considerable space of
time. Moreover, in many of the refrigerating and ice-making machines heretofore
used, the absorption of the ammoniacal gas takes place only at the surface of the liquid
in the boiler, and is necessarily a slow process, the liquid being of higher temperature
at the surface than at any other part thereof, and having its temperature raised at the
surface by the condensation of the gas.
Now I have discovered that, by employing one or more separate or auxiliary
absorbers which can be put in communication with the boiler, the cooler or condenser
and the refrigerator as required, and in which the ammoniacal gas can ascend through

page_text: a body of liquid, I can very rapidly diminish the pressure in the ammonia boiler by
absorbing the gas from the boiler, the rectifier and the condenser in the said absorber
or absorbers; moreover I am enabled to effect the absorption of the ammoniacal gas
from the refrigerator either in the supplementary or auxiliary absorber or absorbers,
or in the boiler, immediately or very soon after the distillation, thus greatly expediting
the production of cold by the machine.
Another feature of any said invention is the provision of suitable means for making
ice on the exterior of freezing chambers which project into a vessel or tank, wherein
the water is continuously circulated so that clear ice will be produced.
My said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, and,
Figure 2 an end elevation, illustrating a refrigerating apparatus provided with a
supplementary or auxiliary absorber according to my said invention.
Figues 3 and 4 are front elevations, partly in vertical section, illustrating modifi-
cations of my said invention hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a tank for containing
brine or other non-congealable liquid in which the refrigerator tubes are immersed,
and a cooling tank so combined therewith that a circulation of the non-congealable
liquid will he maintained by gravity, and the refrigerating apparatus can be placed on
a Hoor above the said cooling tank.
Figure 6 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, showing a complete cold
storage apparatus constructed according to my present improvements.
Figure 7 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, the cover or lid being removed, and,
Figure 8 a vertical section on the line x, a, Figure 7, showing one form of my
improved ice-making apparatus hereinafter described.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section, and,
Figure 10 a vertical section on the line x, xl, Figure 9, showing another form or
modification of my said ice-making apparatus.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the ammonia-boiler, B is the separator or rectifier, Cis the cooler or condenser,
D is the refrigerator; these parts are constructed and arranged substantially as
described in the Specification of former Letters Patent dated 6th December A.D. 1886,
No. 15,914, the boiler, the rectifier and the condenser being horizontal, as shown in
Figure 2 of the drawings accompanying the said former specification; and the said
parts are suitably connected by pipes provided with stop-cocks or valves.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, E is a supplementary or auxiliary absorber connected
with the boiler A, the condenser C and refrigerator D by pipes F, F1, F2, F3 provided
with suitable cocks or valves G, G1, G2, G3. By manipulating these cocks as required,
impoverished ammoniacal liquor from the said boiler may be introduced into the
absorber E after the distillation of the ammonia, and the liquid charged with the gas
by absorption as hereinafter specified may be caused to return from the said absorber
to the boiler. For example, when the liquid anhydrous ammonia has been collected in
the refrigerator D, the cocks G2, G3 are closed and the cocks G, G¹ are partly opened,
thus allowing the weak or impoverished solution from the boiler A, or a portion of
such solution, to be forced into the absorber E; the cock G¹ is then closed, and the
cock G2 is opened to rapidly relieve the pressure in the condenser, rectifier and boiler
by allowing the gas therefrom to be absorbed by the weak solution in the absorber E.
When the solution in the boiler is cooled sufficiently to permit re-absorption of the gas
thereby, the boiler is put in communication with the refrigerator by opening the
cocks G, G. The ammonia solution from the absorber E will be returned by
gravity or otherwise into the ammonia boiler A through the cocks G, G' when
required.
If desired, I can put the refrigerator D in communication with the supplementary
or auxiliary absorber E instead of with the boiler A, and thus permit the vaporization
of liquid ammonia in the refrigerator and the absorption of the ammoniacal gas by the

page_text: impoverished ammoniacal liquor previously introduced into the said absorber E from
the ammonia boiler. While the vaporization of the ammonia in the refrigerator is
thus proceeding, the weak solution in the ammonia-boiler may be cooled, after which
the refrigerator may be put in communication with the said boiler.
I sometimes combine one or more supplementary or auxiliary absorbers with two or
more sets of apparatus for the production of cold, that is to say, with one or more
sets of refrigerating apparatus or of ice-making apparatus, or with both refrigerating
and ice-making apparatus.
In Figure 3; have illustrated the combination of an ice-making apparatus
comprising a refrigerator D¹, with an apparatus constructed as above mentioned for
cooling a room or chamber, and with one or more supplementary or auxiliary
absorbers E, E¹. The auxiliary absorber E¹ is connected with the refrigerator D¹
and with the cooling apparatus by pipes F4 F5 provided with stop cocks or
valves G4. G5, so that the absorbers E, E¹ can be used separately or simultaneously,
either with the cooling apparatus or with the ice-making apparatus.
Figure 4 illustrates another modification of my invention wherein a single auxiliary
absorber E is used in combination with a cooling apparatus and an ice-making
apparatus, or with two or more sets of cooling or ice-inaking apparatus.
I can thus provide apparatus whereby the cooling of rooms or chambers and the
making of ice can be very effectually performed either separately or simultaneously.
I can, if desired, make suitable provision for effecting the return of the liquor from
the absorber or absorbers to the boiler by the pressure from the refrigerator or in any
other convenient manner.
In Figure 5 I have shown an arrangement which I prefer to employ when it is
desired to arrange the refrigerating apparatus on a floor above the cooling chamber.
This arrangement, moreover, permits the circulation of the cooling medium by
gravity, so that I can dispense with pumps or other machinery for effecting such
circulation. H is the refrigerator-tank; H₁ is another tank or vessel which is
preferably arranged at a lower level than the refrigerator-tank; and is connected
therewith by means of pipes J in such a manner that a constant circulation of the
brine or other non-congealable liquid from one tank to the other will be maintained by
gravity during the refrigeration of the liquid.
It will be seen that, by the use of tanks connected in this manner, I can greatly
enlarge the reservoir or store of cold. The bottom of the cooling tank H if
desired serve as the top of the chamber to be cooled.
may
I prefer to make the bottom of the tank H³ with a series of V-shaped portions or
corrugations H2 and to arrange suitable gutters or channels K beneath the said tank,
so that any moisture collecting on the underside of the said tank will flow to the
lower edges of the corrugations or V-shaped portions and will fall into the said
gutters or channels, whereby it will be conducted away to any convenient place. I
thus provide for preventing the dripping of moisture from the under surface of the
tank into the room or chamber to be cooled. This arrangement also increases the
area of cooling surface and the strength of the bottom of the tank.
In Figure 6 I have shown an entire cold storage apparatus having my present
improvements applied thereto. L is a coil-boiler for heating the solution in the
ammonia-boiler A, with which the said coil-boiler is connected through the medium
of a separator M, substantially as described in the said former specification. N is
the room or chamber to be cooled. In the upper part of this chamber is arranged the
tank H containing the non-congealable liquid in which the refrigerator tubes D are
immersed. The bottom of this tank is made with corrugations or V-shaped
portions H2, and gutters or channels K are arranged beneath the said V-shaped
portions for the purpose above described with reference to the tank H¹ shown in
Figure 5.
By means of the aforesaid cocks or valves, the apparatus can be so adjusted as to
very effectually control the temperature of the room or chamber to be cooled.
One form of apparatus which I provide for the production of ice comprises a vessel
or tank P, Figures 7 and 8, which is provided with a lid or cover Pland-with a

page_text: jacket or casing Q, the intervening space between the said jacket or casing and the
tank P, being filled with any suitable non-conducting material as at Q¹. When clear
ice is to be made, the liquid to be frozen is continuously circulated in the said vessel
or tank P by means of a rotating screw R, or other suitable device. Into the vessel
or tank P project freezing vessels or chambers S, and an important feature of: this
part of my invention is the construction of the apparatus in such a manner that 'the
liquid in the said vessel or tank P will be frozen on the exterior of the said
chambers S, and the hollow blocks of ice thus formed can be very readily removed
from the said chambers. The chambers S are, for this purpose, made slightly conical
or taper from their outer to their inner ends, and rings S' are fitted loosely upon the
said chambers to further facilitate the removal of the hollow blocks of ice therefrom.
The liquid ammonia is forced into the said chambers S-through a pipe S2 and is then
allowed to expand and return. to an absorber, the weak liquor, which cannot be
vaporized without the application of heat, being allowed to return to the ammonia-
boiler through a pipe S³. Or brine reduced to a very low temperature by any
suitable process is caused to circulate through the said chambers S, for the purpose of
freezing the water on the exterior thereof.
To ensure the proper circulation of the liquid in the vessel or tank P, I provide
the latter with partitions T, which are so arranged that they can be readily removed
to permit the withdrawal of the hollow blocks of ice from the chambers S.
In some instances, I arrange a series of the freezing chambers S at each side of
the tank P, as shown in Figure 9, leaving a space between them of slightly greater
length than the blocks of ice to be produced, so that the blocks from one series of
chambers can be first removed and then those from the other series. I thus economize
space in the said tank. Moreover I sometimes arrange several rows or series of the
freezing chambers S one above another in the said vessel or tank, as shown in
Figure 10.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that
I claim
First. The production of cold by a method such as I have herein described,
wherein impoverished ammoniacal liquor from the ammonia-boiler is caused to pass
into one or more supplementary or auxiliary absorbers, in which the ammoniacal
gas is subsequently absorbed and from which the said liquor together with the
gas absorbed thereby is then returned to the ammonia-boiler, for the purposes above
specified.
Second. The combination, with the ammonia-boiler, the cooler or condenser and the
refrigerator, of one or more supplementary or auxiliary absorbers connected with the
said boiler, condenser and refrigerator by means of pipes provided with suitable
cocks or valves, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Third. The modification of my invention wherein employ one or more supple-
mentary or auxiliary absorbers in combination with two or more sets of the
refrigerating or ice-making apparatus, substantially as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
Fourth. The combination, with the tank or vessel in which the refrigerator-tubes
are immersed, of an extra or auxiliary tank or vessel connected therewith by suitable
pipes, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with the refrigerator, of a tank or vessel for containing
brine or other non-congealable liquid to form a store of cold, having its bottom
corrugated or formed with V-shaped portions, for the purpose above specified.
Sixth. The combination of a tank for containing brine or other non-congealable
liquid to form a store of cold and having its bottom corrugated or formed with
V-shaped portions, and suitable gutters or channels arranged beneath the
corrugations or V-shaped portions, substantially as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
Seventh. An ice-making apparatus in which suitable provision is made for forming

page_text: blocks of ice on the exterior of the freezing chambers, substantially as, and for the
purpose, above specified.
Eighth. The combination of a tank or vessel for containing liquid to be frozen, a
rotating screw or other suitable device for maintaining a circulation of the said
liquid therein, and freezing chambers projecting into the said tank or vessel, with or
without removable partitions for ensuring the proper circulation of the liquid,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Ninth. The improved apparatus constructed with the supplementary or auxiliary
: absorber or absorbers, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2,
or to Figure 3, or Figure 4, or Figure 6 of the drawings, and operating, as, and for
.the purposes, above specified.
Tenth. The improved ice-making apparatus constructed substantially as described
with reference to Figures 7 and 8, or to Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, and
operating as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Dated this 15th day of July 1890.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
F. B. HILL.
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.