IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS OR PRESERVING CHAMBERS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Lawton Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and Com-
pany, Patent Agents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS OR PRESERVING
CHAMBERS." A communication from abroad by John Joseph Craven, of Jersey
City, Hudson County, New Jersey, United States of America.
ealed the 5th December 1876, and dated the 11th October 1876
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Lawton Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1876.
JOHN LAWTON HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Patent Agents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFRIGERATORS OR PRESERVING CHAMBERS." A communication from abroad by
John Joseph Craven, of Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, United States of
America.
My object is to produce and hold the air of a preserving room or compartment at
the lowest possible temperature, and in a condition free from moisture, an essential
object of my Invention being to avoid direct contact of the air with ice, as it is
important, in order to effect a proper preservation of. both animal and vegetable
matter that the air be free or comparatively free from moisture. In my plan I
employ a magazine for the storage of the ice, and a reservoir for the drainage there-
from, and this drainage or cold fluid I use as the only means of transmitting the low
temperature of the ice to the refrigerating chamber. For this purpose circulation
pipes are connected with the ice magazine and with the reservoir. For obtaining
the best results from this construction I combine therewith means for producing and
maintaining a circulation of the cold fluid in the refrigerating pipes, and directly
through the ice magazine, whereby I am enabled to use the cooling fluid in a con-
tinuous or interrupted circuit, its returning passage through the ice magazine
serving to constantly renew its refrigerating properties. This circuit of the
refrigerating fluid I effect by any suitable means, an ordinary pump being pre-
ferable.
When the temperature of the preserving chamber is reduced to the desired con-
dition, then, as a matter of economy in the consumption of ice, it is desirable to
interrupt the circuit by diverting the passage of the water from the ice magazine
[Price 6d.]

page_text: and maintain the circulation directly through the drainage reservoir, and at the
same time keeping intact the natural drainage from the ice magazine into such
reservoir. This isolation of the ice magazine from the circuit is effected by a branch
pipe and valve or cock connections with the circulating pipes, and in this way I
control and regulate the temperature of the chamber with an economical consump-
tion of the ice; and my Invention in this particular embraces a new system and
adaptation of an economical and controllable circulation.
I also combine with the drainage reservoir and the circulation pipes an automatic
float device whereby to discharge the surplus drainage from the pipes.
To prevent the entrance of air into the ice magazine from the drainage reservoir
the communicating openings are provided with drop sealing pipes opening near the
bottom of the reservoir, and always below the level of the water therein, so that
the ice magazine is sealed at all points from the outside air, and the ice thereby
kept from unnecessary waste, all of which will be more fully herein-after explained,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, in which-
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a refrigerating chamber, with my Inven-
tion applied thereto, the front side being removed to show the pipes; Figure 2, a
side elevation of the same.
Figure 3, a transverse section of the ice magazine, its reservoir and cooling
chamber; and Figure 4 a section of the reservoir, showing the sealed drainage pipes
from the magazine.
The preserving chamber A is provided along its inner walls with a refrigerating
circulation pipe B, arranged in any suitable manner that will produce the best effect.
In any suitable position I arrange an ice magazine C in connection with this chamber,
and combine with both a reservoir D to receive the drainage from the magazine, and
for this purpose the reservoir D must be placed below the level of the bottom of
the ice magazine C, and provided with suitable communicating openings a, Figure 3,
with the floor of the ice magazine.
The
As it is important that the ice magazine be sealed from the outer air as much as
possible, it is provided with an air-tight cover C¹, in any suitable manner.
drainage reservoir is also provided with a hinged cover D¹, to afford facility for
cleaning out and other purposes. As the drainage openings a enter into this
reservoir the air would pass through them into the ice magazine, and thereby
increase the consumption of the ice. To prevent entrance of air into the ice
magazine through said reservoir the drainage openings a are provided with tubes b,
which open within the reservoir near its bottom and below the water level, and
serve thereby as seals to the magazine.
The circulation of the drainage from the ice magazine is effected by connecting
the upper end B₁ of the refrigerating pipe or pipes B to the bottom of the drainage
reservoir, while the other end B2, Figure 2, of such circulation pipe or pipes is carried
up and connected with the bottom of the ice magazine C, thus making a continuous
circuit of the pipe throughout the walls of the cooling chamber, with the ice
magazine in such circuit. Through this pipe B, by the aid of a proper motor E,
located in any convenient position upon said pipe, the circulation is maintained,
regulated, and cut off by means of a suitable cock c, Figure 2, in said pipe, the motor
being driven in any suitable manner. This connection, however, only affords a
direct circulation through the magazine, and in which the circulating medium is
constantly brought into direct contact with the ice. As a matter of economy, it is
desirable at times to interrupt this circulation and simply put the drainage reservoir
D in the circuit. To effect this a branch pipe F from the circulating pipe B con-
nects with the reservoir, and is provided with a suitable cock d', which is opened,
while the cock c at the magazine connection must be closed. The ice magazine is
now isolated from the circulation, and contributes only to the reservoir the water
that results from the thawing of the ice while the circulation is kept up through
the reservoir, and continued until it is found necessary to again bring the ice
magazine into the circuit to depress the temperature of the refrigerating room.
A distinguishing feature of my Invention is a continuous circulation of the

page_text: cooling medium through and in contact with the refrigerant in a closed circuit, but
as the fluid will increase beyond the capacity of the circulation pipes and the
drainage reservoir I may combine with the latter means for effecting a discharge of
the surplus water through a waste cock. As it would not be desirable or economical
to discharge this surplus by an overflow directly from the reservoir, I may provide
the latter with a float e arranged in a side chamber f, and connect the lever g of
such float e by a rod h with a suitable cock i in the pipe above the pump, so that
whenever the water in the reservoir reaches a given height the float e will act by
its connections to open the cock i automatically. This arrangement gives the
advantage of having the discharge at a point to gain the benefit of the cold of the
waste in its rapid passage through the descending wall pipes. As soon as the
surplus is discharged the float descends and closes the cock i, and the ordinary
circulation is again established. Under this construction the discharge of the
surplus drainage and the cessation and resumption of the circulation are automatic,
while the direct and indirect circulation through the ice magazine, the consumption
of the ice, and the temperature of the refrigerating chamber are placed under the
immediate control of the attendant, and the whole system rendered simple, com-
paratively inexpensive, and effective for the objects designed.
It is obvious that the drainage reservoir may be utilized as a receptacle for any
of the usual cooling agents, whereby to effect a greater reduction of the temperature
of the fluid in circulation, and in this way increase the refrigerating capacity beyond
that of the immediate ice drainage.
For ships I dispense with the automatic float device, and use a cock at any con-
venient place in the circulation pipe for the discharge of the surplus water, as may
be desired or necessary. I may also dispense with sealing tubes of the drainage
reservoir, but the employment of the intermediate reservoir gives special advan-
tages in connection with the circulation pipes in communication with and supplied
from the ice magazine.
The Invention is particularly designed for carrying perishable food in ships,
which for the purpose may have one or more compartments provided with my
refrigerating or preserving apparatus.
I claim,―
First. For the purposes of refrigerating a preserving chamber the combination
with a system of circulating wall pipes B and a suitable circulating motor connected
therewith of an ice magazine C with which the circulation pipes B are in direct
communication to effect a continuous circuit through said magazine, and in contact
with the refrigerant.
Second. The combination with a system of refrigerating wall pipes B in a
preserving chamber and an ice magazine C of a drainage reservoir D provided
with communicating openings a with the ice magazine to receive the drainage
therefrom and supply the refrigerating pipes within the circuit.
Third. The combination with a system of refrigerating wall pipes B in a preserving
chamber and a drainage reservoir D separate from the ice box, and with which and
the pipes a suitable circulating motor connects, of a branch pipe F from the circu-
lation pipes B connecting with said reservoir, whereby to effect a continuous
circulation of the drainage through the reservoir and the wall pipes only.
Fourth. The combination with a system of refrigerating wall pipes B in a pre-
serving chamber, an ice magazine C, a drainage reservoir D, and a suitable
circulating motor E placed within the circuit of these parts of the cocks c and d
in the circulation and branch pipes B and F, whereby to effect at will a direct or
indirect circulation of the cooling fluid with regard to the ice magazine.
Fifth. The combination with the ice magazine C, the drainage reservoir D, having
openings a communicating with the magazine and the circulation pipe B of the
sealing tubes b within the reservoir, for the purpose stated.
Sixth. The combination with the ice magazine C, the drainage reservoir D, and
the circulation refrigerating pipes B of an automatic water-discharging device, for
the purpose stated.

page_text: Seventh. The method herein described of refrigerating a preserving chamber,
which consists in continuously forcing a fluid cooled by contact with ice or a
suitable freezing mixture in a continuous circuit through a system of channels
within the preserving chamber through and in contact with the refrigerant and
with the separated drainage therefrom, and alternately at will, forcing such fluid
through the same system of channels, and through and in contact with the separated
drainage from the refrigerants, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Lawton Haddan, have hereunto set my.
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
J. L. HADDAN (LS.)