Improved Air Purifying and Refrigerating System for Refrigerator Cars and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Air Purifying and Refrigerating System for Refrigerator
Cars and the like.
I, EDWIN CRANE NICHOLS, residing at Topeka, in the County of Shawnee, and
State of Kansas, United States of America, Civil 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 improved system of refrigeration relates more specifically to the economic
and hygienic treatment of the impurities in the air within the compartment for
sustaining the healthful condition of perishable goods in transit, or in permanent
storage, as well as the confined air in all conditions and places, and has for its
object:
First, The absorption of the moisture in the air impregnated with the dele-
terious odors from the perishable goods stored for preservation or overhead,
stagnated confined air, and renewing dry sterilized air at a refrigerating
temperature.
Second. The congealation of the moisture in separate air receivers after with-
drawal from the refrigerator and;
Third. The economic circulation and reduction in temperature of the air cool-
ing medium and the maintenance of a fixed degree of refrigerating temperature
in the refrigerating chambers.
My invention consists in the novel means employed and the system of proce-
dure hereinafter more fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings;
Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator car, takem upon the
line, of Fig. 2 showing the air tight compartment for storing perishable
goods, and the compartment containing the refrigerating plant; also showing
the water tank upon one side of the chamber partially broken away to show the
air cooling pipes and the air cooling chambers, the air compressors and motor
of the plant upon the corresponding side of the chamber.
Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the car taken upon the line y, Y;
of Fig. 1, and the separate compartments for receiving the perishable goods, and
containing the refrigerating plant, and also the combined water tanks and air
cooling chambers on each side of the car, showing the conduits from the air
cooling apartments to the storage apartment; also showing the refrigerating
plant and the storage batteries on each side of the plant.
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the refrigerating plant in detail,
showing the water tank partially broken away, and the cold air circulating pipes
within the chamber, conveying cold air to the storage compartments, the water
circulating space between the inner side of the tank and the air cooling chamber,
and also the end of the pipe leading to the storage compartment, and the pipe
leading to the air compressor; also showing the pumps, the air compressors,
and the respective water and air circulating pipes connected with the water
tank and also with the air cooling chambers,

page_text: Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the shafts opening the separate air
compressors.
Figure 5 is a detail side view of one of the main air compressors, showing the
induction pipes and valves.
Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of one of the air cooling receivers.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring to the drawings, A represents a refrigerator car for transportation of
perishable goods, such as meats, fruits, &c., mounted at one end on the truck
A and upon truck A3 at the other end. is the forward end and a is the
rear end of the car; a is the top and the bottom of the car. a is one side
and the other side of the car, is the air tight storage refrigerator or com-
partment for perishable goods. a is one door to compartment a, and as the
other door. The respective sides, ends and top and bottom of the car are hermeti-
cal in construction and suitably packed in the well wnown manner so as to
exclude heat.
In the rear and upper portion of the car is a separate compartment B. The
bottom b, of said compartment B, which is heavily timbered, extends horizon-
tally from the inner surface of the side a, at a point about one-third the described
height from the bottom of the car, in the direction of the top, to the inner surface
of the end of the car to a point nearly one-fifth the described distance between
the said ends a, a'. The ordinary length of the car being about forty-three feet.
In a vertical line with the inner end of the bottom of compartment B, and
extending to the roof of the car and in a transverse direction to the car from the
inner surface of the slide a to the inner surface of the side 5, is a wall or
partition bl.
In the compartment B and close in position to the side a, is a combined water
tank and air cooling chamber C. Said tank consists of a water tight box, com-
paratively narrow in width, which extends from the bottom 6 of the compart-
ment B upwardly, nearly to the roof of the car, and from the partition 6. about
one-half the distance from said partition to the rear end of the car. Within
the tank or box (', is a case c¹, (see Fig. 3) composed preferably of metal. The
case c¹ is smaller in dimensions than the tank C, and extending entirely around
the case on the inner side of the tank, is a wide space c³, for the reception of the
water. Within the case c¹ is an air cooling chamber 2, and within said chamber
is a coil of pipe c³, arranged close in position to the inner surface of the sides and
ends of said case. The upper end of said pipe c³ extends through the sides of
the case c', near the top of said case, and the tank e, near the upper and of the
said tank, and is connected with the compressed air pipe . The lower end of
pipe 3, extends through the forward end of the case c¹, near the bottom, and at
a point equi-distant from the sides of said case; thence through the end of the
tanke and the wall in the compartment, thence from the four-way joint c³
upwardly nearly to the roof of the car, and bent at right angles and extended a
considerable distance. Other branch pipe connections are made from the joint e³,
which extend on both sides of the car, near the top and parallel with the front
side a, as at a*, from which a short pipe c¼ extends through the side a, and is
provided with a compressed air coupling c³, for connection with an adjacent car.
In the end of tank c, adjacent to the wall of partition b¹, and near one side of
the tank, is inserted a short length pipe e, which extends through the end of
tank c¹ and communicates with the chamber c², of tank C.
In the wall, and communicating with the pipe c, is an outwardly flaring
V shaped opening 7, which opens into chamber e. Near the other side of the
tank, and at the same described height, is a pipe and a V shaped opening,
communicating with the chamber 2, in the same manner as described of the
opening and pipe co.
Upon the other side of the car, in the apartment B, is a combined tank and
air chamber C, which is constructed precisely in the manner described of the
combined tank and chamber C, the wall being provided with pipes clo, c12,
which afford communication with the chamber a, as described of the pipes c, cs,

page_text: Upon the floor of compartment B, at a point equidistant from the tanks C, C',
is an air compressor 1), having the piston rod d. Above the cylinder D is an
air compressing cylinder E, smaller in size than the cylinder D and having a
piston rod e. With the upper side portion of the cylinder D and at one end is
connected one end of a short air conducting pipe 3, the other end of which pipe
is connected with the under side portion of the cylinder E. An air conducting
pipe el is connected with the cylinder D at the other end of said cylinder, and
also with the cylinder E, in the same manner as the pipe . In the pipe ³ is
a valve d, and in the pipe el is a valve e² (see Fig. 5).
Between the cylinder 1) and the wall and in direct line with the com-
pressor D) is an air expanding engine F, which is larger than the compressor D,
the piston rod d of which compressor D) is connected with the piston rod of said
air expanding cylinder or engine. With the eduction openings in the expanding
engine is connected the other end of the heretofore mentioned pipe c', leading
from the coil e³, said pipe being closed at the extreme outer end, and provided
with openings in the side, registering with the eduction openings in said engine.
Between the tank C and the engine F is an air cooling receiver G. Said
receiver G consists of a hollow case, circular in form, in the lower part of which
case is a diaphragm 2, separating the chamber from the tank above. Within
the body of the receiver are vertical pipes g. The lower end of each pipe g³ is
extended through the diaphragm g2 and in line with the under surface of said
diaphragm. Between the diaphragm g2 and the bottom of the receiver G is a
space for the reception of the compressed air, which passes upwardly through
the said pipes g³, from the said air chamber *. In the upper part of the
receiver G, above the vertical pipes g, is a diaphragm g, through which the upper
ends of the pipes g³ extend, and between the said diaphragm and the top of the
receiver is an air chamber go, of the same dimensions as the air chamber g*, as
in the base of the receiver, into which chamber go the air passes from pipes g
In the top portion of the air expanding engine F, and into one of the induc-
tion openings for the expanded cold air is inserted one end of a connecting pipe f,
the other end of which pipe is bent at right angles, and thence parallel with the
other portion and extended into the other induction opening of engine F. With
the pipe fis connected one end of a pipe f¹, the other end of which pipe is con-
nected with the side of receiver G and the air chamber go, above the diaphragm g
With the bottom portion of said receiver G and the chamber g, below the diaph-
ragm is connected one end of a water pipe g7, the other end of which pipe being
extended through tank C, into the space c, for the water between the case c¹ and
the said tank. With the induction opening of the air compressor D and with
the pipes de, ds, which are extended downwardly from said openings, is connected
the pipe (see Fig. 5), which is closed at its extreme end. In each one of the
pipes 6, 8, is a valve . The other end of said pipe is extended through
the tank C, and into the chamber c2, and the air in said chamber is exhausted
therethrough by the action of the compressor 1.
Upon the side of the air compressors D, E, in the direction of the tank C, and
at a point equi-distant from said tank and compressors, is an air expanding
cylinder H, which is larger in size than the air compressor D, and nearly as large
as the engine F. Between the air expanding cylinder H and the compressors D, E,
is an air cooling receiver I, which is constructed precisely the same as the
receiver G. With the induction opening of said air expanding cylinder H is
connected one end of a pipe h, in the same manner as the pipe f with the pipe f¹
on the engine F, the other end of said pipe h being connected with the upper
air chamber of the receiver I. With the side of the receiver I, a considerable
distance above the lower diaphragm, is connected one end of a water conducting
pipe, the other end of which pipe is connected with the body of the receiver G,
at the same described distance above the diaphragm g².
With the eduction open-
ings of the air compressor H is connected, in the same manner as described of

page_text: pipe c, with the engine F, one end of a pipe ', the other end of which pipe is
connected with the base of receiver G and the air chamber in said receiver.
With the eduction openings in the cylinder E, which are connected as described
of the engine F, is connected one end of the compressed air conducting pipe ¹,
the other end of which pipe is connected with the receiver I and with the air
chamber below the lower diaphragm in said receiver.
K and Kare, separate double acting suction and force pumps arranged in a
single line, and at one side of a line extending longitudinally through the air
expanding cylinder H, in the direction of tank C and having a single piston rod
extending through both pumps. With the induction opening of the pump K
is connected one end of a water supply pipe k, the other end of which pipe extends
through the side and near the bottom of water tank C, and into the space c*,
between said tank and case c¹. With the eduction opening in the pump K¹ is
connected one end of a water supply pipe k, the other end being extended through
the side of the receiver I, a short distance beneath the upper diaphragm of said
receiver.
Upon the other side of the air compressors 1), E, in the direction of the tank C¹,
are receivers L and M, which are precisely the same as the receivers G and I,
and an air expanding cylinder N, having a piston rod n, the same in size as the
cylinder K, said air expanding cylinders and receivers being connected as herein-
after described. With the opposite side of the engine F to that having the con-
necting pipe, is connected one end of a pipe f, which is the same as pipo c¹,
and the other end is connected with the coil of pipe f5, in the cold air chamber
of the tank C. With the pipe f, on said engine 1, is connected one end of a
pipe f, the other end of which pipe is connected with the upper air chamber of
the receiver M. With the water chamber of receiver M is connected one end
of a pipe g, the other end being connected with the water space in the tank C¹.
With the sides of the receivers L and M is connected a water conducting pipe m,
which is the same as the pipe +, between the receivers L and G. With the other
side of the air compressor 1 from that having pipe d is connected one end of a
pipe, the other end of which pipe extends within the cold air chamber of the
tank C, as described of the pipe d¹. With the eduction opening to the air
expanding cylinder N is connected one end of a pipe n², the other end of which
pipe enters the lower air chamber of receiver M, in the same manner as the pipe h¹,
With
the receiver G.
the eduction opening to
the air expand-
ing cylinder N is connected
end of a pipe 3, the
of which
connected with the
air
pipe is
chamber
upper
receiver L. With the eduction opening of the air compressor E is connected
one end of pipe 4, the other end of which pipe is connected with the lower air
chamber or receiver L. With the pump K and the eduction opening of said pump
is connected one end of pipe, the other end of which pipe is connected with
the tank C and the water chamber or space in said tank with the space c* of the
tank C, as described of the pipe k. The pipe 3 is connected at one end with the
eduction opening of the pump K¹, and is connected at the other end with the
receiver L, at a corresponding point between the upper and lower diaphragms, as
described of the pipe ¹, so as to draw the water through said receiver.
compressors, air expanding cylinders and the pumps are operated in the following
111
manner:-
one
other end
of
the
The air
At a point nearly equi-distant from the air compressors D, E and expanding
cylinders Hand N and the wall a¹, in compartment B, is a line shaft O, mounted
in the journal boxes o, o at each end, which journal boxes are clevated a short
distance above the floor of the compartment and upon a line horizontal with the
piston rod d of compressor D.
Between the journal boxes o, o, are journal boxes o¹, o¹, which extend in height
to the level of the piston rod in the air compressor E, and in which boxes, directly
above the shaft O, is journaled a shaft 01, which is smaller in diameter than
shaft O. On shaft O' is an eccentric o³, with which is connected an eccentric rod o'

page_text: which rod is connected by a hinged joint o³, with the piston rod e, of the air com-
pressor E. Upon the shaft O are separate eccentrics 02, 0. With each eccentric o
is connected one end of an eccentric rod o, hinged to the cross bar e, which bar
is connected with the piston rod d of the air compressor D.
Upon shaft O, on one side of the eccentric 03, is a pulley o', and upon the
shaft O, directly beneath the pulley o, is a pulley 08. Over pulley 08 is
extended one end of a belt o, the other end of which belt is extended over the
pulley o, and the two ends connected together in the usual manner.
Upon the
other side of eccentric o³ is a pulley o10, which is connected by a belt o15 with the
pulley 16 on shaft O, in the same manner as described of eccentric o, the pulley.
on shaft being larger than on shaft 01.
Upon shaft is an eccentric 018, which is pivotally connected with the piston
rod 2, of the air compressor H. Upon the other end of shaft O and opposite the
air expanding cylinder N is an eccentric N, the eccentric rod n' of which is con-
nected with the piston rod n, of said cylinder. Near the shaft and between said
shaft and the rear end of the car, and secured to the floor of compartment B, is
a motor P.
At one end of the compartment B, in rear of the air cooling chamber C, is a
storage battery Q. With the storage battery Q are connected conductors p, p²,
which are also connected with the respective poles of the motor P. 22 is a driving
shaft of the motor P, upon which is a pulley 23. On shaft is a pulley o
Over pulley, 12 is extended one end of a belt o, the other end of which belt is
extended over the pulley 3, on the shaft p2, of the motor P. In rear of the
air cooling chamber C is a storage battery Q¹, which may be employed when found
necessary, for other motors.
On the end of shaft (, in rear of the pump K', is an eccentric R, with which
eccentric is connected an eccentric rod 2, the other end of which rod is pivotally
connected with the piston rod, of the double acting suction and force
pumps K, K
In operation the space c* in each tank C, C is filled with water. The goods to
be kept from deterioration are placed in the compartment a, and the doors a², q8
closed, so as to prevent any admission of air except in the manner hereinafter
described.
The current from the storage battery Q is then admitted to motor P and power
transmitted to the shafts 0, 0 and the air compressors D, E, and the air expanding
cylinders H, N are placed in operation, the speed of shaft 01 being greater than
that of shaft O, and consequently the air drawn through the induction pipes do, do,
within the cylinder D is subjected to recompression in the compressor E and its
volume reduced, and with the rapid momentum of the piston a high degree of
heat is attained. The action of the compressor D) draws the air from the
chamber a containing the perishable goods, and which is charged in some cases
with animal heat and matter, into the cold air chamber c2 of each tank C, C;
where the moisture is chilled and precipitated, and the air so dried passes, thence
through the pipes, do to the air compressing cylinder D, where the first com-
pression is given to the air and the deleterious odors and matter are condensed
and driven off by the heat.
During the movement of the driving shafts 0,01 to operate the pistons of the
air compressors 1), E, the movement is communicated to the pistons of the air
expanding cylinders H, N, and also to the double acting pumps K, K', in which
movement the pump K draws the water from the space c* of the tank C into said
pump and forces the water out into the space for water into tank C', through the
Pipe
The temperature of the air chamber of tank C from the cold air introduced
from the engine F is therefore a refrigerating temperature or nearly that required
to form ice, and the water drawn into the pump K and then forced into the water
space of the tank C₁ is nearly of the same degree of temperature.

page_text: The pump K during the operation of the pump K draws the water from the
water chamber in the air cooling receiver L into said pump, and forces the same
into the water chamber of the air cooling receiver I, in which movement the water
in receiver I is forced through the pipe into the water chamber of receiver G
and passes through the pipe g into the water chamber of the tank C, and thus
a circulation of cold water is kept through said receivers G and I. On the other
hand the water drawn from the receiver L into the pump K₁ causes the water
from the water space of tank C to pass through the pipe go into the water chamber
of the tank M, and thence through the pipe m into the water chamber of the
receiver L in the same manner as through the receivers I and G and a uniform
water circulation maintained throughout the plant. The recompressed air heated
by recompression and which is ejected from the compressor E, passes through the
pipes, into the bottom of the receivers I and L and thence upwardly within
the vertical air cooling pipes in said receivers, which are surrounded by the cold
water from the water chambers of the respective tanks C, C, and thence passes
through pipes n, n³ to the air expanding cylinders H, N, which are larger than the
compressor and consequently the air expands while doing work in each cylinder,
and causing the rapid fall of temperature and cooling the air. The air from the
cylinders H, N, then passes through the pipes h¹ n² to the respective air cooling
receivers G and M and the heat further abstracted from the air, thence through
pipes f, f, f to the air expanding cylinder or engine F, which is larger than
either one of the air cylinders H, N, and in which the compressed air works
expansively while doing work, and thereby following the first expansion of the
air in cylinder's H and N and a consequent refrigerating temperature nearly
sufficient to cause the congealation of water results, which cold air passes from
engine F through the pipes c, f8 through the coils of pipe in chamber of the
tank C, and also through the coils of pipe f³ in the chamber of tank C, thence
through the pipes in chamber a from each coil in each air chamber of the
respective tanks C, C and is liberated through perforations in the pipe a*, causing
a degree of cold in said chamber to preserve the contents without freezing. In
passing through the coil of pipe in the chamber of tanks C, C1, the cold air in
the chamber reduces the temperature of the water in the space and also gives
the first chill to the air as it enters the chamber c2 from the chamber a. The
temperature of the water being thus kept constantly reduced in the space c*, the degrees
of cold maintained in said chamber reduces the temperature of the air while passing
through the pipes on each air cooling receiver, which are subjected as heretofore
described to the cold circulating water from the tanks C, C¹.
In the engine F refrigeration will consequently follow in a greater degree after
the first expansion in the cylinders H, N, owing to the rapid elimination of the
heat from the highest degree of compression in cylinder E. The air taken from
the chamber af is therefore freed from germs in the repeated compression and
cooling of the air, and a supply of sterilized air is supplied to the chamber as, and
the temperature kept so as to preserve the contents of the car. Through the pipe a
in the forward end of the car a pipe may be extended from the pipe for con-
ducting cold air outside of chamber af in such direction as may be desirable.
In the improved refrigerating system transportation of perishable goods long
distances is attained at a small percentage of cost compared with the usual modes
of cooling the temperature of a refrigerator car.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
1. In an air purifying and refrigerating system a refrigerator and a tank,
having separate water circulating and air cooling chambers, and a passage for
the air from the refrigerator to said air cooling chamber in said tank, a water
suction and forcing apparatus and separate conductors connected with said
apparatus and the water circulating chamber in said tank, and a cold air generat-

page_text: ing apparatus, a conductor leading from the air cooling chamber in said tank to
the said cold air generating apparatus, and a separate conductor leading from said
apparatus to said refrigerator through the air cooling chamber in said tank.
2. In a refrigerating car, a refrigerating chamber and a tank, having separate
water circulating and air cooling chambers and a passage for the air from the
refrigerator to said air cooling chamber in said tank, a water suction and forcing
apparatus and separate conductors connected with said apparatus and the water
circulating chamber in said tank, an air compressor and a conductor of air
connected with the said air cooling chamber of said
and said
compressor, an air expanding engine and conductor of compressed air
connected with said engine and said compressor, a coil of pipe for
the cold air within the air cooling chamber of said
a
tank
tank connected
with said refrigerating chamber of said tank connected with said refrigera-
ting chamber, and a conductor of cold air connected with the said coil in
said air cooling chamber, and also with the said air expanding engine, as and for
the purpose described.
3. In an air purifying and refrigerating system, a refrigerator and a tank
having separate water circulating and air cooling chambers and a passage for the
air from the refrigerator to said air cooling chamber in said tank, an air compressor
and an air cooling receiver for cooling the compressed air ejected from the com-
pressor, and a water suction and forcing apparatus, having separate conductors
connected with the water circulating chamber in said tank and also with the air
cooling receiver and a separate conductor connected with said air cooling receiver
and the water circulating chamber in said tank, an air expanding engine, a
conductor of compressed air connected with said air compressor and said engine, a
coil of pipe for the cold air within the air cooling chamber of said tank connected
with said refrigerating chamber, and a conductor of cold air connected with said
coil of pipe and the air expanding engine, as and for the purpose described.
4. In an air purifying and refrigerating system, a refrigerator and a tank
having separate water circulating and air cooling chambers, and a passage for the
air from the refrigerator to said air cooling chamber in said tank, an air cooling
receiver having separate upper and lower chambers for the expansion of the
compressed air, and an intermediate water chamber and pipes in said chamber
connected with both of said air chambers, a water suction and forcing apparatus
and a conductor connected with said apparatus and the water chamber in said
receiver and separate conductors connected with said apparatus, and also with the
water chamber in said air cooling receiver and said water circulating tank, a
duplex air compressor and separate conductors of compressed air, one of which is
connected with one of said compressors and with the air cooling chamber in said
tank, and the other connected with the other compressor, and also with the air
an air ex-
expanding chamber in the lower part of said receiver,
panding engine and separate conductors of compressed air connected with
the upper air expanding chamber in said air cooling receiver, and also with
the coil of pipe in the air cooling chamber in said tank, for the purpose set
forth.
5. In an air purifying and refrigerating system a refrigerator and a tank
having separate water circulating and air cooling chambers and a passage for the
air from the refrigerator to said air cooling chamber in said tank, a coil of pipe
for cold air within said air cooling chamber in said tank connected with said re-
frigerator, an air cooling receiver having separate upper and lower air expanding
chambers, and an intermediate water chamber and pipes extending from one air
chamber of said air cooling receiver to the other, a water suction and forcing
apparatus and separate conductors, one of which is connected with the water
circulating chamber in said tank, and the other with the water chamber in said
air cooling receiver, an air expanding engine and separate conductors connected
with said engine, one of which is connected with the coil of pipe in said air
cooling chamber of said tank, and the other with the upper air cooling chamber.

page_text: of said air cooling receiver, and separate air compressors having separate pipes.
conducting the air from one compressor to the other, and a conductor of re-
compressed air connected with one of said compressors and with the lower air
expanding chamber in the air cooling receiver, and a separate conductor con-
nected with the air cooling chamber in the said tank, and also with the other
air compressor, and means for operating both compressors at different degrees of
speed, as set forth,
Dated this 30th day of August 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.