IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Mills Dix, of Shelton, in the County.of.
Stafford, Brewer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS."
Sealed the 29th March 1867, and dated the 1st October 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Mills Dix
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st October 1866.
I, ALEXANDER MILLS DIX, of Shelton, in the County of Stafford, Brower,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFRIGERATORS," to be as follows:
My Invention relates to refrigerators for cooling worts and other liquids in
which cold water is caused to flow through a series of passages in a box or case
while the wort or other liquid to be cooled flows through another series of passages
in the opposite direction to the cold water. The passages for the cold water
generally consist of a number of thin transverse boxes fixed in the outer box
at a convenient distance apart and connected to each other at the ends by
caps or otherwise at the sides of the outer box or case, so as to form one
continuous passage, while the spaces between the sides of the thin boxes form
the passages for the wort, such spaces being connected to each other alternately
at the two sides of the outer box so as to form a continuous zig-zag passage.
Hitherto there has been no ready means of removing the transverse boxes. for
cleaning or otherwise, as they have been securely: fixed to the bottom of the

page_text: outer box or case, to prevent access from the side of one passage for the wort
to the side of that or those next adjoining.
Now my first improvement consists in fitting in the bottom of the outer box
a bed or seat of india-rubber or other suitable soft material upon which the
lower edge of the transverse boxes rests, so that a tight joint is thereby formed
without any fixing, and the transverse boxes can be readily lifted out of the
outer box. The bed or seat may extend over the whole surface of the bottom
of the outer box, or there may be a separate bed or seat for each transverse
box.
My second improvement consists in feeding or supplying each tranverse box
from the top instead of from the side as heretofore, also in arranging these
boxes as follows:-Every box terminates at each end in a vertical tube of
convenient shape in section, which communicates with the end of the box
preferably by a number of orifices. The tube at one end of the box is fitted
into a vertical groove in the outer box lined with india-rubber or other
suitable soft material, while the tube at the other end is distant about two
inches more or less from the other side of the outer box, so as to leave passage
for the wort. The tranverse boxes are placed alternately against the two sides
of the outer box, so as to leave a continuous zig-zag passage for the wort as
before mentioned. The top of each tube is bent over towards the corresponding
tube of the next adjoining box, so that the ends of these two tubes come
together and they are connected by flanges and bolts or otherwise; or the
tops of the tubes may be connected together by a cap or in any other convenient
manner.
My next improvement consists in a new method of staying the transverse
boxes. For this purpose I form holes in the sides of the box opposite each
other and insert studs between these holes; I then pass a rivet through each
stud, and hammer down the ends of the rivets, so as to close the holes in the
boxes and rivet the sides of the boxes together.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed 8
by the said Alexander Mills Dix in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st April. 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MILLS DIX, of Shelton, in the County of Stafford, Brewer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters 8
Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of our Lord One

page_text: thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alexander Mills Dix, Her special licence that I, the said Alexander
Mills Dix, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Alexander Mills Dix, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Alexander Mills Dix, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Mills Dix, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being, had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to refrigerators for cooling worts and other liquids in
which cold water is caused to flow through a series of passages in a box or
case while the wort or other liquid to be cooled flows through another series
of passages in the opposite direction to the cold water. The passages for the
cold water generally consist of a number of thin transverse boxes fixed in the
outer box at a convenient distance apart, and connected to each other at the
ends by caps or otherwise at the sides of the outer box or case so as form oue
continuous passage, while the spaces between the sides of the thin boxes form
the passages for the wort, such spaces being connected to each other alter-
nately above and below the thin boxes so as to form a continuous zig-zag
passage over and under the boxes. Hitherto there has been no ready means
of removing the transverse boxes for cleaning or otherwise, as they have been
or every alternate box has been securely fixed to the bottom of the outer box
or case to cause the wort to flow in the proper direction.
Now the first part of my Invention consists in fitting in the bottom of the
outer box a bed or seat of india-rubber or other suitable, soft material,
upon which the lower edge of the transverse boxes rests, so that a tight joint
is thereby formed without any fixing, and the transverse boxes with the frame

page_text: .
in which they are fitted can be readily lifted out of the outer box; the spaces
between the transverse boxes are thus open top and bottom except when
placed upon their seat. The bed or seat may extend over the whole surface of
'the bottom of the outer box, or there may be a separate bed or seat for each
transverse box. This bed or seat applies to refrigerators whether all or only
some of the transverse boxes rest upon the bottom of the outer box.
My improvements consist, secondly, in feeding or supplying each transverse
box from the top instead of from the side as heretofore, also in arranging these
boxes as follows so that the water is caused to flow in a zig-zag direction and
to enter each succeding box at the top:-Every box terminates at eacli end
in a vertical tube of convenient shape in section, which communicates with the
end of the box preferably by a number of orifices. The tube at one end of
the box is fitted into a vertical groove in a frame in the outer box, the groove
being lined with india-rubber or other suitable soft material, while the tube at
the other end is distant about two inches more or less from the other side of
the frame, so as to leave passage for the wort. The transverse boxes are
placed alternately against the two sides of the frame so as to leave a con-
tinuous zig-zag passage for the wort. The top of each tube is bent over
towards the corresponding tube of the next adjoining box, so that the ends of
these two tubes come together, and they are connected by flanges and bolts or
otherwise; or the tops of the tubes or ends of the boxes may be connected
together by a cap, or in any other convenient manner.
For the purpose of staying the transverse boxes I form holes in the sides of
the box opposite each other, and insert studs between these holes; I then pass
a rivet through each stud and hammer down the ends of the rivets so as to
close the holes in the boxes and rivet the sides of the boxes together.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a plan of a refrigerator constructed
according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the
line A, B, and Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections through the lines C, D,
and E, F, respectively of Figure 1.
ä is the outer box or case of the refrigerator; 6 is a bed or seat of india-
rubber or other suitable soft material placed in the bottom of the box a;
c, c, are a series of thin transverse boxes through which the water for cooling
the wort or other liquid flows. Every box c terminates at each end in a
vertical tube d, which communicates with the box by a number of orifices e.
The tube d at one end of each box fitted as shewn into a vertical groove f
in a frame 9 fitted in the outer box a; the groove fis lined with india-rubber
and other suitable soft material. The tube at the opposite end of each box is
distant about two inches more or less from the other side of the frame, as

page_text: shewn, so as to leave passage for the wort. The transverse boxes c are, as seen
in the Drawings, placed alternately against the two sides of the frame g,
whereby a continuous zig-zag passage is left for the wort. The top of each
tube d is bent over at h towards the corresponding tube of the next adjoining
box, so that the ends of the two tubes come together as shewn; the ends are
formed with flanges i, through which bolts are passed to connect them
together, india-rubber or other washers being interposed to form a tight joint.
The connection of the tubes is fully shewn in the enlarged vertical and
horizontal sections Figures 5 and 6. Or the tops of the tubes d or ends of
the boxes may, as before stated, be connected by a cap or in any other
convenient manner; for instance, in the manner hereafter described with
reference to Figures 7, 8, and 9. The water for cooling the wort enters at k,
and passes by the pipe l into the first transverse box c; it flows through this
box, enters through orifices e, the tube d at the opposite end of this box rises
in this tube and enters the upper end of the tube of the next adjoining box,
and so on, passing in a continuous manner into the upper end of the first tube
of each box, into and through this box, into and up the tube at the opposite
end, then into the upper end of the first tube of the next box, and it finally
issues by the outlet m. It will be seen that each box is fed or supplied from
the top instead of from the side, as heretofore, and this forms an important
feature of the arrangement. The wort to be cooled enters by the inlet nat
the opposite end to the water inlet k; it passes first between the frame g and
the end box c, then round the tube d at the opposite end of the frame and
into the space between the first two boxes c at this end, and so on in a zig-zag
direction between the boxes c and round the tubes d, at each side of the frame
alternately, finally passing through the outlet o of the frame, and out by the
outlet p
of the outer box a. The frame g is simply for holding the boxes c,
which are held in place by a small tab or stay at each end or otherwise, and
the boxes are kept equidistant at the bottom by studs or projections; it is
open at the top and bottom, and is dropped loosely into the box a, and its lower
edge and the lower edge of the boxes c rest upon the soft seating 6 (or where
no separate seating is used upon the bottom of the box a), whereby passage of
the wort under these boxes is effectually prevented without any fixing. The
boxes c can be readily lifted out of the outer box a with the frame g for the
purpose of cleansing or otherwise, or any one or more of the boxes c can be
taken out separately by disconnecting the tubes of that or those to be removed
from the tubes of those next adjoining; or if it is required to empty the
refrigerator one end may be raised or tilted, the other end being held by a
suitable hinge; blocks or other tackle can be easily applied for raising or

page_text: tilting the refrigerator. q, q, are tie rods. In order to stay the transverse
-boxes c, to enable them to withstand the water pressure, I form holes r in their
sides opposite each other, and insert hollow studs between every two opposite
holes; I then pass a rivet through each stud, and hammer down the ends of
the rivets, so as to close the holes and rivet the sides of the boxes together.
Figure 7 is a plan, and Figure 8 a section through the line C, D, shewing
a modified arrangement for connecting the transverse boxes. In this arrange-
ment the tubes d, d, are dispensed with, and instead thereof I employ coupling
boxes s, s, one of which is shewn on a larger scale in several views in Figure 9.
Each of these boxes consists of what may be termed two half boxes t, t, one
half box being connected to the upper part of one transverse box at or near
one end, and the other half box to the corresponding upper part of the next
adjoining transverse box. Each half box t is likewise connected to a plate u
with a central aperture corresponding to the box, and the two plates u, u, are
screwed or bolted together, an elastic washer v being interposed to form a
hermetic closing. The lower edge of one plate u is formed with a sort of
hooked projection w, upon which the lower edge of the other plate rests. The
refrigerating water when it reaches the end of one transverse box rises and
passes through the coupling box s, and is thus conducted to the top of the
corresponding end of the next adjoining box, and so on through the series of
transverse boxes; but in order that a portion of the water may be caused to
flow to the bottom of the transverse box I fit one or more vertical plates or
dividers, as shown at x, extending a convenient distance down the box. Any
one of the transverse boxes can be taken out separately by removing the screws
or bolts which connect the coupling boxes, or the whole of the transverse boxes
with their frame may be lifted from their seat, as in the previous arrangement.
If it be desired to cause the wort or liquid which is to be cooled to flow in an
up-and-down zig-zag direction over and under the boxes instead of in a
horizontal zig-zag direction, as before described, every transverse box is made
to extend across the frame to both sides, each end of the box being fitted in a
groove, as before explained, and every alternate box is kept at a distance of
about an incb, more or less, from the bed or bottom of the outer case, to
allow the wort to flow under the box.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improve-
ments in Refrigerators,"
First, fitting in the bottom of refrigerators a bed or seat of india-rubber or
other suitable soft material upon which the lower edge of the transverse boxes
rests, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.

page_text: Second, constructing refrigerators in such manner that the whole of the
refrigerating boxes are free to be raised from their seating for cleaning or
otherwise, the spaces between them when raised being open top and bottom,
substantially as herein-before described.
Third, constructing refrigerators in which the transverse boxes are fed or
supplied from the top, substantially as herein-before described and represented
in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth, arranging transverse boxes which are fed from the top, substantially
as herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Mills Dix, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 28th day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
ALEXANDER MILLS DIX. (L.S.)
ALEXANDER MILLS DIX. (L.S.)