IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF ICE, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR SKATING AND CURLING UPON, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Noel Mackay, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF ICE, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR SKATING AND CURLING UPON,
AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 26th May 1876, and dated the 29th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Noel Mackay at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th March 1876.
FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR SKATING
AND CURLING UPON, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"
The object of the said Invention is to simplify the manufacture of ice when brine
or other liquid is employed as an agent for carrying cold from the producers to the
water to be frozen, and to provide means for carrying the said manufacture into
operation. The ice produced is used for various purposes, such as the formation of
skating and curling rinks.
The first part of my Invention consists in so bringing the water to be frozen and
the brine or cooling liquid together as that they mutually support each other; that
is to say, I employ one or more horizontal or vertical layers of brine and layers of
water only separated by thin flexible material, such as canvas. The outside layers
when vertical and the bottom layer when horizontal are supported by rigid
inaterial.
The second part of my Invention relates to the production of ice in horizontal
layers for skating and curling upon, and consists in laying down, it may be loosely,
on a floor beams or dividing pieces having canvas or flexible material stretched
from one to the other or laid over the said beams. Brine or cooling liquid is caused
to circulate below the canvas or flexible material whilst water to be frozen rests
above.
The third part of my Invention relates to preventing loss of cold to the earth,
and consists in employing two or more divisions of canvas or flexible material and
layers of brine or non-congealable liquid. The water to be frozen rests above the
top division, the brine or cooling fluid circulates between the top and second
divisions, whilst beneath the second division one or more layers of brine or liquid
is or are employed.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to freezing smooth and level surfaces for

page_text: skating and curling purposes, and consists in allowing the brine or cooling liquid
beneath the canvas to freely ebb and flow by means of a communication with the
atmosphere, and in preserving the said brine or cooling liquid at a constant level
both during and after the freezing of the water.
The fifth part of my Invention also relates to freezing smooth and level surfaces,
and consists in providing ways or passages at a certain height above the upper layer
of canvas or flexible material so that superfluous water may run off during the
freezing process or whilst being flushed after use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Noel Mackay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
September 1876.
'
FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE, MORE PARTICULARLY FOR SKATING
AND CURLING UPON, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of the said Invention is to simplify the manufacture of ice when brine
or other liquid is employed as an agent for carrying cold from the producers to the
water to be frozen, and to provide means for carrying the said manufacture into
operation. The ice produced is used for various purposes, such as the formation of
skating and curling rinks.
The first part of my Invention consists in so bringing the water to be frozen and
the brine or cooling liquid together so that they mutually support each other; that
is to say, I employ one or more horizontal or vertical layers of brine and layers of
water only separated by thin flexible material such as canvas. The outside layers
when vertical and the bottom layer when horizontal are supported by rigid
material.
The second part of my Invention relates to the production of ice in horizontal
layers for skating and curling upon, and consists in laying down, it may be loosely,
on a floor beams or dividing pieces having canvas or flexible material stretched
from one to the other or laid over the said beams. Brine or cooling liquid is caused
to circulate below the canvas or flexible material whilst water to be frozen rests
above.
The third part of my Invention relates to preventing loss of cold to the earth,
and consists in employing two or more divisions of canvas or flexible material and
layers of brine or non-congealable liquid. The water to be frozen rests above the
top division, the brine or cooling fluid circulates between the top and second
divisions, whilst beneath the second division one or inore layers of brine or liquid
is or are employed..
The fourth part of my Invention relates to freezing smooth and level surfaces for
skating and curling purposes, and consists in allowing the brine or cooling liquid
beneath the canvas to freely ebb and flow by means of a communication with the
atmosphere, and in preserving the said brine or cooling liquid at a constant level
both during and after the freezing of the water.
The fifth part of my Invention also relates to freezing smooth and level surfaces,
and consists in providing ways or passages at a certain height above the upper
layer of canvas or flexible material so that superfluous water may run off during the
freezing process or whilst being flushed after use.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The first part of my Invention is illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which are

page_text: layer of brine b by the thin flexible material c; d is the brine inlet; c is the brine
outlet, which is raised to the height of the top of the water a; the freezing proceeds
from the bottom upwards; f, cover.
Fig. 2. a is a horizontal layer of water to be frozen separated from a horizontal
layer of brine b by the flexible material c; d, brine inlet; c, brine outlet; f, cover;
the stand pipe g serves to keep the water at one constant level during freezing,
which proceeds from the top downwards. When it is desired to remove the ice the
cover is removed, the brine is drawn off and replaced by warm liquid in the usual
manner, or air may be allowed to have free access to the flexible material until it
is thawed off from the ice. The sides of the containing tanks / may be double so
that warm fluid may be passed through to thaw off the ice.
Fig. 3. Here the layers of brine and water are vertical. The brine is admitted
through dat the top and syphoned off through e from the bottom so as to maintain
the brine and water at the same level. The object of maintaining the brine and
water at the same level in Figs. 2 and 3 is to have an equal pressure on each side of
the flexible material.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of apparatus or appliances used in the production
of skating and curling rinks, and illustrates the second, fourth, and fifth parts of my
Invention. is the water to be frozen, separated from the brine b by the flexible
material c; i, beams to support c and to allow of the brine being caused to travel
in a zig-zag direction beneath the surface of the water to be frozen ;jis an overflow
pipe provided to keep the brine at one level during and after the freezing of the
water; is a pipe or way to allow of superfluous water running off during con-
gelation or flushing.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of apparatus similar to the above but illustrative
of the third head. is a space below the brine in which brine or water is allowed to
rest, and is separated from the brine or cooling liquid b by the flexible material m;
n is a pipe to allow of a constant level being maintained in l.
It will be obvious that various flexible materials, such as canvas, india-rubber,
wire gauze, and other close fabric may be used, and that various modifications and
arrangements of parts may be made without departing from my Invention.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention so that
others will be enabled to carry my Invention into practice, I claim,―
First. Bringing brine or cooling liquid and water to be frozen together in layers
so as to mutually support, cach other, flexible material being used to separate the
layers.
Second. Apparatus or appliances constructed substantially as described under the
second head.
Third. Preventing loss of cold, substantially as described and illustrated under
the third head.
Fourth. Freezing smooth and level surfaces, substantially in the manner set forth
under the fourth head.
Fifth. Producing smooth and level frozen surfaces, substantially as set forth
under the fifth head.
Sixth. The combination of two or more of the above heads in the same apparatus
or appliances.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Noel Mackay, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-eighth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
J. JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
4, Clayton Square,
Liverpool.
FRED N. MACKAY. (L.S.)