IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SNOW, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Noel Mackay, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF SNOW, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Noel Mackay at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd July 1880.
FREDERICK NOEL MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SNOW, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
My Invention relates to the production, artificially, of snow for cooling and other
purposes.
By snow, I mean watery particles congealed into crystals, and also ice reduced to
a more or less fine powder, closely resembling snow in appearance.
The methods heretofore in use of making snow are those wherein ice is ground
into particles, or whero pieces or blocks of ice, whether artificially produced or
natural, are cut into a fino powder, somewhat resembling snow.
The economical production of snow is, according to my Invention, effected in
various ways by direct means instead of indirect ones. Labour and cost are thereby
reduced, and the quantity produced in a given time increased.
Under the first part of my Invention I obtain snow by employing a chamber,
compartment, or tube, the atmosphere of which has been reduced by any known
method or means to below the freezing point of water, and into the said reduced
temperature I inject water, preferably reduced to or near freezing point, under such
pressure as will cause it to enter in the form of a fine spray. This spray becoming
at once frozen falls to the bottom of the chamber in the form of snow, from which it
can be withdrawn by suitable means.
Under the second part of my Invention I obtain snow by scraping the surfaces
of ice during the artificial manufacture of the same. Scrapers or equivalent devices
caused to act on the surfaces of the ice during freezing reduces the ice thus formed
at once to a powder resembling snow, which is collected and compressed into any
desired form or shape.
Under the third part of my Invention I obtain snow by using an air tight
chamber or compartment. the walls of which are metallic, or metallic cells or pipes
--

page_text: are introduced. A refrigerating agent is circulated on the opposite sides of the said
metal walls, cells, or pipes to keep them below freezing point. Into the said
chamber or compartment air and water vapour, or aqueous vapour are passed and
circulated, causing, upon coming into contact with the cold metallic surface,
deposition of snow.
Pumps or other like means may be employed, as will be evident, to introduce
the water vapour and to circulate the same in the chamber or compartment,
which circulation is an importaut feature in this part of my Invention.
E
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
30th December 1880.
-FREDERICK NOEL Mackay, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SNOW, AND IN-APPARATUS TO BE
EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
My Invention relates to the production, artificially, of snow for cooling and other
purposes.
By snow, I mean watery particles congealed into crystals, and also ice reduced
to a more or less fine powder, closely resembling snow in appearance.
The methods heretofore in use for making snow are those wherein icc is ground
into particles, or where pieces or blocks of ice, whether artificially produced or
natural, are cut into a fine powder, somewhat resembling snow.
The economical production of snow is, according to my Invention, effected in
various ways by direct means instead of indirect ones. Labour and cost are
thereby reduced, and the quantity produced in a given time increased.
Under the first part of my Invention I obtain snow by employing a chamber,
compartment, or tube, the atmosphere of which has been reduced by any known
method or means to below the freezing point of water, and into the said reduced
temperature I inject water, preferably reduced to or near freezing point, under such
pressure as will cause it to enter in the form of a fine spray. This spray becoming
at once frozen falls to the bottom of the chamber in the form of snow, from which
it can be withdrawn by suitable means.
Under the second part of my Invention I obtain snow by scraping the surfaces of
ico during the artificial manufacture of the same. Scrapers or equivalent devices
caused to act on the surfaces of the ice during freezing reduces the ice thus formed
at once to a powder resembling snow, which is collected and compressed into any
desired form or shape.
Under the third part of my Invention I obtain snow by using an air tight
chamber or compartment, the walls of which aro metallic, or metallic cells or pipes
are introduced. A refrigerating agent is circulated on the opposite sides of the said
metal walls, cells, or pipes to keep them below freezing point. Into the said

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of apparatus for the manufacture of snow under the
first part of my Invention. 1 is a motal chamber, preferably of iron, and of cylin-
drical shape. The said chamber 1 is surrounded by a jacket 2, between which and
the chamber I brine, ether, vapour, or other refrigerating fluid is caused to circulato
through the pipos or tubes 3, 3×, and maintain within the chamber 1 a temperature
below freezing point; 4, perforated pipe or tube passing through the chamber 1;
water maintained at about 35° F. by any suitable refrigerator is supplied to the
pipo or tube 4, and allowed to issue in jets of spray 5 into the chamber 1. The
water spray on entering the said chamber 1 is frozen into snow, which snow falls
upon the lid or closing door 6. When the desired quantity of snow has accumulated
in the bottom of the said chamber or vessel 1, the lid or door 6 is opened and tho
said snow allowed to fall into any desired receptacle. The said door or lid may bo
opened or closed by hand, or a weighted lover 7 may be employed to close the said
lid or door and keep it closed until a sufficient weight of snow has accumulated to
opon it; or such lid or door may be caused to open at suitable times by mechanical
or other means. The receptacle or chamber 1 inay be of any convenient shape, and
copper or other good conductor of heat may be used in its construction. A cylin-
drical chamber would, in practice, be about feet in diameter and 12 feet in length,
but any proportions may be used, according to the degree of fineness of the water
spray on entering.
Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevations at right angles to each other of apparatus
for producing snow under the second part of my Invention. 7, trough containing
water or other watery liquid to be frozen; 8, drum supported in bearings 9 and
caused to rotate in the said water by means of the belt and pulley 10 or other
suitable appliance. The axles 11 of the said drum are hollow and serve as feed
and discharge pipes for the passage of brine, ether, or other volatile or refrigerating
medium to and from the interior of the said drum. 12, stuffing boxes and glands
for connecting the stationary refrigerating fluid pipes to the axles 11. A thin film
of water or liquid is frozen into ice on the surface of the said drum whilst rotating,
and is removed in the form of snow by the scraper 13. The scraper may also have
motion given to it, either rotating, or reciprocating, or both. The said snow falls
into the box 13* and is removed from time to time through the door 14. The
improvements set forth under the above second part of my Invention are specially
adapted for the formation of ice creams, syrups, and like delicacies, commonly
known as ices. Instead of a rotating refrigerating drum and fixed scrapers, rotating
or reciprocating scrapers or cutters may be made to act on fixed refrigerating
surfaces, such as cells, or cylinders, or flat plates, over which a thin stream of water
is caused to flow, which on being frozen is immediately followed by the rotating or
reciprocating scrapers or cutters. It is preferable, however, that the scrapers should
be stationary and the refrigerating surface in motion.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of apparatus for the formation of snow under the
third head. Here, a cylindrical chamber 1 and refrigerating medium jacket 2,
similar to that described under the first head, is used. 3, refrigerating fluid inlet ;
3*, outlet; 15, 16, inlet and outlet pipes, through which air containing moisture is
caused to enter and leave the chamber 1. The said air is caused to circulate
through the said pipes and chamber by micans of a pump, fan, or other suitable
appliance for giving motion to gases. Moisture is imparted to the said air in any
well known or desired manner, such as by causing the said air to pass over a surface

page_text: of water, or through a shower of water, or by injecting water in the form of spray
into the said air, either in a separate chamber or at any suitablo point, such as
when it enters or leaves the pump or fan.
The air deposits its moisture on the cold surface of the chamber 1 in the form of
snow and is removed therefrom by a rotating brush 16* or other suitable appliance.
The snow then falls to the bottom of the chamber onto the door or lid 6, and is
removed as required. The brush 16* is constructed in any approved manner, and
receives motion either through a belt or pulley 10, or in any convenient way. The
lower end of the shaft carrying the said brush is carried in a bracket or guide 17,
and cams 18 are affixed to the said shaft so as to keep the snow in motion and
prevent it from sticking to the said bracket or guide. The rotating brush serves
both for removing the snow from the surface of the chamber and for ensuring
proper circulation of the moist air within the said chamber.
It will be understood that the watery particles are either water in a fine state of
division, or water mixed or combined with syrups, juices, or the like, or liquids
containing water suitable for the preparation of ice creams and like delicacies.
Having now described the-nature of the said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the details of apparatus shown, as many
modifications of such apparatus may be made without departing from my Invention,
what I do claim is,-
First. Producing snow by the direct action and application of cold, substantially
as setforth.
Second. Injecting water into a chamber maintained below freezing point, for the
purposes setforth.
Third. Apparatus or appliances, constructed and operating substantially as
set forth under the first part of my Invention, Fig. 1.
Fourth. Obtaining snow during the formation of ice, substantially as setforth
under the second part
Fifth. Apparatus or appliances, constructed and operating substantially as setforth
under the second part, Figs. 2 and 3.
Sixth. Congealing water vapour to form snow, substantially in the manner
setforth under the third part.
Seventh. Apparatus or appliances for the production of snow, constructed and
operating substantially as setforth under the third part, Fig. 4.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Noel Mackay, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
FREDE N. MACKAY (L.S.)