Improvements in Ice-making Machinery.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ice-making Machinery.
I, ANDREW WEBSTER MORRICE of 14, Upper William Street in the City of
Liverpool, Ice-machinery Maker 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements on that type of ice-making
apparatus which is set forth in F. N. Mackay's Specification No. 2343", in which
invention and the Firm of Siddeley & Co. of Liverpool who manufacture it I have
lately obtained a controlling interest.
The invention is best set forth by aid of the accompanying drawings, in
which :-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a tank :
Figure 2, a side elevation of the agitating apparatus taken at right angles to
Figure 1 and
Figure 3, a plan.
My first improvement consists in causing the circulating water to enter and exit
through one, or in large tanks two, central orifices having one side sloping and the
other straight or so formed otherwise (as by making them spiral) as to give the
entering water a gyratory movement: also in making the orifices in the second
range of tanks, or each succeeding range, of larger size (preferably in length) than
the preceding one. This is set forth well in Figure 1.
In this
A, is the reciprocating piston causing a to and fro motion in the water in the
direction of the arrows, and in the reverse direction alternately.
B B are the tanks: C, openings into these tanks. The reason the orifices into
the second row of tanks are larger than those in the first row is that, otherwise, the
agitation in the first tank is much greater than in the second. In practice, I
propose to make those in the second about 40 per cent. longer than those in the
first. DD are the brine slabs or passages which are of the usual construction.
The bottom of the tank is preferably formed of wood, but is covered over with a
sheet of galvanised iron, as shown, to prevent the ice sticking to it. This galvanised
iron, however, does not extend to the very edge of the hole; this allows of the hole
being made larger at any time without trouble. The next improvement consists in
an apparatus for working the agitator. Hitherto, the apparatus has been worked
uniformly from the beginning to the end of the operation, or the agitation has been
slowed off towards the end. This, however, is a very imperfect plan, involving a
considerable amount of splashing unless great care is exercised.
Figures 2 and 3 show an arrangement I have designed for more exactly
regulating this agitation.
In these-
A, is the piston: 66 cranks from a fixed centre, c, operating piston Add are
two other cranks forming, with the centre c and the crank b, a bell-crank lever.
E is a long bar pivoted to these cranks, and to this bar is pivoted a link F working
in the upper slot of a box link G. H is a pin working in a second slot in this
same box link. This pin is fixed to a second bar I. The link G is pivoted to
a fixed support at K. The bar I is moved to and fro by means of connecting
rod L and crank M. This crank M is worked by gearing N from driving shaft O.
The mode of action is as follows:-
At first starting, when there is only water in the tank, the link F is raised to the
highest point, as set forth in the drawings. The crank M and link L working the
bar I with a uniform stroke, and this bar I also working the link with a uniform

page_text: stroke at half the distance from the pivot K at which the end of link F stands, gives
to the link F a motion equal to about double the motion of the bar I, and thus an
equivalent amount of motion is given through the bell crank and its connecting
links to the piston A. When, however, the ice accumulates in the tank and the
layer of water in the centre between the advancing walls of ice is considerably
reduced in size, the attendants gradually lower the link F until, at the end, it
comes too near the end of the box link G. By this means, in proportion as the
cubical contents of unfrozen water are reduced in extent, so is the amount of
agitation also reduced, and thus the splashing which formerly took place is
avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvement in ice tanks substantially of the character set forth in the
Patent of F. N. Mackay No. 23437, which consists in forming the tank with one
or more orifices through the false bottom of such form as to give the water a
gyratory motion and giving the orifices of each succeeding row of tanks greater
area than those of the preceding row.
2. The adjustment or regulation of the amount of agitation by placing between
the source of power and the agitator a conductor of motion having a radius link or
its equivalent whereby, by adjusting the said link, the amount of agitation can at
any moment be regulated to suit the amount of water left unfrozen, substantially as
described.
3. The improvements on F. N. Mackay's apparatus for making ice substantially
as herein set forth.
set forth.
1 this 8th day of November 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.