Improvements in Apparatus for Refrigerating, and the Artificial Production of Ice.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Refrigerating, and the Artificial
Production of Ice.
We, JACOB ERNY, of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, Chemist, and ZACHARY TAYLOR SUBERS, of No. 1613, North Front
Street, Philadelphia, aforesaid, Commercial Traveller and Salesman, 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 relation to an apparatus for refrigerating purposes and for the arti-
ficial production of ice, and has for its object the provision of a novel means whereby
in a freezing or refrigerating machine in which the refrigeration is produced by the
expansion of a suitable gas, the said gas, which may be ammoniacal gas, is liberated
by heat from its aqueous solution, condensed by cold, liquified by pressure, expanded
so as to produce the requisite lowering of temperature for the refrigerating or
freezing operation, and finally returned to and absorbed so as to again form an
aqueous solution with the water with which it was originally associated, the said
operations being performed automatically and the two phases of the process;
that is, first, the liberation of the gas and its condensation and compression, and
second, the expansion of the compressed gas and its reabsorption in solution
being performed alternately.
In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates an apparatus embodying my
invention, Fig. 1, is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the complete apparatus;
Fig. 2, Fig. 3, and Fig. 4 are detail views of separate parts of the same.
A. and B designate two cylinders or vessels made of extra heavy material, such
as iron, and adapted to contain aqua ammonia, or other suitable solution.
These two vessels are arranged in such relation that the bottom of the vessel B
shall be elevated above the top of vessel A.
From the top of the cylinder A, a pipe, a, leads upward and over the cylinder B,
and extends downwards into the latter nearly to its bottom, say about nine-tenths of
its length. A back-flow pipe, d, leads from the cylinder B to the top of cylinder A.
This pipe is bent so as to form a trap, and its upper leg passes through the
bottom of the cylinder B and rises within said cylinder about one-fourth the length
of the latter. From the top of the cylinder B a pipe, &, leads outward, and is
formed into a coil or worm, b, which is contained within a cooling vessel, D, through
which water is caused to flow from a suitable supply source. The pipe constituting
the coil or worm is continued so as to lead into the top of a cylinder, C, made of
metal and of sufficient strength to withstand the pressure of its expansible contents.
Between the coil and the cylinder C, the pipe, leading from the former, is
furnished with a suitable check-valve, h, which prevents a back flow of gas from the
cylinder C to the coil.
E designates a suitable freezing coil which communicates with the cylinder Cat
the bottom of the latter through an elbow pipe, i, in which is fitted a valve, i³,
constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate automatically so as to open and
close the communication of the cylinder with the freezing coils alternately, and
according to the course and requirements of the process.
From the extremity of the freezing coil, a pipe or extension, F, leads back to
the cylinder A and is continued down through the top of the latter to nearly
the bottom, and at any suitable point along said pipe F is located a check-valve, k,
which prevents the gas rising from the contents of vessel A from passing along the
pipe F to the cylinder C.
With the apparatus as so far described, and with the cylinder A partially filled

page_text: with aqua ammonia, and the cylinder B charged with the same solution to about
the level of the pipe, the operation would be as follows: The cylinder A. being
heated by means of a gas flame or other heating medium, the gas is liberated from the
ammoniacal solution and passes through the pipe a, into cylinder B, while any moisture
carried over with the gas is condensed and carried back through the pipe d, into
the vessel A. The gas then passes from the cylinder B into, and through, the coil
or worm, wherein it is condensed and from which it flows into the cylinder C and
is liquified, and as a consequence of the pressure becomes heated or raised in
temperature. When all, or nearly all, the ammoniacal gas has been distilled from
the cylinder A, the heat is turned off and the cylinder A allowed to cool, the
cooling being hastened and assisted by a circulation of water around the outside of
the cylinder. The valve, leading to the freezing coil is now opened slightly and
the contents of the cylinder C gradually and slowly admitted to the freezing coil
wherein the liquified ammonia expands and instantly reduces the temperature of
the freezing coil to a very low degree. From the freezing coil the gas returns by
way of the pipe F to the cylinder A, wherein it is again taken up or re-absorbed by
the water, thus restoring the solution to its normal condition from which it may be
again evaporated by the re-application of heat.
In order, however, to render the operation entirely automatic and thus accomplish
the essential aim and object of my invention I have contrived the following
expedients:
First. Means for turning on and off the heating flame or other heating medium.
Second. Mechanism for periodically opening and closing the outlet valve of the
cylinder C. Third. An exhaust valve and gage by means of which, when it is
desired to operate the apparatus, the air may be exhausted from the apparatus and
the completion of the exhaust accurately determined.
Supposing that it is desired to employ a gas flame to heat the cylinder A. A
gas supply pipe, G, is led down beside the cylinder A, from a point some distance
above the top of the latter and provided with a suitable burner, g, located below
the cylinder. At H is located a gas cock provided with an elongated arm or
handle, H, weighted so as to fall by gravity until it rests against a stop, H². When
the arm is in this position the gas supply to the burner is cut off.
:
A pipe, extends through the top of the cylinder A, and downward about
three-fourths the length of said cylinder. A piston, 1, is arranged to move in this
pipe which is filled with an oil highly expansive under the influence of heat. The
piston rod,, extends upwardly parallel with the gas pipe G, and upon one side of
said piston rod is hinged an shaped arm, H3, the horizontal extension of
which is normally below the outer extremity of the gas cock lever which extremity
is beveled as shown, so that on the descent of the piston rod the "L" shaped arm
coming in contact with said gas cock lever will be swung aside and allowed to pass
the latter. When the piston rod rises, however, the "L" shaped arm will contact
with and raise the gas cock, thus turning on the gas. A beveled piece, 7, is
arranged in the path of the extension of the "L" shaped arm and as the piston
rises under the expansion of the oil, to its full limit, the "L" shaped arm comes in
contact with the beveled piece, 1, and is pushed aside, thus allowing the gas cock
lever to drop and shut off the gas.
The upper end of the piston rod is attached to a horizontal lever, m, which is
fulcrumed at m', and between its ends is connected to a piston rod, n, which enters
the upturned end of a trap-shaped pipe, M, the other end of which enters the head
of the cylinder B. This piston rod is provided with a piston, n', which plays in a
suitable piston chamber formed in the end of the pipe M. This pipe with its piston
and connections constitute what I term the starter, the functions of which are as
follows: After the apparatus has been in operation and all the gas has been
absorbed by the water in the two cylinders, A and B, the pressure will rise in these
cylinders and the gas passing through the bent pipe M will raise the piston, and
cause the same to lift the lever m, and with it the piston rod, thus turning on the
gas, which it may be stated need not be entirely shut off but only reduced to a

page_text: very small flame when the gas cock lever is allowed to drop. It is obvious that a
small supplementary gas jet may be kept constantly lighted so as to ignite the main
gas burner when required.
In order to render the operation of the outlet valve of the cylinder C automatic
and to cause it to close when all the contents of the cylinder Care exhausted, this
valve may be made in the form of a slide valve and have its stem extended down-
wardly and provided with a stud, o, which, when the cylinder C is fully charged
and the piston-rod f, raised to its fullest extent, will be struck by the end of a
lever, O, connected by means of a rod or rods, P, to said piston-rod. A suitable
spring, serves to restore the valve to its closed. position when the cylinder C is
exhausted.
The condensing coil has been described as being located within a vessel through
which cold water flows. A similar vessel, as indicated at Q, may surround the
cylinder A, forming a cooling vessel therefor and communicating by a pipe, Q', with
the vessel D, or with the water-supply pipe R, as shown in the drawing, said water-
supply pipe being provided with a three-way cock, Q², the stem of which is coupled
to the piston-rod 2 by rods f³,, so that the movement of said rod will serve to
turn the cock and alternately direct the cold water into the vessel D by way of
pipe D', and vessel Q by way of pipe Q
The
When
At any suitable point on the return pipe F, an exhaust pipe, p, is coupled, and
below the same is placed a small vessel containing water and lettered t¹.
exhaust pipe dips into this water, and is provided with a cock or valve, t².
the apparatus
first started, after having been charged, the exhaust pipe is opened,
and from this pipe the air contained in the apparatus is driven off by the expanding
gas, and its escape is indicated by the bubbling of the water in the vessel t. As
soon as the gas begins to issue the bubbling ceases, the gas being absorbed by the
water, and the exhaust pipe is closed by turning the cock 2. It is only necessary
to use this exhaust appliance when the apparatus is first charged, or at most at very
long intervals.
Having now particularly described and explained 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. An apparatus for refrigerating purposes and for the artificial production of ice,
comprising a vessel to contain aqua ammonia or other suitable solution with means
for heating and cooling said vessel alternately; a vessel arranged above and in
communication with the first-named vessel, adapted to contain a like solution and
having a return pipe for the escape of watery vapor or moisture; a condensing coil
or worm communicating with the second vessel and provided with means for cooling
said coil; a pipe leading from the lower extremity of the condensing coil provided
with a check valve; a vessel into which said pipe leads forming a receptacle for the
liquified gas; a refrigerating coil or expansion-pipe in communication with said
receptacle through a branch containing a shut-off valve and leading to, or cominuni-
cating with, the first-named vessel, said pipe being provided with a check valve;
suitable mechanism whereby the heating of the first vessel and the cooling of the
same and the opening and closing of the communication between the last vessel and
the freezing coil are effected automatically, the said communication being closed
when the heat is applied and opened when the heat is shut off, substantially as
described.
2. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination of the following features, to wit;
a vessel to contain aqua ammonia provided with a heater and a water circulating
cooler with means for alternately bringing the same into action; a drying vessel
located above and in communication with the first. named vessel, with a trapped
return pipe leading to the latter; a condensing coil in communication with the gas
drying vessel and provided with a water circulating cooler; a receptacle for liquified
gas in communication with the condensing coil; a freezing coil and return pipe

page_text: leading therefrom to the evaporating vessel, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. The method of refrigerating or freezing which consists in producing an
evaporation of ammoniacal gas or its equivalent from an aqueous solution by the
application of heat, then removing the moisture from such gas, then cooling the gas,
then condensing the same by its own pressure, then allowing the condensed gas to
expand to produce the required refrigerating temperature, meanwhile suspending
the application of heat to the aqueous solution and positively reducing the
temperature of the same by means of cold water and finally returning the expanded
gas and reabsorbing the same in the cold aqueous solution, substantially as
described.
Dated the 24th day of November 1890
JACOB ERNY.
ZACHARY T. SUBERS.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.