Improvements in the Manufacture of Clear Ice and in Apparatus Employed therein.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1890-Accepted, 29th Mar., 1890
[Communicated from abroad by Messrs. ESCHER, WYSS, and COMPANY, of Zurich,
Switzerland, Engineers.]
Improvements in the Manufacture of Clear Ice and in Apparatus
Employed therein.
I. WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention.
to be as follows:-
In the methods and apparatus hitherto employed for the manufacture of clear
ice, the movement of the water relatively to the walls of the cells is producedy
amongst other ways, by causing the water to rotate, by internal means, such as
pegs, chains, floats and the like. These stirring contrivances have to be removeda
so that they shall not be frozen in. The water remaining at this moment not
being set in motion freezes into a kernel or mass of opaque ice.
This invention obviates this disadvantage the rotating motion being given to the
water by external means and being maintained effectively throughout the whole
process. Opaque ice cannot be formed and the whole of the resulting block of ice is
perfectly transparent.
This end is attained by inducing the rotating movement of the water from out-
side, by a suitable rotation of the walls of the cell. The freezing cell, surrounded
by the freezing mixture is fitted so as to turn on a vertical, horizontal, or slanting
axis, as may be desired. The revolving movement can be either continuous in one
direction or alternately forwards and backwards. The motion of the cell in the
freezing mixture induces, as mentioned above, an active friction between the walls
of the cell and the liquid which is to be frozen therein, ordinary spring water or
clear river water answering for this purpose. This friction is so great that the
liquid is, during the operation of freezing, quite freed from any air which may
have been present in it, and thus freezes into a transparent crystal-like block.
Apparatus according to this invention may be arranged in many different ways.
The movement of the cell can be either one of continuous rotation or backwards and
forwards, and in the latter case it can consist of several continuous revolutions or
of partial revolutions in which case it is oscillating motion.
One arrangement is such that, by means of a reciprocating rack and a pinion
turning on its axis the cell is caused to rotate a certain number of times in one direction
and then a similar number of times in the opposite direction. The rotating wall of
the vertical cell which contains the liquid to be frozen is surrounded by the freezing
mixture in a reservoir.
In another arrangement the construction is designed for an oscillating rotating
movement a certain amount of oscillation being given to the cell by means of a crank
driven by a shaft.
In a modification, the cell is worked by cranks to which a revolving motion
is given; and thus the cranks communicate their movement to every point in the
vessel.
In another arrangement the vessel is arranged diagonally within the reservoir.
1
In another modification the axis of rotation of the cell cuts its centre line at a
certain angle so that the movement is to a certain extent hyperbolic. In another the
cell is caused to rotate with a sun and planet motion. In another the cell turns on its
axis and is mounted horizontally.
The cells may be of any suitable cross-section, such for example as cylindrical.
In the case of arrangements in which the cell, which must of course be completely
closed, is totally immersed in the freezing mixture, the cell must not be quite filled, as

page_text: the walls would otherwise be liable to fracture by the expansion of the water during
freezing.
The finished block of clear ice will thus, owing to the vessel not having been quite
full, be slightly hollow inside.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1880
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Clear Ice and in Apparatus
Employed therein.
A communication from abroad by Messrs. ESCHER, WYSS, and COMPANY, of Zurich,
Switzerland, Engineers.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 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:-
According to methods and apparatus hitherto employed for the manufacture of clear
ice, movement of the water relatively to the walls of the cells is produced, amongst
other ways, by causing the water to rotate by internal means, such as pegs, chains
floats and the like. These stirring contrivances have to be removed so that they shall
not be frozen in. The water remaining not being set in motion freezes into a kernel
or mass of opaque ice.
By the present invention this disadvantage is obviated the rotating motion being
given to the water by external means and being maintained effectively throughout the
whole process. Opaque ice cannot be formed and the whole of the resulting block of
ice is perfectly transparent.
This end is attained by inducing the rotating movement of the water from out-
side, by a suitable rotation of the walls of the cell. The freezing cell, surrounded
by the freezing mixture is fitted so as to turn on a vertical, horizontal, or slanting
axis, as may be desired. The rotating movement can be either continuous in one
direction or alternately forwards and backwards. The motion of the cell in the
freezing mixture induces, as mentioned above, an active friction between the walls
of the cell and the liquid which is to be frozen therein, ordinary spring water
or clear river water answering the purpose. This friction is so great that the
liquid is, during the operation of freezing, quite freed from any air which may
have been present in it, and thus freezes into a transparent crystal-like block.
Apparatus according to this invention may be arranged in many different ways,
some typical examples of which are shewn in Figs. 1 to 12 of the annexed
drawings.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew in vertical section and plan, a freezing cell A, adapted to turn on
its vertical axis.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew in elevation and plan, a cell adapted to be partially rotated
alternately in opposite directions.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew in elevation and plan, a cell adapted to turn on an axis eccentric
to but parallel to its centre line or geometrical axis.
Fig. 7 shews in elevation a cell mounted with the axis, about which it is adapted to
turn, diagonal.
Fig. 8 shews in elevation a cell whose axis of rotation intersects its centre line
or geometrical axis at a certain angle so that the movement is to a certain extent
hyperbolic.
Fig. 9 shews in elevation a cell which is operated by a pair of cranked shafts.
Fig. 10 is a sketch plan of the same.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew a cell having its axis of rotation horizontal.
The movement of the cell can be either one of continuous rotation or backwards

page_text: and forwards, and in the latter case it can consist of several continuous revolutions
or of partial revolutions.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the arrangement is such that, by means of a reciprocating rack b
and pinion a¹ turning on its axis the cell is caused to rotate a certain number of times
in one direction and then a similar number of times in the opposite direction. The.
rotating wall of the vertical cell A which contains the liquid to be frozen is
surrounded by the freezing mixture in a reservoir B. The pivots & are journalled in
bearings c.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 the construction is designed for an
oscillating rotating movement a certain amount of oscillation indicated by the angle w
being given to the cell A by means of a crank driven by a shaft b'.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the cell A is worked by cranks d to
which a rotating motion is given; and thus the cranks communicate their movement
to every point in the vessel A the effect being the greatest near the wall of the cell.
In the arrangements shewn in Figs. 5 to 12 the means for effecting rotation of the
cells A are indicated by the pulleys 6. The level of the liquid to be frozen is in each
case indicated by a dotted line n. Corresponding parts in the various figures are
marked with similar reference letters.
The cells may be of any suitable cross-section, such for example as cylindrical as
shewn in some cases they may be of annular cross section.
In the case of arrangements in which the cell A which must of course be com-
pletely closed, is totally immersed in the freezing mixture, as for instance in Figs. 11
and 12, the cell must not be quite filled, as its walls would otherwise be liable to
fracture by the expansion of the water during freezing.
The finished block of clear ice will thus, owing to the vessel not having been quite
full, be slightly hollow inside.
Figs. 13, 14 and 15 shew a compound apparatus comprising several freezing cells.
These cells A are placed vertically, and receive motion about their axes, and are
arranged in the vessel B, which, as before, contains the freezing liquid, whilst the
cells A contain the pure water to be frozen.
A suitable frame m receives the cell casings A° which are arranged in rows and are
perforated to allow of the unrestricted passage of the freezing liquid, and into which
are placed the freezing cells A.
The cell casings A° are supported vertically by journals & in bearings c. Lateral
support is given both by the lower journals and by the several bearing rings a° at the
upper part of the cell casings A°.
The cells A rest on the bottoms of the cell casings and can be held at the upper
parts of the cell casings by supporting rings a'.
The rotary or oscillatory motion is transmitted by toothed rings 6 or 6° mounted on
the cell casings. These toothed rings are arranged in such a manner that they are
situated alternately in series on the respective cells above or below the bearing rings a°.
This is done in order that the several toothed rings shall not come into contact with
and thus hinder each other.
Of the several series, the front wheels 62 Figs. 13 and 15, are in engagement with
each other and receive their motion from the central wheel 63 which itself can transmit
any desired rotary or oscillatory motion. The cells can be readily taken out of the
cell casings by simply lifting them, an arrangement being provided such that a slotted
barf for each series receives the respective journals and by moving in two places
holds the journal in one position, and in the other position releases the said journal d,
which is provided with a stop or flange in such a manner that the stops or flanges
come under the wider portions of the slots, whereby each cell casing with its journal
can be lifted out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inventior
and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method of producing clear ice by causing motion to be imparted to the
water through the medium of the wall of the cell in which the water is being frozen

page_text: 2. For the production of clear ice causing rotary or oscillatory movement to be"
imparted to the cell A in which the water is being frozen.
3: For the production of clear ice the use of apparatus constructed with a cell or
cells adapted to be capable of rotary or oscillatory motion as described with. reference
to the several arrangements illustrated respectively in Figs. 1 and 2; Figs. 3 and 4,,
Figs. 5 and 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Figs. 9 and 10, Figs. 11 and 12 and Figs. 13 to 15.
inclusive of the drawings annexed for the purposes specified.
Dated. this 1st day of January 1890.