Improvements in Motor and Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motor and Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, JOHN GANGEE of 6 Lingfield Road Wimbledon in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to closed cycle motors or engines with an exhaust
maintained automatically below the temperature of the environment. The motor
fluids used are mainly those with low boiling points, such as ethers, or gases that
are liquefied by work at low temperatures independently of external cooling.
agencies. A characteristic feature lies in the fact that in starting the engine
the reduction of temperature of the condenser rather than artificially beating
in a boiler is important. The liquid to be gasified is distributed up to a
definite level both in the vapor generator proper and in the condenser. Ebullition
or refrigeration occurs in the one and invaporation or devaporation in the other.
The vapor rises in and from the boiling liquid vertically in the first and is
spontaneously re-absorbed or dissolved when projected downwards in liquid columns
in the second.
Any prime mover is necessarily a cooling machine seeing that, the change of
state in the vapor generator and the work performed by such vapor in expanding
against a resistance is attended by refrigeration. Since the most efficient motor fluids
such as methyl chloride, anhydrous ammonia, carbon dioxide &c. have very low
boiling points the heating of the boiler may be effected without actual outlay in
fuel and at the ordinary temperature of the air or water on the earth's
surface. The experimental fact that it is possible to cool a motor fluid below the
temperature of surrounding objects by a self-acting process in the running of an
engine establishes the novelty and value of my invention.
Engineers have long known that a vapor remains saturated while in contact with
its own liquid. By progressively submerging such vapor in transit through a series
of connected vessels it is completely absorbed at the temperature at which it is
discharged from the engine, or at a lower one if a cooling coil as hereinafter
described is used. The collapse of the residual vapor discharged with the liquid
from the engine cylinder during its travel through the devaporator not only
prevents back pressure but necessitates the use of the force pump or boiler feed
apparatus to raise the liquid to the pressure of the vapor generator which is due to
the temperature of the heating body whatever that may be.
A motor constructed in accordance with this invention consists therefore of four
parts.
First: A vapor generator in which the requisite volume of liquid is main-
tained in a state of ebullition and automatic circulation for whatever pressure the
engine is to be worked at.
Second: A high pressure single cylinder or a compound double or triple cylinder
engine receiving the high pressure vapor from the generator and discharging it into
the condenser or devaporator.
Third: A condenser or devaporator comprising a vertical cylinder into which
the exhaust of the engine is discharged through a tube leading to the bottom of
the cylinder so that the residual vapor may rise through liquid and pass on through
one or more similar cylinders arranged in series or concentrically, and finally
discharging upwards in the reservoir from which the feed pump withdraws the
supply for the generator. The vertical cylinders or wash bottles as they may be
called in which the vapor is progressively supersaturated or condensed are enclosed
na metal cylindrical or other suitable receiver protected very thoroughly by a

page_text: vacuum jacket and non-conducting material outside this so as to render it as little
affected as possible by circumambient temperatures. From the liquid reservoir a
coil springs which surrounds the internal high pressure cylinders or wash bottles
and this coil, provided with a cock to regulate the quantity of liquid entering it,
discharges above into the lowest pressure cylinder so as to ensure refrigeration of
the liquid in the condenser receiver and if necessary a suitable vacuum pump is
to be driven by the engine in order to control the temperature of the devaporator.
Fourth A suitable feed pump run continuously drawing pure liquid from the
liquid or feed reservoir and maintaining a definite level in the generator.
:
Thus we have a closed cycle and the only chance of leakage is through the
stuffing-box or glands of the engine, which may be made practically tight by using
long stuffing boxes and suitable packing.
When this apparatus is to be used as an ice making or refrigerating apparatus
the vapor generator is to be maintained at a low temperature and pressure according
to the fluid to be used. In order to ensure this a fifth element has to be added,
viz. a pump for circulating uncongealable hydrocarbon oils or other suitable liquid
through a series of jets to reduce the pressure and activate the volatilization in the
generator whilst passing the vapor on into a high pressure drum or receiver
from which the tube supplying the engine springs. Thus in an anhydrous
aminonia machine the pressure in the generator or refrigerator may be maintained at
20 to 25 lbs. whilst the vapor is being compressed in the drum up to 100 lbs.
pressure or more. The drum may be heated should such compression of the gas
liquefy it without superheating it, for by the method of condensation all heat of
compression is avoided.
Thus we obtain an ice machine based on the expansion of a vapor and its
liquefaction in a compound engine combined with final absorption of the residual
vapor by the liquid in the condenser. This feature of maintaining a constant high
level of say liquefied anhydrous ammonia in the devaporator as well as in the
generator is a distinctive feature of this process of artificial refrigeration
eliminating thereby the enormous volumes of condensing water used in all other
machines.
For all practical purposes the ammonia engines constituting the main part of the
freezing machine run without fuel at the temperature of the bodies to be cooled.
That this is quite feasible in practice is shown by the pressures for confined
ammonia vapor at the temperatures required for ice making say 15° Fahrenheit
or 90-4 Centigrade.
The vapor generator of the ice machine may consist of a number of coils
connected by manifolds in the usual way, submerged in the uncongealable liquid of
an ice mould tank or an independent refrigerator with circulating dome and internal
shield or tubes.
and
It is obvious from the foregoing description that one of my motors may be
developing useful work to operate machinery in a factory or for other purpose
at the same time supply ice, the water to be frozen furnishing the means of raising
the pressure and temperature in the vapor drum afore described.
It is for this reason that the two forms of apparatus may be regarded as
inseparable in practical work and based on the dual feature of liquefaction being
obtained by expansion instead of by compression and invaporation in the fluid
imprisoned in the condenser.
Under certain circumstances, as for instance in using carbon dioxide, it may be
advantageous to charge the condensers with a hydrocarbon oil or other suitable
menstruum to be maintained by the action of the machine at a low temperature
so as to favor devaporation.
A
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Motor and Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, JOHN GAMGEE of 6 Lingfield Road, Wimbledon in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, 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 relates to closed cycle motors or engines with an exhaust
maintained automatically below the temperature of the environment. The motor
fluids used are mainly those with low boiling points, such as ethers or gases that are
liquefied by work at low temperatures independently of external cooling agencies.
A peculiar feature is that in starting the engine, the reduction of temperature of
the condenser rather than artificially heating in a boiler is important.
The liquid
to be gasified is distributed up to a definite level both in the vapor generator
proper and in the condenser. Ebullition or refrigeration occurs in the one and
invaporation or devaporation in the other. The vapor rises in and from the boiling
liquid vertically in the first and is spontaneously reabsorbed or dissolved when
projected downwards in liquid columns in the second.
Any prime mover is necessarily a cooling machine, seeing that the change of
state in the vapor generated and the work performed by such vapor in expanding
against a resistance is attended by refrigeration. Since the most efficient motor
fluids, such as methyl chloride, anhydrous ammonia, carbon dioxide &c. have very
low boiling points the heating of the boiler may be effected without actual outlay
in fuel and at the ordinary temperature of the air or water on the earth's surface.
I have proved by experiment that it is possible to cool a motor fluid below the
temperature of surrounding objects by a self-acting process in the running of an
engine.
Engineers have long known that a vapor remains saturated while in contact with
its own liquid. By progressively submerging such vapor in transit through a series
of connected vessels it is completely absorbed at the temperature at which it is
discharged from the engine, or at a lower one if a cooling coil as hereinafter
described is used. The collapse of the residual vapor discharged with the liquid
from the engine cylinder during its travel through the devaporator not only
prevents back pressure but necessitates the use of a force pump or boiler feed
apparatus to raise the liquid to the pressure of the vapor generator which is due to
the temperature of the heating body whatever that may be.
A motor constructed in accordance with this invention consists therefore of four
main parts, which are represented in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
These four parts are :-
First: A vapor generator A in which the requisite volume of liquid is maintained
in a state of ebullition and automatic circulation for whatever pressure the engine
is to be worked at.
Second: An engine B which may be a high-pressure single cylinder or a
compound double or triple cylinder engine receiving the high pressure vapor from
the generator A. by the pipe C fitted with a stop valve D and discharging it into
the condenser or devaporator by the pipe E fitted with a stop valve F, and swing
check valve b.
Third: A condenser or devaporator G (seen in elevation partly sectional in
Figure 1 and in plan in Figure 1) comprising a vertical cylinder H¹ into which
the exhaust of the engine is discharged through a tube J leading to near the
bottom of this cylinder so that the residual vapor may rise through liquid in
this cylinder and pass on in the same manner through one or more similar
cylinders H H H &c. arranged in series as shown or concentrically and finally

page_text: discharging upwards from the cylinder H³ into the reservoir or last cylinder I by
a tube leading from the lower part to near the top thereof. The feed pump with-
draws the supply for the generator from this liquid reservoir or last cylinder I:
The vertical cylinders HH' &c. or wash-bottles as they may be called, in which
the vapour is progressively supersaturated or condensed are enclosed in a metal
cylindrical or other suitable receiver K protected very thoroughly by a vacuum
jacket and non-conducting material outside this so as to render it as little affected
as possible by circumambient temperatures. As the liquid level tends to rise in
each of the cylinders H¹ H' &c. owing to the absorption of vapor the liquid over-
flows into the next following vessel of the series. From the liquid reservoir I a
coil L leads and surrounds the cylinders or wash-bottles H' H&c. and this coil,
which is provided with a cock M to regulate the quantity of liquid passing through
it, discharges above into the first cylinder or wash-bottle H¹ so as to ensure
refrigeration of the liquid in the condenser receiver and if necessary a suitable
vacuum pump is driven by the engine in order to control the temperature of the
devaporator. The first bottle H and reservoir I are fitted with pressure gauges
and the reservoir with a glass gauge. L' is a pipe connecting the coil L with the
generator, either directly or through a pump; it provides for temporary circulation
at starting with the effect of transferring gas and liquid from coil L to A
whereby disturbance of equilibrium may be ensured.
Fourth: A suitable feed pump N run continuously drawing pure liquid by the
pipe P from the liquid or feed reservoir I and discharging it into the generator A
by the pipe P¹ maintaining a definite level therein.
Thus we have a closed cycle and the only chance of leakage is through the
stuffing-box or glands of the engine which may be made practically tight by using
long stuffing boxes and suitable packing.
When this apparatus is to be used as an ice making or refrigerating apparatus
the vapor generator A which will now act as the refrigerator is to be maintained
at a low temperature and pressure according to the fluid to be used. In order to
ensure this, a fifth element has to be added, viz.: a pump, circulating uncongealable
hydro carbon oils or other suitable liquids through a series of jets to reduce the
pressure and activate the volatization in the generator whilst passing the vapor on
into a high pressure drum or receiver from which the tube supplying the engine
springs.
Figure 2 illustrates the arrangement when the apparatus is to be used for ice
making or refrigerating. A is the vapor generator. B the engine, G the condenser
or devaporator and N the feed pump as in Figure 1, Q is a pump which compresses
an uncongealable liquid in the chamber R from which it passes through a series of
jets at S where it meets the vapor flowing through the pipe C from the generator A.
The vapor and liquid flow through the pipe T to the pump and are pumped into
the chamber R from which the vapor passes to the dome or receiver U whence
the engine B draws its supply. V is a flap valve in the pipe C. W is a coil
between the compression chamber R and jet devices at S to prevent back pressure.
X and X are stop valves respectively between the compression chamber R and the
dome U and between this dome and the engine B. Y is a drainage pipe with cock
between the dome and the chamber R. Z is a drainage pipe from the compression
chamber.
With this arrangement the pressure in the generator or refrigerator of an
anhydrous ammonia machine may be maintained at 20 to 25 lbs. whilst the vapour
is being compressed in the drum U up to 100 lbs. pressure or more. The drum may
be heated should such compression of the gas liquefy it without superheating it,
for by the method of condensation all heat of compression is avoided. .
Thus we obtain an ice machine based on the expansion of a vapour and its
liquefaction in a compound engine combined with final absorption of the residual
vapor by the liquid in the condenser. This feature of maintaining a constant
high level of say liquefied anhydrous ammonia in the devaporator as well as in
the generator is a distinctive feature of this process of artificial refrigeration

page_text: eliminating thereby the enormous volumes of condensing water used in all other
machines.
For all practical purposes the ammonia engines constituting the main part of the
freezing machine run without fuel at the temperature of the bodies to be cooled.
That this is quite feasible in practice is shown by the pressures for confined
ammonia vapor at the temperatures required for ice making say 15° Fahrenheit or
-90-4 Centigrade.
The vapor generator of the ice machine may consist of a number of coils connected
by manifolds in the usual way, submerged in the uncongealable liquid of an ice
mould tank or an independent refrigerator with circulating dome and internal shield
or tubes.
It is obvious from the foregoing description that one of my motors may be
developing useful work to operate machinery in a factory or for other purpose and
at the same time supply ice, the water to be frozen furnishing the means of raising
the pressure and temperature in the vapor drum before described.
It is for this reason that the two forms of apparatus may be regarded as insepar-
able in practical work and based on the dual feature of liquefaction being obtained
by expansion instead of by compression and invaporation in the fluid imprisoned in
the condenser.
It is not essential however in the case of the refrigerating apparatus that the
engine should form part of the cycle as the vapor may go direct from the dome
or receiver U under the action of the pump N to the devaporator, the pumps in
such case being driven by any available power. This practically constitutes a
vapor freezing machine in which gas is condensed without heat of compression.
Under certain circumstances, as for instance in using carbon dioxide, it may be
advantageous to charge the condensers with a hydro carbon oil or other suitable
menstruum to be maintained by the action of the machine at a low temperature so
as to favor devaporation.
Haring 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. A motor apparatus comprising four main parts namely a vapor generator, an
engine, a condenser or devaporator and a pump constructed, arranged relatively.
to each other, and working substantially as hereinbefore described so that the
vapor from the generator passes to and operates the engine, the exhaust therefrom
goes to the condenser or devaporator where it is condensed or liquefied, and the
pump draws the liquid from the condenser or devaporator and discharges it into the
vapor generator as set forth.
2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising four main parts namely a vapor
generator or refrigerator, an uncongealable liquid pump, a condenser or devaporator
and a feed pump constructed, arranged relatively to each other and working sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described so that the vapor from the generator or
refrigerator comes under the action of jets of liquid forced by the uncongealable
liquid pump and is then forced by this pump into a receiver, from which it passes
to the condenser or devaporator where it is condensed or liquefied and the feed
pump draws the liquid from the condenser or devaporator and discharges it into the
vapor generator or refrigerator, as set forth.
3. A refrigerating apparatus or combined motor and refrigerating apparatus
comprising five main parts namely a vapor generator or refrigerator, an uncongeal-
able liquid pump, an engine, a condenser or devaporator, and a feed pump constructed,
arranged relatively to each other, and working substantially as herein before
described so that the vapor from the generator or refrigerator comes under the
action of jets of liquid forced by the uncongealable liquid pump and is then forced
by this pump into a receiver from which it passes to the engine, the exhaust from
the engine goes to the condenser or devaporator where it is condensed or liquefied

page_text: and the feed pump draws the liquid from the condenser or devaporator and
discharges it into the vapor generator or refrigerator, as set forth.
4. A motor constructed, arranged and working substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figure 1.
5. A motor and refrigerating apparatus constructed, arranged and working
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 2.
6. A refrigerating apparatus constructed arranged and working substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of June 1894.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.