IMPROVE- MENTS IN REFRIGERATING LIQUIDS AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, ALSO IN APPARATUS FOR THE SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT OF THE REFRIGERATED LIQUIDS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Young and Alexander Neilson, both of Clippens,
in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN REFRIGERATING LIQUIDS AND IN THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR,
ALSO IN APPARATUS FOR THE SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT OF THE REFRIGERATED
LIQUIDS"
Sealed the 18th April 1878, and dated the 21st December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Young and Alexander
Neilson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st December
1877.
WILLIAM YOUNG and ALEXANDER NEILSON, both of Clippens, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING LIQUIDS AND IN
THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, ALSO IN APPARATUS FOR THE SUBSEQUENT
TREATMENT OF THE REFRIGERATED LIQUIDS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus and means employed to
cool or freeze liquids, more particularly liquids such as oils, containing substances
solid and crystallizable at low temperatures, for example, paraffin, anthrascen,
stearine, and other analagous substances.
The Invention also relates to the means employed for separating the solid from
the semi-liquid cooled substances.
Hitherto, in cooling paraffin and other oils containing crystallizable matters, it
has been customary to employ a current of brine as the medium between the
refrigerating machine and the drum, cylinder, or equivalent vessel by which the
paraffin or other oil is cooled.
One of the main features of this Invention consists in making the paraffin or
other oil, cooling drum, or cylinder, or its equivalent, a part of the refrigerating
machine in the manner herein-after described, and in dispensing with the use of the
current of brine; thus, when the cooling is effected by the evaporation of volatile
liquids, as is the case in what is known as the ether machine, the ether or other
volatile liquid is placed inside the revolving cooling drum or cylinder, from which
[Price 8d1
-

page_text: the vapours are pumped and the condensed ether returned by pipes which pass
through the trunions of the drum or cylinder, or when the coil is cooled inside the
drum or cylinder the ether or other volatile liquid is placed in a surrounding jacket
or vessel outside the cylinder or drum. The cooling drum is thus made to take
the place of the refrigerator in the ordinary ether machine In a similar manner,
when expanding air, vapours, or gases are employed, the expansion is allowed to
take place inside or around the cooling drum or cylinder. By thus producing
refrigeration of the coils they may be cooled to a much lower temperature, and the
machine is much simplified.
To separate the crystalline solid from the cooled liquid the magma is placed in
canvas bags, and subjected to pressure in what is known as the drum press.
Attempts to accomplish the same end have been made by pumping the magma into
bags, placed between the plates or into recesses smaller than themselves, the oil
passing through and the crystalline matter being retained
The second part of this Invention then consists of certain improvements in this
last-described mode of separating the solid from the cooled liquids, and under its
first modification a series of boards are used in lieu of the bags. The boards are
corrugated, and a hole is formed in the centre of each. On one side of the board is
stretched a sheet of canvas or other porous cloth, which is tacked or otherwise
fixed round the central hole, and also around the outer edge of the board; on the
other side of the board a cloth, which is a little larger than the board, is stretched.
This cloth is turned inwards, and tacked or otherwise fixed to a margin of wood,
round the edges of the same side of the boards. These boards are placed in the
open space between the "kelter board" and cover of the bydraulic or other press,
and through the centre of the press cover is attached the pipe through which the
magma is pumped. On forcing the series of boards placed in the press as close
together as the magma will admit of, and on pumping in the magma it will pass
downwards through the central holes and outwards until it reaches the inargin of
the spaces between the boards. The edges of the cloth thus become distended
against the boards, and consequently prevent the solid portions of the magma from
escaping, but permit the liquid portions thereof to escape through the pores in the
cloth. So soon as the pressure is fully upon the magma between the boards the
press may be slightly lowered or slackened, preferably by means of a weighted
valve. So soon as the distended spaces between the boards become nearly filled
with the solid matter, and the oil with dificulty filters out, the pumping in of the
magma is stopped and the force of the press applied by hydraulic or other pressure,
which still further separates the solid matter from the liquid. On taking the
boards from the press the solid matter is knocked out of the recesses between the
boards, and these are again placed in the press for the repetition of the process.
Under its second modification this apparatus consists, instead of using wooden
boards, as herein-before described, in employing the ordinary malleable iron plate,
press, wickers, and cloths Through the centre of each malleable iron plate a hole
is formed, and each of the wickers has a square or circular hole in it. On the
centre of each piece of cloth a piece of wood is fastened, corresponding in size to
the recess in the wickers. Through the centre of this piece of wood a hole is
formed, and from this central hole smaller holes radiate, extending to the edge of
the wood.
In making up the press for the separating operations the parts are arranged in
the following mauner-A wicker is placed on a table or bench, and a cloth with
its central piece of wood is placed over the wicker, care being taken that the piece
of wood is opposite the recess in the wicker The margins of the cloth are folded
over on to the central piece of wood, but not so far as to cover the hole in its centre;
the wicker and cloth are then placed in the press, with the holes in the central.
piece of wood and in the plate opposite each other Each wicker, with its accom-
panying cloth, is in a similar manner placed in the press until the press is full; the
whole are then pressed together until all the central pieces of wood bear upon the
plates and each..other. The cooled, magma is then pumped through the pipe in

page_text: the press cover, until the spaces left in the cloths between the plates are filled
The press is then lowered, as herein-before described with reference to the employ-
ment of boards, and the pumping of the magma is continued until the cloths become
filled with solid matter from the filtered magma. The pumping is then stopped
and the pressure applied, which has the effect of squeezing out a further portion of
the oil, after which the press being lowered the cloths and wickers are removed,
the solid matter taken out of the cloths, and the press again made up as before for
further operations.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Young and Alexander Neilson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st June 1878.
WILLIAM YOUNG and ALEXANDER NEILSON, both of Clippens, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING LIQUIDS AND IN
THE MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, ALSO IN APPARATUS FOR THE SUBSEQUENT
TREATMENT OF THE REFRIGERATED LIQUIDS."
Our said Invention relates to improvements in the apparatus and means employed
to cool or freeze liquids, more particularly liquids such as oils, containing substances
solid and crystallizable at low temperatures, for example, paraffin, anthacen,
stearine, and other analogous substances.
The Invention also relates to the means employed for separating the solid from
the semi-liquid cooled substances.
Hitherto in cooling paraffin and other oils containing crystallizable matters, it
has been customary to employ a current of brine as the medium between the refii-
gerating machine and the drum cylinder or equivalent vessel, by which the paraffin
or other oil is cooled.
One of the main features of this Invention consists in making the paraffin or
other oil cooling drum or cylinder, or its equivalent, a part of the refrigerating
machine in the manner herein-after described, and in dispensing with the use of the
current of brine. Thus, when the cooling is effected by the evaporation of volatile
liquids, as is the case in what is known as the "ether machine," the ether or other
volatile liquid is, under the present Invention, placed inside the revolving cooling
drum or cylinder from which the vapours are pumped, and into which the condensed
ether is returned by pipes which pass through the frunnions of the drum or cylinder,
or when the oil is cooled inside the drum or cylinder, or equivalent vessel, the ether
or other volatile liquid is placed in a surrounding jacket or vessel outside the cylinder
or drum, or equivalent vessel or vessels, in which the cooling is effected. The cooling
drum or vessel is thus made to take the place of the refrigerator in the ordinary
ether machine. In a similar manner when expanding air, vapours, or gases are
employed, the expansion is allowed to take place inside or in a chamber surrounding
the cooling drum or vessel.
In Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is represented an elevation partly

page_text: in section of an apparatus suitable for carrying out this part of our Invention, in
which the evaporation of a volatile fluid (which we will suppose to be ether) is
used as the means for refrigeration. The drum A, which with its connexions is
also shown in longitudinal section in Figure 2, is supported by trunnions & in
bearings b, so that in revolving, the cylindrical surface of the said drum will rotate
in a trough or tank B, in which is placed the oil containing paraffin or other like
fluid or semi-fluid to be cooled.
the
When the machine is in operation the ether which is used is continuously returned
into the interior of the drum A from a condenser H by a pipe c passing through
one of the trunnions a of the said drum, the said pipe being bent so as to lie near
the bottom of the interior of the said drum A (as seen at Figure 2) The pipe c is
supported at its opposite end in the other of the trunnions a, and the said pipe is
perforated at the lower part inside the drum A, and at the end which opens into the
vessel C it is provided with a ball valve c¹ The dium is rotated by means of a toothed
wheel a¹ with which gears a pinion d upon a shaft D carried in bearings d',
said shaft receiving its motion from the engine E through a band e passed over the
pulley d upon the shaft D. The engine E drives a pump F by which a vacuum is
created in the dium A, the air-being drawn from the said drum through a pipe f,
opening into one of the trunnions a thereof (which trunnion is for this purpose
made hollow). The air passing into the pump is expelled therefrom through the
pipe into the tubes of the condenser H, from which it issues by the pipe ² to the
vessel C, and finally escapes by the safety valve on the pipe c. In chuging the
drum A with ether this may be effected, after the vacuum is formed therein by the
pump F by means of a flexible pipe attached to the cock c³, and at the other end
to a reservoir containing ether. By the continued action of the pump F the ether
passes, by reason of the vacuum created, through the pipe c, and out at the per-
forations thereof into the drum A, the vacuum therein enabling the ether to be
evaporated by absorbing heat from the external liquid contained in the trough B,
and carried on the external surface of the said drum A, whence it is continuously
collected and cooled by the rotation of the drum in the trough B, the said substance
by the continued rotation of the drum A in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1)
being continuously detached in a cooled condition from the drum A by the scraper
b', and discharged therefrom into any suitable receptacle. The vapour of ether
from the drum A passes (by the action of the pump 1) through the pipe f into the
pump, from whence it is discharged by the pipe h down through the tubes of the
condenser H This condenser has a current of cold water passed through it in the
opposite direction to the flow of the vapour of ether, (that is to say, upwards and
extenor to the condenser tubes) through the pipes, by which water the vapour of
ether is condensed. From the condenser H. the ether passes by the pipe h² into
the vessel C as fluid ether. The pipe c dips into the liquid ether in the vessel C,
the ball or float valve c¹ therein and the ball or float cock a² in the drum A-
regulating the admission of liquid ether to the dium A, according to the amount
of such liquid ether flowing from the condenser into the vessel C, that is to say,
when only one vessel or drum A is employed the whole of the condensed ether is
returned thereinto, in which case the float or ball cock a³ is unnecessary; but when
several such drums or chambers A are used then the float or ball cock a² is applied
to each such chamber A for the purpose of proventing any one of the chambers
becoming overcharged with liquid.
In Figure 3 is represented in side elevation, (partly in longitudinal section,) that
modification of this part of our Invention in which the evaporation of the cooling
mediam takes place at the exterior of the cooling vessels or tubes, the substance
being cooled passing through the interior of the said vessels or tubes; Figure 4 is
a vertical transverse section of a part of Figure 3 The refrigerator consists of a
vessel A, at either oud of which are small chambers x1, x2, ³, x², x³, x, x², into which'
open longitudinal tubular passages y', y³, y³, y', y, y, so as to form a continuous
zig zag passage for the liquid to be cooled, extending from the inlet i to its outlet j, and
whereby the liquid to be cooled takes a backwards-and forwards course through the

page_text: said chambers x¹ to a and the tubular passages y¹ to y, as shewn by the arrows in
Figure 3. In each of the said tubular passages revolves a helical scraper / rotated
by toothed wheels on the ends of their shafts gearing together, and receiving
their motion through a pulley, which may be driven in any convenient manner
by the engine The ether is charged into the vessel A until it is rather more than
half filled therewith. The paraffin or other matter to be cooled being drawn or
forced through the inlet i passes from the chamber a through the tube y¹ into the
chamber, thence through the tube y into the chamber, thence through the,
tube y, and so on through the chambers a, a, a, and 7, and through the tubes
yy, and y until it arrives at the outlet j, being in its passage cooled by the
evaporation of the ether in the vessel A, the said evaporation being effected by a
vacuum created in the vessel by the pump F, as herein-before described with regard
to the apparatus shown at Figures 1 and 2, the arrangement of the condensing and
other vessels and pipes of the refrigerating system being essentially the same, and
marked with the saine letters of reference as similar parts are marked with in
Figures 1 and 2, requue no further description The scrapers have a helical
twist in such a direction, and they are so rotated that they effect or assist in
effecting the passage of the matter being cooled to the outlet 3
In both arrangements of apparatus, Figures 1 and 3, the inlet and outlet pipes of
the pump F may be provided with vacuum guages, as shewn in Figure 1, where
the said guages are marked f², f³.
The dium A, Figures 1 and 2, and the chamber A, Figures 3 and 4, may be
employed where the cooling is produced by the expanding of cooled compressed air,
yapour, or gas: The drum or chamber A in such case becomes the receptacle for
the compressed air, vapour, or gns, and from which the cooling effect is produced in
the manner well understood with this mode of refrigerating.
Another part of our said Invention relates to means for separating the crystalline
solid from the cooled liquid. According to the ordinary practice the mixed, cooled,
solid, and liquid substance, commonly called " inagma," is placed in canvas bags,
and subjected to a pressure in what is known as the drum press. Attempts to
accomplish the same end have been made by pumping the magma into bags placed
between the plates of a press or into recesses of an unalterable or constant and.
of smaller capacity than the bags themselves, the oil passing through the canvass,
and the crystalline solid matter remaining within the bags, the pressure to effect
the separation being that exerted by the incoming magma upon that previously
pumped in. By this method a complete separation of the liquid from the solid.
portion cannot be effected, because the portion of magma last inti oduced, having no.
subsequent pressure exerted upon it, remains in its original state or nearly so
The present part of our Invention consists of improvements in this mode of
separating the solid and liquid portions of the magma by means of receptacles or
moulds, which allow of magma being pumped into them until they distend beyond
their normal capacity, and then allow of direct pressure being exerted upon the
magina contained in them when in this expanded condition, so that the liquid is.
completely expressed therefrom.
In Figure 5 is represented in side elevation a piess suitable for effecting this
object A tank I receives the magma, that is, the cooled paraffin or substance
detached from the dhum A, Figure 1, or issuing from the chainber A, Figure 3.
From this tank_the_magma is pumped, by a pump J, through a pipe to the
hydraulic press K. The pump J may be worked by an excentric; upon a shaft j¹,
which receives its motion from the engine E, Figure 1, through the band e¹ passing
over the pulley 2. The magma is pumped into a series of receptacles or moulds m
contained between the plates of the piess K, which plates are connected together
by links, as shewn in Figures 9 and 13, which are details herein-after referred to,
tlie said links being for the purpose of preventing the plates of the press from being.
uiged too far apart, as is well understood. The aforesaid receptacles or moulds are
constructed, and the solid and liquid parts of the magma are separated from each
other, in the manner now to be described.

page_text: Figure 6 is a plan, Figure 7 a side elevation, and Figure 8 a vertical section on
the line 1, 2, Figure 6, of one modification of the said receptacles or moulds m.
Each receptacle consists of a board n, having channels n² in its upper side, said
channels n³ opening out at the sides of the said board, as seen in Figure 7. A
hole n' is formed in the centre of each board n. A margin of wood or other
material ps fixed around the edge of the upper side of the board n, and a
sheet of canvas or other porous cloth q is stretched over and attached by nailing
or otherwise to the upper surface of the board n, and over or partly over
the margin p, as seen clearly in Figure 8. A sheet of canvas or other porous cloth r
is also stretched over the or partly over the under surface of the board n, and attached
thereto by nailing or otherwise, the said cloth projecting some distance beyond the
sides of the board, as seen in Figure 6. The cloths q and r do not extend across
the central opening n¹, but leave it clear, they being fastened securely round the
said hole. In using these receptacles or moulds the projecting portions of the cloth r
are folded over the margin p, so as to overlap to a short distance the space enclosed
by the said margin. A. series of the said receptacles or moulds are placed between
the plates k of the press K, and the ram of the press is raised so that the said plates
and moulds are brought closely together, the central holes n' in the receptacles or
moulds being coincident with the central holes in the press plates, and with the
opening of the pipe i into the cover of the press K, whereby a continuous passage is
formed for the magma from the pipe i through the whole series of plates and
receptacles or moulds to the bottom of the said series.
.
In Figure 9 the position of the receptacles or moulds between the press plates is
shewn, the said Figure 9 being a vertical section of three tiers of the series of recep-
tacles or moulds. The magma is pumped into the press, passing downwards (through
the central opening formed as aforesaid), and outwards into the moulds m, until it
reaches the margins p thereof. As soon as the pressure of the pump is fully exerted
upon the magma the press K is slightly lowered or slackened, which may be effected
by a weighted valve. The magma continuing to be pumped into the press the
receptacles or moulds become distended, the overlapping edges of the cloth r being
pressed against the plates above, as will be seen by reference to Figure 10, which is
a vertical section of three tiers of moulds when in this distended condition.
By the pressure of the incoming magma, the liquid portion, or a great part thereof,
filters through the cloth, and runs along the channels n², and out from the press,
being received in any suitable receptacle, or conducted away by conduits. As soon
as the press becomes so filled with magma that the liquid with difficulty filters out,
the pumping in of the magma is discontinued, and the power of the press applied,
whereby the receptacles or moulds m, and the plates ke are forced together into the
position, Figure 9, and the magma is pressed into the receptacles or moulds, the
remaining liquid being expelled therefrom. On taking the receptacles or moulds
from the press, the solid cakes are knocked out of them, and the said moulds are
again placed in the press for the repetition of the process. These moulds or
receptacles may be placed in the press, one above the other, without the inter-
vention of the plates k, when the said moulds are provided with links as at x,
which links are so attached as to be removeable to allow of the receptacles or
moulds being taken from the press, as in the case of press plates hitherto used.
In this case channels n² may be formed in both the top and bottom of the
boards n.
•
A modified form or construction of receptacle is shewn in plan in Figure 11.
Each receptacle consists of a piece of wood or other materials (shewn separately in
horizontal section in Figure 12), having a hole s¹ through the centre. This piece of
wood or other material & is fastened to the middle of a piece of canvas or other
porous cloth t, having a hole in it coinciding with the hole 8'. This cloth t is
considerably larger than the central block 8, so that it can be folded over the
upper part of the said central block 8 (but so as not to cover the hole therein),
whereby a bag-like receptacle is formed (as shewn in the said Figure 11). Each
such receptacle is placed between "wickers," or perforated or reticulated plates u,

page_text: which have a hole in their centre corresponding to the hole 8' in the central piece s,
and the receptacles are then placed between the plates of the press, as shewn in
Figure 13, which is a vertical section of three tiers of the said receptacles between
the press plates k, whose central holes are coincident with the holes 8¹ of the said
receptacles.
The magma being pumped into the press, passes downwards and outwards into
the said receptacles through radial holes & in the central block 8, which holes extend
horizontally from the central opening 8' to the outer edges or sides of the central
blocks
The force of the press being relieved, as described with regard to the first
form of receptacle, the said magma distends the receptacles, as shewn in Figure 14,
which is a vertical section of three tiers of such receptacles. The liquid filters out
through the cloth, the "wickers or their equivalents, allowing of its flowing freely
away As soon as this filtration of the liquid takes place with difficulty, the pumping
of the magma is discontinued, and the power of the press applied, whereby the
remaining liquid portion is expelled. The receptacles are then removed from the
press, and the cloth t being unfolded, the solid matter is removed therefrom. The
several cloths t being again folded over the central blocks 8, the receptacles are
replaced in the press for the repetition of the process.
Figures 15 and 16 are vertical sections of four tiers of moulds or receptacles of a
modified construction. The edges of these moulds are formed at their under part
with longitudinal ribs v, and at their upper part with longitudinal grooves or
channels w, so that when the said moulds or receptacles are placed one upon the
other, the ribs take into the channels w Links are used with these moulds as
described with respect to the moulds, Figures 6 to 10.
Cloths 7 and 7 are secured over the upper and under sides of these boards, the
cloth 9 extending up the inner sides of the spaces for the magma which are formed
by the placing of the moulds or receptacles together, as shewn at q¹.
In Figure 15 the moulds or receptacles are represented in the position which they
occupy in the press before the magma is pumped into them, and also after the full
power of the press has expressed the liquid from the solid matter.
Figure 16 represents the said moulds or receptacles in the position which they
assume when the press is relieved, and they are distended by the incoming nagma.
Central openings n¹ are formed for the passage of the magma, as described with
regard to the other forms of moulds or receptacles.
In place of the channels n³, Figures 6 to 10, the boards n may be formed of strips,
as shewn in the plan of a portion of a board n, and its margin p in Figure 17, the
said strips being a short distance apart, so as to leave spaces n² between the said
strips for the passage of the expressed liquid The strips may be secured together
by bolts, as at y, the spaces between the strips being preserved by filling pieces so
arranged as not to impede the passage of the liquid. The moulds, Figures 15 and 16,
are shewn as being constructed of such strips.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said In-
vention, and the manner of putting the same into practical effect, we would observe
in conclusion that we do not claim as part thereof a rotating drum constructed with
an annular space surrounding the same, where into the substance to be cooled is
placed, but what we do consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as
the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is
First. The improvements in apparatus for refrigerating liquids, such as paraffin,
anthracen, stearine, and others analagous thereto, essentially as herein-before
described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, of the accompanying Drawings;
that is to say, making the cooling rotating drum or cylinder (Figures 1 and 2), or the
stationary cooling chamber (Figures 3 and 4), a part of a refrigerating machine,
operated in either manner set forth.
'
Second The combination of parts constituting the refrigerating apparatus,
illustrated in, and described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
Drawings.

page_text: •
Third. The combination of parts constituting the refrigerating apparatus
illustrated in, and described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourth. The various receptacles or moulds to be used in effecting the prepaia-
tion of the liquid from the solid portion of magma illustrated in, and described
with reference to Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, of the
accompanying Drawings, or essentially similar receptacles or moulds; that is to say,
receptacles or moulds so constructed or formed as to allow of the magma being
pumped into them until it causes their distention, and then allows of the direct applica-
tion of the power of a press to complete the expulsion of the liquid portion from the
solid portion of the magma, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Young, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight