AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR REFRIGERATING AND CONGEALING LIQUIDS to be as follows
Year: 1884

page_text: Liquids.
I, EMILE FONTENILLE, civil engineer of 146 rue du faubourg St Denis Paris,
France, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS FOR REFRIGERATING AND CONGEALING LIQUIDS to be as follows:-
"
The object of this invention is to congeal water and other liquids and to
refrigerate liquids and uncongealable solutions; for this purpose, I make use of
uncongealable solutions such as a mixture of water and common salt weighing
22 to 23° Beaumé, from which I draw off the vapors in a closed vessel by means
of a vacuum and sulphuric acid or any other ingredient gready of water, whilst
at the same time, I enclose in the said closed vessel, liquids to be refrigerated or
congealed.
DOLL 1
For EMILE FONTENILLE,
Brandon & Sons,
Agents, 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris,

page_text: I, EMILE FONTENILLE civil engineer of 146 rue du faubourg St Denis, Paris,
France, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED PROCESS
FOR REFRIGERATING AND CONGEALING LIQUIDS, and in what manner the saine is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
My invention has for its object a process for obtaining economically ice, cold
water and uncongealable liquids of a very low temperature.
For the production of ice or for the refrigeration of liquids, I utilise directly, by
immediate transmission and at the very moment of its production, the cold
obtained by evaporation in a vacuum, of volatile liquids of all kinds and also
uncongeable solutions or liquids.
In order to obtain this immediate and direct transmission of cold, I place into
a main vase, into which vacuum can be made, fixed or movable molds or apparatus
containing the liquid to be congealed or cooled. Into the main vase, is introduced
a volatile liquid or an uncongealable solution, by pouring it in thin streams or films
upon the outer walls of the molds or apparatus under the action of a vacuum
which is thereupon formed, the volatile liquids evaporate, and are cooled, and they
transmit directly their cold, through the walls which they meet, to the liquid
contained in the said molds.
When uncongealable solutions are employed, the main vase, in which a vacuum
is formed, is put into communication with a vessel containing sulphuric acid or
any other ingredient greedy of water.
The uncongealable solution which is operated with is maintained under a con-
stant circulation, without the same ceasing to be in a vacuum. The said circulation
is arranged in such a manner that as soon as the solution has given away its entire
useful cold, it is again submitted to the action of the evaporation herein before
described, and so on indefinitely.
By intermittingly adding a certain quantity of water, the portion of water
steam absorbed may be replaced by sulphuric acid.
My process therefore differs from the ordinary so-called "process" by contact,"
as follows. The cold determined by a vacuum in my volatile solution or liquid is
transmitted directly to the liquid to be cooled or congealed, as fast as it is produced,
without any waste and without any intermedium; whereas, according to the known
processes, the uncongealable solution is used in the form of a vehicle, stores the
cold transmitted thereto by means of a refrigerating apparatus and transmits it to
molds or vases in its mass.
According to the known processes, the mold containing the liquid to be cooled or
congealed is not under the direct action of the cold producing agent, whilst on the
contrary this is the case in my process.
I shall proceed to describe, by way of examples, various arrangements of
apparatus to which my process may be applied.
Fig. 1 shows, in longitudinal section, an apparatus for producing cold water at a
temperature above that of melting ice.

page_text: 16 is a metal vessel having tubes 17 which issue at both ends into a hemispherical
or conical cap 18 suitably connected to the vessel 16. With one of the said caps 18
is formed chest in which works a helicoidal or other pump 20 by a shaft 19 operated
from the outside, which pump draws the water to be cooled through a pipe 21 and
forces it through the tubes 17 and then by a pipe 22 into the chamber or receiver
where it is to be supplied.
In order to cool the said water during its passage through the tubes 17, the
inside of the apparatus is acted upon by a frigorific machine based upon the use of
a vacuum and sulphuric acid, by means of a pipe 23; and an uncongealable
solution is caused to enter the apparatus through the pipos 24 and to flow against
and around the tubes 17. Under the action of the said frigorific machine, this
solution evaporates rapidly and thus determines a considerable lowering of tempe-
rature which is transmitted through the walls of the tubes 17, to the liquid passing
through the same. After having transmitted the greatest part of its cold, the
solution escapes through a pipe having a cock 25 into a vessel 26, in which a
vacuum is also formed.
Instead of one single vase 26, there may be two, so as not to interrupt the
working of the apparatus; one of the same can be emptied while the other is in
operation. Each of the said vases 20 is provided with cocks not shown, so as to
place the same in communication with the vacuum pump, also with the atmosphere
and also with the vessel 16, or so as to isolate the same, as required.
On the pipe 22 is a cock or valve, not shown, for regulating the outflow of cooled
water. The vessel 10 as well as the pipe 22 may be provided with thermometers
for ascertaining the action of the apparatus. The vessel 16 may also be fitted with
a level indicator for indicating the amount of the uncongealable solution contained
in the vessel. The refrigerating solution which has been drawn off from the vase or
vases 26 is returned into the same tanks from which the pipes 24 are supplied.
The pipes 24 are each provided with a cock.
The whole of the apparatus, as well as the vases 26, are covered over with an
insulating material for preventing loss of cold.
In Fig. 2, I have shown an apparatus for producing very cold liquids.
When it is desired to obtain a liquid or solution at a lower temperature than
that of melting ice, the hereinbefore described apparatus, Fig. 1, may be used, by
causing the liquid to pass slowly in the tubes 17; better results will, however, be
obtained by employing the apparatus shown in Fig. 2; 16 16* are two similar
tubular vessels, which are arranged in such a manner that, as it leaves the first set
of pipes 17 which it undergoes a first cooling action, the liquid to be cooled enters
by a pipe 27 into the other vessel 16* where it undergoes a second time the cooling
action by passing through the pipes 17*.
This cooling action takes place as in the previously described apparatus. The
pipes 23 23 put the inside of the two vessels 16 16* in communication with a
frigorific machine based upon the use of a vacuum and sulphuric acid. 28, 28, 28
are pipes by which an uncongealable solution is fed into the apparatus, and drops
over the tubes 17; the said solution evaporates and consequently cools down and
transmits to the liquid passing through the pipes 17, a great portion of its cold.
When it has reached the lower part of the said first apparatus 16, the solution
contained therein passes, through pipes 29 over the pipes 17" contained in the
second apparatus 16* where it undergoes for a second time the action of the
frigorific machine and where it again transmits its cold to the liquid passing through
the pipes 17*. 30 is a pipe by which the said cooled liquid is conveyed to suitable
tanks or chambers, from which it is pumped or otherwise conveyed from the said
tanks by the pipe 31 to the herein described apparatus, in which it undergoes the
same circulation as before if desired.
The pump of equivalent device 32 draws the liquid to be passed through the
pipe 31 and forces it first through the pipes 17 17" and then through the piping
or through the vessels to which it cold is to be conveved.

page_text: The solution which has passed through the interior of the vessel 10 16* escapes
from the lower vessel 16* by a pipe provided with a cock 25, into a vase 26 in
which a vacuum is also formed, as in the previously described apparatus.
To prevent any loss of cold, the entire apparatus is covered over with an
insulating material.
In Fig. 3 I have shown an arrangement of apparatus for making ice.
33 is a pipe connected to a frigorific machine based upon the use of a vacuum
and sulphuric acid. 35 is a metal vessel contained in a vessel 34 with which it is
connected top and bottom, but has no communication therewith. At the top, the
vessel 35 is closed and provided with a pipe 36 issueing into the atmosphere. 37 is
a pipe leading from the top or other part of the vessel 35 to which it is connected,
although not shown in the drawing. The said pipe 37 is provided with a cock
placed externally (not shown) and moreover its other end issues into the pipe 33
at the outside of the apparatus. When the said cock is open or closed, communi-
cation is established or intercepted between the pipe 33 and the vessel 35. At the
top of the vessel 35 is formed a cup into which issues the lower end of a pipe 39
provided with a cock 40 the other end of the said pipe 39 dips into a trough 41
containing an uncongealable solution. 38 is a movable door or bottom for the
vessel 34. At its lower end, the vessel 34 is provided with a pipe 42. having a
cock 43 and leading into a receptacle 44 in which a vacuum is also formed. 45 shows
a pump for conveying the uncongealable solution collected in the receptacle 44 back
into the tank 41.
The apparatus works as follows. A vacuum is formed through the pipe 33 in
the vessel 34 and, if desired, also in the vessel 35, by suitably setting the cock of
the pipe 37; the opening of the pipe 36 is closed by any suitable known device.
The water to be congealed is introduced into the vessel 35 by the pipe 36 which is
so arranged that this admission may take place. The cock 40 is then opened and
under the action of a vacuum, the uncongealable solution contained in the tank 41,
enters onto the top or cup of the vessel 35, and also into the vessel 34 and trickles
down the sides of the said vessel 35.
As this solution is distributed over a very large surface, its evaporation is very
active, the temperature becomes very low and transmits its cold to the water
contained within the vessel 35 and the water congeals.
In order to prevent the solution from warming, it is drawn off by the pipe 42
into the receptacle 44 where a vacuum also exists, the escape of the said solution
being so regulated that it shall have abandoned to the water to be congealed the
greatest part of its cold, before being conveyed to the receptacle 44. Later on this
solution is conveyed from the receptacle 44 to the tank 41 by means of the pump 45
or otherwise.
When the ice is to be withdrawn from the apparatus, the suction through the
pipe 33 is shut off, the whole of the solution is run off into the receptacle 44;
and, upon allowing air to enter the vessels 34 and 35, the door 38 is opened
and the ice contained in the vessel 35 falls out. The issue of the block of ice out
of the said vessel may as desired be accelerated by allowing a jet of steam to enter
the vessel 34.
"
The action of the cold may be ascertained by means of suitable thermometers,
not shown.
The amount of the cold solution in the vessel 34 may be ascertained by means
of a level indicator not shown.
By means of this apparatus, white or transparent ice may be produced, as desired,
by operating in the same manner as above described; with ordinary water, white
ice can be obtained. In order to obtain transparent ice, water resulting from the
condensation of steam or ordinary limpid water is introduced into the vessel 35
and kept constantly in motion by means of an agitator 46 which is introduced
through the pipe 36.
The whole apparatus is surrounded with a suitable insulating material in order
to prevent any loss of cold. Several similar apparatus may be connected in a
E

page_text: battery and be operated upon by one single frigorific machine. Instead of enclosing
each vessel 35 into another surrounding vessel 34, the latter may be of an increased
size, so as to hold several vessels 35.
Instead of filling the vessel 35 almost entirely with water, when starting the
operation, the said water may be introduced in the shape of a stream or jet.
Instead of using two receptacles 44, one only may be employed and in its lower
part may be placed any suitable device for constantly forcing the solution descending
into the receptacle 44, into the pipes upon which are fitted the cocks 28, Fig. 2.
This modification applies also to the apparatus previously described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The hereindescribed process for producing ice and for cooling liquids,
consisting in employing any suitable volatile liquid which, when caused to evaporate
by means of a vacuum, cools and transmits its cold, at the very moment of its
production direct to a liquid to be congealed or cooled, placed in or passing through
vessels or pipes, substantially as described.
Second. The apparatus for producing ice and for cooling liquids by means of the
above mentioned process, the main parts or features of which are
a.) A vessel 16 closed by heads 18 18 and having tubes 17 for the passage of the
liquid to be refrigerated.
b.) A. supply pipe 24 for feeding the volatile cold producing liquid.
c.) A suction pipe 23 connected to a frigorific machine.
d.) A pump or equivalent apparatus 20 for drawing the liquid to be refrigerated
up a pipe 21 and forcing it through the tubular vessel 16.
e.) An outflow 22 for the refrigerated liquid and
f) A pan or collector 26 for the volatilo liquid
substantially as described and shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings.
Third. The apparatus comprising two or more apparatus similar in principle to
that shown in Fig. 1, substantially as described and shown in Fig. 2 of the
drawings.
Fourth. The apparatus for making ice, comprising an outer vessel 34 and one or
more inner vessels 35 containing the liquid or water to be congealed and possessing
the herein described parts or devices for carrying out the said process, substantially
as described and shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.