Improvements in and relating to Domestic and other Refrigerato r and Ice-making Machines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1888
Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
Improvements in and relating to Domestic and other Refrigerato r
and Ice-making Machines.
I, ROBERT BUTCHER, of 100° Queen Victoria Street in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer 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:
My invention relates to improvements in domestic and other refrigerators, and to
apparatus for the manufacture of ice, and more especially to apparatus of that kind
or class in which the agency employed to produce the cold consists of nitrate of
ammonia or other chemicals dissolved in a suitable liquids to form a cold solution or
brine.
The main object of my said invention is to provide a refrigerator for domestic and
other purposes, which is automatic in its action, that is to say, which is so constructed
that it does not require, when in use, the constant and careful attention of a skilled
attendant, and is nevertheless capable of fulfilling all the ordinary requirements of a
refrigerator, such as preserving provisions, fruit, or the like, and supplying cold water
for drinking purposes, and also affords facilities for the manufacture of block ice, or
for freezing ice-creams.
In my improved refrigerator, the chemical solution or brine used for freezing or
cooling purposes is automatically delivered to the freezing vessel or to the cooling
tank at fixed intervals of time which can be so regulated as to maintain an approxi-
mately constant temperature in the apparatus even in the hottest climate without
personal attention, the length of time for which the apparatus will work without
renewal or re-charging being determined by the quantity of salts supplied in the first
instance.
My said invention comprises moreover various other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawings I have shewn how my said invention can be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in vertical section shewing one form of my
improved apparatus.

page_text: Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in vertical section.
Figure 3 is a plan partly in horizontal section some of the parts being removed.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section, drawn to an enlarged scale, shewing an
improved tin or receptacle for containing the material to be frozen, as hereinafter
described.
Figures 5 to 12 are different views showing modifications hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the outer case or box, B the freezing vessel, C the cooling tank, D the cold
storage chamber, E the water supply pipe, F the waste pipe.
The case or box A of the refrigerator consists of an outer and inner wall having
an intervening space which is filled with any suitable non-conducting packing
material a, as is usual in the construction of refrigerators. The cold storage
chamber D is intended for preserving provisions and for similar purposes and is
provided with suitable shelves b and doors c. In the upper part of the chamber Dis
fitted the cooling tank C which may be of sheet iron or other material not effected
by the chemicals employed, and which is preferably formed with two cylindrical walls
having an annular air-tight space between them, or otherwise in such a manner as to
obtain a large extent of cooling surface. In this tank the cold solution or brine
intended for refrigerating purposes is placed, a suitable pipe d having a cock or
valve d being provided for allowing the air contained in the tank to escape during
the running in of the cold solution. In the space formed in the centre of the tank C
is placed the freezing vessel B which is formed preferably of wood or other non-con-
ducting material. A pipe e affords communication between the freezing vessel B and
the cooling tank C acting when required as an overflow or waste pipe from the
freezing vessel B, the waste brine from which although not sufficiently cold for
freezing purposes is still available for refrigerating and is discharged into the cooling
tank C.
A closed tank which may be made of any suitable non-conducting material
receives the overflow or waste brine from the cooling tank C through a pipe f'. This
brine is employed for cooling by conduction the fresh water from the supply pipe E
which passes through a conical shaped cooler g placed in the tank f. This brine is
then discharged from the said tank by means of a syphon pipe to the waste pipe F
which may be led to a suitable evaporator.
After passing through the conical shaped cooler g the supply water is delivered by
a pipe to a flushing tank j.
I prefer to provide the pipe i with a valve k, having an index ¹, to facilitate the
setting or adjustment of the said valve so as to allow the tank j to be filled in any
desired time and thus cause the flushing to take place at any pre-determined
intervals.
a
is a pipe provided with a stop cock or valve for drawing off refrigerated
water from the cooler g, when required for drinking or other purposes. By the
arrangement of the conical shaped cooler y with its smaller end close to the inlet of
brine to the tank f, the supply water is exposed to the action of the coldest brine
while passing through the smallest part of the said cooler and therefore while
presenting a small body or mass to the action of the said cold solution or brine so that
it is considerably reduced in temperature.
The nitrate of ammonia or other salt used to produce the cold solution is placed in
hopper in surrounded by a casing n. The lower portion of the said hopper rests in
a conical pan or funnel o, provided with a suitable aperture o* at its lower extremity
and having an upper hollow rim o' provided with holes o and connected to the
syphon p in the flushing tank j.by means of a pipe p'. The conical pan or funnel o
rests in a piece the lower end of which is provided with a suitable aperture q* con-
nected by means of a pipe with the freezing vessel B, into which the said piper.
extends a suitable distance. To prevent pieces of wood or other foreign matter that
may be mixed with the nitrate of ammonia or other salt from passing into the pipe r
and stopping up the latter, I provide a conical pieces having a rim or ledge s
adapted to retain such foreign matter. The conical pieces is carried upon lugs q².

page_text: of
on the piece 7. To retain any very small particles of foreign matter that might pass
over the rim or ledge s upon the conical pieces. I provide a rim or projection 72 upon
the piece 7. The water or other liquid periodically discharged from the syphon p
the flushing tank, passes through the pipe p to the flushing rim o' and is discharged
through the holes o near the top of and against the sloping sides of the conical pan
or funnel o where, in its downward course, it dissolves the nitrate of ammonia or other
salt, with which it comes in contact and is thereby greatly reduced in temperature,
being finally discharged through the pipe in the form of a cold solution or brine
which is at will available for either cooling or freezing purposes, as hereinafter
described.
When the apparatus is intended to be employed for freezing purposes the said brine
is discharged through the pipe into the freezing vesssel B, the overflow passing
through the pipe e into the cooling tank C. If however the apparatus is only
required for cooling purposes and not for ice-making communication is established
between the pipe and the pipe e by means of an india-rubber pipe e¹ and the brine
or cold solution is run straight into the cooling tank C and the necessity for filling the
freezing vessel B is obviated, thus saving brine.
The cooling tank C is connected to the waste pipe F by means of a pipe / provided
with a suitable stop valve or cock 2. The said cooling tank C is moreover provided
with rims or flanges to catch liquid that might otherwise drip from the surface of
the same when the doors of the apparatus are opened and the warmer external air
admitted. The rims or flanges are provided with a small drip pipe /* fitted
with a cock to permit of the water thus collected being drawn off.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows, that is to say :-The hopper m being
filled with the cooling salts used, preferably nitrate of ammonia, the valve k is opened
so as to allow pure water from the supply pipe E which may communicate with any
convenient source of supply to enter the flushing tank j. When the tank is filled to
a level with the crown of the syphon p a flow takes place in the pipe p² thus putting
in operation the syphon p, which will continue to act until the valve is wholly or
partially closed. The pure water passing down the pipe p₁ enters the flushing rim o'
of the conical pan or funnel o and is discharged thence through the holes o' against
the sloping sides of the said conical pan or funnel o where it comes in contact with
and dissolves the lower portion of the cooling chemicals employed, and is finally
discharged through the pipe in the form of a cold solution or brine.
If it is intended only to preserve provisions or the like placed in the cold storage
chamber Dit is not necessary to bring into operation the freezing vessel B and the piper
is connected to the pipe e by means of the short length of india-rubber pipe e
thus causing the cooling solution to be discharged direct into the cooling tank Cas
hereinbefore described. When the cooling tank C is filled, it overflows or discharges
the waste brine through the pipe f¹ into the tank f, where it serves to cool the supply
water intended for drinking purposes, and for supplying the flushing tank j as herein-
before described. When the brine commences to flow from the syphon h into the waste-
pipe F the apparatus is fully charged. The water supply to the flushing tank j is
then regulated by means of the valve . Assuming the said valve k for example to
be set so that four hours would be required to fill the flushing tank with water to
the level necessary to put in operation the syphon p; when this level is reached a
discharge will take place through the syphon p and the tank be emptied, and be again
filled, and discharged in like manner at the expiration of the next four hours and
so on thus delivering automatically constant periodical additions of cold brine to the
cooling tank C, whilst at each addition a corresponding quantity of brine from which
the units of cold have been utilized will be discharged from the refrigerator through
the syphon to the waste pipe F..
If it is desired to make block-ice or to freeze ice-creams or the like, the india-
rubber pipe c is removed from the .pipe thus allowing the cold brine to fill the
freezing vessel B and forming the freezing mixture in which the tins or receptacles
containing the pure water or other liquid which it is required to be frozen are placed.
The addition of the liquids to be formed into ice will necessarily cause a gradual rise

page_text: in temperature of the freezing solution, it is therefore desirable whilst the freezing
operation is in progress to so regulate the valve as to obtain more frequent
additions of cold brine than would otherwise be necessary to maintain a constant
temperature, the overflow of brine arising from theso additions passes into the
cooling tank C through the pipe e and is there utilized for keeping at a low tempera-
ture the cold storage chamber D as hereinbefore described.
If it is desired to empty the cold solution or brine completely out of the apparatus,
the stop valve or cock h² is opened after closing the air vent d. The brine contained in
the cooling tank will then pass through the pipe to the waste pipe F. The
descent of the brine in the closed air-tight cooling tank C causing a vacuum or a
partial vacuum, the contents of the freezing vessel B will be sucked up through the
india-rubber pipe e¹, and the contents of the tank through the pipe and will pass
into the cooling tank C and thence through the pipe ' into the waste pipe F.
I prefer to employ a receptacle for containing the water or other liquid to be frozen
such as shown in Figure 4. t. is a conical receptacle intended to contain the water
or other liquid to be frozen. Into the receptacle t is adapted to fit another conical
receptacle the upper portion of which is cylindrical and is provided with a
flange. The cold solution or brine from the pipe is allowed to flow into the
receptacle u which it fills and then runs over into the freezing vessel B. The water
or other liquid to be frozen is thus subjected to the action of the cold solution or brine
both inside and outside the cylindrical receptacle and the freezing is thus very
expeditiously performed. The ice produced inoreover is in the form of a hollow
cone, and
can therefore stand at rest upon its base and will have a pleasing
appearance.
Figures 5 to 12 illustrate various modifications of the conical pan or funnel for the
bottom of the hopper m. In all these modifications the main feature consists in
allowing the water or other liquid employed to dissolve the nitrate of ammonia or
other salt so as to form the cold solution and to enter at the lower portion of the
hopper and there come in contact with and dissolve and wash away the lower or
supporting portion of the said salt, thus causing the upper portion, which by this
device is preserved in a dry condition, to gradually sink and to come in contact with
the water and thus in its turn to be dissolved and formed into solution.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modification wherein the pieces 7 and s are dispensed
with and the pan o is provided with a prolongation or extension o³ which is connected
to the pipe 7.
Figures 7 and 8 show a modification in which a portion of the conical piece s
extends through the aperture o* in the bottom of the conical pan o which is enlarged
for that purpose.
In this instance the rims s, gare dispensed with.
Figures 9 and 10 show a modification wherein the pipe pl, from the syphon pin
tho flushing tank is arranged to discharge into a perforated heads upon the conical
pieces which is placed upon lugs o in the conical pan o. In this case the water or
other liquid discharged from the flushing tank through the syphon p and the
pipe p flows down the sloping sides of the conical piece s upon which rests the lower
or supporting portion of the nitrate of ammonia or other salt contained in the hopper m,
and dissolves and washes away the said salt.
Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a modification wherein the hopper m is formed in the
shape of a parallelogram or square and rests in a pan o of corresponding shape. The
bottom of the said pan o is suitably inclined and is provided at its lowest extremity
with a suitable hole or aperture o* which is connected to the pipe ». The water or
other liquid from the flushing tank is delivered from the pipe p¹ which is fitted in
the pan o at the opposite extremity to the hole or aperture o*, and is provided with
small perforations p² to allow the passage of the said water or other liquid. A
portion of the hopper m is cut away for the purpose of allowing the water or
other liquid delivered through the perforations p to flow down the sloping bottom
of the pan and thus come in contact and dissolve and wash away the lower
or supporting portion of the nitrate of ammonia or other salt contained in the
hopper m.

page_text: In some instances, the supply water after passing through the conical shaped
cooler in the tank, is so much reduced in temperature that on coming in contact
with the nitrate of ammonia or other salts in the conical pan or funnel o it is
immediately frozen; this is apt to occur should the temperature of the feed-water be
below 40° Fahrenheit. To obviate this inconvenience I provide suitable means for
mixing a sufficient portion of the waste brine passing away through the waste pipe F
with the feed-water, thus making a salt solution and preventing the formation of ice
in the conical pan or funnel o.
Although I have hereinbefore described my said invention as applied to a refrigerator
intended more especially for domestic purposes it is obvious that it is also applicable
to other refrigerators. Moreover I can further modify the construction of my said
apparatus to meet various requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it understood
that I claim
First. A refrigerator or ice-making machine in which the hopper or vessel for
containing the nitrate of ammonia or other salt is arranged in combination with
apparatus whereby an intermittent supply of liquid to dissolve the said salt will be
automatically maintained for the purpose above specified.
Second. A hopper or receptacle for the nitrate of ammonia or other salt wherein
suitable provision is made for subjecting the exterior surface of the mass of salt to
the action of the dissolving liquid, as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Third. The combination of the hopper provided with the conical pan or funnel
having the hollow perforated rim, and means substantially as described for supplying
liquid to the said pan or funnel through the said rim at regular predetermined
intervals, substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with the freezing vessel and the cooling tank, of the
pipes and e and the flexible pipe el, for connecting the same substantially as
described, whereby the cold solution or brine can be conducted directly into the said
freezing vessel or into the cooling tank, as above specified.
Fifth. The combination with the supply pipe and the cooling tank, of the tank f,
and the conical cooler g, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. The air-tight cooling tank so arranged in combination with the freezing
vessel B and with the tank that, when liquid is discharged from the said cooling
tank the said vessel B and the tank will be emptied by the vacuum or partial
vacuum formed therein, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination, with the freezing tank of the conical receptacles or
vessels t substantially as described with reference to Figure 4 of the drawings for
the purposes specified.
Eighth. The improved refrigerating and ice-making apparatus consisting of the
parts constructed and combined substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings and operating as above set forth.
Dated this 9th day of October 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.