IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION OF ICE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Willcox, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PRODUCTION OF ICE."
THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Willcox at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1881..
JOHN HENRY WILLCOX, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ICE.'
My Invention has for its object the production of clear ice, free from air cells
and discoloration, in large blocks and in large quantities economically, such blocks
being rectangular or nearly rectangular in shape, flat on four sides, and readily
removable from the freezing cells without fracture.
The Invention consists, first, in a method of arranging and combining hollow
metal cells, through which strong brine or other liquid cooled to below 32 degrees
Fahrenheit is circulated in such a manner that the water to be frozen congeals
upon their surfaces, forming merchantable blocks of pure transparent ice readily
removable from the said cells without fracture.
The hollow cells are capable of adjustment at comparatively trifling cost, at
greater or less distance from each other to produce blocks of ice of greater or less
thickness, as may be desirable.
The Invention consists, secondly, in improved apparatus for agitating the water
during the freezing process, to free it of air and impurities in connection with the
arrangement of cells, as described.
I employ a wooden tank, containing the water to be frozen, having narrow com-
partments at each end; the divisions forming these compartments descending only
to the level of the sleepers supporting the cells. These cells extend longitudinally
the whole length of the tank, and cells of similar construction are arranged
transversely in the tank at right angles to the former. Both longitudinal and
transverse cells rest upon wooden sleepers supported upon timbers or any suitable
props of metal or timber, leaving a space of six to twelve inches below the sleepers
at the bottom of the tank.
All the cells are made slightly tapering in form to facilitate the removal of the
blocks of ice. The transverse cells are kept in position by means of lugs which fit
into grooves or channels on the top of the longitudinal cells, or by any other
D

page_text: suitable arrangement which admits of their being adjusted at any required distance
from each other, according to the thickness of the blocks required.
Both kinds of cells may be constructed with or without internal dividing strips
or webs. One or more of such dividing webs placed vertically or horizontally may
be used, their use being to regulate, the flow of brine.
The cells are made, preferably for cheapness, of wrought or cast iron, and
galvanized to prevent corrosion.
The longitudinal cells are connected to each other by suitable pipes, and are
supplied from the cold brine supply main with strong brine cooled to below
32 degrees Fahrenheit, which after traversing them discharges into the overflow
main, and is returned to the freezing machine to be recooled.
The transverse cells are similarly connected to each other, and are also supplied
with cold brine from the main, which brine after traversing them overflows into
the return main. The cold brine traversing the cells causes the fresh water to
congeal on their surfaces, forming in time solid blocks, which are readily thawed
off and removed from the cells by forcing warm brine through the latter, the cold
brine being stopped off by suitable cocks or valves placed in the mains.
In actual work several tanks are employed, and then the cold brine is forced or
drawn through the cells in one tank into those in another through as many tanks
as may be found necessary for economical working before returning it to the
machine to be recooled, the different tanks, or pairs, or sections of tanks being
so connected that any tank or pair or section of tanks could be thawed off
without stopping the supply of cold brine to the remaining tanks, and so that the
cold brine could be passed in succession through any tank or section of tanks in
different rotation as might be desirable; for instance, if there are five tanks the
mains should be arranged so that the brine would pass through 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or
2, 3, 4, 5, 1, or 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, and so on before being returned to the machine to be
recooled. For the purpose of agitating the water to be frozen, and during the
freezing process timber or sheet metal paddles, each about 2/3 or 3/4 of the width
of the cells are fixed on metal frames having axles working in fixed brackets.
The paddles have an upward and downward rocking or oscillating motion
imparted to them by means of rods and levers, which are actuated by any suitable
arrangement of cranks, and levers, eccentrics, or other means provided at the top
of the tank. The rods work through side compartments away from the ice
forming portion of the tank. Continuous agitation of the fresh water is thus
secured, any impurities naturally falling between the agitator paddles to the
bottom of the tank, which is provided with a suitable sluice valve or cock for
cleansing after the ice is removed.
Another method of agitation consists of a plunger, the width of the tank, and
fitting closely in a compartment or chamber, which communicates with the space
at the bottom of the tank. The plunger is fitted with valves and actuated by
two rods and an arrangement of cranks or other suitable means. At the down
stroke water rushes through the valves in the plunger, and is forced at the upward
stroke through valves above into the upper chamber, whence it flows into pipes
and through nozzles attached to them into the spaces between the cells, the nozzles
being arranged intermediately over the centres of those spaces where the water
freezes last, thus ensuring circulation until the block is nearly solid. These pipes
are made removable to allow the blocks of ice to be lifted out. The spaces between
the outer cells and the sides of the tank are filled in with timber or any suitable
bad conducting material.
In another arrangement the outside surfaces of the outer cells are some distance
from the sides of the tank, and are used as ice forming surfaces, making blocks
about half the thickness of those in the centre of the tank. The advantage of this
arrangement is that none of the cooling power is wasted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Willcox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th August 1881.
JOHN HENRY WILLCOX, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ICE."
"IMPROVE-
My Invention has for its object the production of clear ice free from air cells and
discolorization in large blocks and in large quantities economically, such blocks
being rectangular or nearly rectangular in shape, flat on four sides, and readily
removable from the freezing cells without fracture.
The Invention consists, firstly, in a method of arranging and combining
longitudinal hollow metal cells with similar cells placed transversely thereto
through which an uncongealable liquid cooled to below 32 degrees Fahrenheit is.
circulated in such a manner that the water to be frozen congeals upon their
surfaces, forming merchantable blocks of pure transparent ice readily removable
from the said cells without fracture.
The hollow cells are capable of adjustment at comparatively trifling cost, at
greater or less distance from each other to produce blocks of ice of greater or less
thickness, as may be desirable.
•
The Invention consists, secondly, in an improved apparatus for agitating the
water during the freezing process, to free it of air and impurities in connection
with the arrangement of cells, as described.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood,
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
In the Drawings annexed Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a transverse
section, and Fig. 3, a plan view of an ice tank with cells and agitators constructed
according to my Invention.
A, A, is a wooden tank containing the water to be frozen having narrow com-
partments F; F, at each end, the divisions forming these compartments descending
only to the level of the sleepers D, D, supporting the cells; B, B, B, are hollow.
metal cells extending longitudinally the whole length of the tank; C, C, C, are
cells of similar construction arranged transversely in the tank at right angles to the
cells B, B, B. Both longitudinal and transverse cells rest upon wooden sleepers D, D,
supported upon timbers L, L, or any suitable props of metal or timber leaving a
space of from six to twelve inches below the sleepers at the bottom of the tank.
All the cells are made by preference slightly tapering in form, as at B', C', Fig. 4
(which represent detached views of the longitudinal and transverse cells), to
facilitate the removal of the blocks of ice. The transverse cells are kept in position
by means of lugs C (Fig. 4), which fit into grooves or channels C on the top of
the longitudinal cells, or by any other suitable arrangement which admits of their
being adjusted at any required distance from each other, according to the thickness
of the blocks required.
Both kinds of cells may be constructed with or without internal dividing strips
or webs E (Fig. 2); dividing webs placed vertically or horizontally may be used,
their use being to regulate the flow of brine. The cells are made, preferably for
cheapness, of wrought or cast iron, and galvanized to prevent corrosion.
The longitudinal cells B, B, B, are connected to each other by suitable pipes H, H,
and are supplied from the cold brine supply main G with strong brine cooled to
below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, which after traversing them in the direction of the
arrows discharge into the overflow main K, and is returned to the freezing machine
to be cooled..

page_text: The transverse cells C, C, C, are similarly connected to each other by pipes H¹, H',
and are also supplied with cold brine from the main G, which brine after traversing
them in the direction of the arrows overflows into the return main K.
The cold brine thus traversing the cells causes the fresh water to congeal on
their surfaces forming in time solid blocks, which are readily thawed off, and
removed from the cells by forcing warm brine through them, the cold brine being
stopped off by suitable cocks or valves placed in the mains.
In making the connection between the ends of the longitudinal or transverse
cells, I prefer to employ metal nozzles I, I, connected by short lengths of india
rubber tubing K', K', as shown at Fig. 5, and I sometimes make the junction at
the centre (when the cells are close together) in the same way, as shown at Fig. 6;
but I prefer to make this latter connection, as shown at l, l, in Fig. 5, and also
enlarged section, Fig. 7, a hollow lug m, m, being cast on or affixed to each cell, and
the two connected by a bolt n, n, having a washer o, o, of india rubber interposed
at their point of junction.
In actual work several tanks are employed, and then the cold brine is forced or
drawn through the cells in one tank into those in another, through as many tanks
as may be found necessary for economical working before returning it to the
machine to be recooled; the different tanks or pairs or sections of tanks being so
connected that any tank or pan or section of tanks could be thawed off without
stopping the supply of cold brine to the remaining tanks, and so that the cold
brine could be passed in succession through any tank or section of tank .in
different rotation, as might be desirable; for instance, if there are five tanks, the
mains should be arranged so that the brine would pass through 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
or 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, or 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, and so on before being returned to the machine to
be cooled.
For the purpose of agitating the water to be frozen and during the freezing
process, timber or sheet metal paddles M, M, Figs. 1 and 2, each about two thirds or
three fourths of the width of the cell C, C, are fixed on metal frames having axles
working in fixed brackets N, N, N.
These paddles have an upward and downward rocking or oscillating motion
imparted to them by means of the rods P and levers Q, Q, which rods and levers
are actuated by any suitable arrangement of cranks and levers, eccentrics, or other
means provided at the top of the tank.
The rods P work through the side compartments F, F, away from the ice
forming portion of the tank.
Continuous agitation of the fresh water is thus secured, any impurities naturally
falling between the agitator paddles to the bottom of the tank, which is provided
with a suitable sluice valve or cock for cleaning after the ice is removed.
In the arrangement shown the spaces between the outer cells and the sides of
the tank are filled in with timber or any suitable bad conducting material.
In another arrangement the outside surface of the outer cells are some distance
from the sides of the tank and are used as ice forming surfaces; but the ice made
on these surfaces will not be in regular shaped blocks.
The advantage of this arrangement is that none of the cooling power is wasted.
Another method of agitation is shown in section at Fig. 8; R is the plunger, the
width of the tank, and fitting closely in the compartment or chamber F which
chamber communicates with the space at the bottom of the tank.
The plunger R is fitted with valves S and actuated by two rods V, V, and an
arrangement of cranks X, X, or other suitable means.
At the down stroke water rushes through the valve T, T, and into the upper
chamber F, whence it flows into the pipes y, y, y, and through the nozzles z, z, z.
attached to them into the spaces between the cells, the nozzles being arranged
immediately over the centres of those spaces where the water freezes last, thus
ensuring circulation until the block is nearly solid.
These pipes y, y, are made removable to allow the blocks of ice to be lifted out.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together

page_text: with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,-
First. The construction, arrangement, and combination of hollow longitudinal
cells in ice making machines having similar cells placed transversely thereto,
substantially as bereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, on
the Drawings annexed, so that the blocks of ice can be readily removed therefrom
without fracture, and so that the said cells are capable of adjustment at a trifling
cost, so as to produce blocks of ice of greater or less thickness, as may be desirable.
Secondly. I claim the improved apparatus, substantially as above described and
illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8, for agitating the water during the freezing
process, and freeing it from air and impurities.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Willcox, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN HENRY WILLCOX. (L.S.)