An Improved Apparatus for Ice-making and Refrigerating.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th May, 1889-Accepted, 22nd June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Ice-making and Refrigerating.
I ALFRED GLASSON civil engineer of 90 Shoe Lane London E.C. in the county of
Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus is designed to use a strong solution of amma in water at a strength
of 880 and it consists of the following parts:-An iron vessel called the generator
having at its lower end a wrought iron or preferably a mild steel pan bottom the
whole supported on the three small columns.
This vessel is also provided with a top cover into which are screwed four iron
pipes called the rectifier which pipes stand up vertically upon the generator, the
outlets of all these pipes at the upper ends are all connected together into an iron
bonnet or box into the lower flange of this box a small wrought iron pipe is screwed
called the condensed weak liquor return pipe, this runs straight down through the
top of generator to within a few inches of the bottom pan inside the generator. This
pipe also has a baffle or priming plate fixed to it at a short distance above its lower
end inside the generator.
A spiral coil of iron pipe, called the condensing coil, surrounds these vertical
rectifying pipes above mentioned, and is connected at its upper end with an outlet
on the bonnet on the rectifier.
The condensing coil and rectifying pipes are placed inside a wrought iron tank
which is fixed on to the generator top flange, the outlet on the bottom of condensing
coil comes through the side of this tank and is connected by a pipe to the top
cover of an iron vessel called the receiver-this pipe projects downwards inside
receiver. The receiver is fitted with a special and novel glass gauge having one
wheel or a spanner to open or close the top and bottom cocks at the same instant.
The receiver is connected at its lower end by a pipe to the air tight jacket on a
tank called the freezing cell :-this is preferably made of cast iron and of a rectangular
shape. This cell is closed in on top with a wood or other material cover, a wood or
a metal blade called the agitator is fixed on a pivot in its centre to this cover and
when not at work is parallel to it and horizontal, when it is at work it oscillates on
its pivot.
The Absorber is an iron vessel fixed in a certain position above the level of the
generator which is a point of great importance.
A wrought iron pipe called the weak liquor pipe from about a third of the
distance up one side of the generator connects the generator with the bottom of a
coil which passes in a spiral direction round the outside of absorber and then into
it through a flange at the top and continuing straight down inside it and vertical
for about three fourths of the depth of the absorber. The absorber with the spiral
coil of pipe round it is placed inside an iron tank and the whole is supported at the
necessary height by any convenient device.
A wrought iron pipe is screwed into the jacket of the freezing cell called the
ammoniacal gas pipe and connects it with the absorber.
To an outlet in the bottom of the absorber a cock is fixed and into this cock a pipe
is screwed and runs from thence into the generator.
To work the said apparatus as in the production of ice or the cooling of liquids or
other articles. The Generator is nearly filled with a strong solution of ammonia in
water at strength 880 and heat is applied beneath the iron pan bottom of the
generator. This heat may be obtained by a steam jacket, an oil stove or any other
convenient combustible but preferably a gas stove with about twenty jets in a circle
arranged as an argand burner. A thin wrought iron casing covered with felt on
the outside surrounds the stove and extends nearly to the top of the generator all
-

page_text: round to prevent radiation. The application of this heat drives off the ammoniacal
gas from its solution together with vapour of water or steam. The ammoniacal gas
and steam pass straight up through the four rectifier pipes which are kept cold by
means of cold water circulating round them in the tank. The watery vapour rising
with the ammoniacal gas is here condensed into water and falls back into the
generator either down the condensed weak liquor pipe or trickle down the sides of
the rectifier pipes back into the generator. The ammoniacal gas now free from
watery vapour passes into the condensing coil which is also kept cold by the water
in the tank which surrounds it and which is caused to flow into the tank by a
perforated pipe which is introduced through the bottom plate of tank and then bent
into a circular form beneath the lowest bout of the condenser coil. The ammoniacal
gas condenses in this, at a pressure due partly to the temperature of the water, into
liquid anhydrous ammonia. It passes in this state into the receiver. When the
receiver is about half full, the liquid ammonia is allowed to issue slowly into the
jacket on freezing cell; previous to this, however, the cell is filled with filtered
water and the agitator set going so as to give the water a gentle motion.
Through the decrease of pressure the liquid ammonia within the jacket vapourises
and renders latent a large amount of heat which it abstracts from the water in the
cell which is consequently soon frozen into clear ice.
To withdraw the gas from the jacket as fast as it is formed and so maintain a
low pressure in it sufficient to keep the liquid ammonia continually vapourizing, is
efficiently performed by the absorber. To do this the absorber is kept very cold by
means of water circulating round it outside in the tank. The ammoniacal gas from
the jacket on the freezing cell enters the bottom of the absorber through a connecting
pipe.
The aminoniacal gas within the absorber is re-absorbed by a spray of weak liquor
which flowing through the weak liquor pipe from the generator passes on its way
through the coil of pipe round the absorber and kept cold by the water in the tank.
The weak liquor thus becomes cooled to a proper temperature for re-absorbing the
ammoniacal gas coming over from freezing cell. When the absorber becomes full of
strong liquid ammonia which will occur about every three hours the communication
with the jacket is shut off and a cock opened on a pipe connecting the generator with
absorber the vapour in generator being thus admitted into the absorber creates a
pressure in it equal to that in the generator and the absorber being situated at a
certain height above it, the whole of the contents fall by gravity back into the
generator after which the cocks being restored to their former positions the various
operations proceed as before.
;
Dated 20th day of Ananat 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Ice-making and Refrigerating.
I ALFRED GLASSON Civil Engineer of 90 Shoe Lane London E.C. in the county
of Middlesex 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 improved apparatus as hereinafter described and illustrated is designed to make
use of that law of nature, described as the power of a substance when passing from
the liquid to the gaseous state of rendering latent a certain quantity of heat. To
utilize this natural law and to cause it to freeze water or lower the temperature of
gases, liquids or solids I use a substance which has a great capacity for latent heat
and vapourizes at a very low temperature. This substance is ammonia and to prepare
it from the ordinary solution of ammonia in water, of commerce, to rectify &
Condense it and apply it to refrigerating purposes in an improved manner is the
ojet of this invention.

page_text: In order to explain my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
I refer to the accompanying drawing:-
:-
Figure 1, is an elevation of the said apparatus partly in section.
Figure 2, is a plan of the same, the lower portion being a half section through the
line A'B' Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a sectional elevation of the glass ammonia gauge used with this
apparatus, drawn to a larger scale to show details.
Figure 4, is a plan of the same partly in section.
Figures 1 and 2:-My apparatus consists of several parts as follows:-Generator A,
Rectifier-Condenser H, Absorber M Receiver R¹, and the Freezing cell S¹.
The generator A is a circular iron vessel having a manhole B cast on and secured
by a flat cover.
It also has flange necks C, C', cast on, each having passages
through them communicating with the interior. The bottom is formed by a wrought
iron or mild steel pan D bolted on, which not being thick permits the heat from the
gas stove at D¹ to pass readily through it. The generator is supported on small
columns E, E, and the lower portion of the generator is surrounded by a thin
metal casing F, F, to retain the heat to the bottom and sides of the vessel.
The top of the generator is formed by a flat iron plate G.
The Rectifier-condenser H is formed of a cylindrical metal tank H¹ containing the
rectifier tubes I, I, which stand up vertically upon the generator being screwed at
one end into the plate G and at the other into the bonnet or box G¹. This box
has a small pipe J called the condensed weak liquor return pipe. It is screwed into
the bottom of this box and passing down through the centre and between the rectifier
tubes I, I, it runs straight down through the top plate of generator to within a few
inches of the bottom pan inside generator. This pipe also has a baffle or priming
plate K, fixed to it.
From the top flange of the box G¹ a bent pipe K¹ connects it with the condensing
coil L. This coil L passes in a spiral direction downwards surrounding the rectifier
tubes I, I. The lower end of this coil passes through the sides of the tank H. A
circular perforated pipe L¹ is fitted to the bottom of the tank for distributing the
condensing water to it.
The Absorber M is an iron vessel fixed as shown above the level of the Generator A.
This is absolutely necessary so as to cause the liquid contained in this vessel to flow
back to the generator.
This vessel is bolted to the plate M¹ at its lower end which plate also forms the
bottom of a thin metal cylindrical tank N. A wrought iron pipe N¹ called the weak
liquor pipe communicating with the generator at C and C₁and also with the
valves O and O¹ connects it with the coil P which passes in a spiral direction round
the outside of the absorber M and then into it through a flange Pl at the top &
continuing straight inside it and vertical for about three fourths of the depth of the
absorber. The length of this pipe Q inside this vessel is perforated with small höles.
The absorber and coils is Supported on columns R. These columns also have lugs
cast on them to carry the receiver R¹ which is a cylindrical iron vessel connected
from the top flange by a pipe S to the bottom of the condensing coil L. The bottom
of the receiver is connected to the freezing cell S¹ by the pipe T. This receiver is
also fitted with a glass gauge T¹ hereinafter described.
The freezing cell S¹ is an iron tank enclosed on five sides by an air tight jacket U.
The whole is surrounded by any efficient non-conducting composition and boxed in
with wood as shown at U¹. The inside of the jacket is in communication with the
connecting pipe T from the receiver by a valve and passage V₁ which passage extends
along the whole length of the jacket and terminates in a branch for a pressure
gauge
X. This passage opens into the jacket by a number of small holes V, V, V, V.
The jacket is also connected by a pipe X to the bottom of the absorber M through
which it passes and continuing straight up inside the absorber to within a few
inches of the top. The bottom of the absorber is also connected by a
valve Y to the bottom of generator at E¹.
pipe and a

page_text: The agitator Z is a wood or a metal blade fixed to the cover Z', which blade is
made to oscillate with a rocking motion by any suitable mechanism.
The gauge for testing the level of the ammonia in the receiver R¹. I make in one
piece Figures 3 and 4-A. I place the top and bottom plug cocks B and B¹ vertical
and lineable with one another connecting them by a square steel bar C which passing
through the centre of each plug opens or closes the passages D and D¹ at the same
instant by means of the spanner E. The top plug cock B is kept tight by the
stuffing box gland F and the bottom plug is kept tight by means of two nuts G which
being screwed down and bearing on the top plug B pull the plug B' upwards by
the bar C thus keeping the two cocks tight at the same time.
The sight glass H is in communication with both the top & bottom cocks by the
passages
I and I. The glass is also enclosed by a guard J to shield it in case it
should break. The flanges K, K are for fixing the whole to the receiver or other
vessels.
To work the apparatus herein before described, as in the production of ice or the
cooling of liquids or other articles.
The generator A is nearly filled with a strong solution of ammonia in water at a
strength of 880 and heat applied beneath the iron pan hottom D of the generator.
This heat may be obtained by a steam jacket an oil stove or any other convenient
combustible but preferably a gas stove D' with about twenty jets in a circle arranged
as an argand burner. The application of this heat drives off the ammoniacal gas
from its solution together with vapour of water or steam. The ammoniacal gas and
steam pass straight up through the four rectifier pipes I, I, which are kept cold by
means of cold water circulating round them in the tank H¹. The watery vapour
rising with the ammoniacal gas is here condensed into water and falls back into the
generator A, either down the condensed weak liquor pipe J or trickle down the sides
of the rectifier tubes I, I, back into the generator A.
The ammoniacal gas now free from watery vapour passes through the pipe K' into
the condensing coil L which is also kept cold by the water in the tank H' which
surrounds it and which is caused to flow in by the pipe L. The ammoniacal gas
condenses into an anhydrous liquid in this, at a pressure due partly to the temperature
of the water in the tank H.
It passes in this state into the receiver R' by the pipe S. When the receiver is
about half full as shown by the glass gauge T₁ the liquid ammonia is allowed to
issue slowly into the jacket U, on the freezing cell S₁ by the pipe T; previous to this,
however, the cell is filled with filtered water and the agitator Z set going so as to
give the water a gentle motion.
The pressure in the jacket being less than it is in the receiver directly the liquid
ammonia issues into the jacket U it vapourizes and renders latent a large amount
of heat which it abstracts from the water in the cell which is consequently soon
frozen into clear ice.
To withdraw the gas from the jacket U as fast as it is formed and so maintain a
low pressure in it sufficient to keep the liquid ammonia continually vapourizing, is
efficiently performed by the absorber M. To do this the absorber is kept very cold
by means of water circulating round it outside in the tank N. The aminoniacal gas
from the jacket on the freezing cell S' enters the bottom of the absorber M through
a connecting pipe X'. The ammoniacal gas within the absorber is re-absorbed by a
spray of weak liquor which flowing through the weak liquor pipe N₁ from the
generator A passes on its way through the coil of pipe P round the absorber and
kept cold by the water in the tank N. The weak liquor thus becomes cooled to a
proper temperature for re-absorbing the ammoniacal gas coming over from the
freezing cell. When the absorber becomes full of a strong solution of ammonia in
water which will occur about every three hours the communication through the
valve V¹ with the jacket U. is shut off and a valve O opened on a pipe connecting
the top of the generator A with the absorber M; the vapour in the generator being
thus admitted into the absorber through the pipe N' and the coil P and so to the
.

page_text: flange P¹, creates a pressure in it equal to that in the generator A and the absorber
being situated at a certain height above it, the whole of its contents fall by gravity
back into the generator by merely opening the valve at Y. This arrangement
superceeds the use of a force pump to pump the liquid back into the generator.
After liquid contents of the absorber M has flowed back to the generator the
valves being restored to their former positions the various operations proceed as
before.
Having 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;
I The combination and arrangement of the rectifier tubes with the condensing
coil surrounding them.
II: The arrangement whereby the Rectifier-condenser stands on the top flange of
the generator.
III: The arrangement of the Absorber whereby it stands at a higher level than
the generator so permitting its contents to flow directly into the generator without
the intervention of a force pump.
IV The arrangement and combination of the freezing cell whereby I can use the
liquified ammonia itself for freezing water without the intervention of brine.
V: The arrangement and construction of the apparatus substantially as herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Glasson have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred & eighty nine.
ALFRED GLASSON.