IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED" THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER COOLING AND REFRIGERATING PURPOSES
Year: 1875

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Gaylord Wheeler, of Lambeth, in the
County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF ICE AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED"
THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER COOLING AND
REFRIGERATING PURPOSES." -A communication from abroad by David
of Malantto in the Inited States of Amanian
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Gaylord Wheeler
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 22nd November 1875.
•
I, EDGAR GAYLORD WHEELER, of Lambeth, in the County of Surrey,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER COOLING AND
REFRIGERATING PURPOSES," a communication to me from abroad by David
Coughlin, of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, to be as
follows:-

page_text: producing ice from flowing streams of water congealed by the vaporization
of liquefied or condensed ammonia or other suitable volatile refrigerating
agent. The apparatus is, however, partly applicable. to the production
of cooling fluids and to other refrigerating purposes.
1st. It is proposed to employ two ammonia boilers, herein-after
designated Nos. 1 and 2, which are connected together by a com-
municating pipe at one end, and between or beneath which there may
be placed a boiler for the generation of steam to be used for driving
various parts of the apparatus, the two ammonia boilers and the steam
boiler being all arranged within a suitable furnace, so that their contents
may be heated by a single fire. The ammonia boilers are each provided
with another pipe at the opposite end to that at which the connecting
pipe is fitted, one of which pipes, say, for example, that of boiler No. 1,
is employed for the introduction of a solution of ammonia either (as,
for example, in starting the apparatus) from any external source, or
(when the apparatus is in operation) from the absorber and recondenser,
as herein-after mentioned, whilst the other pipe, viz., that of boiler No. 2
scrves to conduct a certain quantity of ammonia through the cooler to
the absorber for the purpose of absorbing the vaporized ammonia dis-
charged from the congealer, as herein-after explained, the mixture of
liquid ammonia and vapor being then recondensed and returned to
ammonia, boiler No. 1, as before mentioned. Each of the ammonia
boilers also carries a pipe, on the top of which pipes are connected to a
single pipe common to the two, and serving to conduct the vaporized
ammonia to the condenser. This gas on its passage to the condenser is
caused to pass through a doubly bent or serpentine pipe, which is sur-
rounded by or enclosed in another pipe, so that an annular space or
passage is formed between the two pipes through which the liquid
ammonia is conducted in the reverse direction from the recondenser,
whereby such liquid is partially heated by the abstraction of a portion

page_text: of the caloric from or partially condensing the vaporized ammonia on its
passage to the condenser.
2nd. The condenser consists of a series of superposed horizontal pipes
communicating the one with the other at opposite ends alternately, and
thereby forming a serpentine coil having a continuous passage from the
top pipe to the bottom pipe. These pipes gradually decrease in diameter
from the top pipe to the bottom pipe of the series, so as to form a
passage of a gradually decreasing area along which the gas which is
introduced from the serpentine first hercin-before mentioned at the first
or top pipe of the series is conducted through the whole of the pipes to
the two lowest pipes of the series which serve as a chamber or reservoir
for the condensed or liquefied ammonia, and are provided with a glass
gauge for the purpose of indicating the level of the liquid therein.
The condenser is non-submerged, but a shower or stream of water
is projected on to or passed over it. by the means herein-after
explained.
In the improved condenser by gradually diminishing the area of the
passage the condensing surface is augmented in a corresponding ratio as
the gas or partially condensed vapor approaches the bottom of the series
of pipes so as to ensure its complete liquefaction or condensation.
3rd. The liquid ammonia then passes into the congealer which
consists of a serpentine coil or series of vertical pipes communicating
the one with the other at opposite ends alternately, and provided with a
central core or blind pipe or rod gradually decreasing in diameter, so
as to form for the traverse of the liquid an annular passage of a
gradually increasing area from the first to the last pipe of the series at
which it may be nearly equal to the entire area of the bore of the pipe.
At intervals, say between every two consecutive pipes of the series, there
is fitted a vertical filling frame composed by preference of cast iron, and
formed flat on two sides so that when the whole of the filling frames
are in position a continuous or nearly continuous flat surface on both
sides will be produced on which the ice is to be formed. In some cases
two or more of the central pipes may be unprovided with cores, such
pipes being made of a relatively small diameter in order to equalize the
thickness of the ice. Any suitable number of these congealers (which
are non-submerged) may be arranged side by side at any suitable
distance apart, according to the thickness of ice required, and water is
A 2

page_text: supplied in a sheet, stream, or spray, to one side at a time or the
both sides of any or all of the congealers simultaneously by means of
overhead or intervening pipes suitably supported in bearings and which
are fitted with open cocks or outlet nozzles, having water deflecting
wires, and are oscillated by means of reciprocating rods operated auto-
matically or otherwise. The angle of the cocks or nozzles is thus
gradually varied so as to project the water on to the flat congealing
surfaces formed by the filling frames, either throughout each portion in
succession of the entire depth of such frames, or for any desired portion
of such depth, the water being diffused over or flowing down the flat
surfaces from the part on which it was projected, and being congealed
on such surfaces through the abstraction of caloric therefrom, by the
vaporization or partial vaporization of the circulating liquid ammonia
so as to produce flat sheets or cakes of ice of any desired length or
depth throughout the entire area over which the water has passed.
In order to facilitate the detachment of the ice from the congealing
surfaces the filling frames are made hollow (by preference with a central
core) so as to form a chamber into which water is introduced when the
ice is to be removed, which will have the effect, by slightly elevating
the temperature of the congealing surfaces of loosening the adherent
sheets or layers of ice, whilst at the same time contributing to the
vaporization of the ammonia contained in the pipes.
In some cases a space may be left at intervals between the vertical
pipes, so as to admit of a passage between and around the pipes. The
congealing surfaces will thus be divided, but the pipes so separated are
still connected together in order to produce a continuous passage, a
coupling bend of additional length being in that case employed at the
top, or at the top and bottom alternately for the purpose of uniting each
two adjacent sets of pipes forming the divided congealer.
It is proposed to construct the ice house of a number of tiers or
stories, each of which is sustained by the congealers on the floor imme-
diately below the whole of the congealers, thus forming pillars or
supports for the structure.
4th & 5th. The vaporized ammonia is conducted into absorber,
consisting of a chamber in which the vapor is mixed with a portion of
solution of ammonia derived from boiler No. 2. The solution in its
passage to the absorber is conducted through a cooler composed of a

page_text: series of superposed horizontal pipes connected, the one with the other
at opposite ends altenately, over which pipes a stream of water is caused
to pass by the means herein-after described. The liquid enters the
bottom pipe in a warm condition from boiler No. 2, and passing through
the whole length of each pipe of the series in succession arrives in the
absorber in a perfectly cool condition. The mixture of vaporized and
liquid ammonia then passes through the recondenser, which is situate
below the absorber; and is constructed and arranged in a similar manner
to the condenser; the liquid entering the top pipe and passing through
the whole of the pipes in succession to the bottom one from which it is
conducted through the outer passage of the serpentine, first herein-
before mentioned, into boiler No. 1, so that the same ammonia is con-
stantly circulating and being neutralized. The recondenser, like the
condenser and the cooler, is non-submerged, but maintained in a cool
condition by means of streams of water directed over the same. These
three apparatus are, by preference, placed side by side, and the water for
cooling them is projected thereon by means of an oscillating overhead pipe
or pipes, having open cocks or nozzles, and operated by a reciprocating
rod or rods, the apparatus being generally similar to that employed
for supplying the flowing streams to the congealers, as herein-before
described.
According to another modification of this Invention it is proposed to
dispense with the recondenser and to vary the construction and arrange-
ment of the parts of the apparatus in the manner herein-after explained.-
In carrying out this part of the Invention one or more ammonia boilers
may be employed according to the size of the apparatus, but it is preferred
to use one only of sufficient dimensions when practicable. This boiler is
heated by the circulation of steam through a serpentine coil of pipes
immersed in the ammonia solution contained in the boiler, the pipes
being by preference screwed into the end cover of the boiler. When
two or more boilers are employed they are heated in a similar manner.
The boiler is fitted with a pipe for the supply of gas to the condenser
and with another pipe for the outlet of impoverished liquid ammonia,
which latter is conducted to a cooler through the outer passage of a
double serpentine pipe, through the inner passage of which the ammonia
is returned to the boiler from an absorber, as herein-after explained.
The impoverished liquid and the ammonia thus exchange temperatures

page_text: by respectively traversing in reverse directions the concentric passages or
the double pipe.
The condenser is constructed in a manner similar to that herein-before
described with reference to the first modification. A series of the
condensers may be employed side by side or otherwise if desired. The
ammonia condensed or liquefied by its passage through the condensers is
conducted into one or more chambers or reservoirs situate at the bottom
and provided with a glass gauge and with a cock or valve for the escape
of air. The liquid ammonia is thence introduced as required into the
congealer, or a series of congealers, constructed in a manner generally
similar to that herein-before described, but with the passages for the
ammonia either of varying area, as before mentioned, or of uniform area
throughout their whole extent, as desired. When a series of condensers
is employed they are arranged by preference side by side, and the whole
series may be supplied with liquid simultaneously from a common pipe
at one end, the gas or vaporized ammonia being discharged into another
pipe also common to the series at the opposite end. The filling frames
may be constructed either hollow or solid as desired, the vaporized
ammonia is then conducted into the absorber consisting of a chamber of
any suitable size and shape, in which it is mixed with a portion of the
impoverished liquid ammonia derived from the lower part of the boiler,
and which has been partially cooled by traversing the outer passage of
the double serpentine pipe before mentioned and further cooled by being
caused to pass in a descending direction through a cooler or a series of
coolers constructed in the manner hercin-before described with reference
to the first modification of this Invention. The pipe for the supply of
gas to the absorber is fitted with a back pressure valve of any suitable
construction, and the liquid is introduced through a rose jet.
The mixture of gas and impoverished ammonia from the absorber is
conducted to the boiler, as before mentioned, in the condition of liquid
ammonia of the specific gravity required for use in the boiler. During
its passage to the boiler it is caused to traverse a cylinder which is fitted
with a cock or valve for the escape of air, and with a test cock for the
facility of ascertaining the strength of the ammonia. The ammonia is
thus continually circulating and reutilized in succeeding operations.
Water may be supplied to the exterior of the congealers, condensers,
and coolers either in a manner similar to that herein-before described

page_text: with reference to the first modification of this Invention, or by the
apparatus next herein-after described.
Over the condensers and coolers I provide perforated pipes through
the perforations in which the water is discharged in the form of spray.
In the case of the congealers I prefer to employ pipes with fixed inclined
nozzles, from which water introduced under pressure is projected against
a dash plate, whence it is deflected in the form of spray over the
congealers.
It is obvious that parts of apparatus constructed according to this
modification may be employed in substitution for corresponding parts
described under the first modification, and vice versa, if found con-
venient in practice.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edgar Gaylord Wheeler in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd May 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDGAR
GAYLORD WHEELER, of Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edgar Gaylord Wheeler, Her special
license that I, the said Edgar Gaylord Wheeler, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Edgar Gayford
Wheeler, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time
agree with and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH ABE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER COOLING
and RefrigeratiNG PURPOSES," a communication to me from abroad by

page_text: 3rd. Congealers or refrigerators C.
4th. An absorber D and a recondenser E.
5th. A cooler or coolers F.
The arrangement of the ammonia boilers is shewn more particularly
in the detail end view and plan, Figures 2 and 3 respectively (Sheet 2
of the Drawings).
'
The two boilers A, A', are connected together by a communicating
pipe a at one end, and between or beneath them there may be placed
a boiler G for the generation of steam to be used for driving various
parts of the apparatus, the two ammonia boilers A, A', and the steam
boiler G being all arranged within a suitable furnace H, so that their
contents may heated by a simple fire. The ammonia boilers A, A¹,
are respectively provided with pipes b, b', at the opposite end to that
at which the connecting pipe a is fitted, one of which pipes, say, for
example, that 6 of the boiler A is employed for the introduction of a
solution of ammonia, either (as for example, in starting the apparatus)
from any external source or (when the apparatus is in operation) from
the absorber D and recondenser E, as herein-after described; whilst the
other pipe, viz., that ' of the boiler A¹ with an extension 62 of such
pipe serves to conduct a certain quantity of weak or impoverished
ammonia to the cooler F, through which such ammonia passes to the
absorber D for the purpose of absorbing the vapourized ammonia
discharged from the congealers C, as herein-after explained, the mixture
of liquid ammonia and vapour being then re-condensed and returned to
the ammonia boiler A, as before mentioned. The ammonia boilers also
respectively carry pipes c, c¹, on the top, which pipes are connected to
a single pipe c² common to the two and serving to conduct the vapourized
ammonia to the condenser B. This gas on its passage to the condenser B
is caused to pass through a doubly bent or serpentine pipe d, which is
surrounded by or enclosed in another pipe d', as shewn clearly in the
detail, Figure 4, Sheet 2, so that an annular space or passage is formed
between the two pipes d, d', through which the liquid ammonia is
conducted in the reverse direction from the recondenser E, whereby
such liquid is partially heated by the abstraction of a portion of the

page_text: caloric from or partially condensing the vapourized ammonia in its
passage to the condenser B. If desired the gas may be caused to pass
through the exterior pipe d' and the liquid ammonia through the interior
pipe din lieu of the converse arrangement herein-before described.
The serpentine pipes d, d', in lieu also of being made of the doubly bent
form shewn in the Drawings may be coiled helically if preferred.
The condenser B, which is shewn in the general view, Figure 1 (Sheet 1),
and on an enlarged scale in the detail elevation Figure 5 (Sheet 2), consists
of a series of superposed horizontal pipes, communicating the one with
the other at opposite ends alternately, and thereby forming a serpentine
coil having a continuous passage from the top pipe e to the bottom
pipe e². These pipes gradually decrease in diameter from the top pipe
to the bottom pipe, so as to form a passage of a gradually decreasing
area, along which the gas which is introduced from the serpentine d at
the first or top pipe e of the series is conducted through the whole of
the pipes to the two lowest pipes e', e³, of the series, which serve as a
chamber or reservoir for the condensed or liquefied ammonia, and are
provided with a glass gauge f for the purpose of indicating the level of
the liquid therein.
The condenser is non-submerged, but a shower or stream of water is
projected on to or passed over it by the means herein-after explained.
In the improved condenser by gradually diminishing the area of the
passage the condensing surface is augmented in a corresponding ratio
as the gas or partially condensed vapour approaches the bottom of
the series of pipes, so as to ensure its complete liquefaction or
condensation.
3rd. The liquid ammonia then passes through a pipe into the
congealer C (shewn in detail in sectional elevation, plan, and end view
in Figures 6, 7, and 8, respectively, Sheet 3), which consists of a
serpentine coil or series of vertical pipes /, communicating the one with
the other at opposite ends alternately, and provided with a central core
or blind, pipe or rod i, gradually decreasing in diameter so as to form
for the traverse of the liquid an annular passage of a gradually
increasing area, from the first pipe to the last pipe ² of the series,
at which it may be nearly equal to the entire area of the bore
of the pipe. This arrangement is shewn clearly in the enlarged vertical
and horizontal sections, Figures 9 and 10 respectively (Sheet 3) of the

page_text: first and last pipes of the series. At intervals, say between every two
consecutive pipes of the series, there is fitted a vertical filling frame k.
(see Figures 9 and 10) composed by preference of cast iron and formed
flat on two sides, so that when the whole of the filling frames k, k, are
in position a continuous or nearly continuous flat surface on both sides
will be produced on which the ice is to be formed.
In some cases two or more of the central pipes may be unprovided
with cores i, such pipes being made of a relatively small diameter if
required in order to equalize the thickness of the ice. Any suitable
number of these congealers (which are non-submerged) may be arranged
side by side at any suitable distance apart, according to the thickness of
ice required, and water is supplied in a sheet, stream, or spray to one
side at a time or to both side of any or all of the congealers simul-
taneously by means of overhead or intervening pipes 1, 1, suitably
supported in bearings m, and which are fitted with open cocks or outlet
nozzles n, n, having water deflecting wires n³, and are oscillated by
means of levers m³ and reciprocating rods o, o, operating automatically
or otherwise. The angle of the cocks or nozzles is thus gradually varied
so as to project the water on to the flat congealing surfaces formed by
the filling frames k, k, either throughout each portion in succession of
the entire depth of such frames, or for any desired portion of such depth,
the water being diffused over or flowing down the flat surfaces from the
part on which it was projected, and being congealed on such surfaces
through the abstraction of caloric therefrom by the vaporization or
partial of the circulating liquid ammonia, so as to produce flat sheets
or cakes of ice of any desired length or depth throughout the entire area
over which the water has passed.
In order to facilitate the detachment of the ice from the congealing
surfaces the filling frames are made hollow (by preference with a central
core p, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10), so as to form a chamber p into
which water or weak ammonia is introduced when the ice is to be
removed, which will have the effect by slightly elevating the temperature
of the congealing surfaces of loosening the adherent sheets or layers of
ice, whilst at the time contributing to the vaporization of the ammonia
contained in the pipes.

page_text: passage between and around the pipes. The congealing surfaces will
thus be divided, but the pipes so prepared are still connected together
in order to produce a continuous passage, a coupling bend q¹ of
additional length being in that case employed at the top or at the top
and bottom alternately, for the purpose of uniting each two adjacent
sets of pipes forming the divided congealer.
A similar arrangement to the foregoing is illustrated in vertical
section and sectional plan in Figures 12 and 13 respectively, the nature
of which will be readily understood without further description. The
vaporized ammonia is conducted from the congealers C through a
pipe 63 into the absorber D, consisting of a chamber in which the vapour
is mixed with a portion of solution of ammonia derived from the boiler A¹.
The solution in its passage to the absorber D is conducted through a
cooler or coolers F, cach composed of a series of superposed horizontal
pipes connected the one with the other at opposite sides alternately,
over which pipes a stream of water is caused to pass by the means
herein-after described. The liquid enters the bottom pipe in a warm
condition from the boiler A', and passing through the whole length of
cach pipe of the series in succession arrives in the absorber in a
perfectly cool condition. The mixture of vaporized and liquid ammonia
then passes through the recondenser E, which is situate below the
absorber D, and is constructed and arranged in a similar manner to the
condenser B, the liquid entering the top pipe r and passing through the
whole of the pipes in succession to the bottom one ¹, from which it is
conducted through the pipe d², and say the outer passage d' of the
serpentine d, d', into the boiler A, so that the same ammonia is
constantly circulating, and being reutilized the recondenser E like the
condenser B and the cooler F is non-submerged, but maintained in a
cool condition by means of streams of water directed over the same.
These three apparatus are by preference placed side by side, as shewn
in the end view and plan, Figures 14 and 15 respectively (Sheet 2), or as
in the modified arrangement, Figure 16, herein-after referred to, and
the water for cooling them is in the present example projected thereon
by means of an oscillating overhead pipe or pipes 1, 1, having open
cocks or nozzles n², n³, and operated by a reciprocating rod or rods o¹, o¹,
and levers m, the apparatus being generally similar to that employed
for supplying the flowing streams to the congealers C, as herein-before
described with reference to Figures 6, 7, and 8 Sheet 3); suitable

page_text: cocks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are provided on the pipes for regulating
the passage of the gas or liquid as the case may bc.
According to this Invention the congealers are made available for
sustaining the other apparatus or portions of such apparatus employed
in the manufacture of the ice by utilizing them as supports for the
structure on which the ice is produced and stored.
-
Figure 16 (Sheet 2), is a vertical section illustrating one mode of
carrying out this part of the Invention as applied to a house of one
story. I represents one of a series of beams or girders, which are
supported or partially supported by the congealers C, and sustain the
roof K of the structure, the latter carrying the condenser B, the re-
condenser E, and coolers F, as will be readily understood on reference to
the Figure. It is obvious that a similar arrangement of the congealers
may be adopted when the house consists of two or more floors or stories,
the congealers of one floor supporting the floor immediately above it.
This Figure also illustrates a convenient mode of arranging the apparatus
generally.
According to another modification of this Invention, which is illus-
trated by Figure 17 (Sheet 4), the recondenser is dispensed with, and the
construction and arrangement of the parts of the apparatus are modified
in the manner herein-after explained. In carrying out this part of the
Invention one or more ammonia boilers A may be employed according
to the size of the apparatus, but it is preferred to use one only of
sufficient dimensions when practicable. This boiler is heated by the
circulation of steam through a serpentine coil of pipes & immersed in the
ammonia solution contained in the boiler, the pipes being by preference
screwed into the end covert of the boiler. When two or more boilers
are employed they are heated in a similar manner. The boiler is fitted
with a pipe c² for the supply of gas to the condenser B, and with another
pipe 6' for the outlet of impoverished liquid ammonia, which latter is
conducted to a cooler F through the outer passage d' of a double ser-
pentine pipe, through the inner passage d of which the ammonia is
returned to the boiler A from the absorber D, as herein-before explained.
The impoverished liquid and the ammonia thus exchange temperatures
by respectively traversing the two concentric passages of the double
pipe. It is obvious that a double pipe coiled helically may be substi-
tuted for the doubly bent pipe shewn in the Drawing, as mentioned with
reference to the arrangement first herein-before described.
,

page_text: The boiler is provided with a pressure gauge 9 and a thermometer 10.
The condenser B is constructed in a manner similar to that herein-before
described with reference to the first modification. A series of the con-
densers may be employed side by side or otherwise if desired. The
ammonia condensed or liquefied by its passage through the condensers B
is conducted into one or more chambers or reservoirs e² situate at the
bottom, and provided with a cock or valve f¹ for the escape of air, and
with a glass gauge, if desired. The liquid ammonia is thence intro-
duced as required into the congealer or a series of congealers C constructed
in a manner generally similar to that herein-before described, but with
the passages for the ammonia either of varying area, as before-mentioned,
or of uniform area throughout their whole extent, as shewn. When a
series of condensers is employed they are arranged by preference side by
side, and the whole series may be supplied with liquid simultaneously
from a common pipe u at one end (see Figure 7, Sheet 3), the gas or
vaporized ammonia being discharged into another pipe u³, also common
to the series, at the opposite end.
The filling frames may be constructed either hollow, as herein-before
described, or solid, as shewn in the details, Figures 18 and 19 (Sheet 4).
The former Figure represents a transverse section, drawn to an enlarged
scale, of two pipes of the congealer, Figure 17, with its filling frame k,
and Figure 19 is a similar view of a modified form of congealer, shewn
in elevation in Figure 20, the pipes h being placed at a greater
interval, and the filling made of increased width. The vapourized
ammonia is then conducted into the absorber D, consisting of a chamber
of any suitable size and shape, in which it is mixed with a portion of
the impoverished liquid ammonia derived from the lower part of the
boiler, and which has been partially cooled by traversing the outer
passage
d¹ of the double serpentine pipe before mentioned, and further
cooled by being caused to pass in a descending direction through a cooler
or a series of coolers F, constructed in the manner herein-before described
with reference to the first modification of this Invention. The pipe for
the supply of gas to the absorber D is fitted with a back-pressure valve v
of any suitable construction, and the liquid is introduced through a rose
jet v¹.

page_text: ammonia of the specific gravity required for use in the boiler. During
its passage to the boiler it is caused to traverse a cylinder L, which is
fitted with a cock or valve to for the escape of air, and with a test
cock x for the facility of ascertaining the strength of the ammonia.
The ammonia is thus continually circulating and reutilized in succeeding
operations.
Water may be supplied to the exterior of the congealers, condensers,
and coolers, either in a manner similar to that herein-before described
with reference to the first modification of this Invention or by the
apparatus next herein-after described.
Over the condensers B and coolers F I provide perforated pipes 12, 12,
through the perforations in which the water is discharged in the form of
spray. In the case of the congealers I prefer to employ pipes with
fixed inclined nozzles n, as shewn in Figure 21, from which water
introduced under pressure is projected against dash plates y, whence it
is deflected in the form of spray over the congealers.
It is obvious that parts of apparatus constructed according to this
modification may be employed in substitution for corresponding parts
described under the first modification, and vice versa, if found convenient
in practice. It is also evcident that although I have shewn in my
Drawings the boilers as placed horizontally they may be arranged
vertically or at an angle if preferred; also that the congealer, condenser,
recondenser, and cooler, or any one or more of them in lieu of being
composed of a series of pipes connected together by end junction pieces,
as shewn in my Drawings, may consist of a continuous pipe bent to the
required form, and either made in one piece or in two or more lengths
connected together, as may be found most convenient in practice.
It will be understood that the relative situation of the parts shewn in
Sheets 1 and 4, is merely selected for the convenience of illustration, as
the several portions of the apparatus may be arranged in any suitable
position relatively to each other, whilst still retaining the connection
and communication between them requisite in carrying out the Inven-
tion. When this Invention is applied to the production of cooling
fluids, and to other refrigerating purposes suitable modifications will
have to be made in the details of the various parts, the mode of carrying
out which will be readily understood by competent persons conversant

page_text: with this class of apparatus. For example, the congealers may be
applied in the construction of rinks for skating purposes, in which case
it is obvious that they are to be arranged horizontally in lieu of vertically,
their construction being generally similar to that of the congealers
herein-before described. The congealers may also be arranged hori-
zontally when employed in the manufacture of ice for commercial
purposes if desired.
. Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The combination of apparatus consisting of boilers for the
vaporization of a suitable volatile refrigerating agent, a condenser or
condensers, congealers, or refrigerators, an absorber, a recondenser, and
a cooler, or coolers with their pipes and connections and appliances for
distributing water over the apparatus, the whole being constructed and
arranged, and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein-before described and as illustrated by Sheets 1, 2, and 3 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of apparatus consisting of a boiler or
boilers for the vaporization of suitable volatile refrigerating agent, a
condenser or condensers, congealers, or refrigerators, an absorber, and a
cooler or coolers with their pipes and connections and appliances for
distributing water over the apparatus, the whole being constructed and
arranged, and operating substantially in the manner and for the purposes
herein before described and as illustrated by Sheet 4 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly. The constructing congealers or refrigerators having pipes or
conduits for the traverse of the refrigerating agent, as herein set forth,
and filling frames arranged and fitted in such a manner that a flat
surface is obtained for the formation of the ice by the contact or
passage of water with or over the same, substantially as herein-before
described.
Fourthly. The utilization of the congealers or refrigerators as con-

page_text: supporting other parts of the apparatus employed in the manufacture of
ice, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edgar Gaylord Wheeler, have to
this my Specification set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day
of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-six.
EDGAR GAYLORD WHEELER. (L.S.)
EDGAR GAYLORD WHEELER. (L.S.)