IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY COOLING AIR FOR PRESERVATIVE AND OTHER PURPOSES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph James Coleman, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark North Britain for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MECHANICALLY COOLING AIR FOR PRESERVATIVE AND OTHER PURPOSES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph James Coleman at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th November 1883.
JOSEPH JAMES COLEMAN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY COOLING AIR FOR PRESERVATIVE
AND OTHER PURPOSES"
This Invention relates to apparatus for mechanically cooling air by compressing,
cooling, drying and reexpanding it, and its object is by an improved combination
of parts to provide a machine which whilst of comparatively large power can be
conveniently divided or made capable of working at about half or less of its full
power. A ship fitted with the improved machine can use the full power when
bringing home from a distant port a cargo of meat or other perishable goods,
whilst the machine can be conveniently and advantageously used, working at its
reduced power, for preserving the provisions for the crew and passengers on the
outward voyage.
In the improved combination the steam cylinders for supplying the motive
power the air-compressing cylinders and the reexpansion cylinders are all arranged
horizontally, there being at one end of the machine a shaft having on it two
cranks at right angles to each other and the cylinders being in two parallel lines
extending from the cranks to the other end of the machine. In each line there
is nearest the crank shaft a steam cylinder, next a compression cylinder, and at the
further end a reexpansion cylinder. The two steam cylinders are of such relative
sizes as to be suitable for being worked together as a compound engine when all
parts of the machine are in operation,-but-they are provided with connections and
other requisite parts admitting of either cylinder being used alone when desired.
The pistons of the three cylinders of each set are on one rod or on rods fixed
together to act as one rod, which is connected to its crank in the usual way. The
crank shaft is in two parts which are connected by a coupling between the two
D

page_text: cranks, and this coupling is disconnected when the machine is to be worked at a
reduced power. For working the various pumps a rocking shaft is placed below
the crank shaft and is worked by means of levers on its ends connected by rods to
crank pins on the flywheels of which there is one on each end of the crank shaft.
The rocking shaft being thus doubly connected to the crank shaft will be worked
when either part of the crank shaft is working. A surface condenser with the
usual accessories is provided in connection with the steam cylinders so that the
steam motive power apparatus forms a complete compound steam engine having
cylinders which can be worked independently of each other when desired. For
very large machines the bed frame will most conveniently be made in two or in
some cases three parts but these must be bolted together to make one rigid bed
frame; whilst in some cases the entire bed frame may be in one casting. The
air pump is by preference arranged in the middle of the bed frame and is worked
by means of a bellcrank lever connected to a lever on the rocking shaft. The
other pumps are arranged along the sides and are worked by rods connected
directly to levers on the rocking shaft. In connection with each compression
cylinder with its reexpansion cylinder there are separate pumps for supplying the
water for cooling the air whilst under compression, and for acting in what are
known as the drying pipes. so that when one half of the machine is disconnected
the other half may still have working such pumps and accessories as may be
required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph James Coleman in the Patent Office on the 22nd May
1884..
JOSEPH JAMES COLEMAN, of Glasgow in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MECHANICALLY COOLING AIR FOR PRESERVATIVE
AND OTHER PURPOSES "
· My said Invention relates to apparatus for mechanically cooling air by compressing,
cooling, drying, and re-expanding it, and its object is by an improved combination
of parts to provide a machine which, whilst of comparatively large power can be
conveniently divided or made capable of working at about half or less of its full
power. A ship fitted with my improved machine can use the full power when
bringing home from a distant port a cargo of meat or other perishable goods whilst
the machine can be conveniently and advantageously used, working at its reduced
power for preserving the provisions for the crew and passengers on the outward
voyage.
In my improved combination the steam cylinders for supplying the motive
power, the air-compressing cylinders and the reexpansion cylinders are all arranged
horizontally, there being at one end of the machine a shaft having on it two
cranks at right angles to each other, and the cylinders being in two parallel lines
extending from the cranks to the other end of the machine. There are two steam
cylinders of relative sizes suitable for being worked together as a compound engine.
when all parts of the machine are in operation, but they are provided with
connections and other requisite parts admitting of either cylinder being used alone
when desired. The crank shaft is in two parts which are connected by a coupling
between the two cranks, and this coupling is disconnected when the machine is to
be worked at a reduced power. For working the various pumps a rocking shaft is
placed below the crank shaft and is worked by means of levers on it connected by
rods to crank pins on the flywheels, of which there is one on each end of the crank
shaft, or to eccentrics which may be, conveniently placed on one cheek of each
crank. The rocking shaft being thus doubly connected to the crank shaft will be
worked when either part of the crank shaft is working. A surface condenser with
the usual accessories is provided in connection with the steam cylinders so that the
stean motive power apparatus forms a complete compound steam engine having
cylinders which can be worked independently of each other when desired. For
very large machines the bed frame will most conveniently be made in two,-or in
some cases, more parts, but these must be bolted together to make one rigid
bedframe; whilst in some cases the entire bed frame may be in one casting. The
air pump is by preference arranged in the middle of the bed frame in a horizontal
or vertical position and is worked by means of a bellerank lever connected to a
lever on the rocking shaft; or it may be quite conveniently bolted to the outside
of the bed frame in a vertical, inclined or horizontal position. In connection with
each compression cylinder with its reexpansion cylinder there are separate pumps
for supplying the water for cooling the air whilst under compression and before it
passes through what are known as the drying pipes, so that when one half of the
machine is disconnected the other half may still-have working such pumps and
accessories as may be required.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and representing an example of my improved apparatus,

page_text: figure, 1, being a plan thereof and figure, 2, a side elevation. In these drawings
the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
My improved apparatus shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings has been
designed for being used on board a ship, and is of such a size as with a pressure of 5
steam of 40 pounds per square inch or upwards to deliver about 70,000 cubic feet
of air per hour such air having its temperature lowered about 150 degrees
Fahrenheit. The parts are constructed arranged, and combined so that the
complete apparatus can be conveniently fitted in a "between-deck" space; and the
machine assumes a somewhat elongated form horizontally. The parts are carried
by a strong bed frame, B, consisting, in the example delineated, of five
castings, B1, B2, B3, B4 and B 5, which are bolted together by flanges so as to
virtually form one piece. In bearings provided on one end casting, B1, of the
bed, frame, there is carried a transverse horizontal main shaft, S, which is in two
parts united by a coupling, 5, when the entire machine is working, and which is
formed with two cranks C1, C2, disposed at right angles to each other. There
are two flywheels, F placed one on each outer end of the shaft, S, but one of these
flywheels is supposed to be removed in figure, 2. On the next part, B 2, of the
bed frame are fixed two steam cylinders, 6, 7, which are of different sizes and
suitable for being worked on the compound system when both are in operation.
A surface condenser, 8, is formed in the bed frame section, B2, beneath the steam
cylinders, 6, 7; and an air pump, 9, is placed in the middle of the bed frame near
the condenser, 8, on the side towards the crank shaft, the parts for working this
On the third and fourth bed frame
air pump being hereinafter described.
sections, B3, B4, are fixed two air-compressing cylinders, 10, 11; and on the fifth
bed frame section B 5, which is at the opposite end to that carrying the crank
shaft, are fixed two reexpansion cylinders, 12, 13.
The six cylinders are arranged in two parallel lines, there being in each line a
steam cylinder, 6, or 7, an air-compressing cylinder, 10 or 11, and a reexpansion
cylinder, 12 or 13; and the pistons of each set of three are on one rod, 14 or 15,
or on rod lengths united to act as one rod, the two rods, 14, 15, being connected
by connecting rods, 16, 17, to the two cranks, C1, C2. The steain cylinders, 10,
11, and the reexpansion cylinders, 12, 13, are provided with slide valves and cut-
off valves arranged substantially as in refrigerating machines previously made by
ine; and the air-compressing cylinders, 10, 11, are provided with inlet and outlet
check valves of the usual kind. The slide and cut-off valves of the steam
cylinders, 6, 7, and reexpansion cylinders, 12, 13, are worked by eccentrics, 18, 19,
on the crank shaft, S, the valve rods, 20, 21, being practically continuous through
the valve casings of the steam cylinders, 6, 7, to those of the reexpansion
cylinders, 12, 13. In the example delineated the valve rods, 21, of the reexpansion
cylinders, 12, 13, are not in line with the valve rods, 20, of the steam cylinders, 6,
7, being connected by coupling pieces, 22, but if preferred, the parts can be easily
arranged, and have in some actual examples been arranged so as to have the
valve rods in line. The valve rods as also the piston rods work in guides of a
usual kind.
For working the air pump, 9, and other pumps there is provided a rocking
shaft, 23, carried below the crank shaft, S, in bearings at the lower part of the end
of the bed frame section, B 1. On the ends of this rocking shaft, 23, there are
fixed levers, 24, indicated by dotted lines in figure, 2) connected by rods, 25, to
crank or eccentric pins, 26, on the outer sides of the flywheels, F, with which
arrangement the required motion is imparted to the rocking shaft, 23, not only
when both parts of the crank shaft, S, are working but also when either part is
working alone (the non-working parts being of course then disconnected) The
air pump, 9, is worked by a bellcrank lever, 27, connected by a rod, 28, to a
lever, 29, fixed on the middle of the rocking shaft, 23. Near each end the rocking
shaft, 23, has fixed on it a lever, 30, connected by rods, 31, to the rod, 32, of a
pump 33; and this rod; 32, is continued through a stuffing box at the further end

page_text: or the pump, 33, to another pump, 34. The pump, 33; of which there is one on
each side. of the machine is for supplying water under the requisite pressure for
being injected into the air-compressing cylinders, 10, 11, and for being injected into
the top of the "tower" or vessel into which the compressed air passes on leaving
the air-compressing cylinders. This "tower" which is not shown in the drawings,
may be placed between the air-compressing cylinders, or it may he placed in any
convenient position in the neighborhood of the machine, the compressed air being
led to it by a pipe of which a portion, 35, is shown in figure, 1, and the water
being led to it by pipes of one of which a portion, 36, is shown in figure, 2. Of
the two other pumps, 34, one is a feed pump and the other a pump for circulating
water through the condenser, 8. The various pipe connections are not completely
shown in the drawings; but their arrangement will present no difficulty to those
acquainted with existing refrigerating machines..
The pipe connections and valves for supplying steam to the cylinders, 6, 7; are
arranged so that by a suitable adjustment of the valves stean can be supplied
directly to either. cylinder, a pressure-reducing valve being introduced into the
direct connection with the larger cylinder, 7, if considered desirable.
My improved apparatus as herein before described comprises in itself every
necessary part of a steam engine which can be worked with two cylinders as a
compound engine or with either cylinder working alone and directly supplied with
steam. The inachine can thus be arranged to work either with full power, and
with all the parts in operation; or with a reduced power and only some of the
parts in operation. The capability of thus reducing the power and throwing
some parts out of action can be availed of not only when a diminished power
is required but also when it may from any cause be requisite to examine,
adjust, or repair any particular part, so that repairs or other requirements can be
attended to without its being necessary to have the entire machine at rest.
Instead of working the rocking shaft, 23, in the manner herein before described
and as shown in the drawings, it may be worked by means of two eccentrics, one
being placed on each part of the shaft, S, and on one of the crank cheeks. With
this modified arra: ement the parts will be wholly between the flywheels, F,
instead of being partly outside of them.
"
Although the action of the Bell-Coleman refrigerating machines, to which class
my improved apparatus belongs, is now well known; it may here be briefly stated
that when the apparatus is in operation air is drawn into and compressed in the
cylinders, 10, 11, and has water injected into it whilst being compressed. The
compressed air passes next to the bottom of a 'tower" or vessel into the top of
which a spray of water is injected by a rose and which "tower" may or may not
be fitted with perforated diaphragms separated from each other by spaces. From
the top of the "tower" the compressed air is led to what are known as the
drying pipes" which are subjected to air of a temperature as low as is con-
veniently obtainable but not so low as to freeze moisture or water deposited in
the "drying pipes." From the "drying pipes" the air in its cooled compressed
tate is led to the reexpansion cylinders, 12, 13, and expanding therein not only
returns part of the power used to compress it but in doing so also has its
emperature correspondingly reduced. The exhaust ports of the reexpansion
ylinders, 12, 13, communicate with chambers or boxes, 37, formed beneath the
ylinders in the bedframe section B 5, and from these boxes the cold air is led
hrough pipes or conducting trunks to the meat room or chamber which has to be
efrigerated. Any snow that may be formed in the cold air is for the most part
eposited in the boxes, 37, whence it can be easily removed from time to time;-
nd in the event of any obstruction occurring in the cylinder exhaust passages easy
ccess for clearing them is provided by small doors, 38, over the passages.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
erforming the same I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
etails herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and

page_text: original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the nerein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of apparatus for mechanically
cooling air substantially in the improved manner shown in the accompanying
drawings and herein before described.
2. The combination of two steam cylinders connected to different cranks on
separable parts of a shaft each with an air-compressing cylinder and a reexpansion
cylinder having their pistons on the same rod as the steam cylinder, the said two
steam cylinders being of different sizes and arranged for working on the compound
system when operating together but also capable of operating independently of
each other, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
3. The arrangement of the rocking shaft for working the various pumps
such rocking shaft being placed below the crank shaft and worked therefrom
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In Witness whereof, I, the said Joseph James Coleman have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty-first day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
eighty-four
Witness
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
J. J. COLEMAN.
(MIN)