Improvements connected with Refrigerating Chambers and Safes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 13th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Refrigerating Chambers and Safes.
I, THOMAS HALL, of 22, Hillsbro', City of Sheffield, Butcher, do hereby declare
the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements connected with refrigerating chambers
such as are used for the preservation of meat game and other substances or foods.
These usually consist of a chamber with an airtight door or doors, and with
means for holding the meat or the like, such as racks, shelves, hooks or equiva-
lent means, and at one end of this chamber is placed a tank to contain the
refrigerating mixture, having an air space all round it.
Ice and a freezing mixture is generally used for producing the necessary degree
of cold, and this is placed in the refrigerating tank. The tank may be placed
in any convenient position within the chamber preferably near to the end farthest
from the door.
Hitherto when the full cooling capabilities of the apparatus are not required
it has been usual to reduce the quantity of the freezing mixture and this of course
is naturally in the lower part of the tank which is undesirable, as not giving
the best results.
The object of my invention is firstly to improve the construction of the tank
or tanks used for this purpose, and effect a better application or distribution
of the cold air within the chamber, with the advantages of great economy of the
freezing mixture; and secondly to provide a better arrangement of outlet pipes
connected with the tank and readier means of access to clean them out.
I therefore propose to divide the tank by means of a partition into two com-
partments, such partition extending from the bottom to the top or thereabouts,
and provided at the top with a flap or lid which can be turned over so as to close
either of the compartments as desired.
Thus in the cold months of the year when the full action is not required one
compartment only may be filled with freezing mixture, and in summer both may
be filled.
I propose in the second place to fix a horizontal draw off pipe outside the bottom
of the tank, communicating with both the compartments and with the overflow
pipe, one end of this straight horizontal pipe projects through the wall of the
chamber, both ends being closed by screw plugs or equivalent means, in order
that if any obstruction from sediment or the like occurs they can be removed and
a wire or rod can be passed through from end to end to clear it out.
This pipe is provided with branches or taps coupled to and communicating with
each compartment of the tank, and means are provided by which a wire may be
passed through them for cleaning purposes when so desired.
The overflow pipe is provided with a draw off tap placed in a position about one
third the height of the tank.

page_text: Where large refrigerating chambers are used, two or more tanks may be used
of a similar construction and provided with a similar arrangement of pipes.
Toted the fith day of Anvil 1890
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.
I, THOMAS HALL, of 22, Hillsbro', City of Sheffield, Butcher, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertamed in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in, or connected with refrigerating
chambers or safes, such as are used for the preservation of meat, poultry, fish,
game and the like.
These refrigerators usually consist of a chamber provided with an air tight
door and with racks, hooks and similar means for the articles of food to be arranged
upon, and a tank to contain the ice and the refrigerating mixture is usually placed
at one end of the chamber, preferably that which is farthest from the door.
Hitherto when the full refrigerating capacity of the apparatus is not required,
and if used would depreciate or ruin the quality of the contents of the chamber,
it has been usual to simply reduce the quantity of the mixture and this being
contained in the lower part of the tank, it acts chiefly upon the lowest and
coldest strata of air in the chamber, and much of its effect is thereby wasted.
The object of the first part of my invention is to avoid this waste of effect
and material by improving the construction of the tank, and to obtain thereby a
better distribution of cold air within the chamber, combined with great economy
in the amount of freezing mixture used; and secondly to provide an arrangement
of drain and outlet pipes connected with the tank, having more convenient means
of access to their interior for removing accumulations of brine, and for other pur-
poses.
The annexed sheet of drawings clearly illustrates my invention and its applica-
tion; similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in any of the figures.
Fig. 1, represents the interior of a chamber such as described, being that end
in which the refrigerating tank is situated.
Fig. 2, a cross section of the, chamber, showing the tank, with part of the
front plate removed to exhibit the partition, and the method of charging one
part with ice, also the drain and outlet pipes.
Fig. 3, plan of the said pipes.
Fig. 4, shoot for charging the tank.
In carrying out my invention, I construct the refrigerating tank T, with a par-
tition wall ', (or more than one if desired) which divides the tank into two
compartments C₁ and C, both the tank and the partition extending to the roof
of the refrigerating chamber; the said compartments being so arranged that
each has one of its sides towards the chambers A as shown in Fig. 2, and the
opening O, through which the tank is charged and which is usually made through
the floor of the room above, is situated exactly over the said partition, so as to
communicate with each compartment; it is closed by the usual stopper B, see
Fig 1

page_text: The tank is raised from the floor of the chamber and supported upon blocks
of wood or the like, and the top edge is brought close to the roof of the chamber,
and as a convenient means for charging either one or both of the compartments,
I construct a shoot S, Fig. 4, of sheet iron, wood or the like which can be passed
partly through the opening O, from above, the lower end then rests upon the
top edge of the partition P, and is retained there by the projections F, thus
leading into one, and shutting off the other compartment, and vice versa.
According to the size or shape of the chamber or for other reasons, I may find
it desirable to employ two or more of such divided tanks instead of one, and
charge with freezing mixture such of the compartments as may be most advan-
tageous.
In order to draw off the freezing mixture from either one or both compart-
ments of the tank, I arrange a draw off pipe D, fitted with suitable taps or
plugs.
It consists of a straight pipe D, communicating with each compartment of the
tank T, by means of short cross pipes E, but communication between each com-
partment may be shut off by a tap G.
When the plugs H and H2, are removed, a wire rod can be passed through
the pipe 1), to clear it from any accumulation of deposit, and when the plugs J
and J, are removed, a wire can be passed through the pipes E for a similar
purpose.
A small pipe and tap K is also provided for drawing off and testing purposes,
and a tray L to catch the dripping of moisture from the tank.
When preferred taps may be used in place of screw plugs.
It will be understood that the advantage of a divided tank consists in enabling
the owner to fill a compartment to the roof of the chamber with freezing mixture,
which quantity in an ordinary tank would all be in the lower half of the tank,
where its refrigerating power would be of only partial value.
I am aware that it has been previously proposed to place a partition in the ice
compartment or tray of a refrigerating safe, for a different purpose, and I therefore
do not claim broadly the use of a partition but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1-In combination with a refrigerating chamber, (such for example as A) a
tank to contain the freezing mixture (such as T) provided with a partition P
reaching to the roof of the chamber, dividing the tank vertically into compart-
ments as herein before described and shown.
2-In combination with a tank as described in Claim 1 and used in refrigerating
chambers, an outlet or draw off pipe, provided with taps or plugs, or both, and
so constructed that a cleaning rod can be pushed through the water way in all
directions for cleaning purposes as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated the 10th day of January 1900.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.