IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING STOREHOUSES AND IN OTHER STRUCTURES IN WHICH A LOW TEMPERATURE IS CONTINUALLY OR PERIODICALLY REQUIRED
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Wood, of Lewes, in the County of Sussex,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING STOREHOUSES AND
IN OTHER STRUCTURES IN WHICH A LOW TEMPERATURE IS CONTINUALLY OR
PERIODICALLY REQUIRED."
Sealed the 26th December 1861, and dated the 31st July 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Wood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 81st
July 1861.
I, ALFRED WOOD, of Lewes, in the County of Sussex, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING STORE-
HOUSES AND IN OTHER STRUCTURES IN WHICH A LOW TEMPERATURE IS CONTINUALLY
OR PERIODICALLY REQUIRED," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the introduction into storehouses or other localities
wherein operations are carried on requiring a constant or periodical low
temperature of large masses of ice, snow, or other freezing material, which
are enclosed in air-tight receptacles, situated by preference in the upper
part of such buildings, and arranged in such a manner that they are effectually
protected by coverings, consisting of thick layers of good non-conductors of
heat from the influence of the external atmosphere, whilst these receptacles are
at the same time so arranged that between them and the rooms to be cooled
by them there exists an air space or air spaces enclosed by means of sliding
shutters, trap-doors, or such like arrangements, constructed of good non-

page_text: conductors of heat, thus forming a reservoir or reservoirs of cold air, which
cold air may at pleasure be let into the room or locality to be cooled by
opening the before-mentioned sliding shutters, the warmer air inside the
room or other locality taking its place and being refrigerated in its turn.
The temperature inside the building is thus capable of regulation to the
utmost nicety according as the sliding shutters or other contrivances are
more or less opened or shut, and if the shutters are kept completely closed
during one part of an operation a warmer atmosphere may be obtained, which
may be suddenly changed to one considerably colder during another part of
the operation, if requisite, by suddenly opening the cold air reservoirs, which
must then be made of considerable capacity. By this arrangement a great
economy of the ice, snow, or other freezing material is effected, as it is
effectually prevented from taking up any other heat than that contained in
the air inside the building which it is desired to refrigerate, and being once
stored in a compact mass in winter time, or when the material is cheap, it is
closed up hermetically, remaining in this state undisturbed until when after
a considerable lapse of time it is required to renew the same. It is essential
for the effectual preservation of the ice, snow, or other freezing material, that it
should be kept as dry as possible; for this purpose I provide the receptacles
containing the same, at their lowest point, with suitable arrangements for
draining off the water resulting from the melting of the freezing material,
owing to the absorption of heat from the air in the building, and this water
may be conducted thence through pipes or hollow columns traversing the
locality to be cooled, in order to insure that the water shall take up as much
beat from the air contained therein as will raise it to a temperature equal
to that of such air. I also trap such pipes or other conduits for the water
at their outlet, in order to prevent air from penetrating into the interior of
the receptacles containing the freezing material. It is further essential, in
order to economize the freezing material to the fullest extent, that the external
atmosphere should be prevented as much as possible from penetrating into
the interior of the building to be cooled, or that the cold air contained in
the same should not escape. For this purpose I provide the building with
double doors, and in some cases I form an entire enclosed space to serve as
a store room or for carrying on operations inside the building itself, and
this inner enclosure is then provided with shutters or trap-doors for admitting
the cold air from the vicinity of the ice chamber.. The whole building is
formed of materials which are good non-conductors of heat, and the walls as
also the floor are made of a sufficient thickness to prevent the warmth of
the external atmosphere and that of the ground from penetrating into the

page_text: building. Such buildings may be variously arranged, thus for instance,
they may be constructed of brick or stone walls, lined if necessary with a
thick layer of straw or other good non-conductor of heat, and having a gable
roof thickly thatched with straw, and in the interior of this roof, which has
also a lining of a considerable thickness of stubble or dried leaves may be formed
the ice chamber, which is supported on a strong floor, beneath which is formed
an air space enclosed by the before-mentioned sliding shutters or trap-doors
for letting down the cold air into the room beneath. The ice chamber may
be made of close-jointed planking, covered with lead or waterproof material
to prevent the moisture from penetrating into the surrounding lining of
stubble or straw, and an aperture is formed in the upper part of the same
for the introduction of fresh ice or other freezing material, which aperture is
effectually closed up when the chamber is full. Or such buildings may be
formed with ice chambers not only at the top but also at the sides of the build-
ing, care being taken to keep the ice or other freezing material in as compact a
mass as possible; or such buildings may consist entirely of a thickly thatched
gable roof, in the centre of which is formed the ice chamber, having on either
side a store room or rooms wherein operations are being carried on, the
ice chamber in this case reaching to the floor of the building, but separated
from the ground by a sufficiently thick layer of any good non-conductor
of heat, and from the store or other rooms by suitable air spaces enclosed
by the aforesaid sliding shutters or trap-doors. Or any other arrangements
may be adopted which embody the principles of this Invention, and which
are, firstly, keeping the ice, snow, or other freezing material in as compact
a mass as possible; secondly, forming the receptacle for the same if possible
in the upper part of the building, and keeping it as dry as possible by means
of suitable drainage; thirdly, protecting the same, as also the whole of the
building, from the action of the external atmosphere by sufficiently thick
layers of good non-conductors of heat, and where requisite forming air spaces
between such layers, provided means are taken for preventing the circulation
of the air in such spaces; fourthly, separating the ice chambers from the store
rooms or localities wherein operations are carried on, by means of air spaces
enclosed by sliding shutters or trap-doors or other such contrivances formed
of good non-conductors of heat, which on being opened allow the cold air
contained in such spaces to enter the rooms to be refrigerated; and lastly,
preventing as much as possible a renewal from the external atmosphere of the
air contained inside such buildings.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
January 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
WOOD, of Lewes, in the County of Sussex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alfred Wood, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred
Wood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Alfred Wood, my executors, administrators, and 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING STOREHOUSES AND IN OTHER STRUCTURES IN
WHICH A LOW TEMPERATURE IS CONTINUALLY OR PERIODICALLY REQUIRED," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred Wood, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Wood, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This Invention consists in the introduction into storehouses or other
localities wherein operations are carried on requiring a constant or periodical
low temperature of large masses of ice, snow, or other refrigerating materials,
which are enclosed in air-tight receptacles or chambers, situated by preference
in the upper part of such buildings, and arranged in such a manner that they
are effectually protected by coverings, consisting of thick layers of good non-
conductors of heat, from the influence of the external atmosphere, whilst these
receptacles are at the same time so arranged that between them and the rooms

page_text: to be cooled by them there exists an air space or air spaces enclosed by means
of sliding shutters, trap-doors, or such like arrangements, constructed of
materials which are good non-conductors of heat, thus forming a reservoir
or reservoirs of cold air, which cold air may at pleasure be let into the room
or locality to be cooled by opening the before-mentioned sliding shutters, the
warmer air inside the room or other locality taking its place, and being
refrigerated in its turn. The temperature inside the building is thus capable
of regulation to a very great nicety according as the sliding shutters or other
similar contrivances are more or less opened or shut, and if the shutters of the
reservoirs are kept completely closed during one part or period of an operation
or process which is being carried on in the localities, a comparatively warm
atmosphere may be obtained, which may be suddenly changed to one con-
siderably colder during another part or period of such operation, if requisite,
by suddenly opening the cold-air reservoirs, which for this purpose are made
of considerable capacity. The ice, snow, or other refrigerating material being
once stored in the ice chambers during winter time, or when the material is
cheap, these chambers are closed up hermetically, and are not again opened
until after a considerable lapse of time it is required to replenish them, and as
the refrigerating material is effectually prevented from absorbing any other
heat than that contained in the air inside the building which it is desired to
refrigerate, a great economy in the refrigerating material is effected. It is
essential for the effectual preservation of the refrigerating material, that it
should be kept as dry as possible; for this purpose I provide the receptacles
containing the same, at their lowest point, with suitable arrangements for
draining off the water resulting from the melting of the refrigerating material
consequent on the useful absorbtion of heat from the air in the building, and
this water I conduct thence through pipes or hollow columns traversing the
locality to be cooled, in order to insure that the water shall take up as much
heat from the air contained in these localities as will raise it to a temperature
equal to that of such air. I also trap such pipes or other conduits for the
water at their outlet, in order to prevent air from penetrating into the interior
of the receptacles containing the refrigerating material. It is further
essential, in order to economise the refrigerating material to the fullest extent,
that the cold air contained in the store rooms or other localities should not
be allowed to escape more than exactly necessary into the external atmosphere,
or that it should not absorb heat through the walls and floors of the buildings.
To this effect I provide double doors to the openings into the building, and, if
necessary, pad them with straw, felt, or other good non-conductors of heat,
and I either form the walls of the building hollow, and of a sufficient thick-

page_text: ness of materials which are good non-conductors of heat, or I line them either
inside or outside, or both, with a sufficiently thick layer of straw or other
similar non-conductor of heat. I further, in some cases, lay on the floor a
layer of asphalt or concrete so as to prevent the moisture from rising from the
ground into the building, and over such layer I then lay wood-block, or
brick or stone pavement, or a flooring of any suitable description of materials
being good non-conductors of heat.
But in order that my Invention may be more easily understood and readily
carried into effect, I will now proceed to describe the best means I am
acquainted with of performing the same.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, on Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, show one
arrangement which I adopt. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section through
the building on the line W, W; Figure 2 shows a transverse section, and
Figure 3 shows a sectional plan on line X, X. The same letters of reference
indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
The walls A, A, of the building, which may be of brick or stone, are formed
hollow, having narrow air spaces a, a, a, which form a very effectual obstruc-
tion to the passage of heat through the walls. At a little distance above the
ground a layer of asphalt B is laid in the wall all round the building, so as to
prevent the damp in the ground from rising into the walls, which would
otherwise increase the conducting power of the same. The roof C is covered
with boarding, over which is laid a thick thatch of straw D; inside the roof
is formed the ice chamber E, the sides of which consist of a double thickness
of close-jointed planking e, lined inside with a covering of lead, zinc, or other
durable waterproof material b, preventing the moisture from the interior of
the chamber from penetrating through the planking e into the thick layer of
straw, stubble, dried leaves, or other good non-conductor of heat F, which
surrounds the chamber. The chamber E is carried by the beams G and
joists H, which are supported by the cast-iron columns I, I. These latter serve
also as conduits to the water resulting from the melting of the ice, which
water drains into the boxes J, J, J', J', provided with gratings at the top, and
issues from the bottom of the columns into the conduit pipe x, through the
branches K, which are trapped as indicated; L is. the store room or locality
to be cooled, the floor of which is separated from the ground, firstly, by a thin
layer of asphalt M, and, secondly, by the wood-block paving N; the asphalt
preventing the moisture in the ground from penetrating into the building,
which should be kept as dry as possible, whilst the block paving forms a good
non-conductor of heat. Between the store room L and the ice chamber E is
formed the reservoir of cold air O, which is made to communicate at pleasure

page_text: with the store room L by means of the trap-doors P, P, P, which are formed
of a double thickness of wood, and may be lined with felt so as to prevent
heat from passing through them when they are closed. Access is gained to
the store room through the double doors Q, Q, which may, if requisite, be lined
with felt or straw. If windows are requisite in the building, they should be
as small as possible, and fixed in a perfectly air-tight manner, and they should
be double, or, still better, treble, with air spaces between them, and the glass as
thick as possible. The walls of the building are lined inside with a covering of
wood or felt U, so as to increase still more their non-conductability. The
water which collects in the boxes J, J¹, is conducted thence through the
pipes j, j, which are led along the walls of the room L, and eventually issue
into the conduct pipe x, having been previously trapped. In order to gain
access to the ice chamber E for the purpose of replenishing the same, an
opening R is formed at one end in the gable wall of the building, which
opening is carefully bricked up again when the ice chamber is full. A cor-
responding door S is formed in the end of the ice chamber E, and a crane T
is provided for raising the ice, snow, or other refrigerating material from
the ground.
Should operations be carried on in the room Lin which it is impossible entirely
to prevent the slopping about of liquids, then stone pavement should be sub-
stituted for wood, and arrangements for perfect drainage should be made,
taking care to trap all outlets of pipes.
On Sheet II. (Figures 4 and 5) is shewn another arrangement of my
improved refrigerating storehouse. Figure 4 shews & transverse section, and
Figure 5 shews a longitudinal section. The walls A, A, of the building are
here not shewn hollow, but on the outside they are provided with a thick
covering of straw B, to increase their non-conductability. A thin layer of
asphalt a is here also inserted in the walls at a small height from the ground,
in order to prevent the damp from rising in the same. The roof is covered in
with planks C, rendered impenetrable to the external air by any suitable
means, upon which a thick straw thatch D is laid; internally the roof is lined
with a double thickness of planking E, rendered impenetrable to the air, so
that between the inner and outer planking there exist air spaces F, F, which
constitute good non-conductors of heat. The chamber G, containing the ice,
snow, or other refrigerating material, is formed of a double thickness of close-
jointed plauking, lined inside with lead, zinc, or other suitable waterproof
covering. Between the chamber G and the locality Q, which it is required to
refrigerate, are formed the cold air reservoirs I, I, and J, provided with trap-

page_text: doors i, i, and j, j, j, through which the cold air is admitted from them into the
room Q. The ice chamber G is carried by the timber work K, L, M, and the
cast-iron columns N. Boxes 0, 0, with gratings are provided for collecting
the ice water, which is conducted by the pipes P, P, through the reservoirs J
and the room Q, in order to make, it take up as much heat as possible from
the air contained theirein, before passing into the traps R, R, whence it is
conducted into the conduit pipes S. The floor of the room Q is here formed of
the close-jointed boarding T (the seams of which may be paid with marine
glue) carried by the joists U, resting upon a layer of concrete X, which prevents
the moisture from rising from the ground into the building. The air
spaces Y, Y, between the joists form a good non-conductor of heat, care being
taken that the air contained in the same has no means of ingress and egress.
Or these spaces may be filled in with straw, stubble, or other good non-
conductors of heat. The entrance into the room Q is provided with double
doors V, V, and an opening is formed in the gable wall at W, for gaining
access to the ice chamber when the same requires filling, which opening is
bricked up when the chamber is full.
In Figures 6 and 7, on Sheet III. of the Drawings, is shewn another
arrangement of this class of buildings. Figure 6 shews a transverse section;
and Figure 7 shews a part sectional plan of the same on the line Y, Y. The
building is formed square on plan, and the walls are of wood, having inside
and outside a double thickness of planking B, B, the seams of which are paid
with marine glue or pitch, so as to render them impenetrable to the atmo-
sphere. Between the two linings of planking there exist air spaces b, b,
which offer great resistance to the passage of heat through the walls; these
are besides covered externally with a thick layer of straw C. The roof is
constructed similar to that already described with reference to Figures 4 and 5
on Sheet II. The ice chamber E is formed partly under the roof and partly
it descends into the centre of the room F. It is formed of a double thickness
of planking, covered inside with waterproof material, and the ice water is
collected at the upper part in the boxes K, and in the lower part in the box K',
which boxes are provided with gratings, and whence the water is conducted
through the pipes L, L', which are trapped in any suitable manner to prevent
the air from penetrating into the ice chamber. Access is gained to the latter
for the purpose of filling it with refrigerating material through the trap-doors
M and N. Double doors are provided at the entrance O into the room F.
Another mode of construction is shewn here for enclosing the cold air
reservoir G. H, H, H, are a series of louvres constructed in a manner as is

page_text: closed, to any required extent,
Other small reservoirs I, I, are
well understood, so as to be all opened or
simultaneously by the action of the lever h.
provided, which are closed by means of the trap-doors J, J.
Figure 8, Sheet III., shews a part longitudinal section on line Z, Z, and
Figure 9 shews a transverse section of another arrangement. Here the ice
chamber A, A, is constructed at the top, and on either side of the store room B,
which is here an enclosed space, entirely separate from the building itself, and is
formed of the cast-iron columns C, C, carrying the girders O, O, and beams D, D,
upon and between which run the sliding shutters E, E. The spaces G, G, G,
between the sides of the ice chamber A, A, and the store room B, constitute
the reservoirs for cold air, which are here of considerable magnitude. The ice
water is collected at top in the boxes H, H, whence it is conducted through
the pipes I, I, and at bottom it finds egress through the pipes J, J. The ice
chamber, as also the building itself, is constructed in a similar manner to the
arrangement shewn in Figures 6 and 7; the whole building is covered with a
thick thatch of straw to prevent the warmth of the external atmosphere from
penetrating into the building. The space M in the roof is likewise filled with
stubble, straw, or other non-conductors of heat. N, N, are the doors leading
into the store room B; similar doors P, P, being formed in the external walls
of the building.
J
Figure 11, Sheet II., shews a part longitudinal section, and Figure 10
shews a transverse section of another arrangement which I adopt. Here the
building is formed entirely of the roof A, covered both inside and outside with
close-jointed planking B, B, so that air spaces b, b, are formed between them,
for the better prevention of the penetration of heat; the roof is further. pro-
vided with a thick thatch of straw C. The ice chamber D, containing the
refrigerating material, is so arranged as to divide the space under the roof into
two rooms E, E', from which it is separated by means of the cold air
reservoirs F, F¹. These are enclosed by means of the sliding shutters G, G',
which are opened when it is desired to admit the cold air into the rooms.
The bottom of the ice chamber is kept some distance above the ground to
prevent the warmth of the latter from penetrating into the former, and the
intervening space may be filled with straw or other good non-conductors of
heat. The water is led away from the ice chamber through the pipes H, H',
which are bent so as to be always full of water at one part, and thus prevent
the external air from penetrating into the chamber. Tie rods I are provided
for relieving the rafters of the roof from the pressure of the ice. The ice
chamber D is constructed in a siniilar manner to those already described,
access being gained to the same through an opening in the gable end of the

page_text: building, where treble doors J, J, J', J, are also provided to the store
rooms E, E¹. The building may be constructed of any suitable length. The
possibility of keeping the temperature in the above-described buildings perfectly
under control, by admitting more or less of the cold air from the reservoirs into
the localities where operations are being carried on, render them particularly
applicable to the various processes of brewing, for storing beer, for the processes
of fermentation generally, and for storing perishable articles, such as provisions.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself
to the precise arrangements as shewn on the accompanying Drawings, as these
may be variously modified without departing from the principles of my
Invention, nor do I claim generally the storing of ice or other refrigerating
materials in buildings above ground, nor do I claim any of the details of the
various arrangements when considered apart from the whole; but what I
claim under the before in part recited Letters Patent is, the construction of
storehouses or other structures in which chambers are formed containing ice,
snow, or other refrigerating materials, for cooling or refrigerating rooms or
localities in such storehouses or other structures, which chambers are
effectually protected from the warmth of the external atmosphere, whilst
between one or more surfaces of the same, which are left exposed, and the
rooms or localities which it is desired to refrigerate, there are formed spaces or
reservoirs for cold air, enclosed by means of trap-doors or sliding shutters,
formed of materials being good non-conductors of heat, which trap-doors or
sliding shutters, on being more or less opened or closed, admit more or less of
the cold air from such reservoirs into the store rooms or other localities,
substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Wood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
above-named Alfred Wood, in
the presence of
EDGAR BLAKER,
Sol., Lewes.
ALFRED WOOD. (L.S.)