IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS
Year: 1885

page_text: PROVIDIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS " a communication to me
from abroad by David Hennessy of New York City, United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that system of refrigeration the object of which is to
dispense with ice as a means for refrigerating cars used in transporting perishable
freight and substituting therefor brine or other suitable cooling liquid reduced in
temperature to a low degree, say 20° Farenheit more or less below freezing point
and circulating continuously by pipes extending through the cars of the train so as
to obtain the desired temperature To this end a car is provided carrying an ice
machine and brine and water tanks and from this car pipes extend through the
freight cars and by a pump the brine after passing through the ice machine
refrigerator is forced through the train or cars in the one direction and returned to
the brine tank so that a continued circulation is kept up as hereinafter more
particularly described.
One part of the invention consists in the employment of a fresh water condenser
in combination with the motor that works the refrigerating apparatus and in
certain details connected therewith, whereby special advantages are obtained
substantially as hereinafter specified and the invention further consists in a novel
provision within the freight cars of the train, of certain brine passing, return and
circulating pipes as hereinafter described. The invention in such system of
circulating cold brine or other suitable cooling liquid through all or any of the cars
of a train and in which the whole forms a travelling cooling plant to be used in
carrying meat and other perishable articles from place to place, further comprises
various novel constructions and arrangements of parts whereby air is prevented
from lodging in the circulating pipes to the stoppage or interference with the
circulation of the cooling liquid the whole system of pipes is more perfectly secured
and supported the same beams that support the pipes in part also serve for
suspension of the meat or other perishable commodities to be preserved, escape of
the drip by condensation of moisture on the circulating pipes is effectually provided
for and other advantages are secured which enhance the value of the refrigerating
system substantially as hereinafter shown and described.
The refrigerating freight cars may be of similar construction in or throughout
a train of cars with the exception of the one end car that may be restricted to

page_text: carrying the ice machine or apparatus that serves to supply the cold brine which
has a continuous circulation throughout the car or cars from the cold brine tank of
the ice apparatus and back again as hereinbefore referred to. Said refrigerating
cars may be of any suitable construction for use in connection with the machine
car that is the car carrying the ice machine or liquid cooling apparatus. Thus they
may be constructed with a double top bottom and sides filled with saw dust or
other suitable nonconductor and be provided with an outer covering set off from
the sides and ends so as to form an air space open at the bottom and connecting
with ventilators at top of the car so that the air may pass freely upward to insure
a circulation of air and to cut off the direct rays of the sun from the main body of
the car and by extending the air space over the top of the car as well as at the
sides and by the opening to the ventilators, a constantly moving current of air will
be caused on all sides of the car so that the air will change constantly and there
will be no accumulation of heated air.
But it is preferred to construct the freight or refrigerating cars substantially as
hereinafter described for use in connection with any suitable machine car or ice
machine or apparatus using any suitable pump or forcing means for keeping up the
circulation of the cold brine in the refrigerating car or cars.
The machine car however it is proposed to construct substantially as follows
although its details or devices may be otherwise arranged.
Said car it is preferred to place at front of the train. It carries an ice machine
of any suitable kind comprising a refrigerating chamber compression or vacuum
pump, brine pump, engine connected for operating the compression or vacuum or
brine pumps and also operating a water pump that maintains a circulation of water
through the condenser and back to the fresh water tank, a tank to contain brine,
condenser tanks containing fresh water for and to supply the engine boiler suction
pipes from the brine tank to compression or vacuum pump pipes from the said
pump to the refrigerating chamber, pipes from the refrigerating chamber for
conveying the cooled brine, return brine pipes leading to the brine tank, a tank
and a series of pipes which are placed beneath the bottom of the car to serve as a
cooler for the water used in condensing. From the fresh water pump pipes extend
over the condenser tanks and these pipes are perforated so as to discharge the water
into the tanks in fine streams or in a spray. The fresh water pump is connected by
pipes to the tank before referred to as being placed beneath the car for cooling the
water used in condensing and the condenser connects by pipes to the condenser
tanks so as to obtain a circulation through the condenser, the tank the coil bencath
the car the pump and spray pipes.
The use of the fresh water condenser or condensing means in connection with
the motor that works the refrigerating apparatus is very important. By it the
engine is prevented from stopping for lack of water and on long routes and
especially where detention occurs on the road in a place where water is not
accessible by using the same water over and over again the refrigeration is
maintained and the contents of the train are preserved indefinitely without having
recourse to water outside of the car in which the refrigerating machine is placed.
Furthermore the arrangement of the water cooling tank and especially the water
cooling coil under the bottom of the car where they are always exposed to strong
drafts of air and the spray pipes which deliver the water of condensation in jets
cooled by contact with the air most effectually obtain the desired results so far as
the combination of a fresh water condenser with the motor that works the
refrigerating apparatus is concerned.
Each refrigerating freight car or car body is constructed with an outer casing for
saw dust or other nonconducting material and outside of this again another casing
leaving an air space.
The roof of the car is composed of three separated roofs but this construction may
be varied. Each of these cars is fitted with pipes which extend lengthwise of the
top of the car in the centre thereof. The one pipe forms the cold brine supply pipe
from the cold brine tank of the ice machine and the other pipe forms the return

page_text: pipe for the brine back to said tank after circulating through the refrigerating car
or cars said pipes connecting respectively in the car next to the ice machine with
the supply and return pipes of said machine or machine car. The pipes in each
freight car connect to opposite ends of back and forth or circulating pipes of greater
area than the supply or return pipes all being arranged in the upper portion of
the car.
The return and supply pipes are or may be continuous throughout the whole
series of refrigerating cars in the train, subject to control by cocks and the inlet and
outlet pipes connecting the supply and return pipes with the circulating pipes be
provided with cocks all for establishing or restricting and regulating the circulation
of the brine through any one or any number of the cars of the train at pleasure or as
circumstances may require and so that in case it becomes necessary at any time to
vary the temperature in one or more of the cars or cut off the circulation entirely
from any of the cars that can be done as it is allowed by the independent system
of circulation pipes in each car.
This arrangement also allows one or more cars of the train to be used for ordinary
freight in case that becomes desirable. The inlet branch for the brine from the
supply pipe to the circulating pipes is set inclining upward in direction of its
connection with said circulating pipes and it connects therewith near their bottom
or lower level while the outlet branch connects with the circulating pipes near their
top or higher level and has or may have an upward crook in it at its connection
with the circulating pipes.
This construction and arrangement relatively to the circulating pipes of the inlet
and outlet branch pipes effectually provides for the escape of air within the
distributing pipes or prevents lodgment of air therein which would stop or interfere
with the circulation of the brine. This it does automatically or without the aid of
cocks for blowing off the air. The beams may also be set inclining transversely of
the car to effect or to assist in effecting this result.
Again the whole system or series of supply return and circulating pipes with
their connections are supported in part by a series of cross beams which also serve
as the means of suspension for the meat or other substances to be preserved in
transit This is done by means of chairs secured on the said beams and arranged
to receive the circulating pipes down within them. But as the weight of said pipes
added to the weight of the suspended meat or substances to be preserved would be
considerable and liable to strain the beams and so to break or impair the joints of
the pipes said beams are stiffened or strengthened by clips or straps and rods or
bars connecting them with angle irons secured to the lower roof of the car and these
angle irons in their turn supported by bolts and strips with the next upper roof.
In this way the pipes are both supported from beneath and suspended from above
and the beams are held stiff and firm.
The chairs are of peculiar construction they being not merely made to receive
the circulating pipes within them but also made with a recess to receive within or
through them, and directly beneath the circulating pipes a series of longitudinal
gutters which connect at one end of the car with a cross gutter for carrying off drip
produced by condensation of moisture on the circulating pipes and which is
ultimately discharged down an escape pipe having a sealing trap to prevent the
ingress of warm air &. Furthermore said chairs are left open at their tops
immediately beneath the circulating pipes to prevent collection of drip between the
chairs and the pipes and to allow of the free escape of condensed moisture at such
parts and throughout the whole length of the pipes.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR RAILWAY FREIGHT CARS" (a communication to
me from abroad by David Hennessy of the City County and state of New York
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer) and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This Inven' in relates to that system of refrigeration the object of which is to
dispense with ice as a means for refrigerating cars used in transporting perishable
freight and substituting therefor brine or other suitable cooling liquid reduced in
temperature to a low degree, say 20° Fahrenheit (more or less) below freezing
point and circulating continuously by pipes extending through the cars of the
train so as to obtain the desired temperature. To this end a car is provided
carrying an ice machine and brine and water tanks, and from this car pipes extend
through the freight cars, and by a pump, the brine after passing through the ice
machine refrigerator is forced through the train of cars in the one direction and
returned to the brine tank so that a continued circulation is kept up as hereinafter
more particularly described.
One part of the invention consists in the employment of a fresh water condenser
in combination with the motor that works the refrigerating apparatus, and in
certain details connected therewith, whereby special advantages are obtained
substantially as hereinafter specified; and the invention further consists in a
novel provision within the freight cars of the train of certain brine passing, return
and circulating pipes as hereinafter described. The invention in such system of
circulating cold brine or other suitable cooling liquid through all or any of the
cars of a train and in which the whole forms a travelling cooling plant to be used
in carrying meat and other perishable articles from place to place, further comprises
various novel constructions and arrangements of parts whereby air is prevented
from lodging in the circulating pipes to the stoppage or interference with the
circulation of the cooling liquid, the whole system of pipes is more perfectly
secured and supported, the same beams that support the pipes in part also serve
for suspension of the meat or other perishable commodities to be preserved, escape
of the drip by condensation of moisture on the circulating pipes is effectually
provided for and other advantages are secured which enhance the value of the
refrigerating system substantially as hereinafter shown and described.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the figures.

page_text: Figure 1 is a sectional plan view and Figure 2 a vertical longitudinal section of
the machine car of the system with a portion of one of the freight cars connected
therewith.
Figure 3 represents a plan view, in part, of a refrigerating car body showing
mainly the arrangement of the pipes for supplying, circulating, and returning the
cold brine.
Figure 4 a vertical transverse section of the same, in part, upon a larger scale
on the line x, x, in figure 3. Figure 5 is a broken and partly sectional end view
of the refrigerating car body.
Figure 6 a vertical longitudinal section, in part, of the same on the line y, y,
in figure 4; and Figure 7 a detail view mainly showing certain of the means
used for carrying off the drip from the circulating pipes and for supporting
said pipes.
A indicates a refrigerating freight car or car body and which may be one of a
series of similar construction in or throughout a train of cars with the exception
of the one end car B that may be restricted to carrying the ice machine or
apparatus that serves to supply the cold brine which has a continuous circulation
throughout the car or cars from the cold brine tank of the ice apparatus and back
again as hereinbefore referred to. Said refrigerating cars may be of any suitable
construction for use in connection with the machine car-that is the car carrying
the ice machine or liquid cooling apparatus. Thus they may be constructed with
a double top, bottom, and sides filled with saw-dust or other suitable nonconductor
and be provided with an outer covering set off from the sides and ends so as to
form an air space open at the bottom and connecting with ventilators at top of the
car so that the air may pass freely upward to insure a circulation of air and to cut
off the direct rays of the sun from the main body of the car, and by extending
the air space over the top of the car as well as at the sides and by the opening to
the ventilators a constantly moving current of air will be caused on all sides of the
car so that the air will change constantly and there will be no accumulation of
heated air. But it is preferred to construct the freight or refrigerating cars
substantially as hereinafter described for use in connection with any suitable
machine car or ice machine or apparatus using any suitable pump or forcing
means for keeping up the circulation of the cold brine in the refrigerating car
or cars.
The machine car B, however, it is proposed to construct substantially as follows
although its details or devices may be otherwise arranged than as shown. Said
car it is preferred to place at front of the train. It carries an ice machine C of
any suitable kind. c is the refrigerating chamber, d, the compression or vacuum
pump, t is the brine pump, e is an engino connected for operating the compression
or vacuum and brine pumps and also operating a water pump ƒ that maintains a
circulation of water through the condenser u and back to the fresh water tank v,
is a tank to contain brine, v are the condenser tanks containing fresh water to
supply the engine boiler. h are suction pipes from the brine tank to pump t.
iare pipes from the pump t to the refrigerating chamber c. k is the circulating
pipe for conveying the cooled brine from the chamber c. is the return brine
pipe leading to the brine tank g. m is a tank and n a series of pipes which are
placed beneath the bottom of the car to serve as a cooler for the water used in
condensing. From the pumpf pipes o, extend over the tanks v and these pipes
are perforated so as to discharge the water into the tanks in fine streams or in a
spray. The fresh water pump f is connected by pipes w to the tank m and the
condenser connects by pipes to tanks v and m so as to obtain a circulation through
the condenser u, tank m, coil n, pump f, and pipes o.
The use of the fresh water condenser in connection with the motor that works
the refrigerating apparatus is very important. By it the engine is prevented from
stopping for lack of water, and on long routes and especially where detention

page_text: occurs on the road in a place where water is not accessible, by using the same
water over and over again the refrigeration is maintained and the contents of the
train are preserved indefinitely without having recourse to water outside of the car
in which the refrigerating machine is placed Furthermore, the arrangement of
the water cooling tank m and especially the water cooling pipes n under the
bottom of the car, where they are always exposed to strong drafts of air and the
spray pipes o, which deliver the water of condensation in jets cooled by contact
with the air most effectually obtain the desired results.
As shown in the accompanying drawings each refrigerating car A is constructed
with an outer casing b¹ for saw-dust or other non-conducting material, and outside
of this again another casing leaving an air space c'. The roof of the car is com-
posed of three separated roofs d'e¹ f¹ but this construction may be varied. Each
of these cars A is fitted with pipes B₁ C¹ which extend lengthwise of the top of
the car in the centre thereof. The pipe B' is the cold brine supply pipe from the
cold brine tank of the ice machine in the car B, and the pipe C is the return pipe
for the brine back to said tank after circulating through the refrigerating car or
cars, said pipes connecting respectively in the car next to the ice machine with the
pipes kl, of said machine. These pipes B¹ C¹ in each car A connect to opposite.
ends of back and forth or circulating pipes D' of greater area than the supply or
The return and
return pipes all being arranged in the upper portion of the car.
supply pipes B¹ C₁ are or may be continuous throughout the whole series of
refrigerating cars in the train subject to control by cocks g³, and the inlet pipe E¹
and the outlet pipe F¹ connecting the supply and return pipes B₁ C¹ with the
circulating pipes D¹ be provided with cocks ¹ all for establishing or restricting
and regulating the circulation of the brine through any one or any number of the
cars of the train at pleasure, or as circumstances may require, and so that in case
it becomes necessary at any time to vary the temperature in one or more of the
cars or cut off the circulation entirely from any of the cars, that can be done as it
is allowed by the independent system of circulation pipes in each car.
This arrangement also allows one or more cars of the train to be used for ordinary
freight in case that becomes desirable.
In the arrangement represented in the drawings it will be observed that the
inlet branch E for the brine from the supply pipe B₁ to the circulating pipes D¹ is
set inclining upward in direction of its connection with said circulating pipes, and
that it connects therewith near their bottom or lower level, while the. outlet
branch F connects with the circulating pipes near their top or higher level and
has or may have an upward crook in it at its connection with the circulating
pipes. This construction and arrangement relatively to the circulating pipes D¹
of the pipes E¹ and F1 effectually provides for the escape of air within the dis-
tributing pipes or prevents lodgment of air therein which would stop or interfere
with the circulation of the brine.
This it does automatically or without the aid of cocks for blowing off the air.
The beams G¹ may also be set inclining transversely of the car to effect or to assist
in effecting this result.
Again the whole system or series of pipes B¹ C¹ D' with their connections are
supported in part by a series of cross beams G' which also serve as the means of
suspension for the meat or other substances to be preserved in transit. This is
done by means of chairs H' secured on the beams G₁ and arranged to receive the
circulating pipes D' down within them. But as the weight of said pipes added
to the weight of the suspended meat or substances to be preserved would be
considerable and liable to strain the beams G¹ and so to break or impair the joints
of the pipes said beams are stiffened or strengthened by clips or straps I¹ and rods
or bars k¹ connecting them with angle irons secured to the lower roof f¹ of the
car, and these angle irons in their turn supported by bolts m' and strips n' with
the next upper roof e¹ In this way the pipes are both supported from beneath
and suspended from above and the beams G are held stiff and firm.

page_text: The chairs Hare of peculiar construction, they being not merely made to
receive the circulating pipes D¹ within them but also made with a recess 1 to
receive within or through them and directly beneath the circulating pipes a series
of longitudinal gutters & which connect at one end of the car with a cross gutter s²
for carrying off drip produced by condensation of moisture on the pipes D' and
which is ultimately discharged down an escape pipe u' having a sealing trap v¹ to
prevent the ingress of warm air &. Furthermore said chairs H' are left open
at their tops as at w' immediately beneath the pipes D¹ to prevent collection of
drip between the chairs and the pipes and to allow of the free escape of condensed
moisture at such parts and throughout the whole length of the pipes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1 In a refrigerating system for railroad cars in which an ice machine is used,
the combination of a fresh water cooler with the refrigerating apparatus and
with the motor which operates said apparatus, substantially as specified.
2 The combination with the car B ice machine C, condenser u, the motor which
operates said machine, and tank or tanks v for supplying both the condenser and
motor boiler, of the water cooling tank m essentially as described.
3 The combination with the car B, its ice machine C, and motor for operating
the refrigerating apparatus, of water cooling circulating means substantially as
described arranged beneath and outside of the car body, essentially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
4 The perforated water spray pipes o in combination with the tanks v, m,
pump and condenser u substantially as specified.
5 The combination with the car B, ice machine C, and tank or tanks v, of
the tank m, coil n, and spray pipes o substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
6 The cars A provided with pipes B¹ C' and the back and forth circulating
pipes D substantially as described.
7 In refrigerating cars in which cold brine or liquid, is circulated through pipes
within the car, the combination with the circulating pipes D' brine supply pipe B¹
and brine return pipe C¹ of the branch inlet pipe El arranged to rise or incline
upward from its connection with the supply pipe to its connection with the
circulating pipes, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
8 In refrigerating cars in which cold brine or liquid is circulated through pipes
within the car, the combination with the circulating pipes D¹, brine supply pipe B',
and brine return pipe C¹, of the branch inlet pipe El arranged to connect the
supply pipe with the circulating pipes at or near the bottom or lower level of the
latter and the branch brine outlet pipe F¹ arranged to connect the return pipe
with the circulating pipes at or near their top or higher level essentially as and
for the purpose described.
9 The branch outlet pipe F¹ constructed with an upward bend or crook 2, in
combination with the brine return pipe C¹ and the brine circulating pipes D',
substantially as specified.
10 In a refrigerating car the combination with the brine circulating pipes D¹
and chairs supporting the same, of the beams G for carrying the chairs and for
suspending the articles to be preserved within the car essentially as described.
11 The combination with the brine circulating pipes D¹, chairs carrying the
same, and the beams G¹ carrying the chairs, of the straps or clips I', bars or
connections k', angle irons, bolts m', and roofs e¹ f¹, substantially, as and for the
purposes specified.
12 In a refrigerating car, the combination with the brine circulating pipes D',
of the gutters 81, 82 and the drip outlet pipe u' constructed or provided with a
trap v essentially as described.

page_text: 13 The chairs H' constructed with a lower recess 71 and with an opening w¹ in
their top for reception of the brine circulating pipes D¹, and gutters 8¹ for carrying
off the drip from said pipes substantially as herein set forth.
.1h .:..ת
TI 100K
A. M. CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm Clark, Patent Agents,
53, Chancery Lane, London,