Improvements in or relating to Ice Making or Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Ice Making or Refrigerating
Apparatus.
A communication from ELIEL LONG SHARPNECK, of 356, Dearborn Street, Chicago,
State of Illinois, United States of America.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvement in ice making or refrigerating apparatus
of the class in which anhydrous ammonia, or other gas which is liquetiable under
mechanical compression, is employed as the refrigerating agent. While the inven-
tion is not to be confined to apparatus of any especially limited capacity, or for any
specific use, the improvements, for the most part, are designed more particularly for
the smaller types of individual refrigerating plants. The object is to provide a
refrigerating or ice making apparatus which shall require a minimum amount of
power for its operation as compared with its refrigerating capacity; which shall be
of an economical construction, and which shall require but little attention during its
operation. The principal improvements lie in the construction of the pump or
compressor, and in the valve which regulates the flow of liquid refrigerant to the
expansion or refrigerating pipe.
In the drawings:-
--
Figure 1 is a view in the nature of a diagram, partly sectional, and showing the
apparatus applied to a refrigerating chamber, which latter may be of any suitable
construction;
Figure 2, a vertical section through the pump or compressor, the section being
taken on line 2 of Figure 3, while Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an enlarged section of the upper part of the compressor, the section
being taken on line 4 of Figure 5, while Figure 5 is a plan section on line 5 of
Figure 4;
Figure 6 an enlarged plan section taken on line 6 of Figure 2;
Figure 7 a top plan view of a cross-head in the nature of a section on line 7 of
Figure 8;
Figure 8 a section on the irregular line 8-8 of Figure 7;
Figures 9 and 10 broken and broken sectional views of parts of an automatic
oiling mechanism for the cross-head;
Figure 11, a broken section of one end of the pitman or plunger, the section
being taken on line 11 of Figure 3, and enlarged to show the oil receiver and oil
ducts;
Figure 12, a sectional view of an expansion valve which controls the flow of
refrigerating liquid to the expansion pipe; and
Figure 13, a plan view of the handle of said valve.
A designates the compressor; B a condensing tank; U an expansion or
refrigerating pipe or conduit, and D a storage chamber in which the refrigerating
conduit is located. The chamber D may be an ice box, or of any suitable construc-
tion, to hold the articles or merchandise to be cooled, or the pans or receptacles in

page_text: which water, or other quid, is to be frozen in the manufacture of ice. It may be
of any size, the rest of the apparatus being properly proportioned thereto. The
shell or frame of the compressor A. comprises a base section A¹, an intermediate
section A2, a removable cover section A³, a compressor cylinder A* and a
cylinder-head A5.
E is a crank-shaft journalled in boxes and provided beyond the casing with
fly-wheels E E¹ one of which may be the driving pulley. G is a toggle-lever
connected at its joint by means of a pitman or connecting rod F with the crank-
shaft E, whereby it is moved at its joint from the straight line, as indicated in
Figure 2, to the end of the dotted arc. At the toggle-joint is the bearing pin s to
which the upper and lower togglo arms and the pitman F are pivotted. At the
upper end of the toggle-lever is a cross-head G₁ carrying adjustable chambered
shoes which slide on the cross-head guides Aº. The pivotal connection between
the toggle and cross-head is by means of a hollow pin to which extends an oil
supply pipe working at its lower end in an oil cylinder 3 where it is provided
with a ball-valve 74. The base A¹ of the compressor forms a chamber which is
filled to a certain level with oil, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. The cylinder
is supplied with oil from said chamber, and as the cross-head G¹ rises and falls oil
is pumped through the pipe 2 to the chambered pin from which it flows through
the ducts, shown most plainly in Figure 6, to the chambered shoes and lubricates
the guides A". Below the guides aro troughs q into which the oil drips from the
guides. From one said trough pipes q¹ lead to the bearings of the shaft E, and
from the other trough a pipe q extends over the path of the end of the pitman F.
The said end, as shown in Figure 11, is provided with an oil-receiving receptacle p
with an opening leading to the pin s. In each movement of the toggle joint to the
end of the dotted arc, shown in Figure 2, the receptacle p receives oil dripping
from the pipe q², whereby the toggle joint is lubricated.
The cylinder A is surrounded by a water jacket n having a supply-pipo n¹ and a
dischargo-pipo n². In the cylinder is a piston H adjustably connected by means of
the stem with the cross-head G¹. The stem H passes through the stuffing
box I in which thero is a perforated oiling ring I which is kept supplied with oil
by an oiling pipe 12. Above and below the ring I are packing rings, the parts
being held together by means of the gland I³. The construction of the stuffing box
is such that no appreciable amount of oil will be carried up into this cylind r.
Leading to the lower end of the cylinder A4 is a gas induction passage communi-
cating with the return pipe ¹ of the refrigerating pipe C. Extending through the
piston Hare ports over which is seated an induction valve which is held
normally to its seat by means of a spring 12 and at its upper face is normally flush
with the upper face of the piston. In the cylinder-head A is a chamber i from
which leads an eduction passage i¹ communicating with a discharge pipe M.
In the chamber i is an eduction valve 2 held normally seated by the spring
shown, and when seated extending at its under face flush with the inner face of
the cylinder-head. The construction is such that when the piston H is raised to its
highest limit it barely touches the top of the cylinder so as to leave absolutely no
clearance.
The pipe M passes through the condensing tank B to a refrigerating-liquid
storage-vessel M¹. The condensing tank B is supplied with water through a
pipe L, the overflow passing off through the pipe L¹. Extending from the
vessel M is a pipe M² communicating with refrigerating pipe C through an
interposed expansion valve N shown in detail in Figure 12. In the valve-device N
is a needle valve N¹ which closes by being screwed downward to its scat. On the
valve or stem N¹ is a handle N2 provided in its side with a notch h. On the valve-
shell is a loose ring carrying a spring-finger 2. The ring may be tightened
in place by means of a thumb-screw h³ to adjust it in proper position for the
purpose hereinafter described.
In operation return gas from the refrigerating pipe C is sucked through the
and port into the lower part of the cylinder A+, and as the piston descends
pipe

page_text: the gas rises through the ports lifting the valve . In the rise of the piston the
gas above the piston is forced outward through the eduction valve to the
passage and pipe M. In its passage under compression through the pipe M,
which extends through the condensing tank B, the gas is condensed into liquid and
forced into the receptacle M'. The pressure in the receptacle M¹ forces the liquid
through the pipe M² and valve N to the expansion coil or refrigerating pipe C
where the liquid expands and gasifies with the well-known refrigerating effect.
When the apparatus is adjusted it is noted how far the expansion valve should
be opened to admit the proper amount of liquid refrigerant to produce the desired
refrigerating effect of the pipe C. When the amount of opening of the valve is
determined the ring on the expansion valvo is adjusted so that the spring-
finger will engage the notch h on the handle N2, when the desired extent of
opening of the valve is reached. Thus the operator whenever he has closed the,
valve N will always know just how far to open it owing to the engagement of the
spring-finger with the notch h. Thus as described the proper circulation is kept
up and while in operation the apparatus requires practically no attention, for the
reason that all the moving parts are automatically lubricated.
All the pipes are
provided with valves, as shown in Figure 1, so that they may be opened and closed
whenever desired.
The construction of the compressor is such that the greatest leverage is brought
into operation at the time of greatest resistance. This is very important, because
it neutralizes any variations in the power necessary to operate the compressor.
Furthermore, one great advantage of the construction involving the toggle
mechanism lies in the fact that while the piston moves quickly to and from the
lower end of its traverse, it moves more slowly at the upper end of its traverse and
stops at the upper end of its traverse for a comparatively prolonged period. In
order that the compressor shall always work to its full capacity there should be no
clearance when it arrives at the end of its upstroke, for the reason that any gas
present in a clearance will expand as the piston moves away from the piston-head,
and to that extent will prevent the compressor from doing useful work. Were the
piston to start on its down stroke before the eduction valve 2 becomes firmly
seated a certain amount of the compressed gas would retrogress through the valve
before it closes. In the present construction the piston remains for a relatively
prolonged period at the end of the upstroke owing to the fact that the crank-shaft
and toggle-levers are both at their dead centres at that time. The aims which this
construction accomplishes are, that it causes the piston to move quickly down and
up, whereby no time is lost; to move slowly, even to stoppage at the end of its
upstroke to prevent retrogression of gas; and to so distribute the application of
power that it increases as the resistance increases and diminishes as the resistance
diminishes. Therefore the most economical results are produced with corres-
ponding advantages. In apparatus of this description it is useful to have the
compressor run during the day and stop over night. When the compressor is
started in the morning there is a back pressure in the system against which the
piston has to work when it commences the compressing operation. In a compressor
which requires, say, a one horse power motor to keep it in operation, after it has
been started, a motor of nearly two horse power capacity would be required to
start the compressor were it to operate in its initial movements to compress the
gas. To overcome this difficulty a valve starting passage ƒ is provided which
extends from the induction passage around to the top of the cylinder-chamber A+.
The said passage is opened and closed by means of a valve f having a handle f
the said valve being at the top of the chamber and so constructed as to avoid
clearance space. In operation, before starting the compressor, the valvo f¹ is
opened to afford communication through the passages f between opposite sides of
the piston. Thus when the compressor is started the piston will move practically
without resistance until it reaches full speed. The valve f is then closed causing
the piston to do useful work, and as it commences to compress only after reaching

page_text: full speed, it requires no more power to start the compressor than is necessary to
keep it going thereafter.
In the sides of the shell or casing of the apparatus are large openings closed by
means of removable doors P. When it is desired to get at the interior of the shell
the doors P and cover A³ may be removed. When the said doors and cover are in
place they render the shell practically dust-proof and prevent any oil from being
splashed out of the casing. All parts of the apparatus shown are constructed with
a view to economy, both in construction and operation requiring no especially
skilled attendant, either for running it or for the adjustment or replacement of
parts at any time. All moving joints are oiled automatically, and the apparatus
requires practically no attention except for starting and stopping it. The con-
struction so far as details or design are concerned may obviously be changed without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a refrigerating-machine, the combination with the compressor-cylinder and
the gas-return and discharge-conduits, of an eduction-port in the cylinder-head
communicating with the discharge-conduit, an inwardly closing valve at said port,
a piston in the cylinder, and means, substantially as described for operating the
piston to move the same to the cylinder-head approximately without clearance, and
at said end of its stroke to interrupt such movement for a period which is
prolonged over that at the other end of its stroke, whereby the seating of the
eduction-valve is effected during such interruption, as set forth.
2. In a refrigerating-machine the combination with the compressor-cylinder, and
the gas-return and discharge-conduit, of an eduction-port in the cylinder-head
communicating with the discharge-conduit, an inwardly closing valve at said port,
an induction-port towards the opposite end of the cylinder communicating with the
return-conduit, a starting passage extending from the cylinder-head to the
opposite end-portion of the cylinder, a valve for opening and closing said passage,
a piston in the cylinder, a passage through the piston, an induction-valve governing
said passage, and means, substantially as described, for operating the piston to move
the same to the cylinder-head approximately without clearance, and at said end of
its stroke to interrupt such movement for a period which is prolonged over that at the
other end of its stroke, whereby the seating of the eduction-valve is effected during
such interruption, as set forth.
3. In a refrigerating-machine, the combination with the compressor-cylinder, and
the gas-return and discharge-conduits, of an eduction-port in the cylinder-head
communicating with the discharge-conduit, an inwardly closing valve at said port
extending when seated flush with the inner face of the cylinder-head, an induction-
port toward the opposite end of the cylinder communicating with the return-
conduit, a passage through the piston, an induction-valve on the piston for opening
and closing said passage and extending when seated flush with the end of the
piston, and means, substantially as described, for operating the piston to move the
same to the cylinder-head approximately without clearance, and at said end of its
stroke to interrupt such movement for a period which is prolonged over that at the
other end of its stroke, whereby the seating of the eduction-valve is effected during
such interruption, as set forth.
4. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with the compressor-cylinder,
piston in the cylinder, and drive shaft, of a toggle-lever mounted to rock at one of
its arms on a fixed fulcrum, and operatively connected at its other arm with the
piston, a pitman connected at one end in eccentric operative relation to the shaft,
and at its opposite end with the toggle-lever, the parts being arranged to produce
prolonged stoppage and avoid clearance at the end of the discharge stroke of the
piston, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a compressor, the combination with the shell having a base-portion

page_text: forming an oil-reservoir and supporting the cylinder, drive-shaft, piston, piston-stem
and piston-stem driving cross-head, of bearings for the drive shaft on the inner
sides of the said base, a chamber in the cross head having outlets to the cross-head
guides, an oil pump in the said base-portion actuated from the compressor driving
mechanism and discharging into the said chamber, and oil conveying ducts
extending from below a said cross-head guide to the said drive-shaft bearings,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a compressor, the combination with the shell having a base-portion
forming an oil-reservoir, cylinder above the base-portion, the drive-shaft, piston,
piston-stem and piston driving cross-head, of a toggle-lever below and operatively
connected with the cross-head, a toggle operating pitman extending from the
drive-shaft to the toggle-lever, an oiling opening at the toggle-joint, an oil pump
in the said base-portion actuated from the driving mechanism, a chamber in the
cross-head into which the said pump discharges and having outlets to the
cross-head guides, and an oil conveying duct extending from below a said cross-
head guide over the path of the said toggle-joint oiling opening, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a refrigerating apparatus, the combination with the compressor, condenser,
refrigerating liquid holder and refrigerating conduit, of an expansion valve
between the said holder and conduit comprising a shell having a chamber provided
with inlet and outlet ports, a valve-seat at the inlet port, a valve at said seat a
threaded stem for said valve extending through a threaded bearing opening in the
shell, an operating handle for the stem, a stop on the handle, an axially adjustable
stop engaging-finger on the shell, and means for tightening the said finger in
adjusted position, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for
the purpose described.
1011
1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.