IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING ICE, AND COOLING AIR FOR VENTILATION AND OTHER PUR- POSES, IN PRODUCING ANHYDROUS LIQUID AMMONIA, EITHER FROM CRUDE MATERIAL OR FROM A SATURATED SOLUTION OF NH, AND APPARATUS FOR THESE PURPOSES"
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harrison Aydon, of Whitton, near Hounslow, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MANUFACTURING ICE, AND COOLING AIR FOR VENTILATION AND OTHER PUR-
POSES, IN PRODUCING ANHYDROUS LIQUID AMMONIA, EITHER FROM CRUDE
MATERIAL OR FROM A SATURATED SOLUTION OF NH, AND APPARATUS FOR
THESE PURPOSES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harrison Aydon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1878.
HARRISON AYDON, of Whitton, near Hounslow, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING ICE, AND COOLING AIR FOR
VENTILATION AND OTHER PURPOSES, IN PRODUCING ANHYDROUS LIQUID AMMONIA,
EITHER FROM CRUDE MATERIAL OR FROM A SATURATED SOLUTION OF N H₂, AND
APPARATUS FOR THESE PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to the production of clear block ice, the cooling of air for
use on board ship or elsewhere, and the production for refrigerating purposes of
anhydrous ammonia (N H₂) from a saturated solution of ammonia (Ñ H,) or from
crude materials yielding ammonia (N H₂).
In describing the nature of my Invention I shall refer principally to its use on
board ship, NH, being the refrigerant employed, but it is to be remarked that
parts of my Invention may be used in other situations, and that other refrigerants,
such as sulphurous acid (SO,) and others may in some cases be employed.
I keep the anhydrous ammonia in wrought-iron or steel bottles or vessels, which
are stowed away in a tank in any convenient place on board ship ready for use;
this tank may contain cold water or icc.
When the apparatus is about to be used for cooling purposes one of the bottles or
vessels is taken out of the tank and placed in a suitable position to be attached to a

page_text: distributor, in which are fixed a pressure gauge, liquid gauge, and thermometer.
Cominunication is established between this distributor and a suitable refrigerator
or cooler; the liquid anhydrous N H, passes into the cooling apparatus (which I
will assume to be a coil or coils), is there expanded, and absorbs in such expansion
the heat from air forced through and around such coil or coils. The N H, having
sufficiently expanded passes from such coil or coils in the form of gas into an
absorber, where it is met by a stream of cold water forced in or run in by gravity.
Thus a saturated solution of NH, and water is formed, which is run out of the
absorber into tanks, which may be stowed away in any convenient place in the
ship. These tanks have screwed plugs to prevent evaporation of the ammonia,
and are of such size as to be readily removeable to shore for treatment of the
solution to reproduce anhydrous N H,, as herein-after described.
If considered advisable the gaseous NH, can be directed overboard through a
pipe into the sea; in this case it will be wasted; or the gaseous NH, may be
liquified by compression, cooled partly by water, and partly by expansion of some
of the N H., and afterwards returned to the distributor.
The air, cooled as described, is caused to circulate through the meat room or
other chamber to be cooled, and may thence be passed through the engine room
and stoke hole. The meat room is suitably insulated or protected from the action
of external heat.
As is obvious the arrangement of the apparatus may be varied to suit circum-
stances.
When it is desired to produce ice, as well as to cool air, I cause the refrigerant to
traverse annular spaces in coils composed of series of inner and outer tubes. The
outer tubes are connected together at their ends alternately, and the inner tubes
pass entirely through the outer tubes. The refrigerant is in the annular spaces
between the inner and outer tubes. The inner tubes further from the inlet are of
smaller sizes to allow increased annular spaces for expansion of the gas. A con-
tinual stream or current of air is forced through the inner tubes. This air is
cooled by passing through them, and being made to pass over the surface or
between the two surfaces on which the water is being frozen gives out its cold, or
rather absorbs the heat from the freezing water, and so aids the production of ice
on the upright surface of the refrigerators. On board ship this air may be made to
pass through the meat room.
A non-freezing or uncongealable liquid surrounds the tubes of the refrigerator,
and acts as a conveyor of heat from the water to be frozen to the refrigerant con-
tained within the outer tubes of the refrigerator. When the ice has to be detached
from the surface of the refrigerator this liquid is drawn off and replaced by water
at the ordinary temperature, which soon loosens the ice on the surface, so that it
can be removed and stored in another place. The water-tight tank or refrigerator
case is then refilled with non-congealable liquid, and the process of forming ice
carried on as before. This case may be formed of sheet iron rivetted to a frame or
of sheets of tinned copper.
In making transparent block ice I keep the freezing water in circulation around
and between the division plates or cells containing the refrigerant by mechanical
means, or the force of a jet or jets or stream or streams of water or air forced into
and through the water in the ice boxes or chambers.
One arrangement of transparant block ice-making apparatus consists of a tank
provided with division plates or cells, through which circulates the refrigerating liquid
supplied through an inlet pipe, and afterwards carried by a suitable outlet pipe
back to the refrigerator, to be there sufficiently cooled or reduced in temperature
for use again.
Between the refrigerating cells are troughs or spaces, in which the water to be
frozen is placed. These troughs or spaces are furnished with cold water distributing
pipes, having one or more small orifices or nozzles through which cold and filtered
water is forced. These pipes are placed at one end of the troughs or spaces, and by
the action of the jets or streams of water which impinge on the body of water to be

page_text: frozen in the said spaces that water is caused to circulate, and thereby the air is
moved from the surface of the ice that is being formed upon the faces of the cells,
and, being set at liberty, rises to the surface and passes out of the freezing water.
Outlets are provided for superfluous circulating water, and by these outlets dirt
or sediment eliminated from the water in the process of freezing is conveyed to a
tank and filter, through which it is drawn prior to being again forced into and
through the proper inlet pipe to be re-used for keeping up the circulation of the
freezing water in the troughs or spaces.
+
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The refrigerating liquid is sent
through the inlet pipe into the cells, and, circulating through them at any required
velocity, passes out by suitable pipes and on to the refrigerator to be reduced in
temperature for re-use. Water having been placed in the troughs or spaces imparts
its heat to the refrigerant in the cells, the heat being carried off by the refrigerant,
leaving ice on the sides of the cells.
To prevent sediment circulating with the water I place a small dam at one end
of the plate cells. This prevents the dirt or sediment being taken round with the
freezing water, and it passes out with any superfluous water to be refiltered and
used again,
Anhydrous liquid ammonia (N H.) for the purposes of my Invention may be pro-
duced as follows:-A manufactured saturated solution of N H, is first placed in a
tank, from whence it is run into a heater to be measured. To commence the opera-
tion of producing or distilling the anhydrous N H, therefrom, the saturated solution
is run from the heater or vessel in which it has been measured into one of several
(say three) vapourizers. I will call this No. 1 vapourizer. The heater is a micasure
to contain only sufficient of the solution to charge one of the vapourizers at a
time.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The vapourizer No. 1 having been
charged, the steam is turned on from a boiler, and on a suitable steam-cock being
opened the steam passes through a coil of pipe in the said vapourizer and heats the
saturated solution to the required degree, thereby distilling, vapourizing, or sending
off the NH, in a gaseous state. This operation continues until the solution is
exhausted, and the spent liquor is then passed on to and through a waste and
cooling coil to be utilized.
The
gaseous N H, in its hot state now passes into a coil placed in the heater,
which in the meantime has again been filled with saturated solution from the tank,
where it is deprived of a portion of its heat by the said cold solution, and which
solution re-heated is in a short time rendered fit to be run into vapourizer No. 2,
and so on to fill No. 3, etc., in rotation. A pipe is attached to the heater to take off
any gaseous NH, that may be evolved from the saturated solution contained therein
by the heat communicated to it from the internal coil.
The anhydrous gaseous N H, on leaving the coil in the heater passes up and
through another pipe into a condensing coil to be condensed and liquified by cold
and pressure. This condensing coil is open to the atmosphere and is kept cold by
it, and small jets of water issuing from a suitable pipe (which cold water pipe may
he supplied either by a pump or other convenient means). This cold water falling
and trickling from one coil to another of the condenser, and acting in conjunction
with the atmosphere, keeps the coils cool in the ordinary manner. The condensing
water falls into a waste water tank placed beneath the condenser from which it is
conveyed to be cooled for use again, or it may be used in its heated state for other
purposes.
I may remark that I do not confine myself to the above form of condenser.
The gaseous anhydrous N H, having by cold and pressure been liquified passes
into a liquifactor. This liquifactor is fitted with liquor and pressure gauges, etc.,
and should be surrounded by a refrigerant so as to keep the liquid anhydrous NH,
as cool as possible, and so relieve the pressure on the other parts of the apparatus.
The liquid anhydrous N H, is then decanted from the liquifactor into wrought-

page_text: iron or steel bottles, or vessels ready for transport and use for refrigerating pur-
poses as herein-before described.
Instead of using a saturated solution of N H., it may be in a crude form, the
materials from which N H, may be evolved being well known. To begin, the crude
materials in the requisite quantity are placed in one (No. 1) of two retorts, and on
heat being applied (which may either be from coal, liquid fuel, or gas), the NH, in
the form of gus
evolved, and passing up an ascension pipe passes into a separator
or Woolff's bottle, wherein any salts that may be taken over are dissolved and
deposited in distilled water contained in the said separator.
When this distilled water is saturated it is drawn off and a fresh supply substi-
tuted from the separator, the gaseous N H, passes through the worm or coil in a
cooler, wherein a certain amount of the watery vapour contained in the gas is con-
densed and runs back into the separator; this cooler is kept supplied with a
constantly running stream of cold water; from the cooling coil the gas passes into
an analyzer where it is rendered anhydrous, then it passes into a condensing coil
wherein it is by means of cold and pressure rendered liquid, in which state it is
drawn off into a liquefactor, in which it is stored in readiness for being drawn off
into bottles or vessels for use as herein-before explained.
After the materials in No. 1 retort are exhausted, retort No. 2, having in the
meantime been charged, the same operation is gone through with respect to its
contents and so on alternately.
In some cases I may use apparatus for the continuous reproduction of anhydrous
liquid N H, the action of certain parts being intermittent, and such parts being at
times relieved of the great pressure that is required for producing anhydrous N H..
With this apparatus the saturated solution of N H is used, a sufficient quantity of
this solution having been placed in a vapourizer (No. 1), steam from a boiler is sent
through the steam coil, placed or fixed in such vapourizer; the heat from this steam
volatilizes, vapourizes, or evolves the NH, from the solution in a gaseous form, but
still containing some of the watery vapour for which it has so great an affinity.
From the vapourizer No. 1 the gaseous N H, and water vapour pass through a
suitable pipe into a coil placed in a heater or equalizer, which heater is filled with
a cold saturated solution of N H, by which all the heat than can be imparted from
the gaseous N H, in the coil is absorbed preparatory to the solution being run into
a second vapourizer (No. 2) for redistillation; on passing through the coil the
gaseous NH, is considerably cooled, and is deprived to a certain extent of its
watery vapour and which runs as condensed water back into the vapourizer; from
the cooling coil in the equalizer the gaseous N H, passes into a condensing coil
wherein it is further cooled, condensed, and rendered liquid by cold and self pres-
sure, then it runs into a liquefactor in which it is stored until required for use as a
refrigerant.
When all the NH, is evolved from the vapourizer No. 1, the outlet cock and the
steam cock are shut and the spent liquor cock opened, when the pressure still in
the vessel forces the spent liquor up and through the cooling coil, where it is cooled
and again rendered fit to absorb the gaseous NH, from the refrigerating rooms.
The liquid anhydrous N H, contained in the liquefactor is when required sent on
to the refrigerators to be used either for cooling purposes or for freezing and making
block ice, or it may be for other purpose.
The liquid N H, having passed through the last stage has now again become
gaseous, and is conveyed by a pipe or pipes to the spent liquor cooling coil where it
meets with the cold spend liquor, and is again absorbed to form a saturated solution
of N H, and then passes into the absorber where it is stored until wanted; from
the absorber, the saturated solution of N H, passes into the heater or equalizer to
be heated to the required degree and then run into vapourizer No. 2, when the
same process is continued and repeated; the like with respect to vapourizer No. 3,
and so on.
The process just described being intermittent, the pressure from the gaseous NH,

page_text: is only at any one time upon the vapourizer in operation, the coil in the heater, the
condensing coil and the liquefactor, the required pressure in the remaining portion
of the apparatus being only that necessary to raise the spent liquor up to the
cooling coil, and as all the parts of the apparatus may be of wrought-iron pipes
except the vapourizer, which may be of welded wrought iron, there is no danger of
explosion.
I sometimes adopt what I call stage refrigeration, that is, I produce cold by using
two or more refrigerants, the one for cooling the other, as for instance, compressed
air cooled and expanded for reducing the temperature of ether, ether for reducing
the temperature of sulphurous acid (SO), sulphurous aid (SO) for reducing the
temperature of ammonia (NH), the latter (NH) for reducing the temperature of
nitrous monoxide (NO) or carbonic acid (CO) and so on.
By using two or more of these refrigerants, one for reducing the temperature of
another, very low degrees of cold may be obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Harrison Aydon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd November
1878.
HARRISON AYDON, of Whitton, near Hounslow, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING ICE, AND COOLING AIR FOR
VENTILATION AND OTHER PURPOSES, IN PRODUCING ANHYDROUS LIQUID AMMONIA,
EITHER FROM CRUDE MATERIAL OR FROM A SATURATED SOLUTION OF N H,, AND
APPARATUS FOR THESE PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to the production of clear block ice, the cooling of air for
use on board ship or elsewhere, and the production for refrigerating purposes of
anhydrous ammonia (NH) from a saturated solution of ammonia (NH), or from
crude materials yielding ammonia (N H₂).
In describing my Invention I shall refer first to an arrangement designed for use
on board ship, anhydrous ammonia (N H₂) being the refrigerant employed.
I keep the anhydrous ammonia (NH) in wrought-iron or steel bottles or vessels,
which are stowed away in a tank in any convenient place on board the ship ready
for use; this tank may contain cold water or ice surrounding the said bottles or
vessels.
When the apparatus is about to be used for cooling purposes one of the bottles
or vessels is taken out of the tank, and placed in a suitable position to be attached
to a distributor provided with a pressure gauge, liquid gauge, and thermometer.
Communication is established between this distributor and a suitable refrigerator
or cooler; the liquid anhydrous N H, passes into the cooling apparatus (which I
will for the sake of explanation assume to be a coil or coils), is there expanded, and
absorbs in such expansion the heat from air forced through and around such coil or
coils.
The N H, having sufficiently expanded passes from such coil or coils in the form

page_text: of gas into an absorber, where it is met by a stream of cold water forced in or run in
by gravity; thus, a saturated solution of N H, and water is formed, which is run
out of the absorber into tanks, which may be stowed away in any convenient place
in the ship; these tanks have screwed plugs to prevent evaporation of the aminonia
(NH), and are of such size as to be readily removeable to shore for treatment of 5
the solution to reproduce anhydrous N H,, as herein-after described.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings shews in cross section part of a ship, and in
side elevation apparatus such as just referred to for cooling air for use on board such
ship; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
1 is a deck beam; 2, the orlop deck; 3, the hold; 4, the main batchway; 5, a 1
bulkhead; 6, a door therein; 7, an air-tight bulkhead; 8, the inner lining of the
ship; 9, the meat or store room; 10, the room containing my apparatus; 11 are
wrought-iron or steel bottles or vessels containing liquid anhydrous ammonia
(NH); 12 is a tank for storing the said bottles or vessels; 11* is a bottle or
vessel (containing liquid anhydrous N H₁); 13 is the distributor, to which this 1
bottle or vessel is attached or connected; this distributor is a plain cylindrical
vessel of wrought iron or steel, with welded ends, and is provided with a pressure
gauge, liquid gauge, and thermometer; 14 is a pipe leading from the distributor,
with branches to the coils of the air coolers; 15 are cocks in the pipe.
Two air coolers are shewn; each consists of a vessel 16 containing a cooling coil
17, communicating with the distributor, as described, and also with an absorber 18
by pipes 19 provided with cocks 20. The absorber 18 is a plain cylindrical vessel
of wrought iron or steel; within it is arranged a rose or perforated water distributing
pipe communicating with a suitable source of water supply. The absorber also
contains perforated shelves or trays to promote the absorption of the gaseous N H.
by the water; 21 is a fan driven by an engine 22, and arranged to draw air from
the outer atmosphere through a passage 23, and to force it by one or other of the
passages 24 or 25 and apertures 26 into one or other of the vessels 16 of the air
coolers, wherein such air is cooled by contact with the respective coil; 27 aro air
pipes communicating with an air passage 28, whereby the cold dry air from the air
cooler for the time in use is conducted to the meat room 9.
In the absorber 18 the gaseous N H, is met by a stream of cold water, which may
be either forced in by a small pump, or may be allowed to run in by its own
gravity. The saturated solution of N H, and water thus formed is then run out of
the absorber, and conducted (it may be through a flexible tube provided with a
cock 29 or otherwise) into one of the tanks 30, each of which is provided with a
screwed plug 31; these tanks may be easily moved to shore with their contents for
re-distillation to produce anhydrous N H,, as already mentioned.
In connection with this apparatus, in lieu of using the absorber 18, I may employ
apparatus such as is herein-after described, with reference to Figs. 3, 5, and 6, for
liquifying the gaseous NH, by compression and cooling it, partly by water and
partly by expansion of a portion of the NH,; or the gaseous NH, may beallowed
to escape to waste.
Apparatus, as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, may be used for refri-
gerating in railway vehicles.
Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section; and Fig. 4 is a plan, shewing an
arrangement of apparatus wherein the gaseous N H,, after having been used for
absorbing heat from air, is liquified by compression, and cooled partly by water and
partly by expansion of a portion of the NH, and is afterwards returned to the
distributor.
"
Fig. 5 is a cross section, shewing the refrigerator.
Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, shewing the said apparatus in connection with
a room for storing provisions on land; and Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the
same room.
In this arrangement the distributor 13, which is similar to that previously
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and is charged with NH, from store
bottles or vessels, communicates by a pipo and with branches 14 with two multi-

page_text: tubular refrigerators, one of which is shewn at 17, the other being precisely similar
and arranged below the first cooling coil 19*.
The pipe 14 and its branches are provided with cocks, whereby communication
between the distributor and the respective refrigerators may be opened or closed
as required. From each refrigerator a pipe 19, having a coil 19 in a vessel 19b
(containing cooling liquid) passes on to the compressing pumps 32, which are here
substituted for the absorber 18 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. 33 is a
pipe loading from the compressing pumps to the coil 34, in which the N H, after
compression is subjected to the cooling influence of water or other cold liquid
flowing from the perforated pipe or ring 35 (or it may be a perforated trough or
vessel), which is supplied from the pipe 35*. Within the coil 34 is arranged another
coil of smaller diameter, communicating by the pipe 36 with the distributor 13, and
by the pipes 37, 37*, with the gaseous NH, pipe 19.
Each refrigerator 17 is provided with an air casing 16, into which air is drawn
from the meat or storeroom through an air passage 25, which air, after being
cooled, passes through the fan 21, and is thereby forced again into the storeroom
through the air passage 28.
The transverse passage 28, which receives the cold air through the passage 28
from the fan 21, is provided with a number of branch distributing passages or
channels 28 arranged transversely of the room 9. These are formed with per-
forations, through which the cold air passes in jets to the room 9. The transverso
passage 25ª, communicating with the return passage 25, for air saturated with
moisture receives its supply from branch passages or channels 25b supplied from
the room 9 at 25°. 41 is an outor passage extending the entire length of the store-
room 9. This passage is separated from the room 9 by the insulated division 42,
in which double doors are provided to establish communication with the room 9.
The room is insulated or protected from the action of external heat. For this
purpose it is constructed with brick walls 9, having an air space 9b between them;
and within the inner wall is a lining 90, another air space 9d being left between
such lining and the wall. The lining is composed of two layers of match boarding
with an interposed layer of woolen felt or paper.
The floor of the room 9 is asphalted, and the roof is constructed in the form of a
tank of wood, lined with asphalt, to contain water.
Other rooms may be arranged above the room 9 if required.
The NH, having passed along the pipe 14, and through one or other of the
refrigerators 17, proceeds thence by the pipe 19 through the corresponding coil 19,
in its passage through which coil the NH, is cooled as much as possible by the
liquid in the vessel 19b; then the gaseous N H, proceeds by the continuation of
the pipe 19 to the pumps 32, whereby it is compressed and forced through the
pipe 33 into the coil 34; here it (the N H.) surrounds the inner coil, and is further
cooled, partly by the water or liquor flowing from the perforated pipe or ring 35
on to the coil 34, and partly by gaseous NH, admitted by the smaller pipe 36
from the distributor 13 into the inner coil contained in the coil 34; the expanded
NH, from the inner coil proceeds along the pipe 37 and branch 37* to the pipe 19,
wherein it unites with the main body of gaseous N H, that is passing through the
pipe 19 from the refrigerator to the pumps. 38 are scrapers for removing from the
refrigerators any snow or ice that may accumulate thereon, and which would
impede the action of the apparatus.
Fig. 5 shews another mode of removing the snow from the refrigerator pipes.
In this case salt water or brine is admitted by the pipe 39 into the air casing,
whence it flows by the outlet pipe 40.
The arrangement of apparatus just described with reference to Figs. 3, 4, and 6,
is applicable also for cooling meat or storerooms in the holds of ships. For this
purpose only slight alterations in the machinery will be requisite. The condensing
coil 34, as well as the cooling coils 19 and the pumps, should be enclosed in covered
tanks for containing the condensing or cooling water. The perforated pipe or
ring 35 would be dipensed with.

page_text: Refrigerating apparatus, such as described with reference respectively to Figs. 1
and 2, and Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, may be used in connection with various arrange-
ments of meat room or store room, and for other cooling purposes; and the cooled
air after being used for cooling a meat or storeroom may be further utilized for
cooling an engineroom or a stoke hole by being caused to pass through the same
from the meat or storeroom.
When it is desired to produce ice as well as to cool air I cause the refrigerant to
traverse annular spaces in coils, such annular spaces being composed of series of
inner and outer tubes. The outer tubes are connected together at their ends alter-
nately, and the inner tubes pass entirely through the outer tubes. The refrigerant
is in the annular spaces between the inner and onter tubes. The inner tubes
further from the inlet are of smaller sizes, to allow increased annular spaces for
expansion of the gas; a continual stream or current of air is forced through the
inner tubes, this air is cooled by passing through them, and being made to pass over
the surface or between the two surfaces on which the water is being frozen, gives
out its cold, or rather, absorbs the heat from the freezing water, and so aids the
production of ice on the upright surfaces of the refrigerators. On board ship this
air may be made to pass through the meat room.
A non-freezing or uncongealable liquid surrounds the tubes of the refrigerator,
and acts as a conveyor of heat, from the water to be frozen, to the refrigerant con-
tained within the outer tubes of the refrigerator. When the ice has to be detached
from the surface of the refrigerator this liquid is drawn off and replaced by water
at the ordinary temperature (say 60°), which soon loosens the ice on the surface, Bo
that it can be removed and stored in another place; the water-tight tank or
refrigerator case is then refilled with non-congealable liquid, and the process of
forming ice carried on as before. The case may be formed of sheet iron, rivetted to
a framo, or of sheets of tinned copper.
Fig. 8 shews in longitudinal vertical section an arrangement of apparatus
designed to produce ice as well as to cool air; Fig. 9 is a sectional plan; Fig. 10 is
an elevation; and Fig. 11 is a section in the line A, B, of Figs. 8 and 9.
43 are inlet pipes for N H.; 44 are the annular spaces in which the N H, cir-
culates, expands, and assumes the gaseous state; 45 and 46 are respectively tho
inner and outer tubes. Every two outer tubes are connected at one or other end
of the apparatus alternately by the pipes 47. The whole of the inner tubes 45 of
each coil communicate with an air passage 48 supplied from the transverse
passage 49, communicating with the fan 21 or other air-forcing apparatus.
By the use of the inner tubes, as described, I am enabled to utilize more
completely than is done by ordinary apparatus, the refrigerating power of the NH,
or other refrigerants employed.
In making transparent block ice in boxes or tanks I keep the freezing water in
circulation around and between the division plates or cells containing the refrigerant
by mechanical means, or the force of a jet or jets, or stream or streams of water or
air forced into and through the water in the ico boxes.
One arrangement of transparent block ice making apparatus consists of a tank
provided with divison plates or cells, through which circulates the refrigerating liquid,
supplied by an inlet pipe, and afterwards carried by a suitable outlet pipe back to
the refrigerator, to be there sufficiently cooled or reduced in temperature for use
again. Between the refrigerating cells are troughs or spaces in which the water to
be frozen is placed. These troughs or spaces are furnished with cold water
distributing pipes, having one or more small orifices or nozzles, through which cold
and filtered water is forced; these pipes are placed at one end of the troughs or
spaces, and by the action of the jets or streams of water, which impinge on the
body of water to be frozen in the said spaces, that water is caused to circulate, and
thereby the air is moved from the surface of the ice that is being formed upon the
faces of the cell plates, and being set at liberty rises to the surface and passes out
of the freezing water.

page_text: Outlets are provided for superfluous circulating water; and by these outlets dirt
or sediment eliminated from the water in the process of freezing is conveyed
to a tank and filter, through which it is drawn, prior to being again forced
into and through the proper inlet pipe, to be reused for keeping up the circulation
of the freezing water in the troughs or spaces; or water to be frozen may be other-
wise supplied, and air be forced in to promote the circulation.
The action of the apparatus, when water is used to promote the circulation, is as
follows:-The refrigerating liquid is sent through the inlet pipe into the cells, and,
circulating through them at any required velocity, passes out by suitable pipes and
on to the refrigerator, to be reduced in temperature for re-use. Water having been
placed in the troughs or spaces imparts its heat to the refrigerant in the cells, the
heat being carried off by the refrigerant leaving ice on the sides of the cells.
To prevent sediment circulating with the water I place a small dam at one end
of the plate cells; this prevents the dirt or sediment being taken round with the
freezing water, and it passes out with any superfluous water, to be refiltered and
used again.
Fig. 12 is a plan; Fig. 13 a longitudinal section; and Fig. 14 a cross section of
an apparatus according to this part of my Invention. 50 is the tank; 51 are
division plates forming cells to contain the refrigerant, which enters at 52 from a
main pipe 53 and leaves at 54 through another main pipe, passing on to the
refrigerating apparatus to be recooled. The ice forms on the division plates 51.
To keep the freezing water in circulation the supply is effected from a main pipe 55
through nozzles or jets 50, and is regulated by cocks 57. 58 are outlets for
superfluous water; 59 is a dam at the end of the plate cells to arrest sediment; 60
are corner pieces or fillings suitably curved, as shewn, to facilitate the circulation of
the freezing water.
Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are respectively a plan, a longitudinal section, and an end
elevation illustrating an arrangement in which the circulation is caused by
supplying air (or it may be water) to the ice boxes or jots; and also an alternative
plan, in which the circulation is caused by the rotation of a paddle wheel arranged
in a channel or passage out of the influence of the refrigerant, such channel or
passage communicating with the ice boxes. 50 is the tank; 51 are the division
plates forming the cells to contain the refrigerant, which enters at 52 from a main
pipe 53 and leaves at 54 through another main pipe, passing on to the refrigerating
apparatus to be recooled. 55 is the main air (or water) supply pipe; 56 are the
nozzles or jets; 57, the regulating cocks. If water be used outlets for superfluous
water should be provided, as in the preceding arrangement.
Referring to the arrangement illustrated to the right in Figs. 15 and 17, 61 is the
passage communicating at its ends with the ice boxes as shewn; 62 is the paddle
wheel arranged within the said passage; it is fixed on an axis, which passes through
a stuffing box 63 in the end of the tank 50, and is driven by any convenient
incans.
Figs. 18, 19, and 20 are respectively a part plan, a longitudinal section, and an
end elevation of a tank refrigerator, resembling those already described, and simi-
larly lettered, but provided with a different arrangement for circulating the water
to be frozen.
In this arrangement the circulation is caused by the action of small centrifugal
pumps 64, which draw water from the lower portions of the tanks at 65, aud force
the same water into the upper portions of the tanks in jets at 66.
By my arrangement, as above described, for circulating the water in the ice boxes
or tanks, I obviate the serious inconvenience pertaining to ordinary methods, of
having to remove the agitating apparatus to get out the ice.
When my Invention is used it suffices to remove the cover of the tank, where-
upon the ice blocks, having been loosened from the sides of the cell plates, can be
readily removed from the ice boxes, which will simply require a fresh supply of
water and replacement of the cover to be in readiness to recommence freezing.
Anhydrous liquid ammonia (NH,) for the purposes of my Invention may be

page_text: produced as follows, the apparatus being arranged to act in an intermittent or
alternate manner, as I will explain :—
Fig. 21 is a plan of an apparatus for producing anhydrous N H₁; Fig. 22 is a
side elevation; and Fig. 23 is a front elevation.
A manufactured saturated solution of NH, is first placed in a tank 70, from
whence it is run into a heater 71 to be measured.
To commence the operation of producing or distilling the anhydrous NH, there-
from, the saturated solution is run from the heater or vessel 71, in which it has been
measured, into one of the three vapourizers 72, 73, 74. The number of vapourizers
may be varied, although I prefer to use three.
The heater 71 is a measure to contain only sufficient of the solution to charge one
of the vapourizers at a time. I will assume the vapourizer charged to be 72. After
it has been charged the steam is turned on from a boiler, and on a suitable steam-
cock 75 being opened the steam passes through a coil of pipe 78 in the said
vapourizer and heats the saturated solution to the required degree, thereby distilling,
vapourizing, or sending off the N H, in a gaseous state; this operation continues
until the solution is exhausted; the spent liquor may then be discharged by the
pipe 79, and passed on to and through a waste and cooling coil, to be utilized for
other purposes, or to a wasto vat.
The gaseous N H, in its hot state now passes into a coil 80 placed in the heater 71,
which in the meantime has again been filled with saturated solution from the
tank 70; in the coil 80 the gaseous N H, is deprived of a portion of its heat by the
said cold solution, which becoming heated is in a short time rendered fit to be run
into vapourizer 73; the gaseous NH, from vapourizer 73, passes through a pipe 81
to the coil 80 in the heater 71, and communicates heat to a supply of saturated
solution of NH, for charging vapourizer 74, and so on in rotation. A pipe 82
is attached to the heater 71 to take off any gaseous N H, that may be evolved from
the saturated solution contained therein by the heat communicated to it from the
internal coil 80.
The anhydrous gaseous NH₂, on leaving the coil 80 in the heater 71, passes up
and through another pipe 83 into a condensing coil 84 to be condensed and liquified
by cold and pressure. This condensing coil 84 is open to the atmosphere and is
kept cold by it and small jets of water issuing from a suitable pipe 85, which may
be supplied either by a pump or other couvenient means; this cold water falling and
trickling from one part to another of the condensing coil, and acting in conjunction
with the atmosphere, keeps the coil cool in the ordinary manner. The condensing
water falls into a waste water tank 86 placed beneath the condenser, and from the
tank is conveyed to be cooled for use again, or it may be used in its heated state for
other purposes.
I may remark that I do not confine myself to the above form of condenser.
The gaseous anhydrous N A, having by cold and pressure been liquified passes
into a liquifactor 87, which may be a plain wrought-iron or steel cylindrical vessel
with ends welded in This liquifactor is fitted with liquid and pressure gauges, a
thermometer and cocks, and should be surrounded by a refrigerant (which may be
in a jacket), so as to keep the liquid anhydrous N H, as cool as possible, and so
relieve the pressure on the other parts of the apparatus.
The liquid anhydrous N H, is then decanted from the liquifactor 87 into wrought-
iron or steel bottles or vessels 11 ready for transport and use for refrigerating
purposes, as herein-before described.
To produce N H, from crude materials I employ the arrangement of apparatus
shewn in Figs. 24, 25, and 26. Fig. 24 is a plan, Fig. 25 is a side, and Fig. 26 a
front elevation. To begin, the crude materials in the requisite quantity are placed
in one (90) of two retorts 90, 91, and on heat being applied (which may either be
from coal, liquid fuel, or gas) the NH, in the form of gas is evolved, and passing
up an ascension pipe 92 enters a separator or Woulff's bottle 93, wherein any salts
that may be taken over are dissolved and deposited in distilled water contained in
the said separator. When this distilled water is saturated it is drawn off, and a

page_text: fresh supply substituted from the separator 93, the gaseous NH, passes by a
pipe 94 to and through the worm or coil 95 in a cooler 96, wherein a certain
amount of the watery vapour contained in the gas is condensed, and runs back
into the separator 93; the cooler is kept supplied with a constantly running
stream of cold water; from the cooling coil 95 the gas passes into one of two
analyzers 97, 98. Each of these analyzers is fitted with a series of perforated trays
or shelves, on which lime is placed to eliminate all traces of watery vapour from
the gaseous N H, and to further the same. In the analyzer the N H is rendered
anhydrous, then it passes by a pipe 99 into a condensing coil 84, wherein it is by
the cold and by its own pressure rendered liquid, in which state it is drawn off
into a liquifactor 87, in which it is stored in readiness for being drawn off into
bottles or vessels 11 for use, as herein-before explained.
After the materials in the retort 90 are exhausted, retort 91 having in the mean-
time been charged, the same operation is gone through with respect to its contents,
and so on, alternately.
Figs. 27, 28, and 29 shew an apparatus for the continuous reproduction of
anhydrous liquid NH,, the action of certain parts being intermittent, and such
parts being at times relieved of the great pressure that is required for producing
anhydrous N H.. Fig. 27 is a plan; Fig. 28 is a side elevation; and Fig. 29, a
front elevation.
With this apparatus the saturated solution of N H, is used, a sufficient quantity
of this solution having been placed in the vapourizer 72, steam from a boiler is
sent by the pipe 75 through the steam coil 78, placed or fixed in the vapourizer ;
the heat from this steam volatilizes, vapourizes, or evolves the NH, from the
solution in a gaseous form, but still containing some of the watery vapour for which
it has so great an affinity.
From the vapourizer 72 the gaseous NH, and water vapour pass through a
pipe 81 into a coil placed in the heater or equalizer 71, which is filled with a cold
saturated solution of N H,, by which all the heat that can be imparted from the
gaseous N H, in the coil 80 is absorbed preparatory to the solution being run
into the second vapourizer 73 for redistillation. On passing through the
coil 80 the gaseous N H, is considerably cooled, and is deprived to a certain extent
of its watery vapour, which runs as condensed water back into the vapourizer 72.
From the cooling coil in the equalizer the gaseous NH, passes by a pipe 83 into a
condensing coil 84, wherein it is further cooled, condensed, and rendered liquid by
cold and self pressure; then it runs into a liquifactor 87, in which it is stored until
required for use as a refrigerant.
When all the N H, is evolved from the vapourizer 72 the outlet cock 100 and
the steam cock 101 are shut, and the spent liquor cock 102 opened, when the
pressure still in the vessel 72 forces the spent liquor up the pipe 103, and through
the cooling coil 104, where it is cooled and again rendered fit to absorb the
gaseous NH, from the refrigerating rooms.
The liquid anhydrous N H, contained in the liquifactor 87 is, when required, sent
on by the pipe 105 to the refrigerators, to be used either for cooling purposes or for
freezing and making block ice, or it may be for other purpose.
The liquid N H having passed through the last stage has now again become
gaseous, and is conveyed by a pipe 106 (or pipes) to the spent liquor cooling
coil 104, where it meets at 104* with the cold spent liquor, and is again absorbed
to form a saturated solution of NH, and then passes into the absorber 107, where
it is stored until wanted; from the absorber 107 the saturated solution of N H,
passes into the heater or equalizer 71 to be heated to the required degree and then
run by the pipe 108 into the vapourizer 73, when the same process as already
described with reference to the vapourizer 72 is repeated; the same process obtains
with respect the vapourizer 74, and so on.
The processes above described, with reference respectively to Figs. 21, 22, and 23,
and to Figs. 27, 28, and 29 being intermittent, the pressure from the gascous N H,
is only at any one time upon the vapourizer in operation, the coil in the heater, the

page_text: condensing coil and the liquifactor, the pressure required in the remaining portion
of the apparatus being only such as may be necessary to raise the spent liquor up
to the cooling coil, and as all the parts of the apparatus may be of wrought-iron
pipes, except the vapourizer, which may be of welded wrought iron, there is no
danger of explosion.
Having described the nature of my said Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying it into practical effect, I hereby declare that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as secured to me under the Letters Patent herein-
before in part recited is,-
AMAN
1. The method, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings, of using in connection with cooling apparatus metal
bottles or vessels for storing and supplying the refrigerant in a liquid anhydrous
state.
2. The method, substantially as herein-before described with reference to Figs. 3,
4, and 6 of the Drawings, of liquifying the gaseous refrigerant after it has been
used for refrigerating.
3. The insulating and cooling arrangement, substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the Drawings.
4. The construction of combined ice-making and air-cooling apparatus, sub-
stantially as herein-before described with reference to Figs. 8, 9, 10, and 11 of the
Drawings.
5. The method, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 12, 13, and 14
of the Drawings, of promoting the circulation of the water in ice boxes or freezing
tanks by jets of water or air.
6. The arrangement of ice-making apparatus, as shewn in and described with
reference to Figs. 12, 13, and 14 of the Drawings.
7. The arrangement of ice-making apparatus, as shown in and described with
reference to Fig. 16 and the left-hand portions of Figs. 15 and 17 of the Drawings.
8. The method of promoting the circulation of the water in ice boxes or freezing
tanks by the use of a paddle wheel arranged in a channel communicating with such
ice boxes or tanks, substantially as shewn in and described with reference to
Figs. 15 and 17 of the Drawings.
9. The method of mounting the circulation of water in ice boxes or freezing
tanks, substantially as shewn in and described with reference to Figs. 18, 19,
and 20 of the Drawings.
10. The arranging apparatus for producing anhydrous N H, to operate in the
intermittent or alternate manner, herein-before described with reference to Figs.
21, 22, and 23 of the Drawings, and also with reference to Figs. 27, 28, and 29 of
the Drawings.
11. The arrangement of apparatus described with reference to Figs. 24, 25,
and 26 of the Drawings, for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Harrison Aydon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
LURA