Improvements in and relating to a Method of and 'Apparatus for Producing Cold and for Freezing Liquid and other Substances.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1890-Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to a Method of and 'Apparatus for
Producing Cold and for Freezing Liquid and other Substances.
I, HECTOR VON BAYER a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 2016 Thirteenth
Street, N.W. in Washington City, District of Columbia, Mechanical Engineer, 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:
My invention relates to the method of cooling air, and cooling and freezing liquids
or other substances.
My invention consists, first, in the method of cooling or freezing by creating and
maintaining a vacuum or partial vacuum in a chamber, and admitting air of
atmospheric pressure into the chamber causing the same to perform "outer work
during expansion by meeting with a resistance.
"
The method also consists in admitting to a chamber, in which a vacuum or partial
vacuum is maintained, air of atmospheric pressure, to expand against a resistance
offered by a body of water or any other stable or volatile liquid placed within the
chamber.
The method also consists in creating and maintaining a vacuum or partial vacuum
in a chamber and admitting thereto air of atmospheric pressure to expand against
a resistance offered, and in cooling or freezing within a chamber, partly or wholly
surrounded by a vacuum chamber, but not communicating therewith.
Any suitable apparatus may be used in practising my method; two of which are
shown in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1, represents a view partly in elevation and partly in section of an apparatus
in which the several features of my method are illustrated.
Figure 2, represents a view partly in section and partly in elevation, showing one
modification of the apparatus, for the cooling of a current of air or of a non-congeal-
able liquid passing within a coil.
In one way of practising my method, a chamber A, in which the exhaust is
formed, is composed of any suitable material to withstand the external pressure, and
from which leads an exhaust pipe C, to communicate with air exhaust pump D, in
any preferred way, and in which chamber A, is placed a liquid charged with salt to
prevent freezing, and to a height corresponding to the capacity of the machine.
Near the bottom of the vacuum or partial vacuum chamber, is an inlet or air
pipe M, through which air of atmospheric pressure is admitted to the chamber
the quantity being regulated by a stop cock N, of any usual or preferred
construction.
When the cooling or freezing is to be done with an apparatus, as shown in figure 1,
the vacuum or partial vacuum chamber is located in a tank or box E, which may also
be filled with water charged with salt, and in which the vessels to contain the water
or other article to be cooled or frozen may be placed, or the article may be placed in
said tank, or box E, without having the water placed therein.
A liquid gauge Ĺ, is connected to the bottom of the vessel, for indicating the
amount of liquid in the vacuum chamber, so that a sufficient quantity may be always
kept therein, to produce the best results in accordance with the amount of air
admitted, the liquid being shown as supplied from a tank P, communicating with
the vacuum or partial vacuum chamber through a pipe R, which is provided with a
suitable stop cork S, to regulate the supply.
The apparatus as thus constructed, operates in the following manner. Where
water is used as the resisting medium, the supply from the tank is turned on until
he gauge indicates that a sufficient quantity is in the vessel; the vacuum pump is then

page_text: put in action, which serves to exhaust the air from the chamber and discharge the
same into the atmosphere; after a sufficient quantity has been exhausted, to reduce
the pressure to the desired point the cock N, is opened to a greater or less extent,
causing the outer or warm air or that of atmospheric pressure, to be drawn into the
vacuum, or partial vacuum chamber, which in consequence of the sudden expansion
against the resisting body of liquid's performs outer work, and as a result. acting to
reduce the temperature of the entire volume within the vacuum or partial vacuum
chamber, and continue to still further reduce said temperature according to the
length of time the exhaust and admission continues; the exhausted air being
discharged by the pump directly into the atmosphere, and cool or freeze articles either
placed in the vacuum chamber or in the tank or box.
It will be seen from the above, that as the air at atmospheric pressure is admitted
to the vacuum or partial vacuum chamber, it is caused to meet a resistance, and
perform outer work at the expense of its inner heat, and that the air in its passage
through the resisting body of liquid also causing intensified vaporization of the same,
and as a consequence the temperature is lowered by a two-fold cause, viz.: the
expansion of air against a resistance performing outer work, and secondly, by the
simultaneous vaporization of the liquid.
In the modification shown in figure 2 of the drawing, the vacuum or partial
vacuum chamber, extending or located within the same a coiled pipe or worm K,
-through which air or a liquid to be cooled may pass and the air is admitted to the
vacuum chamber from a pipe leading into the same through a series of minute
holes.
Various modifications in the form of apparatus may be made in carrying out my
method without departing from the spirit or intent thereof, so long as chamber is
employed in which a vacuum or partial is adapted to be maintained, and to which
air may be admitted to meet with a resistance within said chamber, whereby air,
water or substances within or around the chamber may be cooled or frozen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. The method herein described of cooling or freezing by creating and maintaining
a vacuum or partial vacuum in a chamber, and of admitting air of atmospheric
pressure into the chamber, and causing the same to perform outer work during
expansion by meeting with a resistance, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The method herein described of cooling or freezing, which consists in
admitting to a chamber, in which a vacuum or partial vacuum is maintained, air of
atmospheric pressure, and causing the same to expand against a resistance offered
by a body or volume of liquid within the chamber, substantially as described.
3rd. The method herein described of cooling or freezing substance deposited in a
closed chamber, which consists in creating and maintaining a partial vacuum around
the conductive walls of the same, and admitting air of atmospheric pressure to expand
against a moving resistance therein, substantially as described.
Dated this le
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.