Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 6th Dec., 1887
LOUIS STERNE, of No. 2 Victoria Mansions, Westminster, 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:-
This invention has for its object the making of Ice by improved and simple
apparatus in combination with an Ice or Refrigerating machine without using any
extra fuel for the Distillation of the Water from which the Ice is made. To obtain
clearness and purity of Ice distilled water is used by a proper way of condensing the
exhaust steam from the Engine and freeing it entirely from air and all traces of
Lubricants.
I have a very simple means of separating all foreign matter before condensation
takes place so that the Ice is absolutely pure. As there is very seldom water found
free from germs or impurities I consider the distillation in the manner hereinafter
described the most efficient and important as well as economical in the production of
pure Ice. Should there be less steam used than is necessary to fill each day all the Ice-
cans in use a little additional water could be distilled for the purpose of supplying the
full complement of the Machine. This excess however will probably never amount to
more than 15% of the total amount of distilled water required.
It will be seen from the accompanying drawing that the Exhaust steam from the
steam-cylinder of the machine is conveyed to the steam-filter Fig. I, by a pipe a
D
011

page_text: the extremity of which is funnel-shaped and inverted at the bottom of the steam-filter
and partly submerged in water. The level of water in the steam-filter is regulated by
aswan-neck pipe a¹ which is constructed to convey the lubricant in the water from
the steam-filter and to prevent the admission of air into the steam-filter A Fig. I.
The exhaust, steam after leaving pipe a is cleansed by passing up through the water.
The water retains the lubricant contained in the steam on its admission into the steam-
filter. The steam then ascends through a perforated diaphragm and passes through a
filter of animal charcoal (or other filtering material) thence through pipe c in a purified
condition passes into the steam condenser Fig. II. To avoid the possibility of a back
pressure the steam-filter is provided with a safety-valve a Fig. 1. which allows the
steam to escape when its pressure is above atmospheric pressure.
The steam condenser may be of the ordinary Feed-water-heater type. In the
drawing herewith is shewn B. a cylindrical shell placed horizontally containing a
number of Iron or Steel tubes expanded at each end into diaphragmns fitted into the
shell. One of these diaphragms is fitted with two cast iron Domes and flanges divided
by a partition into two compartments one for the inlet and the other for the outlet the
other diaphragm is fitted with a plain Dome to allow the upper set of pipes to
communicate with the lower set. The water used to condense the steam is that
previously used for liquifying the compressed ammonia gas. This water enters the
steam condenser C, Fig. II, at the top through B and leaves it at the bottom at C³ at
a temperature of about 200° F. part of which is used to feed the boiler and part to
melt the Ice to facilitate its removal from the Ice-cans.
The filtered exhaust steam condensed in B is not allowed to be cooled to below 212° F.
This water leaves B. and is conducted by pipe d to a condensed water regulator C.,
Fig. III., The water regulator is employed (a) to prevent the formation of a vacuum
which would suck air into the condenser and (6) for controlling the temperature of the
condensed water. A copper ball or float e is fastened to a lover and pivoted at c' and
to this lever is fastened a rod c² which is connected with valve d'. The water level in
the water regulator is thus always maintained above the opening of pipe at so as
to prevent any air from entering the pipe. d The copper ball is so adjusted that it
will by lifting valve d only allow the condensed water to escape when the water level
is raised to a given height and will never allow the orifice of the pipe d to be exposed
to the air.
The condensed water leaving the water regulator at d' is conducted by pipe d² into
the condensed water cooler D., Fig. IV., This water enters the cooler at at the
bottom of cooler and leaves it at the top at f. Well or service water is continually
running over the pipes of the water-cooler and naturally in a contrary direction to the
course of the condensed water flowing through the pipes, for it is a well known fact
that if the cooler is made sufficiently high and the coldest water outside made to meet
the coldest water inside and the hottest water outside made to meet the hottest water
inside the circulating pipes, as it is in this case, the quantity of water required is
equal to the quantity of condensed water to be cooled, the condensed water leaving the
cooler at a temperature very little higher than the initial temperature of the herein
called the outside water.
Through pipe g the cooled condensed water enters the water filter E. Fig. V. and
being here cleansed of whatever impurity it may still have retained flows to the
wooden condensed water storage tank F. Fig. VI. This tank, Fig. VI., is constructed
of wood in order to preserve the condensed water free from taste. A cover is provided
to prevent the entrance of dirt or dust into the tank and in order not to expose the
condensed water to the air a float is provided. h¹.
The condensed water then leaves tank F. by pipe h² and is conveyed through
a flexible hose pipe to a brass pipe provided with a suitable foot-valve. This foot-
valve is shewn in Fig. VII and is so constructed that it can only open when its
stem touches the bottom of the Ice-can. G. Then the water flows out quietly so as
not to mix again with the air.
Having now a water entirely pure and free from air a tasteless clear crystallic Ice

page_text: is formed without using any more water than if the Ice had been made by the stirring
process but with less fuel as no power had to be furnished for the stirring apparatus
and no fuel expended for the distillation and filtration besides giving an ample supply
of feed water near boiling point.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The combination of the means and apparatus for the Making of pure and clear Ice
by distillation and filtering and without stirring substantially as herein described.
Dated this 24th day of Dataliar 1987