Improvements in Refrigerators; Freezers and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Refrigerators; Freezers and the like.
I, JEHU BAXTER SCHÄFER, of 21, Pine Road, Cricklewood, in the County of
Middlesex, Commercial Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in refrigerators, freezers and the like has for
its object to provide a perfectly ventilated refrigerator that can readily be cleansed
so that no matter what edible is kept in the refrigerator it can be afterwards
made sweet and clean so as not to affect other edibles and consists in provising
a current of cooled air across and round the vessel or container holding the edibles
and in making the said vessel or container removable or readily got at.
In one way of carrying out this invention, the double lined chest or case
packed with insulating material is provided neat its top with cross rods or wires
and at or near its bottom with a drain off cock or tap. The vessel or container
which is of smaller size than the interior of the chest or case has at its upper
end a lip or flange that rests on the cross rods or wires and holds the container
in place in the chest. The ice box or tray is suspended within a casing which
is entirely removable and fits onto the top of the chest and forms the lid and
between the bottom of the lid and the top of the container the chest is per-
forated all round for ventilation. The ice box is fitted with a drain off cock
that may lead into the chest or case. The air passes along the bottom of the
ice box and is cooled and descends to the bottom of the chest. The space between
the container and the chest may also be packed with ice. Between the bottom
of the ice tray and the top of the container is a veranda or partition to prevent
drops of water falling onto the edibles.
In a modification suitable more especially for ice cream freezers, the ice is
placed round an air tight container and the cover or top of the vessel is lined
with insulating material.
In a further modification, the chest is fitted with a door and the container pro-
vided with shelves is fixed in the chest. In this case the ice box is made of
annular shape to fit between the container and the chest and is removable.
Dated this 19th day of May 1898.

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention for improvements in refrigerators, freezers and the like has for
its object to provide a perfectly ventilated refrigerator that can readily be cleansed
so that no matter what edible is kept in the refrigerator it can be afterwards
made sweet and clean so as not to affect other edibles; and consists in provising
a current of cooled air across and round the vessel or container holding the edibles
and in making the said vessel or container removable or readily got at.
In one way of carrying out this invention, the double lined chest or case
packed with insulating material is provided near its top with cross rods or wires
and at or near its bottom with a cock or tap. The vessel or container
which is of smaller size than the interior of the chest or case has at its upper
end a lip or flange that rests on the cross rods or wires and holds the container
in place in the chest. The ice box or tray is suspended within a casing which
is entirely removable and fits into the top of the chest and forms the lid and
between the bottom of the lid and the top of the container the chest is per-
forated all round for ventilation. The ice box is fitted with a drain off cock
that may lead into the chest or case. The air passes along the bottom of the
ice box and is cooled and descends to the bottom of the chest. The space between
the container and the chest may also be packed with ice. Between the bottom
of the ice tray and the top of the container is a veranda or partition to prevent
drops of water falling into the edibles.
In a modification suitable more especially for ice cream freezers, the ice is
placed round an air tight container and the cover or top of the vessel is lined
with insulating material.
In a further modification, the chest is fitted with a door and the container pro-
vided with shelves is fixed in the chest. In this case the container may be made
of annular shape and be removable.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation
of an ice safe constructed according to this invention shewing the door open and
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section shewing a modified construction of ice safe suitable
for containing liquids that can be drawn off without opening the safe.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 5 a plan of a cheap form of portable
ice safe.
'
Figs. 6 and 7 shew two modifications of ice cream or similar freezers.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the chest or safe comprises the outer casing a the
inner metal container b and the insulating packing c, between the casing
a and
container b. One side of the chest is provided with a door d so that access can
readily be obtained to the chest. The metal lining 6 is hollow on the three sides
and the space e is open at the top only.
The ice chest f forms the top or cover of the safe and rests on the outer casing a,
Between the bottom of the chest f and the top of the hollow container b is a
drip cover g that is provided with clips r, passing over and resting on the turned
over upper edges of the container, and that prevents drops of water falling on
the edibles but which does not interfere with the ventilation.
The ice box h is suspended within the chest f by the cross wires i and drains
through the spout into the space e of the hollow container 6 which is provided
with a draw off tap m. The chest f is provided with a hinged or removable
cover n. The bottom of the ice chest f is provided with perforations o so that
air passes under the bottom of the ice box h and is then cooled and consequently
descends in the space d of the hollow container b finding it
way under drip
cover and cools the interior of the container. The interior of the container b
is provided with brackets p on which the shelves are placed for supporting the
articles inserted into the safe.

page_text: In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the ice chest f is shown packed with insu-
lating material. The hollow container is replaced by a stone or earthenware
jar s that is inserted in the metal container s¹ suspended on the brackets t¹ and is
provided with a draw off cock v. This arrangement is specially applicable for
holding lemonade or other liquid. The drip cover g completely covers the top
of the jar s.
In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5.the solid casings a and ƒ are
replaced by skeleton casings covered with canvas or similar material w. The
container has not double or hollow sides and the water from the ice chest and
the cold air passes down between the container 6 and the casing a. The whole
apparatus rests on a tray that collects the melted ice. The casing f is per-
forated at the bottom with holes y to distribute the melted ice evenly round the
container b.
Fig. 6 shews an ice cream freezer. The air tight metal container 1 fits in the
ring 2 supported within the packed vessel 3. The container 1 is provided with
an air tight cover 4 and with a drip cover 5 that covers the whole top surface
of the container. In use, the container is inserted in the vessel 3, and the drip
cover placed over it, and if desired the whole is packed with ice or-ice and salt.
The vessel 3 is provided with a cover 6 on which is placed an ice dish 7 and the
whole is covered by the packed lid 8 thus forming an air tight chamber com-
pletely covered on all sides with ice and salt. The lid is provided with a lock 9
to prevent the contents being tampered with.
Fig. 7 shews a similar arrangement to Fig. 6 except that the cover 6 and ice
dish 7 and the lock 9 are dispensed with, the lid 8 being consequently shallower.
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:
1. A refrigerator, freezer or the like provided with a removable container sus-
pended within the chest substantially as described.
2. A refrigerator, freezer or the like having the ice box suspended within a
chest substantially as described.
3. A refrigerator, freezer or the like in which the air is arranged to pass
between the bottom of the ice box and the top of the container substantially a
described.
4. A refrigerator, freezer or the like having a container and a drip cover com-
pletely covering the top of the container substantially as described for the purpose
specified.
5. In a refrigerator, freezer or the like, the arrangement of the container sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 so that it can be readily
cleaned and its contents readily got at without affecting the other parts of the
refrigerator or freezer.
6. The refrigerator, freezer or the like substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 1 and 2 or to Fig. 3, or to Figs. 4 and 5, or to Fig. 6, or to Fig. 7.
Dated this 6th day of January 1899.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.