IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of the Firm of Herbert and
Company, Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster,
Civil Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF ICE." A. communication from abroad by Thomas Lovejoy
Rankin and Charles Adams Randall, both of New York City, United States of
America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1881.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of
Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ICE." A communication from abroad
by Thomas Lovejoy Rankin and Charles Adams Randall, both of New York City,
United States of America.
My Invention relates to ammonia stills for ice machines, and has for its object
to prevent the boiling over of the ammonia during the process of distilling the
same.
'
To such end my improvement consists in causing the ammonia water to traverse
separately pipes passed through a boiler shell or furnace and blowing off the water
and steam from the lower and hotter still pipes through a chamber which receives
the incoming ammonia water into the upper still pipes which lead from said
chamber. In order to more fully explain my Invention I will first describe the
same in connection with the Drawings and then point out in the claims the features
which I regard as novel, referring by letter to the accompanying Drawings, in
which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section; Figure 2, an end view partly in
section; Figures 3 and 4 are details of parts of my Invention; Figure 5 a vertical
section through the ends of the still pipes and their connecting pipes, and Figure 6
a view of the end of the still showing the manner of connecting the still pipes by
smaller connecting pipes.
A designates the boiler shell into which steam is admitted for the purpose of
heating the still pipes. The still pipes which pass through the boiler shell are
arranged to form a lower series or system of pipes B, and an upper series of

page_text: pipes B', B¹, which extend out to some length beyond the rear end of the boiler
shell and connect with a chamber D formed by a cast iron casing D¹.
Instead of employing the boiler shell herein shown the still pipes may pass
directly through the furnace and thus be subjected to the direct action of
the fire.'
A vertical stand pipe C rises from the chamber D, and connecting with the upper
end of the stand pipe are two pipes f and g, the pipe f being employed for
admitting ammonia water into the stand pipe, and the pipe g being used for
conducting the gas which rises from the still to the condenser.
Within the stand pipe is located a vertical rod I, upon which are arranged a
series of sleeves provided with horizontal drip plates i, the said sleeves being
preferably coupled together by serrations in their ends so that the drip plates can
be adjusted as desired.
The upper still pipes B¹ connect with each other at their forward ends by means
of a pipe h, and one of these pipes B₁ connects with one of the series of pipes B by
a pipe which extends to some distance within the said pipe B¹. This pipe B
connects with the next one of the pipes B of the lower series by a pipe h² one end
of which extends to some distance within the first mentioned pipe B of the lower
series of still pipes. The second mentioned pipe B connects with the next one of
the pipes B by a pipe h³, and all of the remaining pipes are so connected in order
that the ammonia water entering the upper pipes B¹ shall be compelled to traverse
all of the remaining pipes B separately.
The connecting pipes which extend into the still pipes are so arranged in order
to keep the still pipes full during the circulation of the ammonia through them.
From the rear ends of the still pipes B, pipes e are arranged to lead to the
chamber D and to open therein directly opposite to the upper still pipes B¹..
In using the still strong ammonia water is forced through the pipe finto the
stand pipe by means of any suitably arranged apparatus.
The ammonia water then flows down through the stand pipe and over the drip
plates therein into the chamber D, and in passing down over the drip plates condenses
any steam issuing from the still with the gas which passes up through the stand
pipe to the pipe g which conveys the gas to the condenser. From the chamber D
the ammonia water passes into the upper still pipes B', and from thence circulates
through the remaining still pipes B in regular succession owing to the connections
made between such pipes as already explained.
In passing down through the still pipes the ammonia becomes hotter and hotter,
and hence by reason of the high temperature to which it is raised in the lower
still pipes has a tendency to boil over. The steam and water however from the
lower still pipes passes from or blows off through the pipes which lead from the
lower still pipes to the chamber D, and passing across said chamber enters the
open ends of the upper still pipes B1, thereby serving the double purpose of
heating the inflowing ammonia, and by the circulation of the liquid thus induced
effectively preventing any boiling over of the ammonia, no matter now irregular
the heat of the steam or fire in the furnace may be.
The temperature of the ammonia water in the still pipes is also equalized and the
best possible results obtained.
I would observe that I do not regard the entrance of the pipes h into the pipes B¹
as material, and they may, without altering the principle of my Invention,
terminate short off inside the still pipes. without projecting therein as shown in
dotted lines.
Having thus fully described my Invention, what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,―
1st. The method of preventing the boiling over of the ammonia water in
ammonia stills for ice machines, the same consisting in circulating the ammonia
water through the series of heated still pipes and blowing off the steam and water
from the lower still pipes back through a chamber receiving the supply of ammonia
water into the upper still pipes, substantially as described.

page_text: 2nd. In an ammonia still for ice machines the.combination with the stand pipe
into which the ammonia water is first introduced, and from which the gas arising
from the still is conducted off to the condenser of a chamber at the base of the
stand pipe, the upper still pipes connecting with said chamber and. the lower still
pipes connecting with the upper still pipes, substantially in the manner described,
and also connecting with the said chamber at the base of the stand pipe by pipes
arranged to open into the chamber opposite to the ends of the upper still pipes
opening therein, substantially as described.
3rd. In an ammonia still for ice machines the combination with the chamber D
of the upper still pipes B¹ connecting with said chamber, and the lower still pipes B
connecting with the upper pipes and with each other, substantially as described, the
said pipes B being also connected with the chamber D by pipes opening into said
chamber opposite the open ends of the pipes B', so that the steam and water
blown off from the lower still pipes will shoot directly across the chamber into the
open ends of the pipes B', substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Herbert John Haddan, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of February, A.D. 1881.
H. J. HADDAN.
(L.S.)