Improvements in or relating to Refrigerating Apparatus.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, HENRI MENDES of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
This invention relates to changing or converting apparatus for refrigerating
liquids, utilizing the cold produced by frigorific machines and their application to
the treatment of mother-waters by artificial cold.
The machines employed industrially for the refrigeration of liquids and for
effecting changes of temperature, are for the most part composed of serpentine
tubes of various forms, or of apparatus with plane surfaces and double bottoms.
These arrangements have two chief disadvantages:
1. They offer passages of small sectional area for liquids in circulation inside of
them:
2. They utilize inadequately their exchange surfaces and necessitate the use of
special agitators to promote the external circulation; the dead-ends and angles
cannot be eliminated, which results in a defective yield.
In the new apparatus which is the object of the present invention these defects
have on the one hand been overcome while on the other hand, exchange-surfaces,
without the aid of agitators have been obtained which use their area of contact in
a more rational and energetic manner than before.
"
The liquids which can be treated in this apparatus may be of all kinds, whether
they are of the same nature and composition or not. These may be distinguished
either as "
refrigerating liquids' :namely those produced by frigorific machines,
known as
uncongealable liquids," or "liquids to be refrigerated and which are
at will, either pure water, salt water, or liquid of any composition whatever.
the special application relating to the treatment of mother-waters, the "liquid to
be refrigerated" is invariably a mother-water which is to be deprived of the
sulphate of soda which it contains.
In
Certain devices called herein "changers" are employed as their name indicates
to bring about exchanges of temperature between the liquids above-mentioned.
These devices operate by sustained and methodical circulation. Their active effect
depends above all on the uninterrupted renewal of their surfaces of contact. To this
end, their form is circular, and they are animated with a movement of rotation.
This arrangement ensures the relative displacement of the fluids in contact, or in
proximity to each other.
Each changer is composed of two slightly concave circular discs formed in sheet-
metal, and united so that their concavities are face to face. In this manner an
internal cavity or chamber is created, which is subdivided into two distinct com-
partments by a circular diaphragm. Communication between the two compartments
is maintained by means of a series of apertures arranged round the periphery of the
diaphragın.
The changers thus formed are grouped parallel to each other, at short intervals,
and mounted on a hollow tubular shaft, constructed in short lengths. The discs of
the changers are secured to the shaft without solution of continuity. This hollow
shaft which firmly connects together all the changers at the same time affords a
means of access for the "refrigerating liquid " to the aforesaid changers by means
of central openings in them. It also imparts to them a rotary motion derived from
any convenient and suitable mechanism.
At each end of the hollow shaft is a journal of special form, constructed to serve
as a bearing for the shaft, and as an inlet or outlet pipe for the "refrigerating

page_text: liquid." Apertures made in the hollow shaft in connection with a cavity in the
journal, allow the passage of the liquid. Each journal is fitted with a stuffing box,
to avoid loss of liquid by external leakage.
The course pursued by the "refrigerating fluid "is as follows:-The liquid, set
in motion by a suitable circulating pump, arrives at one end of the hollow shaft,
through the support and hollow bearing. It reaches the first changer and spreads
itself out over the first compartment, by striking against the diaphragm, radiating
from the centre to the outside. The apertures at the periphery of the diaphragm
give the liquid access to the second compartment of the first changer which it
traverses, from the periphery to the centre, and finding an outlet by the hollow
shaft flowing through which until it reaches the second changer. The liquid
traverses this in like manner; and so on to the last of the series, when it makes its
exit at the other end of the shaft, escaping through the hollowed bearing and the
cavity in a journal which is symmetrical with the first, and forms an outlet for the
"refrigerating fluid "from the apparatus.
It is a matter of indifference, in relation to the object to be attained, whether the
“refrigerating liquid" is actuated by the pressure or suction of the circulating
pump. In any case, the action of the pump, is always directed so as to act in the
opposite direction to the general current of the liquid to be refrigerated.
In order to connect the hollow shaft and the changers more firmly together, and
to prevent possibility of distortion in the apparatus as a whole, the hollow shaft
may be combined with a solid shaft of smaller diameter, forming a central core, and
leaving an annular section for the passage of the "refrigerating liquid." The flat
sheets acting as diaphragms may be secured to the solid shaft by means of central
screw nuts. The discs being secured together at the outside, great rigidity is
obtained in the apparatus as a whole.
A tank or cistern contains the "liquid to be refrigerated"; it is arranged to
receive the series of changers previously described. Its appearance is that of a
rectangular reservoir with a semi-cylindrical bottom. This tank is divided into
compartments by transverse partitions acting as baffles to turn the current of the
liquid to be refrigerated in the desired direction and prolong its course and
subjection to the refrigerating influence. The partitions may also serve as
intermediate supports to the hollow shaft of the changers.
For the special application of artificial cold to the extraction of sulphate of soda
in the treatment of mother-waters, numerous devices have been invented. The
invention herein described requires nothing more than the addition of a crystallizing
tank and extracting mechanism.
The advantages of this improved apparatus, applied to the treatment of mother-
waters by artificial cold are as follows:-
1. The rational and energetic utilization of a source of cold in metallic contact
with the liquids to be refrigerated, mother-waters, e'c.
2. The re-employment of the liquids thus refrigerated as an accessory source of
cold for the preliminary cooling of the mother-waters taken at the surrounding
temperature, for the purpose of economising the expense of cold produced at first
instance.
3. The continuity and automaticity of the operations connected with the
crystallisation of sodic sulphates.
The complete apparatus for the treatment of mother-waters is composed of the
undermentioned parts:-The rotating "changers" of temperature, the crystallising
tank, and the extracting apparatus.
The crystallising tank is the reservoir containing the mother-waters to be
refrigerated. It is arranged to receive the changers. It contains, further, all the
mechanism for extraction, and its form is adapted for the formation of deposits.
The tank has the appearance of a rectangular reservoir. Its longitudinal sides are
rounded underneath, and terminate on the one side in an inclined plane, and on the
other by a vertical portion, with a semicircular channel at the bottom entending
throughout the length of the tank. This channel, in which is lodged an Archimedean

page_text: screw or conveyor is eccentric in relation to the vertical longitudinal plane passing
through the axis of the shaft of the changers. The reservoir is divided into
compartments by transverse partitions whereof the functions have already been
described in connection with the first mentioned tank The end of the tank is
formed into a terminal compartment, called the extraction chamber trapezoidal in
section, adapted to the extracting mechanism. The external end-walls of the tank
are provided with glands and collar bushes for the passage of the hollow shaft
carrying the changers which traverse it.
The flow and action of the fluid employed is as previously explained. In the
crystallising tank the mother-waters enter by an inlet-pipe and escape by an over-
How or outlet pipe. The "refrigerating liquid" on the contrary has its entrance
and exit through the cavities in the hollow bearings.
The extracting mechanism comprises :-
1. The Archimedean screw located in a channel at the bottom of the crystallising
tank and acting as a conveyor.
2. Small movable scrapers resting by their own weight upon the upper quadrants
of the rotating changers, immediately above the channel and Archimedean screw.
The scrapers are jointed hy hinges to horizontal cross-rods just above the hollow
shaft.
3. A bucket-chain and the mechanism by which it is operated. The buckets
may be made in sheet iron perforated to allow a relative draining away of the
fluid.
The movements transmitted to the hollow shaft, to the screw of the conveyor,
and to the bucket-chain gear, being all parallel movements, it will be sufficient, by
any prime motor, belt-driver, or other workshop transmission shaft, to drive, say
the shaft of a worm which would communicate rotation to the hollow shaft by the
intermediation of a worm-wheel fixed on the said shaft. The shaft would
command the conveyor and the bucket-chain by any convenient driving-gear or
mechanism.
The combination of the simultaneous working of all the mechanical parts results
in a continuous lowering of the temperature of the bulk of mother-waters contained
in the crystallising tank, by an uninterrupted circulation of the "refrigerating
liquid" traversing the changers. This sustained refrigeration provokes a molecular
transformation in the liquid to be refrigerated, or mother-waters treated.
The sodic sulphates are precipitated in the form of mud or extremely fine
crystals. The sedimentary deposits detached by the scrapers from the outside of
the changers by the rotation of the latter, fall naturally, by reason of their greater
density, on the interior inclined surfaces of the crystallising tank, whence, sliding
down, they reach the channel at the bottom, wherein rotates the Archimedean screw
of the conveyor. The rotating screw will convey these deposits from one end of
the tank to the other, delivering them to the extraction chamber. The bucket-
chain in its turn, will receive them and raise while drying them. In this condition
the exhausting elevator will discharge them at the level of an inclined plane
arranged to transmit them to suitable receptacles to be finally disposed of as desired
or required.
The removal of the sedimentary deposits as well as the extraction of the sulphates
is entirely effected without the aid of manual labour, in a continuous and automatic
manner, owing to the general arrangement and multiplex movements of all the
working parts.
This apparatus may operate as a whole, or in two distinct groups. In the latter
case, the first crystallising tank will be arranged to effect the circulation of the first
degree so to speak. This, in principle, consists in bringing the virgin mother-
waters at surrounding temperature, into metallic contact-(for the purpose of a
preliminary and partial refrigeration) with similar water, previously treated,
refrigerated, and exhausted of its salts. The second tank would carry the operation
a stage further and effect the circulation of the second degree. The same mother-
waters partially refrigerated and impoverished in its passage through the first

page_text: crystallising tank, would be conveyed into the second tank,..and there brought into
metallic contact with the uncongealable liquid at a very low temperature produced
by the frigorific machine, in order to be completely refrigerated and stripped of
its salts.
This arrangement realizes the principle of the reutilisation of the mother-waters,
exhausted but still frigid, as an auxiliary source of cold, subsidiary to the subsequent
use of artificial cold, for the treatment of other mother-waters. The expenditure
is thus materially reduced.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
London, Liverpool, Nottingham, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, HENRI MENDES, of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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 relates to changing or converting apparatus for refrigerating
liquids, utilising the cold produced by frigorific machines and their application to
the treatment of mother-waters-by artificial cold.
The machines employed industrially for the refrigeration of liquids and for
effecting changes of temperature, are for the most part composed of serpentine tubes
of various forms, or of apparatus with plane surfaces and double bottoms.
These arrangements have two chief disadvantages;
1st. They offer passages of small sectional area for liquids in circulation inside
of them;
2nd. They utilise inadequately their exchange-surfaces and necessitate the use of
special agitators to promote the external circulation; the dead-ends and angles
cannot be eliminated, which results in a defective yield.
In the new apparatus which is the object of the present invention, these defects
have on the one hand been overcome while on the other hand, exchange surfaces,
without the aid of agitators have been obtained, which use their area of contact in
a more rational and energetic manner than before.
In order to make explanation of the invention clearer reference is made to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a section of the journal which serves not only as bearing for the
rotating shaft but also as a pipe for the inlet or outlet of the refrigerating fluid;
Figure 2 shows in section and partly in elevation the elements of the apparatus
for effecting change of temperature;
"
Figure 3 is an elevation of the central diaphragm placed inside of each element ;
Figures 4 and 5 are front and end elevations of the apparatus called "changer
or converter," complete, showing in section the tank or reservoir containing
the liquid to be refrigerated;
66
Figure 6 is a side view, partly in section, of the apparatus, arranged and adapted
for the treatment of mother-waters by artificial cold.
Figures 7 and 8 are end views of the same.
The liquids which can be treated in this apparatus may be of all kinds, whether
they are of the same nature and composition or not. These may be distinguished
either as <<
refrigerating liquids"; namely those produced by frigorific machines,
known as "uncongealable liquids," or ") liquids to be refrigerated," and which are
either pure water, salt water, or liquid of any composition whatever.
In the special application relating to the treatment of mother-waters, the "liquid

page_text: to be refrigerated" is invariably a mother-water which is to be deprived of the
sulphate of soda which it contains.
Certain devices called herein "changers "E are employed as their name indicates
to bring about exchanges of temperature between the liquids above mentioned.
These devices operate by sustained and methodical circulation. Their active effort
depends above all on the uninterrupted renewal of their surfaces of contact. To
this end, their form is circular, and they are animated with a movement of rotation.
This arrangement ensures the relative displacement of the fluids in contact, or in
proximity to each other.
Each changer is composed of two slightly concave circular discs a and b (Fig. 2)
formed in sheet-metal, and united so that their concavities are face to face. In this
manner an internal cavity or chamber is created, which is subdivided into two
distinct compartments and z (Fig. 2) by a circular diaphragm c (Fig. 2).
Communication between the two compartments is maintained by means of a series
of apertures d (Fig. 3) arranged round the periphery of the diaphragm.
The changers E thus formed are grouped parallel to each other, at short intervals,
and mounted on a hollow tubular shaft F (Figs. 1 and 2), constructed in short
lengths. The discs of the changers are secured to the shaft without solution of
continuity. This hollow shaft F, which firmly connects together all the changers E..
at the same time affords a means of access for the "refrigerating liquid " to the
aforesaid changers by means of central openings in them e (Fig. 2). It also imparts
to them a rotary motion derived from any convenient and suitable mechanism.
At each end of the hollow shaft F is a journal of special form G (Figs. I and 6)
constructed to serve as a bearing for the shaft, and as an inlet or outlet pipe for the
refrigerating liquid." Apertures r (Fig. 1), made in the hollow shaft in
connection with a cavity in the journal, allow the passage of the liquid. Each
journal is fitted with a stuffing box, to avoid loss of liquid by external leakage.
The course pursued by the "refrigerating fluid' is as follows; the liquid, set
in motion by a suitable circulating pump, arrives at one end of the hollow shaft F,
through the support G and hollow bearing. It reaches the first changer and spreads
itself out over the first compartment, by striking against the diaphragm, radiating
from the centre to the outside. The apertures d at the periphery of the diaphragm
give the liquid access to the second compartment of the first changer, which it
traverses, from the periphery to the centre, and finding an outlet by the hollow
shaft F, flowing through which until it reaches the second changer. The liquid
traverses this in like manner; and so on to the last of the series, when it makes its
exit at the other end of the shaft, escaping through the hollowed bearing and the
cavity in a journal, which is symmetrical with the first, and forms an outlet for the
"refrigerating fluid" from the apparatus.
It is a matter of indifference, in relation to the object to be attained, whether
the "refrigerating liquid," is actuated by the pressure or suction of the circulating
pump. In any case, the action of the pump is always directed so as to act in the
opposite direction to the general current of the liquid to be refrigerated.
a
In order to connect the hollow shaft and the changers more firmly together, and
to prevent possibility of distortion in the apparatus as a whole, the hollow shaft F
may be combined with a solid shaft g of smaller diameter (Fig. 2) forming
central core, and leaving an annular section for the passage of the "refrigerating
liquid." The flat sheets acting as diaphragms may be secured to the solid shaft by
means of central screw nuts. The discs being secured together at the outside, great
rigidity is obtained in the apparatus as a whole.
A tank or cistern B (Figs. 4 and 5) contains the liquid to be refrigerated; it is
arranged to receive the series of changers previously described. Its appearance
is that of a rectangular reservoir with a semi-cylindrical bottom. This tank is
divided into compartments by transverse partitions, acting as baffles (Fig. 4) to
turn the current of the liquid to be refrigerated in the desired direction and prolong
its course and subjection to the refrigerating influence. The partitions may also
serve as intermediate supports to the hollow shaft of the changers.

page_text: For the special application of artificial cold to the extraction of sulphate of
soda in the treatment of mother-waters, numerous devices have been invented;
the invention herein described requires nothing more than the addition of a
crystallising tank C (Figs. 7 and 8), and extracting mechanism I, m p.
The advantages of this improved apparatus, applied to the treatment of
mother-waters by artificial cold are as follows;-
1st. The rational and energetic utilisation of a source of cold in metallic contact
with the liquids to be refrigerated, mother-waters, etc.
2nd. The re-employment of the liquids thus refrigerated as an accessory source
of cold for the preliminary cooling of the mother-waters taken at the surrounding
temperature for the purpose of economising the expense of cold produced at first
instance.
3rd. The continuity and automaticity of the operations connected with the
crystallisation of sodic sulphates.
The complete apparatus for the treatment of mother-waters is composed of the
undermentioned parts;-
-
The rotating "changers" of temperature E (Figs. 2 and 6);
The crystallising tank C (Figs. 6, 7 and 8); and the extracting apparatus I, mp
(Figs. 6, 7, and 8).
The crystallising tank C is the reservoir containing the mother-waters to be
refrigerated. It is arranged to receive the changers E. It contains, further, all
the mechanism for extraction, and its form is adapted for the formation of deposits.
The tank has the appearance of a rectangular reservoir. Its longitudinal sides
are rounded underneath, and terminate on the one side in an inclined plane, and
on the other by a vertica! portion, with a semi-circular channel at the bottom
(Fig. 7) extending throughout the length of the tank. This channel, in which is
lodged an Archimedean screw or conveyor (Figs. 6 and 7) is eccentric in relation to
the vertical longitudinal plane passing through the axis of the shaft of the
changers. The reservoir is divided into compartments by transverse partitions /
(Fig. 6), whereof the functions have already been described in connection with the
tank B. The end of this tank is formed into a terminal compartment, called
the extraction chamber y (Figs. 6 and 8), trapezoidal in section adapted to the
extracting mechanism. The external end walls of the tank are provided with
glands and collar-bushes for the passage of the hollow shaft which traverses it
carrying the changers the ends of which shaft rotate in bollow journals and
bearings G and G2 (Fig. 6) already described.
The flow and action of the fluid employed is as previously explained. In the
crystallising tank C (Fig. 6) the mother-waters enter by an inlet pipe I (Figs. 6
and 7) and escape by an overflow or outlet pipe 2 (Figs. 6 and 8). The
refrigerating liquid," on the contrary, enters by the pipe 3 through the support G³
and escapes by the pipe 4 of the support G1 (Fig. 6).
66
The extracting mechanism comprises;-
1st. The Archimedean screw I (Figs. 6 and 7), located in a channel k at the
bottom of the crystallising tank and acting as a conveyor.
2nd. Small movable scrapers m (Figs. 6 and 7), resting by their own weight
upon the upper quadrants of the rotating changers immediately above the channel k
and Archimedean screw I. The scrapers are formed of sheet metal blades
provided or not as desired with brushes or any similar device and are jointed by
hinges to horizontal cross-rods o (Fig. 7) just above the hollow shaft.
3rd. A bucket chain p (Figs. 6 and 8) and the mechanism by which it is
operated. The buckets may be made in sheet iron perforated to allow a relative
draining away of the fluid.
The movements transmitted to the hollow shaft F, to the screw of the
conveyor, and to the bucket-chain gear, being all parallel movements, it will be
sufficient, by any prime motor, belt-driver, or other workshop transmission shaft, to
drive, say, the shaft of a worm r, which would communicate rotation to the hollow
shaft F by the intermediation of a worm-wheel s fixed on the said shaft. The

page_text: shaft F would command the conveyor I and the bucket-chain p by any convenient
driving-gear or mechanism.
The combination of the simultaneous working of all the mechanical parts results
in a continuous lowering of the temperature of the bulk of mother-waters con-
tained in the crystallising tank C, by an uninterrupted circulation of the
"refrigerating liquid" traversing the changers E. This sustained refrigeration
provokes a molecular transformation in the liquid to be refrigerated, or mother-
waters treated.
The sodic sulphates are precipitated in the form of mud or extremely fine
crystals. The sedimentary deposits detached by the scrapers m from the outside
of the changers E by the rotation of the latter, fall naturally, by reason of their
greater density, on the interior inclined surfaces of the crystallising tank C,
whence, sliding down, they reach the channel at the bottom k, wherein rotates the
Archimedean screw of the conveyor I. The rotating screw will convey these
deposits from one end of the tank to the other, delivering them to the extraction
chamber y. The bucket-chain p in its turn, will receive them and raise while
drying them. In this condition the exhausting elevator will discharge them at the
level of an inclined plane q, arrange to transmit them to suitable receptacles to
be finally disposed of as desired or required.
The removal of the sedimentary deposits as well as the extraction of the
sulphates is entirely effected without the aid of manual labour, in a continuous and
automatic manner, owing to the general arrangement and multiplex movements of
all the working parts.
This apparatus may operate as a whole, or in two distinct groups. In the
latter case, the first crystallising tank will be arranged to effect the circulation of
the first degree so to speak. This, in principle, consists in bringing the virgin
mother-waters at surrounding temperature, into metallic contact-(for the purpose
of a preliminary and partial refrigeration)-with similar water, previously treated
refrigerated, and exhausted of its salts. The second tank would carry the operation
a stage further, and effect the circulation of the 2nd degree. The same mother-
waters, partially refrigerated and impoverished in its passage through the first
crystallising tank, would be conveyed into the second tank, and there brought into
metallic contact with the uncongealable liquid, at a very low temperature produced
by the frigorific machine, in order to be completely refrigerated and stripped of its
salts.
This arrangement realises the principle of the reutilisation of the mother-waters,
exhausted but still frigid, as an auxiliary source of cold, subsidiary to the subsequent
use of artificial cold, for the treatment of other mother-waters. The expenditure
is thus materially reduced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. An apparatus for the refrigeration of liquids having a series of changers such
as E placed upon a hollow shaft such as F which forms a communication between
the changers each changer being formed of two concave discs with a flat central
diaphragm substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. A semicylindrical or other suitably shaped tank such as B for the reception
of a series of changers such as E together with the fluid to be refrigerated having
transverse or other suitable baffles for the purpose of directing the main current
of the liquid to be refrigerated substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. A tank such as C of suitable shape to receive the changers in the treatment
of mother waters having a conveyor such as I in its lowest part and transverse or
other suitable partitions and terminating in a special compartment such as y

page_text: suitably fitted with a bucket chain gear such as p substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. A series of self-acting scrapers arranged normally against the outside and
acting on the upper quadrants of the rotating changers E being placed immediately
above the bottom channel of the tank C such scrapers being formed of sheet-metal
blades provided or not with brushes or other material or device adapted for rubbing
purposes such as they have to fulfil and being jointed on transverse rods such as o
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the complete refrigerating
apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 23rd day of October 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
. Agents for the Applicant.