Improvements in the Utilization of Liquefied Air or Gas for Cooling or Refrigerating Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Utilization of Liquefied Air or Gas for Cooling
or Refrigerating Purposes.
I, EDWARD CARLTON HARGRAVE, of 913, Monroe Street, Bay City, County of Bay,
in the State of Michigan, United States of America, Lumber Manufacturer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
This invention relates to the utilization of liquefied air or gas for cooling or
refrigerating purposes, and the same embraces a process of conducting the air or
gas, in a liquefied state, from one point to another, which consists in piping the
same and allowing a portion thereof to evaporate in quantities sufficient to
maintain the main body of the air or gas in a liquefied state and thereby prevent
undue pressure therefrom.
It also embraces an improved construction of conduit for liquefied air or gas,
comprising piping, a non-conducting surrounding casing therefor, and means for
permitting the escape of the evaporating air or gas from the piping in sufficient
quantity to maintain the air or gas in a liquid state in said piping, and thereby
prevent undue strain thereof.
It also embraces an improved construction of container for liquefied air or gas,
which is provided with means whereby a portion of the body of the liquefied air
or gas may be automatically discharged into the room or space in which the con-
tainer is located, and means whereby the evaporation of the liquefied air may be
accelerated or retarded, and the escape of the evaporating air or gas permitted
at all times.
The invention also embraces certain details which will be hereinafter more fully
described and claimed.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of one embodiment of my improved
conduit, and shews one means by which the improved process may be carried out.
Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of the container.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the same looking at right angles to Fig. 2.
In Fig. 1 of the drawings, I have represented a storage tank or receptacle I for
liquefied air or gas, a pipe 2 leading therefrom, a force pump 3, with which the
pipe 2 communicates, and a distributing pipe 4, 5, for the liquefied air from the
pump 3. The distributing pipe 4, 5, is shewn with a vertical portion 4 and the
horizontal portion 5, the latter being located above the tank 1 and the pump 3. It
is obvious, however, that by locating the tank 1 above the horizontal portion of the
distributing pipe, the vertical portion 4 of the latter and the pump may be dis-
pensed with. Surrounding the distributing pipe 4, 5, is a casing 6 of non-conduct-
ing material, the said casing being separated from the distributing pipe forming an
annular intervening space, as clearly shewn. Leading from the distributing pipe
at different points through its length, are short pipes 7, 7 communicating with
regulating valves 8, 8, which have connected to them other short pipes 9, 9, which

page_text: lead back through the casing 6 into the annular space between said casing and
said distributing pipe. The casing 6 being made of non-conducting material
protects the distributing pipe and the liquefied air contained therein from the heat
of the atmosphere, and thereby avoids a dangerous increase of pressure on the
inside of the distributing pipe, due to the expansion of the liquefied air contained
therein. The pipes 7 permit of the escape of liquefied air which may evaporate.
The regulating valves are constructed, adjusted and arranged to allow so much of
the evaporating air to escape as will maintain the body of the liquefied air in a
liquefied state, and the casing 6 provides the annular space between it and the
distributing pipe, in which the escaping evaporated air may pass, and the cooling
effect thereof be utilized for the purpose of maintaining the temperature of the
body of liquefied air at the proper degree.
It will be understood, however, that I do not wish to confine myself to the idea
of conveying the evaporating liquefied air or gas back to the space between the
casing 6 and the distributing pipe; nor do I wish to confine myself to so arranging
the casing 6, relative to the exterior of the distributing pipe, that a surrounding
space is provided between these parts. The non-conducting casing may, if desired,
be placed in direct contact with the distributing pipe and the evaporating air or
gas may pass off into the atmosphere after escaping from the distributing pipe, or
be utilized in any other way for cooling purposes.
In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be
seen that I have shewn a liquefied air or gas container made up of a tank 10 in
which the liquefied air or gas is placed, having a contracted neck 11 at its upper
end, through which the tank may be filled. The tank itself may be constructed of
glass, metal, or other material suitable for the purpose for which it is designed,
and is surrounded by a casing 12 of suitable material which is a non-conductor of
heat. Leading from the lower end of the tank 10, out through one wall of the
casing 12 is a pipe 13 having a valve therein comprising a casing 14 and a
spring-actuated plug 15, the stem of the latter being attached to one end of a
thermostat 16 whose other end is rigidly connected to a bracket 17, or other
stationary or immovable part of the device. The said thermostat may be of any
suitable form and construction. As shewn, it is made up of two strips of metal,
or other material, having different co-efficients of expansion, the action of which
is to withdraw the plug 15 from its seat in the valve casing 14, and thereby open
the valve, when the temperature to which the thermostat is subjected rises, and
to return the plug 15 to its closing position in the casing when the temperature,
to which the thermostat is subjected, is lowered. It will be understood, of course,
that the thermostat 16 is located on the outside of the casing and that when the
container is placed in a room or other space to be cooled, said thermostat will be
acted upon by variations in the temperature of said room.
temperature rises beyond the point at which the room or space is to be maintained,
or space. If the
the valve is automatically opened in the manner above set out, and a small portion
of the liquefied air is discharged through the pipe 13 into said room.
expanding, absorbs the heat of the room, consequently lowering the temperature
This air,
thereof, and the valve is automatically returned to its normal position, cutting off
the further discharge of liquefied air.
The container is provided with a movable lid or cover 18 constructed of non-
conducting material, similar to the casing 12, and preferably hinged at one end to
said casing, as shewn at 19. Suitable locking mechanism 20 is provided for holding
said lid or cover in its closed position. The central portion of the underside of said
lid is provided with a body or disc 21 of leather, rubber, or other like yielding
material, which is of such size and shape as to cover the opening through the
neck 11 of the tank 10, and thereby prevent the spilling of the contents of said
tank, but permit of the escape of any evaporating portions of the contents thereof,
In order to provide means whereby the degree of evaporation of the liquefied
air within the container may be controlled, I provide means whereby one part of
the tank 10 may be exposed to a greater or less extent to the outside atmosphere

page_text: of the room or space in which the container is located. The means illustrated in
the drawings consists of a hinged gate or door 22, of non-conducting material,
pivoted to the casing 12, fitting within a cut away portion of said casing, and
adapted, when in its closed position, to protect the tank 10 from the outside air, but
also adapted to expose a portion thereof when in its open position. The said gate
or door is connected through the link 23, with one end of a thermostat 24 on the
outside of the casing 12, said thermostat having its other end fixed to a bracket 25
or other stationary part of the device. Said thermostat 24 is similar to the
thermostat 16 hereinbefore referred to, and acts in a corresponding manner.
If the temperature of the room or space in which the container is located, rises,
the thermostat 24 acts by the unequal expansion of the members thereof to throw
outwardly the gate or door 22 and thereby expose to a greater or less degree, a
portion of the tank 10, the degree varying according to the rise in temperature
to which the thermostat is subjected. The outside heated air of the room being
brought in contact with the exposed surface of the tank 10, causes some of the
liquefied air in said tank to evaporate and the evaporating air passing through the
neck 11 of the tank and thence between said neck and the leather body or disc 21,
escapes into the room through the non-conducting material of which the lid or
cover 18 is made. This evaporating air lowers the temperature and causes a
reverse action of the thermostat 24 which returns the gate or door 22 to its normal
closing position.
It will be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific construction of the
parts herein shewn, except as defined by the claims, as many changes may be made
in the details which are clearly within the scope of the protection prayed. For
example, I have shewn the locking mechanism 20 made up of a hook pivoted at 26
to the lid 18 and adapted to engage a loop or staple 27 on the casing 12. For
these parts I may, of course, substitute any other well-known equivalent
mechanism.
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. The process of conducting liquefied air or gas from one point to another,
which consists in piping the same, and allowing a portion thereof to evaporate in
quantities sufficient to maintain the main body of the air or gas in a liquefied
state and thereby prevent undue pressure therefrom.
2. The process of conducting liquefied air or gas from one point to another,
which consists in piping the same, allowing a portion thereof to evaporate, and
conveying the evaporated portion through an annular space around the main body
of the air or gas in quantities sufficient to maintain said body in a liquefied state
and thereby prevent undue pressure therefrom.
3. A conduit for liquefied air or gas, provided with means for permitting the
escape of evaporating air or gas from the interior thereof in sufficient quantity to
maintain the air or gas liquid in said conduit and thereby preventing undue strain
thereof.
4. A conduit for liquefied air or gas comprising piping, a non-conducting
surrounding casing therefor, and means for permitting the escape of evaporating air
or gas from said piping, in sufficient quantity to maintain the air or gas liquid in
said piping and thereby prevent undue strain thereof.
5. A conduit for liquefied air or gas, comprising piping, a non-conducting
urrounding casing therefor, and safety valves connected with the piping at
lifferent points for permitting the scape of the evaporating air or gas from said
iping in sufficient quantity to maintain the air or gas liquid in said piping and
hereby prevent undue strain thereof.
6. The combination with piping for conveying liquefied air or gas from one place
o another, of a casing relatively arranged to the external surface of the piping
o provide a continuous intervening space, regulating valves connected with the

page_text: piping at different points for permitting the escape of the evaporating air or gas
from the interior of the piping to the intervening space in sufficient quantity to
maintain the air or gas liquid in said piping and thereby prevent undue strain
thereof.
7. A liquefied air container having an enveloping non-conducting casing, a
liquefied air delivery valve at its bottom portion, and means at the top portion for
the escape of evaporated liquefied air from the container, substantially as described.
8. A liquefied air container having an enveloping non-conducting casing, a
liquefied air delivery valve at its bottom portion for delivering liquefied air to the
space which is to be refrigerated and a valve at the top portion for the escape of
evaporated liquefied air from the container, substantially as described.
9. A liquefied air container, having an enveloping non-conducting casing, an
automatically operated liquefied air delivery valve at its bottom portion for deliver-
ing liquefied air to the space to be refrigerated, and a valve at its top for the
escape of the evaporating liquefied air from the container, substantially as
described.
10. A liquefied air container, having an enveloping non-conducting casing, a
liquefied air delivery valve at its bottom portion for delivering liquefied air to
the space to be refrigerated, and a non-conducting movable cover provided with a
valve located over the mouth of the tank for permitting the escape of evaporated
liquefied air from the container, substantially as described.
11. A liquefied air container, having an enveloping non-conducting casing, an
automatically operated liquefied air delivery valve at its bottom portion for deliver-
ing liquefied air to the space to be refrigerated, and a non-conducting movable
cover having a valve located over the mouth of the container for permitting the
escape of evaporating liquefied air therefrom, substantially as described.
12. A liquefied air container, having an enveloping non-conducting casing, a
liquefied air delivery valve at its bottom portion for delivering liquefied air to the
space to be refrigerated, and a hinged non-conducting cover provided with a
valve located over the mouth of the container for permitting the escape of
evaporated liquefied air therefrom, substantially as described.
13. A liquefied air container provided with an enveloping casing or jacket, and
means whereby the transmission of heat from the exterior to the surface of the
container or liquid may be varied for the purpose of accelerating or retarding the
evaporation of the liquefied air, substantially as described.
14. A liquefied air container having an enveloping non-conducting casing,
means whereby the transmission of heat from the exterior to the surface of the
container may be varied for accelerating or retarding the evaporation of the
liquefied air, a liquefied air delivery valve at the bottom portion for delivering
liquefied air to the space to be refrigerated, and means for permitting the escape of
evaporating liquefied air from the top portion of the container, substantially as
described.
15. A liquefied air container having an enveloping non-conducting casing pro-
vided with an adjustable section for more or less exposing a part of the surface of
the container or liquid to the action of the atmosphere, whereby the evaporation of
the liquefied air in the container may be accelerated or retarded, substantially as
described.
16. A liquefied air container having an enveloping non-conducting casing, pro-
vided with an adjustable section for more or less exposing a part of the surface
of the container to accelerate or retard evaporation of the liquefied air therein, a
liquefied air delivery valve at the bottom of the container, and a valve at the top
thereof for the escape of evaporating liquefied air from the container, substantially
as described.
17. A liquefied air container having an enveloping non-conducting easing pro-
vided with an automatically adjusted section for more or less exposing a part of
the surface of the container or liquid to accelerate or retard evaporation of the
liquid air in the container, substantially as described.

page_text: 18. A liquefied air container, having an
enveloping non-conducting casing pro-
vided with a movable section for more or less exposing a part of the surface
of the container to accelerate or retard evaporation of the liquid air in the container,
and a thermostat connected with said movable section to automatically move it
relatively to a part of the surface of the container, substantially as described.
19. A liquefied air container having an enveloping non-conducting casing pro-
vided with a hinged movable section for more or less exposing a part of the
surface of the container or liquid to accelerate or retard evaporation of the
liquefied air, substantially as described.
20. A liquefied air container, having an enveloping non-conducting casing pro-
vided with a movable section for more or less exposing a part of the surface of the
container or liquid to accelerate or retard evaporation of the liquefied air, a
liquefied air delivery valve at the bottom of the container, and a valve at the
top thereof for the escape of evaporating liquefied air, substantially as described.
21. My improved apparatus for use in the utilization of liquefied air or gas for
cooling or refrigerating purposes, substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to Fig. 1, or to Figs. 2 and 3 of the annexed drawings.
Dated this both day of May 109I.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5A, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.