IMPROVEMENTS IN COOLING OR FREEZING MACHINES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Mort, of 155, Fenchurch Street, in the
•
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COOLING OR
FREEZING MACHINES."-A communication from abroad by Eugene
Dominique Nicolle and Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, both of Sydney, in
the Colony of New South Wales.
Sealed the 21st March 1871, and dated the 6th December 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Mort at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
6th December 1870.
I, WILLIAM MORT, of 155, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COOLING OR FREEZING MACHINES," to be as follows :—
This machine is based upon the principle of liquifaction of ammonia
by affinity under low pressure, and of its gasification by the removal of
such pressure, whereby the full effect of refrigeration capable of being
produced by a given quantity of gasified ammonia is obtained.
A

page_text: The construction of the apparatus is simple and inexpensive, and its
operation certain and economical, all danger of explosion and escape of
ammonia being avoided by the low pressure under which its works.
Figure No. 1 exhibits a sectional elevation of the whole apparatus
at work spread out for the purpose of better exhibiting the various a
pipes.
A is a multitubular generator complete; it is composed of twenty-
two iron tubes two and a half inches diameter by three feet long, firmly
fitted betwixt two tube plates in the same manner as for steam generators,
and contains solution of ammonia.
B is a dished wrought-iron plate to hold the ammoniacal liquor whilst
under the action of heat from a hot-water bath or furnace.
C, dome containing the evaporating dishes which receive the liquid
ammonia from the pump.
D, evaporating dishes perforated in opposite radii to allow the fluid to ]
descend in a cascade, offering during its descent a large evaporating
surface, the top plate forming a cover to prevent priming.
E, level guage indicating the quantity of fluid in the generator A.
F, steam boiler (which must be fitted with water guage, safety valve,
&c.) filled with water to about four-fifths of its capacity.
G, exhausted liquor delivery pipe leading to temperature exchanger Y.
H, feed pipe conveying the weakened solution injected by the pump
No. 2 into the evaporating dishes D.
I, evaporating cylinder fitted with evaporating pans similar to those
in dome C.
J, overflow pipe connecting the generator A with the evaporating
cylinder I.
K, pipe returning the condensed liquor from the desiccator M to the
evaporating cylinder I. This pipe is sealed by the liquid stored for that
purpose in the bottom of the cylinder.
L shews the inner pipe of the desiccator M discharging into the
evaporating cylinder I. This is the discharge end of the pipe O.
2
2
3
M, desiccator composed of a double pipe, one within the other, about
seventy feet in length, bent into a spiral and fitted into an open tank,
the latter to receive cold water when necessary. The inner pipe conveys 3
part of the weakened solution from the freezing cistern i, i, exchanging

page_text: temperature with the gas which the outer pipe conveys from the
generator A to low pressure reabsorber P.
N, pipe leading the desiccated gas from the desiccator M to the low-
pressure reabsorber P by the pipe R.
5. O, pipe leading part of the weakened solution from pipe No. 4 through
the desiccator M, of which it becomes the inner pipe and is the same
pipe as L.
P, low-pressure reabsorber constructed in a similar manner to the
generator A minus the evaporating pans. The pipes are forty in
O number, one inch in diameter, and about three feet six inches long.
This vessel is filled to about two-thirds of its capacity with a solution
of ammonia, and immersed in a running bath of cold water. A level
guage similar to guage E is fitted externally and indicates the quantity
of liquid in the vessel. A pressure guage is also fitted at the top of the
dome to shew the pressure within.
Q, feed pipe (fitted with regulating cock) terminating in the upper
part of the dome of the reabsorber P, the end having a rose upon
it
which serves to divide the liquid injected into a fine spray.
->>
R is a pipe, a continuation of the pipe N, and leads the desiccated
gas from the desiccator M into the liquid contained in the reabsorber P.
This pipe also terminates with a perforated rose to divide the gas as it
meets the liquid, as before described. At the place shewn in the plan
between N and R a retention valve is fitted, which is also used as a stop
valve. This valve opens in the same direction as the gas travelling
through the pipe, and prevents the pressure when the machine is at rest
from returning to the generator A.
:S, delivery pipe with regulating cock for conveying the liquor from
the reabsorber P to the strong liquor reabsorber a, a.
T vacuum reabsorber, constructed in a manner similar to the low-
pressure reabsorber P, with the exception that the tubes in this vessel
are fifty in number, half inch in diameter, and made of pure tin. A
liquid guage level indicates the quantity of liquid in the vessel, and a
vacuum guage indicates the lbs. per square inch of vacuum maintained
in the vessel. The liquor in this vessel is kept at two-thirds the height
of the tubes.

page_text: .
U, feed pipe (fitted with regulating cock) terminating in a rose, as
before described, which divides the exhausted liquor as it flows into the
upper
dome of reabsorber T into a fine spray.
V, suction pipe for conveying the liquid from the vacuum reabsorber T
to. the pump 8, 8.
✗, water tank filled with cold water, in which the two reabsorbers P
and T are immersed. This water is constantly flowing.
Y, temperature exchanger composed of inner and outer pipes made
of equal lengths of pure tin seventy-five feet long and coiled. Part
of the cold weakened solution from the pump No. 2 enters the inner
pipe at the top of the coil on its way to the generator A, whilst the hot
exhausted liquor enters the outer pipe at the bottom of the coil by the
pipe G on its way to the reabsorber T by the pipe U. The two liquors
travelling in opposite directions thus exchange temperature.
Z, regulating cock fitted with a fine wire gauze to filter the liquor as
it is forced through it. This cock connects the generator A with the
exchanger Y.
a, a, strong liquor reabsorber fitted internally with a coil of tin pipe
half inch diameter and about twenty feet long. The coil enters at b, b,
and returns at c, c, having a branch connection at d, d, leading into
main vacuum pipe m, m. The vessel is fitted with liquid level gauge
indicating the liquor at about two-fifths (ths) of the capacity of the
vessel. This vessel is not absolutely essential to the working of the
apparatus, and where ordinary temperatures only are sought, such as are
required for ice-making for instance, may be dispensed with, but where
extremely low temperatures are required it is indispensable, overcoming
as it does the necessity for pressure in reabsorber P.
e, e, regulating cock connecting the low-pressure reabsorber P to the
strong liquor reabsorber a, a, by the pipe S. This pipe is fitted with a
fine rose.
g; g, syphon pipe immersed in the strong liquor contained in a, a, and
with which it supplies the freezing cistern i, i, by the feed pipe k, k.
This pipe is fitted with a regulating cock.
h, h, small rose pipe fitted with stop-cock to allow and regulate the
flow of dry gas coming from the upper dome of the low-pressure re-
absorber P to be combined with the strong liquor in a, a, which owing
to the reduction of temperature caused by the circulation of the cold

page_text: liquid through the coil has power to take up an additional quantity
of gas.
i, i, freezing cistern or box, by preference rectangular, made of metal
into which ten freezing troughs are fitted, each bathing in a liquid
medium such as solution of chloride of calcium, or chloride of sodium,
or any other liquid medium having a point of congelation considerably
below that of fresh water. These freezing troughs are constructed and
placed so as to compel the concentrated solution of ammonia to travel a
considerable distance, and thus offer a large surface for evaporation. To
effect this six small ribs a quarter of an inch deep and placed by pre-
ference in zig-zag form on the top plate of the trough, which of itself has
a fall equal to half an inch towards its extremity. The bottom of the
trough is level so as to keep the water in the tin perfectly level during
congelation. The evaporating solution of ammonia after having run
the zig-zag of the top plate falls on the next trough plate (which is
similarly constructed to the first one but placed in an opposite direction),
and then on the next, and so on, forming a perfect cascade until it
arrives at the bottom plate of the box, where it is delivered through the
pipe n, n, into the water refrigerator.
1, 1, still head leading 'the gas given off from the strong liquor from
the freezing cistern i, i, through the main vacuum pipe m, m, into the
vacuum reabsorber T.
n, n, pipe conveying the weakened solution from the freezing
cistern i, i, into the water refrigerator q, q.
o, o, wooden box enclosing the freezing cistern i, i, and having ten
small doors, one being placed opposite the aperture of each of the
freezing troughs j, j. A space of two inches is left between the metallic
box and the wooden one, which is filled with wool or any other suitable
non-conductor.
p, p, water tank (protected externally by non-conductor) containing
the water refrigerated in q, q, and which tank serves as a base to the
freezing cistern and a stand for the donkey pump.
q, q, water refrigerator composed of a double pipe, one inside the
other, made of pure tin, the inner pipe containing the water to be cooled
and the outer pipe the weakened solution from the cistern i, i. The
length of pipe is about twenty-five feet, and is made to go round the
outside of the water tank. The water and the weakened solution travel

page_text: in opposite directions, thus causing an exchange of temperature with
each other, which is regulated by the delivery cock r, r, so as to allow
'the water to reach the tank at 32° F.
A donkey engine with force pumps for pumping the ammonical liquor
or water or medium for imparting cold to any object completes the i
machine. This is made to be worked either by hand power or steam, or
by the pressure of the ammoniacal gas itself, as herein-after described.
8, 8, is a double-acting force pump constructed in the ordinary way
with the exception that the suction valves are acted upon by a cam
placed on the main shaft, which by suitable levers and rods causes the
valves to open and shut at the required time. These pumps should be
constructed so as to leave no unnecessary play in the internal part in
order that no liquid or gas shall remain after each expulsion.
t,.t; is the suction pipe fixed to the suction valve, and is provided with
a regulating cock. This pipe is a continuation of the pipe V:
u, u,, delivery pipe conveying the liquid as pumped into the con-
denser v; v;, in a fine spray through the top of that vessel.
v, v, condenser having a capacity equal to three times. that of the
engine cylinder. This vessel may be immersed in cold water to carry
away the heat engendered by combination of the liquid with the gas.
x, x, exhaust pipe leading the exhausted gas from the engine
cylinder 6 to the condenser through the bottom of the same.
y, y, suction pipe connecting the condenser v, v, with the suction
valvez, 2.
]
2
No. 1, delivery pipe leading the liquor pumped from the con- 2
denser v, v, into the low-pressure reabsorber P by the delivery pipe Q.
No. 2, single-acting force pump, connected with the double-acting
pump 8, 8, both being driven by an eccentric between friction rollers, the
eccentric receiving a rotary motion by the main shaft acted upon by any
of the powers mentioned above.
No: 3, suction pipe with regulating cock connecting the suction valve
of the pump 2. with the delivery end of the coil which is contained in
the strong liquor reabsorber at the point c, c.
3
No. 4, delivery pipe conveying the weakened solution by branch
pipes marked 5, 5, to the temperature exchanger Y, and to the desiccator 3

page_text: M on its way to the generator A. These pipes are fitted with regulating
cocks to divide the liquor as required.
No. 6, engine with oscillating cylinder (connected with the main
shaft by a crank) having a capacity equal to four times that of the
force pumps, and receiving the compressed gas which gives the motive
power from the generator A, exhausting the same into the condenser v, v.
This engine is fitted in the ordinary way, receiving and exhausting the
gas through the trunnions.
Where it is desired to produce cold for purposes other than that of
ice making, such as the freezing of meat, the cooling of rooms, or
liquids, &c., it will be necessary to elevate the freezing cistern i, i,
sufficiently to cause the weakened solution coming out at n, n, to flow
by gravitation through a coil in the cold water tank, (which latter must
be filled with salt and water or other suitable medium for carrying
cold) back to the head of the coil in the strong liquor reabsorber a, a, at
the point b, b.
The medium in the tank as cooled can be passed anywhere through
pipes or spaces from the bottom thereof by pump worked off the main
shaft of the donkey engine, being returned to the top of the tank to be
again cooled. The circulation of the medium must of course be carried
on so long as the cold is required to be maintained.
For the purpose of applying our apparatus to the carrying of meat
or other articles of food on board ship, and to the cooling of rooms or
spaces for the reception and continuous preservation by cold of the
same, or of other articles of food on shore, we use the following arrange-
ment, which on account of its economy, novelty, and simplicity we
specially claim-We take the skin of the ship or room or space (taking
care to caulk or otherwise make the same water-tight), and against the
same we screw small upright ribs of wood of about an inch square at
distances of about eighteen (18) inches, making them to wind round
the vessel or room. Against these ribs we fasten a partition of calico,
wood, or sheet iron, filling the space thus made with melted tallow
to which a small quantity of lime has been added in order to raise
its melting point, or with other non-conductor capable of resisting
moisture. This done we screw other ribs of wood of about the same
thickness against the face of the ribs before referred to, and against
which we then screw sheets of light sheet iron, thereby forming a channel
This medium we
through which to circulate our freezing medium.

page_text: introduce from the cold tank to the top of the vessel or space desired to
be acted upon and lead the same to a well at the bottom of the vessel
or space, from which the cold medium is pumped up to the refrigeration
tank to restore the power it has lost by abstracting the heat from the
surrounding objects on its passage. The divisions through which the cold
medium flows may be made perfectly water-tight by using a strip of
india-rubber between the face of the wooden rib and the sheet iron
wherever a joining of the sheets of iron takes place. Galvanic batteries
to prevent the oxydation of the iron against which the brine or other
medium is sent ought to be placed in the supply tank.
It will be obvious that when the foregoing arrangement is no longer
required it can be taken to pieces, the tallow or other non-conductor
recovered, and the material remain available for like purposes on another
voyage or at other times.
It may be mentioned that by increasing the quantity of liquid in the 1
apparatus as may be required, the weakened solution itself (which is the
source of the cold) may be passed direct through pipes or spaces in lieu
of the brine or other medium for conveying the cold and returned to the
point b, b, by gravitation or by pump. We however prefer the plan just
described as being the more simple.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Mort in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th June 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
MORT, of 155, Fenchurch Street, in the City of London, send :
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, ;
give and grant unto me, the said William Mort, Her special license
that I, the said William Mort, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Mort, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to

page_text: B is a dished wrought-iron plate to hold the ammoniacal liquor whilst
under the action of heat from a hot water bath or furnace.
D, evaporating dishes perforated in opposite radii to allow the fluid to
descend in a cascade, offering in its descent a large evaporating surface,
the top plate forming a cover to prevent priming.
C, dome containing the evaporating dishes which receive the liquid
ammonia from the pump.
..E, level gauge indicating the quantity of fluid in the generator A.
F, steam boiler (which must be fitted with water safety valve) filled
with water to about four-fifths of its capacity.
G, exhausted liquor delivery pipe leading to temperature exchanger Y.
H, feed pipe conveying the weakened solution injected by the pump
No. 2 into the evaporating dishes D.
I, evaporating cylinder fitted with evaporating pans similar to those
in dome C.
J, overflow pipe connecting the generator A with the evaporating
cylinder I.
K, pipe returning the condensed liquor from the desicator M to the
evaporating cylinder I. This pipe is sealed by the liquid stored for that
purpose in the bottom of the cylinder.
L shews the inner pipe of the dessicator M discharging into the
evaporating cylinder I. This is the discharge end of the pipe O.
M, desicator composed of a double pipe one within the other about
seventy feet in length bent into a spiral and fitted into an open tank, the
latter to receive cold water when necessary. The inner pipe conveys :
part of the weakened solution from the freezing cistern i, i, exchanging
temperature with the gas which the outer pipe conveys from the
generator A to low-pressure reabsorber P.
.
N, pipe leading the desicated gas from the desicator M to the low-
pressure reabsorber P by the pipe R.
O, pipe leading part of the weakened solution from pipe No. 4 through
the desicator M, of which it becomes the inner pipe, and is the same
pipe as L.
P, low-pressure reabsorber constructed in a similar manner to the
generator A, minus the evaporating pans. The pipes are forty in number, a
one inch in diameter, and about three feet six inches long. This vessel

page_text: is filled to about two-thirds of its capacity with a solution of ammonia
and immersed in a running bath of cold water. A level gauge similar to
gauge E is fitted externally and indicates the quantity of liquid in the
vessel. A pressure gauge is also fitted at the top of the dome to shew
the pressure within.
Q, feed pipe (fitted with regulating cock) terminating in the upper
part of the dome of the reabsorber P, the end having a rose upon it
which serves to divide the liquid injected into a fine spray..
R is a pipe, a continuation of the pipe N, and leads the desicated gas
from the desicator Minto the liquid contained in the reabsorber P. This
pipe also terminates with a perforated rose to divide the gas as it meets
the liquid, as before described. At the place shewn on the plan between
N and R a retention valve is fitted, which is also used as a stop valve.
This valve opens
in the same direction as the gas travelling through the
pipe, and prevents the pressure when the machine is at rest from returning
to the generator A.
S, delivery pipe with regulating cock for conveying the liquor from
the reabsorber P to the strong liquor reabsorber a, a.
T, vacuum reabsorber constructed in a manner similar to the low-
pressure reabsorber P, with the exception that the tubes in the vessel are
fifty in number, half-inch in diameter, and made of pure tin. A liquid
gauge level indicates the quantity of liquid in the vessel, and a vacuum
gauge indicates the pounds per square inch of vacuum maintained in the
vessel. The liquor in this vessel is kept at two-thirds the height of the
tubes.
U, feed pipe (fitted with regulating cock) terminating in a rose as
before described, which divides the exhausted liquor as it flows into the
upper dome of reabsorber T into a fine spray.
V, suction pipe for conveying the liquid from the vacuum. reabsorber
T to the pump 8, 8..
X, water tank filled with cold water in which the two reabsorbers P
and T are immersed. This water is constantly flowing.
Y, temperature exchanger composed of inner and outer pipes made
of equal lengths of pure tin about seventy-five feet long and coiled.
Part of the cold weakened solution from the pump No. 2 enters the
inner pipe at the top of the coil on its way to the generator A, whilst
the hot exhausted liquor enters the outer pipe at the bottom of the coil

page_text: by the pipe G on its way to the reabsorber T by the pipe U. The two
liquors travelling in opposite directions thus exchange temperature.
Z, regulating cock fitted with a fine wire gauze to filter the liquor
as it is forced through it. This cock connects the generator A with
the exchanger Y.
•
a, a, strong liquor reabsorber fitted internally with a coil of tim pipe
half inch diameter and about twenty feet long. The coil enters at b, b, and
returns at c, c, having a branch connection at d, d, leading into main
vacuum pipe m, m. The vessel is fitted with liquid level gauge indi-
cating the liquor at about two-fifths of the capacity of the vessel. This
vessel is not absolutely essential to the working of the apparatus, and
where ordinary temperatures only are sought, such as required for ice
making, for instance, may be dispensed with, but where extremely low
temperatures are required it is indispensable, overcoming as it does the
necessity for pressure in reabsorber P, and I specially claim it as an
Invention of great importance in connection with the process of refri-
geration, as by supplying the liquid therein with dry gas from the low-
pressure reabsorber P an increased saturation with gas is induced, which
may be continued until the extreme range of cold capable of being
produced from ammonia is arrived at, and that without having increased
the working pressure. An important point in this arrangement is, as is
elsewhere explained, that the warming temperature of the strong liquor
in a, a, causes the weakened solution to evaporate gas sufficient to keep
it from materially increasing its own temperature, the gas passing off by
the pipe d, d, into the main gas pipe m, m. The cold medium on its
return from its work to be again refrigerated may be made to perform
the same office as the weak liquor.
e, e, regulating cock connecting the low-pressure reabsorber P to
the strong liquor reabsorber a, a, by the pipe 8. This pipe is fitted with
⚫a fine rose.
g, g, syphon pipe immersed in the strong liquor contained in a, a,
and with which it supplies the freezing cistern i, i, by the feed pipe k, k.
This pipe is fitted with a regulating cock.
h, h, small rose pipe fitted with stop-cock to allow and regulate the
flow of dry gas coming from the upper dome of the low-pressure
reabsorber P to be combined with the strong liquor in a, a, which owing
to the reduction of temperature caused by the circulation of the cold liquid
through the coil has power to take up an additional quantity of gas.

page_text: -
,, freezing cistern or box, by preference rectangular, made of metal,
into which freezing troughs are fitted, each holding water or other
substance requiring to be frozen in flat tin or other metal moulds and
bathing in a liquid medium such as solution of chloride of calcium or
chloride of sodium, or any other liquid medium having a point of con-
gelation considerably below that of fresh water. These freezing troughs
are constructed and placed so as to compel the concentrated solution of
ammonia to travel a considerable distance and thus offer a large surface
for evaporation. To effect this small ribs about a quarter of an inch
deep, and placed by preference in zig-zag form on the top plate of the
trough, which of itself has a fall equal to half an inch towards its
extremity. The bottom of the trough is level so as to keep the water in
the tin perfectly level during congelation. The evaporating solution of
ammonia after having run the zig-zag of the top plate falls on the next
trough plate (which is similarly constructed to the first one but placed
in an opposite direction), and then on the next, and so on, forming a
perfect cascade until it arrives at the bottom plate of the box, where it
is delivered through the pipe n, n, into the water refrigerator.
1, 1, still head leading the gas given off from the strong liquor from
the freezing cistern i, i, through the main vacuum pipe m, m, into the
vacuum reabsorber T.
n, n, pipe conveying the weakened solution from the freezing cistern i; i,
into the water refrigerator q, q-
o, o, wooden box enclosing the freezing cistern i, i, and having ten small
doors, one being placed opposite the aperture of each of the freezing
troughs j,j. A space of two inches is left between the metallic box and the
wooden one which is filled with wool or any other suitable non-conductor.
p, p, water tank (protected externally by non-conductor) containing
the water refrigerated in q, q, and which tank serves as a base to the
freezing cistern and a stand for the donkey pump.
q, q, water refrigerator composed of a double pipe one inside the
other made of pure tin, the inner pipe containing the water to be cooled
and the outer pipe the weakened solution from the cistern i, i. The
length of pipe is about twenty-five feet and is made to go round the
outside of the water tank. The water and the weakened solution travel
in opposite directions, thus causing an exchange of temperature with
each other, which is regulated by the delivery cock r, r, so as to allow
the water to reach the tank at 32° F.

page_text: A donkey engine with force pumps for pumping the ammoniacal liquor
or water or medium for imparting cold to any object completes the
machine. This is made to be worked either by 'hand power or steam, or
by the pressure of the ammoniacal gas itself, as herein-after described.
8, 8, is a double-acting force pump constructed in the ordinary way i
with the exception that the suction valves are acted upon by a cam
placed on the main shaft, which by suitable levers and rods causes the
valves to open and shut at the required time. These pumps should be
constructed so as to leave no unnecessary play in the internal part in
order that no liquid or gas shall remain after each expulsion.
1
t, t, is the suction pipe fixed to the suction valve, and is provided with
a regulating cock; this pipe is a continuation of the pipe V.
u, u, delivery pipe conveying the liquid as pumped into the condenser
v, v, in a fine spray through the top of that vessel.
v, v, condenser having a capacity equal to three times that of the 1
engine cylinder. This vessel may be immersed in cold water to carry
away the heat engendered in combination of the liquid with the gas.
x, x, exhaust pipe leading the exhausted gas from the engine cylinder
6 to the condenser through the bottom of the same.
y, y, suction pipe connecting the condenser v, v, with the suction 2
valve 2, ..
No. 1, delivery pipe leading the liquor pumped from the condenser v, v,
into the low-pressure reabsorber P by the delivery pipe Q.
No. 2, single-acting force pump connected with the double-acting
pump 8, 8, both being driven by an eccentric between friction rollers, 2
the eccentric receiving a rotary motion by the main shaft acted upon
by any of the powers mentioned above.
No. 3, suction pipe with regulating cock connecting the suction valve
of the pump 2 with the delivery end of the coil which is contained in
the strong liquor reabsorber at the point c, c.
No. 4, delivery pipe conveying the weakened solution by branch pipes
marked 5, 5, to the temperature exchanger Y and to the desicator M on
its way to the generator A. These pipes are fitted with regulating
cocks to divide the liquor as required.
3
No. 6, engine with oscillating cylinder (connected with the main 3
shaft by a crank) having a capacity equal to four times that of the force

page_text: pumps and receiving the compressed gas which gives the motive power
from the generator A, exhausting the same into the condenser v, v.
This engine is fitted in the ordinary way, receiving and exhausting the
gas through the trunnions.
MODE OF WORKING THE APPARATUS.
Having taken care in constructing the several parts of the machine
to avoid using metals which are acted upon by ammonia, such as copper
or its alloys, using only wrought iron, cast iron, steel, tin, and lead, and
having ascertained that all the vessels, pipes, cocks, and joints are made
air-tight, a solution of ammonia of commerce of a specific gravity
equal to about 0.900 is introduced into the generator A to the level of
the top of the upright tubes by a screw plug fitted at the top of dome D.
The low-pressure reabsorber P is also charged with ammonia of the same
strength by a similar opening, but only in quantity sufficient to shew
the liquid three inches above the bottom part of the gauge glass. The
vacuum reabsorber T is purposely left empty, but the strong liquor
reabsorber a, a, is allowed to fill from the reabsorber P through the
pipe S to one-third of its capacity, when the cock must be shut, and
the liquor in the reabsorber P maintained at the level before referred
to, viz., about three inches above the bottom part of the gauge glass.
Heat must now be provided, and presuming that steam and hot water
bath be used, as shewn in the plan, a pressure of steam equal to five
pounds on the square inch (which will give a temperature of 225° F:)
will meet all requirements excepting when extremely low temperatures
are sought, when additional pressure in the boiler will be required,
which by compelling the liquor to receive additional gas will accomplish
the desired end, even to the furthest limits of cold obtainable from
ammonia. Should heat be obtained by direct application of fire the
furnace must be so arranged as to permit of the heated air only reaching
the evaporating tubes. As the vessels containing the solution of ammonia
are only. partially filled their remaining capacity is of course occupied
by air, which if not expelled would paralyze the action of the apparatus.
The expulsion of this air is easily accomplished by the provision made
in constructing the vacuum reabsorber T, in which it will be seen a
small cock is placed near the top of the dome, which must be fitted
with a flexible tube terminating in a rose minutely perforated. The end
of this tube must be immersed in a small vessel containing cold water
(at this time all the cocks being shut.) On opening this small cock

page_text: After passing
and also the regulating cock placed at h, h, and at syphon pipe g, g,
and the stop-cock placed on vacuum main pipe marked *, the air
and gas contained in the generator A owing to the pressure caused
by the application of heat to that vessel escapes through the evapo-
rator I, and passing on through the desicator M opens the retention
valve, and forcing its way through the cold solution of ammonia in the
low-pressure reabsorber P, the gas is absorbed therein and the air is
left free. The air then passes by the small pipe h, h, at the top of the
dome and enters into the strong liquor reabsorber a, a.
through the liquid contained in this vessel and meeting with no outlet
in the space above the liquid it exercises its pressure on the liquid itself
and forces that liquid into the freezing cistern i, i, by the syphon pipe
g, g. Here it falls through the pipe k, k, (which is the delivery end of
the pipe g, g,) on the top plate of the cistern, and continues its course
into the water refrigerator q, q, where it enters the coil of the strong
liquor vessel a, a, by the branch pipe b, b, returning at c, c, when it
runs direct into the pump 2 by the pipe 3, the liquor in its fall having
displaced all the air which the vessels and pipes contained. The strong
liquor reabsorber a, a, being now empty the air has a free circulation,
and filling first the freezing cistern i, i, it escapes by the still head 1, 1,
into the vacuum main pipe, where it is led into the vacuum reabsorber T,
escaping finally by the flexible pipe before referred to into the water
where every trace of ammonia is absorbed and the air only allowed to
escape. This operation is continued until all air bubbles cease to shew
themselves and a grinding noise is heard caused by the vacuum which
the gas and the liquor form for each other during their combination.
The air being all expelled all the cocks are to be shut excepting those of
the level gauges. A stream of cold water is now admitted into the tank
containing the desicator M and into the vat X, and the heat being main-
tained in the generator A the gas is driven from the liquor contained in
that vessel, and after being cooled and desicated (the liquid of desication
returning to the generator by the pipe K) the cold dry gas is absorbed.
into the low-pressure reabsorber P, causing an increase of liquid and of
pressure, and from that time the liquid of the generator goes on decreasing
until all the gas is exhausted. The level then remains stationary. The
pressure indicated by the pressure gauge need never exceed about fifteen
lbs. per square inch for the freezing of water. The regulator e, e, is now
opened and the concentrated solution of ammonia allowed to flow until
it fills one-third of the strong liquor reabsorber a, a. The delivery cock Z

page_text: and the regulator U of the vacuum reabsorber T must now be opened
and the flow of the liquid regulated. The hot exhausted liquor by its
own pressure forces its way through the outer pipe of the temperature
exchanger Y until it is delivered into the vacuum reabsorber T in a fine
spray by the pipe U, having exchanged its temperature during its travel
with the weakened solution from the freezing cistern i, &, which is at
that time being forced by the pump 2 into the generator A. The
vacuum reabsorber T having been filled with ammoniacal gas during the
expulsion of air is immediately put into a strong vacuum by the in-
stantaneous absorption of the gas into the exhausted liquor, which latter
is allowed to flow until it has reached midway of that vessel, which is its
proper level: The exhausted liquor in the generator A having descended
to the level indicated on the plan the donkey pump is put in motion
and the liquor which had been sent into the freezing cistern is pumped
out through the inner pipe of the refrigerator q, q, passing through the
coil in the strong liquor a, a, as before explained, and thence transmitted
to the generator A by the two branch pipes marked 5, 5, one of which
becomes the inner pipe of the temperature exchanger Y and the other
the inner pipe of the desicator M, both supplying the generator A with
liquor containing ammonia, the said liquor having during its travel cooled
the exhausted hot liquor from A and desicated the gas given off there-
from through M by its gradual cooling action, itself arriving at the
generator hot and in the best condition for being rapidly evaporated.
The admission of cold water into the desicator M can be dispensed with
as the flow of the weakened solution supplied by the pump 2 becomes
sufficient to cool both the weakened solution and the gas. It will be
seen that by this mode no caloric is wasted whilst the process of evapora-
tion is greatly increased, as little if any disturbance can take place in the
generator owing to the temperature of the solution constantly sent in
being steadily maintained. The regulating cock h, h, is now opened and
so set as to allow the absorption of dry gas from the low-pressure re-
absorber P into the strong liquor in a, a, in order to maintain a constant
pressure in a, a, a little under the pressure in reabsorber P; without this
supply it would be soon reduced by the cooling action of the circulating
weakened solution coming from the freezing cistern. The ice moulds
having been filled with fresh water and the solution of chloride of
calcium or other medium having been placed in each trough the
machine is now ready to freeze, only requiring the regulating cock
placed on the syphon:g, g, to be opened to supply the freezing cistern
T

page_text: with the concentrated ammoniacal solution, which when allowed to
flow distributes itself on the top plate of the freezing troughs, descending
as before described. The stop-cock placed on the vacuum main pipem, m,
marked being open the evaporation of the concentrated solution
immediately begins owing to the pressure being relieved by the free
communication of the cistern with the vacuum reabsorber T. The
gas in meeting the exhausted liquor which is continually supplied
from the generator A immediately combines with it by affinity,
generating heat, which heat is carried away by the current of cold
water supplied in the vat X. The pump 8, 8, is now set to work
and extracts the recombined liquor in the reabsorber T by the pipe V,
forcing the same into the condenser v, v, there to receive an additional
quantity of gas from the generator A by the exhaust pipe x, x,
which through its being absorbed under a slight pressure releases
the pressure under the piston of the engine cylinder, whilst the full
pressure of gas in the generator A acts on the other side of the
piston, thus keeping the motion regular and powerful. The pump 8, 8,
being a double-acting force pump withdraws the liquid from the con-
denser v, v, by the pipe y, y, and forces it along pipe No. 1 into the
pressure reabsorber P through the pipe Q in a fine spray, and then
meeting gas under pressure it is saturated under the influence of that
pressure. The combined liquor now falls into the tubes, which being
immersed in cold running water the heat engendered in combination is
carried off and the liquor is ready to absorb under its reduced tempera-
ture an additional quantity of the gas supplied from the generator A, as
before described. The heat being maintained in the generator the con-
centration of the solution of ammonia in the low-pressure reabsorber P
remains constant, its consumption being equal to the supply of liquid
and gas. Each organ of the apparatus is equally supplied in proportion
to its demand, the regulating cocks and the liquid level gauge enabling
the most accurate adjustment, and the freezing within continues as long
as the heat is applied to the regenerator. By the rapid evaporation
of the ammonia caused by the released pressure in the freezing cistern
the water is soon frozen. The blocks of ice being removed the tin
moulds are refilled with the water from the cold water tank p, p, which
water has been reduced in temperature to. about 32° by exchanging a
portion of its heat with the weakened solution from the freezing
cistern i, i, on its passage through the refrigerator q, q, and that
without interfering with the proper work of the machine, as both con-

page_text: gelation and cooling are going on at the same time. The last evapora-
tion of the ammoniacal solution takes place in passing through the
coil of the strong liquor reabsorber a, a, from whence the strong
liquor is delivered to the freezing cistern. The temperature. of the
strong liquor in this reabsorber being above that of the weakened
solution exchanges with that of the solution and also causes a further
evaporation, and so still further reduces the temperature of the strong
liquor in a, a, thereby rendering the strong liquor capable of absorbing
an additional quantity of dry gas supplied to it by the regulating
cock h, h, from the vessel P. The exhausted solution is then conveyed
by the pump 2 into the generator A, as before described. Additional
strength may be imparted to the liquor in the machine by placing
liquor of ammonia of commerce in a vessel to which heat can be applied
and connecting the head of such vessel to a gutta percha tubing con-
nected with the air cock at the head of the vacuum reabsorber T, care
being taken to prevent the admission of air. Should the increased
amount of gas taken in require the withdrawal of liquor this may be
effected by a draw-off cock, which for general convenience may be
placed at the bottom of the generator A. When it is desired to produce
cold for purposes other than ice making the apertures in the freezing
cistern i, i, in which the water is placed to freeze may be used for the
purpose of passing the freezing medium through by facing them with a
plate of wood or iron and connecting them with each other by pipes,
the medium being forced in at the bottom trough and passed out at the
top one on its way to its work, and so circulated as long as the cold is
required to be maintained.
For the purpose of applying the apparatus to the carrying of meat
or other articles of food on board ship, and to the cooling of rooms or
spaces for the reception and continuous preservation by cold of the same
or other articles of food on shore, &c., &c., the following arrangement
is used, which on account of its economy, simplicity, and novelty is
specially claimed.
Take the skin of the ship or room or space (taking care to caulk or
otherwise make the same water-tight), and against the same screw small
upright ribs of wood of about an inch square at distances of about
eighteen inches, making them to wind round the vessel or room; against
these ribs we fasten a partition of calico, wood, or sheet iron, filling the

page_text: Брасе
thus made with melted tallow, to which a small quantity of lime
has been added in order to raise its melting point. Any other non-
conducting and moisture repelling substance may be used in lieu of
tallow, but in countries supplying meat a convenient and economical mode
of transport is afforded by the use of it, which would induce its having
a' preference over any other substance. This done screw other ribs of
wood of about the same thickness against the face of the ribs before
referred to, and against which screw light sheet iron, thereby forming a
channel through which to circulate the freezing medium. This medium
is introduced from the freezing cistern to the top of the vessel or space
desired to be acted upon, and lead the same to a well at the bottom
of the vessel or space from which the medium is pumped up to the
refrigerating tank to restore the power it has lost by abstracting the heat
from the surrounding objects on its passage. The divisions through.
which the medium flows may be made perfectly water-tight by using a
strip of india-rubber between the face of the wooden rib and the sheet
iron where ever a joining of the sheets of iron takes place.
The same end may be obtained by using pipes in lieu of the spaces
described either in continuous coils or otherwise, galvanic batteries to
prevent the oxydation of the iron against which the brine or other
medium is sent ought to be placed in connection with the salt and
water.
It will be obvious that when the foregoing arrangement is no longer
required it can be taken to pieces, the tallow recovered, and the material
remain available for like purposes on any other voyage or at other 1
times.
For the cooling of wort, must, or other liquids pipes may be advan-
tageously used one inside the other, the cooling medium passing through
the inner pipe, and the liquid requiring to be cooled through the outer
pipe, or vice versa, or the cooling medium may be made to circulate
through pipes in the vessels in which the liquid to be cooled is placed.
It may be mentioned that by increasing the quantity of liquid in the
apparatus as may be required, the weakened solution (which is the
source of the cold) may be passed direct through pipes or spaces in lieu
of the brine or other medium for conveying the cold and returned to the
point b, b, by gravitation or by pump. I however prefer the plan just
described as being the more simple.

page_text: It may also be stated that in lieu of the freezing cistern i, i, an
evaporating tank or cylinder fitted with trays, or shelves, or pipes, may
be substituted, the exhaust and discharge being after the same manner
as shewn in the cistern.
Although the description has reference to a machine of a particular
size, it can of course be increased or diminished in size, its powers being
dependent upon the increase or diminution of the several parts. The
numbers and sizes of the pipes and the sizes of the several vessels may
be varied without destroying the working power of the apparatus; those
have been given which experience approves.

page_text: r
the influence of cold and secured against moisture and atmospheric
influence.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Mort, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the 30th day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
W. MORT. (L.S.)