IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL ICE, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL ICE, AND IN APPARATUS
FOR THE SAME."-A communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste
Toselli, Manufacturer, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris.
Sealed the 12th January 1869, and dated the 27th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 27th July 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL
ICE, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
It is well known that ice of about half an inch in thickness may
be produced by refrigeration in about a quarter of an hour, but that
in order to obtain ice of double that thickness at least an hour is
required, while it often takes six hours to make ice two and a half
inches in thickness, necessitating the employment of a large amount

page_text: product.
According to this Invention I produce ice of any thickness in one
operation, occupying from ten to fifteen minutes only, that is to say, the
ordinary duration of a refrigerating mixture operating at a temperature
below freezing point.
This result I obtain by the employment of a series of conical or
other recipients disposed concentrically one within the other, their sizes
being proportioned to the exact quantity of ice that can be produced
in each in the space of ten to fifteen minutes.
Supposing for example it is desired to obtain a cylindrical piece of
ice, ten inches in length by six inches in thickness, I construct a
series of metal recipients eight more or less in number, see Figures 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, which I dispose in two discs shown in Figures 9
and 10; the water to be congealed is introduced into these recipients
so as to about two-thirds fill them. The first disc is then introduced
in the one part of the machine, Figure 11, the salt and water being
added in the necessary proportions, and the other disc placed in position,
the apparatus is then hermetically closed and set in motion for about
ten or a dozen minutes. After this the eight cones measuring only
"one-fifth of an inch in thickness are removed from their recipients
and introduced one in the other in the manner shown in Figure 12.
On leaving the machine the ice is at a temperature of two or three
degrees below freezing, and will consequently adhere together by
simple contact, thus forming a solid block which is obtained in about
twelve minutes instead of in as many hours or days by the ordinary
process. It is unnecessary to remark on the great advantage presented
by this new mode of producing ice artificially, as it is well known that
the thin artificial ice generally produced in the apparatus now in use
can only be preserved for a few minutes, while that obtained by the
above-described process may be kept for several days.
In order to obtain a perfectly hermetic closure of the recipients I
provide them with double perforated discs of india-rubber embracing
their circumference. The machine itself is provided with a double
series of recipients rotating on a pivot as seen in Figure 11, or it
may be made to oscillate, or the recipient may be simply rolled on a
table for instance.

page_text: The improvements thus consist in the artificial production of ice
in blocks of any form, weight, or dimensions, with either parallel or
conical surfaces by the aid of the rotary apparatus of this Invention,.
whether they are produced in round or square containers in any suitable
number, which are plunged into the liquid the temperature of which
has been reduced by any known means..
The improvements further relate to the arrangement of the double
india-rubber discs embracing the circumference of the several containers-
for producing their hermetic closure, also to the arrangement of the
machine described, whether rotated or simply oscillated on its horizontal
pivots, or whether made of a metal or other case covered with wool or
felt.
Lastly, the container or containers may simply have a rolling motion-
imparted to them on a table or other flat surface for the production.
of ice artificially.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,.
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year-
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suecessors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark,. my Her special:
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL ICE, AND IN APPARATUS POR
THE SAME," a communication to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste Toselli,

page_text: Manufacturer, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said 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 Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say) :-
It is well known that ice of about half an inch in thickness may be
produced by refrigeration in about a quarter of an hour, but in order
to obtain ice double that thickness at least one hour is required, while
it often takes six hours to make ice one and a half inches in thickness,
necessitating the employment of a large amount of refrigerating sub-
stances which greatly increases the price of the product.
According to this Invention I produce ice of any thickness in one
operation, occupying from ten to fifteen minutes only, that is to say,
the ordinary duration of a refrigerating mixture operating at a tem-
perature below freezing point,
This result I obtain by the employment of a series of conical or
other recipients of gradually increasing size proportioned to the exact
quantity of ice that can be produced in each in the space of ten to
fifteen minutes.
Supposing for example it is desired to obtain a cylindrical piece
of ice ten inches in length by six inches in thickness, I provide a series
of metal recipients eight more or less in number, see Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, and 8, which I dispose in two discs A, B, shown in Figures 9
10, and 11, each disc containing one-half of the number of recipients
used.
In the annexed Drawing Figure 11 shows a vertical section of the
annaratns with the recipients in position therein,

page_text: a, a, is the freezing apparatus which may be of metal covered with
cloth or felt and fitted to rotate on pivots in a frame b as seen, and
having a rim or flange c near either end on which are placed the discs
A, B, containing the recipients, the latter being fixed in said discs.
The water to be congealed is first introduced into one set of recipients
(in disc B for example) so as to about two-thirds fill them. The
disc is then placed on the rim or flange c at one end of apparatus a,
and the cover d applied so as to close the mouths of the recipients,
which cover is fixed by the aid of screw c. The freezing salt used (such
as nitrate of ammonia) is then introduced into the apparatus a with the
requisite quantity of water, and the other disc A similarly provided
with recipients placed in position at the opposite end as shown, which
recipients are closed by a cover d secured as before so as to hermetically
close the apparatus. The apparatus is then set in motion for about
ten or a dozen minutes, after which the eight hollow cones of ice
measuring only two-fifths of an inch in thickness, which deposit on
the interior surface of the recipients, are removed and introduced one
in the other in the manner shown in Figure 12. On leaving the
machine the ice is at a temperature of two or three degrees below
freezing point, the cones will consequently adhere together by simple
contact, thus forming a solid block which is obtained in about twelve
minutes instead of in as many hours or days as would be required by the
ordinary process. It is unnecessary to remark on the great advantage
presented by this new mode of producing ice artificially, as it is well
known that the thin artificial ice generally produced in the apparatus
now in use can only be preserved for a few minutes, while the ice
obtained by the above-described process may be kept for entire days.
In order to obtain a perfectly hermetic closure of the recipients I
make the perforated discs A, B, before mentioned of india-rubber
embracing their circumference. The apparatus instead of being fitted
to rotate as described may simply oscillate, or it may be rolled on a
table for producing the desired result. Ice may thus be artificially
produced in blocks of any form, weight, or dimensions, with either
parallel or conical surfaces, and whether produced in round or square
single or double containers of metal or other suitable material. I
may also produce these hollow cones or other hollow forms of ice by
simply dipping the recipients into the refrigerating mixture, afterwards
uniting them in the manner before described.

page_text: Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. I claim producing block ice of any form or dimensions by the
simultaneous formation by known chemical means of thin films of ice
in a number of separate recipients of graduated sizes, so that when
fitted one in the other the films of ice thus formed will be caused to
adhere together and produce a solid block, substantially in the manner
shown and described.
2ndly. I claim the apparatus, Figure 11, arranged and applied as
and for the purpose specified.
3rdly. I claim the india-rubber discs A, B, for hermetically closing;
the recipients as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and and
sixty-nine.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)