IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS, ICE- SAFES, AND PRESERVING CABINETS."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Gilbert, of Bedford Park, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATORS, ICE-
SAFES, AND PRESERVING CABINETS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Gilbert at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1881. :
GEORGE GILBERT, of Bedford Park, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN REFRIGERATORS, ICE SAFES, AND PRESERVING CABINETS."
"
IMPROVE-
Refrigerators, ice safes, and preserving cabinets as at present constructed are, so
far as regards the valve arrangements, open to objection, in that when the door is
closed and the valve open same projects outwards, and thus should any ice or other
substance rest against same there will be difficulty in opening the valve, and
further, a likelihood of same being damaged or broken. The refrigerator which is
mainly as follows, is constructed of the general form, with chambers, the front for
containing the articles acted upon, and the back the ice. These chambers are
divided by a partition with openings at top and bottom. The upper openings have
heretofore been provided with a flap valve, which projected outward when open into
the ice chamber. This has been open to the objection above stated, and to overcome
this and other objections I provide in front of said partition a sliding door or frame
having openings in same. This sliding door is connected by crank to a rod termi-
nating just at the door of the safe. When the door is closed this rod is forced back
and causes the sliding-door to rise, establishing communication between the refri-
gerating chamber and the ice chamber. When the door is opened the sliding door
drops, closing the communication. Arrangements may also be provided whereby.
any water from the ice is prevented from entering through the openings in the
partitions. Further, my improvements relate to means for preventing air entering
the ice chamber. This is effected by providing at the outlet for the condensed
water to pass through a tube or other contrivance as an S piece, whereby there
will be always water in the bend, thus preventing the air passing into the
chamber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Gilbert in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th August
1881.
GEORGE GILBERT, of Bedford Park, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN REFRIGERATORS, ICE SAFES, AND PRESERVING CABINETS."
"IMPROVE-
Refrigerators, ice safes, and preserving cabinets as at present constructed are, so
far as regards the valve arrangements, open to objection, in that when the door is
closed and the valve open same projects outwards, and thus should any ice or other
substance rest against same there will be difficulty in opening the valve, and
further, a likelihood of same being damaged or broken.
This refrigerator is constructed of the general form with chambers, the front for
containing the articles acted upon, and the back for the ice.
These chambers, are divided by a partition with openings at top and bottom.
The upper openings have heretofore been provided with a flap valve, which pro-
jected outward when open into the ice chamber. "This has been open to the
objection above stated, and to overcome this and other objections I provide in
front of said partition a sliding door or frame having openings in same. This
sliding door is connected by crank or otherwise to a rod terminating just at the
door of the safe. When the door is closed this rod is forced back, and causes the
sliding door to rise, establishing communication between the refrigerating chamber
and the ice chamber. When the door is opened the sliding door drops, closing the
communication. Arrangements may also be provided whereby any water from the
ice is prevented from entering through the openings in the partitions. Further,
my improvements relate to means for preventing air entering the ice chamber.
This is effected by providing at the outlet for the condensed water to pass through
a tube or other convtrivance as an S piece, whereby there will be always water
in the bend, thus preventing the air passing into the chamber.
Having thus far described the nature of my said Invention and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed, I will now proceed (aided
by the accompanying Drawings) to further and particularly describe and ascertain
in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, that is to
COTT
Fig. 1 shows sectional view of ice safe with my improved arrangements adapted
thereto; Fig. 2, front sectional elevation.
A is front or refrigerating chamber for the reception of articles; B, the ice
chamber in which the ice is placed, the two chambers being separated by a partition C,
- having openings at D, D, which are covered with perforated metal. In front of
this is a sliding frame or door E having openings at F, F, which (when the door of
the safe is closed as in Fig. 1) come opposite the openings D, D, thus admitting the
dry, cold air from the ice chamber B into the chamber A, said openings being
covered by perforated metal.
The sliding frame E is connected to a crank G, which terminates in a rod H of
such length that when the door of the safe is closed it comes against the inner
surface of the door. When the door is opened the sliding door by its own weight
falls, thus closing the communication between the ice chamber B and chamber A.
The water condensed from the ice in the ice chamber B is conveyed off by outlet I
through pipe or otherwise. In some cases I may use an S piece or trap connected
to the outlet, so as to hold sufficient water to prevent air issuing into the chamber B
by the outlet I.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in
Refrigerators, Ice Safes, and Preserving Cabinets," wherein the important and
peculiar feature is the sliding door or frame, actuated and applied in the manner
and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore set forth and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Gilbert, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
WILLIAM KELK,
62, Bishopsgate Street Within.
GEORGE GILBERT. (L.S.)