IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL ICE, PARTS OF SUCH APPARATUS
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward. John Cowling Welch, of Harrow, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL ICE, PARTS OF SUCH APPARATUS BEING
Sealed the 6th March 1868, and dated the 9th September 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward John Cowling
Welch at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th September 1867.
I, EDWARD JOHN COWLING WELCH, of Harrow, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL ICE, PARTS OF SUCH
APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:
This Invention mainly consists in the construction and arrangement of certain
apparatus, whereby ice can be artificially produced in an economical and simple
manner, the refrigerating effects being produced by the evaporation of ether
or some other similar or analogous hydrocarbon, and the condensation of the
resulting vapour. A hollow chamber closed at the bottom (which may be
termed No. 1, being the freezing chamber) is placed within another chamber
(No. 2 being the ether chamber herein-after mentioned) of larger diameter
(and also closed at the bottom), so that an annular space remains around
the centre chamber, an annular lid being fastened on the top so as to make
the chamber No. 2 air-tight. A tube passes from the outside to the top of
11

page_text: the annular chamber No. 2 into which it opens; the compound chamber thus
formed is then placed in a third cylinder No. 3 (the charcoal chamber) of
larger diameter and of greater depth so that a space may remain all round
and below, between the compound chamber and the third chamber, which
space is filled with charcoal or other non-conductor of heat. An annular lid
is fixed in an air-tight manner between the compound chamber and the third
chamber. Another cylinder No. 4 (the condensing chamber) is placed around
No. 3, such cylinder being closed at the top and bottom. A length of pipe
through which is passed a smaller pipe (such pipes being composed of pewter
or other suitable material) is then coiled around the exterior of the outer
cylinder so that the helices may lie close against the cylinder and to each other.
The lower end of the small pipe enters the annular space outside and around
the cylinder No. 3, the lower end of the larger pipe is merely left open. The
compound pipe is then wound round and round to within a small distance of
the top, where the two pipes separate, the smaller pipe passing. through and
being properly secured to the larger; the ends of the two pipes then stand out
at the top and have a separate uniou joint to each by which they are connected
with the pump herein-after mentioned. A fifth and outer cylinder fitting close
to the coils of pipe is then put on, the union of the two pipes coming through
it at the top. The last-mentioned outer case is closed at the top and bottom.
Beneath the whole of the arrangement as above described is a chamber with a
float and valve, which valve is connected with the second chamber, an opening
being made into the float chamber from the fourth chamber. The float is
so adjusted that it will not rise until the liquid floating it is at some height
above the valve, so that no vapour may pass through it when the liquid
has been withdrawn. Various arrangements of the float and valve consisting
of adaptations of mechanism well known and understood may be adopted.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The water or substance to be
frozen is placed in the freezing chamber, and the ether chamber (No. 2) is
supplied with ether or other similar or analogous hydrocarbon fluid. The
pump herein-after mentioned exhausts from the exhaust pipe connected with
the ether chamber, and forces back the vapour through the condensing pipe
into the smaller pipe of the before-mentioned compound tube; the vapour
passes round and round through the smaller pipe meeting on its way a current
of water which is allowed to pass through the outer pipe, the vapour being
thereby condensed into a liquid form; it then runs into the condensing chamber
and thence into the valve box, in which when sufficient liquid has accumulated
the valve is opened by the arrangements before referred to, and the liquid
ether again enters the ether chamber. The condensing water enters chamber

page_text: No. 5, passing round and round between the coils of pipe until it reaches the
bottom, where it enters the larger pipe, the end of which enters into the chamber;.
the water then passes up through the larger pipe until it discharges itself at the.
outlet at the top of the chamber. By the process as thus described the tem-
perature of the freezing chamber is lowered until the water contained therein
is converted into ice.
The pump employed is of a very simple kind.. The cylinder is closed at
both ends, the top of the cylinder having a stuffing box for the piston rod to,
pass through. The piston head; is formed of two circular discs of brass or
other suitable metal, the same being respectively provided with leather
coverings of a cup-like form, the respective faces thereof opposed to each.
other, and the two portions of the piston head being connected and secured
to each other by means of a nut. The valves are four in number, and com-
municate with the top and bottom of the cylinder; this kind of pump with the
piston constructed as before-mentioned is applicable not only to this Invention
but also to other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance.of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward John Cowling Welch in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th March 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
JOHN COWLING WELCH, of Harrow, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Edward John Cowling Welch, Her special licence that I, the said
Edward John Cowling Welch, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Edward John Cowling Welch, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
ARTIFICIAL ICE, PARTS OF SUCH APPARATUS BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward

page_text: John Cowling Welch, my executors 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 Edward John Cowling Welch, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 annexed Drawings, and to the
figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention mainly consists in the construction and arrangement of
certain apparatus whereby ice can be artificially produced in an economical
and simple manner, the refrigerating effects being produced by the evaporation
of ether or some other similar or. analogous and suitable hydrocarbon, and
the condensation of the resulting vapour. A hollow cylindrical chamber
closed at the bottom (and which may be termed No. 1, being the freezing|
chamber) is placed within another chamber No. 2 (being the ether chamber
berein-after mentioned) of larger dimensions, and also closed at the bottom,
an annular space being thus left around the centre chamber, which space is
closed at the top by an annular, lid fitted in an air-tight manner. An exhaust
tube connected to an union joint on the outside of the apparatus passes to
the top of the annular chamber No. 2, into which it opens. The compound
chamber thus formed is placed in a third cylinder No. 3 (the charcoal
chamber) of larger diameter and of greater depth, so that a space may
remain all round and below between the compound chamber and the third
chamber, which space is filled with charcoal or other non-conductor of heat
The chamber No. 3 is closed at the top by means of an annular lid fixed in
an air-tight manner. Another cylinder No. 4 (the condensing chamber) is
placed around chamber No. 3, such cylinder being closed at the top and
bottom. A length of pipe through which is passed a smaller pipe (such pipes
being composed of pewter or other suitable material) is coiled around the
exterior of the cylinder No. 4 in such manner that the helices may lie close
against the cylinder and to each other. The lower end of the small pipe
enters the annular space outside the cylinder No. 3, the opening at which it
enters through cylinder No. 4 being made perfectly sound; the lower end of
the larger pipe is merely left open, the compound pipe is coiled to within a
small distance, say an inch, of the top of the chamber, where the two pipes
separate, the smaller pipe passing through and being properly secured to the

page_text: larger. The ends of the two pipes then stand out at the top of the cylinder,
a separate union joint being provided to each by which they are connected.
with the pump herein-after' mentioned. A fifth and outer cylinder fitting
close to the coils of pipe, and closed at the top and bottom, surrounds and
encloses the apparatus before described, the union of the two pipes coming.
through the said last-mentioned cylinder at the top thereof, an opening being
provided on the outer casing just above the coil of pipe, and being fitted with
an union for the admission of the condensing water. Beneath the whole of
the arrangement as above described is a chamber with a float and valve,
which valve is connected by means of a tube with the ether chamber, an
opening. being made into the float chamber from the fourth chamber. The
float is so adjusted that it will not rise until the liquid from the condensing.
chamber by which it is actuated is at some height above, the valve, so that
no vapour may pass through it when the liquid has been withdrawn.
Various arrangements of the float and valve consisting of mechanism well
known and understood may be adopted, but the following modification of the
float valve is new and is especially applicable to the purposes of my; said
Invention. The liquid from the condensing chamber flows through a tube,
into the valve box, in which it is received by a small cup or reservoir placed
at one end of a spindle or bar, the latter being mounted upon a suitable
fulcrum, and the end opposite to the reservoir being furnished with a counter-
balance weight. At the bottom of the reservoir is a small well with a
spherical valve which fits into the tube communicating with the ether
chamber; and upon the liquid in the reservoir overbalancing the weight the
reservoir descends, thus removing the spherical valve from the before-
mentioned tube and allowing the ether to ascend into the ether chamber.
The action of the apparatus will be clearly understood from the following
description, reference being made to the annexed Drawings in which the
same letters refer to similar parts.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Figure 2 a plan of the apparatusi;
Figure 3, float valve box';. Figures 4 and 5, the valves of the air pump
herein-after mentioned; Figures 6 and 7, balance valve and box;...Figure 8,
sectional view of air pump; Figure 9; pump cylinder; Figures 10, 13, 14,
show the wheel by which the pump is actuated and mechanism in connection
therewith. Figures 11 and 12 represent the bydraulic driving gear which
may be employed as herein-after mentioned.
The following are the references to the details:-A is the freezing
chamber; B, the ether chamber; C, insulating case; D, condensing
chamber; E, ether vapour compression pipe; F, condensing water waste

page_text: pipe; G, cover filled with non-conducting material; H, filling plug to
ether chamber; I, ether exhaust pipe; J, ether return pipe; K, float;.
K', small loop to move float in case of sticking; L, valve to ether return
pipe; M, plug to valve box; N, inlet for condensing water; D¹, opening.
from condensing chamber to valve box; 0, 0, passage from valve box
to cylinder; P, piston to air pump; P¹, piston to hydraulic arrange-
ment herein-after mentioned; Q, piston rod to air pump; Q', piston rod
to hydraulic arrangement; R, valve box to hydraulic; S, water inlet to
hydraulic; T, air pump cylinder; T', hydraulic cylinder; U; U, guides to
cross link to piston rod; V, V, cross link to piston rod; W, W, wheel by
which the pump is actuated; W', handle to wheel; X, crank pin; Y, crank;
Z, valve box to air pump. k is the balance valve cup (Figure 6); 1, balance
weight; m, screw valve to overflow well; n, spindle to valve;.n¹ stuffing box
to the same; p, ether return pipe from overflow well; 9, 9, 9', q, valves to
air pump; q, q, open; 9¹, being in section; r, lip to freezing machine.
The following are the references to the details of the hydraulic driving
geard, valve spindle; c, a long link; h, adjusting screw to link;
a, a, throwing arm centred on fixed arbor; b, b, cranked arm attached to a, a;
s, s, spring attached to i, a fixed point at one end, and to j the crank pin
to b, b; e, e, upright spindle hinged to a, a; f,f,. adjusting blocks on same
fixed in position by the screws f;f¹; f", f", india-rubber washers on springs;
g, block attached to the piston rod or cross head...
The machine being ready for use, ether, light hydrocarbon fluid, or other.
suitable volatile material is poured in at the plug H, and the latter securely
screwed down. The liquid to be frozen is then put into the chamber A, the
cover G put on, and the pump set in motion. If water power be employed,
the hydraulic arrangement at the top of the pump frame effects this. The
waste water after leaving the hydraulic passes through the union N, Figure 2,
and passes outside the coil of pipes shown in section, Figure 1; it then enters
the exterior pipe at its lowest point, and travels upwards between the two
In the meanwhile the working
tubes and passes out at F, Figures 1 and 2.
of the pump causes the ether to evaporate from the chamber B through the
tube I into the pump, from whence it is forced through the tube E, Figure 1
(which is the inner coil as shown), into the condensing chamber D. The
water in its coldest state comes in contact with the outside of this chamber in
which the condensation commenced in the inner coils is completed. The
condensed ether passes through the aperture O¹ into the valve box shown in
plan at Figure 3; in this valve box a plain floating valve may be used as in
Figure 1. If a plain valve, as in Figure 1, is used, the action is, as follows:

page_text: When sufficient liquid, to completely cover the valve has run into the box the
float rises and opens the valve and allows the liquid to pass up the tube J
into the evaporating chamber B. Upon the float sinking the valve is closed
before the liquid has got so low as to allow any vapour to pass through the
valve into the evaporating chamber.
Instead of the foregoing the modification herein-before referred to and
shown in Figures 6 and 7 may be used. The condensed liquid falls into
the cup or reservoir k, which has a well with a small spherical valve L
placed at its lowest part; this cup or reservoir k is so balanced by the
weight that.when above a certain quantity of liquid falls into it it shall
open the valve and allow of the return of the liquid into the evaporating
chamber B. In certain cases the liquid may get into the bottom of the
valve box casing, and for this reason a small screw valve m communicating
through the tube p with the evaporating chamber B is placed in the lower
portion of this casing, which being opened allows the surplus liquid to pass
through the opening in the screw, as shown in Figure 7, through p into B,
as before-mentioned; this valve is worked by the rod n passing through the
stuffing box n to the outside.
The following is the action of the pump :-The piston P, Figure 8, moving
upwards produces a vacuum on its under side, drawing through the pipe 0¹,
Figures. 8, 9, 4, and 5; this raises the valve q", Figure 4, drawing through the
union I, which is connected with the pipe J, Figure 1. The compression
through the pipe 0 closing the valve q, and opening the valve q', continuing
the compression through the union E, connected with the inner pipe E,
Figure 1, assists in liquifying the ether. The same action of course takes
place alternately on the opposite side of the piston. The pump may be
actuated either by direct motion or by the conversion of rotary into recipro-
cating movement either by connecting rods or by a link as shown in Figure 8.
The piston is formed as before mentioned of two plates with two cup leathers
between the same, the plates being held together by a nut on the end of the piston
rod, and which is let into the lower plate. Figure 4 shows the arrangement
of the valve box and valves with connections, the whole being in practice made
sound by a flat plate with a sheet of leather placed thereon, and which is held
in its place on the front of the box by a pair of screws which press it firmly
on the edges of the sides and of the divisions. Although the pump hereby
described is especially applicable to the purposes of my said Invention it is
also available and useful for other purposes.
If the bydraulic driving arrangement is employed the action is as follows:-
In the annexed Drawings Figures 11 and 19 the niston is supposed to be

page_text: ascending, and therefore the block 9 is moving up. The block g strikes
g
against, the concussion being reduced by the washers or springs f"; the
block continuing its motion. upwards to the end of the stroke forces the
throwing arm a, a, slightly past the horizontal position, and consequently the
arm slightly past the vertical position; at this moment the end of a is
at the bottom of slot c, the spring completes the movement of the arm a, a,
and with it carries the slide valve over. The long slot c is to allow the stroke
of the piston to be completed, and the throwing arm to get into a position
for the spring to act alone before slide valve is touched. I should here
observe that although the hydraulic arrangement is altogether new, I do not
claim it as constituting any portion of the present Invention, but simply
mention it as an advantageous alternative mode of actuating the machine..
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as
constituting the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the combination of parts and mechanism (save as
aforesaid) as and for the purposes substantially herein-before set forth and
described, or any mere modifications thereof.
In witness whereof I, the said Edward John Cowling Welch, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
E. P. H. VAUGHAN,
Patent Agent,
EDWARD J. COWLING WELCH. (L.S.)
54; Chancery Lane.