IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION: OF FOOD, THE COOLING OF ROOMS OR APARTMENTS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and
.
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FOR THE PRESERVATION: OF
FOOD, THE COOLING OF ROOMS OR APARTMENTS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES."
A communication from abroad by Andrew Jackson Chase, of Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltinc, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FOOD; THE COOLING OF ROOMS OR APARTMENTS, AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by Andrew Jackson
Chase, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in refrigerators of that class in which
the air contained in the refrigerator is cooled by means of a refrigerating mixture
contained in a suitable receptacle or compartment, the air being caused to.
automatically circulate through a provision chamber containing perishable articles,
whereby the vapors of such articles are removed as fast as exhaled, and the said
articles are kept at a low temperature.
In refrigerators of this class as heretofore constructed, the air has generally been
made to circulate in contact with the external walls of the vessel containing the
refrigerating material; and in this manner the air is slowly and imperfectly cooled,
and the full effect of the refrigerating material is not obtained.
The refrigerating material in such apparatus generally consists of a mixture of
ice and salt, and as fast as the ice melts by the action of the salt thereon, the
resulting liquid or solution is allowed to escape and go to waste. This liquid is
exceedingly cold, and being thus allowed to go to waste, a large amount of effective
refrigerating material is lost.
By my Invention I obviate these objections, and provide for more effectively and
rapidly cooling the ice in the provision chamber, and utilize the liquid resulting
from the melting of the ice to assist in the refrigerating process.
The said Invention consists,-
First. In the combination with the receptacle containing the refrigerating

page_text: material of one or more pipes or air-conduits passing diagonally through the same,
the upper and lower ends of said pipes communicating with the air outside of the
chamber, so as to cause a circulation of air downward through said pipes as its
gravity is increased by cooling.
Second. In the combination with the vessel or receptacle for containing the
refrigerating materials of a vessel below communicating with said receptacle, in
which the liquid resulting from the melting of the ice is collected and held and
utilized to assist in the refrigerating process before being discharged as waste.
Third. In the combination with the receptacle for containing the refrigerating
material, and the vessel for containing the liquid resulting from the melting of the
ice, of one or more pipes or air conduits passing through the vessel containing said
liquid, and communicating with the air outside of the same, whereby a current of
air may be passed through the body of the refrigerating material.
Fourth. In the combination in a refrigerator, of a preserving chamber, an air
refrigerating chamber separated therefrom by a practically vertical partition, having
passages through it at top and bottom, an ice receptacle situated in the upper
portion of said refrigerating chamber, a waste water receptacle arranged below and
connected with said ice receptacle, and one or more air pipes open at both ends,
extending from the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber inside the refrigerator,
through the waste water receptacle in oblique directions toward the bottom of the
said refrigerating chamber, whereby the air in the upper portion of said refrigerating
chamber will be cooled and flow downward in contact with the external walls of
the ice receptacle and waste water receptacle, and through the pipes passing
through said waste water receptacle, being further cooled thereby, and flowing
through the passage or passages at the bottom of the dividing wall, will come in
contact with the articles in the preserving chamber, and when warmed thereby,
will rise and flow through the passages at the top of the said dividing wall, back to
the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber, and a constant rapid flow of cold air
will be thus maintained from the refrigerating to the preserving chamber, and the
waste water will be utilized as a refrigerating material.
The vessel for containing refrigerating material is constructed of metal or other
suitable material, and is provided with an escape pipe. The said vessel is preferably
rectangular in horizontal section, and the sides are gradually contracted from top to
bottom.
'
The vessel for collecting and 'holding the liquid resulting from the melting of the
ice is preferably rectangular in shape, and projects beyond the other vessel at each
end.
The refrigerating vessel or apparatus is located in one of the two compartments
of the refrigerator, its top setting in an opening in the upper part of said compart-
ment for convenience in filling, and being provided with a removable cover.
In applying my improvements to a room or chamber for the purpose of cooling
the same, I arrange above the room to be cooled and ventilated another room, in
which the refrigerating device is placed. The air pipes in this instance communicate
with the air at the top of the refrigerating chamber, and extend diagonally through
the same, and down into the lower part of the room to be cooled. One or more
exits are provided at the upper part of the room to be cooled, through which exits
the impure air escapes.
In applying my Invention to ships, I arrange the same between the decks, and
prefer to employ a store room for containing the supply of ice or other refrigerating
material. This store room is divided from the refrigerator by a partition wall,
which is provided with an opening at its top. The refrigerating vessel is provided
with an open top, which is only accessible from the store room, the object being to
charge the said vessel by introducing the ice and salt into the same by passing it
over the aforesaid partition wall.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
January 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS
FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FOOD, THE COOLING OF ROOMS OR APARTMENTS, AND
FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Andrew Jackson
Chase, of Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
This Invention relates to improvements in refrigerators of that class in which
the air contained in the refrigerator is cooled by means of a refrigerating mixture
contained in a suitable receptacle or compartment, the air being caused to auto-
matically circulate through a. provision chamber containing perishable articles,
whereby the vapors of such articles are removed as fast as exhaled, and the said
articles are kept at a low temperature.
In refrigerators of this class as heretofore constructed the air has generally. been
made to circulate in contact with the external walls of the vessel containing the
refrigerating material, and in this manner the air is slowly and imperfectly cooled,
and the full effect of the refrigerating material is not obtained.
The refrigerating material in such apparatus generally consists of a mixture of
ice and salt, and as fast as the icc melts by the action of the salt thereon the
resulting liquid or solution is allowed to escape and go to waste. This liquid is
exceedingly cold, and being thus allowed to go to waste a large amount of effective
refrigerating material is lost.
By my Invention I obviate these objections, and provide for more effectively
and rapidly cooling the air in the provision chamber, and utilize the liquid
resulting from the melting of the ice to assist in the refrigerating process.
The said Invention consists,-
First. In the combination with the receptacle containing the refrigerating
material of one or more pipes or air conduits passing diagonally through the same,
the upper and lower ends of said pipes communicating with the air outside of the
chamber, so as to cause a circulation of air downward through said pipes as its
gravity is increased by cooling.
Second. In the combination with the vessel or receptacle for containing the
refrigerating materials of a vessel below communicating with said. receptacle, in
which the liquid resulting from the melting of the ice is collected and held, and
utilized to assist in the refrigerating process before being discharged as waste.
Third. In the combination with the receptacle for containing the refrigerating
material, and the vessel for containing the liquid resulting from the melting of the
ice, of one or more pipes or air conduits passing through the vessel containing said
liquid, and communicating with the air outside of the same, whereby a current of
air may be passed through the body of such liquid.
.
Fourth. In the combination in a refrigerator of a preserving chamber, an air
refrigerating chamber separated therefrom by a practically vertical partition
having passages through it at top and bottom, an ice receptacle situated in the
upper portion of said refrigerating chamber, a waste water receptacle arranged
below and connected with said ice receptacle, and one or more air pipes open at
both ends extending from the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber inside
the refrigerator, through the waste water receptacle in oblique directions, toward
the bottom of the said refrigerating chamber, whereby the air in the upper portion
of the said refrigerating chamber will be cooled, and flow downward in contact
with the external walls of the ice receptacle and waste water receptacle; and

page_text: through the pipes passing through the said waste water receptacle, being further
cooled thereby, and flowing through the passage or passages at the bottom of the
dividing wall, will come in contact with. the articles in the preserving chamber,
and when warmed thereby will rise and flow through the passages at the top of
said dividing wall back to the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber, and a 5
constant rapid flow of cold air will thus be maintained from the refrigerating to
the preserving chamber, and the waste water will be utilized as a refrigerating
material.
The construction of apparatus embodying my Invention is illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 represents a transverse vertical section of a refrigerator.
Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the same.
Figure 3, a top view of my refrigerating device detached, and
Figure 4 a sectional view shewing my Invention applied to a large room or
chamber for cooling the same.
In Figure 5 I have illustrated this Invention as arranged between the decks of
a ship.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawings.
A indicates the vessel for containing the refrigerating material. This vessel is.
constructed of metal or other suitable material, and provided with an escape pipe a.
It is rectangular in horizontal section, and the sides are gradually contracted from-
top to bottom, as shewn in Figure 2 of the Drawings.
B indicates the vessel for collecting and holding the liquid resulting from the
melting of the ice. This vessel is also rectangular in shape, and projects beyond
the vessel A at each end, as shewn in Figure 1 of the Drawings.
C indicates pipes or air conduits (of which there may be one or more), through
which air is caused to circulate automatically, as more fully hereinafter described.
As illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3 these pipes extend diagonally through the
chamber B from bottom to top thereof, and then upward at each end of the
receptacle A, terminating a short distance below the top thereof.
As shewn in Figure 4 the pipes extend diagonally directly through the vessel
containing the refrigerating material.
When employed in connection with, a refrigerator my improved apparatus is
arranged as shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3, in which Cindicates the refrigerator
divided into two compartments D and E by means of a partition F having openings
at the top and bottom, by which communication between the two compartments is
. established. The refrigerating apparatus is located-in-the-compartments.E, its_top
setting in an opening in the upper part of said compartment for convenience in
filling, and is provided with a removable cover G. The compartment is of sufficient
size to leave a space at all sides of the refrigerating device for the circulation of
cold air.
In Figure 4 my device is shewn as applied to a room or chamber or to a series
thereof for the purpose of cooling the same.
The letter H in this case indicates
the room or rooms to be cooled and ventilated, and I a room above in which the
refrigerating device is placed. The air pipes in this instance communicate with
the air at the top of the refrigerating chamber and extend diagonally through the
same and down into the lower part of the room or rooms to be cooled; K indicates
one or more exits at the upper part of the room or rooms H, through which the
impure air escapes.
In Figure 5 I have illustrated my Invention as arranged between the decks
A1, A2, of a steam ship. In this example I have shewn a store room B' for
containing the supply of ice or other refrigerating material, and the store room is
divided from the refrigerator by the partition wall C*, which is provided with an
opening at its top. The refrigerating vessel A is provided with an open top
which is only accessible from the store room, the object being to charge the vessel A
by introducing the ice and salt into the same by passing it over the partition
wall C*, and after being charged the vessel is fitted with an air tight cover. By

page_text: filling the refrigerator vessels or tanks through their open top many advantages
are obtained over such system where the tanks are charged through openings. in
the side walls of the same, because the tanks can be entirely filled, thereby securing
the effective refrigerating action of the entire tank.
The operation of my Invention is as follows:-
As the column of air in the pipes is cooled its gravity is increased, and it flows
out at the lower ends of said tubes, causing a constant circulation through the
same. As indicated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the air enters the pipes from the upper
part of the compartment E and escapes at the lower part, and at the same time a
downward current is established on the outside of the refrigerating vessel, the two
currents uniting and passing in volume into the lower part of the compartment D,
in which the provisions or perishable articles are placed. As the cold air enters
the chamber D at the bottom the warmer air is expelled into the compartment E
at the top, thus providing a constant circulation of cold air through the provision
chamber. As the ice melts the liquid in the ice receptacle passes into the vessel
below, and as its temperature becomes elevated by the absorption of heat from the
provisions it escapes through the pipe a, and is carried off. The refrigerator is
provided with an exit pipe at the bottom as usual for the escape of water of
condensation.
It is evident that when the vessel B is employed with the air tubes extending
through it, the circulation will continue after the ice in the upper chamber is all
consumed, as the chamber B will still contain a body of cold water which will keep
up the circulation.
This is an important advantage in case the ice receptacle should accidentally
become empty, as the cooling process will be continued for a considerable length of
time, thus preserving the articles until the ice chamber can be refilled.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. In a refrigerator, the combination with the receptacle containing the
refrigerating material of one or more pipes or air conduits passing diagonally
through the same and communicating at their upper and lower ends with the air
outside of the said chamber so as to cause a circulation of air downward through
the said pipes, substantially as specified.
Second. The combination with the vessel or receptacle for containing the
refrigerating material of a vessel below, communicating with the said receptacle, in
which the liquid resulting from the melting of the ice is collected and held, and
utilized to assist in the refrigerating process before being discharged, substantially
as specified.
Third. In combination with the receptacle for containing the refrigerating
material, and the vessel for collecting the liquid resulting from the melting of the
ice, one or more pipes or air conduits passing through said liquid and communicating
with the air outside of the same, whereby a current of air may be passed through
the body of the liquid, substantially as specified.
Fourth. In a refrigerator, the combination of a preserving chamber, an air
refrigerating chamber separated therefrom by a practically vertical partition having
passages through it at the top and bottom, an ice receptacle situated in the upper
portion of the said refrigerating chamber, a waste water receptacle arranged below
and connected with the said receptacle, and one or more air pipes open at both
ends extending from the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber inside the
refrigerator and through the waste water receptacle toward the bottom of the said
refrigerating chamber, all constructed and operating substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the preserving chamber, the air refrigerating chamber,
the partition having transverse passages through it at the top and bottom, the ice
receptacle located in the upper portion of the air refrigerating chamber, the waste
water receptacle located below and connected with the said ice receptacle at its
bottom, and the pipes C, C, leading from the upper portion of the said refrigerating

page_text: chamber through the waste water receptacle obliquely in opposite directions and
terminating below the said waste water receptacle, the whole constructed and
arranged to operate essentially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.