AN IMPROVEMENT IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS'
to be as follows:-
"
According to this invention, the alternate vaporization and condensation of a
volatile liquid effected in the usual way by the action of exhausting and com-
pressing pumps, are applied not only to cool the air supply to apartments or
store-rooms, but also to furnish distilled water in the following manner. Two coils
of pipes presenting extended surface are enclosed in a casing divided by partitions
by which air admitted at one part of the casing is caused to travel in zig-zag
directions in in contact with the coils, before issuing from another part. By means
of suitable cocks or valves the one coil is for a time put in communication with
the exhaust compartment of the refrigerating pumps, while the other is in commu-
nication with the compression compartment. The air, which, especially in hot
climates, carries with it a considerable amount of moisture, in passing the former
or cold coil deposits moisture on it in the form of hoar frost. After a time, without
interfering with the action of the pumps, the condition of the two coils is alternated
by shifting the cocks or valves, and thereupon the coil that had been frosted over
becomes warmed so as to melt off the frost while the other coil, now being cooled,
receives a frost deposit from the air. The water resulting from the melting of the
frost runs along inclined grooves in the bottom of the casing and is collected as
distilled water, while the cooled air passes to the apartments or store rooms where
it is required. For ensuring lubrication of the piston rods of the pumps and
rendering them tight against leakage the oil is subjected to the compressing pressure
and is thus forced through small passages into an annular cavity surrounding the
[Price 811

page_text: piston rod, and around this cavity there is another annular cavity supplied with
the volatile fluid and subjected to the exhaust. The cold produced in the latter
cavity congeals the oil around the piston rod thus rendering the packing quite
tight. Such oil as may find its way into the pumps and may mix its vapour with
that of the volatile liquid is separated by condensation, for which purpose the
mixed vapour is made to pass through successive condensing coils, so that the oil,
being the less volatile substance, is first condensed and separated in liquid condition
while the volatile material remains still in form of vapour to be condensed in the
succeeding coils.

page_text: An Improvement in Refrigerating Apparatus.
I, JOHN IMRAY, of N° 28 Southam ton Buildings, Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
According to this invention, the alternate vaporisation and condensation of a
volatile liquid effected in the usual way by the action of exhausting and 'com-
pressing pumps, are applied not only to cool the air supply to apartments or
store-rooms, but also to furnish distilled water in the following manner. Two coils
of pipes presenting extended surface are enclosed in a casing divided by partitions
by which air admitted at one part of the casing is caused to travel in zig zag
directions in contact with the coils before issuing from another part. By means of
suitable cocks or valves the one coil is for a time put in communication with the
exhaust compartment of the refrigerating pumps, while the other is in communi-
cation with the compression compartment. The air, which, especially in hot.
climates, carries with it a. considerable amount of moisture in passing the former
or cold coil deposits moisture in the form of hoar frost. After a time without
interfering with the action of the pumps, the condition of the two coils, is alter-
nated by shifting the cocks or valves, and thereupon the coil that had been frosted
over becomes warmed so as to melt off the frost, while the other coil, now being
cooled, receives a frost deposit from the air. The water resulting from the melting
of the frost runs along inclined grooves in the bottom of the casing and is collected
as distilled water, while the cooled air passes to the apartments or store rooms
where it is required. For ensuring lubrication of the piston rods of the pumps and
rendering them tight against leakage, the oil is subjected to the compressing pressure
and is thus forced through small passages into an annular cavity surrounding the
piston rod, and around this cavity is another annular cavity supplied with the
volatile fluid, and subjected to the exhaust. The cold produced in the latter cavity
congeals the oil around the piston rod, thus rendering the packing quite tight.
Such oil as may find its way into the pumps and may mix its vapour with that of
the volatile liquid is separated by condensation, for which purpose the mixed vapour
is made to pass through successive condensing coils so that the oil, being the less
volatile substance, is first condensed and separated in liquid condition while the
volatile material remains still in form of vapour to be condensed in the succeeding
coils.
The above described apparatus will be readily understood on reference to the
accompanying drawings. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 shew respectively a transverse section,
a borizontal section and a plan of the apparatus for alternately freezing the watery
constituents out of the air and for afterwards liquefying them again. Fig. 4 shews
a longitudinal section of the stuffing box to the compressing cylinder lubricated
by means of frozen lubricant; Fig. 5 shews a combined arrangement of the
refrigerating machine with the apparatus for separating the oil from the volatile
Liquid,

page_text: In employing refrigerating machines operating by the condensation and vapori-
sation of volatile liquids, it is well known that the regular action of these machines
partly depends upon a regulating cock or valve which has for its object to limit the
expansion and vaporisation of the liquids in spaces arranged for refrigerating other
bodies submitted to their contact, whether the operation be effected according to
the system of Carré or by means of suction and forcing pumps. In consequence
hereof the present apparatus is arranged to act by stopping the vaporisation and
the action of the exhaust in one part of an apparatus while the vaporisation
and the exhaust is carried on in another part of this apparatus, or in a distinct
apparatus communicating therewith this alternate action being effected without
interfering with the regular operation of the cold-producing machine, nor of the
circulation and cooling of the air.
According to this system a very intense cold will be produced in the part of the
apparatus subjected to vaporisation and vacuum, while in the other part of the
apparatus, in which this action is suspended for a time, a considerable difference of
temperature will be instantaneously produced, that is to say, in the two parts of
the apparatus respectively, a freezing and a thawing operation will take place
simultaneously, and in a continuous manner, inasmuch as in the compartment
subjected to vaporisation and exhaust, air will give up its moisture in the form of
rime, which rime will melt as soon as the vaporisation and exhaust are discontinued
in this part of the apparatus and are carried on in the other part, and so on alter-
nately, thus producing by means of the atmospheric air a continuous source of
water and a reduction of temperature until the air contained in the chamber which
has to be refrigerated attains a sufficient degree of cold for arresting or regulating
the fermentation of the bodies subjected to the action of this apparatus.
It is well known that the higher the temperature is of air, the more aqueous
vapour it contains in suspension, and from this. it results that a certain quantity of
pure water may be distilled and a temperate atmosphere may be established on
board vessels even under the tropics. It has been ascertained by numerous experi-
ments that air at a mean temperature of +1 degree Centigrade yields regularly
about five pints of water at the rate of 63,000 cubic ft. of air passing per hour over
the surface of a refrigerating machine, equivalent to 10,000 calories or about.
2,200 lbs. of ice, and as at + 30° Cent. it contains about four times as much
aqueous vapour, 17 pints of potable water will be readily obtained in the same
time with an apparatus of the same capacity, and the air rendered fresh by this
operation, can be distributed in all the compartments of a vessel for sanitary
purposes and for rendering their atmosphere pleasant in the hottest climates.
Furthermore, if one or more chambers containing fermentable bodies are acted
upon, the admission of external air will be prevented as much as possible in order
to render the refrigerating operation as limited as possible, that is to say, one and
the same body of air may be acted upon in a continuous manner, but in this case
the water proceeding from the melting of the rime will not be potable, and, con-
sequently, could only be used for special purposes. A simple fan would be sufficient
for establishing this circulation, but when it is intended to render the water potable
and to establish a constantly renewed current of fresh air in any spaces, the end of
the apparatus in which the warm external air is drawn in should be isolated, in
order to ensure that this supply of air shall be taken from the outer atmosphere;
and in this case the apparatus will only communicate with the chambers to be
acted upon at the opposite end, at which the cold or freshened air is discharged.
These results may be obtained in different ways, according to one of which cocks
with several passages are placed between the cock for regulating the volatile liquids
and the evaporating surfaces on the one hand, and on the other hand between the
said evaporating surfaces and the suction of the compressing pumps or other
equivalent in apparatus for producing cold air, this operation having for its object
to stop the vaporisation of the volatile liquids and prevent the formation of vacuum
in one part of the apparatus in operation, and of simultaneously continuing at will
the evaporation and the exhaust in the other part of the apparatus without

page_text: Buspending the continuous regular production of cold water and cold air. The
ordinary regulating cock might be arranged to fulfil the above mentioned functions,
but its special functions are already of so delicate a nature that it is preferable to
combine therewith, other cocks having several passages or their equivalent.
Having. thus provided means for effecting sudden changes of temperature in the
different parts of apparatus so as to produce rime on the one hand, and to melt
that rime on the other hand, it is necessary to prevent the resulting water from
re-entering into circulation with the air, for which purpose the arrangement shewn
in figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings is employed. The double series of pipes A A¹
communicating with collectors B B₁ are connected together on the one hand by
the regulating cock a of the volatile liquids and on the other hand to the suction
passage of the compressing pumps or their equivalent by means of the auxiliary
cocks. These pipes A A¹, in which the evaporation of the volatile liquids is
effected, are arranged in a casing C as hermetically closed as possible in order to
isolate the external temperature. This casing communicates by its end D with the
chambers in which a low temperature has to be maintained and by its end E with
an inlet for warm external air. The compartments FG, containing the refrigerating.
pipes or surfaces on which the rime is produced and is melted consecutively and in
which the fan discharges the warm air, are provided with diaphragms m m and
have formed in their lower parts grooves which permit of the ready flowing off of
the water resulting from the melting of the rime, which grooves terminate in a
hole communicating with a receptacle H arranged at the lower end and below the
casing. This receptacle or chamber is provided with a cock I which serves for
discharging water resulting from the melting of the rime; on the other hand, the
volatile liquid supplied continuously by a refrigerating machine of any suitable
construction passes through the regulating cock a and the auxiliary cock e through
the tubes A,A¹ and the regulating cock c in sufficient quantity for acting in all the.
refrigerating surfaces at the same time if desired, as is the case with all apparatus.
having continuous action. The apparatus being put in action, the regulating cock
and the auxiliary cocks ce are opened so as to distribute the vapour for producing.
cold upon
all the surfaces at one and the same time. As soon as the rime is formed
on all the pipes or refrigerating surfaces A A¹, which is indicated by the same
phenomenon appearing on the external branches, it will be sufficient to stop the
evaporation and exhaust for a few minutes in the one part A or A¹ of the machine
and while continuing the evaporation and exhaust in the other part, the melting of
the rime and the separation of the water produced will be effected in the part the
nction of which is stopped, after which the evaporation and exhaust can be
reestablished either on both sides of the apparatus or only on the opposite side.
This operation is effected by the reversal of the auxiliary cocks cand e at the same
time that the flaps hk o contained in the apparatus are respectively opened and
closed, that is to say, that during the suspension of the evaporation and exhaust in
one side of the apparatus the issue of air is closed on the same side in order to stop
or change the current of air which has melted the rime and to cause the resulting
water to flow off through the grooves into the collecting chamber H. On the
other hand, the contiguous aperture, which has been opened at the same time as
the preceding one, in closing permits the dried and cooled air to enter the chambers
that are to be subjected to the refrigerating process. Shortly after the melting of
the rime on one hand, which is effected very rapidly, the operation is reversed in
changing the direction of the refrigerating vapour and of the currents of air, and
this operation takes place in a continuous manner controllable at will until the air
is sufficiently cooled for preventing or regulating the fermentation of the bodies
operated upon or until a suitable temperature and a sufficient supply of fresh water
have been obtained. Thus for example, on the accompanying drawing will be seen
on the side of the inlet for warm air the hand wheel for regulating the auxiliary
cocks e c arranged to operate at the same time the flaps kho by the application
of a cord p of a hand wheel q and of connecting rods
and toothed
segments S S¹. In this figure the cock a is supposed to be open, establishing a

page_text: communication with the pipes A¹ by means of the pipe el, and the vapours of the
refrigerating liquid to be issuing from the pipe C¹ and the cock c, while the cocks e
and c intercept all communication with the pipes A. It results from this that the
evaporation and exhaust are arrested in the refrigerating surfaces on the side f of
the apparatus while this action continues to be produced on the side g. During
this operation the flap is closed on the side f and causes the warm air, after.
having melted the rime, to pass back therefrom through the passage i over the
refrigerating surfaces that are subjected to the action of the exhaust on the side g.
where it is dried and refrigerated before entering in the refrigerating chamber
through the opening ; which remains open. The reverse operation, that is to say,
the change of direction of the currents of air and of exhaust is effected at short
intervals of time by the reversal of the auxiliary cocks and the flaps kho, by
which means a continuous freezing and thawing is effected in the apparatus,
together with the continuous separation of water from the air. This change of
direction of the current of air by means of the flap is accompanied by the
movement of the flaps ko which move against one of the external sides of the
conduits i i.
For effecting the before described congelation of the oil contained in the stuffing
box of the compressing pump, a lubricating box is made to communicate with the
stuffing box and also by cocks with the suction and discharge pump so as to ensure
a continuous pressure of the lubricant round the piston rod and to regulate at the
same time, by the exhaust, the automatic and continuous lubrication of all the
parts of the compressing pump. An annular cavity surrounding the piston rod in
the stuffing box contains the lubricating oil and is put in communication with the
recipient for volatile liquid by means of two pipes and a cock so as to allow of an
expansion of volatile liquid and to maintain a considerable degree of cold round the
oil, whereby it is converted into a solid or paste-like body which ensures the
complete closure against the escape of gas, and also the cooling of the piston rod as
it passes out of the cylinder. This expansion of volatile liquid in the annular
cavity is very small in consequence of the small amount of oil to be frozen, and it
returns into the circulating body without appreciable loss of refrigerating effect.
As shewn at Figs. 4 and 5, the lubricating apparatus consists of an oil chamber t
with a lubricating box u. The pipe w communicates with the recipient for liquid
ammonia, M, and the tube v communicates with the recipient for oil N, and conveys
the pressure into the chamber t; x is the regulating cock for ammonia; y y' are
cocks for regulating the pressure of oil; is the chamber in which the ammonia
expands; a is a tube communicating with the suction valve by which exhaust is
produced in the expansion chamber; B is a lubricating chamber in which the con-
gealed oil is formed; y small openings through which the oil under pressure
passes from the chamber t into the lubricating chamber ẞ; ô are suction valves;
are leather packings.
When the machine is charged with any volatile liquid, such as anhydrous
ammonia, and with lubricating oil, the cock y and the tube vis opened so as to
establish a communication with the recipient M, and by this means, a pressure of
oil will be obtained in the chamber t, passage y and chamber ẞ. The cock y is
then slightly opened so as to regulate the supply drop by drop of lubricating oil
in an automatic and continuous nianner to the moving parts of the pump Q through
the suction valves . The cock x communicating with the recipient for liquid
ammonia is then opened so as to produce a sufficient expansion of ammonia in the
annular space so as to congeal the oil contained between the packings in the
chaniber B.
As explained above, this expansion of ammonia round the oil returns into the
general circulation through the suction valves of the compressing pump, and the.
oil thus congealed and maintained under pressure forms a paste-like body which
prevents any escape of gas through the stuffing box and also prevents the heating
of the piston rod.

page_text: The separation of the lubricating oil and of the volatile liquid which produces
the cold, is effected by a special arrangement of three condensing coils connected to
two recipients separated from each other. This arrangement ensures the complete
separation of the oils and the vapours during the continuous action of the com-
pressing pump and condenser inasmuch as the oil, which passes, mixed with vapour,
into the first coil of the condenser, becomes deposited in the first recipient, allowing
the vapour to pass into the second coil in which, in rising, it gives up the remaining
particles of oil carried thereby before descending in the third coil from which it
passes in a pure and liquid state into the second recipient.
Fig. 5 of the drawings shews the complete refrigerating apparatus with congealed
lubricating material and separation of the oil and vapour. In opening the regulating
cock a of the refrigerating apparatus O, which may be of the system described at
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or of any other construction, the volatile liquid escaping, will
expand immediately in the coils of the refrigerator O and will be drawn by the
pump through the tubes in a gaseous form. The pump Q discharges the com-
pressed gases into the coils H I J of the condenser R, where the gases become
liquified and reenter into the recipient N, this operation being similar to that
employed in all refrigerating machines of the same class.
Oil having served for the lubrication of the pump, will follow the circulation of
the vapour through the discharge pipe S and the coil H to the recipient M where
it will be deposited, in consequence of the arrangement of this recipient, at the
bottom, and between the coils H I. The pure vapours passing from the coil I, will
be condensed in the coil J by the continuous action of the compression and cooling
before entering the recipient M, from which they will again expand in the
refrigerating machine, and so on continuously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim in respect of refrigerating apparatus in which cold is produced by the
alternate expansion and condensation of volatile liquids, is
1, The method of freezing the aqueous particles out of the air to be cooled in
one part of a refrigerating apparatus at the same time that the frozen aqueous
particles previously deposited from the air in another part of the apparatus are
being melted by the passage of the warm incoming air in contact with such part in
which, at the time, the refrigerating action is suspended, the object being to produce
simultaneously a supply of cooled dried air for the compartments of ships, and
other localities and a supply of fresh water, substantially as herein described.
2, The construction of refrigerating apparatus operating in the manner set forth
in the preceding claim, wherein the exhaust and evaporation of the volatile liquid
are momentarily stopped in one part thereof or in one apparatus, or set of apparatus
by any suitable means, while these operations are continued in another part of the
apparatus, or in another apparatus or set of apparatus communicating with those
first mentioned, whereby sudden changes of temperature are simultaneously
obtained in the two parts of the apparatus without interfering with the regular
and continuous action of the cold generating machine or the continuous supply of
cooled air, substantially as herein described.
3, For carrying out the mode of operation referred to in the preceding claims,
the combination of regulating cocks and flaps or their equivalent, so arranged as
to stop the exhaust and evaporation of the volatile liquid in one part of the
machine, and cause the incoming air supply to pass in contact with surfaces having
a deposit of rime on them, before passing in contact with refrigerating surfaces,
substantially as herein described.
4. The method of separating the aqueous particles from refrigerated air in liquid
form resulting from the melting of rime or ice, on the cessation of the exhaust and
evaporation of the volatile liquid in one part of the apparatus, such liquid being
made to flow off separate from the circulating air, substantially as herein described.
5, The method of congealing or freezing the lubricating oil for the piston rod
of the compressing pump, by forming an annular chamber on the stuffing box

page_text: containing the oil and communicating with the reservoir of volatile liquid so as to
freeze the lubricating oil under pressure by the volatilisation of the liquid which
passes thence through the suction valve into the compressing pump, in order to be
forced back into the condenser, substantially as herein described with reference to
Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
6, The method of separating the lubricating oil from the refrigerating liquid by
causing them to pass from the compressing pump through a condenser consisting
of three coils of pipes contained in a cold water reservoir, and communicating with
two recipients so arranged, that as the oil and volatile liquid pass through the first
and second coils, the oil is made to flow down into the one recipient, while the
separated volatile liquid becomes condensed in the third coil and flows down into
the second recipient, substantially as herein described.
Dated this 20th day of November 1885. ·
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant,
28, Southampton Buildings,
London, W.C.