IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING LOW AND UNIFORM TEMPERATURES, APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS, ALSO TO REFRIGERATORS, COOLERS, AND CONDENSERS, AND TO SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Vincent Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
March 1865. A communication from abroad by Daniel Somes, of
Washington City, in the United States of America..
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURING LOW AND
UNIFORM TEMPERATURES, APPLICABLE TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BUILDINGS, ALSO TO
REFRIGERATORS, COOLERS, AND CONDENSERS, AND TO SHIPS AND OTHER VESSELS, AND
IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in lowering and equalizing the temperature of the
air in private and public buildings, so as to keep it as near as desirable at a
mean temperature by means of the cooling power of the earth at certain
depths below its surface. The Invention also consists in certain arrangements
and devices for the purpose of cooling air and liquids by means of the cooling
power of the earth at certain depths below its surface, and by means of the
compression and expansion of air, and in the construction of cooling apparatus
for use in breweries and distilleries; also in cooling the air in packing houses,
refrigerators, and other like structures, in order to preserve perishable articles
of food. This Invention further consists in devices and means for introducing
fresh air into and removing foul air from buildings. This Invention consists,

page_text: lastly, in processes and devices for equalizing and regulating the temperature
of the air in ships and other vessels.
In order to employ the low temperature which exists below the surface of
the earth to cool the air in buildings, a current of water is first conducted to
a proper distance below the earth's surface, and after it has there been cooled,
it is caused to ascend to the building to be cooled, or into a separate air-cooling
chamber or refrigerator, from which the air may be passed into the building
to be cooled. When there is a flowing stream of water near the building to
be cooled with sufficient head to make the water rise into the part of the
building in which the air is to be cooled, the cooling may be effected by
carrying the water in pipes or channels down into the earth through pipes or
tanks lying at such depths as not to be affected or only slightly affected by
the fluctuations of temperature at the surface of the earth. The cooling of
the air may be effected by means of coils or a collection of pipes with the
cold water from the subterranean coolers flowing through them. Instead of
pipes other devices may be used to furnish sufficient cooling surface. Air
pipes may be made to pass through the water pipes or tanks, either above or
below the surface of the earth, and, if it is desirable to cool the air to a
greater extent and dry it, it may be compressed while it is cooling, and
then permitted to expand in the building to be cooled and ventilated. Where
there is not an abundant supply of water with sufficient head to rise into the
building to be cooled, any suitable propelling device, as a piston, rotary pump,
or propeller screw, may be used to cause the liquid to circulate through the
system of coolers. By applying artificial heat a thorough system of warming
can be easily combined with the system of cooling, and so furnish means for
-securing a uniform temperature throughout the year. In providing packing
houses, store houses, preserving houses, refrigerators, and the like with
cooling devices similar to those already described for cooling the air in
dwellings and other buildings, the air cooled by the subterranean coolers
may be compressed at the time that it is cooled, and then permitted to
expand, whereby its temperature will be still farther reduced and the air also
dried, so as to be better suited for preserving meat, vegetables, and other
substances. In order to keep buildings of this class from receiving heat from
without, thick walls filled in with some non-conducting materials should be
used, or the walls may be multiple, with air spaces between. The air in the
wall spaces may be cooled in the manner already described for cooling
buildings. Refrigerators, dairy houses, and the like may be constructed in
any part of a house, and always have the cool equable temperature of a deep
cellar or a spring house; or the ordinary means of cooling by ice or other

page_text: cooling materials may be employed to assist in obtaining very low tempe-
ratures. In constructing coolers and condensers for liquids to be used as
coolers for the wort in breweries, for condensers in distilling, and also for:
cooling other liquids by the application of the same principles of cooling as.
first explained, the cold water from the subterranean coolers is made to
circulate through coils, pipes, or channels situate in any suitable part of the
open or closed coolers employed. Condensers are to be constructed in a
similar manner, so that cold water from the subterranean coolers shall
circulate in contact with the surface of the worm, pipe, or vessel containing
the vapour or steam to be condensed. Condensers of any of the usual forms.
may be connected with the subterranean coolers, and made to serve in the
construction of apparatus according to this Invention. Instead of condensing
by means of the contact of the cold water from the subterranean coolers, the
condensing liquid to be used in the ordinary mode of condensing distillates,
vapours, and steam may be cooled by means of the flow from the subterranean
coolers. In lowering and equalizing the temperature of the air in ships and
other vessels, the cooler and more equable temperature of the ocean, seas,
lakes is made available, either alone or aided by the principle of compressing,
cooling, and expanding the air, and the cooling effect of evaporation, also in
devices and arrangements of apparatus whereby these principles are applied to
different kinds of ships boats and other vessels. The air coolers or refrige-
rators may be in the form of tubes or channels on the outside of the hull of
the vessel, or in the keel, or wherever they can most conveniently be placed
to come in contact with the water in which the vessel floats. The air may be
forced through the coolers by the wind, by air-blowing machinery operated by
steam or other power, or by means of the motion of the vessel among the
waves, or by the action of the waves against the sides of the vessel. After
the air has been cooled by passing through the refrigerating apparatus, it
must be conducted by means of pipes or tubes into the part of the vessel to be
cooled. When the air is required to be dried as well as cooled, this may be
accomplished in the manner already pointed out. The space in the vessel for
storing freight should be formed with air spaces around and through it, so as
to afford the air free access. Sometimes in carrying grain means should be
provided for thoroughly expelling moisture, and this may be accomplished by
driving through the air channels air warmed by any convenient means. The
motion of the vessel among the waves or the action of the waves against the
vessel may be employed to force air by means of a bell, box, or compartment
fixed on any part of the vessel with the bottom of the bell open and dipping
below the surface of the water, and valves or orifices opening inwards above

page_text: the water line. As the vessel or portion of it to which the blowing device
is attached rises out of the water, air will enter through the valves or openings,
and as the vessel sinks lower this air will be forced into the air pipes by the
rising of the water in the bell or box. A convenient mode of forming this
air-blowing device is to attach to the vessel a web or plate, so as to form a
space between the sides of the vessel and the web; this space may be divided
into as many compartments as deemed best. The space for catching and
injecting the air into the vessel may be formed of strong walls or plates, so
arranged as to conform to the contour of the vessel.