Ayer's Patent Model of a Refrigerator Car - 1876
date: label: date made
content: 1876
label: patent date
content: 1876-11-07
name: label: inventor
content: Ayer, John M.
notes: label: Description
content: This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 184,029 issued to John M. Ayer on November 7, 1876. Ayer’s invention was a design for a railroad refrigerator car that would have improved insulation properties while also being lighter than other cars of the time. The ultimate goal of the improved design was to allow longer shipments of perishable goods without the cost and delay of ice replenishment. Ayer claimed that these goals were achieved without sacrifice in the strength or durability of the car. The basic idea of the patent was to create a double-walled car in which the inner and outer walls of the car were separated by air chambers. The roof of the car also had an air chamber between it and the inner ceiling. The air chambers were interconnected and vented to the outside air so as to permit circulation. This reduced the heating of the insulating air by prolonged contact with the exterior walls and roof when exposed to direct sun. The outer wall and roof were constructed of wood. The inner walls and ceiling were made from a layer of pasteboard (or similar paper product) and a layer of rubber . Both of these materials provided additional insulation, and the inner walls and ceiling were intended to be nearly air tight. The patent provided for double entry doors, and these were constructed of an outer layer of wood with an inner layer of the same pasteboard and rubber. The doors had beveled edges with the inner surfaces being smaller than the outer. The inner rubber surfaces were shaped to form a seal when the doors were secured thus adding to the airtightness of the car. Cars of Ayer’s design were constructed and used on railroads and were documented as still being used in 1903.
label: Description
content: The patent model is constructed of wood. There are two cut away sections, one on the side of the car and one on the roof. These show the essential elements of the patent - the air chambers and the inner wall and ceiling of the car. Double doors mounted in the side of the car are shown open to illustrate the seals and beveled edges.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Illinois, Chicago
label: associated place
content: United States: Illinois, Chicago
topic: label: Subject
content: Patent Models
label: Subject
content: Railroads
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
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content: Engineering, Building, and Architecture
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content: Transportation
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content: Patent Models
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: ER.325597
label: accession number
content: 249602
label: catalog number
content: 325597
label: patent number
content: 184,029
objectType: label: Object Name
content: refrigerator car, model
label: Object Name
content: patent model, refrigerator car
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 6 3/4 in x 14 5/8 in x 5 3/8 in; 17.145 cm x 37.1475 cm x 13.6525 cm