US1180531A - Refrigerating apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

H. D. POWNALL.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1913.

Patented Apr. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Sw-ueutoz H D, POWNALL.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. I913.

2 SHEETS SHEEI L.

HENRY JD. POWNALL, 0F CANTON, OHIO.

REFRIGERATING- ATPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 7, 1913. Serial No. 746,826.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY D. POWNALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Canton, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refrigerating Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing artificial ice.

One of its objects is to provide in connection witha refrigerating tank and ice molds improved means to release the ice from the bottoms of the ice molds without removing'the molds from the refrigerating tank.

Another object is to provide for the application of a dry heat evenly applied to the bottoms of the ice molds toavoid fracturing the ice therein, and to increase the life unit at one time.

My invention also comprises certain details of form, combination and arrangement, all of which will be fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings in which: V

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a plurality of refrigerating tank units with ice molds in place therein and lids removed, together with pipe connections thereto, and means to heat the bottoms of the ice molds. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through the same on line r 'o of Fig. 1.

The accompanying drawings represent the preferred embodiment of my invention in which A represent separate'brine or refrigcrating tank units. of which several are em ployed to constitute the complete refrigerating apparatus. Each tank has a series of openings (1 in its bottom over which openings the ice molds-B are seated and detachably. connected to the tank bottom by means of bolts 2 and nuts 3., The ottoms 4 of the ice molds are some distance above the tank bottom'forming chambers 5 beneath the respective ice molds, and the spaces between the ice molds, and between the ice molds and tank walls are filled to approximately the level of the bottoms 4 of the'ice molds with pitch or similar material 6, which ispreferably introduced in a heated or semi-fluid condition, and when cool becomes practically solid and serves to seal all the joints at the bottom of the tank and to prevent leakage in any direction, and also toforI-n a heat insulating material at the side walls of the chambers 5 to prevent freezing in the pipe connections leading to the bottoms of the ice molds.

Connecting members 7 are attached to the bottoms of the respective ice molds to which inlet and exit branch pipes 8 and 9 are con nected. Said branch pipes 8 lead from a main pipe 10 which supplies raw water to the respective ice molds, and branch pipes 9 are connected to a main pipe 11 which leads raw water from the ice molds to a settling reservoir 12, with overflow 12 to secure a uniform water level where impurities are removed and the raw water returned through the main 10 and branches 8 to the ice molds. A series of branch pipes 14 are supplied from a main not shown with air under pressure in limited quantity which serves to create a circulation of raw water to and from the ice molds through the branch pipes 8 and 9. The air bubbles up through the water in the ice molds and escapes at the top, and in so doing serves to agitate the water in the ice molds and to detach air bubbles, impurities and foreign matter from the face of the forming ice, thereby en abling pure and clear ice to be formed. A liquid refrigerant, as for instance brine occupies the space If within the tanks A above the substance 6 and surrounding the ice molds. The brine may be refrigerated in the tanks, but is preferably circulated from the tanks by means of pipes 15 and 16 to and from a separate brine cooler not shown. When the valves 17 and 18 are closed and valves 19 and 20 opened the brine entrapped in the tank can be circulated by means of a pump 21 through a coil 22 where it is warmed and returned to the tank A to thaw the ice loose from the side walls of the ice molds. This however does not loosen the ice from the bottom of the ice molds.

Inorder to loosen the ice from the bottoms of the ice molds I provide headers 2% at one end of each of the tanks A which may be supplied with live steam through the branch supply pi es 25 by opening the valves 26 therein. eading from the respectiveheaders 24 are a series of pipes 27 located below the tanks and beneath the respective rows of ice molds and. connected at their opposite ends to headers 28, said pipes and headers being so arranged as to drain Patented Apr. 25, 1916..

any water of condensation to the headers 28. From the respective headers 28 any moisture is drained to a steam trap 29. capable of discharging or draining of the water of condensation without permitting the escape of steam.

In order to loosen the ice from-the bottoms of all the ice molds in one of the tanks A the valve 26 opposite said tank is opened admitting steam to the headers 24 and 28 and pipes 27. which causes currents of warm dry air to rise into contact with the bottoms of the ice molds to release the ice therefrom, and said application of heat being gradual and general instead of local and sudden as would be liable to result from spraying Warm Water against the bottoms of the ice molds, prevents fracture of the ice and does not attack. wash away. or loosen the protecting coating or film of oxid formed on the under face of the bottoms of the ice molds. or other coating thereon. As soon as the ice is loosened the valve 26 is closed. and all moisture is drained to and escapes by the steam trap 29. leaving the steam pipes empty thus av oiding liability of freezing taking place in said steam pipes 24. 27 and 28. during the next freezing operation. Hot brine. water. or other heating medium may be substituted for steam \vhere desirable.

The mechanism herein illustrated and described is capable of considerable modification Without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having described my invention. What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for making artificial ice comprising a refrigerating tank having one or more openings in the bottom thereof, one or more ice molds in said tank having their bottoms fitted over the openings in said tank bottom, means to apply a refrigerant to the side Walls of said ice molds and means to apply a dry heated medium to the bottoms of said ice molds to release the ice therefrom.

2. An apparatus for making artificial ice comprising a refrigerating tank having one or more openings in the bottom thereof, one or more ice molds in said tank having their bottoms fitted over the openings in said tank bottom, means to apply a refrigerant to the side walls of said ice molds, and valve controlled mechanism to temporarily heat the air beneath the bottoms of said ice molds to release the ice therefrom.

3. An apparatus for making artificial ice comprising a refrigerating tank having one or more openings in its bottom. one or more ice molds in said tank having their bottoms seated over the openin in'said tank. means to apply a refrigerant to the side walls of said ice molds. pipes beneath said tank to temporarily heat the air beneath the bottoms of said ice molds to release the ice therefrom. a valve controlled steam supply pipe leading to said heating pipes beneath the tank. and means to automatically drain the water of condensation from said heater pipes.

4. An apparatus for making artificial icc comprising a refrigerating tank having a plurality of openings in its bottom. a plurality of ice molds in said tank having their bottoms seated over the openings in said tank. means to apply a non-congealing rcfrigerating medium to the side walls of said ice molds. pipes beneath said tank and the bottoms of said ice molds to intermittently heat the air beneath the bottoms of said ice molds to release the ice therefrom. valve controlled means to supply steam to said heating pipes. and means to drain the water of condensation therefrom \vithout permitting the escape of steam from said heating pipes.

An apparatus for making artificial ice comprising a refrigerating tank. having a plurality of openings in its l'ottom. a plurality of ice molds in said tan having their bottoms seated over the openings in said tank. means to apply a non-congealing refrigerating medium to the side Walls of said ice molds. valve controlled pipes beneath -said tank and the bottoms of said ice molds to receive a fluid heating medium to intermittently heat the air beneath the bottoms of said ice molds to release the ice therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY D. IOlVNALL.

Witnesses:

DAVID B. DAY,

ERNEST J. Donna.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

. Washington, D. 0.

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