US1843397A - Device for forming and storing solid carbon dioxide - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1932. D. A. MARCUS ET AL 1,843,397

DEVICE FOR FORMING AND STORING SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed June 18, 1928 s Sheets- Sheet 1 Feb. 2, 1932. D. A. MARCUS ET AL 3 5 DEVICE FOR FORMING AND STORING SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed June 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W2 23 Z9 Z6 00140 6- Morcwa,

Feb. 2, 1932. [3 cus ET L 1,843,397

DEVICE FOR FORMING AND STORING SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Filed June 18, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3- NH '1)! M 11 1 ut 1 Hi Hal.

40 h 00w? (4 Ma a/J. 4/ I f p /a/rer 14/," Oqr/r- MK HTTO/Q/VEIY Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES ,PA'TENT OFFICE DAVID A. MARCUS AND WALTER W. OGIER, JR., OF PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO NU-ICE COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION Oil's"v NEVADA K DEVICE FOR FORMING AND STORING SOLID CARBON DIOXIDE Application filed June 18,

Our invention relates to a device for forming and storing carbon-dioxide snow.

One of the foremost objects of the invention is to provide a device in which the rate of production of the carbon-dioxide snow will be high compared to other devices for this purpose, and in which the efliciency of the device will also be high compared to other devices of this nature.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device of this character, in which the carbon-dioxide snow, which is formed, may be transferred from the snow-chamber to a contiguous storage-chamber, with the result that the snow-chamber is not used as a storage-chamber, but may be continuously used for making batches of carbon-dioxide snow. In our invention it is not necessary to shut down the snow-forming operations when the snow already formed is being taken from the device.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a device for forming and storing carbondioxide snow in which it is impossible for air to get into the system. The advantage of this object is that the efliciency of the apparatus may be maintained. In those types of devices in which the snow-chamber in which the snow is formed, is opened to the atmosphere, the snow-chamber will fill with air, and this air will get into the carbon-dioxide piping. This air gradually accumulates, and it is frequently necessary to clean out the system. In our invention such cleaning requirements are unnecessary because the air is fully excluded from the snow chamber and carbon-dioxide piping.

It is another object of our invention to provide a device in which the snow-chamber is above the storage-chamber, and is separated from the storage-chamber by a door, which door is opened to drop the snow from the snow-chamber into the storage-chamber.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a device in which the snow-chamber and storage-chamber are designed so that an excessive pressure cannot exist in the storage-chamber. This object of the invention is accomplished by providing the snow-chamber with a very tight closure to exclude leak- 1928. Serial No. 286,351.

age, and by providing the storage-chamber with a closure which will leak when a pressure occurs in the storage chamber.

A further object of our invention is to provide an efficient insulation-means for the snow-chamber.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a snow-chamber door for the snowchamber, which may be readily adjusted to maintain a tight seal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following description.

Referring to the drawings in which our invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional View.

Fig. 2 is a View partly in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the separating-means of the invention for preventing solids from passing from the snow-chamber through the outlet-means of the invention.

, Fig. 5 is an enlarged section showing the pivot for the snow-chamber door of our invention.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 11 represents a shell which provides a snow-chamber 12 of the invention. The shell 11 is pyramidal in shape, for the purpose of preventing clogging. The shell 11 is supported inside a housing 13 by means of a support-plate 14. This support-plate 14 is attached to a rectangular flange 16 of the housing '13 by suitable bolts 17 The lower end of the snow-chamber 12 is open, and thus includes a snoW-chamber-opening' 18.

The upper end of the shell 11 is open, and is provided with the separating-means of the invention in the form of a screen 21. This screen 21 may be metallic, or formed from fabric, and is secured to the upper end of the shell 11 by any suitable means, such as is indicated by the numeral 22 in Fig. 4. The purpose of the screen 21 is to prevent solid particles from passing from the snow-chamber at this point.

Extending through the housing 13, and through the screen 21, into the upper end of the snow-chamber 12 is an inlet-means in the form of a pipe 23. The inner end of the pipe 23 located in the snow-chamber 12 is provided in the form of a nozzle 24.

That portion of the housing 13 situated above the flange 16 and enclosing the shell 11, is provided with a wall of insulation 25, the inner surface of whi :h is spaced away from the shell 11, so as to provide a top-space 26 above the snow-chamber 12 and surrounding-space 27, which surrounds the chamber 12. Q

The surrounding-space 27 is provided with horizontal bafiles 28, which extend around three sides of the shell 11, thus providing openin s 28a which connect together the spaces ietween the rows of baflies 28. The adjacent bafiies are arranged to open at opposite ends, and the spaces between the baflies are connected to each other at opposite ends by the openings 28a. Connected to the topspace 26 is an outlet pipe 29 of the invention. The top-space 26, and the outlet pipe 29, comprise the outlet-means of our invention.

The lower portion of the housing 13 is designed to provide a storage-chamber 31. The storage-chamber 31, as will be seen, is directly below the snow-chamber 12, and may communicate therewith by means of the snowchamber-opening 18.

For the purpose of closing the snow-chamber-opening 18 during the time that snow is being formed in the snow-chamber 12, we provide a snow-chamber door 32. The snowchamber door 32 swings on pivots 33.

As shown best in Figs. 5 and 6, the pivots 33 of the invention are constructed as follows: Each pivot includes a U-shaped bracket providing a pair of extending arms 35. The extending arms 35 have openings 36 in which trunnions 37 of a pivot-member 38 are extended. The pivot-member 38 of each pivot 33 has an opening through which one of the bolts 17 extends. Threadedly secured on the bolt 17 above and below the pivot-member 38 are adjustment nuts 39. The adjustment nuts 39 may be moved upward or downward to regulate the horizontal plane in which the pivoting axis of the pivots 33 is located.

The support-plate 14 carries a rectangular seat 40, which surrounds the snow-chamberopening 18. The lower portion of the rectangular seat 40 extends below the lower face of the support-plate 14. Adapted to engage the seat 40 is an engaging-member 41. The seat 40 and the engaging-member 41 are preferably formed of rubber or rubber composition.

The snow-chamber door 32 swin s between the position shown by full lines in ig. 1, and the position indicated by dotted lines 45 of the same figure. It will be seen that the snow-chamber door is located in the storagechamber 31 consequently snow-chamber door operating means must be provided for controlling the operation thereof. Our invention provides this means in the following construction.

Extending into the storage-chamber 31 is a shaft 54 which is journaled in bearings 55. Rigidly secured to the shaft 54 inside the storage chamber 31 is a crank 53 which carries a turn-buckle 49 so that its length is adjustable. The crank 53 carries a pivot 30, on which the lower end of a link 34 is pivoted. The upper end of the link 34 is pivotally attached by a pivot 42 to the lower face of the snow-chamber door 32. One end of the shaft 54 projects to the exterior of the device, and has an operating crank 43 connected thereto. The operating crank 43 may be operated to swing the snow-chamber door 32 from closed position into open position, and vice versa. When the door is in open position, this position being indicated by dotted lines 45 of Fig. 1, the door engages a stop provided in the form of a block 44 in the lower back part of the storage-chamber 31.

The storage-chamber 31 has a storagechamber-opening 46, which is closed by a storage-chamber door 47. The storage-chamber door 47, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is

hinged to the housing 13 by suitable hinges 48. It will be noted that the storage-cham-- ber door 47 does not have a sealing gasket. The sealing gasket on this door has purposely been left oil in order that no pressure can be maintained in the storage-chamber 31. This is a desirable feature, in view of the fact that an accumulation of pressure in the storage chamber 31 might cause damage or injury when the storage-chamber door 47 is opened.

We shall now describe the operation of our invention. When it is desired to form carbon-dioxide snow in the snow-chamber 12, the snow-chamber door 32 must be in closed position. Liquid carbon dioxide is passed through the pipe 23, and is sprayed into the snow-chamber 12 by means of the nozzle 24. When the liquid carbon dioxide is released into the snow-chamber, part of the liquid carbon dioxide will freeze and form a snow. This snow will collect in a body, as indicated by the numeral 50, in the bottom of the snowchamber 12. The carbon-dioxide gas in the snow-chamber 12 will pass upward and through the screen 21. There is a tendency for the gas to carry solid particles, and to prevent the solid particles from passing into the outlet-means of the invention we provide the screen 21. This screen 21 is of fine enough mesh to prevent solid particles from passing therethrough, but is of course enough mesh not to impede the flow of carbon-dioxide gas from the snow-chamber 12. The carbon-dioxide gas passes into the top-space 26 and through the outlet pipe 29.

The carbon-dioxide gas being heavier than air will displace the air and fill the surrounding space 27. Carbon-dioxide gas is a very good insulator, and will therefore exclude heat from the snow-chamber. The baflles 28 are provided to prevent circulation of carbondioxide gas in the surrounding space 27 After a batch of carbon-dioxide snow has been formed, such as is indicated by the numeral 50, the snow-chamber door 32 is moved to the open position as indicated by dotted lines 45, in order to permit the body of snow to drop into the storage-chamber 31. In view of the fact that the shell 11 is pyramidal, the body of snow 50 will not clog in the snow-chamber 12. lVhen the door is opened, the snow will fall into the bottom of the snowchamber 31, as indicated by the numeral 52. When the snow-chamber door 32 is opened it is desirable to have the storage-chamber door 47 closed in order to prevent an escape of carbon-dioxide gas through the storage-chamber 31.

The snow-chamber door 32 is then again closed, and a new batch of carbon-dioxide snow may be formed. It is possible to transfer the snow from the snow-chamber 12 to the store e-chamber 31, either with or without shutting off the supply of carbon dioxide thronghr the pipe 23. When it is desired to remove snow' from the storage-chamber 31, the storage-chamber door 47 may be opened, which gives access to the interior, and permits a removal of the snow 52. Access may be had to the storage-chamber 31 while carbon-di-' oxide snow is being formed .in the snowchamber 12. The only time at which the carbon-dioxide snow should not be removed from the storage-chamber 31 is during the transferring ofthe carbon-dioxide snow from the snow-chamber 12 to the storagechamber 31.

In order that a tight seal be maintained between the snow-chamber 12 and the storagechamber 31, it is necessary that the engagingmember 41 properly engage the seat 40. The pivoting axis for the door 32 must therefore be in such a plane that when the door is in closed position, the engagement of the parts 40 and 41 adjacent to the pivoting-axis and remote from the pivoting-axis, occurs at the same time. If the pivoting axis is too high, the adjacent portions of the members 40 and 41 will come into contact before the remote portions; and if the pivoting axis is too low, the remote portions 40 and41 will come into contact before the adjacent portions. The adjustable feature of the pivots of our invention permits the pivoting-axis to be placed in such a plane that there will be a proper engagement between the parts 40 and 41 when the snow-chamber door 32 is closed. In order that the pressure of engagement between the parts 40 and 41 be sufficient, even when the pivoting-axis has been moved up or down,

we provide a turn-buckle 49 for regulating the length of the lever 57. When the pivotingaxis is moved up, the lever 57 is lengthened so that a proper pressure may be applied'to the snow-chamber door 32.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that our invention makes it possible to continuously form carbon-dioxide snow, and to practically continuously remove this snow from the storage-chamber 31.

One of the important features of the invention, as pointed out heretofore, is the provision of the snow-chamber and the storagechamber separated by the snow-chamberopening, which snow-chamber-opening is closed by the snow-chamber door 32. It is this construction that permits theimportant object of the invention to be accomplished, which is namely, a continuous production and efficient operation.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that no air can enter the snow-chamber 12,'in view of the fact that the snow-chamber 12 is never opened to the atmosphere. For this reason no pollution of the carbon dioxide can occur, and the efficiency of operation of the apparatus will be maintained.

Another important object of the invention,

as we have pointed out heretofore, is the pre venting of-an excess of pressure in the storage-chamber 31. As we have previously pointed out, this is accomplished by forming a very tight seal for the opening of the snowchamber 12, and forming a less tight seal for the opening of the storage-chamber 31.

The provision of the surrounding space 27, which is filled with carbon-dioxide gas to form an insulation for the s'now-chamber-12, is important to the invention. The baflles 28 prevent circulation of the carbon-dioxide gas in the surrounding space 27, and this is a desirable feature.

The carbon-dioxide gas, when it leaves the top of the snow-chamber 12, is at a higher temperature than the carbon-dioxide snow that is formed therein. If there were an active circulation of carbon-dioxide gas through the surrounding space 27 heat would be transferred to the snow-chamber by convection. In our invention convection is entirely avoided, and due to the fact that heat conduction qualities of the carbon-dioxide gas are very low, the temperature in the snow-chamber 12 will be maintained at a minimum.

The feature of the means for regulating the snow-chamber door 32 is important to the invention, since it makes it possible to at all times maintain a tight seal. During the op eration of the device-the seat 40, andthe engaging member 41, are bound to wear, but in our invention this wear may be readily compensated for by adjusting the lever 57. I

-We claim as our invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls forming a snow-chamber; an inlet-means for said snow-chamber; an outlet-means for said snow-chamber; walls forming a storage-chamber adjacent to said snow-chamber; and a snow-chamber door for closing an opening connectin said snowchamber and said storage-chem er. I

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls forming a snow-chamher; an inlet-means for said snow-chamber;

an outlet-means for said snow-chamber; walls forming a storage-chamber adjacent to said snow-chamber a snow-chamber door for closing an opening connecting said snow-chamber and said storage-chamber, said snow-chamber door being swingable into said storagechamber; and a storage-chamber door for said storage-chamber.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls forming a snow-chamher, said snow-chamber having a snow-chamber-opening at its lower end; Walls forming a storage-chamber below said snow-chamber, said snow-chamber-opening communicating with said storage-chamber; inlet-means for introducing liquid carbon dioxide into said snow-chamber in order to form carbon-dioxide snow; outlet-means through which carbon-dioxide gas passes from said snowchamber; a snow-chamber door for closing said snoW-chamber-opening; door-operating means for operating said door; and a storagechamber door for closing a storage-chamberopening of said storage-chamber, said storage-chamber door being arranged so that it will not hold as much pressure as said snowchamber door.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of: Walls forming a snow-forming chamber; means for introducing a snowforming medium into said snow-forming chamber; walls forming an insulation space around said snow-forming chamber; and outlet means for said snow-forming chamber, said outlet means being in such communication with said insulation space whereby gas resulting from said medium will fill said insulation space and will not circulate through said insulation space when said insulation space has been filled.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls forming a snow-forming chamber; means for introducing a snowforming medium into said snow-forming chamber; walls forming an insulation space around said snow-forming chamber; and outlet means for said snow-forming chamber, said outlet means being in such communication with the upper end of said insulation space whereby gas resulting from said medium will fill said insulation space and will not circulate through said insulation space when said insulation space has been filled.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of: walls formin a snow-forming chamber; means for introducing a snow forming medium into said snow-forming chamber; walls forming an insulation space around said snow-forming chamber; outlet means for said snow-forming chamber, said outlet means being in such communication with the upper end of said insulation space whereby gas resulting from said medium will fill said insulation space and will not circulate through said insulation space when said insulation space has been filled; and circulation restraining bafiies in said insulation space.

7. A process of making carbon-dioxide snow comprising: expanding liquid carbondioxide in a substantially air-tight chamber to form carbon-dioxide snow; opening said first chamber and delivering said carbondioxide snow to a second closed chamber without contacting said snow with the atmosphere; and closing said first chamber from said second chamber so that said second chamber may be opened to the atmosphere Without any atmosphere entering said first cham* her.

8. A process of making carbon-dioxide snow comprising: continuously expanding liquid carbon-dioxide in a substantially airtight closed chamber to form carbon-dioxide snow; opening said first chamber and delivering said carbon-dioxide snow to a second closed chamber without contacting said snow with the atmosphere; and closing said first chamber from said second. chamber so that said snow-forming operation may be performed Without interference, and so that said second chamber may be opened to the at mosphere without any atmosphere entering said first chamber.

9. A process of making carbon-dioxide snow comprising: expanding liquid carbondioxide in a closed chamber to form carbondioxide snow; opening said first chamber and delivering said carbon-dioxide snow to a second closed chamber of less pressure than said first chamber without contacting said snow with the atmosphere; and closing said first chamber from said second chamber so that said second chamber may be opened to the atmosphere without any atmosphere entering said first chamber.

10. A process for making carbon-dioxide snow comprising: expanding liquid carbondioxide in a chamber to form carbon-dioxide snow; withdrawing carbon-dioxide gas from said chamber; surrounding said chamber with a portion of the withdrawn gas; and preventing circulation of the gas surrounding said chamber.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of: structure providing a substantially air-tight snow-forming chamber; means for introducing a snow-forming medium to said chamber; gas outlet means connected to said chamber; a second chamber in communication with said snow-forming a chamber, so that the snow may be introduced into said second chamber without contact with the atmosphere; and means for closing the communication between said snow-forming chamber and said second chamber.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a structure providing a substantially. air-tight snow-forming chamber; means for introducing a snow-forming medium to said chamber; gas outlet means connected to said chamber; a second chamber below said snow-forming chamber and in communication with said snow-forming chamber, so that the snow may be introduced into said second chamber without contact with theatmosphere; and means for closing the communication between said snow-forming chamber and said second chamber.

13. In a device of the class described, the

combination of: structure providing a substantially air-tight snow-forming chamber, means for introducing a snow-forming medium to saidchamber; gas outlet means con.- nected to said chamber; a second chamber below said snow-forming chamber and in communication with said snow-forming chamber, so that the snow may be introduced into said second chamber without contact with the atmosphere; and means for closing the communication between said snow-forming chamber and said second chamber, said means supporting said snow in said snowforming chamber when in closing position and permitting said snow to fall intosaid second chamber when in non-closing position. Y

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California, this 11th day of June, 1928. v

40 g DAVID A. MARCUS.

WALTER W. OGIER, JR.

Images