US2136214A

US2136214A - Means for top icing loaded refrigerator cars and the like

Info

Publication number: US2136214A
Application number: US11690A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith Virgil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-03-18
Filing date: 1935-03-18
Publication date: 1938-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1955-11-08

Description

Nov. 8, 1938. v, n- 2,136,214

MEANS FOR TOP ICING LOADED REFRIGERATOR CARS AND THE LIKE Filed March 18, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l i IJKMEL V. KEITH Nov. 8, 1938. 2,136,214

MEANS FOR TOP ICING LOADED REFRIGERATOR CARS AND THRL IKE I Filed March 18, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet .2

INVENTOR:

V. KEITH Nov. 8, 1938.

MEANS FOR TOP ICING LOADED REFRIGERATOR CARS AND THE LIKE Filed March 18, 1955 4 Sheets$heet 3 INVENTOR: v/Rs/L KEITH,

Nov. 8, v. KEITH 2,136,214

MEANS FOR TOP ICING LOADED REFRIGERATOR CARS AND THE LIKE Filed March 18, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR:

@v's ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 8, '1938 MEANS FOR TOP ICING LOADED REFRIG- 4 ERATOR CARS AND THE LIKE Virgil Keith, Fort Worth, Tex assignor to James A. Somerville, Dallas, Tex.

Application March18. i535, Serial n. 11,69.

Claims. This invention relates to the icing of refrigerator cars and the like, and more particularly.

to the method of icing known as top icing, for the preservation of perishables such as garden and farm vegetables and other produce in transit,

or, in other words, the placing of ice directly on top of the load within the car or transporting vehicle.

In the transportation of perishables of the character above described it is a common practice to packthe produce in openwork cases or crates and pile the cases or crates one upon another in refrigerator cars or transporting vehicles; then place large pieces of ice directly on top of the piledtcases or crates. This method of icing not only refrigerates the load. but the water from gradual meltage of the ice trickles down between and through the cases or crates and in contact with the contained produce, thereby washing of! excretions and maintaining the produce in a fresh and crispy condition while in transit.

On relatively long hauls it is customary to stop at one or more stations. depending upon the distance and weather conditions,and re-ice the load before arrival at final destination. In the ordinary way, the re-icing is quite laborious and requires considerable time, especially if the pieces of ice are placed in the car by hand, it being difiicult and even quite impossible to place the ice at the far ends and comers of the car, because access is had only through the usual side door opening at the middle ofthe car arid the space between the top of the load and roof of the car is very limited.

As far as the inventor of the present machine and apparatus is aware, re-icing with crushed ice and by mechanical means has not been heretofore accomplished with the desired ease, facility and evenness of distribution over the load. The principal object of the present invention,

therefore, is to provide simple, practical and efii--- cient mechanical means for top icing purposes; to provide for the handling of a maximum quantity of ice by the utilization of minimum power and to effect the icing operation quickly and with ideal evenness of distribution over the load;

to provide a machine and apparatus of portable character, in which the ice is crushed to the desired size at the time it is used, and being movable to an operative position with relation to the.

car to be iced rather than having to position or spot" the car with respect to the icingmeans, and having a conveniently manipulable conducting device and discharge nozzle through (cl. ez-i) which the crushed ice is delivered. selectively and at the will of the-operator, to every point within the limited space in the car above the load; to avoid any appreciable wastage of ice; and to attain certain other advantages as will herein- 5 after more fully appear in the following description.

The invention consists in the general broad construction and application of the apparatus and in'the parts and combinations and arrangements of parts'hereinafter specified and pointed outwith particularity in the"appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a practical adapt'ation-of-the invention- Figure 1 isa "'side'elevation 01? a machine for crushing ice and including a device for impeliing and forcibly delivering the crushed ice therefrom;

Figure 2 is a view of one end of the machine, partly in elevationand'partly in section. with portions broken away-to expose parts otherwise hiddem' Figure 3 is an'elevation of the themachine: I

Figure 4' is a detail view, partly in section through the base frame of the machine, to show an adjustable mounting for the motor which drives the crushed ice impelling device;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, in section, showing details of a preferred form of belt pulley:

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of one end portion of the base frame. in top plan. to show a brake mechanism for holding the machine in its working position: v y 3 Figure '7 is a section on the line 1-4 of Figopposite end of Figure 8 is a section of the crushed ice impelling device, taken transversely of the axis of its rotor;

Figure 9 is a section of the crushed ice impeiling device, taken longitudinally of the axis of its rotor: 4

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, to show the working relstion'of the ice crushing element to the receiving hopper-for the ice to be crushed and the chute which conveys the crushed ice to the impeiling device;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view, on an enso larged scale, to show details "of the cylinder of the ice crushing element and the preferred form of circumferential spike;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view of the icereceiving hopper, substantially in diagonal section indicated by the line |2--| 2 of Figure 10, showing the cylinder of the ice crushing element in top plan and its correlation to the grate element with which the circumferential spikes co-operate to effect the crushing and sizing of the ice.

Figures 13 and 14 are views, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing details of a preferred conveyor tube for the impelled pieces of crushed ice from the machine of the present invention; and

Figure 15 is'a view showing more or less schematically and conventionally an arrangement of loading platform and icing apparatus, with a representation of a loaded refrigerator car positioned alongside of the platform in the process of top icing the load.

Referring now to the drawingathe numeral designates the base or lower carriage frame, which, as shown, preferably comprises) longitudinal side members of inverted T-section, ,but, obviously, may be of any approved or desired form. Near the ends of the frame the side members I are cross-connected by plate members 2. These members are preferably united by welding process, as are the various other structural members hereinafter described, unless otherwise specifically stated.

As shown, the base or lower carriage frame is mounted on conventional flanged wheels 3 to obviously travel on rails, as will be more fully hereinafter described. However, for portability, the frame may be mounted on other types of wheels or rollers, depending upon the particular location and manner in which the apparatus is used.

A suitable braking mechanism is provided for holding the machine in position while in use. As shown, a transverse brake beam 4 is slidable longitudinlly of the base or lower carriage frame on supporting brackets 5 secured on the under sides of the side members I of the frame. Welded to the ends of the beam 4 are arcuate brackets 6 which are L-shape in cross section and carry brake shoes I, preferably wooden blocks, and provided with linings 8 of rubber or suitable fibrous material, to engage the tread surfaces of the adjacent wheels 3. Welded tothe middle under portion of the beam 4 is an operating bar or rod 9, the outer end portion of the bar or rod being screw-threaded and projected slidably through an aperture provided therefor in the vertical flange of an L-shape cross frame mem .ber I0 secured to the under sides of the side members of the base or lower carriage frame (see Figures 1, 2, 6 and '7). This bar or rod is normally urged inwardly by a spring I I, interposed between the vertical flange of the cross member I0 and a collar I2 fixed on the bar or rod, thereby releasing the brake shoes 1 from engagement with'the wheels 3. 0n the project-'- ing screw-threaded outer end portion of the bar or rod 9 is a correspondingly internally screwthreaded hub portion l3 of a crank member I4, having a handle portion I5. By turning the crank in one, direction the bar or rod 9 is drawn outwardly, thereby clamping the brake shoes 1 against the correlated wheels 3, and in the opposite direction the bar or rod is permitted movement inwardly under the reaction of the spring ll, whereby the brake shoes are released from engagement with the wheels.

Near one end of the base or lower carriage frame is a super-frame structure comprising the two opposed upright frame members I6, II,

which, as shown, are of a substantially truncated inverted V-shape, that is to say, each comprises a horizontal middle upper portion l8, from the ends of which leg portions I9 diverge downwardly, the lower end portions of the leg portions turned to be disposed vertically, as at 20, and respectively united with the inner side S of the vertical stem flanges of the inverted T-shaped side members I of the base or lower carriage frame, as best shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

Secured on top of.the frame members I6, H, are a pair of horizontal longitudinally disposed members 2| of L-shape cross section, and this super-frame'structure is preferably completed by the provision of diagonal brace members 22, a pair of which are crossed at one side of the structure, and a single member being provided at the opposite side thereof, as shown in Figure 1, one member being omitted at this side to aiford clearance for pulley and belt to be later described.

Supported on the above described super-frame structure is a housing 23 for an ice receiving hopper and a co-operating means for crushing the ice received in the hopper. As shown, this housing 23 comprises a pair of

side plates

24, 25, the lower edge portions of which rest on the portions I8 of the frame members I6, I1, and their adjacent outer face portions are welded to the abutting inner faces of the vertical flanges of said horizontal top frame members 2|. The inner upper marginal portions of the

plates

24, 25, are connected by a right angular plate 26 having its vertical marginal portions flanged, as at 21, and its horizontal marginal portions likewise flanged, as at 28, said flanged portions overlapping the adjacent outer faces of the

side plates

24, 25, and being welded thereto.

Within the housing 23, adjacent said plate 26, is a supplemental plate 29, a portion. of which is arcuate, as at 30, and substantially concentric with a cylindrical ice crushing element to be later described, said supplemental plate 29 having its opposite side marglnal'portions flanged, as at 3|, and welded or otherwise secured to the inner faces of the

respective side plates

24, 25.

An inclined hopper plate 32 has its upper marginal portion 33, rolled to fit supportingly on a transverse rod 34 which is secured at its opposite ends in apertures provided therefor in said side plates 24, 25 (see Figure 10). The lower marginal portion of this hopper plate 32, as shown, rests on the upper portion of the inclined bottom plate 35 of a chute 36 which conveys the crushed ice to an impelling device to be later described. The plate 35 has its upper marginal portion rolled, as at 31, in a manner similar to the end portion 33 of said hopper plate 32, and it is supported on a transverse rod 38, similar to the rod 34.

Near the lower end of the hopper plate 32, a grate element 39 is provided (see Figures 10 and 12), this element in effect comprising a series of spaced lugs 40 which hold the pieces of ice received in the hopper 4|, and with which the crushing element, now to be described, co-operates in its operation.

Mounted on a shaft 42, having antifriction bearings 43 provided therefor on said

housing plates

24, 25, is a cylindrical member 44, the hub portion 45 of which is keyed, as at 46, to said shaft 42 (see Figure 10) On the circumference of the cylinder 44 are a series of substantially tangential spikes or sharp pointed studs 41 which, during the rotation of the cylinder, pass .the shaft 61 (see Figure 9).

cular plate 69, preferably by welding integrally,

be provided in any suitable number and relativearrangement upon the circumference of the cylinder 44. For practical purposes and considering the high speed at which the cylinder 44 is rotated in operation, nine of the spikes 41 are suflicient, and an arrangement which has proven ideal in actual practice of the present invention and determined after experimentation, and as illustrated in Figures 10 and 12 of the drawings, is to space the nine spikes equidistan annularly as well as transversely of the cyl der, or, in

other words, in a spiral arrangement. In this way, only one spike is acting co-operatively with the grate element 39 at the same time, but the several spikes so act in quick succession, the effect of which is to quickly break up the larger pieces of ice received in the hopper 4|.

It is preferable to have the working body portion of the spikes 41 of generally cylindrical form, with pointed end portions 48, and tapered shank portions 49 which are fitted into correspondingly tapered socket bores provided in the cylinder 44, in the region of which lugs or surface protuberances 50 are provided for strength. So, too,

' apertures 5| are preferably provided adjacent said lugs or protuberances for the convenient insertion of an implement when it is desired to force the spikes 41-from their sockets.

Adjacent the side plate 24 of the housing 23, the shaft 42 is provided with a pulley 52, preferably of the split type, so as to be readily removable and interchangeable to secure different speed ratio, at will. This pulley is driven by a belt 53 from the pulley 54 on .the shaft 55 of a motor (preferably electric) 56, of any suitable type and indicated merely by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the motor being covered by a protective hood 51, and the belt 53 having a suitable guard 58. The motor is mounted on a platform 55 I The impeller for discharging the crushed ice from the machine will now be described.

As shown, the impelling device comprises a cylindrical housing member 59 having oppositely extending tangential discharge tubes 69. Side wall plates 6|, 62, are welded to the marginal portions of the cylindrical body member 59, and the structure is further strengthened by tie-bolts 63 extending from one side wall plate to the other.

about the periphery of the cylindrical member 59. Inthe wall plate 6| is a central opening 64 through which the crushed ice is delivered to the housing from the chute 36, the delivery end of said chute being supported on a substantially U-sh-aped reinforcing member 65 secured on the outer face of said wall plate 6|, said member 65 being preferably formed from a length of angle iron, as shown in Figures 1 and 9.

The opposite wall plate 62 is provided with a central opening 66 through which ashaft 61 enters the housing, a suitable anti-friction bearing 68 for the shaft being secured ,on the outer face of the wall plate. Secured on the shaft 61, within the cylindrical housing, is a rotor comprising a circular plate 69 having a.

central hub portion 19 which is suitably keyed to Secured to the cirtherewith, are blades or vanes 1| disposed radially from the axis of the shaft 61 and extending to the periphery of the plate.

The blades or vanes 1| are centrally recessed or cut away at their marginal portions remote from the circular plate 69, as at 12, and an annular plate member or ring 13, surrounding said recessed portions, is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the margins of said blades or vanes, thereby reinforcing the rotor structure.

On opposite sides of the cylindrical housingare-supporting members 14, the upper portions or which are arcuate and secured to the respective side wall plates 6|, 62, preferably by welding, although, of course, other approved means of attachment may be employed.- The base portions of the supporting members 14 are flanged, as at 15, and these portions are secured on superframes 16 extending 'up from the base or lower carriage frame I, said super-frames, as shown, being similar to the first herein described superframes l6, I1, but of lesser height. These superframes 16 are braced together and to the adjacent frame |1 by-plate members 11, and they are further braced to an additional super-frame 18 by horizontal tie members 19 (see Figures 1 and 3).

The super-frame 18, which is located near the end of the base or lower carriage frame I, supports a conventional anti-friction bearing 88 for the outer end portion of the shaft 61 of the impelling device. Secured on the shaft 61 is a pulley 8| which is driven by a belt 82 from a driving pulley 83 on the shaft 84 of a motor (preferably electric) 85. As shown, the motor 85 is covered by a continuation of the hereinbefore described hood 51 covering the motor 56. Preferably, the pulleys 8| and 83 are of the type used with Vor wedged-shaped cross section belts and more particularly such having multiple annular grooves or channels of corresponding formation to receive multiple belts, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. A fragmentary section showing preferred details of construction of the pulleys 8|, 83,- both of which are identical except as to dimensions, is illustrated in Figure 5. In this structure a cylindrical hub member 86 is provided, and a series of centrally apertured disks 81 are welded or otherwise fixedly secured on the circumference of the cylindrical hub member, said disks being bevelled adjacent their peripheries, as at 88, the two outermost disks being bevelled only on their inner sides and the intermediate disks on both sides. Interposed between the disks 81 are ring members 89, said disks and ring members being provided with alined apertures for the reception of tie-bolts 90.

To provide for convenient adjustment to secure the desired tension and working relation between the pulleys 8|. 83,- and the belts 82, the motor 85 is preferably mounted on a tiltable platform 9| (see Figures 3 and 4). As shown, the platform 9| is hingedly supported, as at 92, on an angle member 93 which is attachedto transverse frame members 94 extending from side member to side member of the base or lower carriage frame I, said transverse members 94 being depressed slightly below said side members Pivotally supported, as at 95, on the transverse members 94 by a longitudinal member 96 ofangle iron section connecting said transverse members,

its hinged support.

It may be here noted that the motor85 of the machine illustrated and herein described as an adaptation of the invention is of the reversible type, or, in other words, is adapted to rotate the shaft 84 in opposite directions, and, accordingly, the rotor of the impelling device is actuated and the crushed ice delivered from the device through either of the discharge tubes 60, at will, .and depending upon the side of the machine at which the car to be iced is located.

To close the tube 60 not used a hollow cylindrical closure member 99 is preferably provided, as shown in Figures'3 and 8. As shown, this member 99 is closed at its inner end, as at I00, and it is provided with an external annular collar IOI engaging the end of the tube 60 to limit the inserted position of the closure, and the closure being releasably held in place by hook elements I02 hingedly attached to the tube 60 and engaging studs I03 on the closure member. The

hook elements I02 also hold a conveyor tube, to.

be presently described, on the discharge tube 60 being used and through which the crushed ice is delivered to the car.

The preferred conveyor tube is illustrated in detail in Figures 13 and'14 of the drawings and its application to the crushed ice impelling device of the apparatus of the present invention isshown in a practical adaptation in Figure 15. As shown, the conveyor. tube comprises a coupling 'sleeve member I04 to fit over the discharge tube 60 of the impelling'device, said sleeve member having the end portion of a metal tube section I05 fitted over its reducedouter end portion (see Figure 13), the parts being held together by a stud member I06 on opposite sides in diametrical relation. The stud members I06 are projected sufliciently to be enga ed .by the hook elements I02 whereby the conveyor tube is detachably held on the discharge tube 60 of the impelling device.

Fitted telescopically withboth longitudinal and rotative movement on the metal tube section I05 is a second metal tube section I0'I on the outer end portion of which is fitted a flexible tube, preferably of the'character of rubber hose, said flexible tube, designated by the numeral I08, being secured to the metal tube section I01 by ordinary clamping bands I09, as conventionally shown in Figure 13. 1

At the outer end of the flexible tube I00 is a metal nozzle member or discharge tube II 0, the outer end portion of which is turned at a slight angle, preferably sixty (60) degrees or approximately so, for practical use.

A practical arrangement of a loading platform alongside of which is a railway track and having thereon a trackway for the ice crushing and impelling machine and overhead means for supplying ice to the machine, is illustrated more or less conventionally and schematically. As shown, the platform III is elevated to approximately the level of the bottom of the ordinary refrigerator r freight car and in co-operative relation to which a'car, designated by the numeral I I2, is positioned on the railway track II3. A portion of the car, as illustrated, is broken away and shown in section, a load of crated produce Ill, for example, lettuce or other garden or farm vegetables, being gown, and on top of which the crushed ice, as incated by the numeral H5, is being distributed from the nozzle IIO of the conveyor tube which in use is projected into the car through the side door opening and is manipulated by an operator who stands on a ladder or .other suitable support (not shown).

The ice crushing and impelling machine, only the main parts of which are shown, and merely conventionally, is located on the trackway I I6 on the platform III, by which arrangement the car to be iced may be placed at any position alongside of the platform on the railway track I I3 and the icing apparatus brought into working position with respect to the car instead of having to locate or "spot" the car with respect to the apparatus.

At an elevation above the platform III and in parallel alinement over the trackway H6 is a longitudinal ice supply trough II! in the bottom of which are a series of outlet hoppers II8, obviously closed normally by trapdoors or releasable closures (not shown), under one of which the ice receiving hopper ll of the icing apparatus is positioned selectively and conveniently for the icing of the car as positioned at the side of the platform III. The ice crushing and impelling machine is held in position by applying the hereinbefore described brake device to the wheels 3.

It is to be here noted that the rotor of the crushed ice impeller is rotated at a high speed in operation, and the crushed ice as it is delivered into the housing 59 through the central side opening 64 tends to drop immediately to the bottom of the housing, anyway into the path of the rotor blades or vanes II which strike the pieces of ice with great forcerwhereby the ice is knocked or batted, with practically the same effect as a ball or missile when struck by a bat or the like, rather than by slinging or throwing effect from a centrifugal or other mechanical similarly effective agency or by compressed air or a blast of air from a fan.

It has been found by actual experimentation and practical use that an. impelling device of the character illustrated and herein described drives the pieces of crushed ice with great force and momentum through the conveyor tube and to a considerable distance from the discharge nozzle of the tube. In use, under ordinary conditions, and particularly from a platform as illustrated in Figure 15 of the drawings, the conveyor tube averages from twelve to fifteen feet in length and from the discharge nozzle IIO the pieces of ice are, by manual manipulation of the nozzle, delivered to all parts of the space in the car above the load, even to the far ends and corners of the car, and with evenness of distribution and with rapidity. It may be also here noted that an impelleroi the character of that of the present invention drives the pieces of ice to an elevation a considerable distance above the discharge tube 60, for example, it has been found in actual practice that the driven ice is easily lifted twenty or more feet from the discharge tube 60. Hence, the impeller may be located close to the ground, in

some cases, instead of upon a raised platform, and

top icing of cars accomplished by use of the apparatus at that lower position with facility and satisfactory results. So, too, in such cases, the machine may be mounted on ground wheels of any approved character for portability instead of flanged wheels for track rails as shown in the drawings. This being obvious specific details are not illustrated in the drawings.

While an air blast from a fan alone will not impel the crushed ice to any appreciable distance. the blast created by the rotating blades or vanes of the rotor naturally assists to some degree the momentum of the forcibly knocked or batted pieces of ice. Furthermore, the pieces of ice entering the impelling device are immediately struck by the blades or vanes of the rotor and are not again changed in general direction of movement withinthe device and only changed in direction by manipulationof the nozzle III! of the conveyor tube after being so struck and given momentum by the rotating blades or vanes; This makes 'for' ideal practicability and minimizes the power re'q' red for driving the impellingdevice and permitssimplification of structure. 1

At onejen'd of the machine the controls for the motors Stand 85 are located; As shown, houslugs for the respective controlling devices (not shown in detail) are indicated at H9,- for the motor 56, and!!!) for the motor 85, respectively. On the housing 9 an on" button l2! and an off" button I22 for operating the controlling switch of themotor circuit (not shown) are provided, while on the housing l20 similar buttons I23, I24, are respectively provided, said buttons being merely illustrated conventionally as their functions are obvious. A protective hood I25 is preferably provided over the housings H9 and I20 as a protection from possible leakage of water from melting of the ice handled in the machine.

While-the machine and apparatus illustrated in the drawings is a practical and advantageous adaptation of the invention, it is obvious that considerable modification in construction and arrangement and in the particular application in different adaptations may be made without in the least departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The invention,'therefore, is not limited to the specific construction andarrangement shown in the accompanying drawings.

. What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for icing railway cars and other transportation vehicles to refrigerate-contents thereof, comprising a machine portably mounted on wheels on a trackway, an impeller on said machine comprising a substantially cylindrical casing the axis of which is disposed longitudinally of. the trackway, said housing having an outlet disposed transversely of the trackway, a rotor in said casing, the axis of the rotor being longitudinal with respect to the trackway, and said rotor having'radial blade members, means for feeding pieces of ice in predetermined sizes-with approximate-uniformity thereof, the inlet for thepieces of ice being lateral of the rotor and arranged to deposit the pieces of ice in the path of the rotating blades of the 'rotor which bat the pieces and impell the same through said outlet,

and a conveyor tube detachably secured to said mally closed by closures openable selectively at,

will of an operator, and a portable icing machine movable beneath said longitudinally disposed ice supply container whereby to be placed in cooperative working relation. to a positioned car or vehicle to be, iced, said machine comprising a device locatable in receiving relation to one of the outlets of said ice supply container and having means for sizing and grading the received ice from said supply container to a predetermined means for delivering the sized and graded pieces of ice from said sizing and grading device to said impeller, said impeller having a rotor oper-- ating between the receiving inlet of the impeller and 'a discharge Loutlet thereof and adapted to impell the pieces of ice through the discharge outlet, and a conveyor in co-operative relation to the discharge outlet of theimpeller for conveying the impelled pieces of ice in a restricted stream, said conveyor being manipulable, at will of an operator, to deliver the stream of impelled ice selectively to any part of the space within the car or vehicle being iced.

3. The combination of an elongated platform alongside of which a car or transportation vehicle to be iced is positioned, an elevated longitudinally disposed ice supply container above said platform and having a series of separate outlets throughout the lengththereof, the respective outlets being operable and used selectively at thewill of an operator, a portable machine movable lengthwise on said platform to communicably connected to said impeller for conveying a restricted stream of the impelled pieces of ice to the car or vehicle being iced.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, and

Q the conveyor for the impelled stream of ice particles having a discharge nozzle manipulable at the will of an operator to direct the stream into the car or vehicle selectively to different parts of the space above the contents to be refrigerated.

5. Means for servicing railway cars and other transportation vehicles with graded pieces of solid material, comprising a station facility in an elongated arrangement, alongside of which the cars or vehicles to be serviced are adaptedto be positioned, a longitudinally disposed elevated ma- --c'hine comprising a device locatable in receivapproximately uniform size, an impeller, and

ing relation to one of the outlets of said supply 7 discharge outlet of the impeller for conveying the impelled pieces of material in a restricted stream, said conveyor being manipulable, at will of an operator, to deliver the stream of impelled ma-' terial selectively to any part of the space within the car or vehicle being serviced.

'6. Apparatus for supplying transportation vehicles and the like with finely divided particles of material, comprising an elongated elevated container for supplying large pieces of material the impeller for conveying the impelleirparticles in a restricted stream, said conveyor being manipulable at the will of the operator to deliver a stream of impelled particles in any desired direction, whereby all parts of a vehicle will be accessible.

7. Apparatus for icing transportation vehicles and the like to refrigerate the contents thereof, comprising an elongated elevated container for supplying large pieces of ice and having a plurality of controlled outlets; a portable icing machine movable beneath the supply container, said machine including an ice crusher adapted to be placed beneath a selected one of the outlets from said supply container, an ice impeller having an inlet communicating with the crusher and adapted to deliver crushed ice,therefrom to the impeller and having an outlet for delivering crushed ice under pressure, and a conveyor in cooperative relation to the discharge outlet of the impeller for conveying the impelled pieces of crushed ice in a restricted stream, said conveyor being manipulable at the will of the operator to deliver a stream of impelled ice in any desired direction, whereby all parts of a vehicle to be iced will beaccessible.

8. Apparatus for icing transportation vehicles to refrigerate the contents thereof, comprising an elongated elevated container for supplying large pieces of ice and having a plurality of controlled outlets; a portable icing machine movable beneath the supply container, said machine including an ice crusher adapted to be placed beneath one of the outlets from said supply container, an ice impeller having an inlet communieating with the crusher and adapted to deliver crushed ice therefrom to the impeller and having an outlet for delivering crushed ice under pressure, and a conveyor in cooperative relation to the discharge outlet of the impeller for conveying the impelled pieces of crushed ice in a restricted stream, said conveyor including a flexible portion, manipulable at the will of the operator to deliver a stream of impelled ice in any desired direction whereby all parts of the interior of a vehicle located in proximity to the icing machine will be accessible.

9. Apparatus for icing transportation vehicles to refrigerate the contents thereof, comprising an elevated stationary supply container for supplying relatively large blocks of ice, adjacent which the transportation vehicle is brought to be iced,

said container having a controlled outlet opening, a portable icing machine positioned beneath the supply container and along-side of the vehicle to be iced, said icing machine including an ice impeller having a receiving hopper adapted to be positioned beneath the outlet opening of said stationary container, an ice crusher located within said hopper, for crushing the ice prior to delivery to the impeller, said impeller also having an outlet for delivering crushed ice under pressure, and a conveyor in cooperative relation to the discharge outlet of the impeller for conveying the impelled pieces of crushed ice in a restricted stream, said conveyor including a flexible portion, manipulable at the will of the operator to deliver a stream of impelled ice in any direction, whereby all parts of the interior of a vehicle located in proximity to the icing machine will be accessible. I

10. In an apparatus for icing transportation vehicles and the like, a portable icing machine charge outlet of the impeller for conveying the I impelled pieces of ice in a restricted stream, said conveyor including a flexible portion, manipulable at the will of the operator to deliver a stream of impelled ice in any desired direction.

VIRGIL KEITH.