US349831A - Movable ice-chamber - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1. I. ALLEGRETTI.

MOVABLE 1GB CHAMBER.

No. 349,831. Patented Sept. Z8, 1886.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. I. ALLEGRETTI.

MOVABLB IGH CHAMBER.

No. 349,831. Patented Sept. 28, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IGNAZIO AIILEGRETII, OF VEST BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.

IVIOVABLE lCECHAM BER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,831, dated September 28, 1886.

Application filed June 1G, 1886. Serial No. 205,378. (No model.) l

purpose of keeping cool the temperature of a room or other apartment, and which are especially adapted for use in cars employed for the transportation of fruit and other perishable articles.

My invention consists in an ice chamber or box of peculiarl construction, whereby it may Abe readily handled or moved about and adapted for use in various places, said chamber or box being sectional and readily divided into its several parts for transportation when not in use, and as easily set up again when required.

In connection with this chamber or box my invention further consists in a novel skeleton frame or casing adapted to contain the chamber or box, and to be readily and effectively secured to the apartment in which it is used and removed when not in use, said casing and ice-chamber being located in such manner as toai'ford access from without, all of which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

Referring to the accompanying drawings fora more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a plan view of my iceehamber and its easing. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of same, showing it in the car, which is in longitudinal vertical section.

rIhe general object of my invention is to provide a movable ice-chamber adapted to be placed in any room or apartment for the purpose of cooling the air thereof; but the particular object I have in view is to furnish a practical ice chamber or box for use in railway-cars employed for the transportation of fruit and other perishable articles which can be preserved in a cool atmosphere. The box or chamber A consists, preferably, of sections of galvanized-iron plates. rlhe base of the chamber is a shallow trough, u. The sides a are plates or sheets, which are fitted to the base by having their lower edges insertedin the trough and pressing against its sides. The vertical end edges of the side plates are bent to form flanges af. The ends a? of the box or chamber are plates which fit within the flanged ends of the sides and press said sides outwardly to their bearing against the sides of the trough-base, and also against the exterior frame, to be hereinafter described. The vertical edges of the end plates are also bent to form flanges a, which with the ilanges of the side plates and the sides and ends of the base-trough make the box or chamber tight enough for the purpose of holding ice, and still enable the box to be readily taken to pieces when desired. One of the end plates, a, is shorter than the other, thus leaving an opening, a, in the end of the box or chamber for the purpose of affording access to insert the ice. The chamber or box A may have a full or a partial cover, or none at all, as may be found best.

B is an exterior frame or easing inclosing the icebox A. It is made preferable of wood, and is of an open or skeleton character, so that as much of the surface of the ice-box as possible is exposed. It is rectangular in shape, and has a removable bottom, b, which is sloping, as shown, so that the trouglrbase a of the ice-box, when resting upon it, is in elined downwardly to one end. The frame B has an open end, b', coinciding with the open end a5 of the ice-box, so that no obstruction is presented to the ice when being placed in the chamber A. The base of the frame B and also one of its ends are provided with projecting cleats 5"', by which the frame is secured in the apartment or room in which it is placed.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the use of my removable ice'chamber in a car, O. I have here shown it in the end of the car, though it may be placed in other positions, such as in the sides. The ice-chamber and itsinclosingframe project into the car, yand are so placed that the open end is next the wall of the ear; and in this Wall I cut a door, c, which, when opened, exposes the opening in the end of the ice-chamber, so that saidA chamber may be readily replenished from the outside whenever it may be found necessary. In the lower end ofthe trough-base of the ice-chamber A,I make a hole, a, through which the water from the ice may be discharged through the open bottom ofthe frame B and through a hole inthe floor of the car. By making the bottom of the frame B sloping, which throws the base of the box A on an incline, the water from the ice runs down to the discharge and is carried off through the end of the floor of the car, and thus the box has no tendency to lealqwhereby the contents of the car might be injured. The frame B is firmly secured in position by means of bolts D, which are passed through the cleats b2 into the Hoor and the wall of the car. It will therefore not be shaken down upon the journey, and yet, by the removal of the bolts may be easily taken out of the car.`

It is obvious that instead of having the end of the ice-'box open, I may have its top or side open and replenish it through a door in the root` or side of of the car.

The use of' my ice-chamber is as follows: Vhen a ear-load of fruit or other perishable articles is about to be shipped, the car is first provided with one or more of the icechambers, which are placed and secured in the position described and shown. the car is loaded and is started ou its journey. Vhen the ice in the chamber needs replenishing, the door c in the end of the car is opened and4 more ice is inserted through the end opening in the box. This, it will be observed, is done from the outside and without disturbing the contents of the car. The replenishing may take place as often as may be necessary. When the ear has reached its destination andi is unloaded, it may be sent back with a load of merchandise which does not need to be kept cool.` The ice-chamber is consequently removed, which' operation is ,easily effected bytaking out the bolts D, so that the frame B and its inclosed chamber A can be removed. If the box has to be sent back, the several parts may be readily separated and placed in a small compass; or they may be otherwise packed or stored.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with a car or other apartment, a chamber or box containing ice placed in the car and secured thereto by bolts or other fastenings in such a manner that it may be readily removed when desired, substantially as herein described.

2. A movable ice chamber or box and a skeleton frame or casing inclosing it, said l fitted to the base and the side plates, all of said parts being independent and separable, whereby the chamber may be taken apart, v

substantially as herein described.

Then l 4. A movable ice-chamber consisting of the trough-base a, the fianged side plates, a,fitted to the base, and the iianged end plates, a, tted to the base and to the side plates, one of said end plates being short, whereby an opening, a5, is left in the end of the chamber, and all of the parts of the chamber being independent and separable, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

5. An ice box or chamber in combination with the open or skeleton frame B, inclosing said box or chamber and having cleats b2, whereby it may be bolted to the apartmentin which it is placed and again removed, substantially as herein described.

6. An ice chamber or box having an open end, in combination with the movable skeleton frame or casing B, having au open end,

',b, coinciding with the open end of' the Vice chamber or box, said frameor casing having cleats b2, whereby it may be readily bolted to the apartment in which it is contained and re- Vmoved therefrom, substantially as herein described.

7.A The ice chamber or box having an open end, in combination with the skeleton frame `0r easing B, inclosing the ice-chamber, said ment in which it is contained and removed i therefrom, substantially as herein described.

8. The ice chamber or box A,consisting of the trough-base a, the flanged side plates, a', and the flanged end plates, a3, fitted together and separable, one of said end plates being short, whereby an opening, a5, is lel't in the end of the ice chamber or box, in combination l with the inclosing skeleton frame or casing B,

having an open end, b', coinciding with the y open end Aof the ice chamber or box, a removable sloping bottom, b, and cleats b2, whereby i it may be bolted to the apartment in which it is contained and removed therefrom, substanitially as herein described.

9. In a car or other room or apartment havclosing skeleton frame or easing B, having an open part, b', coinciding with the open part of the ice chamber or box, said chamber and frame being placed Within the car and se cured therein by bolts or other means providing for their ready removal, and in such position that upon the openingof the door of the l car the open parts of the ice-chamber and its frame shall be exposed, substantially as and for theV purpose herein described.

In Witness whereof I have hereto set my hand.

IGNAZIO ALLEGRETTI.

lVitnesses:

S. I-I. NoURsE, H. C. LEE.

IOO

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` ing a door, c, in its wall, the ice chamber or `box A, having an open part, c5, and the in-

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