US530127A - Apparatus for subdividing blocks of ice - Google Patents

Description

(N0 Modl.)

L.PUSEY. APPARATUS FOR SUBDIVIDING BLOCKS 0F ICE.

Patented Dec. 4, 1894.

UNITE; STAT- s Fries.

' LEA PUsEY, on WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR SUBDIVIDING BLOCKS OF lC E,

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,127, dated December 1, 1894.

Application filed December 21, 1891- Serial No. 415.706- (No model.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEA PUsEY, a citizenof the United States, residing at the city of Wilmington, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Subdividing Blocks of Ice, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus as being applied to a block of ice. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section, as on the line w or y of Fig. 1.

The object of this invention is to provide means for readily dividing up large blocks of ice, (such as those made artificially,) into small blocks; and the device or apparatus which I use for the purpose consists of what I term a melting frame, composed of a series of pipes communicating by means of a flexible or yielding connection, such as india rubber hose, with a pipe leading into a boiler containing steam or hot water. These pipes are arranged in the said frame according to the size and shape of the cake or block of. ice to be divided, and to the size of the smaller blocks into which it is to be sub-divided, and upon the device being placed upon the large block and the steam or hot water allowed to pass through the pipes, the contiguous ice becomes melted, the pipes making their way rapidly through the same, and thus severing the cake into blocks clear cut and of uniform size.

Reference being had to the annexed drawings, which represent that form of the inventionIhave found most efficient and desirable, A is a rectangular frame, the length of which is about equal to or greater than that of the ice-block to be divided. One side of this frame is composed preferably of a bar of wood or metal a, while the other side is composed of a tube a, usually gas or Water pipe, which is rigidly connected with the side a by means of tubular end pieces 0?. The tube a is provided with an inlet 01, at one end to which is attached a flexible coupling-tube, such as india rubber hose B, the other end of which connects, or is adapted to connect, with a pipe leading to a boiler containin steam or hot water.

WlSG secured to metallic reinforcing strips 61,

which are connected with the bar a by bracerods (1 The pipe D is likewise fastened to a similar strip (1 V The mode of using the melting frame is as follows: It is placed upon the block of ice, being connected with the source ofsteam or hot water by the flexible coupling B. The steam or hot water being turned on, passes into the frame pipe at. through the pipes O, D, D; and as the steam becomes condensed it passes out through the pipes D, the free ends of which are left open for that purpose. The device, melting the ice in its course, rapidly sinksdown through the latter until theblock is entirely sub-divided; or through a part of its thickness, in which latter case the small blocks may be easily separated the remaining distance by means of a wedge, or like implement.

The dimensions of the blocks depend, of

course, upon the thickness of the large block,

and the space covered by the series of copper ipes.

p I have found the above described method and device for dividing the blocks of ice a great improvement over the plans heretofore in vogue, the latter consisting in plowing suitable grooves in the block by means of tools adapted forthe purpose, or by cutting up the blocks by an ax, or otherwise breaking it up. With my method and device, however, the severing into blocks is accomplished with great ease and celerity, and the blocks are perfectly smooth and uniform in size, and present a neat, or, so to say, finished appearance;

Ihere remark that although the pipes D may be round I prefer to make them eggshaped in cross-section, the larger portion thereof being soldered to the reinforcing strips. The soldered edges of the copper pipes are somewhat wider than the thickness Thence it courses of the said strips, and the solder is applied so as to cover and protect these edges, andthus make a smooth and uniform joint or connection. By this construction, the said strips, being of less thickness than the kerf cut in the ice, by the pipes, naturally follow the latter with little or no friction. See Fig. 2. Besides the peculiar application of the solder protects the upper portion of the copper pipes from the condensing action of the Water.

It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise form of the device shown in the drawings, or to a series of pipes, as the sub-division of the large block maybe made, although at the expense of time, by a less number of melting pipes than I have shown, or, indeed, by a single pipe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The device for subdividing blocks of ice, consisting of the combination of a main longitudinal heat conductor pipe, or member,- as a'and a series of small transverse L- shaped conductor membersas C, d'communicating with said main conductor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device forsubdividing blocks of ice,

the combination of a main longitudinal heat conductor pipe, or member, a small conductor parallel with and beneath said main conductor, and a series of small transverse L- shaped conductors communicating with said parallel conductors, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a device for subdividing blocks of ice, the combination of a main longitudinal heat conductor pipe, or member, a series of small transverse L-shaped conductors communieating therewith, and a flexible or yielding conductor member attached to said main conductor, and adapted to be connected to the source of heat supply, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a device for subdividing blocks of ice: the combination of the supply pipe, the vertical pipes C communicating therewith, the horizontal pipes D, d, the end pieces a the supporting rods 01 and the supporting bar a.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature this 1st day of October,

LEA PUSEY. Witnessesz.

JOSHUA PUSEY, JOHN R. NOLAN.

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