US784315A - Ice-making apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905.

A. 0 PRICE.

ICE MAKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APE. 6.1698.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 5 1 Luautoz tome $7M No. 784,315. PATENTED MAR.7,1905. A. 0. PRIGK.

ICE MAKING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED APE. 6.1898.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES Patented March 7, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

ABRAHAM O. FRIOK, OF WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE FRIOK COMPANY, OF WAYNESBORO, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ICE-MAKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent No. 784,315, dated March 7, 1905.

Application filed April 6, 1898. Serial No. 676,662.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM O. FRIoK, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVaynesbore, in the county of Franklin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice-Making Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Fly said invention relates to certain improvements in the arrangement of parts of an ice-making apparatus of that character known as the plate system.

It consists chiefly in the novel arrangement for securingan improved method of circulating the freezing and thawing medium through the cells or plates whereby the best results are obtained in that the brine or other noncongealable fluid used is brought when in its coldest state to act upon that portion of the water to be frozen which is of the highest temperature, and, further, whereby the freezing medium may be converted into a thawing medium and the cold taken therefrom in the process of raising its temperature be imparted to the water to be used on the ammoniacondenscr and its condensing power thus increased, thereby making a lower pressure in the machine possible and effecting a considerable saving in consequence, all as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a freezing-tank, two compartments of which are shown filled with cells or plates provided with my improved arrangement of parts for securing the object above set forth; Fig. 2, a crosssection through said tank, showing one of the cells in central longitudinal section and also showing the other parts of the apparatus immediately connected in the operation with the various connecting-pipes; Fig. 3, a detail view similar to a portion of Fig. 2, showing a somewhat-modified arrangement; Fig. 4, a detail cross-section on the line 4: 4 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another modification in the arrangement.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the freezing-tank; B, the cells or plates therein; O,the brine-tank; D,the watersupply tank, and E the ammonia-condenser.

The freezing-tank A is or may be of any suitable or approved form or construction, being preferably divided into compartments by partitions 0/ in order that part or all may be operated at one time, as desired.

The cells or plates B are also in main of common form, consisting of two plates riveted to angle-irons I), which are located near the ends and constitute the partitions to cut off a portion of the ends from the freezing operation and prevent ice from forming on the sides of the tank A. The space between said partition 6 and the extreme ends is preferably packed with any suitable packing material, as shown. Each cell is preferably divided to near its bottom into several com partments (three are shown) by vertical transverse partitions b". A free space is left at the bottom, as shown, to permit the free circulation of the freezing and thawing liquid from one end to the other and to the discharge-pipe from all parts thereof. Said cells are some what higher than the tank A to guard against any of the brine overflowing into the liquid to be frozen. They may also be provided with water-tight covers I), as indicated in Fig. 3, if needed or preferred. In the top of each compartment of said cells at a point substantially level with the top of tank A a horizontal pipe B, with perforated or slotted under side, is arranged. The several pipes of each cell are connected to a single pipe 1, which crosses the top thereof. A longitudinal pipe 2 runs along one side of the tank A, with which one end of each of said pipes 1 connects, and a similar pipe 3 runs along the opposite side of said tank, with which the opposite end of each of said pipes 1 is connected. A valve b is located at each connection between the pipes B and 1 for controlling the flow from one to the other, and valves 7/ and .71 near each end of the pipes 1, control the flow from one or the other of the pipes 2 or 3, as will be presently explained. A single pipe 4 connects the pipe 2 with a pump P, which is connected with the brine-tank C. A discharge-pipe 5 leads from the bottom of each cell to a single pipe 6, which runs longitudinally of the tank near its bottom. A valve 6 is provided in each pipe 5 to control the flow therefrom to said pipe 6. A second longitudinal pipe 7 runs along under said discharge-pipes 5, each of which is connected thereto by a short pipe 8, connected therewith between the valve 6 and the cell. A single pipe 9 connects said pipe 7 with a pump P. A valve 5 in each valve 8 controls the flow from said pipes 5 to said pipe 7 and pump P. A pipe 10 leads from said pump P to the water-supply tank D above the ammoniacondenser, is coiled therein, and leads therefrom back to pipe 3.

' As shown in Fig. 5, instead of pipe 10 be:

ing coiled in water-tank D it may be passed directly under sprinkler D above ammoniacondenser. In this arrangement the water from said sprinkler first passes over said pipe 10, by which its temperature is reduced, and then over the ammonia-condenser.

The brine-tank C is of common form, containing a cooling-coil c. The water-tank D is situated above the ammonia-condenser E, to which it supplies the water required through the pipe d and sprinkler D, as usual. Said ammonia-condenser E is of any usual approved form and needs no special description.

The operation of my said invention is as follows: The cells and various pipes and other parts being in operative position and properly connected, as shown and described, and the water to be frozen being in the freezing-tank surrounding said cells, the freezing operation is begun by closing the valves 6 and if and opening the valves 5, 7), and If and starting pump P in operation. This operates to force the brine from tank C, where it has been reduced to the temperature required for the purpose, through pipe 4 into pipe 2 and from pipe 2 into the several pipes 1 connected therewith which are connected with the cells to be used, down into the pipes B of said cells and discharge the same through the openings in said pipes B into the tops of said cells in a downward direction. Under the pressure from the pump or gravity, or both, said brine flows from the top of the cell downward against its side to the bottom, from which it is discharged through the pipes 5 into pipe 6 and from thence flows through pipe 11 back to tank C, where its temperatureis properly reduced, and it is then ready to be used again. The

operation is continued, of course, until the ice tank, where it is at its highest temperature and requires greater freezing power in order that it shall be frozen with the same rapidity as the colder water in the lower portions'of the tank and the cake of ice be formed of even thickness throughout its height. When the ice on one or more of the cells becomes of the thickness desired and it is desired to free it therefrom to be removed, the valves 6 and 6* are closed and valves 6 and b are opened. The pump P being then in operation, the brine is drawn from the cells through the pipes 5 and 8 into the pipe 7 and from thence through pipe 9 into said pump P, from which it is forced through the pipe 10 (having the coil located to contact with the condensing agent in tank D, as shown in Fig. 2, or as shown in Fig. 5, or by any other approved arrangement,) and down into pipe 3 and the pipes 1,which have their valves 6 open, and through pipes B again down through the cells, the circuit being repeated until the thawing process has reached that stage which will enable the cakes of ice to be removed readily from the sides of the cells. The brine as it leaves the cells for its initial circuit through pipe 10 and connections is in a very cold state, and in passing through the coil which cools the condensing water (or other condensing agent) of very much higher temperature the temperature of said brine is raised sufiiciently to convert it from a freezing medium to a thawing medium. In its next passage through the cells its temperature is again reduced by the thawing process, and on its next circuit through the coil in the water-tank D (or over the condenser) it is again raised to a thawing temperature. At the same time the cold taken up from said brine is imparted to the water in said tank, which is to be used on the ammonia-condenser and its condensing power thus greatly increased. By this means the pressure in the machine may be reduced and considerable saving in operating it effected. By the arrangement of pipes and valves described anyone cell or any number of cells, as desired, may be connected with the freezing-circuit or thawing-circuit, the freezing operation being carried on in a portion and the thawing in a portion, as each cell is connected with each circuit independently of the rest, the opening and the closing of the valves 6 b and b if operating to connect it with whichever circuit desired, as before described.

In Fig. 3 the discharge-pipe B is shown as passing out from the bottom of the cell and then up through the packing between the sides and the end partition I) and the side of the tank, passing through said side-of the tank near its top and then turning down and discharging into a receiving-tank B A branch pipe 12 is connected to its top to return the brine to the tank C, and a valve 6 is provided to control the direction of the The pump P takes the brine from tank B in such construction and forces it through the thawing-circuit, as above described. This arrangement is shown simply to illustrate one of many obvious modifications in the construction and arrangement of details which can be made without materially altering the apparatus or departing from the spirit of my invention as herein set forth. In Fig. t the construction of the cells at their ends is most plainly shown, pipe B being also shown packed therein, as in Fig. 3.

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

1. In an ice-making apparatus, the combination with the freezing tank and cells, of pipes connected with said cells for conducting a non-congealable fluid arranged to circulate said fluid in a vertical direction from the top to the bottom of said cells and form two separate circuits. onea freezing and the other a thawing circuit. with each of said cells constituting a part of each of said circuits, and valves in said pipes for throwing said cell into the circuit desired and cutting it off from the other, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. In an ice-making apparatus, the combination with the freezing tank and cells, of two pipe-circuits for a non-congealable fluid which are joined or completed by a cell, one of said circuits being a freezing and the other a thawing circuit, the thawing-circuit passing through the condensing agent for the ammoniacondenser, and valves for controlling the flow through whichever circuit is desired, substantially as set forth.

3. In an ice-making apparatus, the combination, of the freezing-tank, the cells, a circuit of pipes from the brine-cooling tank through said cells and return, anothercircuit from said cells through a pipe which passes through the condensing agent for the ammonia-condenser and return, valves for throwing the cell into Whichever circuit is desired, and means for circulating the brine or non-congealable fluid through whichever circuit is open, whereby it may be converted from a freezing to a thawing medium by passing through said condensing agent for the ammonia-condenser, and said condensing agent at the same time reduced in temperature by the cold taken up from said non-congealable fluid and its efliciency thereby enhanced, substantially as set forth.

t. In an ice-machine, the combination, of the freezing-tank, the cells therein, and a pipe-circuit for the freezing medium from the supply-tank therefor through said cells and return, said circuit being arranged to discharge said freezing medium into the top of said cells and through an uninterrupted passage to the bottom in a vertical direction, and take it out at said bottom, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in an ice-making machine, of the tank, the cells, the brine-supply pipes, horizontal pipes with openings in their under sides mounted in the tops of said cells and connected with said brine-supply pipe, discharge-pipes connecting With the bottom of said cells, and means for effecting a circulation of the brine through said cells in a vertical direction from the top to the bottom thereof, substantially as set forth.

6. In an ice-making machine, the combination, of the tank, the freezing-cells therein formed with vertical partitions at intervals which extend to near the bottom thereof forming uninterrupted vertical passages therethrough, the brine-supply pipe, horizontal pipes connected therewith and mounted in the top of the vertical compartments thus formed in said cells, said pipes having openings in their under sides, a discharge-pipe leading from the bottom of each cell, and means for forcing the brine through the circuit thus formed into the top of said cells and out at the bottom, substantially as set forth.

7. In an ice-making machine, the combination, of the freezing-tank, the cells therein, the brine-supply pipe discharging in a downward vertical direction into said cellsat or near the top thereof, a discharge-pipe leading from thebottom thereof, a pipe leading therefrom to a pump, and another to the brinetank, valves to regulate the How to said pump or tank, as desired, a pipe leading from said pump to a coil in the water-supply tank of the ammonia-condenser and back to the pipe which discharges into the top of said cells, and valves for regulating the course of the brine, as desired, substantially as set forth.

8. In an ice-machine, the combination with the cells, of a circuit for circulating the freezing medium through them, which discharges said medium into the top of said cells and takes it through them in an uninterrupted downward vertical direction and withdraws it ABRAHAM O. FRIGK. i [L. s.]

Witnesses:

S. W. CUNNINGHAM, 'I. S. CUNNINGHAM.

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