Untitled record

Application filed April 13,1893. Serial No. 470,262. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Azmon J. Lowell, residing in the city and county of San Francisco, and Amos L. Fuller, residing at Oak5 land, Alameda county, California, citizens of the United States, have invented a new and useful Refrigerating-Cupboard, of which the' following is a specification.

Our invention is a device for converting io common detached cupboards into efficient refrigerators for preserving food or drink and also for rendering the same insect-proof, which i mprovements, in part, may be applied to fixed shelves, pantries, and other structures.

In our device we secure the result desired by a system of outside and inside application of cold water or water from melting ice in a manner far more simple and effective than any heretofore devised.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the manner of outside application of water from the small reservoir on top of the cupboard. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the wall of the cupboard with coverings. Fig. 3 is a sec25 tional front view showing the plates in position with cloth covering and guard E for same. Fig. 4 is a sectional end view.

Fig. 1 is an ordinary detached cupboard with the usual number of shelves and with sin30 gle walls, the outer surface of which is covered with jute cloth, or other cloth of coarse texture, P, Fig. 2, which is then covered with felt or Woolen cloth of close texture, Q, Fig. 2. Upon the cupboard or above it is placed the 35 small reservoir M, which is fitted with a bibcock to regulate the flow of water. The reservoir is filled with cold water, which falls on the jute cloth through an opening in the outer covering in quantity regulated by the bib. 40 Experiment has proven that the water fallingon the jute cloth will be distributed by capillary attraction over the whole surface covered by the same. Extending around the cupboard, near the bottom, is the gutter I, 45 into which the water from the jute falls. The water is allowed to rise in this gutter to a sufficient height to prevent insects from passing into the cupboard, at which point is placed the overflow waste-pipe 0. Above the door 50 is the projection J, which carries the cloth coverings a little beyond the outer surface of the door. Near the top of the door is the slanting projection K, forming an angle with the door, as shown in Fig. 4, within which the loose ends of the cloth coverings fall when 55 the door is closed, thus immediately restoring the connection between the cloth above and that on the door. At one end of the upper shelf is the ice-box B, Fig. 3, with an upper and lower compartment separated by 60 a horizontal partition, the upper compartment for ice, the lower compartment for icewater. The lower compartment is fitted with the bib-cock L for drawing the ice-water, when desired. In this water-chamber is the 65 overflow-pipe C, placed at a proper height to retain any desirable amount of water in this chamber. This overflow-pipe extends through the shelf to a metallic plate D beneath. This plate is detachable and extends the whole 70 length and width of the shelf. The edges of the plate are turned up, and the plate has a slight fall toward the end opposite the icebox. On the plate is a covering of jute cloth or other suitable material for distributing 75 the water under all parts of the shelf and to prevent it from flowing in a narrow stream along the plate, as it is contemplated that only a small quantity of water will be used.

At the end of the plate opposite the ice-box 80 the plate covering passes through the guard E, a wide flat metallic tube, to a corresponding plate below the next shelf, which has a slight fall in the opposite direction, and so on through the whole series of shelves. - At the 85 lower end of the last plate is the pipe G or G' to conduct the water into the vessel N, or to which a bent or flexible tube may be attached to conduct the water into the gutter I, when desirable. 9°

Experiments have demonstrated that coverings thus arranged and cooled effectually protect the cupboard from the influence of external heat, while the ice and the ice-water that passes below the shelves keep the 95 whole cupboard at a low temperature, thus making an exceedingly convenient and satisfactory refrigerator.