NEW ICE MACHINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 5

NEW ICE MACHINE.

_—_«, .—. We yesterday inspected at the Victoria Hotel an ico machine just imported from Germany by Mr. R. F. Luke. The machine is intended to be driven by water or steampower, but can also be easily worked by hand with splendid results. The principle of this ice machine is physically based npon the withdrawal of heat through evaporation from water contained in an airtight space. For the formation of ice it is neoessary to have a vacuum of at least 30 inches of mercury. Water admitted into such a vacuum—represented in this machine by glass cylinder—begins to bubble as if boiling as soon as the machine is set to work; the air is extracted from the water in the cylinder, and the vapours in passing over a body of sulphuric acid contained in an absorber at the foot of the machine, are absorbed by the acid; thus, so muoh heat is withdrawn from the water in the cylinder, that it at once begins to cool and ultimately freezes. When we saw the machine at work yesterday a complete vacuum was obtained in the cylinder in a space of 30 seconds ; water was then slowly admitted through a rubber tube, and in 1 minute and 40 seconds the water began to freeze; in 7 minutes the cylinder was filled with a body of ice weighing about 51b. If about a gallon of water is admitted into the cylinder after a vacuum has been obtained it will at once go down to freezing point, and may then be drawn off from the cylinder by means of a rubber tube connected with the footplate on which the aylinder rests. Thus deliriously cool water may be obtained in about a minute and a half. The machine is very complete in every detail, and Mr. G. W. Heslop, of Albert-street, who has put this machine together, mentions in his written report : " I must say I am, with one or two exceptions of detail, very pleased with the machine; the workmanship is excellent." We consider that the introduction of this ice machine into countries with a tropical olimate will be of immense benefits. They are sure to find their way into every hospital and hotel. The advantages of the Vacuum Ice Maohine are numerous. Firat, it is easily worked even by hand ; second, it is very handsome and ornamental and takes up little room; and, third, there is no waste of material, as the sulphuric acid can be condensed and brought up to 66 degrees Beaume, after having been used in the machine for some time; thus there is no sulphuric acid lost. Another great advantage the vacuum machine possesses is that there is no loss of time in setting it to work. It is so simple, and performs its duties bo quickly and sure, that any novice may work the same after an hour's instruction. The patentees of this new machine are manufacturing them in Berlin. The invention is quite a recent one, as the first machine ever made on this principle waa purchased by the German Government, and sent to the Governor of New Guinea only in July last; the second one was purchased by Mr. R. F. Luke when in Berlin in August last, and the above-mentioned company have entrusted that gentleman with the agency for New Zealand. From an advertisement in another column of our paper, it will be neon that Mr. Luke invites inspection of the Vacuum Ice Machine. We have no doubt that the machine will be very largely adopted in these colonies.