Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1887
Specification Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
I, JAMES GOWLAND, of 20, Ogleforth, York, in the County of York, Decorator, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to chimney tops or cowls,
which may also be used as ventilators, and its object is to provide an escape for the
smoke or other gases as they issue from the chimney top or outlet in all weathers, as
well as removing or neutralizing any obstruction caused by the air currents, thereby
enabling and assisting the smoke or other gases to issue from the chimney top or
outlet. The invention may also be used for ventilating purposes.
According to this Invention, to the chimney shaft or pipe is fixed preferably so as
to revolve, a cylinder (closed at its upper end) which is made to project downwards
beyond the top of the chimney shaft or pipe. Within the cylinder are fixed three
plates and a door for preventing the air currents passing down the chimney shaft.
One of these plates partially covers the top of the shaft whilst the other two plates
and the door are fixed to the first plate to form a passage communicating respectively
with two vertical openings or slits formed in opposite portions (or nearly so) of the
cylinder, whilst a third opening within the cylinder may be provided as circumstances
require by the opening of the door. Through one of these openings the wind or air
currents may enter and pass along the passage to the second opening and out of the
cylinder so as to assist in drawing the smoke or other gases from the chimney shaft.
By keeping one of these openings to the wind (by means of a vane) and allowing the
air current to pass freely through the passage without practically diminishing its
force (which will be stronger than the obstructing current) and out through the
second opening, a space will thereby be provided immediately outside the cylinder
for the smoke to escape from the passage and pass away.
In the drawings hereunto annexed. Fig. 1. is an elevation, and Fig. 2. a sectional
plan on line fig. 1 of a chimney top or ventilator constructed according to this
invention.

page_text: A is the chimney shaft or pipe which is surmounted by a cylinder B of a larger
diameter than that of the shaft A. The upper end of the cylinder is closed with a
cover to prevent the smoke or gases escaping except at C or D. The cylinder may
be mounted in a suitable bearing such as 61 (so as to revolve freely as the air currents
change their course) on the vertical supporting shaft b, or it may be made a fixture to
the shaft A. I prefer however to mount the cylinder so as to be capable of revolving.
In the periphery of the cylinder B are made or formed two vertical openings or
slits C and D extending from near the top of the shaft A to the cover 62. For a
cylinder say about fourteen inches in diameter the opening C may be about four or
five inches in width and about eighteen inches long, whilst D may be the same length
and about eight or nine inches in width, but these dimensions may be varied as
circumstances require. The opening D is provided for the entrance of the wind or
air currents into the passage c of the cylinder, and it should be kept facing the wind
or strongest air currents. C is the opening through which the smoke or gases and
air currents (after passing through passage c) issue or escape from the cylinder. The
openings and D should be placed in nearly opposite portions of the periphery of
the cylinder as shown at Fig. 2, that is they should both be below the centre line
nearly opposite each other. In order to prevent the air currents from sealing the top
of the shaft A, and thus preventing the smoke or other gases from rising and escaping
therefrom, as well as to prevent any down draught, the cylinder B is made to project
downwards beyond the top of the shaft A about four or five inches, and a plate Gis
also fixed horizontally within the cylinder B just above the top of the shaft A. This
plate forms the floor or bottom of the hereinafter described passage c, whilst the
cover forms the top or ceiling of the same. The plate G only covers about one
half of the orifice of the shaft A at a time, and it should be fixed within the cylinder
level with the bottom of the openings C and D.
On the horizontal plate G are fixed two vertical plates E and F, and also the
doorf, these are made to extend from the surface of the plate G to the underside of
the cover and are employed for forming the walls or partitions of the passage c.
The vertical plate E fixed to the plate G is employed for forming one wall or portion
of the passage c for conducting the smoke as it rises from the shaft A to the exit
opening C. The plate E extends from the said opening towards and beyond the
centre of the cylinder in a slightly diagonal or inclined direction, as shown at Fig. 2.
The inner portion of the cylinder forms the other wall of the passage. The plate F
also fixed to the horizontal plate G is for aiding the air currents to pass through the
passage c to the opening C as well as to prevent them from passing down the shaft A
as they enter the cylinder B at D. When the air currents enter the cylinder at D
the door will be closed. But should the air currents enter the cylinder at C, in
order to prevent them passing down or sealing the top of the chimney shaft A thereby
preventing the smoke from escaping the vertical door fis hung or hinged to a rod f
fixed to the plate G. This door f may be slightly larger than the opening which it
is intended to close, and the door is so arranged that as the air currents enter at C
the force or pressure thereof will open the door so that the currents and smoke will
pass out at D, instead of down the shaft A. A suitable stop or stops f³ may be provided
the door from opening too wide so as to close the passage C. Instead of making the
door vertical as just described, in some cases and when preferred it may be made in
one or more portion, each portion being hung, mounted, or pivoted at or about its centre
in such a manner as to work or swing horizontally in a frame so as to form one or more
moveable louvres, which always remain closed except when acted upon by a contrary
current. The extending portion beyond the hinge f¹ is provided to assist in giving
direction to the air currents and smoke.
3
The object of the passage c is not only to prevent the wind or air current from
further passing into the cylinder B and down the shaft A, but it also assists in giving
direction to the said currents, so that in addition to drawing the smoke or gases from
the shaft A, they also provide a space, by holding the obstructing currents in check,
immediately outside the cylinder whereby the smoke or other gases may freely escape
from the conducting passage and pass away.

page_text: His a vane (which when it is desired that the cylinder should revolve) may be
fixed to the cover 62 in such a position as to place one of the openings to the opposing
wind.
When it is desired to fix the cylinder B to the shaft A, it will be readily understood
that the supporting shaft & and bearing & may be dispensed with.
The shaft A, cylinder B and plates E, F, G, and door f may be made of
metal, earthenware, or other suitable materials, or combinations of the same, in one or
more pieces.
In conclusion I would have it understood that I am aware that revolving or
gyrating chimney tops having one or more openings and mounted on an exit sinoke
shaft, as well as fixed tops having a series of internally inclined plates communicating
with one or more openings have been used prior to the date of this application, I
therefore do not claim such combination broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A chimney top or cowl applicable also as a ventilator, in which a cylinder such
as B surmounts a smoke shaft such as A, said cylinder being provided with a passage
such as c communicating at one end with a vertical opening such as C, and at the
other with an opening such as D, and a door such as f, said openings being formed in
nearly opposite portions of the cylinder so as to prevent the air currents from having
any direct communication with the lower portion of the interior of the cylinder and
smoke shaft substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. A chimney top or cowl applicable also as a ventilator, consisting of a chimney
shaft such as A surmounted by a larger cylinder such as B,closed at its upper end
with a cover and mounted in a bearing on a shaft so as to be capable of revolving,
such covered cylinder being provided with an internal passage such as c, vertical
openings such as C and D, and a hinged door or louvres such as, substantially as
and for the purposes above set forth.
3. An improved chimney top, cowl, or ventilator consisting of a smoke shaft such
as A, surmounted by a fixed or revolving covered cylinder such as B, said cylinder
being provided with openings such as C and D, plates such as E, F, G, f, passage
such as c, hinged door or louvres such as fand a vane such as H, all arranged and
combined substantially as and for the purposes above set forth.
Dated this Seventh day of December 1887