IMPROVED VENTILATORS AND CHIMNEY Tops
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Melville Williams, of New York City, in the
United States of America, and at present of Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVED VENTILATORS AND CHIMNEY
Tops." A communication from abroad by Gordon H. Wilcox, of Washington,
in the District of Columbia, also in the United States of America.
Sealed the 6th September 1878, and dated the 7th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Melville Williams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1878.
HENRY MELVILLE WILLIAMS, of New York City, in the United States of
"IM-
America, and at present of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
PROVED VENTILATORS AND CHIMNEY TOPS." [A communication from abroad by
Gordon H. Wilcox, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, also in the United
States of America.]
This Invention relates to improved ventilating apparatus, and it consists in a
vertical tube or shaft, provided at its upper end with an enlargement of somewhat
spherical forin, the top opening of which is of the same diameter as the interior of
the tube or shaft, and a cap or cone elevated above the spherical enlargement and
attached to the tube by means of vertical rods. The lower edge of the cap or
cone is of considerably larger diameter than that of the top opening of the spherical
enlargement.
The ventilator or chimney top thus constructed is to be properly arranged in a
building, with the sphere and cone elevated above the roof thereof for a suitable
distance, and whichever way the wind blows a current will be created upward
through the shaft and out between the cone and sphere.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Melville Williams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th
December 1878.
HENRY MELVILLE WILLIAMS, of New York City, in the United States of
America, and at present of Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
" IM-
PROVED VENTILATORS AND CHIMNEY TOPS." A communication, from abroad by
Gordon H. Wilcox, of Washington, in the District of Columbia, also in the United
States of America.
This Invention relates to improved ventilating apparatus, consisting of tops for
ventilating shafts and chimney flues, the said tops being constructed substantially
in the manner herein-after described, so that by the action of the wind in passing
over or through them an upward current is created in the shafts or flues, and all
injurious down draughts therein are prevented.
In order that the nature of the Invention may be readily understood I have
illustrated it in the annexed Drawings, and will proceed to describe in detail the
manner in which the said improved ventilators and chimney tops are constructed..
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ventilator or chimney top made according to
the Invention. Figure 2 is a plan, and Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections
thereof.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
A is a tube, being in itself or being fixed on a ventilating shaft or chimney flue.
I provide it at its upper end with a hollow enlargement or chamber B, in form
substantially as shewn in the Drawings, and having an opening b at its top of the
same or about the same diameter as the interior of the tube A. C is a cap mounted
on supports D rising above the chamber B, the under side of the cap C being
placed at a certain distance above the opening b, varying according to circum-
stances; but the distance for producing the best effect can be easily ascertained by
experiment in each case, the relative proportions and shapes shewn in the Drawings
will be found to give good results. The cap C is in the form of a segment of a
sphere, its upper surface being rounded and its under side c flat, or nearly so. The
diameter of the cap C is greater than that of the opening 6 but less than that of
the enlargement B.
The tube A, chamber B, and cap C, may be constructed of sheet iron, zinc,
pottery, or other suitable material.
The curved or rounded surfaces of the cap O and enlargement B deflect the wind
whether it blow horizontally, or otherwise, or downwards upon the top of the cap,
with the effect that a current is created upwards through the shaft or flue and
outwards between B and C, as indicated by the arrows in Figures 3 and 4
respectively.
When the proportions and shapes of the several parts, that is to say, the tube,
the cap, and the chamber, are made as described and shewn in the Drawings, or
thereabouts, they will be found to answer the purpose; though, as is obvious, some
of the parts may be modified, and the other parts within reasonable limits may be
correspondingly modified, as will be readily ascertained in practice.
The cap C may be supported, when its distance is properly ascertained, on fixed
supports; or the supports D may with advantage be provided with screw threads
and nuts so as to permit of the height of the cap C above the chamber B being
varied according to circumstances, as may be found necessary.
I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact form or
proportions of the parts as shewn in the Drawings. Thus the sphere, of which the
cap C is a segment, inay be of relatively longer or smaller diameter, that is to say,
the upper side of the cap may have more or less rotundity, or it may be conical.
Similarly, the curves of the upper and lower halves of the chamber B may be
modified without departing from the principle of the Invention or seriously
affecting the efficiency of the apparatus.

page_text: Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of applying the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the before
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The improved form of ventilators or chimney tops constructed with tubular
part, enlargement, and cap, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
Drawings annexed.
2ndly. The combination of parts forming the improved ventilating apparatus, con-
sisting of a tube with a hollow spheroidal enlargement, surmounted by a cap
having a curved or conical upper surface, and a flat, or nearly flat under surface;
the diameter of the said cap being less than that of the hollow spheroidal enlarge-
ment but greater than that of its upper orifice, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Melville Williams, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TTTTTI
H. M. WILLIAMS. (1.5.)