AN IMPROVED VENTILATOR FOR RAILWAY CARS, DWELLING PROVISIONALOTHER PERMANENT AND MOVABLE STRUCTURE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sebens Culver Maine, of Boston, in the Common-
wealth of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED VENTILATOR FOR RAILWAY CARS, DWELLING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sebens Culver Maine
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th November 1872.
I, SEBENS CULVER MAINE, of Boston, in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED VENTILATOR FOR RAILWAY
CARS, DWELLING HOUSES, AND OTHER PERMANENT AND MOVABLE STRUCTURES," to
be as follows :—
My Invention has for its object to provide for apartments of every
kind a means for ventilation that shall be simple and economical in its
construction and at the same time efficient in its operation. The said
Invention consists in the first place in so constructing the ventilator in

page_text: the manner herein-after described, that currents of fresh air introduced
into the apartment to be ventilated will be deflected from a direct course
and thrown upward or downward at pleasure, and it further consists in
providing the ventilator thus constructed with a damper to regulate the
supply of air, and with an adjustable frame which may be fitted to any
window in which it may be desired to use the ventilator.
The method I adopt for deflecting the air from a direct path as it
enters the car or other apartment is to surround the inner orifice of the
pipe or channel through which the air enters with a casing opening
upwards, whereby the air is thrown upward and made to diffuse itself
over the ceiling of the apartment, whence it gradually settles down of
its own gravity. The great advantage of this construction is that the
occupant of the apartment is entirely free from the injurious effects
arising from the direct draughts and currents that characterize other
systems of ventilation which have direct connection between the
apartment and the external air.
Instead of the casing opening upwards it might if desired be made to
open downward, or it might be provided with a lid or slide both at the
top and bottom, either one of which might be opened at pleasure, the
other at such times being closed.
Instead of an oblong casing in the interior of the ventilator framed a
bent cylindrical pipe might be used, the inner mouth of which, by reason
of the form of the pipe might be turned at pleasure in any direction.
Various methods may be adopted for regulating the amount of air
admitted through the ventilators. One method is to insert in any portion
of the ventilator capable of receiving it an ordinary stove pipe damper,
which may be turned to open a passage way of any desired area. Another
mode would be to provide the inner opening of the deflector with a lid
or cover which may be made capable of adjustment at any desired angle.
Or a perforated sliding damper may be used which by longitudinal move-
ment shall be made to uncover to any desired extent air passages formed
in the casing constituting the deflector.
In constructing a portable ventilator that shall be serviceable in
windows of different widths I make the frame in sections of the proper
width to be placed under the raised sash, and I make these sections
adjustable upon each other by means of hinges, or slides, or in any like
manner to admit of their being extended, folded, or, contracted to

page_text: accurately fill the space between the two sides of the window frame. A
convenient way of effecting this adjustability is by the use of screw
bolts properly secured to one section and passing through a slot in the
overlapping ends of the section next adjoining. The nut upon the end
of the bolt serves to clamp the two in any desired relative position.
In adapting my deflecting ventilator for use in railway carriages I
connect it upon the outside with a valve so constructed that in whichever
direction the carriage may be moving its forward motion will tend to
carry a current of air into the carriage, and I also place within the inner
casing or deflector fine wire gauze which serves the double purpose of
excluding the dust and cinders and freeing the air of the malarial germs
with which in many localities, especially at night, it is filled.
The essential features of my Invention are the deflector for changing
the direction of the currents of air as they enter the apartment to be
› ventilated; the adjustable frame whereby the ventilator is made portable,
i. e., adapted for use in windows of different widths; the damper for
regulating the flow of air through the ventilator; the external valve for
directing the outer air into the ventilator; and the screen for freeing it
from dust, cinders, and other impurities.
› SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Sebens Culver Maine in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th May 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SEBEUS
CULVER MAINE, of the City of Boston, in the Commonwealth of Massa-
3 chusetts, one of the United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Sebeus Culver Maine, Her special licence that I,
the said Sebeus Culver Maine, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Sebeus Culver Maine, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,

page_text: should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED VENTILATOR FOR RAILWAY
CARS, DWELLING HOUSES, AND OTHER PERMANENT AND MOVABLE STRUCTURES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Sebeus Culver Maine,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Sebeus Culver Maine, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained 'in and
by the following statement:-
My Invention has for its object to provide for apartments of every
kind a means of ventilation that shall be simple, economical in its con-
struction, and at the same time efficient in its operation.
The first feature of my Invention consists in constructing a ventilator,
in the manner herein-after described, whereby the full volume of
fresh air introduced into the apartment to be ventilated will be deflected
from a direct path on entering the same, and be thrown in a vertical or
any desiderd direction.
The second feature thereof relates to a damper inserted in the venti-
lator to regulate the volume of air thus admitted.
The third feature relates to an adjustable frame which may be fitted
to any window in which it may be desired to use the ventilator.
The fourth feature relates to a valve connected with the ventilator
in such manner that in whichever direction the structure in which
the ventilator is located, or the external air be moving, the air will be
conducted through the ventilator if it come in contact with the same.
The fifth feature consists of a screen inserted in the ventilator, or
otherwise attached to it, in such manner as to free the air from dust
and other impurities as it enters the apartment to be ventilated.
The method which I adapt for deflecting the air from a direct course
as it enters the car or other apartment is to surround the inner orifice of

page_text: the pipe or channel through which the air enters with a casing, usually
opening upwards, by which it is caused that the air is thrown upwards
and made to diffuse itself over the ceiling of the apartment, whence it
gradually settles down by its own gravity. The great advantage of
this construction is that the occupants of the apartment are entirely
free from the injurious effects arising from the draughts and currents
that characterise the other systems of ventilation in which a screen or
shield is placed directly in front of the opening which communicates
with the external air, or those in which the air is intended to be
thrown in an inclined upward direction, and cause a draught upon the
occupant by deflection from the ceiling.
Instead of the casing opening upwards it might, if desired, be made to
open downwards, or it might be provided with a lid or slide both at the
top and bottom, either one of which might be opened at pleasure, the
other at such times being closed.
Instead of an oblong casing in the interior of the ventilator frame a
bent cylindrical pipe might be used, the inner mouth of which, by
reason of this form of the pipe might be turned at pleasure in any
direction.
Various methods may be adopted for regulating the amount of air
admitted through the ventilator. One way which I propose is to insert
in any portion of the ventilator capable of receiving it an ordinary
stove pipe damper, which may be turned so as to open a passage way of
any desired area. Another mode would be to provide the inner opening
of the deflector with a lid or cover which may be made capable of adjust-
ment at any desired angle; or a perforated sliding damper may be used,
which, by means of longitudinal movement, shall be made to uncover
to any desired extent air passages formed in the casing which constitutes.
the deflector.
In constructing a portable ventilator that shall be serviceable in
windows of different widths I construct the frame in sections, usually
about two feet long, eight inches wide, and one-half an inch thick, or of
the proper size to be placed under the raised sash, and I make these.
sections adjustable upon each other by means of hinges, slides, or in any
like manner, so as to admit of their being folded, extended, or con- .
tracted so as accurately to fill the space between the two sides of the
window frame. A convenient way of effecting this adjustability is by

page_text: the use of a screw bolt properly secured to one section, and passing
through a slot in the overlapping ends of the section next adjoining, the
nut upon the end of the bolt serving to clamp the two in any desired
relative position.
In adapting my deflecting ventilator to use upon railway cars or other
movable structures I connect it on the outside with a valve so con-
structed that in whichever direction the car or the external air may be
moving, the motion will tend to carry a current of air into the car; and
I also place within the inner casing or deflector, or in other parts of the
ventilator as may be most convenient, a fine wire gauze which serves
the double purpose of excluding the dust and cinders, and freeing the
air of the malarial germs with which in any localities, especially at
night, it is filled.
The details of construction of my Invention are more fully described
in the Drawing hereto annexed, in which Figures 1 and 2 show in
perspective two forms of my ventilator more especially adapted for use
upon railway cars and other movable structures; Figures 3 and 4
respectively being vertical transverse sections of the same, except as to
the location of the lid K. J is the inside casing by means of which the
currents of air entering through the pipe or outer casing F are deflected
from a direct course. K is the lid of this casing, which by its adjust-
ment at different angles may be made to regulate the supply of air
permitted to pass through the deflector; or this lid may be used solely
for modifying the direction of the deflected currents as shown in
Figure 4, and explained in the mode of operation set forth below.
The supply of air may also be regulated by an ordinary stove pipe
damper as shown at I. D, D, are flanges on the ends of the double
ellow C to increase the volume of air entering the ventilator; L
represents a wire gauze for the exclusion of dust, cinders, &c.; H is a
valve, which, in Figures 1 and 3, swings upon axis P ; and H' is a valve,
which, in Figures 2 and 4, moves upon the rod E. The movement of
the valve in both forms being controlled by the direction in which
the car or external air is moving. By limiting the movement of these
valves, they may be made to operate as dampers in regulating the
amount of air to be introduced. Their principal function, however, is to
turn the current of air inward through the opening in the ventilator
frame. d, d, are flanges in the outer casing F for arresting the motion

page_text: of the valve H, and in conjunction with it closing up the passage in
either side of the casing.
The sections of the adjustable ventilator frame are represented in
Figures 1 and 2 by a, b, b, the above-mentioned screw bolts and slots
being represented by B, B, and c, c, respectively.
Figure 5 is a view of my improved ventilator as 'designed especially
for use in the windows of dwelling houses, A representing the frame,'
J the deflector, properly secured by the screws shown or otherwise,
and S a sliding damper intended to be moved longitudinally over the
perforated diaphragm R placed within the deflector, and thereby
regulate the volume of air introduced.
Operation. The ventilator frame is adjusted to suit the width of the
window in which it is located, the window sash resting upon its upper
side, or it may be set in a permanent wall, when the board A will not be
needed. The pressure of the air against the valve, shown in dotted
lines, Figure 1, will swing it on its axis P against the flange d, thus
closing that side of the casing and causing the air to rush through the
tube or opening in the frame. In like manner the valve H will slide
upon the rod E past the tube F until its motion is arrested by one of the
braces G, whereupon the air will rush into the tube to the same extent ·
as if the ellow were single, with its openings turned toward the current.
In its passage through the ventilator the air is cleansed by the screen L
from impurities, and thence coming in contact with the side of the
casing J it passes upward, or if desired, downward through the same and
into the car. By changing the angle of the lid K as above stated, the
current may be again deflected and caused to enter the apartment
horizontally or nearly so, or at any desired angle, so that if the occupant
wishes to receive the full force of the current it is only necessary to
nearly close the lid K, while by opening the same to its utmost extent
the current enters the apartment vertically, when no draft will be felt
by the occupant, although the air is obviously kept in a pure condition.
Where designed to operate as above described the lid opens outwards,
that is, toward the side of the apartment in which the ventilator is
placed, as shown in Figure 4. The casing may however be provided with
an opening near the top in the side toward the occupant, which opening
is covered by a perforated disc or with gauze as shown in Figure 2.
When using this construction the lid may close entirely if a horizontal

page_text: current is desired; this disc may have a hinged or sliding cover of any
suitable material or form to close the same. When used with this
lateral opening the lid may open from the wall as shown in Figure 2.
The gauze screen or screens prevent the action of malaria from night
air in malarial districts. It has been demonstrated by scientific 5
authority that a network of gauze will accomplish this result. This
principle is embodied in my Invention.
Having thus fully described and set forth my Invention I claim and
desire to secure by Letters Patent,—
First. A ventilator of the character herein-before described, whereby 1
the currents of air are deflected from a direct course on entering the
apartment to be ventilated, and are thrown upwards in a vertical
direction substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination in a ventilator of an extensible frame
an air pipe or pipes and a damper or dampers for regulating the supply 1
of air, substantially as described.
Third. The valve H and the double armed ellow C in combination
with a ventilator, substantially as and for the purpose herein-before
described.
Fourth. The valve H, the axis P, and the outer casing F, as shown in 2
Figures 1 and 3, in combination with a ventilator for the purpose
herein-before set forth.
Fifth. The valve H, the rod E, and the double armed elbow C, and
the braces G or their equivalent, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
Sixth. The screen L or its equivalent in a ventilator, substantially as
and for the purpose herein-before described,
Seventh. The inner case J provided with an adjustable lid K hinged at
its top or bottom substantially as described and for the purpose herein-
before set forth.
Eighth. The combination of the case J, the screen L and the outer
casing in tube F, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination in a ventilator of the valve H, the damper I,
the tube or casing F and the inner casing J, substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth.
2
3
3

page_text: Tenth. The flanges & in combination with the valve H and axis P in a
ventilator for the purpose set forth.
Eleventh. In a ventilator the combination of the rod E, braces G,
valve H, and tube F, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Twelfth. In the inner side of the inner casing of a ventilator, an
opening covered with a perforated disc or gauze, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Thirteenth. The flanges D on the ends of the double armed ellow C
of a ventilator, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourteenth. In a ventilator, an interior casing formed of a bent
cylindrical pipe made to turn upward or downward at pleasure, substan-
tially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sebeus Culver Maine, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witnesses,
PHILIP M. SHUEY,
GEORGE E. PERSONS.
SEBEUS CULVER MAINE. (L.S.)