IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE VENTILATION, WARMING, AND COOLING OF HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER BUILDINGS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE VENTILATION, WARMING, AND COOLING OF
HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER BUILDINGS." A communication
from abroad by John Stephen Linsley, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, Doctor of Medicine.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE VENTILA-
TION, WARMING, AND COOLING OF HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER
BUILDINGS." A communication from abroad by John Stephen Linsley, of the City
and State of New York, United States of Americ, Doctor of Medicine.
The objects of my Invention are to construct a dwelling house or building of any
description, such as a hospital, school house, church, offices, or the like, so that the
inmates or occupiers thereof shall be constantly and regularly supplied with air as
fresh and pure as it exists without and around such buildings, and to prevent the
breathing of the same air in rooms as now constructed over and over again, and to
obtain this result without any discomfort or detriment to the inmates of the
buildings, and at the same time render the atmosphere thereof constantly fresh,
pure, and of an even or uniform temperature for inhalation, and of such a uniform
degree as is considered most healthy and agreeable for any persons of a healthy state
and condition, and at the same time to prevent any hot or cold currents, by which
all kinds of sicknesses are created. I accomplish these objects by the use of hollow
walls and floors, connected by suitable flues and ventilators to heating and cooling
apparatus arranged in the lower part of the buildings, and also secure the
separate and independent ventilation and heating of each and every apartment of
such buildings.
The ultimate objects of my Invention are to prevent disease and sickness, to pro-

page_text: mote health, and the final physical development of body and mind, and thus to
greatly increase the length and enjoyment of human life. I also, by means of the
said hollow warm floors and ceilings, impart to the feet a comfortable heat, and as
it is well known that warm feet are essential to good health, I thereby promote the
same in an easy and convenient manner.
These results are procured in the following manner and by the means herein
described, which are as follows, namely:-
First. An air chamber or distributing reservoir is to be constructed between the
first or lower floor and the cellar or basement of a building, the walls of said building
constituting the outer walls of the air chamber. The air chamber is to be made of
sufficient height to admit any one for repairs or adjustment of the apparatus, the
floor and ceiling of such air chamber to be made air-tight, except as herein-after
more fully described. The air chamber may be of uniform height throughout, or it
may be constructed with a spacious apartment in the centre, and the remainder
more shallow in depth, in any suitable and convenient manner. The floor of the
reservoir may be suspended over the cellar by hooks, and constructed of perforated
concrete blocks to secure lightness. The object of the reservoir or air chamber is to
receive and temper or graduate, either by cooling or warming therein, the air for all
the interior portion of the building erected above the same, and to supply such air in
as pure and fresh condition as it exists outside of such building, but of an even and
regular temperature for inhaling by the occupants of the buildings. The air for
such supply is admitted into the reservoir through horizontal flues arranged under
said reservoir, and of such form and dimensions as shall be required to suit the size
of the building, and to keep it constantly and regularly supplied with fresh, warm,
or cool air to suit winter or summer seasons. These Blues are to be constructed to
communicate through openings in the exterior walls to the external atmosphere, and
to extend into the interior space of the reservoir. The exterior openings are to be
protected against dust and foreign particles by wire cloth or perforated metal doors
or screens, and the ingress of air controlled and regulated by registers, dampers, or
valves. The temperature of the air in the reservoir whenever the coldness of the
weather requires it may be increased to the degree desired, say from 48 degrees to
60 degrees Fahrenheit, by passing it either over steam pipes, hot water pipes, or any
other heat radiating apparatus, the coils or pipes thereof to be placed over the aper-
tures of the large flues or air boxes in any other suitable manner. In hot weather
the air in the receiver or reservoir can be cooled or tempered to any desired degree
by a refrigerating or cooling apparatus with ice or other cooling medium, or by an
ice machine. The air is conducted from the reservoir or air chamber to the upper
interior portions of the building through suitable apertures in certain of the flues,
which comprise the tubular or hollow walls of the building, and may be regulated
in its flow by suitable dampers or registers.
Secondly. The said Invention comprises tubular walls composed of any suitable
material so shaped and adjusted as to form a firm wall, and containing a series of
vertical parallel ventiducts in close succession and proximity to each other, and
making at the same time stronger walls with less material. The dimensions of the
ventiducts will depend on and be governed by the size and height of the building,
and they are to extend from the floor of the reservoir to the top of the said building.
The greater part of these flues have apertures to conduct air from the reservoir
through such flues to every apartment in the building, and the air so conducted,
either warm or cold, enters each apartment through apertures near the ceiling or
upper part of the wall of such apartment. Each ventiduct which conveys fresh air
to any apartment is closed immediately above the aperture for admitting air, and
may be used as a fonl air duct in the apartment above. The foul air passes into
such ventiduct through an aperture near the floor in the apartment, and is con-
ducted to the foul air chamber at the top of the building, and thence to the
ventilating chimney, and finally to the exterior of the building. The size of the
apertures corresponds with the size of the ventiduct, and both the fresh and foul air
ventiducts are provided with registers or dampers to control and regulate the flow

page_text: of air through the different apartments. The outside walls of the building are to be
constructed of any substantial material, and of any desired style of architecture.
The tubular walls or lining of the building may be made of brick, concrete, hollow
brick, hollow blocks of artificial stone, tubular concrete blocks, pipes of concrete,
terra cotta or clay, metal pipes or hollow columns, or any other suitable building
material, but always in such manner as to form when erected hollow spaces of any
desired size and of any preferred shape, such as square, rectangular, hexagonal,
round, oval, or elliptic. I prefer the latter shape, so as to constitute a firm wall,
with a series of vertical tubes of uniform diameter and dimensions throughout their
whole length, and may be made with a smooth, polished, or glazed interior surface
to accelerate the flow of air through the tubes.
Thirdly. It comprises a foul air chamber constructed over and above the tubular
walls, or at the apex of the roof in a Gothic structure, having a high roof, and
carrying up the tubular walls so as to form a part of the roof with the same. The
foul air chamber is to be constructed of hollow blocks or bricks in order to make a
large flue that will not be affected in cold weather by too rapid loss of heat, and
thereby hinder ventilation, but will retain the temperature of the atmosphere in the
flues, and thereby facilitate ventilation.
Fourthly. It comprises an improved chimney and fire-place constructed of the
material used in the tubular walls, so as to form when completed a series of vertical
flues for the chimneys extending from the foundation to the roof. The fire-place is
of semi-elliptic form, with a dome-shaped roof, and provided with a shaking and
dumping grate, a flat tender, a blower with upper and lower dampers, and suitable
sinoke flue and ash flue. The combination of these elements in the fire-place is to
prevent the escape of ashes into the apartments, and the contamination of the atino-
sphere by fine dust.
Fifthly. It comprises an improved ventilating chinney top, constructed so that
all the heat of each and all of the chimneys of a stack may be applied to the portion
of the foul air chamber which passes through such chimney top, and thereby increase
the ventilating force through the accelerated motion communicated to the column of
air in the foul air chamber.
Sixthly. It comprises an improved method of warming, by which a part of the
heating force of a steam engine or water boiler is applied to the floors of a building,
while another portion of the heat of the same engine or boiler is applied for the
purpose of tempering and warming the air of the reservoir before passing it through
the rooms for ventilating and warming the air in the rooms or apartments. The
floors consist of concrete blocks, hollow brick, or other suitable material laid in flat
arches upon triangular or double I beams of wrought or cast iron, so as to form a
firm support for the steam or water pipes, or other heat radiators, to be so arranged
as to apply the heat desired therefrom to the pavement built over and above such
floor. The pavement is to be made of concrete or clay slabs, till, soapstone, marble,
or other suitable material, arranged to form a smooth surface that shall radiate tho
heat slowly. The inclosed air space is to be of sufficient height for adjusting the
steam pipes at the proper angle to allow the condensed water to run off, say, one
inch for ten or twelve feet of pipe, or as may be required. The pavement may bo
supported by perforated concrete blocks. It is desirable to use in this connection
the most approved steam heating apparatus now in use.
"
Seventhly. It comprises a refrigerator, which may be an ice box or an apparatus
for the manufacture of ice combined with one of the large fresh air flues under the
reservoir, or it may be placed in the large central portion of the reservoir. The ice
box is to have a zinc top constructed so as to slide and expose a glass covering for
the more rapid cooling, when desired, of the air in the reservoir.
Eighthly. It comprises an apparatus for utilizing the ventilating force of lamps or.
gas fixtures, which are provided with a concave ring-shaped shade or globe con-
nected to a flue, into the centre of which the lamp chimney extends, and by
leaving the space around the same a draught is created by which a circulation of
air is caused.

page_text: chimneys, and ventilating tops.
Figure 2 is a detached view of the chimney.
Figure 3 shows different styles of beams.
Figure 4 is a view of a flat arch or portion of the floor of a building with a side
wall attached.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of my improved fire-place.
Figure 6 is a side sectional view of one flue.
Figure 7 illustrates a stack of four chimneys, each fire-place having its independent
chimney.
Figure 8 is a front view of my improved blower.
Figure 9 is an elevation, partly in perspective, illustrating the application of my
improvements to a five-storey building.
Figure 10 is a side view of my improved gas fixture.
Figure 11 is a side sectional view of the same.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the floor as constructed according
to this Invention.
Figure 13 is a side view of one of the beams or rafters used in the floor repre-
sented in Figure 12.
In Figure 9 A represents the air chamber, to which the outside atmosphere is
admitted in any suitable or convenient manner; B is the shaft for distributing the
steam or hot air, and extends from the cellar to the roof; H, I, J, K, L, are the
different stories, the stories H, I, being also represented in Figure 4; C is the cellar,
in which is located the steam warming apparatus enclosed by the brickwork I, and
also the refrigerator C¹.
In Figures 1 and 2 R¹ represents the roof; P¹ is the foul air chamber, also shown
in Figure 9, which is constructed over the walls a, b, and into which all the venti-
ducts of the building open; this foul air chamber communicates directly with the
large ventilating chimneys S¹, S¹, which are built over the stack of smoke flues, and
capped by the ventilating tops T¹, T¹.
The numerals from I. to XI. in Figures 1 and 9 represent the chimney flues, which
extend from the cellar to the roof; these chimney flues are so constructed that
the portion above the fire-place in each and every one is the smoke flue w, and the
portion below the fire-place is the ash flue y, as clearly shown in Figures 6 and 7.
The smoke flue and ash flue are separated by means of a damper c¹; a is the
outer wall, and b the inner wall; n, m, n, are the piers of masonry which are located
in the outer wall, and designed for the support of the iron girders or floor beams;
a¹, a¹, are the ventiducts, and 61, 61, the apertures near the floor for the escape of the
foul air; d,d, are the apertures near the ceiling through which the pure air is admitted
into the apartment; c, c, are closures in the ventiducts a¹ on a line with each floor,
which makes the fresh air ventiduct of one apartment the foul air channel of the
chamber above. These ventiducts therefore connect with the foul air chamber P¹ as
well as the fresh air chamber A.
In Figures 4 and 12 k represents the steam pipes for heating the floor; Q repre-
sents the rows of perforated blocks laid on flat arches; these flat arches are sup-
ported by beams constructed as shown in either Figure 3 or Figure 13. Upon the
flat arches is laid the floor, which consists of slabs or blocks Q of any. suitable
material. The heat from the pipes k, owing to this arrangement, warm the pave-
ment equally.
In Figure 5 D¹ is the elliptical dome-shaped fire-place, so constructed that it may
reflect and radiate heat downward upon the floor, and over a larger portion of the
apartment D² is the flat fender upon which the blower M rests, and is so constructed
that when the fender is drawn backward the blower sweeps the accumulated ashes
into the open ash flue y, which conducts them at once to the ash receptacle in the

page_text: cellar C; this ash flue is provided at its lower end X with a self-acting valve X¹. At
the point of union between the fire-place D¹ and the smoke flue wo is a damper c²,
shown in Figure 6.
M, Figure 8, represents my improved blower, which may be constructed of any
suitable metal. I prefer cast iron or sheet metal lined with zinc. This blower is
provided with a handle m¹ and dampers m³, m², in the top and bottom of the same.
In Figure 7 D¹, E, F, G, represent the fire-place shown in perspective at D',
Figure 5.
n is the
In Figures 10 and 11 N represents my improved lamp or gas fixture.
gas pipe, and n the stop-cock; P is the concaved shade or globe; R is the smoke
chimney; and p the wire screen to catch the smoke.
o, Figure 9, is the ice box, constructed as herein-before described; and r, r, the
doors to the apartment for containing provisions and the like.
Instead of steam pipes, hot water or hot air pipes inay be substituted without in
any manner altering the principles of this Invention.
Having thus fully described my said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. The construction of the walls of a dwelling house or building with a series
of vertical parallel ventiducts surrounding the apartments thereof, and opening into
and connecting the same with the distributing fresh air reservoir, located between
the cellar and first floor of the building, also opening into and connecting the apart-
ments thereof with the exterior air above the building, as above described and for
the purposes set forth.
Second. A foul air chamber constructed over and upon the tubular and outer
walls of a dwelling house or building, and designed to convey the foul air received
through the ventiducts to the large ventilating chimney erected over the stacks of
smoke flues, as above described and for the purposes herein-before set forth.
Third. The combination of the reservoir with the improved chimney and fire-place
in the construction of a dwelling house or building, as above described and for the
purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination, as herein-before described, of the reservoir, the tubular
walls, the chimney, and fire-place with the foul air chamber and ventilating chimney
top in the construction of buildings, for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. The combination of the reservoir, the tubular walls, the chimney and fire-
place, the foul air chamber, and ventilating chimney top with a refrigerator in the
construction of buildings, for the purposes set forth.
Sixth. The obtaining of an equal and independent ventilation of each and every
apartment of a dwelling house or building by means of separate fresh air flues com-
municating from a fresh air distributing reservoir to each and every apartment of
such dwelling house or building, and by means of separate foul air flues communi-
cating from each and every apartment of such dwelling house or building to the
external air, as above described and for the purposes set forth.
Seventh. The construction of an air chamber or reservoir for fresh air between
the cellar and first floor of a dwelling house for building, as above described and for
the purposes set forth.
Eighth. The construction of a refrigerator in the cellar of the dwelling house or
building beneath the fresh air flue of the reservoir in such manner that it can be
used for cooling the air and serve the purposes for which it is ordinarily used, as
above described.
Ninth. The application of hollow brick or concrete tubular blocks to the con-
struction of tubular walls for the purposes of ventilating, warming, and cooling
houses or buildings, as above described.
Tenth. The construction of a floor with a raised pavement to form an open space
for the arrangement of heating pipes, as above described.
Eleventh. In combination with a floor of a building consisting of concrete blocks
supported on beams, perforated blocks, and pavement, constructed of material that

page_text: will radiate heat slowly, such as plain or ornamental tile, soapstone, marble, or the
like, a series of steam pipes, as above described and for the purpose specified.
Twelfth. An elliptical dome-shaped open fire-place provided with a smoke flue
and ash flue, as above described.
Thirteenth. The means for removing ashes from fire-places, comprising vertical
flues constructed in the walls of a building in such manner as to allow a separate
ash flue for each fire-place in each and every story of a building, and connecting
each and every fire-place with the cellar of such building, as above described.
Fourteenth. The combination of the ash flue with an elliptical dome-shaped open
fire-place in the construction of buildings, as above described.
Fifteenth. The combination of the ash flue and elliptical dome-shaped open fire-
place with a shaking and dumping grate, as above described.
Sixteenth. The combination of the ash flue, elliptical dome-shaped open fire-place,
and shaking grate with the, flat fender and blower, as above described.
Seventeenth. The combination of the ash flue, elliptical dome-shaped open fire-
place, shaking grate, flat fender, and blower with the automatic valve attached to
the ash flue in the construction of buildings, as above described.
Eighteenth. The blower, having dampers and a handle, constructed as above
described.
Nineteenth. The lamp or gas fixture, consisting of the gas pipe, stop-cock, shade
or globe, smoke chimney, and wire screen, constructed as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of Dcember, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six,
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)