Improvements in or relating to Air Inlets or Ventilators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Air Inlets or Ventilators.
I, ERNST AUGUST WIMAN, of Lastmakaregatan 9, Stockholm, in the Kingdom
of Sweden, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to devices adapted to be mounted on air-inlets or
ventilators in order to collect and deflect the air downwards into the inlet. The
well-known rotatable, trumpet-mouthed cap or hood used on vessels for collecting
air and deflecting the current down into the hold or engine-room of the vessel,
is a familiar example. These latter caps are adapted for adjustment by hand to
face the wind, and hence they are a source of considerable trouble and incon-
venience. The desirability of a cap which would be self-adjusting, so that it
would always present its open mouth to the wind, however light, has no doubt
been appreciated, but, so far as is known, the object has not been attained,
probably owing to the difficulty in carrying out the idea in a ventilator of
sufficient sensitiveness to be acted upon by light winds and under the varying
conditions due to the rolling of the vessel, and at the same time of sufficiently
strong and durable construction.
The present invention has for its object to provide, a ventilating cap, more
especially intended for steamships, but also well suited for other adaptations,
which is non-rotative, but which always presents its receiving face to the wind,
however light or gentle the current may be.
In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated an embodiment of the
invention in two slightly different forms, in these
Figure 1 is a vertical, axial section of one form of the ventilating cap; and
Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on line 1, Figure 1.
Figures 2 and 4 are views corresponding, respectively, to Figures 1 and 3,
illustrating another form of the cap.
In both of the forms of the device illustrated, there is an upright tube or
shaft, preferably cylindrical, closed at the top and open or apertured at the sides
all round its upper portion. This shaft is provided with deflecting plates A,
to collect the air and deflect it into the shaft, and inside the shaft there is
suspended a flexible deflector, B, to prevent the incoming air, or the major portion
thereof, from traversing the shaft and escaping at the opposite side thereof. The
unapertured base portion of the shaft may be connected with the cover which
closes its upper end, and will be, preferably, formed by a cylinder, C, of perforated
metal, which will permit the air to pass freely.
The inner, pendent deflector B may be made of any light pliable material,
such as cloth, leather, or the like.
In the form of the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 the louvre-like
deflectors A are horizontally arranged, one above the other and are of ring-like
form. To enable them to collect the air better they are conically formed or
inclined downward toward the cylinder C, to which they are secured, the upper

page_text: and outer margin of one extending up to the inner and lower margin of the one
next above. They may also be curved in outline, or concave on the underside,
as shown.
"
The inner deflector B, in this form of the device, is constructed like a bag.
In the form seen in Figures 2 and 4 the deflectors A extend vertically and
project out radially, and the inner deflector B being shown as formed of separate,
suspended strips of flexible material.
It will be noted that when a wind is blowing against one face or side of the
ventilating cap, it will enter the shaft and force the flexible, freely suspended
deflector over toward, and even against the opposite side of the shaft, whereby
it stops the flow of the air transversely through the pipe and out at the opposite
side and compels it to pass downwards, and as the deflector B is flexible, this will
happen in whatever direction the wind may be blowing. In case there is no wind
blowing the deflector B leaves a free annular passage for the air to flow in, but
in every case the deflector B will prevent any return current from passing out
between the deflectors.
The foraminous surface provided by the cylinder C, of perforated metal or
wire netting, serves as a bearing surface for the flexible material of the inner
deflector B, and prevents the latter from chafing or wearing unduly, and this
lining C also, to some extent, excludes rain and snow.
I am aware that louvre ventilating caps are not broadly new, my invention
residing mainly in the inner deflector B.
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. In an air-inlet or ventilator, the combination with an upright shaft closed
at the top and having apertures for air all round of an inner deflector of flexible
material suspended freely within said shaft substantially as set forth.
2. In an air-inlet or ventilator, the combination with an upright shaft closed at
the top and having air-apertures and outer deflectors about its sides, of an inner
deflector in the nature of a bag or the like of flexible material suspended freely
from the cover of the shaft and having normally an annular air-space around it
in the shaft, substantially as set forth.
3. In an air-inlet or ventilator, the combination with an apertured shaft
lined with perforated material (C), of the inner deflector of flexible material
suspended freely from the cover of said shaft, substantially as set forth.
4. The complete air-inlet or ventilator device substantially as described or
illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 or in Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of June 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.