IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WARMING VENTILATING AND DISINFECTING HOSPITALS AND OTHER BUILDINGS to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I THOMAS HASTINGS DALE of No 9 Lincoln's Inn Corporation Street Birmingham
in the County of Warwick Sanitary Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WARMING VENTILATING
AND DISINFECTING HOSPITALS AND OTHER BUILDINGS to be as follows:-
"
This Invention relates to a combined Apparatus for Ventilating and warming
the air of Hospital Wards and other analagous rooms or chambers, which apparatus
in the course of its operation for the above purposes ensures the prompt removal of
the vitiated air and the simultaneous destruction of the infectious and contagious
germs, in the saine, and furnishes a supply of hot air, for working drying and
disinfecting chambers, or for other similar purposes and its object is to enable these
operations to be performed in a more efficient and economical manner than by
means hitherto in use.
I will first describe the construction of a single ward of a Hospital as carried out
in accordance with the said Invention, and then its application to any number of
Wards, will be readily understood. For a Ward arranged as usual with beds along
cach side and of about 26 feet in width, the arrangements for drawing off the
vitiated air, consist of two air pipes or trunks, preferably triangular in section
fixed in the roof immediately above the ceiling and running the whole length of
Ward, each pipe or trunk being situated transversely about midway between the
centre and side of the Ward. These air pipes or trunks communicate with the
Ward by a series of rectangular branches, preferably one to each bed, desconding
from the flat side of the base of the said triangular air pipes or trunks, sufficiently
far for the openings to be flush with the inside face of ceiling. Inside these
branches are hung a corresponding number of flat or other shaped plates with edges
turned or formed to correspond with the angle of the sides of the air pipes or
trunks, so that when drawn up theso plates stop up or close the said openings and
when lowered to their normal position a narrow opening of suitable width is left
along each side for the passage of the air from the room, and thus are provided for.
this purpose four longitudinal openings running nearly the whole length of the
Ward, as the said branches and plates are only separated endways by short spaces.
The plates governing the openings are made easily removable so that the air'
Trunks can be thoroughly cleansed throughout at any time.

page_text: For the admission of air (otherwise than by the casual ventilation by the doors
and windows) which in accordance with my invention takes place at the floor.
level, I construct a central air chamber or passage running below the floor nearly
its whole length, in which are fixed the warming pipes to be afterwards described.
From this air chamber or passage, and preferably underneath the floor spaces
allotted for the beds, branch inlet air pipes are laid transversely and communicate
with the outer air by suitable inlet openings and gratings. Intermediate with theso
cold air inlet pipes, branch pipes or airways are constructed at intervals from the
central air chamber or passage, running under the floor about half way across on
cach side, and communicate with the interior of ward by branches and openings
covered with gratings or perforated plates and regulated or controlled by sliding
plates or other regulators. Thus when the outer air enters through the inlet pipes
into the said air chamber or passage, it is warmed to a proper temperature by
contact with the hot air pipes therein situated, and passes on through the air ways
and enters the ward by the openings last described, which are by preference
situated in the floor space between each bed. In this way the air passes from the
floor to the ceiling in an almost Vertical direction, as the floor and ceiling openings
govern almost uniformly the whole area of the ward, so that 4000, 5000, or 6000,
or any required number of cubic feet of air per hour per bed, can be passed through
the Ward with a Velocity not exceeding one to one and a half feet per second and
therefore without perceptible draught, or the wafting about of vitiated vapours
from one part of the Ward to another.
In the next place I will describe the nature of the said Invention, so far as it
applies to the Extraction of the vitiated air from the Ward, and the purification of
the same.
In or near the end of the Ward (next the central portions of the
Hospital Buildings) I fix an air Extractor and Germ destroyer, to be afterwards
called the Extractor. This consists by preference of a Vertical metal cylinder or
other shaped casing with inlet chamber at bottom and outlet chamber at top, and
between the chambers a series of pipes or tubes are fixed occupying about half the
whole horizontal area of the casing. The whole is surrounded by a fire brick outer
casing, to prevent radiation of heat. Underneath the bottom or inlet chamber is
fixed a solid flame gas burner or a series of Bunsen's burners, or any other known
form of gas heating device, the hot air from which passes through the internal
pipes or tubes, and beats the air passing through the metal casing (which is divided
into thin layers or streams by the said internal pipes or tubes) to a temperature
of 400° or 500° Fahrenheit, or to such other temperature as may be found sufficient
for the entire destruction of infectious or contagious germs. A waste pipe conveys
from the top chamber to the outside of the buildings, the waste products of
combustion. The construction of the Extractor may be varied by arranging it
horizontally, or by causing the air to be heated to pass through the internal tubes,
and the heated air from the gas heater through the surrounding casing without
altering the nature of its operation. The air pipes or trunks above the ceiling of
the ward are connected by pipes from their inner ends, first by a branch pipe
connecting the two and then by a main air pipe or flue down the wall and along
the floor in any convenient way to the inlet chamber of the Extractor. The air
passes through the Extractor at a velocity proportioned to its height and
temperature, and in this way a current is induced which by the means above
described may be made to carry off the foul air from the interior of the ward in
any desired quantity, and the further effect of its passage through the Extractor is
the simultaneous destruction of all infectious or contagious germs by the heat to
which it is subjected as above described. A Gas regulator is affixed to the burner
or burners by which the temperature of the Extractor is maintained at practically
a uniform point. In accordance with my invention I further use where required a
similar Extractor for the purpose of dealing in the same way with the Sewer Gas
arising from Hospital drains, by collecting and conveying same in pipes to the
Extractor and afterwards either direct to the main air shaft, afterwards described,
or to a separate shaft in any part of the grounds.

page_text: I have now to describe the next part of the said Invention, viz, the utilization of
the body of heated and purified air passing from the Extractor. From the outlet
Chamber of the Extractor I connect and conduct a metal pipe or pipes, either
circular or rectangular in section, to the end of the Ward and along one side the
central air chamber or passage, the greater part of the length of the ward and
return it on the other side forming a double line of pipes, the outlet of this hot air
piping being conducted to a main air shaft situated either within or just outside
the Hospital or other buildings, and of sufficient height to maintain the circulation
at the required speed throughout the whole system above described. For the
purpose of moistening the incoming warm air to the required degree the top of
portions of the said Hot air pipes may be formed into or have affixed thereto
shallow troughs to hold water, the vapour from which thus mixes with and
moistens the air on its passage over the said pipes. Of course many variations of
the arrangement of pipes for warming the Ward may be adopted without in any
way departing from the nature of this Invention. Besides the heating of the Ward
as above described, of the air that requires to be treated for the purposes of
Ventilation, more especially in Hospital Buildings of several Wards, a surplus
quantity will remain, which it is part of my invention to apply to other purposes
such as heating disinfecting chambers, drying closets for Laundries, or heating
water Tanks for Baths or Laundry use. Tho means to be adopted for these
purposes are sufficiently known to Engineers to need no further description, but
the air for these purposes should be utilized first, as the heat thus required is much
greater than that required for heating pipes in Wards. The hot air pipes are fitted
with the necessary valves of the ordinary construction for regulating the currents,
and when the hot air is not required for warming the Wards, or for other uses, it
passes by a separate pipe for this purpose direct to the main air shaft.
From the above description of the nature of my invention as applied to one
ward, its application to any number of Wards built on the pavilion or any other
system, will be readily understood. In Wards two or three storeys high this
Invention can be applied by leaving a space between the ceiling of the lower Ward,
and the floor of the one above, of sufficient height for the introduction of the air
pipes or trunks and of the central warming pipes, the connections with these pipos
to the Extractor and heating pipes, being through the end wall as before explained.
By preference I fit each Ward as above described but the central arrangements for
a number of Wards so far as the Extractors, air shaft, and utilizing the waste air
after passing the Extractor are concerned, may be made common to the whole
block.
In places where it is economical and convenient I prefer to use a small Gas
producing apparatus for the production of the gas necessary for working the
Extractors, and in accordance with said Invention I use the Coal Tar and other
residuals arising from the same, after treatinent by known methods, for disinfecting
purposes generally throughout the Hospital Buildings. In other cases I use the
Gas froin Public mains for the purpose above described, or where this is wanting
the Extractor or Extractors may be worked by coal or coke fires as may be
preferred.
The combined system of ventilating and warming; which forms part of my
invention, is applicable to general purposes, and in cases where the destruction of
infectious and contagious germs forins no part of the object of such apparatus.
A
AAL 1
1 1004

page_text: I THOMAS HASTINGS DALE of N° 9 Lincoln's Inn Corporation Street Birmingham
in the County of Warwick Sanitary Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR WARMING VENTILATING AND
DISINFECTING HOSPITALS AND OTHER BUILDINGS" and in what manner the samo is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This Invention relates to a combined apparatus for Ventilating and warming the
air of Hospital Wards and other analagous rooms or chambers which apparatus in
the course of its operation for the above purposes ensures the prompt removal of
the vitiated air and the simultaneous destruction of the infectious and contagious
germs in the same and furnishes a supply of hot air for working drying and
disinfecting chambers or for other similar purposes, and its object is to enable these
operations to be performed in a more efficient and economical manner than by
means hitherto in use.
I will first describe the construction of a single ward of a Hospital as carried out
in accordance with the said Invention, and then its application to any number of
wards, will be readily understood. For a ward arranged as usual with beds along
each side and of about 26 feet in width the arrangements for drawing off the
vitiated air, consist of two air pipes or trunks, preferably triangular in section fixed
in the roof immediately above the ceiling and running the whole length of ward,
cach pipe or trunk being situated transversely about midway between the centre
and side of the Ward-These air pipes or trunks communicate with the ward by a
series of rectangular branches preferably one to each bed descending from the flat
side of the base of the said triangular air pipes or trunks sufficiently far for the
openings to be flush with the inside face of ceiling. Inside these branches are hung
a corresponding number of flat or other shaped plates with edges turned or formed
to correspond with the angle of the sides of the air pipes or trunks, so that when
drawn up these plates stop up or close the said openings and when lowered to their
normal position a narrow opening of suitable width is left along each side for the
passage of the air from the room, and thus are provided for this purpose four
longitudinal openings running nearly the whole length of the Ward, as the said
branches and plates are only separated endways by short spaces. The plates
governing the openings are made easily removable so that the air trunks can be
thoroughly cleansed throughout at any time.
For the admission of air (otherwise than by the casual ventilation by the doors
and windows) which in accordance with my Invention takes place at the floor level,
I construct a central air chamber or passage running below the floor nearly its
whole length in which are fixed the warming pipes to be afterwards described.
From this air chamber or passage, and preferably underneath the floor spaces
allotted for the beds branch inlet air pipes are laid transversely and commu-

page_text: nicate with the outer air by suitable inlet openings and gratings-Intermediate with
these cold air inlet pipes, branch pipes or air ways are constructed at intervals from
the central air chamber or passage running under the floor about half way across on
each side and communicate with the interior of ward by branches and openings
covered with gratings or perforated plates and regulated or controlled by sliding
plates or other regulators-Thus when the outer air enters through the inlet pipes
into the said air chamber or passage, it is warmed to a proper temperature by
contact with the hot air pipes therein situated and passes on through the air
ways and enters the ward by the openings last described which are by preference
situated in the floor space between each bed-In this way the air passes from the
floor to the ceiling in an almost vertical direction, as the floor and ceiling openings
govern almost uniformly the whole area of the Ward so that 4000, 5000, or 6000,
or any required number of cubic feet of air per hour per bed, can be passed through
the Ward with a velocity not exceeding one to one and a half feet per second and
therefore without perceptible draught or the wafting about of vitiated vapours from
one part of the Ward to another.
In the next place I will describe the nature of the said Invention, so far as it
applies to the extraction of vitiated air from the ward, and the purification of the
same-In or near the end of the ward (next the central portions of the Hospital
buildings) I affix an air extractor and germ destroyer to be afterwards called the
Extractor. This consists by preference of a vertical metal cylinder or other shaped
casing with inlet chamber at bottom and outlet chamber at top and between the
chambers a series of pipes or tubes are fixed occupying about half the whole
horizontal area of the casing. The whole is surrounded by a fire brick outer casing
to prevent radiation of heat. Underneath the bottom or inlet chamber, is fixed a
solid flame gas burner or a series of Bunsen's burners, or any other known formn of
Gas heating device, the bot air from which passes through the internal pipes or
tubes, and heats the air passing through the metal casing (which is divided into
thin layers or streams by the said internal pipes or tubes) to a temperature of 400°
or 500° Fahrenheit or to such other temperature as may be found sufficient for the
entire destruction of infectious or contagious germs. A waste pipe conveys from
the top chamber to the outside of the buildings the waste products of combustion.
The construction of the Extractor may be varied by arranging it horizontally, or
by causing the air to be heated to pass through the internal tubes and the heated
air from the Gas heater through the surrounding casing without altering the nature
of its operation.
The air pipes or trunks above the ceiling of the Ward are connected by pipes
from their inner ends, first by a branch pipe connecting the two and then by a main
air pipe or flue down the wall and along the floor in any convenient way to the
inlet chamber of the Extractor. The air passes through the extractor at a velocity
proportioned to its height and temperature, and in this way a current is induced
which by the means above described may be made to carry off the foul air from the
interior of the Ward in any desired quantity, and tho further effect of its passage
through the Extractor is the simultaneous destruction of all infectious or contagious
germs by the heat to which it is subjected as above described. A Gas regulator is
affixed to the burner or burners by which the temperature of the Extractor is
maintained at practically a uniform point.
In accordance with my Invention I further use where required a similar extractor
for the purpose of dealing in the same way with the sewer gas arising from
Hospital drains by collecting and conveying same in pipes to the extractor and
afterwards either direct to the main air shaft afterwards described or to a separato
shaft in any part of the Grounds.
I have now to describe the next part of the said Invention viz:-the utilization
of the body of heated and purified air passing from the Extractor. From the outlet
Chamber of the Extractor I connect and conduct a metal pipe or pipes either

page_text: circular or rectangular in Section to the end of the Ward and along one side the
central air chamber or passage the greater part of the length of the Ward and
return it on the other side forming a double line of pipes, the outlet of this hot air
piping being conducted to a main air shaft situated either within or just outside
the Hospital or other buildings, and of sufficient height to maintain the circulation
at the required speed throughout the whole system above described. For the
purpose of moistening the incoming warm air to the required degree the top of
portions of the said hot air pipes may be formed into or have affixed thereto shallow
troughs to hold water the vapour from which thus mixes with and moistens the air
on its passage over the said pipes. Of course many variations of the arrangement
of pipes for warming the ward may be adopted without in any way departing from
the nature of this Invention.
In Wards two or more stories high this Invention can be applied by leaving a
space between the ceiling of the lower ward, and the floor of the one above, of
sufficient height for the introduction of the air pipes or trunks and of the central
warming pipes the connections with these pipes to the extractor and heating pipes
being through the end wall as before explained.
Besides the heating of the Ward as above described of the air that requires to be
treated for the purposes of ventilation more especially in Hospital buildings of several
Wards a surplus quantity will remain, which it is part of my Invention to apply to
other purposes such as heating disinfecting chambers, drying closets for laundries or
for heating water tanks for Baths or Laundry use. The means to be adopted for
these purposes are sufficiently known to Engineers to need no further description
but the air for these purposes should be utilised first as the heat thus required is
much greater than that required for heating pipes in Wards. The hot air pipes
are fitted with the necessary valves of the ordinary construction for regulating the
currents and when the hot air is not required for warming the Wards, or for other
uses, it passes by a separate pipe for this purpose direct to the main air shaft.
From the above description of the nature of my Invention as applied to one
Ward, its application to any number of wards built on the pavilion or any other
system will be readily understood. By preference I fit cach ward as above described
but the central arrangements for a number of wards so far as the extractors air
shaft and utilizing the waste air after passing the extractor are concerned may be
made common to the whole Block.
In places where it is economical and convenient I prefer to use a small Gas
producing Apparatus for the production of the Gas necessary for working the
Extractors and in accordance with said Invention I use coal tar and other residuals
arising from the same after treatment, by known methods for disinfecting purposes
generally throughout the Hospital Buildings.
In other cases I use the Gas from Public mains for the purpose above described
or when this is wanting the Extractor or Extractors may be worked by coal or
coke fires as may be preferred.
The combined system of ventilating and warming, which forms part of my
invention is applicable to general purposes, and in cases where the destruction of
infectious and contagious germs forms no part of the objects of such apparatus.
I now proceed to particularly describe and ascertain the said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed reference being had to the accompanying
drawings
Figure 1 Sheet 1. is a ground plan shewing a ward of 12 beds and portion of
another ward (with central hall) of a hospital building to which this Invention is
shewn as applied.
Figure 2 Sheet 1 is cross section of ward, one half of lower portion showing inlet
openings for fresh air and the other half hot air pipes or ducts to wards.
Figure 3 Sheet 2 is a transverse section through central hall shewing connecting
pipes and general arrangements.

page_text: Figure 4. Sheet 1 is a transverse section of a hospital wing of more than one
storey high shewing pipes and arrangements in first and upper floors.
Figuro 5 Sheet 1 Shews to an enlarged scale the details of air pipes or trunks*
over ceiling with the regulating devices.
Figures 6 and 7 Sheet 2 shew sectional elevation and plan of Extractor and
germ destroyer as worked by gas.
Figures 8 and 9. Sheet 2 show similar views of Extractor and germ destroyer
as adapted for Coal and Coke.
Figures 10 and 11 Sheet 2 show a plan and section of valve for regulating air
currents.
Similar letters of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the whole of
the figures.
A A Figures 1 to 5 inclusive represent the wards of a Hospital building and B
is the central hall, the adjuncts and appurtenances being all arranged as is usual
with such buildings.
b, b, are the beds. C, C, are the inlet pipes for fresh air from the outside, which
may be provided with outer grating or filtering arrangement for the incoming air.
D, D, is the central air chamber or passage under the floor which contains the
hot pipes E, E, for warming the incoming air which is conveyed to the interior of
wards by the pipes or ducts F F with gratings or perforated plates ƒ ƒ between the
beda. So far the general arrangements are such as are common to many apparatuses
in use and these may be varied at will. Instead of gratings or perforated plates
on the floor as shewn for admitting warm air any form of Tobin's tubes, or other
diffusers fixed to wall such as Hardings Patent Ventilators or Air diffusers, with
sliding plates or regulators may be used.
I now proceed to describe the parts more particularly comprised by this
Invention:-
G, G, represent the pipes or trunks fixed over the ceiling for drawing off the
vitiated air from wards. These I prefer to be triangular in section and of galvanized
iron for lightness and cleanliness but other metals or wood may be used in their
construction. g. g are the openings in the base of the said air pipes or trunks
which are governed by the plates g²g with the levors and apparatus g³ g³ for
adjusting the opening (one lever at each end of each plate) the said apparatus is
set by the screws gg all shewn to a larger scale in figure 5.
The plates are so balanco.l that in their normal state they remain open as set but
so that any return current will instantly close them and they are made easily
removeable for cleansing out the air pipes or trunks. H is the connecting pipe at
the end of each ward and I is the main educt pipe to the Extractor K in which
the air is heated and purified, and afterwards utilized by the system of hot air
pipes E E in wards and L L generally. These pipes may be of cast or wrought
iron or other metal and that portion of them in the wards should have cast upon
or otherwise fixed thereto shallow metal water pans on top to moisten the air to the
required degree.
The main educt or ventilating pipe I communicates with the Extractor as shewn
on Figures 7. 8. 9 and 10. and the outlet for the hot air to communicate with the
hot air system of pipes is marked M M. The end of this system of hot air pipes
communicates with the main air shaft N by which the current is induced and kept
in motion. The Extractor is shewn in sectional elevation and plan at figures 6
and 7 as worked by gas and consists of a metal casing preferably of wrought iron
consisting of the body k with chambers top and bottom k³ ³ with internal heating
pipes or tubes for whole height, and branches for connecting the inlets and
outlets I and M. The wholo is surrounded by a fire brick casing k at the lower
part of which is the chamber in which is fixed the gas heating apparatus ko
which may consist of Bunsen's Burners_or_solid gas flame burners of any approved-
design-supplied by the main 7 with stop cock ³. I also fix a gas regulator for
preserving an equal temperature in the heating tubes with a separate valve. Tho

page_text: gas may be laid on from the mains or supplied in large establishments by a separate
gas producing apparatus as before mentioned and an escape pipe kº either to the
main air shaft or separato flue is provided to take away the fumes.
An Extractor as worked by coal or coke fire is shewn at Figures 8 and 9 being
a 'Sectional elevation and plan respectively in which the heating pipes are horizontal
and transverse between the two mains I and M. is the brick work casing and k
the fire place with flue which may be connected with any convenient chimney.
The flame and hot air plays upon the pipes as shewn by the arrows being guided
for the partition walls 10 10 and in this way the hot air passing through the
transverse pipes le³ is heated to any required temperature say of 400° fahrenheit
or upwards for the destruction of infectious gerins.
This purified hot air is to be utilized for warming the wards and for other
purposes such as disinfecting and heating water for baths and drying closets and
so forth, and the purposes requiring most heat should be dealt with first.
O. Figuro 1 Sheet 1 shews a disinfecting closet of any usual construction for
heating with hot air pipes into which the air from the Extractor is passed first if
preferred, and the hot air may then pass into the system of warm air pipes E E
for warming wards or for other purposes. The currents of air are shut on and off
from various departments or controlled by suitable valves. I prefer these to be
made as sliewn in figures 10 and 11 in which P is the metal junction box, p the
stop valve or plate swinging upon a vertical axis p' which may be handled by a
plain lever or toothed sector with worm or screw for setting at any required angle.
The main air shaft N may be of any required height according to the temperature
of the escaping air to maintain a proper velocity throughout the whole system and
by the means now described I can extract air uniformly from the wards of Hospitals
without draughts and disinfect same and afterwards utilize it for heating and
warming as described. The same arrangement may be adopted in large ordinary
buildings, and when infectious airs are not dealt with in which cases a smaller
initial heat is required from the Extractor.
The construction of the Extractor may be varied in many ways as will be
obvious to any one practically acquainted with such matters and the same remark
applies to the arrangements of pipes generally without departing from this Inven-
tion. The arrangements are easily applicable to hospitals of any sizo either with
separate Extractors to each ward or with larger ones common to two or more
wards.
The sewer gas from the hospital drains can also be conveyed in pipes to the same
or separate Extractors with an escape air shaft on another part of the grounds if
required to complete the disinfection of hospitals and the surrounding grounds.
Figure 4 Sheet 1. shews the arrangement of pipes and ducts for upper floor
hospital wards between the stories, the same letters of reference applying. In
such cases the main air chamber or passage D is supported by Girder a with
columns a².
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1 The construction of heating and ventilating apparatus for hospital wards and
other purposes in which the air is drawn from the wards by pipes or trunks
running over ceilings and passed through an apparatus in which it is heated to such
a temperature as to destroy all infectious or contagious gerins, but not so as to
come in actual contact with escaping fumes from gas heaters or furnaces and the
hot air afterwards utilized for heating substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described.
2 The construction of Ventilating tubes for hospital and other purposes fixed
over ceiling in which the air is drawn off uniformly over the area and controlled
and down draughts prevented as shewn in figures 1 to 5 inclusive whether the
same be operated by mechanical or other extractors substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.

page_text: 3 The construction of Furnace Extractors for the above purposes worked either
by gas or coal or coke fires in which the air from wards or rooms is heated without
mixture with gas or fumes substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and shewn in figures 6 to 11 inclusive or by equivalent devices.
Did the L J
Witness
THOS R. THOMAS,
13, Lincoln's Inn,
Birmingham,
Patent Agent.
THOMAS HASTINGS DALE.