IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS FOR BUILDINGS, SHIPS AND OTHER PLACES."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Boyle of the firm of Robert Boyle and Son of
London and Glasgow Ventilating and Sanitary Engineers for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS FOR BUILDINGS, SHIPS AND OTHER
PLACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Boyle at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1882.
ROBERT BOYLE of the firm of Robert Boyle and Son of London and Glasgow
Ventilating and Sanitary Engineers "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS FOR
BUILDINGS SHIPS AND OTHER PLACES,"
My Invention relates to Improvements in Ventilators for buildings ships
and other places and has for its object to render such ventilators more effectual
than hitherto.
According to one part of my Invention which relates to ventilators wherein
stationary deflecting plates are employed my Invention consists in the following
arrangement: The uptake or passage for foul air from the place to be ventilated
to the ventilator or each subdivision of the said uptake or passage has the
following arrangement of deflecting plates applied at the part thereof leading to
the external air. A V shaped inner deflecting plate is arranged in a central
position with its angle presented outwards and on both sides thereof are arranged
plates which curve inwards and then are curved outwards and extend for a
considerable distance opposite the respective sides of the V plate (but not beyond
the outer angle thereof) so as to form spaces between the said outwardly curved
parts and the sides of the V plate for the passage of foul air from the room or
other place Opposite these said spaces a guard or protecting plate is arranged at
a short distance beyond the outward angle of the V plate. The outer air passes
between the space formed by the outer sides of the curved plates and the inner
side of the guard or protecting plates which space is owing to the arrangement
and shape of the respective plates of a trumpet like form wide at the part at
which the outer air enters so that the said air passes at an accelerated speed
through the said space and effects a considerable suction of the foul air from the

page_text: shaft or subdivision thereof. At the same time the outer air is deflected from the
outer sides of the curved plates and the V plate outwardly towards the inner
surface of the guard plates and therefore is prevented from passing down tho
shaft but is rendered by this deflection more effectual in extracting the foul air-
Water, if such be present (in the case of ship's ventilator's for example) is also
by this arrangement prevented from entering the shaft and this is further
provented by forming a deep rim or projection around the shaft inside the
ventilator.
In ventilators in which a valve or a series of valves are ranged in a casing
to open for the passage of foul air but to close against incurrents instead of
making the valve box as is at present customary I contract its outward part so
that the exit passage for the air after it has passed the valves is equal to about the
area of the valve opening or openings. In addition to this I inay terminate the
said contracted part with deflecting plates with an outer guard plate arranged in
front of the opening thereof so that a back draught is caused to be impinged
against the side of the box in such a direction that its course is deflected towards
the backs of the valves thereby effectually closing them. The valves themselves
I prefer to make of cork rendered fire-proof by any suitable means.
My Invention further relates to ship's downcast ventilators which ventilators
are so arranged as to give free passage for air whilst water is prevented from
passing down the shaft. According to this part of my Invention I form inside the
shaft a tube or passage which first descends and then rises again thereafter
descending again and communicating with the cabin or place to be ventilated-At
the sides of the first mentioned descending part of the tube or passage and also at
the sides of the ascending part I form louvres opening in a direction for deflecting
the air downwards in the descending parts and upwards in the ascending part
leading to the downcast shaft proper, and also to permit any water which may
enter the said parts to pass away to a chamber formed beneath for its reception
and therefrom to the deck of the vessel.
An opening protected by a guard is formed in the lower part of the bend
forming the communication between the descending and ascending parts of the
passage. Through the said opening water passes into the before-named chamber
beneath but the guard prevents water catering from the chamber-Beneath this
guard is a series of louvres for breaking up water which may enter the chamber
beneath the said bend. If the water should enter the ascending part it will pass
between the louvres thereof into the chamber beneath. All water entering the
aforesaid chamber passes away to the exterior of the apparatus through perforations
or openings at the bottom of the chamber.
According to another modification the descending and ascending parts may be
formed between a trough shaped part encircling the upper part of the shaft and
the descending sides of a cap-piece dipping into the said trough. The trough will
have the receiving chamber for the water beneath ns in the preceding arrangement
but in both arrangements the air can pass freely up and down into the ventilating
shaft The louvres on the descending side may be dispensed with in this last
named modification; a deflecting surface in a double curve tending upwards is
arranged around the exterior of the top of the shaft the descending sides of the
cap piece being curved or bent inwards to give with the deflecting surface a form
to repel water-The top of the shaft is of a conical form for causing water to run
off and a cone on the cap dips into the open top of the cone to guide the air
down the shaft
In order to prevent any injurious down draught in shafts I arrange a nicely
balanced valve or valves (by preference two) which are mounted upon axes
traversing the shaft and if necessary are counterweighted to effect the proper
balancing. These valves open to the pressure of outcoming air but close against
the sides of the shaft on the occurrence of a down-draught-The stops against
which the valves impinge are preferably covered with or formed of India rubber or
the like to prevent noise.

page_text: The Invention relates further to means for heating the air passing through
ventilators for this purpose I form inside the box through which the air passes a
pipe or passage of say an inch and a half diameter or thereabouts the said passage
being distinct and separate from the box. At one end of the passage a flame is
placed to heat the air entering the passage-The air so heated traverses the
passage and escapes at the other end which dips into a box perforated at bottom
and provided with a cup and pipe for carrying away condensed vapour-Or the
said end may be carried up outside the building and arranged in a conical form
with a conical cap above-The air is deflected by these past the opening from the
hot air passage the said air passing between the exteriors of these plates and the
inner side of an encircling shield piece the said air passing through gauze stretched
across the passage formed by these parts-The air passing into the room or other
place becomes heated by contact with the exterior of this heated air passage. The
heated air passage may be led into a box traversed by a number of tubes so that
the hot air plays therearound and the air entering the room or other place is
caused to pass through these tubes on its way to such room or place.
In the ventilating arrangement hereinbefore described the air inlets and the
various plates will be arranged in a vertical, horizontal, or other position according
to the direction of the external currents ie for up or down draught or for direct
draught and there may be one or any number of sets of such arrangements of air
passages and deflecting plates arranged around the shaft or passage for the air.
They may be arranged as ridge ventilators or otherwise for any special purpose to
which they may be adapted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Boyle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd December
1882.
ROBERT BOYLE of the firm of Robert Boyle and Son of London and Glasgow
Ventilating and Sanitary Engineers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS FOR
BUILDINGS SHIPS AND OTHER PLACES
"
My said Invention relates to Improvements in ventilators for Buildings, ships
and other places and has for its object to render such ventilators more effectual
than hitherto.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed particularly to describo the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
One part of my Invention relating to Ventilators wherein stationary deflecting
plates are employed consists in the following arrangement, which I will describe
with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, which respectively
represent an elevation, and a transverse section, of a vontilator constructed according
to this part of my Invention-The uptake, or passage for foul air from the place
to be ventilated to the ventilator, (or each sub-division of the said uptake or
passage) has the arrangement of deflecting plates hereinafter described applied at
the part thereof leading to the external air-In the drawing I have shown, as an
example, the upper part of the outlet as being divided by partitions d into four
divisions each of which is provided with the said arrangement which consists as
follows AV shaped inner deflecting plate a is arranged in a central position
before the opening of each division with its angle presented outwards as shown
and on both sides thereof are arranged plates 6 which curve inwards forming a
deep recess as shown and then curve outwards as shown and extend for a
considerable distance opposite the respective sides of the V plate a (but within the
outer angle thereof) and to a considerable distance from the shaft so as to form
spaces between the said outwardly curved parts of the plate b and the sides of the
V plate a for the passage of foul air from the room or other place Opposite the
said spaces a guard or protecting plate c is arranged at a short distance beyond
the outer angle of the V plate a-The outer air passes between the space
formed by the outer sides of the curved plates b and the inner side of the guard
or protecting plate c which space is (owing to the arrangement and shape of the
respective plates) of a trumpet like form widest, and with a deep recess, at the
part at which the outer air enters and impinges so that a large volume of the said
air enters and thereafter is by the said plate b deflected outwards in the direction
of the plate c and passes at an accelerated speed through the narrower part of the
said space for example as shown by the arrows in Figure 2 and effects a
considerable suction of the foul air from the shaft or each subdivision thereof-At
the same time the outer air is deflected from the outer sides of the curved plates b
. and of the V plate a outwardly towards the inner surface of the guard plates c,
and therefore is prevented from passing down the shaft but it is rendered by this
deflection more effectual in extracting the foul air from the said shaft-Water if
such be present (in the case of ships ventilators for example) is also (by reason of
the curved plate b being caused to extend outwards to the extent shown)
prevented from entering the shaft and this is further ensured by forming a deep
rin or projection d around the shaft inside the ventilator. e is the conical top or
covering cap of the ventilator and f, is the bottom. plate or support
1 do not limit myself to the employment of the partitions &² nor to the use of

page_text: the plates a as in certain cases it may be found convenient to employ the plates b
and c without the plates a
In ventilators in which a valvo or a series of valves is arranged in a casing, box,
or passage, to open for the outlet of foul air but to close against incurrents, or
backdraught; instead of making the valve box as is at present customary I
contract its outward part so that the exit passage for the air after it has passed
the valves is equal to about the area of the valve opening or openings A ventilator
so constructed is shown in section in Figure 3-The valves are marked ġ and the
said exit passage from the casing is marked h-In addition to this I may terminate
the said contracted part h with deflecting plates b³ with an outer guard plate c
arranged in front of the opening thereof as shown in Figure 4 so that any back
draught is caused to be impinged against the side of the casing in such a direction
(as indicated by the arrows). that its course is deflected towards the backs of the
valves g thereby effectually closing them against back draught-The valves g
I prefer to mako of cork rendered fire proof by any suitable means.
Figure 5 represents an arrangement of deflecting and guard plates generally
resembling that shown in Figure 4 and corresponding parts are marked with the
saine letters of reference.
My Invention further relates to ships' down cast ventilators or ventilators for
like uses The said ventilators are so arranged according to my Invention as to
give free passage for air whilst water is prevented from passing down the shaft
Figuro 6 represents in vertical section a ventilator constructed according to this
part of my Invention. I form insido the shaft i a tube or passage which first
descends (at) and then rises again (at ) thereafter descending again (at ) aud
communicating with the cabin or place to be ventilated-At the sides of the first
mentioned descending part of the tube or passage i and also at the sides of the
ascending part I form louvred openings for permitting any water which may
enter the said parts to pass away to a chamber & formed beneath for its reception,
and therefrom to the deck of the vessel The louvres are placed as shown so that
air does not escape through their openings.
for
An opening protected by a guard is formed in the lower part of the bend
forming the communication between the descending and ascending parts ³ ³ of
the passage i-Through the said opening water passes into the before named
chamber but the guard 6 prevents water from entering from the chamber into
the said parts Beneath this guard thero may be a series of louvres
breaking up water which may enter the chamber beneath the said bend-If the
water should enter the parts it will pass between the louvres i thereof into
the chamber beneath-All water entering the aforesaid chamber k passes away
to the exterior of the apparatus through perforations or an opening as at ³ at
the bottom of the said chamber. The outer air enters as shown by the arrows
being guided in its descending course by the guide m―Figure 7 represents a
modification of the ventilator described with reference to Figure 6. In this
arrangement the louvres jare dispensed with and others are provided at 2 which
take the place of the opening A valve n is also provided in the part ³ to close
against any rush of water into the ventilator and prevent its entry into the cabin,
or other place The louvres are also dispensed with; a valve may be provided
as at which in its normal position is closed but opens outwards to admit of the
passage of water from the ventilator-The parts which in this Figure 7 correspond
with those shown in Figure 6 are marked with the same letters of reference.
According to another modification (illustrated in vertical section in Figure 8 and
in horizont il section in Figure 9) the descending and ascending parts 13 may be
formed between a trough shaped part p surrounding the upper part of the shaft i
and the descending sides g of a cap piece q dipping into the said trough p-The
trough p will have the louvres and the receiving chamber k for the water
beneath as in the preceding arrangement, valves at corresponding to that
shown in Figure 7 may be provided with this arrangement-Figure 8-In all these
arrangements the air can pass freely up and down into the ventilating shaft i.

page_text: According to another modification illustrated in vertical and horizontal sections
respectively in Figures 10 and 11 and in corresponding views, in a slightly varied
form, in Figures 12 and 13 a deflecting surface in a double incline or curvo ?"
tending upwards is arranged around the exterior of the top of the shaft the
descending sides of the cap piece q being similarly inclined or curved or bent
inwards to give with the deflecting surface a form to repel water whilst admitting
air The top of the shaft is of a conical form at for causing water to run off as
indicated by the arrows-A cone q* on the cap dips into the opening to the shaft
to guide the air down the shaft.
In order to prevent an injurious down draught in shafts I arrange a nicely
balanced valve or valves (by preference two) which are mounted upon axes
traversing the shaft and if necessary are counterweighted to effect the proper
balancing.
Figure 14 represents in vertical section and Figure 15 in plan such an arrange-
ment wherein two valves s are employed each carried by a rod 82 (or it may be by
one rod common to both) upon which they are free to turn so as to open the
passage through the shaft i for outcoming air but to close against a down draught.
The valves are, or may be, counterweighted by the weights 8¹ The valves when
opened by the pressure of out coming air may come against stops as at 83 and the
said valves when acted upon by a down draught close against the stops & at the
sides of the shaft Tho said stops s³ & are preferably covered with or formed of
India rubber or other yielding material to prevent noise
My Invention relates further to ventilators by which the incoming air is hoated-
This part of the Invention is illustrated by Figures 16 to 20 of the accompanying
drawings Figures 16 and 17 being vertical sections taken at right angles to each
other and Figure 18 a horizontal section of a ventilator arranged according to this
part of my Invention-Figure 19 represents in elevation partly in section and
Figure 20 in horizontal section a modification as herein before described Inside
the box or casing through which the outer air passes on its way to the place to
be ventilated a pipe or passage u is placed of say an inch and a half diameter
or thereabouts the passage through the said pipe being distinct and separate
from the interior of the box t-At the inlet end of the pipe u a gas jet or other
flame is placed as at v-to heat the air entering the said pipe or passage u-The
gas or other heating agent can be ignited by turning the flap from over the
opening and inserting therethrough a lighted taper-The air so heated traverses
the said pipe or passage u and escapes at the other end which dips into a box w
perforated at bottom, and provided with a cup w³ and pipe was shown in
Figure 16 for carrying away condensed vapour-This box may contain charcoal
or other deodorising material-Or the said end may be carried up outside the
building and it may be provided or not at its end with a ventilator as shown in
Figures 10 and 20 with deflecting plates u² arranged in a conical form upon the
pipe and having a conical cap us above-The outer air is deflected, by these
plates and the cap, past the openings from the hot air passages, the air passing
between the exteriors of the plates u² and the inner side of surrounding shield
pieces the said air passing through gauze u stretched across the passage formed
by these parts The air passing from the outer air through the casing into the
room or other place becomes heated by contact with the exterior of the heated air
passage or tube u.
The air tube or passage may be led into a box traversed by a
number of tubes so that the hot air plays there around and the air entering the
room or other place is caused to pass through these tubes on its way to such room
or place.
In the ventilating arrangement hereinbefore described the air inlets and the
various plates will be arranged in a vertical horizontal or other position according
to the direction of the external currents (viz. for up or down draught or for direct
draught) and there may be one or any number of sets of such arrangements of air
passages and deflecting plates arranged around the shaft or passage for the air
They may be arranged as ridge ventilators or otherwise for any special purpose

page_text: to which they may be adapted, provided that. the relative disposition of the plates
be substantially in the manner shown and described.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may bò used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is:-
First The ventilators herein before described with regard to Figure 1 and 2 of
the accompanying drawings the essential feature of which is the combination of
the plates ab and c formed and disposed relatively with each other as and for
the purposes described and shown, whether there be, or be not, combined with the
said ventilator the raised rim d and the partitions.d².
Second-In ventilators the combination of the plates b and c formed and disposed
80 as to constitute a trumpet like mouth with a deep recessed portion for the
reception of the outer air and a contracted portion at the inner part to give an
accelerated speed to the air as it passes before the opening from the shaft-the
plate b being formed so as to direct the air outwards towards the direction of the
plate cas and for the purpose described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings
Third In Ventilators in which a valve or a series of valves is arranged to open
for the passage of foul or heated air but to close against in-currents constructing
the box casing or passage in which the said valve or series of valves is contained
with a contracted or narrowed outward part so that the capacity of the exit
passage for the air after the said air bas passed the valves is equal to or about
equal to the capacity of the valve opening or openings substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings
Fourth-In combination with a ventilating valve casing or passage the employ-
ment of deflecting and guard plates for directing the air to the back of the valves
to prevent back draught substantially as herein before described with referenco to
Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth-In combination with a ventilating valve casing or passage constructed as
claimed in the preceding third claiming clause the employment of deflecting and
guard plates arranged as and for the purpose claimed by the preceding fourth
claiming clause
Sixth In ventilators for ships' purposes and for other like purposes the arrange-
ment of the air passage so that the air passes to the shaft leading to the cabin or
other place in a downward then in an upward and then again in a downward
direction the said passage being provided with louvres or deflectors and escape
openings so arranged in the said air passage, or passages that whilst air is freely
allowed to pass to the shaft water is prevented from passing to the said shaft but
is caused to be passed to the exterior of the ventilator substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings..
Seventh-The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the ventilator
herein before described and illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth-The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the ventilator
bereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings
Ninth The arrangement and combination of parts constituting tho ventilator
herein before described and illustrated in Figures.8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings
Tenth The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the ventilators.
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 10 to 13 of the accompanying-
drawings
Eleventh In ventilating shafts and the like the employment of a balanced
valve, or balanced valves, for preventing-back-draught as hereinbeforo described
-and-illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 of the accompanying drawings; also the

page_text: employment in combination with such valve or valves of a stop or stops of India
rubber or other yielding material as described.
Twelfth The arrangement and combination of parts constituting the ventilator
for supplying heated air to buildings and other places, whether the hot air tube bo
provided, or not, with the deflecting termination or outlet substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures. 16 to 20 of the accompanying
drawings In witness whereof I the said Robert Boyle have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal the twelfth day of December in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two
ROBERT BOYLE