IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM POTTS of N° 10 Stafford Street Edinburgh Scotland, Engineer in
Pneumatics &c. do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING PURPOSES to be as follows:-
These Inventions are designed to supply means to effect the purification of the
atmosphere in enclosed, or partly enclosed spaces, by constructions without
mechanism susceptible of inaction, but having the necessary currents of air
resulting from the natural flow of it through passages designed to effect the
purposes required.
2. The inlet constructions control the quantity of air admitted, and avoid annoying
draught.
3. A long desired benefit is supplied under the controlling means before adverted
to of fresh air innocuously warmed, free from metallic taint, but this benefit is
reached by useing peculiar constructions for burning fuel termed "calorifiers" that
burn the smoke, and thus enable the process described to be effected, the calorifiers
are another Invention for which a Patent is applied at this same date.
4. The outlet constructions are two viz. for walls and for roofs, and employ the
outer air to draw out and remove vitiated air, by atmospheric pressure and wind
currents, (for the atmosphere is not moved upwards, unless perhaps in a tornado)
which produce a partial vacuum across the mouth of both the extractors, which
enables the currents of warmed air to be established on a curved downward line
preventing when the vertical extractor is applied to chimnies, a down draught of
smoke into rooms.
5. In diagrams Fig. 1 & 2 show vertical extractors, the arrows indicate the air
currents, the external outline can be varied to suit architectural purposes, the cover
hermetically closes the top.
6. In diagram Fig. 3 is shown a wall extractor at the ceiling level, the arrows
mark the current of vitiated air from a room, and also the current of the outer
atmosphere passing the mouth of the extractor, which is closed at the sides.
7. In diagram Fig. 4 is shown a more elaborate construction of a wall extractor
to act on the same theory and Fig. 5 is a plan to explain that the vitiated air
channel E is narrowed to allow a space on each side for a current of the outer air
which enters channel C to pass downwards through apertures to current D which
by discharging under the vitiated air current aids the extracting process, the

page_text: outlet mouth is closed at the sides, and perforated metal is fixed across the discharging
points as seen.
8. In diagram Fig. 6 is shown an inlet construction proper to be fixed a little
above the breathing level, this has a grating externally and at the inner mouth a
hinged door, which has two plates of perforation fixed at angles as shown, which
when the door is within the frame, obliges the air to pass through two perforated
surfaces, and this with limiting the opening gives control of the current, the door
can be held at any point by a spring plate at the upper or lower edge, the box can
hold medicating agents to be evaporated into the entering air, as álluded to in the
Specification for heating of this date, if connected properly to a " calorifier."
9. The extraction of vitiated air from the lower decks or holds of ships may be
effected by fixing a pipe from the ceiling of these to a convenient height above the
vessel, and fixing on that the extractor Fig. 1.-A supply of fresh air may be
conveyed down a pipe having a cover Fig. 14, to any part of a vessel, and useing
the inlet box Fig. 6, fixed horizontally to that pipe, and to open upwards.
10. The air extractor Fig. 1, and the inlet Fig. 6 are well suited to the ventilation
of railway or other carriages, if the windows are closed the vertical extractor fixed
to the roof, would carry away vitiated air, .and the box inlet Fig. 6, fixed
horizontally to open upwards, over the two doors would supply fresh air without
annoying draught.
11. The extractor Fig. 1, applied on street lamps in connection with closing all
other openings above the burner, would by carrying away the products of com-
bustion, and preventing the entrance of cold air there, greatly increase and improve
the light.
•
12. The extractor Fig. 1 would effectively carry off the carburretted hydrogen gas
from the worked openings in coal mines, if fixed above the pit mouth, and
hermetically connected by pipes to the ceilings of the said openings, thereby
removing the cause of the frequent explosions.
13. The ventilation of underground railways may be effected as follows viz. by
closing up all openings in the roofs and partly the ends hermetically and fixing
properly and air tight above the roofs extractor Fig. 1, wherever access can be had
to the air above.
14. The ventilation of mountain tunnels, may be effected by fixing extractor
Fig. 1 as shown in diagram Fig. 12 to a plate enclosing hermetically the tunnel at
the ends, as low down as the traffic will permit.
15. The nuisance from the wind frequently causing down draughts of smoke into
rooms would be obviated by the use on the smoky chimnies of the extractor Fig. 1,
for from its construction no down draught can enter the chimney.
16. The danger of disease from sewer gas entering houses through water closets,
may be avoided by useing the wall extractor Fig. 3, to intercept and carry to the
outer air, the sewer gas ere it can reach the closet pan, as shown Fig. 13.
17. The vitiated air and heat in tents would be removed by fixing at the apex of
these extractor Fig. 1, air tight.
18. The escape of poisonous gas from the sewer gratings in public ways, has been
often productive of fever and diptheria, also of death a remedy can be had by
intercepting the poisonous vapour, at each side of the grating, the pipes to intercept
should meet under the foot path and connect to a vertical pipe carried to a height
above adjacent buildings, having on that an extractor Fig. 1 or 2.

page_text: DE MCIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM POTTS, of 10 Stafford Street, Edinburgh, in the County of Midlothian,
North Britain, Engineer in Pneumatics do hereby declare the nature of my said
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING PURPOSES and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My present Invention, which relates to improvements in apparatus for ventilating
purposes, is designed for effecting the purification of the atmosphere in enclosed or
partly enclosed spaces by means, wherein is dispensed with such mechanism as is
susceptable of inaction, but at the same time having the necessary currents of air
resulting from the natural flow of it through passages designed for effecting the
purposes required.
Under my present Invention I construct the air inlet so as to control and
regulate the quantity of air admitted and thereby avoid annoying draught.
The outlet arrangements as constructed according to my present Invention are
two, vizt: one formed for applying to walls, and the other for roofs or other vertical
outlets. By virtue of the form of these ventilating outlets the outer air is caused
by atmospheric pressure to draw out and remove the vitiated air from the building
or other structures to which it is applied. The wind currents (for the atmosphere
is not pressed upwards unless perhaps in a tornado) produce a partial vacuum
across the mouth of the extractors, or outlets and thereby enables the outgoing
current of warmed air to be established on a line downwardly curved and prevent-
ing a down-draught or blow-down of smoke into rooms when the vertical outlets
are applied to chimnies.
In order that my said Invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will now proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figures 1 and 2 are respectively an elevation and a vertical section of one form
of vertical extractor or ventilating outlet constructed according to my present.
Invention.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of another form of vertical extractor or ventilating
outlet constructed according to my present Invention.
Figures 5 and 6 are views of one form of wall extractor or ventilating outlet as
constructed according to my present Invention and all hereinafter more particularly
described.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views of a further form of wall extractor or outlet
constructed in accordance with my present Invention and hereinafter more'
particularly described.
The further figures of drawing are all hereinafter more particularly referred to
and described.
In constructing a vertical extractor or outlet ventilator in accordance with my
present Invention, I provide the vertical air duct or pipe a, opened or widened out
at its top so as to present the annular lip b, the lower end of the pipe a, may be
formed as in Figure 4, that is to say parallel so as to admit of its being applied to
the end of a vertical pipe, or the said pipe may be formed as at Figures 1 and 2
so as to admit of its being applied to brick, cement or other analogous outlets.
Around the annular lip b, there is arranged the cover or hood c, the lower part d,
of which extends down under the said lip b. This cover or hood c, may as repre-
sented in vertical section at Figure 4, be constructed of a form to agree with any

page_text: particular style of architecture according to the requirements of the building to
which my improved outlet ventilator is to be applied. Such an adaptation of
contour is represented in the vertical section shewn at Figure 4 of the annexed
drawings, the extractor or outlet ventilator there shewn being as hereinbefore
mentioned of the form applicable to the upper end of a vertical tube or similar
air duct.
Figure, 5 is a section through a wall extractor or ventilating outlet constructed
for the requirements of an outlet through a wall or other analogous structure. In
this extractor, which it is to be understood is fixed at the ceiling level, it is seen by
the arrows that the currents of atmospheric air blowing downwards through the
pipe e, create a partial vacuum at the junction of that pipe with the passage
or channel f, and in that manner draw the vitiated air out from the room or
compartment to which this apparatus is applied.
At Figures 7, and 9 I have represented respectively in longitudinal, horizontal
and transverse sections, a wall extractor or ventilating outlet constructed to act on
a theory the same as that hereinlast described. In this form of extractor or
ventilating outlet the passage or channel f, wherethrough the vitiated air is drawn
outwards, is narrowed on each side to such extent as admits of a further channel.
Through this channel g, a current of the outer atmospheric air. entering at /, passes
in the direction indicated by the arrows above the passage or channel f, and then
passes down through the apertures i, formed in the plate which separates or
divides the channel g, into an upper and lower part, and the current then passes
into the said lower part of the channel g, where the said current of atmospheric air
augments the, outflow of the currents of vitiated air by discharging thereunder.
The vertical outlet pipe e, is closed at its sides, and sheets j, of perforated metal,
wire gauze or their equivalents are fixed across the upper and lower ends of the
said tube e, the lower of which ends may, as represented at Figure 5, be of an area
smaller than that of the upper end.
At Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, I have represented respectively in side elevation,
longitudinal section and back and front elevations a form of ventilating inlet
constructed in accordance with my present Invention and as arranged for fixing in
rooms a little above the breathing level, that is to say, at about six feet from the
floor level.
This construction of inlet, as represented more particularly at Figure 12, is
formed with a grating k, at its outer end, and at the inner or opposite end a hinged
door l, which has two plates m, of perforated metal or its equivalent fixed at an
angle as shewn, one of these plates m, may be curved in such manner that to what-.
ever extent the door 1, be opened within certain limits, the ingoing currents of
atmospheric air are caused to pass through the perforations or apertures of these
two plates, the position of the said plates m, relatively with that of the frame n,
determining the volume of air admitted. The end plates o, may be formed either
of perforated or plain plate as may be required. The door l, can be held at any
position, by a spring plate at the upper or lower edge; or, as shewn at Figures 10
and 11, the said door l, may be held sufficiently secure by the friction of a spring p,
upon its surface. The passage or air duct through the casing n, may, if desired,
have placed therein, medicating agents to be evaporated into the entering atmos-
pheric air, if properly connected to a "calorifier" such as I have alluded to in my
Specification No. 12020 of date even with this.
The extraction of vitiated air from the lower decks or holds of ships may be
effected by fixing a pipe from the ceiling of these compartments, and continuing
the same up to a convenient height above the main deck of the vessel, and fixing
at the top of the said pipe an extractor or ventilating outlet such as that repre-
sented at Figure 4 of the annexed Drawings. A supply of fresh air may be
conveyed to any required part of a vessel by using a pipe 9, as shewn in vertical
section at Figure 14, and having a cover 7.-Under this application the inlet box
Figures 10 to 13, is fixed horizontally to the pipe q, and is arranged to open
upwards.

page_text: The air extractor or outlet Figures 1, 2 and 3, and the inlet Figures 10 to 13,
are well suited to the ventilation of railway and other carriages, the vertical
extractor Figures 1, 2 and 3 fixed to the roof of the said carriages would carry off
the vitiated air, and the inlet, Figures 10 to 13, fixed horizontally to open upwards
one over each of the two doors thereof, would supply fresh air without the creation
of any annoying draught.
The extractor or ventilating outlet Figures 1 to 3 applied to street or other
analogous lamps, and by closing all other openings above the burner thereof will,
by carrying off the products of combustion and preventing the entrance thereinto
of cold air, greatly increase and improve the light. The extractor or ventilating
outlet Figures 1 to 4 (inclusive) can be arranged to effectively carry off the
carburretted hydrogen gas from the worked openings in coal mines, by fixing the
said outlet above the pit mouth and hermetically connecting it by pipes to
the ceilings of the said openings. By this system of ventilation and carrying off
of explosive gases the cause of most of the frequent explosions, is removed.
The ventilation of underground railways may be offected by hermetically closing
up the openings in the roof all except such as are to constitute the ventilating
shafts. To the upper ends of these shafts are fixed, properly and air-tight,
extractors similar in construction to that represented at Figures to 4 (inclusive)
at all such parts from which access can be had to the atmosphere above. The
ventilation of mountain tunnels, may be effected as represented in end elevation
and in section respectively at Figures 15 and 16, by fixing or connecting the
extractor or ventilating outlet Figure 4, to a plato t, enclosing hermetically the
upper part of a tunnel at the ends, and to as low a level as the traffic, passing
thereunder, will permit.
The nuisance created by the wind frequently causing down draught or downblows
of smoke into rooms, is obviated by the application, to the upper ends of smoky
chimnies of the extractor or ventilating outlet shown at Figures 1 to 4, for, by
virtue of its construction no down draught can enter the chimney.
The germs of disease often carried by sewer gas entering houses through water
closets, may be arrested by the employment of a wall extractor or outlet similar to
that represented at Figures 5 and 6 and Figure 18 (hereinafter described).-Such
an application of the wall extractor or outlet is shewn on a reduced scale in section
at Figure 17, wherein at u, is shewn the outlet, at v, the water closet pan; at w,
the soil pipe connected with the sewer, and at x, the pipe connecting the extractor
or outlet u, with the soil pipe w. By this arrangement the sewer gas in its
upward course and ere it reaches the closet pan v, is intercepted and carried by the
pipe x, to the extractor or outlet u, and by that, discharged into the atmosphere.-
The direction in the outflow of the gas, thus pursued is indicated by the arrows at
Figure 17.
The vitiated air and heat in tents, may be removed by fixing at the apex or
ridge of such tents and extractor or ventilating outlet such as that represented at
Figures 1, and 3 of the annexed drawings.
The escape of sewer gas from the gratings or traps in public ways, has been often
productive of fever and diptheria and often the occasion of death. A security
against these malarious causes is bad by intercepting the upward passage of the
poisonous vapour at each side of the grating. The pipes for thus intercepting the
How of the vapours meet or join under the foot path and are there connected to a
vertical pipe which is carried to a height above adjacent buildings and having at
its upper end an extractor or ventilating outlet similar to that shewn at Figures 1
to 4, of the annexed drawings.
A construction of ventilating outlet that may be often preferred is shewn in
section at Figure 18, by reason of its non-projection beyond the outer surface of
the wall in which it is applied, and consequently in no appreciable way affecting
the outline or outward appearance of a building, though the properties in securing
an outflow of air are maintained. In this form of wall extractor or outlet the
required ducts and passages are either formed by cement or they may be moulded

page_text: in the form of a brick or block, and if found necessary the weaker or thinner parts
thereof may be strengthened by sheets of metal or otherwise.
. In the arrangement in position of the wall extractors or outlets Figures 5 to 9
(inclusive) passages are made through the cornice around the ceiling of the room,
of a width greater than the width of the extractors, and it is advisable to cut
away or remove a solid portion or section of the cornice also of a width greater
than that of the said extractor.-For this portion of the cornice so removed there
is or may be substituted a metallic piece or plate moulded or rolled to the same
contour or section, and abundantly perforated with holes. This arrangement of
construction preserves the continuity of outline of the cornice and otherwise the
general appearance of the room.
The extractor or ventilating outlet herein-before described with reference more
particularly to Figure 4 of the annexed drawings may be employed to carry off
and discharge the deleterious vapours or gases resulting from metallurgical, chemical
or other works and processes. When used in conjunction with the apparatus
described in my herein before referred to Complete Specification N° 120208* the
extractor or outlet Figure 4, may be beneficially employed.
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
First Extractors of air or gaseous matter or ventilating outlets which avoid the
outer air obstructing an outflow of lighter air or gas, by the arrangement of the
passages in such extractors or outlets on downwardly curved or inclined lines
thereby, without obstruction, employing the medium of the atmospheric pressure
and also providing for the use, at the discharging mouths of the said extractors or
outlets, of the currents of the external atmosphere, for effecting the drawing out
of the lighter or vitiated air by means of the air displacement that such atmo-
spheric currents cause substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
annexed drawings.
Second-The constructions of extractors or outlets substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn upon the annexed drawings wherein the principle claimed by
the preceding claiming clause is employed and any other variations or modifications
which employ the theory of scientific construction therein claimed.
Third An inlet for the passage therethrough of the outer air having the hinged
door, at the inner or room side of the said inlet channel, the said door having
two or more perforated plates secured at an angle to each other so as to form an
enclosure for air between such plates for the purpose of checking a rush of air, and
avoiding any annoying draught when the area of the inlet passage is reduced, the
said apparatus being provided with a spring plate or its equivalent to retain the
door thereof in any position according as the required volume of inflowing air
necessitates substantially as herein before described with reference to Figures 10
to 13 of the annexed drawings.
Fourth-The combination of any of the extractors or ventilating outlets herein-
before described and shewn upon the annexed drawings with apparatus embodying
the principles set forth in my Complete Specification No. 12020 of this date.