AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING AND FOR CIRCULATING, MOVING, OR OTHERWISE ACTING UPON AIR OR OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1858

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Gardner Russel Scriven at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st
June 1858...
I, GARDNER RUSSEL SCRIVEN, of the City of Philadelphia, in the United
States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING AND FOR CIRCULATING,
MOVING, OR OTHERWISE ACTING UPON AIR OR OTHER FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
It consists in the combination of a cylindrical drum of uniform diameter
revolving on journals which may by preference be horizontal, one of which is
tubular from the end of the drum with a spiral pipe or passage wound or
coiled around or within the said drum, open at one end so as to freely admit
air and water or other fluids in contact with one outer surface of the drum,
with a free and unobstructed passage through such coil into the said tubular
journal, into which the other end of one pipe or coiled passage enters water
and air-tight through the said tubular journal into a vertical or other
stationary pipe attached water and air tight to it by the usual method of
packing, and in which it turns out of one side pipe at its opposite end.
A reservoir enclosing the cylindrical drum, and in which it revolves,
partially immersed in water or other fluid, provided with air and water feed
pipes, and a float valve to regulate the quantity of water therein.
A reservoir water and air tight, into which the coiled pipe communicates

page_text: through the tubular journal and the air and water discharge pipe. When
necessary, the discharge water pipe conducting back the reservoir, and an air
discharge pipe for the escape of air.
And, lastly, a contrivance to receive the water or other fluids at its
maximum point of elevation in the vertical pipe, and transfer it back to the
cylindrical drum; there to act to one extent-of its gravity as a moter or driving
power, any deficiency thereof being supplied by any known motive power, or
by hand labour when so desired.
In case it is desired to use this apparatus for the purpose of drawing off
the impure air and gas from mines or other subterraneous and enclosed
places, I merely insert the air feed pipe of the reservoir down into the mine
or other enclosed place to be ventilated, and let the cylindrical drum revolving
partially immersed in water or any other fluid or liquid substance, at each
revolution of the drum a quantity of air and water is taken up into the coil
of the drum, and thrown off at the outer end of the vertical pipe in alternate
jets of air and water, thereby tending to create a vacuum in the reservoir, but
a supply of air is perpetually flowing into the reservoir through the air feed
pipe, which will be the same in kind as that in the mine or enclosed place
into which the feed pipe is inserted, while the water consumed by its own
gravity flows back into the reservoir, and thus perpetually used over again;
the air and water so thrown off is emptied into the receiver, the air passing
off thence through the air discharge pipe; while the water flows back, as
before mentioned, into the reservoir through the water' discharge pipe. The
apparatus may in such a case be either located in or without the mine or
other inclosed place as circumstances may require. In the latter case the
receiver is unnecessary, and I only require a return pipe for the water to flow
back into the reservoir in its stead.
In case it is desired to introduce fresh pure air into a mine or other
enclosed place without changing the location of the apparatus, I merely
reverse the feed and discharge air pipes. The air feed pipe now admits fresh
pure air to flow into the reservoir while the air discharge pipe of the receiver
is turned down into the mine or other enclosed place, and these conduct the
pure air discharged at each revolution of the cylindrical drum into the receiver,
the water still flowing back into the reservoir.
In case it is desired to use this Invention for the purpose of disinfecting,
purifying, or perfuming the air of confined and other places with no other
alteration or change in the position or parts, I place the purifying, disinfecting,
or perfuming agents in solution with the water or other fluids in the reservoir,
and the air during its passage from the reservoir to the receiver will be found

page_text: on passing off from the air discharge pipe to have been from contact with the
purifying, disinfecting, and perfuming agents held in solution with the water
or other fluids thoroughly purified, disinfected, or perfumed, as the case
may be.
In case it is desired to use this Invention for throwing off water and air at
one and the same time, and also of elevating fluids, I place the apparatus in
such a position that the water or other fluid to be elevated or thrown off shall
by the force of its own gravity flow into the reservoir subject to the regulation
and controul of the float valve, and dispence with the receiver if so desired,
and merely use the vertical pipe, and when the point of elevation to which it
is sought to raise the water is very considerable, I combine two or more of
the apparatus constructed according to this Invention, the first emptying into
the second, the second into the third, until finelly elevated to the desired point,
all working in concert or in combination.