Improvements in Apparatus for Ventilating and for Purifying Air, or Separating Dust or Objectionable Matter or Gases therefrom, and for Humidifying and otherwise Conditioning Air.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Ventilating and for Purifying Air,
or Separating Dust or Objectionable Matter or Gases therefrom,
and for Humidifying and otherwise Conditioning Air.
1 JOHN ALSTON HART of Higher Bank Adelaide Terrace Blackburn in the
County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
-
The object of my invention is to provide apparatus by means of which ventilating
and purifying, humidifying or otherwise conditioning air for workshops or other
apartments can be effected in a more efficient manner than hitherto and without
the creation of objectionable draughts or violent currents of air in the lower or
occupied portions of the apartment. A further object of my invention is to provide
means whereby the air can be humidified, warmed, or cooled by steam or water
and freed from dust or objectionable matter so that the necessary amount of water
or watery vapour is taken up by the air and properly distributed without danger of
an objectionable amount of water or other matter being emitted by the apparatus
so as to be improperly supplied and deposited and so that the air is properly
warmed or cooled when required.
Hitherto when relatively large quantities of fresh or other air drawn from
outside or inside the apartment and discharged into the upper part of the apart-
ment in the form of a thin stratum or disc or streams of fresh air expanding and
flowing quickly away from its centre of distribution in a horizontal or approximately
horizontal direction a relatively large quantity or stream of the air of the
apartment is induced to flow along with the said air currents in directions away
from its centre of distribution and the induced removal of this relatively large
quantity or stream of apartment air from the neighbourhood of the centre of the
air discharge induces further currents of apartment air to flow inwards or toward
the centre of the neighbourhood of the air discharge for the purpose of replacing
the apartment air removed by inductive influence and caused to flow away from
this centre and as the vertical height of the apartment above the inhabited portion
is usually so limited and as there are often many irregular obstructions therein
I employ a suitable fan or blower or other suitable means for actuating the air and
drawing it through suitable ducts from outside or inside the apartment and I
arrange means for guiding ejecting, controlling and diffusing a suitable proportion
of the stream of air from and around its centre of distribution in the form of a
complete or interrupted disc of air rapidly expanding in a horizontal direction into
the upper stratum of the apartment air and also to guide and eject control and
diffuse the other part of the air stream in a suitable manner and in directions partly
vertical and partly inclined to a horizontal direction or partly axial and partly
radial directions into those parts of the apartment situated above or below or above
and below and around or in relatively close proximity to the centre of distribution
of that part of the air stream which is discharged in a horizontal direction into
the apartment with the intention that the whole or a part of the inductive power
of the air stream moving rapidly from its centre of distribution in a horizontal
direction may be expended in inducing a part or the whole of the air stream which
was discharged in semi axial directions to move partly along with the horizontal
currents and away from the centre of distribution of the air stream thus partly or
entirely enclosing or shielding the quick moving horizontal streams of air with

page_text: layers or films of air moving at a relatively slow velocity and so by reducing the
inductive influence of the horizontal currents of air upon the apartment air, the
air currents in the inhabited stratum are reduced and also by applying expending
or limiting a part or the whole of the horizontal inductive influence to the air the
efficiency of its distribution is increased and any or all of the means by which
these results are accomplished may be combined with the hereinafter described
means for humidifying and for separating the surplus .humidifying water dust or
objectionable matter from the air currents. In some cases the outer parts of the
fan air passages may be divided into three suitably proportioned horizontal annular
spaces so arranged and provided with propelling vanes that the air passing through
them is divided into three layers or films of air and with these annular spaces I so
arrange guides, divisions and deflectors that the films are discharged in partly
axially and partly radially or in such directions respectively that the currents act
upon each other to diffuse the air properly within a small space. The middle film
of air is discharged in whole or in part in the form of a complete or interrupted
disc or series of jets so as to rapidly expand in a horizontal direction. To
accomplish this object I may utilize the circumferential divisions. between the
propelling vanes and between the top and bottom fan discs combined with suitable
guides, divisions or deflectors to divide guide and diffuse the air streams in the
manner and directions required and I may arrange around the rotating discharge
outlets stationary discs, rings or supports provided with suitable vanes and deflectors
which will also reduce in part or altogether the whirling motion imparted to the
fresh air by the rotation of the fan and thus reduce the inductive influence of these
air currents on the apartment air. In some cases I may attach, or adjust to the
top, or bottom, or top and bottom discs of the fan short cylinders or tubes rotating
or not rotating with the fan, and provided with deflectors or guides so as to guide
and suitably deliver the air and in some cases I may use suitably formed and
shaped perforated or woven or otherwise constructed cages or shields to act upon
and even the conditions of flow of the air water or watery vapour or defiled air
streams, for instance the streams may be moving at too great, or irregular a rate
or in a wrong direction and by means of the perforated shields and deflectors, or
guides, I may control the flow conditions of the streams as required and the shields
or cages may be used to drain surplus water or dust or the like from the air
streams. I may also use similar means to act upon and control the flow conditions
of that part of the fresh or other air and water, or watery vapour streams which
are delivered in a horizontal direction and in the cases in which the means for
dividing, guiding, and diffusing the fresh air, as required are not directly formed
in or rotate with or located close to the centrifugal fan or blower the said means
are suitably arranged so as to receive the air from the fan or blower through a
connecting duct, and then divide guide, purify and diffuse the air into the apartment
in the manner herein before indicated and I may also provide dampers or shutters
and air ducts with a sliding tube or other openings communicating with the air
inside or outside the apartment and so forming an inlet duct or orifice to enable the
defiled air of the apartment (combined or not combined with fresh air) to pass or
circulate through the apparatus, for the purpose of ventilating, heating or cooling,
purifying, humidifying and distributing them into the apartment, so as to suitably.
condition purify or temper the apartment air.
In providing for the humidifying of the air I have in view the desirability
of properly carrying along with the air the proper amount of moisture derived
from clean water in place of the ordinary steam as generated from dirty water
in the steam engine -boiler but so that there is no danger of water depositing
to an objectionable extent in the neighbourhood of the apparatus. With this
object when steam is used for humidifying I arrange the apparatus so that
some or all of its parts through over or about which the steam or watery
vapour passes out to be, carried forward by the air currents may be heated
preparatory to the steam or watery vapour issuing therefrom and so also that
the steam may expand on entering, this heating I prefer to effect by means of

page_text: the steam itself first traversing in contact with or in close proximity to the said
parts before it enters the lower part of an evaporating basin or annular trough
provided with suitable outlets for the steam to pass directly into the air of the
apartment and also provided with an inlet for the fresh or clean water which has
to be evaporated. A convenient and efficient arrangement of means to humidify
the air after it has issued from the fan, or motor consists of a partial or complete
ring or a coil of suitable section and of one or more complete turn or turns and
provided with an outlet or overflow for leading away the condensed steam from the
apparatus and an inlet through which a stream of steam of relatively high pressure
enters and wherein it may expand to a relatively low pressure and temperature all,
or the lower part of this coil may be located at, or near the bottom of an annular
trough or basin which is provided with a suitable overflow outlet for draining away
any surplus water and the height of this overflow outlet above the bottom of the
trough or basin may be varied and adjustable so as to retain a variable depth of
water in the trough or basin so that a greater or lesser area of heating coil may be
utilized in evaporating the water in the trough or basin and so vary the action of
the humidifying means. In some cases walls may be secured to the coil so as
to form a trough of which the coil forms the bottom or side or sides so that water
dropped or run into the trough will be evaporated for humidifying purposes. The
annular trough or basin is provided with clean water inlets, outlets, shields,
deflectors and divisions, through over, or from which the evaporated steam or
watery vapour may be drained of excessively large particles of water and so pass
directly or indirectly into the stream of fresh or apartment air, and the steam coil
is so arranged relative to the outlet of the humidifier that the steam or watery
vapour issuing or passing away from the trough or basin may pass over, or in close
proximity to the previously warmed steam coil. In some cases the steam coil may
be situated in part in the outlet of the annular trough or basin by which the
humidifying steam or watery vapour passes into the air currents and this
humidifying apparatus is so arranged in relation to the air currents that these
currents tend to sweep any drops of water back into the trough or basin or
onto the warmed surfaces there to be evaporated, or drained back into the basin
or trough thus preventing excessively large drops or quantities of water escaping
into the air currents. In some cases 1 may arrange overflow channels or basin
around or about this humidifying apparatus to catch and drain away any drops of
water which might otherwise be deposited improperly in the apartment. If in
place of steam, water, or steam and water be used for humidifying warming or
purifying (or any or all combined) the air and also if a centrifugal fan rotating in
a horizontal plane and discharging its contents at, or about, its periphery be used
for actuating the air or water streams, and the process of humidification be
preceded by the injection of, and intimate combination of a finely divided stream of
warmed or cooled water, or steam and water, with the streams of air before or as
they enter the supply duct or fan, wherein, and whereby they are so whirled
and closely intermingled together as to afford a sufficient opportunity for the air to
absorb a part or all of its full charge of moisture from the humidifying stream,
and these combined streams of air and water and dirt or water vapour being.
discharged at, or about, the periphery of the fan into through and from a casing
with outlets arranged around and partly enclosing the fan and a part of its inlet
duct, and within, or about this casing are means for separating and draining
the surplus water and dirt from the air currents, the outlets from this casing
being so arranged in relation to the separating means that before the air and dirt
and water, or watery vapour carried thereby pass out of the said outlets, only
such fine globules of water as can be carried by the air and properly distributed
can issue with the air from the said outlets, and to effect this separation and
drainage the separating and draining means are situated entirely or in part inside
the casing, and may consist of perforated sheets, rings, cages, and draining
surfaces, chambers, and channels, suitably formed and arranged around or about
and stationary or rotating with the fan, so that the currents of air and dirt and

page_text: water, or watery vapour, passing and being guided over, about, or through them
in a centrifugal, or other directions, may be separated and drained apart from
each other, and in those cases where a part or all of the perforated caps, rings,
drainage chambers, or channels rotate inside the casing, their efficiency as
separators may be much increased thereby and the outer surfaces of the top and
bottom fan discs may also be used as centrifugal separating means, and in
addition to the above separating and draining means, annular rings, discs,
deflectors, guides and spiral or other formed channels, as well as chambers, and
drain pipes, may be used to change the condition of, or direction of motion of, or
to alternately quicken, or slower, or expand, and concentrate, the air, and dirt
and water current, and thus enable the air currents to throw out of its circuit or
path, and so drain apart, the surplus water dirt or watery vapour from the air
currents, and in those cases where a suitable fan is not directly available for the
purpose of actuating and separating in combination with the above means inside
the casing, which partially encloses the separating apparatus then suitable guides
and ducts may be used to influence and control the directions and conditions of flow
of the air and dirt and water, or watery vapour streams passing through the
separating device and I may arrange basins grooves or channels around or about the
air outlets to catch and drain away any excessive moisture or dirt before it drips
improperly into the apartment. The surfaces or parts which may be damaged by the
action of the water or steam may be covered with vitrified, or other enamel, or other-
wise protected, and the air may pass out at the top or bottom, or top and bottom of
the separating device on its way to or through the parts which divide direct and
control its flow into the atmosphere of the apartment. I may also place a heating
coil, damper and inlet hood and openings to the apartment atmosphere in suitable
parts of or about the air duct and in some cases I may affix to the fan discs (or
other parts arms or projections or discs with vanes attached thereto to actuate or
rotate the air and dirt and water or watery vapour streams) inside the casing of
the separating apparatus, to increase the separating efficiency thereof, and a
centrifugal pump or other device may be formed in one with or attached to, or
function with the air fan, and provided with suitable pipes nozzles, and a screening
or filtering means, to actuate receive filter and deliver in a finely divided condition
the streams of water used for humidifying the air currents, and in some cases I
may arrange the humidifying and separating apparatus in or about any part of the
apparatus, through which the air currents enter or. flow, and I may use ducts pipes,
or nozzles, and a stream of air under pressure from the fan or blower as means for
breaking up or spraying the stream of humidifying water and mixing it with the air
streams and in some cases the cages or perforated sheets may be formed with
suitable channels or irregularly formed perforations or openings to filter or drain
apart the surplus water or dirt passing through or over them and I may form the
cages or perforated sheets either of plain perforated metal of the requisite thickness
and size and arrangement of perforations or otherwise for instance in some cases
of reticulated material or of sheets from which the metal is stabbed or forced to
form the perforations of the necessary length by means of the displaced metal
as well as of the thickness in the metal of the plate itself.
.
The cages or sheets may be of a spherical or spheroidal or starfish or other
formation for the purposes berein-indicated and the surplus water may be caused
to wash away dirt as well as humidify the air passing through or over the cages or
perforated sheets and the air currents from the fan or blower and distributing
means may discharge or guide the air in the form of intermittent or quickly
reversed numerous small or large streams so as to partially neutralize or antagonise
many of the relatively quick moving streams passing round about or through every
or all of the points in the space of or sphere of the air distribution so that the
discharged air as a whole may be controlled so as to be more efficiently distributed
without objectionable draughts in the lower portion of the apartment all or any of
the herein indicated means may be combined with or form part of similar means
for gathering and ejecting the apartment air and dust or other objectionable matter

page_text: from the apartment into the outside atmosphere and the two or more actuating lans
may be mounted on the same spindle and in some cases dust and dirt pockets and
outlet funnels or doors or channels and endless screws slowly rotating therein
may be provided for the withdrawal of dust or dirt from the apparatus, the fan
passages may be alternately crossed or arranged to actuate two separate streams
of air one of which streams is afterwards discharged as herein stated into the
apartment and the other ejected through a suitable duct into the outside atmosphere
or to a conditioning and purifying means and again into the apartment. This may
be done by dividing and crossing the spaces between the vanes and their diaphragms.
so that they gather and also eject the two air streams in different horizontal or
approximately horizontal planes or the crossed or alternate passages may be.
arranged around and about two sets of fan discharge outlets arranged one above
the other and provided with inlets for the two streams to enter thereto and ducts.
for delivering them as required. These ducts may be alongside each other or one-
may pass inside and through the other.
The cages or perforated sheets and jets or nozzles for distributing the air to the
apartment may be caused to vibrate to direct and distribute the air currents to all
points. One method of accomplishing this is by slinging or suspending by chains
or wires the cage or perforated sheets with their nozzles or jets attached thereto.
and arranging them so as to be relatively free to move as required so that the
whirling air currents inside them may move them partly around in or about a horizontal
plane and slightly raise the cage in a vertical direction and causing the suspending
chains or wires to be moved to the necessary degree from their vertical position,.
after which the cage and suspending chains or wires will swing back and around
in opposite directions after the manner of a pendulum oscillating mainly about and
around a horizontal plane. The cage or perforated sheets may be of any form
which will properly distribute the air-but a spherical or spheroidal form is very
suitable for the purpose. Heating coils may be arranged in the path of the air
currents to the distributing cages and nozzles to evaporate any excess of watery
vapor in the air currents and so stop condensation in the distributing cages and:
nozzles or jets.
In some cases I may arrange a separate set of vanes or fans to receive and'
re-energize a part of the air which has been suitably conditioned and purified by
the apparatus herein indicated and provided with suitable means for utilizing it in:
the directing and current controlling jets or nozzles thus doing away with any
special separator or purifier for this part of the air stream and enabling the main.
part of the air stream to be more freely dealt with by the apparatus.
For supplying warm or cold water to the humidifier, purifier, and conditioning-
means I may employ a vessel provided with a warming or cooling coil or other
passages or spaces for warming or cooling agents so that the air currents may be
warned or cooled and humidified or conditioned by the water stream so cooled or
warmed in addition to the effect of conditioning devices in other parts of the
apparatus. When cages formed in one piece (or in several parts hinged together
to facilitate cleaning) are used to gently gather the apartment or dust laden air the
said cages may be coned with the smaller part downwards so that when the
actuating parts of the apparatus stop any accumulation of dust fibres or the like.
may more easily fall away from the cage into a receptacle below and these cages
and ducts for defiled apartment air may be situated above or below or above and
below the outlets from which air is redistributed into the apartment. The jets.
nozzles or equivalents which partly direct and control the distribution of the air in-
the apartment may be mounted so as to be adjustable by being carried upon swivel
or ball joints or be made of some flexible material so as to vary the direction of
the currents and second or third sets of long or short jets may be arranged to
discharge at varying distances from the centre of air distribution to re-energize
or redirect the air currents and any or all of these jets may be supplied
with air from a common supply duct which is charged by the ventilating fan
or by any other suitable motor as in some instances screw propellers may

page_text: actuate the main ventilating streams at such a slow speed or pressure as to be
unsuitable for the directing and controlling jets or nozzles.
Dated this 18th day of April 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in Apparatus for Ventilating and for Purifying Air,
or Separating Dust or Objectionable Matter or Gases therefrom,
and for Humidifying and otherwise Conditioning Air.
I, JOHN ALSTON HART, of Higher Bank Adelaide Terrace Blackburn in the
County of Lancaster Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The object of my invention is to provide apparatus by means of which ventilating
and purifying, humidifying, or otherwise conditioning, air for workshops, or other
apartments, can be effected in a more efficient manner than hitherto, and without
the creation of objectionable draughts, or violent currents of air, in the lower, or
occupied, portions of the apartment.
A further object of my invention is to provide means whereby the air can be
humidified, warmed, or cooled, by steam, or water, and freed from dust, or objec-
tionable matter, so that the necessary amount of water, or watery vapour, is taken
up by the air, and properly distributed, without danger of an objectionable amount
of water, or other matter, being emitted by the apparatus so as to be improperly
supplied, and deposited; and so that the air is properly warmed, or cooled, when
required.
I employ a suitable fan, or blower, or other suitable means, for actuating the air,
and drawing it through suitable ducts from outside, or from inside, the apartment,
and I arrange means for guiding, ejecting, controlling, and diffusing, the stream of
air from, and around, its centre of distribution in the form of a complete, or
interrupted, disc of air, rapidly expanding in a horizontal direction into the upper
stratum of the apartment-air, and all, or any, of the means by which these results
are accomplished according to my invention may be combined with the hereinafter
described means for humidifying, and for separating the surplus humidifying water,
dust, or objectionable matter, from, the air currents.
In providing for the humidifying of the air I have in view the desirability of
properly carrying along with the air the proper amount of moisture derived from
clean water. To insure clean water, a certain amount of water may be caused to
overflow by supplying an excess beyond that evaporated by the air currents.
For supplying warm, or cold, water to the humidifier purifier and conditioning
means I may employ a vessel provided with a warming, or cooling, coil, or other
passages, or spaces, for the warming, or cooling, agent, so that the air currents may be
warmed, or cooled, and humidified, or conditioned, by the water stream so cooled,
or warmed, in addition if desired to the effect of conditioning devices in other parts
of the apparatus. For cooling the air, cooled brine, or the like, may be caused to
circulate through the coil; and for warming the air, steam, or hot water, may be
caused to circulate through the said coil.
A centrifugal pump, or other device, may be employed in conjunction with the
air fan and it may be provided with suitable pipes nozzles and screening or filtering
means to actuate, receive, filter, and deliver in a finely divided condition, the streams
of water used for humidifying the air currents. This pump or like device should
deliver say about 1 to 2 gallons of water per minute to each humidifying and

page_text: purifying cover, cage, or shield, of the size hereinafter described and illustrated
I may use suitably formed and shaped woven, or otherwise constructed, cages, or
shields, to act upon and even the conditions of flow of the air, water or watery
vapour, streams.
For instance the streams may be moving at too great, or too
irregular a rate, or in a wrong direction, and by means of the woven shields and
deflectors, or guides, 1 may control the conditions of flow as required and the
shields, or cages, may be used to drain surplus water, or dust, or the like, from the
air streams. If it be desired to intercept excessively small particles of dirt which
there may be in the air, finer and closer woven material may be used but
then the area thereof must be increased so as not to materially interfere with the
streams.
The material of the cages or shields may be unhooked and removed from the
apparatus for washing or other purpose or when in winter it is liable to be snowed
up or frozen.
The surplus water may be caused to wash away dirt as well as to humidify the
air passing through, or over, the cages, or screens but great excess of water should
be guarded against so as not to unduly interfere with the air currents-1 to 2 gallons
of water per minute giving good effect when dealing with air in ordinary condition
as regards dirt, and the means for water distribution should be so adjusted as to
keep the cages or screens uniformly moist or wet on all sides. I nay arrange the
humidifying and separating apparatus in, or about, any part of the apparatus
through which the air currents enter, or flow; for instance at, or about, the inlet
end of the air duct, or at, or about, the outlet for the air currents. I may arrange
basins, grooves, or channels, around, or about, the air outlets, to catch, and drain
away, any excessive moisture, or dirt, before it drips or passes improperly into the
apartment.
I may also place a heating coil, damper, and inlet hood, in suitable parts of, or
about, the air duct; for instance, a coil of suitable dimensions may be arranged in
the main air duct for heating the air passing there-through; the warmed air will
evaporate more water from the humidifying cages or screens.
The cages or perforated screens or sheets, and jets, or nozzles, for distributing the
air to the apartment may be caused to vibrate or oscillate or to be vibrated or oscillated
to direct and distribute the air currents to all points. One method of accomplishing
this, is by slinging, or suspending, by chains, or wires, the cage, or perforated
screens or sheets, with their nozzles, or jets, attached thereto; and arranging them
so as to be relatively free to move as required so that the whirling air currents
inside them may move them partly around, in, or about, a horizontal plane, and
slightly raise the cage or the like in a vertical direction and causing the suspending
chains, or wires, to be moved to the necessary degree from their vertical position,
after which the cage or the like and suspending chains, or wires, will swing back
and around in opposite directions, after the manner of a pendulum, oscillating
mainly about, and around, a horizontal plane. In this case the cage or the like is
not rigidly fixed to the main air duct but a slight clearance is provided to allow of
free oscillation and by these oscillations the distribution and diffusion of the air
currents is improved. The jet nozzles, or equivalents, which partly direct and
control the distribution of the air in the apartment may be mounted so as to be
adjustable by being carried upon swivel, or ball, joints, or they may be made of
some flexible material so as to vary the direction of the currents. The jets nozzles
or equivalents being moved to the position required can then be secured in the
adjusted position by clamping screws, or otherwise a slight clearance being provided
between the edges of the jets or the like, and the cage or screen to allow of
swivelling. When the air issuing from the jets or the like is considerably warmer
than that in the apartment it tends to rise above the level of the jets or the like so
that by adjusting the jets or the like to throw the air in a downward direction the
trajectory or line of flight of the air currents may be improved. When the air
issuing from the jets or the like is considerably cooler than the apartment air, the
jets or the like may be adjusted to throw the air currents in an upward direction

page_text: and so increase the distance to which the air is thrown and increase the time for
diffusion and warming the cold air before it enters the level of inhabited strata of
the apartment.
The accompanying drawings illustrate apparatus constructed and arranged
according to my invention.
Figure 1 shews in elevation a humidifying chamber constructed according to my
invention fitted to an inclined roof of a building, a portion only of the outer casing.
of fabric or fibrous material being shewn. The means for suitably distributing the
humidified air may be of any suitable déscription for example such as are shewn
and described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 1272 A.D. 1894 granted
to me.
Figure 2 is a plan of the said chamber with the top, or cover, removed, and
Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the same shewing the water
trough and the fibrous material down which the water is caused to descend.
Figure 4 is a section of the description of fibrous material I prefer to employ.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a vertical section and plan of a humidifying
and cooling, or warming, apparatus constructed according to my invention combined
with a ventilating device constructed according to any of the air distributing
methods described in the Specification of the said Letters Patent No. 1272
A.D. 1894 for example, the arrangement shewn in Figure 11 of that Specification.
Figure 7 represents in elevation and Figure 8 in plan another form of humidifying
chamber, constructed according to my invention there being shewn combined with
it an air distributing apparatus similar to our arrangement described in the
Specification of my said Patent 1272 A.D. 1894 and
Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a side elevation and a horizontal section of a
swivelling, or hinged, nozzle or jet for the high tension currents of air.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, A represents a chamber (triangular in plan)
applied to the roof B (say of a weaving shed) the said chamber consisting of three
upright supports C connected at their upper ends by a water trough D and at their
lower ends by strips D and to the roof B. The outer casing constituting the sides
of this chamber consists of fibrous or woven material Fattached at its upper end
by pins G to the top edge of the water trough D its lower end being similarly
attached by pins G2 to the strips D². The said material may be secured to the
pins by wires passed over the fibrous material beneath the pins. The surplus
material F at the top may dip into the trough D as shewn in Figure 3 although
this is not essential and the surplus material at the lower end forms a flap joint
between the strips D and the roof slates as shewn in Figure 1. The top of this
chamber is closed in by a lid, or cover, H, resting ou the top of the water trough.
This triangular chamber A may rest on the slates of the roof of a weaving shed and
the water trough be levelled so as to ensure the equal distribution of the water ou
all sides by inserting wedges between the uprights C and the slates. The air duct I
passes through an opening in the roof, the upper end of the said air duct extending
some distance into the humidifying chamber. The air from the exterior can enter
the chamber A only through the surrounding fibrous or woven fabric F the said air
being drawn thereinto and down through the duct I by means of any suitable
ventilating fan or blower with jets and a cage or the like as in my said Specifi-
cation 1272 A.D. 1894 by means of which fan or blower and air distributing devices
the air is distributed in the apartment with which the duct communicates.
Water
for humidifying, and warming, or cooling, the air is supplied to the trough D
through a pipe K the water flowing over the edge of the said trough and trickling
down the fabric or fibrous material F. The vertical edges of the fabric may be
joined together by stitching or in any other suitable manner. The fabric which I.
prefer to use for this purpose consists of cocoa nut fibre or coir fibre arranged with
the warp threads in the vertical direction. In the weaving of this fabric I prefer
that the warp threads (1 Figure 4) be composed of 91 double and twisted strands
or threads to each foot in width of the fabric each strand or thread being composed
of two threads twisted together the number of turns which twist them together

page_text: being say about 20 turns to each foot in length of the fabric. Each of these single
threads has about 37 turns in one foot of the length of fabric and the whole of the
91 double warp threads weighs 4 ounces when washed free from grease and dried
at a temperature of 60° Fahrenheit. The weft threads (2 Figure 4) are say
about 32 to each foot of length of the fabric, each weft thread being composed of
two single threads twisted together by about 20 turns in each foot of width of the
fabric and each single thread being spun with about 25 turns in the length used in
each foot in width of the fabric. The 32 double threads in each foot of the length of
fabric weigh 14 ounces when free from grease and dried at a temperature of
60° Fahrenheit. Thas each square foot of the fabric weighs 6 ounces.
I have
given these minute details in the construction of the fabric as I have found this to
answer well in practice but I do not restrict myself thereto as fabrics otherwise
constructed may be used. Referring to Figures 5 and 6 D represents the water
trough of a humidifying purifying and cooling, or warming, apparatus combined
with any suitable ventilating apparatus such for instance as are described in iny
said Specification 1272 A.D. 1894 and shewn at Figure 11 of the drawings
accompanying that Specification. The fan B2 of this ventilator is say about
20 inches diameter and is rotated at a speed of about 1200 revolutions per
minute thereby drawing fresh air down through the duct I and delivering it
through the perforated periphery h of a zinc cage which should be about 30 inches
in diameter and 20 inches in depth. The bottom of the said cage is readily
detachable by removing screws a so as to gain access to the interior of the cage and
to the fan B to remove it from its spindle when required. The perforations in the
periphery of the cage are circular th of an inch in diameter and the thickness
of the perforated zine should be 180 of an inch. The perforations should be at
equal distances apart and each inch area of the perforated periphery should contain
20 perforations. J are radiating nozzles or air jets of one inch bore through which
air is driven by the fan from the interior of the cage. Surrounding the cage is
an outer cage F of fibrous material such as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 the said cage F being connected at its upper end to an
annular flange L projecting from the uter side of a conical rim M secured to the
top of the cage and forming the outside of the annular water trough D the said
cage F being held in position by pins G projecting from the flange L. To the
bottom of the cage is bolted a conical depending rim N to the lower edge
of which is connected an annular trough O containing an upwardly projecting
rim P having pins G to which the lower edge of the cage F is secured. Water is
supplied to the trough D by a pipe K and the said water overflows through
perforations d in the upper part of the outer wall of the trough on to the annular
flange L which conducts it on to the cage F which it trickles, the surplus water
falling into the trough O and passing therefrom through a pipe or passage P². The
water passing through these perforations in a finely divided condition down
the cage F humidifies purifies and warms or cools the air flowing through it from
the cage
h on its way into the apartment.
In the trough D is a coil Q through which steam may be caused to pass to heat
the water in the trough; or cooled brine may be caused to circulate through the
said coil to cool the humidifying water before it passes on to the cage F, and so
warm or cool (as the case may be,) the air passing through the said cage F. The
surplus water flowing from the pan or trough O may be conducted back to a
centrifugal pump by which the water may be returned to the trough D in which
case the punip should be such as to deliver to the apparatus of the size described
from 1 to 2 gallons of water per minute. Should much more than this quantity be
supplied the interstices or passages for the air. to pass through may be choked or
impeded with such excess supply and so by limiting the area of exit cause excessive
pressure of air to pass through the interstices or passages and blow the water to an
objectionable extent into the apartment.
The nozzles, or air jets, J from the cage extend through the cage F and to

page_text: the outer ends thereof there may be connected swivelling, or hinged, nozzles J' as
shewn on the right hand side of Figure 5, the said. hinged nozzles being retained
in their angular or adjusted position by clamping screw J³ or otherwise.
Figures 9 and 10 represent in elevation and sectional plan the swivelling nozzle as
hinged to the cage h.
In the arrangement illustrated by Figures 7 and 8 the air duct I is provided at
its outer end with a cone I' arranged over the top of the humidifier the said cone
being provided at D with a narrow wall or cylinder of perforated material similar
to that of which the rim H Figure 5 is formed, thus constituting with the outer
and lower part of the cone L an annular water trough with a perforated wall
through the perforations in which water, which is supplied to the trough by the
pipe K, passes on to fibrous material F constituting the outer wall or cage of the
humidifier down which cage the water trickles into a trough O surrounding
the bottom of the said humidifier. The cage F is attached at its upper end to the
rim 13 by means of pins G as in the arrangements hereinbefore described and at its
lower end by pins G³ to a rim projecting from the inner wall of the lower trough O.
The air duct I communicates at its inner end with the fan B2 in the cage h which
may be similar in construction to that illustrated by Figure 11 of the drawing
accompanying the Specification of my aforesaid Letters Patent 1272 A.D. 1894.
If desired the cage and jets J herein before described instead of being connected
to the air duct I may be carried by rods or chains depending from the ceiling or
other suitable part of the apartment a slight clearance being provided in the top
plate of the cage through which the air duct 1 passes to admit of the cage and jets
oscillating.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for ventilating and for purifying humidifying or otherwise con-
ditioning air, the combination with a fan or equivalent device and a cage and jets
as described in the Specification of my Patent No. 1:72 A.D. 1894 or equivalent
means for creating and distributing currents of air and an inlet for air to the fan
or the like, of a cage or casing enclosing or surrounding the inlet for air to the
fan, or the like, the side or sides of the said cage or casing consisting of fabric or
fibrous material through which the air is caused to pass to the fan and means for
causing water to pass down the said fabric or fibrous material so that the air
passing therethrough is humidified substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the examples shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 and Figures 7 and 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus for the purpose described the combination with a fan, or
equivalent device for creating currents of air, an inlet for air to the said fan or the
like and a perforated cage surrounding the said fan and provided with air
distributing nozzles, or any of the means for distributing air as described in the
Specification of my Patent 1272 A.D. 1894 or equivalent means of a cage or
casing of fabric or fibrous material through which air from the fan or the like and
the distributing device is caused to pass into the apartment, and means for causing
water to pass onto and down the fabric or fibrous material so that the air passing
through the said material into the apartment is humidified substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the example shewn in Figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus of the kind hereinbefore described and claimed swivelling or
adjustable nozzles or jets for directing the currents of air passing through them, in
the desired direction substantially as hereinbefore described.
. 4. In apparatus for the purpose described the combination with a fan or
equivalent means for inducing currents of air, and an inlet for air to the said fan
or the like, of a cage with air jets through which the air from the fan or the like

page_text: is caused to pass into the apartment, the said cage being supported so as to be free
to vibrate or oscillate or to be vibrated or oscillated substantially as herein before
described.
5. The various means hereinbefore described for humidifying, purifying and
otherwise conditioning air, in combination with any suitable device for causing the
air to come into contact with the humidifying or like device and for suitably
distributing it into the apartment substantially as herein before described.
6. The several constructions, arrangements or combinations of parts constituting
the several apparatus substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the several figures of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of February 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.