Improvements in and relating to Ventilators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1895.
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1896-Accepted, 18th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ventilators.
I ERNEST HOOPER SHORLAND of Drake Street, Stretford Road, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer and Stove Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to the outlet and inlet panels, boxes or conduits of
ventilating apparatus. Such inlet and outlet orifices are in many cases fitted with
covers or panels which can be opened and closed so as to regulate ventilation. In
public institutions such as lunatic asylums, schools and the like where mischievous
or irresponsible persons have access to the ventilator openings it is sometimes
difficult to prevent interference with these panels.
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby such covers or panels
can be adjusted and fixed in position so that only those in possession of the key or
adjusting instrument are able to alter the position of the panel. Under a convenient
means for effecting my object I pass a screw through the centre of the panel, only
the head of the screw being discernible from the outside. This screw extends
back into the wall box or conduit mouth and passes through a nut which is pivotted
in the centre of a carrier capable of sliding up and down in a curved way formed
for example by two bars fixed in the wall box and curved according to the radial
length of the screw. When the screw is turned by means of a box or other key
fitted over the exposed head the panel or door is opened or closed according to the
direction of rotation of the screw, the pivotted nut with its carrier moving up or
down in the curved way according to the angle of inclination of the panel or door.
When adjusted to the desired position the screw key can be removed and no one is
then able to tamper with the panel or move it except the person in possession of
the key. Although I consider the indicated arrangement to be the most convenient
and sightly I do not confine myself to this as other modes of adjusting and locking
the panel might be adopted. For instance a side or central segment bar with holes
or ratchet teeth and capable of being locked or secured in position might be used
or any other means whereby the panel can be so secured as to prevent unauthorised
tampering therewith.
Dated this 16th day of September 1895.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ventilators.
I ERNEST HOOPER SHORLAND of Drake Street, Stretford Road, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Warming and Ventilating Engineer and Stove
Manufacturer, 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 and accompanying drawings:-
My said invention relates to the outlet and inlet panels, boxes or conduits of

page_text: ventilating apparatus. Such inlet and outlet orifices are in many cases fitted with
covers or panels which can be opened and closed so as to regulate ventilation. In
public institutions such as lunatic asylums, schools and the like where mischievous
or irresponsible persons have access to the ventilator openings it is sometimes
difficult to prevent interference with these panels.
My invention has for its object to provide means whereby such covers or panels
can be adjusted and fixed in position so that only those in possession of the key or
adjusting instrument are able to alter the position of the panel.
My invention will be best understood by a reference to the annexed sheet of
illustrative drawings which I will now proceed to describe.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a panel wall-box ventilator fitted with my improved
mode of moving and adjusting the panel.
Fig. 2 is a section at the line A. B. at right angles to Fig. 1 and viewed from
the right hand side of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the sliding ring and nut to take the
adjusting screw.
:
Fig. 4 illustrates a modification in the method of mounting the screw.
Fig. 5 shows the application of my invention to a sliding perforated panel on the
hit-and-miss principle for regulating the passage of air.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the ventilating box is marked a and is of the usual
construction. The panel 6 for regulating the passage of air is pivotted at 6' and
has shroud sides or wings b' which project inside the box, a layer of felt or other
material being preferably placed between the interior of the box and the side
shrouds so as to prevent noise. A screw c is passed through the boss in the
centre of the panel 6 and is confined at the neck by a collar c, so that the screw
can readily turn but cannot shift longitudinally. The screw c. engages with a nut d
which is pivotted on trunnions e (see Fig. 3) in a ring or carrier f, which ring or
carrier is formed with side slots or ways which engage with curved guides g fixed
in the interior of the box in the manner clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The
screw is turned by a removable key h (shown separately in the drawings) the squared
plug of the key entering a similarly squared recess in the end or head of the screw c,
where it projects through the boss of the panel. The reason for the curved guides g
is that as the screw is turned one way or another the screw is thrown at different
angles as the panel is turned on its pivots. Therefore to accommodate the
carrier to these varying angles it is necessary to provide for the rising and falling
of the carrier and nut and the curved guides g provide the requisite facilities for
automatic adjustment. For example when the panel b is closed, the screw will lie
horizontally and the nut and carrier will have slid about half way down the
guides g. But when the panel open for instance to the extent shown in the
drawing, the screw is tilted at an upward angle and the carrier and nut have been
slid up to the position shown. I do not however confine myself to this mode of
providing for the varying angle of the screw. For example as in Fig. 4 I might
make the screw with a universal joint in its length, that is to say between the
pivotted panel and the nut i. This nuti is pivotted in a bracket & secured to
the upper part of the box a and it will be evident that the varying angles of the
screw c will be readily compensated for by the universal joint assisted by the
pivotted nut i. As in the former instance the screw is rotated by a removable
key h the squared plug engaging with the squared recess in the outer end of the
screw.
My invention is not confined to the type of ventilating box herein before
described. It might for example be applied to the sliding hit-and-miss panels of
the warm air delivery conduits of ventilating grates or stoves. These delivery
panels into interiors are very apt to be interfered with and it is therefore advisable
to make them adjustable only by a master key or special removable appliance. In
Fig. 5 the movabie sliding panel is marked l. The perforations or slots in the
panel are marked and the similar slots in the delivery mouth are shown dotted
behind. The panel is fitted with an excentric m for moving it to and fro. This

page_text: which is
excentric is pivotted to the back plate and occupies a suitably shaped hole in the
panel. In the excentric is a square recess to fit the plug of the key
used to turn the excentric and so close and open or otherwise adjust the panel I.
In the fig. the panel is shown closed. The excentric is preferably boxed in by a
cover not appearing in the drawing but which is fixed so as to leave the square
orifice in the excentric only exposed to view. The whole of the adjustable
ventilating doors, panels and slides in an establishment for instance in a prison,
lunatic asylum, school, workhouse or the like, or it might be in a private house
might be made so as to be movable only by one master key, and instead of the
simple key has described a more elaborate key might be provided, so as to
diminish still more the possibility of the panels or ventilating openings being
tampered with.
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. Rendering the pivotted, sliding or otherwise movable doors, panels or covers
of ventilating conduits, adjustable by means of screws, excentrics or other devices
adapted to be operated by a removable key or appliance so that only the possessor
of the said key or appliance can interfere with the adjustment or regulation of the
said doors, panels or covers substantially as herein before set forth.
2. As means for effecting a locked adjustment of the hinged panel of a ventilator,
the screw e engaging with a nut pivotted in a carrier sliding in curved ways in the
ventilator, the said screw c being so formed at the other end as to engage with and
be operated by a removable key or appliance, for the purposes and substantially as
hereinbefore described and shown.
3. As means for effecting a locked adjustment of the hinged panel of a ventilator
the screw c formed with a universal joint and engaging with a pivotted nut carried
in a bracket, the said screw c being so formed at its outer end as to engage
with and be operated by a removable key or appliance substantially as described
and shown.
4. Operating the sliding panel of a ventilator by means of an excentric so
formed as to engage with and be operated by a removable key or appliance so that
only the possessor of the key or appliance can effect the adjustment and regulation
of the ventilator panel substantially as described and shown.
DL 15th doz of June 1896.
of June 1896.
Dated the 15th day of
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.