IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS FOR FORCING AND EXHAUSTING AIR OR OTHER GASES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Hughes, of Bagillt, in the County of Flint,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS FOR FORCING AND EXHAUSTING
AIR OR OTHER GASES."
Sealed the 29th April 1864, and dated the 4th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Hughes at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
November 1863.
I, EDWARD HUGHES, of Bagillt, in the County of Flint, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FANS FOR FORCING AND
EXHAUSTING AIR OR OTHER GASES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a screw fan composed of sections of an archi-
median screw arranged on a horizontal shaft or axis, revolving at a greater or
less depth in water, and arched over by a close fitting and air-tight cover.
This improved fan is intended to be employed for exhausting or forcing
atmospheric air or other gases for the ventilation of mines, collieries, buildings,
and all places and purposes where ventilation is required for assisting the
condensation of metallic fumes or acid or other vapours which arise in metal-
lurgical and chemical processes, and for the blowing of blast furnaces, cupolas,
hearths, forges, and similar purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd May 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
HUGHES, of Bagillt, in the County of Flint, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edward Hughes, Her special license that I, the said Edward
Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Edward Hughes, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FANS FOR FORCING AND EXHAUSTING AIR OR OTHER GASES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Edward Hughes, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Hughes, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
This Invention consists in a screw fan composed of sections of an Archi-
median screw arranged on a horizontal shaft or axis revolving at a greater or
lesser depth in water, and arched over by a close fitting and air-tight cover.
This improved fan is intended to be employed for exhausting or forcing atmo-
spheric air or other gases for the ventilation of mines, collieries, buildings,
and all places and purposes where ventilation is required for assisting the
condensation of metallic fumes or acid or other vapours which arise in metal-
lurgical and chemical processes, and for the blowing of blast furnaces, cupolas,
hearths, forges, and similar purposes.
This Invention will be clearly understood by referring to the figures and

page_text: letters on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a trans-
verse section of the case and cover of my improved fan, with an end elevation
of the screw; Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the case and cover and side
elevation of the screw; Fig. 3 an end elevation of the machine; and Fig. 4
a sectional plan of the case with a plan of the screw, and similar letters in all
the Figures refer to the same parts in each.
The body of the fan is constructed of sections of a many-threaded Archi-
median screw a, a, a, attached to the central shaft or axis b. This screw is
immersed in water of any convenient depth, but by preference nearly to the
depth of the semi-diameter of the screw, as shewn by the dotted line h, which
water is contained in the case or cistern c, the ends of the axis of the screw
passing through stuffing boxes in the ends of the case.
The said case is pro-
vided with a cover d fitting closely to the periphery of the screw, but not so
as to impede its free revolution, which cover is fixed at the sides to the necks
e, forming the passages for the entrance and exit of the air, gas, or vapour.
Motion is communicated to the axis of the screw by any convenient method,
such as the belt pulley f. It is advisable to make the case wider than the
diameter of the screw, and place a partition g on each side with spaces at the
ends; this arrangement by allowing the water to circulate lessens the dis-
turbance caused by the action of the screw. The diameter and length of the
screw, the number and pitch of the blades, and the speed of revolution, will
vary with the purpose to which it is applied. The materials of which the
screw and case are to be composed will also vary; as for instance, when the
machine is applied to the exhaustion of condensers, towers, or other apparatus
for the condensing of metallic or acid fumes, or where the gases passing
through the machine may be heated above the ordinary temperature. The
screw by its more or less rapid revolution causes a strong current of air to
pass through the machine, and it will be especially suited for exhausting as it
maintains a powerful current and is free from the complex mechanism of
pistons, valves, and similar appliances. It also works with much greater
economy of power than fans depending for their effect upon centrifugal
action.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood
that I claim, in fans for forcing and exhausting air and other gases, the
system of causing an Archimedian screw formed of any suitable number of
segments fixed to a horizontal shaft to revolve in a case containing water and
covering the screw with an air-tight cover, there being apertures at the top or

page_text: at the ends of the upper part of the case for the entrance and exit of the blast
or gases.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Hughes, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Edward Hughes,
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
EDWP. HUGHES. (L.S.)