IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING SHIPS'-CABINS, STORE- HOUSES, AND OTHER ENCLOSED SPACES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING SHIPS'-CABINS, STORE-
HOUSES, AND OTHER ENCLOSED SPACES." A communication from abroad by
Patrick Mihan. of Chelsea, Massachusetts, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd November 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
VENTILATING SHIPS'-CABINS, STOREHOUSES, AND OTHER ENCLOSED SPACES."
[A communication from abroad by Patrick Mihan, of Chelsea, Massachusetts,
United States of America.]
This Invention relates to that class of devices by which air in cabins of vessels,
public halls, storehouses, and other enclosed spaces is intended to be gradually
changed, by substituting pure air, introduced into such spaces for the foul air
which is displaced.
The said Invention consists, first, in the peculiar form or construction of the
apparatus or injector by which the pure air is introduced into the compartment or
space to be so ventilated; and, secondly, in the combination with such introducing
or injecting apparatus of an exhaust or outlet passage, through which the foul air
is expelled by the introduction of pure air, as before stated.
In carrying this Invention into practice, a tank, reservoir, ships' cabin, or apart-
ment to be ventilated is provided with an air injecting ventilator, which is formed
with a vertical conduit, which may for most purposes be preferably formed with a
rectangular area of cross section; and the several sides thereof (at or near the
bottom) may be formed with wedge shaped passages for the escape of the air into
the apartment or space to be ventilated.
One side of said conduit (at its upper end) constitutes the radius point from
which is projected an arc, the right hand terminus whereof is at or slightly below a
horizontal line projected from said radius point, said are constituting the contour of
the head, casing, or top of the ventilator conduit. The two sides of the head are

page_text: cut by a line, which extends from said terminus of the arc in a converging direction,
and intersects the side from a continuation of which the said arc is struck.
Extending from one side to the other are curved partitions which subdivide the
space between the head and the vertical side adjacent thereto, the lower one of said
spaces being closed in front, as the partition at its inner edge joins the wall. The
apartment or space to be ventilated is also provided with an escape device having
an outlet conduit which communicates freely with the said space, but its walls do
not descend therein; this escape device is provided with a hood or top having a
curved cover, and with a series of escape passages arranged below said top and
around the periphery thereof.
In the practical operation of my ventilator the air enters through the spaces
between the curved partitions of the injector, thence it is deflected by the curved
top thereof; as it advances into the conduit, and as it arrives in its descent at the
wedge-shaped passages hereinbefore mentioned, it escapes into the apartment or
space, from which it expels the foul air up the conduit of the escape-device and out
through the escape passages thereof as stated.
By reason of the semi circular line for the head of the injector, and the over-
hanging line formed thereby, along which are arranged the openings hereinbefore
specified, the air which enters said openings is first slightly deflected upwards by
the slight curve of the partitions in the head or top, which gives it a movement
parallel with the line of this head; it is then deflected strata by strata by and
around the arc of the circle, each strata describing an arc unlike the others, but all
entering the vertical conduit, whence they descend as described.
By forming outlet passages with an upwardly diminishing width, but a limited
portion of the injected air escapes at the upper portion of the apartment, while the
greater portion escapes near the bottom, thus allowing the foul air to escape from
the upper portion of the room without mingling with and comtaminating the puré
air as it enters.
While the air will enter through the injector with rapidity and force, yet water,
by reason of its greater weight and entire lack of elasticity, will not to any
material extent find its way into the vertical conduit, unless the same be submerged
below the radius point of its head; for if the water enters apertures in the head of
the injector with sufficient force to reach the interior of the arc or head, it will fall
back outside of the radius point thereof.
According to a modification of this Invention the injector is formed with any
desired number of faces, but preferably in the shape of an octagon, and divided into
a number of compartments corresponding to its sides, and separated by radial
partitions; the arc of each compartment terminates at one extremity at the common
centre, but the partitions and the overhanging part of the head are arranged in
substantially the same manner as herein before specified.
At the base of the vertical conduit a series of horizontal steam pipes may be
arranged between the walls of the conduit and the surrounding wall, which is of
such height as to leave an air space between its upper edge and seat, whereby the
air escapes through the same and is distributed through apertures in the outer
enclosing wall upon which the front of the seat rests.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd May
1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
VENTILATING SHIPS' CABINS, STOREHOUSES, AND OTHER ENCLOSED SPACES."
A communication from abroad by Patrick Mihan, of Chelsea, Massachusetts,
United States of America.
1
This Invention relates to that class of devices by which the air in rooms, cabins
of vessels, public halls, storehouses, and other enclosed spaces, is intended to be
gradually changed by substituting pure air introduced into such spaces for the foul
air which is displaced by the entrance of such pure air.
The said Invention comprises the peculiar form or construction of the apparatus
or injector, by which the pure air is introduced into the compartment or space to
be so ventilated, and also comprises the combination with such introducing or
injecting apparatus of an exhaust or outlet passage through which the foul air is
expelled by the introduction of pure air, as before stated.
In the accompanying Drawings,,
Figure 1 represents in vertical section a tank or space having my improved
ventilator or ventilating apparatus applied thereto, and
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the head or upper portion of the air injector, as
viewed from the right hand end of the apparatus, shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of a modified form of the said ventilator, and
represents the same provided at its base with a series of steam pipes arranged to
heat the inpassing air, and with a seat arranged above the said pipes and around
the ventilator conduit, as hereinafter more fully explained, and
Figure 4 is an inverted or underside view of the said ventilator with the parts
situate at the base of the same omitted.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, showing my improved ventilator formed circular in
transverse section, and with a covering for the air spaces which are shown as
opened, and
Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said ventilator.
Figure 7 is a horizontal transverse section of the said ventilator.
Figure 8 is a horizontal transverse section on the line W, W, Figures 5, 6, 9.
Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the conical or air admitting portion or
section of the said ventilator.
In Figure 1, E represents a tank, reservoir, ship's cabin, or apartment to be
ventilated; B is the air injecting ventilator, formed with the vertical conduit C,
which is preferably rectangular in cross section, and whose several sides a at or
near the bottom may be formed with wedge shaped passages a¹ for the escape of
the air which passes through the said conduit into the apartment E. The side a³
of the said conduit C terminates at its upper end at a point d, which constitutes
the radius point, from which is projected the arc f, the right hand terminus whereof
is at or slightly below a horizontal line projected from the said radius point d, the
said are constituting the contour of the head, casing, or top of the ventilator
conduit. The two sides a, a, of the head, as shown in Figure 2, are cut by the
line b, the opening extending from the terminus of the line f in a converging
direction and intersecting the side a², as shown in Figure 1.
Extending from one to the other of the said sides a, a, are the curved
.

page_text: partitions c, c, which equally subdivide the space on said line b, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, the lower one of the said spaces being closed in front as the
partition at its inner edge joins the wall a². The apartment, tank, or room E is
provided with an escape device D, having an outlet or escape conduit A, which
communicates freely with the said apartment, tank, or room, but whose walls do
not descend therein; this escape device is provided with a head or top having the
curved cover h, and with a series of escape or exit passages e, e, arranged below the
said top and around the periphery thereof.
In the practical operation of this form of my improved ventilator the air enters
through the spaces g between the curved partitions c, and is deflected by the curved
top fas it advances into the conduit C, and as it arrives in its descent at the
passages a¹ it escapes into the apartment E, from which it expels the foul air up the
conduit A and out through the escape passages e.
By reason of the semicircular line f for the head of the injector and the
overhanging line b, along which are arranged the openings g, the air which enters
the said openings is first slightly deflected upwards by the slight curve of the
partitions c, which gives it a movement parallel with the line of the head f, and is
then deflected strata by strata by and around the arc of the circle, each strata
describing an arc unlike the others, but all entering the conduit C, in which they
descend, as above described.
By forming the outlet passages a¹ with an upwardly diminishing width, but a
limited portion of the injected air escapes at the upper portion of the apartment,
while the greater portion escapes near the bottom of the same, thus allowing the
foul air to escape from the upper portion of the compartment or room without
mingling with and contaminating the pure air as it enters.
The direction of the air currents is illustrated by the several arrows in the
different parts of the apparatus. Although the air will enter and pass through the
injector with rapidity and force, yet water, by reason of its greater weight and
entire lack of elasticity, will not to any material extent find its way into the
conduit C unless the same be submerged below the radius point d, for if the water
enters the apertures g with sufficient force to reach the arc fit will fall back outside
the said radius point.
In Figures 3 and 4 the injector is shown as having an octagon configuration in
transverse section, and with the head and conduit subdivided into eight corre-
sponding compartments by the radial partitions i, i. When the injector is thus
formed with any desired number of faces the arcs f of each compartment terminate
at one extremity at the common centre, but the partitions c, and the overhanging
line b, are arranged in the same manner as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
At the base of the conduit c a series of horizontal steam pipes are shown at j, j,
between the walls of the conduit and the surrounding wall or curb n, which is of such
height as to leave an air space between its upper edge and the seat 1, whereby the
air escapes through the same, and is distributed through the apertures k, k, in the
outer enclosing wall, upon which the front of the seat / rests, the directions and
path of the air currents being indicated by the arrows.
In the modifications of the said Invention illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9,
a³ represents a sheet metal tube, circular in cross section, which may be of such
height, diameter, and thickness of metal, as the exigencies of its use may require,
and at its base it should be rigidly secured to the deck, cabin, roof, or other
structure, in any suitable manner. An outer, shorter, and larger tube b¹ encircles
the upper portion of this tube a³, as shown, and is secured thereto by the radial
sheet metal partitions c¹, as shown; that portion of tube b' which extends above
the partitions c' is converged or contracted upon curved lines, as shown in Figures 5
and 6. The upper portion of the interior tube as is also subdivided by thin
partitions d', as shown, and at the intersecting centre of the said partitions is
formed the tube e¹, in which is fitted to slide freely the rod f¹, which at its upper
end is screwed into a nut g¹ secured in the apex of a cap h¹. This cap overlaps and

page_text: fits upon the converging walls of the outer tube b', as shown in Figures 5 and 6.
An inverted sheet-metal cone i¹ is united to the said cap h¹, as shown in Figure 6,
for the purpose hereinafter described. A tube ¹ is centrally secured to the aforesaid
cone to assist in securing the cap axially upon the rod f¹. To the lower end of
the rod f¹ is secured a cord n', which extends therefrom over a pulley m' attached
to one of the partitions d', and thence downwards so as to be readily accessible, so
that by pulling thereon the cap h' may be raised by the action of its rod f¹. A
steadying rod k' secured to the cone ¹ passes through a tube formed on or
secured to another partition d', and thereby prevents the rotation of the cap h¹, and
the consequent derangement of the cord n' relatively to the rod f' and pulley m'.
Below the tube b¹ are arranged a series of truncated cones or oblique metal bands o',
which by a regular gradation in size vary from an interior diameter at the lower
band which equals the diameter of the tube a³, to an exterior diameter at the upper
band which equals the interior diameter of the tube b¹; these bands are secured to
and supported by the rods p¹, which at their upper ends are attached to the interior
of the tube b', and at their lower ends to the exterior of the tube a³, as shown in
Figure 6. The said bands are each of such width and arranged at such a distance
apart that the upper edge of each band is at the level of the lower edge of the band
next above, and the spaces between the said bands serve to admit the air which
passes in through the ventilator, as will be hereinafter described. For the purpose
of adjusting the quantity of air admitted, and also for the purpose of closing the
ventilator entirely to prevent the admission of air or water, I employ a shield,
shown at s', which encloses or covers one half the circumference of the said bands o'.
This shield is secured in place by a narrow band t¹ at its upper and lower edge,
which bands extend around the half circumference of the ventilator which is
not covered by the shield itself, and thus the shield and its bands encircle the
ventilator.
A shouldered sleeve v¹ secured to the lower portion of the tube a' by bolts or
rivets serves as the vertical support of the shield s¹, which by its lower edge and
its lower band t¹, has a continuous bearing around the entire circle of the shoulder
of the said sleeve v¹. A rod u' is secured at its extremities to the said bands t',
as shown in Figure 5, and serves the purpose of a handle when it is desired to
slide the said shield around the ventilator. To effect the closing of the space, one
half circumference, around the bands o' which is not covered by the said shield 8¹,
I employ the two sliding doors ¹, which are secured between bands o' and the
shields and its bands t¹, t'; the front or meeting edges of each of the said doors
are turned outwardly, as shown at y¹, to serve as a means for sliding the said doors,
and as stops when brought in contact with the edge of the shield 8¹, or when
brought in contact with the stop rod u¹ when the ventilator is entirely closed.
Thus one half the air space between the bands o' is always closed by the shield 8¹,
and of the other half any desired portion may be economized for the admission of
air by means of the sliding doors ¹, which may be opened or slid apart to
any desired extent. By the rotation or sliding of the shield 8' around the
ventilator the open space between the doors x¹ may always be placed to windward
if desired.
When the cap h¹ is closed and air is admitted between the bands o¹ it passes up
between the tubes a3 and 6', being deflected inwardly by the contracted lines of the
tube b' and cap h¹ until it strikes the inverted cone i¹, which diverts the current
downward through the tube a³.
When it is desired to employ the ventilator as a vent or escape pipe for foul air
the cap h' is raised by means of the cord n¹ and rod f¹, as above described, and if
a strong up draught is desired the doors a¹ are partially opened to admit an inflow
of air between the bands o¹, which passing out between the cap and the upper
wall of tube b¹ facilitates the draught. The especial advantages of this form of
my ventilator are that it is entirely smooth, and hence is not liable to entangle
ropes or other lines when being used on shipboard; it can be entirely closed, either

page_text: to exclude water in a heavy sea, or when not required for ventilation; the amount
of air admitted may be graduated as desired, and it may be changed at once by
closing the doors x and raising the cap h' from an air injector to an escape for foul
air. Any slight amount of water which by passing waves might enter through
the joints between the doors x¹ or between the said doors and shield 8' would
escape at the joint between the tube a³ and the shield s¹ and its bands t¹, which
for the ready sliding of said shield fit loosely on tube a¹. When used solely as a
ventilator, a separate escape pipe for foul air, as shown at A, Figure 1, should be
provided.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A ventilator provided with a conduit C, and a head formed as an arc of a
circle having its centre or radius point at or near one side of the said conduit, and
with the inlet passage or passages arranged between the wall of such conduit and
the overhanging end of the said arc, substantially as above set forth.
Second. In a ventilator formed with the head projecting beyond the walls of the
conduit the overhanging line b, subdivided into passages g, substantially as above
set forth.
Third. In a ventilator the partitions c, formed with a transverse curve and
arranged to act as deflectors of the entering air, substantially as above set forth.
Fourth. In a ventilator the combination of the are like injector head having the
overhanging line b, and the openings g, subdivided by the curved partitions c,
substantially as above set forth.
Fifth. In a ventilator the combination of the air injector, and an escape conduit
with a curtained and perforated head to allow the escape of foul air, substantially
as shewn and described.
Sixth. The combination with the inlet conduit C of a steam pipe or pipes
arranged between the said inlet conduit and a suitable enclosing curb, the whole Bo
arranged that the entering air as it passes the said steam pipes will be thereby
heated, substantially as above set forth.
Seventh. The combination with a ventilator conduit and steam heating pipes of
a seat so arranged around the said ventilating conduit, substantially as set forth, as
to be hated by the rarefied air that passes such steam pipes.
Eighth. In a ventilator the combination of the inner main tube a³, and the
shorter and larger tube 6' secured to the said tube a³ with a concentric air space
between them, the oblique bands o' of graduated diameters, an overarching enclosing
top, and an inverted deflecting cone at the apex of the said top, all substantially
as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Ninth. In a ventilator having the inner tube or wall a³ and the outer tube or
wall b', the combination therewith of the cap h¹, provided with the elevating rod f¹
and cord n¹, or equivalent means for elevating the said rod and cap, all substantially
as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. In a ventilator the combination of the concentric tube a³, the outer
tube b' secured thereto, the oblique graduated bands o¹ and their supporting
rods p', secured at their ends to the tubes a³ and b', substantially as above set
forth.
Eleventh. In a ventilator the combination of the tubes a³ and 6¹ concentrically
arranged, a series of oblique bands o¹ of graduated diameters, and a shield 8¹
arranged to cover a circumferential section of the said bands, and to be moved
around the outer periphery thereof, substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Twelfth. In a ventilator and in combination with the shield s¹, a sliding door or
doors ¹ arranged to slide within or upon the said shield when the ventilator is being
opened, and to be extended around the outer line of the ventilator to close the air
spaces not covered by the said shield, substantially as above set forth.

page_text: Thirteenth. In a ventilator and in combination with the shield 8¹ and doors a¹,
the rod u secured to the bands t¹ of the said shield, and arranged to serve as a
stop to said doors when extended and as a means of sliding and adjusting the said
shield, substantially as above set forth.
Fourteenth. In a ventilator the combination of the shield s¹ provided with its
securing bands t¹, the doors x¹, and the rod u secured to the said bands, all
substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Fifteenth. In a ventilator the combination of the tubes a and b, the oblique
bands o¹ of graduated diameters, the cap h¹ and the partitions c¹ and d¹ to unite the
said tubes and to support and guide the cap-rod f', all substantially as above set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)