Improvements in Ventilating Apparatus.
Year: 1889

page_text: [Reprint. This Specification has been reprinted in consequence of an Amendment
made by order of the Comptroller prior to the sealing of the Patent.]
Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ventilating Apparatus.
JOHN FREDERICK SIMMANCE Raby Drive Bromborough Cheshire Ventilating
Engineer's Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
To prevent, or nullify the effects of cold, & of adverse currents of air, & of wet
upon ventilating shafts, I.propose closing the vertical tube or shaft by placing upon
its outlet, horizontally, a suitable sheet of iron, tin, asbestos card, or tale, or
anything comparatively fireproof, & properly weighting same if required, relying
upon the actual impact of the ascending current of air or gas products of com-
bustion to overcome the inertia of the sheet, & lift it until the air or gas products
find free onward passage. To facilitate the accurate lifting & falling of this
sheet I propose intersecting it at right angles to its plane & through its centre of.
gravity with a rod or pin running through suitable guides, or alternatively inter-
secting the sheet with the guide & let it run upon a fixed pin. To further prevent
the ill effects of cold pipes or flues & to prevent the accumulation of moisture
in the ventilating tubes whether in the vertical or horizontal position I propose
inserting a thin lining of asbestos felt or other suitable nonconducting & absorbent
material which will both hinder the condensation of the gas products & also
preserve the heat & conserve its energy. For vertical flues of any length I pro-
pose to use, alternatively, a length of asbestos rope or other suitable material
fixed spirally in the flue, for its absorbent properties alone.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1980
Improvements in Ventilating Apparatus.
I, JOIN FREDERICK SIMMANCE, of Raby Drive, Bromborough, Cheshire, Venti-
lating Engineer's Manager, 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 this invention is to prevent down draughts in ventilating shafts,
flues, or chimneys, and thereby improve the ventilation of apartments, and to
effect this object I maintain, as far as possible, the same temperature in the
shaft, flue, or chimney, as in the apartment with which it communicates, by pre-
venting the entry of any air at the outlet end, thus keeping the shaft charged
with air which has previously passed through the said apartments, and is com-
paratively warm. I thus obviate the condensing and retarding effects of a cold,
damp shaft upon the ascending and warmer current of air, or in other words,
prevent the cooling of the shaft by the presence therein of cold and damp air, due
to the specific gravity of such cold or damp air.

page_text: In carrying out this invention, I adapt to the shaft, at or near its outlet end, a
chamber formed by an enlargement of the shaft, which chamber will have free
communication with the outer air. In this chamber I arrange, so that it will close
the top of the ventilating shaft, a rigid or flexible disc valve, the normal position
of which (due to its own specific gravity) will be upon its seat, or closed until an
ascending movement of the atmosphere within the shaft, and beneath the valve,
shall overcome its weight, and cause it to alter its position, so as to provide an
aperture through which the vitiated air, or products of combustion, can escape.
As soon as the upward current, which has moved the valve, shall have ceased,
the valve will resume its normal position, and close the outlet end of the shaft.
In the accompanying drawings, I have shown the rigid & flexible disc valves
as applied for the purposes of my invention; thus in Fig. 1 (sectional view), A is
a chamber freely communicating with the external air. B is the end of a ventilat-
ing shaft, & C is the valve, which consists of a thin disc or sheet of talc, or other
stiff material (or it may be a flexible material stretched upon a frame), arranged
horizontally, to close the end of the shaft B. This disc works freely upon a
central fixed rod or pin, secured to a cross stay fitted inside the shaft or the
chamber. Or the disc may be attached to the rod or pin, which in such case will
move with it, running in suitable guides.
In Fig. 2 (a sectional view), the same form of valve is shewn, and in this case
it is fitted with a counterbalance weight D, which, by means of a lever arm, is so
adjusted as to assist the valve to rise. The disc or valve should, however, be
always heavy enough to form a completely closing door at the outlet of the shaft.
In this figure, the rod or guide upon which the disc slides up and down, is attached
to the counterbalance arm, and upon this rod is fixed a collar, which is constantly
⚫ pressing against the under surface of the valve, thus lightening the task of lifting
by the up current of air. C is the valve, E the lever arm, F the lifting collar, and
Gis the fulcrum of the lever arm.
Con-
Fig. 3 (also a sectional view) shews a further application of a counterbalance
to the valve already described. In this case, it is placed in the shaft, and the rod
or pin is sustained by the lever arm. The valve and pin do not lift quite ver-
tically, the fulcrum being a centre, and the attachments following an arc.
sequently, the guide in which the rod works must allow free play. The counter-
balance is not enough to lift the valve without the assistance of the ascending
current of air. C is the valve, E the lever arm, G the fulcrum, and H the guide
through which the rod works.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew sectional elevation and plan of a valve in the form of a sheet
or diaphragm of flexible material, placed horizontally above the outlet of the shaft,
and fastened at intervals to the encircling wall of the chamber, so that under the
influence of the ascending current, it will belly out upwards, leaving a free way
between it and its seat (which is the outlet of the shaft itself) for the ascending
current to pass. When the up current ceases, the diaphragm will drop to its
normal position, and close the aperture, stopping all communication between the
air in the chamber and that in the shaft. C is the valve or diaphragm; B is its
seat, & A the containing chamber. This form and arrangement of valve is admir-
ably adapted for use with ventilating apertures in ceilings of halls and other places.
To further assist this "exit valve" system, as just described, in keeping cold,
wet &c., from the ventilating shaft, I line the shaft with a non-conducting flexible
material of such a nature as will not impede the passage of the currents to any
injurious extent, but will hinder the heat, if any, of the passing currents, from
being absorbed and re-radiated by the flue material itself, and also so as to hinder
any condensation, and to soak up any moisture, should it take place. For these
purposes, I may employ a thickness of asbestos felt, asbestos cord, or similar
material. For vertical shafts, I may use a length of asbestos rope, or similar
absorbent material, fixed spirally in the shaft, and attached to the interior surface
of the shaft. sufficiently closely to absorb any moisture which may trickle down.
It will be evident that the efficiency of the above mentioned system of ventila-

page_text: tion, and preventing down draught, will be dependent upon the shaft being air-
tight through its whole length.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I am aware
of the Specification of W. P. Buchan's Patent No. 2745 A.D). 1878 and I lay no
claim to anything described and claimed therein but what I claim is:-
1. The adaptation to the outlet end of a ventilating shaft, flue, or chimney, or
to an aperture, of a rigid or flexible disc valve arranged so as to close the shaft
against downward currents, but he capable of rising under the influence of an
ascending current of air, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. Lining ventilating shafts with a non-combustible, or other non-conducting
absorbent material, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 20th day of August 1890
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.