IMPROVE- HAR OSMA IN APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF ADRIFORM BODIES."
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Chaplin, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of " IMPROVE-
HAR
OSMA
IN APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF ADRIFORM BODIES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Chaplin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th May 1853.
I, ALEXANDER CHAPLIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF AERIFORM
BODIES" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of a
species of duplex fan or blowing and exhausting apparatus, whereby a
high degree of pressure is attainable with a low rate of working, whilst
the details are simple and easily adjustable, and not liable to injury in

page_text: working. Two fan cases are combined in each fan or blower, a single
actuating spindle being passed directly through the axial lines of the
two cases, which are thus coincident, space being left between the two
cases to receive the central driving pulley on the spindle. The fan
boxes or cases are each cast with one side on, the other side being
loose and attached separately. Each case has its own fan, both fast on
the same single spindle, and each having three arms forged in a single
piece with the boss, the sheet iron vane blades being rivetted to the
arms. Instead of this precise arrangement other numbers of arms may
be used, and they may be either of wrought or cast iron. The fan
bosses are fastened on the shaft by square shoulders with a tightening
nut, and the spindle is carried in bearings in cross bars fast to the inner
contiguous faces of the two cases. The air is taken by one of the fan
cases through the usual central aperture or induction passage when the
fan is used for exhausting, and it is delivered by a tangential passage at
the periphery in a direction at right angles to the fan's axial line. This
air is then conveyed diagonally across by a communicating passage
under the sole plate to a central side opening in the inner face of the
second case, and the fan in this case then finally expels the air through
its tangential opening. In this way the duplex action affords a superior
degree of pressure, whilst the fan runs steadily from its being driven by
a central pulley. The moving parts and bearings may be easily removed
without disturbing the sole plate or inner cheeks (or side plates).
Except where a high pressure is desired, half the ordinary of speeds and
gearing may be dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Chaplin in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 10th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ALEXANDER CHAPLIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Engineer, send. greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Chaplin, Her special licence
that I, the said Alexander Chaplin, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Chaplin, my executors,
administrators, or 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 APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF AERIFORM BODIES," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Chaplin, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Alexander Chaplin, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of a
species of duplex fan, or blowing and exhausting apparatus, whereby a
high degree of pressure is attainable with a low rate of working, whilst
the details are simple and easily adjustable, and. not liable to injury in
working. In this improved arrangement two fan cases are combined
in each fan or blower, a single actuating spindle being passed directly
through the axial lines of the two cases, which are thus coincident,
space being left between the two cases to receive the central driving
pulley on the spindle. The fan boxes or cases are each cast with one
side on, the other side being a loose plate and attached separately.

page_text: Each case has its own fan, both fans being fast on the same single
spindle, and each having three arms forged or cast in a single piece
with the boss, the sheet iron vanc blades being rivited on to the arms,
but other numbers of arms may be used. The fan bosses are fastened
on to the shaft by square shoulders with a tightening nut, and the
spindle is carried in bearings in cross bars fast to the inner contiguous
faces of the two cases. The air is taken by one of the four cases
through the usual central apertures or induction passages when the fan
is used for exhausting, and it is delivered by a tangential passage at
the periphery in a direction at a right angle to the fan's axial line.
This air is then conveyed diagonally across by a communicating passage
under the sole plate to a central side opening in the inner face of the
second case, and the fan in this case then finally expels the air through
its tangential opening. In this way the duplex action affords a superior
degree of pressure, whilst the fan runs steadily from its being driven by
a central pulley. The moving parts and bearings may be easily re-
moved without disturbing the sole plate or inner checks or side plates,
and, except where a high pressure is desired, half the ordinary amount
of speeds and gearing may be dispensed with. By a simple arrange-
ment and modification of valves and passages this improved blower is
capable of effecting the double process of blowing and exhausting at the
same time; or, on the other hand, as an exhauster, it may be contrived
to exhaust with the whole of its power as derived from its duplex action.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood
I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached. Figure 1, on my sheet of Drawings is a
complete external side elevation of the fan or blower with its exhausting
and forcing passages attached. Figure 2, is a similar elevation with
the loose side plate or fan cheek of one case removed, or it may be
supposed to represent a section of one fan case. Figure 3, is an
external edge elevation of the fan at right angles to Figures 1, and 2;
and Figure 4, is a plan of the entire blower. Figure 5, is a transverse
vertical section through the combined arrangement. In all these views
A, is the primary or supplying fan, which takes in the air or matter to

page_text: be transmitted, and B, is the increased pressure or transmitting fan.
Both fans are of the same diameter, but the supplying one is rather
wider than the discharging one, and the two cases are bolted down on
the same level C, D, with a single sole plate, a stiffening connection
being provided at the upper end in a cross rod E. A single spindle F,
actuates the combined apparatus, a band or strap pulley G, being fast
on an enlarged central portion of this spindle so as to enable the
actuating power to be communicated at the centre of the apparatus, and
thus ensure steadiness of working. The spindle I, is carried near one
end in a long bearing II, in a cross bracket I, bolted to the inside of
the fan plate or cheek. Outside this bearing is a square shoulder or
seat J, on which the boss K, of the vanes or fan arms is fitted, the
setting up adjustment being effected by the frictional binding nut I, on
the spindle end. The vanes or fan plates M, are delineated in face
view in Figure 5, where they are shown as riveted to the solid arms of
the boss K. When at work as a duplex action blower the air to be
transmitted enters on each side of the case of the fan A, by the two
opposite central apertures N, and as it is compressed by the vane
action the air so taken in then descends through the bottom thorough-
fare O, and enters a bottom cross passage P, beneath the fan sole plate.
The dotted lines P, in Figure 5, show how the passage P, may be
prolonged downwards to afford a better passage for the air across. This
passage P, conducts the air current into the ascending thoroughfare Q,
which has an opening at its upper part in direct communication with
the central induction opening in the pressure discharging fan case B.
This secondary fan case is constructed in a manner very similar to the
first onc, except that its inner plate or chcek R, has cast upon it the
passage Q, in which again is cast the long spindle bearing S. It has,
besides, no open communication with the external atmosphere, the only
aperture in the case on one side being that which is in connection
with the passage Q, whilst on the other or outer side there is merely a
door or slide T, for oiling and examination. The spindle bearings are
kept in a well lubricated condition by oil receivers U, filled with loose
cotton or other soft material suitable for giving out the oil slowly to

page_text: the bearing surfaces. The vanes and fan spindle are the same at this
side of the apparatus as the corresponding parts already referred to.
The air conducted into the secondary case B, in the manner which I
have explained by the passage Q, now receives a secondary pressure
from the action of the revolving vanes on this side, and in this condition
it is now expelled from the case B, through the bottom tangential
passage V. Thus a high pressure is obtainable with a slow rate of revo-
lution as the second fan B, takes up the air at whatever pressure may
be developed in the first fan A, and hence this initial pressure in the
second fan is increased in proportion to the effect exercised upon it in
the second fan so as to give a much superior final pressure. The dotted
line Q, in Figure 3, indicates a filling up of the passage Q, to alter this
line of direction of the aerial current, and direct it more efficiently into
the fan case. Although I have represented this blowing apparatus as
constructed with three radiating blades, it will be obvious to the practical
man that these details may be variously modified; as, for example, the
vanes may be set on at any other angle with the spindle, and they may
be curved in whole or in part of their surface. The adoption of the
separate loose plates or cheeks in the fan cases, with the arrangement
of the cross bracket I, affords peculiar facilities for erection and removal
or examination, For when the cross bracket I, is taken out, the whole of
the working parts may be at once separated, as required, without
disturbing the fixed or stationary portions of the apparatus. Instead
of using this fan or blower for merely obtaining a high blowing or
forcing pressure, the primary fan A, may alone be used as a single
action blower B; to effect this the stop valve W, governing the bottom
passage P, between the two fans, is closed, and the air still being taken
in by the two opposite central ports N, it is expelled under a single
action pressure through the pipe X, which is only attached to the
apparatus when it is to be employed in this manner. Then where the
process of exhausting is to be carried on simultaneously with this blowing
action by the instrumentality of the second fan B, the valve W, being
still kept closed, the additional pipe Y, is to be connected to the cross
passage P, or to any part of the induction passage of the secondary fan.

page_text: When so arranged, air may be drawn or exhausted from any desired
quarter through this pipe Y, and discharged from the case B, at V, or
if the exhausted matter is offensive the discharged current may be con-
veyed out of the way through an extension pipe Z. If, again, it is
intended to provide for a duplex action exhaust, with the full power of
both fans, the intermediate valve W, in the connecting passage between
the two cases is opened, and the central opening in the inside check of
the case A, is closed; at the same time the exhaust pipe Y, must be put
in communication with the central opening in the outer cheek of the fan
case A, at a. In this way the entire undivided power of the apparatus
will be employed in exhausting; the exhausted air being taken in at the
outside central aperture in the case A, and conveyed away through the
tangential discharge thoroughfares of both fans. I would also remark,
that although I have herein-before referred to duplex fans alone, yet it
is obvious that more than two fans may be so combined.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have
had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made
therefrom without deviating from the principles or main features of my
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery, appa-
ratus, or means for blowing, exhausting, or transmitting aeriform bodies,
as herein-before described.
Second, the system or node of constructing fans, wherein two or
more fans are carried upon one and the same spindle, each fan in its
separate distinct case, and the two being made to work with com-
bined effect.
Third, the system or mode of actuating duplex or multi fan blowers
by means of a central or intermediate pulley so as to drive from the
centre of the apparatus.

page_text: Fourth, the system or mode of constructing blowing or exhausting
apparatus wherein either a combined blowing effect may be obtained, or
a simultaneous exhausting and blowing action, or a combined or duplex
exhaust, at pleasure.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Chaplin, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
ALEX CHAPLIN. (L.S.)