Improvements in and relating to the Ventilation of Transformer Boxes, Road and Junction Boxes, Conduits and the. like. Used in the Distribution of Electrical Energy.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Applicatior, 1st Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Lett. 31st July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept.,. 1896
Improvements in and relating to the Ventilation of Transformer
Boxes, Road and Junction Boxes, Conduits and the. like. Used
in the Distribution of Electrical Energy.
I, LEONARD PENSON, of the Electric Light Works, Junction Road, Eastbourne,
in the County of Sussex, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the ventilation of transformer
boxes, road and junction boxes, conduits, and similar channels or receptacles
used in the distribution of electrical energy, for the purpose of avoiding
accumulation of gas or moisture therein, which might otherwise lead to
explosions.
In carrying my invention into effect, and referring to conduits, for example,
I construct a cast iron box similar to the ordinary street or junction boxes.now in
general use in connection with electricity conducting mains, with an interior box
beneath the ordinary street cover. This street cover is perforated at suitable
points, and so is the cover or other suitable portion of the interior box. Wishin
the latter a pipe or tubular channel extends upward, the lower end of which
communicates with the conduit it is desired to ventilate. The upper portion of the
pipe is, in some cases, closed by a cap to which is attached a dependent float, of a
suitable kind and form, but small ventilating holes are formed in the sides of the
said pipe or tubular channel, so that gas may escape through them, into the
surrounding space of the inner box, thence through holes in its cover, and finally
through the perforations in the street cover of the outside box. Suitable means are
provided for levelling up the cover with the surface of the roadway or pavement,
and for bedding the lower portion of the box solidly so as to withstand the traffic
over it.
h
In other forms of my ventilating appliances, or in combination with the foregoing
arrangement, I sometimes employ a ball valve, instead of, or as a modification of
the dependent float above mentioned. The said ball or float is so arranged as to
close the pipe or tubular channel against an excessive access of water from, the
exterior, and to drain it into an adjoining gulley; thus preventing a flow of water
into the conduit. Some of the ventilating appliances are quite independent of the
aforesaid boxes, being self-contained, and adapted to be screwed on or otherwise
attached to pipe conduits, transformer boxes or chambers, or similar receptacles
used in connection with the distribution of electrical energy. These are preferably
made of brass, or of other metal-suitably protected from corrosion, and I insert, at
suitable parts of the several ventilating appliances, wire gauze, to prevent flashing
back, in case any of the escaping gas becomes fired.
Dated this 1st day of November 1895.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433 Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Ventilation of Transformer
Boxes, Road and Junction Boxes, Conduits and the like Used
in the Distribution of Electrical Energy.
I, LEONARD PENSON, of 7, King Street, in the City of London, (formerly of
Eastbourne), Electrical Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the ventilation of transformer
boxes, road and junction boxes, conduits and similar channels or receptacles
used in the distribution of electrical energy, for the purpose of avoiding the
accumulation of gas or inoisture therein, which otherwise might lead to
explosion.
In the further description of my invention reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a transformer box showing two ventilators
fixed in position at the top of the box, but placed beneath a cover made level with
the pavement or roadway.
Figs. 2 and 4 are vertical sections through an independent or self-contained
ventilator, and Figs. 3 and 5 are sectional plans thereof.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken across a conduit, and Fig. 7 is an exterior
plan thereof.
In carrying my invention into effect, I construct a cast iron box a, with a street
cover b, similar to the ordinary street or juuction boxes now in general use in
connection with electricity conducting mains. The street cover bis perforated at c,
or if made solid as in the conduit portion of Fig. 6, the perforations are put in the
cover 6 of an adjoining chamber. In Fig. 1 an interior box a' is placed beneath
the street cover, with a cover b' thereto, which is perforated by an inlet pipe d'ani
sometimes an outlet channel d', the lower end of the inlet d communicates with the
conduit or box e it is desired to ventilate. The upper portion of the inlet pipe d,
and the outlet pipe d' are closed by an outside cap f, or, as shown by Figs. 2, 3, 4
and 5, a self-contained ventilating appliance A. This appliance is adapted to b
screwed on to the pipe d or d as shown, or otherwise attached thereto, or to other
suitable parts of pipe conduits, transformer boxes or chambers, or similar
receptacles used in connection with the distribution of electrical energy. The
closed cap of the ventilating appliance A is screwed to the body g which is
formed with double walls, in the outer one of which openings h are formed which
communicate with passages i arranged vertically between the said double walls;
communicating at the bottom with the chamber or other space to be ventilated,
and at the top, within a space formned beneath the outside cap f. An inside cover/
is screwed to an interior body k, and a hollow float ball valve is arranged and
adapted to close a central aperture in the cover; by means of a seating attached to
the upper part of the ball valve; the said seating forming part of a central extension
acting as a guide, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In some cases, a dependent float is
used, or a floating hollow ball, but although the details may be varied, the nature of
the invention is the same in all cases, which is to automatically close the orifice
through which ventilation normally takes place, (as shown by the arrows), against
an excessive access of water from the exterior or space to be ventilated, while at all
other times an accumulation of gas is avoided by free ventilation. In case any of
the escaping gas becomes fired, wire gauze is inserted at suitable points (such as is
shown in Fig. 2) to prevent flashing back. Suitable provision is made for draining

page_text: off water which may accumulate into an adjoining gulley, or to any other convenient.
place, as required.
I am aware that ball valves and floating valves have been used to close orifices.
from an influx of water and that they have been used to prevent the influx of sewer
gas, and to admit air to prevent the syphoning or emptying of water sealed pipes,.
but I do not claim any of these things by themselves, and I restrict myself to the
purpose herein before named.
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. The herein described means for the ventilation of transformer boxes, road and
junction boxes, conduits and the like used in the distribution of electrical energy,.
substantially as specified and shown in the drawings.
2. The herein described ventilating appliance consisting of an outer body or box
having an outer cover combined with an inner body or box having an inner cover
air passages from one to the other, and a floating or dependent valve to close an.
aperture into the inner body or box, substantially as and for the purpose specified
and shown in the drawings.
3. A ventilating appliance A, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore:
described and shown by the drawings Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Dated this 31st day of July 1896.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433 Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.