Improvements in or relating to the Ventilation of Sewers.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th July, 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Ventilation of Sewers.
I, JOHN THOMAS BIGGS of Waterloo Street, Leicester, Sanitary Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :——
This invention relates to sewers and embodies improvements thereto having for
their object the prevention of the noxious gases engendered in sewers from passing
up the street-level or other ventilating shafts or chambers and escaping into and
vitiating the outer atmosphere.
While the temperature of the outer atmosphere remains lower than that within
the sewers a downward current of air usually passes through the ventilating shafts
or chambers into the sewers but upon a reversal of the temperature in the outer
atmosphere and the sewers respectively sewer gases find their way upwards into the
streets and in thickly populated districts particularly not only become offensive but
have been the cause of disease and even death.
My invention is designed mainly to effect a constant and continuous down
current in the ventilating shafts or manhole chambers of sewers and thus prevent
the sewer gas arising from the latter.
This object may be effected according to my invention by cooling or damping
the air in the said ventilating shafts or chambers so as to lower the temperature
thereof and keep it cooler than that of the sewers.
One method of effecting a positive down current in the said chambers for the
purpose named is preferably by a very fine spray or sprays of water passing
through suitable distributing mechanism and where deemed necessary also through
disinfecting media.
The said spray or sprays may impinge upon any suitable shield device or
spreader within the said chambers so as to ensure a very finely disintegrated and
distributed shower producing a dense and practically impenetrable column of cold
air and water constantly maintained within and passing down the ventilating
chambers or manhole shafts into the sewers.
By this means there is obtained the requisite cool and damp atmosphere within
the chambers such as will effectually prevent the sewer gases rising while at the
same time another much needed improvement is secured by reducing the temperature
of the sewers themselves.
The water for the purposes of this invention may in large towns be obtained by
connections with the street mains, but in other places, tanks or other means of
storage may be located in close proximity to the ventilating shafts or chambers
before referred to.
Dated this 17th day of October 1894
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Ventilation of Sewers.
1, JOHN THOMAS BIGGS of Waterloo Street, Leicester, Sanitary 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:
-
This invention relates to sewers and embodies improvements thereto having for
their object the prevention of the noxious gases engendered in sewers from passing
up the street-level or other ventilating shafts or manhole chambers, hereinafter
referred to as ventilating shafts, and escaping into and vitiating the outer
atmosphere.
While the temperature of the outer atmosphere remains lower than that within
the sewers a downward current of air usually passes through the ventilating shafts
into the sewers but upon a reversal of the temperature in the outer atmosphere and
the sewers respectively, sewer gases find their way upwards into the streets and in
thickly populated districts particularly, not only become offensive but have been
the cause of disease and even death.
My invention is designed mainly to effect a constant and continuous down
current in the ventilating shafts of sewers and thus prevent the sewer gas arising
from the latter.
'
This object may be effected according to my invention by damping, moistening
or saturating with water, the air within the ventilating shafts, so as to cool it and
reduce the temperature thereof below that of the sewers..
One method of effecting a positive down current within the ventilating shafts for
the purpose named is by a very fine spray or sprays of water in the form of a very
finely divided and distributed shower passing downwards within the ventilating
shaft and into the sewer and forming a dense and practically impassable column of
cold air and water.
By this means there is produced within the ventilating shaft the necessary and
requisite cool and damp atmosphere such as will effectually prevent the sewer
gas rising, while at the same time another valuable and essential condition
obtained viz. that of reducing the pressure in and temperature of and assisting
to flush the sewers themselves.
According to one method of carrying the invention into practice, and which is
particularly applicable in the case of large towns, the water for the spray shower
may be obtained from the street water mains to which there may be connected a
pipe or pipes leading into the ventilating shaft or chamber.
This pipe may terminate in a nozzle having a perforation or opening therein
sufficient fine that the water which passes through the same and backed by the
pressure within the street mains, nearly all goes to spray.
In a modification which will be readily understood the pipe connected to the
water main may terminate in a ring within the ventilating shaft the said ring being
furnished with a series of minute openings and through which the water may pass
in very fine spray.
The invention is not limited to any mechanical means or spraying devices for
producing the very finely divided shower or column of water to saturate or moisten
the air and cause a down current within the ventilating shaft as and for the
purpose hereinbefore mentioned, as it is obvious that various means may be adopted
for this purpose.
In places where no street water mains exist the pipe which feeds the spraying
device may be connected to a tank or receptacle supplied with water for the

page_text: purpose and placed a sufficient distance above the sprayer to impart the necessary
force to the water when passing through the latter to form spray or fine particles.
In order to obtain the best results the spraying device should be continuously in
operation, but for repairs to the sewers and other purposes it is desirable to have a
stop tap connected thereto to turn off the shower when desired.
A valve may be inserted in the connecting pipe to prevent any gas passing from
the ventilating shaft into the water pipes if the latter should for any purpose
become emptied.
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. Preventing the escape of sewer gas into the atmosphere by inducing a positive
down draught or current in the ventilating shafts or chambers of sewers and the
like by means of a finely divided shower or column of water passing down the same
and into the sewer.
2. Cooling the ventilating shafts or chambers of sewers by charging the air
therein with moisture or water in the form of a very fine spray or sprays for the
purpose specified,
3. In the ventilating shafts or chambers of sewers and the like the use or
employment of one or more spraying devices connected to the street water mains
or other water supply under pressure substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4. In the ventilating shafts or chambers of sewers and the like the method of
insuring a positive down draught or current therein by lading or saturating the air
with moisture from a continuous water spraying device or devices substantially as
described.
5. The improved method of and means for preventing sewer gas from passing
upwards and escaping through the ventilating shafts or chambers of sewers and the
like substantially as described.
Dated this foth day of July fo
Witness-
E. N. LEWIS,
Berridge Street Chambers,
Leicester.
J. T. BIGGS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.