IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR-DRUMS FOR VENTILATING MINES OR OTHER CONFINED PLACES, OR FANS AND BLOWERS APPLICABLE FOR BLOWING FORGES AND CUPOLAS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Fourness, of Saint James Street, Leeds, and
Robert Fourness, of Kirkgate, Leeds, both in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR-DRUMS FOR VENTILATING MINES OR
OTHER CONFINED PLACES, OR FANS AND BLOWERS APPLICABLE FOR BLOWING
FORGES AND CUPOLAS."
Sealed the 27th May 1879, and dated the 25th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Fourness and Robert
Fourness at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January
1879.
WILLIAM FOURNESS, of Saint James Street, Leeds, and ROBERT FOURNESS; of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR-DRUMS
Kirkgate, Leeds, both in the County of York.
FOR VENTILATING MINES OR OTHER CONFINED PLACES, OR FANS AND BLOWERS
APPLICABLE FOR BLOWING FORGES, AND CUPOLAS."
Our improvements in air-drums are adapted for ventilating mines, ships' holds,
public buildings, factories, and other places, especially of a confined kind, or as fans
and blowers for blowing forges, especially smiths' forges and cupolas.
In effectuating our Invention we adopt mainly the following arrangements :-
The outer circumference of the air-drum is entirely open, delivering its contents
six times each revolution; there is no backlash, and it is silent in action. There
are six vanes, with circular or curved ends, for regulating delivery of the air, and
box or covering for constructing the air-drun into a blower for smiths' forges and
cupolas. Also air-tight joints between air-drum and side pipes, likewise air outlets
for blowing, and side plate to which the vanes are attached by T or angle iron.
Side pipes are provided for conveying. air into air-drum, also foundation plate,
plummer block and shaft for carrying our improvements. There is also provided a
loose joint on air pipe for lifting drum on or off its bearings.

page_text: -SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Fourness and Robert Fourness in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th-July-1879
WILLIAM FOURNESS, of Saint James Street, Leeds, and ROBERT FOURNESS, of
-Kirkgate, Leeds,-both_in_the_County_of_York. “IMPROVEMENTS IN AIR-DRUMS
FOR VENTILATING MINES OR OTHER CONFINED PLACES, OR FANS AND BLOWERS
APPLICABLE FOR BLOWING FORGES AND CUPOLAS."
Our improvements in air-drums are adapted for ventilating mines, ships' holds,
public buildings, factories, and other places, especially of a confined kind, or as fans
and blowers for blowing forges, especially smiths' forges and cupolas.
In effectuating our Invention we adopt substantially the following arrange-
ments: The outer circumference or periphery of the air drum is entirely open,
delivering its contents without backlash, and is silent in action. There are vanes
or wings with circular or curved ends for regulating delivery of the air, and box or
covering for adaptation of the air-drum with air outlets to a blower for smiths'
forges and cupolas. Also face plates forming joints between air drum and side
pipes and side plates to which the vanes are attached by Tor angle iron. Side
pipes or upcast shafts are provided for conveying air into air drum, also foundation
plates, plummer blocks,, and shaft for carrying out our improvements. There is
also provided a loose cover or joint on air pipe for lifting drum on or off its
bearings.
Having thus far described the nature of the said Invention and incidentally
intimated in what manner the same is to be performed, we will now proceed (aided
by the accompanying Drawings) to further and particularly describe and ascertain
in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, that is to
say,-
Fig. 6, cross section.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts throughout all these Figures.
A, vanes or wings with outer ends curved; B, sides of revolving drum; C, flanges
fixed to revolving drum; D, face plates forming a nearly air-tight joint with the
flanges C; C, of the revolving drum ;. E, arms. keyed on to main shaft to carry vanes
-and-sides-of-drum-;-F,-connecting crank; G, up cast-airways leading to interior of
machine; H, return-drift leading from top of the upcast shaft to the machine;
J, main shaft of machine; K, standards; L, L, circular topped air-tight covers to
G, G; M, angle plates for securing vanes and sides of drum; N, heavy foundation
stones for standards K; O, plummer blocks and bushes for main shaft of machine.
By the application of this ventilating machine as herein before described, we
obtain the following advantages:-
First. That the air entering the machine on both sides by upcast-airways Gat
the centre, and the whole machine being open to the atmosphere, no obstruction is
offered to the air as it is delivered from the outer circumference or periphery of the
machine.
Second, That our machine will produce more perfect ventilation than any other
now in use of the same size.
Our machine is also applicable for ventilating ships' holds, factories, public
buildings, or other confined places.
We would here describe an apparatus which, though not forming a part of our
improvements aforesaid, is connected therewith, and is very valuable as an auto-

page_text: matic mine regulator (which we term the "Fourniere," and specially recommend
for fiery mines) whereby an extra amount of ventilation can be produced without
personally altering the speed of the engine, thereby reducing the risk of explosions
to a minimum.
Fig. 7 represents the "Fourniere." a, a, a chemically prepared liquid (partially
filling the top and bottom reservoirs connected by pipes g, g,) that will not freeze,
thereby rendering the apparatus unaffected by the coldest weather; b, float; c, con-
nection from float to equilibrium steam valve of the engines; d, d, guide rods for
steadying float; e, shield fastened on connection c for preventing the condensed
vapours running into reservoir containing float; f, perforated cover for protecting
float; g, g, pipes connecting top and bottom reservoirs.
"
If desired an indicator can be fixed in the engine house in connection with the
Fourniere," showing at a glance the exact condition of the atmosphere in the
mine as compared with the atmosphere outside, indicated by an ordinary barometer.
By enclosing the machine and forming suitable outlets it is at once converted
into a blower applicable to forges, cupolas, etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, we hereby declare that we claim the Invention of "Improvements in Air-
drums for Ventilating Mines or other confined Places, or Fans and Blowers appli-
cable for Blowing Forges, and Cupolas," substantially as herein before set forth and
described, whether as regards construction, use, or adaptation, and as illustrated by
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Fourness and Robert Fourness, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-third day of July, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
0
Witness,
JAMES HERBERT FOURNESS,
2, Grove Terrace,
Leeds.
WILLIAM FOURNESS. (L.S.)
ROBERT FOURNESS,
(L.S.)