improved Rotary Fans or Air-propellers.
Year: 1898

page_text: improved Rotary Fans or Air-propellers.
I, ROBERT OSWALD, New Buildings, Talk o'th' Hill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire,
Mining 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 my invention has reference to improved rotary fans or air-propellers for
ventilating collieries, mines, holds of ships and other places, the object of my said
invention being to construct such revoluble appliances which when rotated or worked
will effectively produce a current or currents of air for ventilating the roadways of
collieries, mines and like places within which such fans or propellers are fitted or
fixed.
In constructing such appliances I first make a hollow cylinder of or from wrought-
iron, steel or other suitable metallic plate of any suitable size and thickness with
closed ends, or ends cast or formed in one with such cylindrical barrels, on or around
the outer surface of such barrels I attach or fix by metallic bolts, rivets or the like
suitable means one or more suitable cast or wrought-steel, iron or other suitable blade
of suitable width and thickness or thicknesses according to the size of the surrounding
casing and such cylinder, and form a continuous thread from one end of such
cylinders to their opposite end, and I mount or fix such cylindrical barrels centrally
and horizontally upon or to a hollow or solid steel, or wrought-iron shaft of suitable
length, the ends of which shaft rest in and may be revolved upon suitable bearings
attached or fixed at a suitable distance from the closed ends of such barrels, that end
of such shaft which projects beyond its surrounding casing having a suitable crank,
drum, rigger or the like keyed or otherwise fixed or fastened thereto to enable such
fans or propellers to be revolved.
The upper portion of one end of the cast or wrought metallic casing within which
I mount or fit such propellers I cut away or leave open so as to form an inlet or
intake, and in the upper portion of the opposite end of such casing I form a hole or
aperture of equal, or of suitable size as an outlet for the induced air-current, the
thread or blade of such air-propellers or screw-fans when rotated or set in motion by
means of the crank, drum or rigger fixed on or near to the outer end of their shaft
will as the cylinder of such appliances revolve cut their way through water, or a
mixture of water and glycerine, or other similar suitable or non-freezing liquid or
mixture contained in the lower portion of such fan-casings so as to form a "clack"
or seal for stopping the passage of the induced air-current from the intake side to the
outlet side of such casing at its lower portion.
In order that my said invention may be more readily understood and explained in
detail I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings on which letters of reference are
marked on corresponding parts on all the figures alike.

page_text: sectional elevation taken on the line A-B on Figure 1 looning
indicated by the arrow C.
On reference to the drawings hereto annexed a represents a wrought-iron, or cast-
iron hollow cylinder mounted horizontally on the wrought-iron, stee! or like suitable
metallic shaft b supported in metallic bearings c, d.
Now it will be readily understood that when the metallic drum a which is fixed or
attached to the metallic shaft 6 by means of any suitable number of metallic bolts is
revolved by means of the crank e that the metallic thread or spiral blade f which is
cast, rolled or otherwise made in two or more lengths or sections rivetted or joined
together so as to form a continuous thread or spiral from one end of the said drum
to the other end and secured to the periphery of such drum by metallic bolts or like
suitable means will cut its way through the water or non-freezing liquid g which
or seal in the lower portion of the casing h, for preventing the
" clack
passage of the induced air-current from the intake side i to the outlet side j of such
casing at its lower portion.
forms a
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
The method of increasing or improving the efficiency of rotary fans or air.
propellers used for ventilating mines, collieries and like places by placing water o
non-freezing liquid beneath such fans in the lower portion of their casing to form a
"clack" or seal for preventing the passage of induced air-current below such air
propellers from the inlet side to the outlet side of such casings when such fan
revolve or rotate as herein substantially described set forth and illustrated on th
drawings hereto annexed.
hory 1898.
JOHN NE
Longmort. Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Agent for Applicant.