CONSTRUCTION OF A FAN SUITABLE FOR EXHAUST OR BLAST PURPOSES AND SPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR EXHAUSTING HOT AIR FROM CROPS IN STACK ON WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE "NEILSON SYSTEM OF HARVESTING"
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Marie Capell Rector of Passenham Northampton'
Clerk in Holy Orders for an Invention of THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FAN
SUITABLE FOR EXHAUST OR BLAST PURPOSES AND SPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR
EXHAUSTING HOT AIR FROM CROPS IN STACK ON WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS
THE "NEILSON SYSTEM OF HARVESTING"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Mario Capell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd July 1882.
GEORGE MARIE CAPELL Rector of Passenham Northampton Clerk in Holy
Orders. "THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FAN SUITABLE FOR EXHAUST OR BLAST
PURPOSES, AND SPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR EXHAUSTING HOT AIR FROM CROPS IN
STACK ON WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE NEILSON SYSTEM OF HARVESTING"
The fan consists of a hollow cylinder of metal on a suitable frame to hold an
axle, which passes through the centre. The wings fixed on the cylinder may be
say six or more in number and are made of metal or other material. They are in
shape segments of a circle of the same diameter as the cylinder, and are so placed
on the external surface of the cylinder that their outer edge will be at the distance
of half the diameter of the cylinder on which they are placed from the outer side
of the cylinder, that is the wings on a 10 inch cylinder would have their outer
edges 5 inches from the surface of the cylinder, though I claim to vary the distance
of the wings from the surface of the cylinder as I may find it necessary. The air
ports leading from the interior of the cylinder are situated at the concave side of
the wings when the fan is used to exhaust and at the convex side of the wings
when the fan is used to blow. The ports are at the junction of the wings with
the cylinder. From the side of the ports opposite to the junction of the
wings with the outer side of the cylinder, another wing being a segment of
the same circle as the wings on the outer side of the cylinder dips into the
cylinder, the outer and inner wings thus form a passage leading the air as the
cylinder revolves at high speed from the interior of the cylinder to the rear of

page_text: the outer wing when exhausting but to the front of the outer wing when used as
a blast fan.
The fan is made with a disc at each side one of which has an opening the size
of the cylinder and works in a close fitting open frame when used for exhaust
purposes but is closed in, all except a blast port, when used as a blast fan.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus as used for exhausting air
whether for the purposes of ventilation or for exhausting the hot air from the
interior of stacks or other purposes where exhaustion of air is required. Figure 2
is a vertical section and Figure 3 a front elevation of a blast fan constructed
according to my invention.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in all the Figures.
A. A. is the fan cylinder having outer blades B. B. and inner ones C. C. At the
junction of the blades with the cylinder are the ports D. D. as before described
situated between the inner and outer wings or blades B and C respectively.
In Figures 2 and 3 H is the blast port the air being drawn in as indicated by
the arrows in Figure 3 and discharged at H.
For the purpose of exhaustion it is not necessary that the blades should be
closed in, though for protection a frame fitting close at the sides of the fan is found
desirable and in the perspective view at Figure 1 I have shewn it as applied to a
fan at the end of a tube for exhausting air from stacks on the Neilson system
although applicable to other purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Marie Capell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd January 1883.
GEORGE MARIE CAPELL Rector of Passenham Northampton Clerk in Holy
Orders "THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FAN SUITABLE FOR EXHAUST OR BLAST
PURPOSES AND SPECIALLY SUITABLE FOR EXHAUSTING HOT AIR FROM CROPS IN
STACK ON WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE "NEILSON" SYSTEM OF HARVESTING
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of fans for
exhaust and blast purposes and specially adapted for the purposes of ventilation
or for exhausting air from or blowing air into crops in stack to reduce the tempe-
rature therein when such crops are in a comparatively green state by reason of bad
weather or otherwise.
I find the exhaustion of air from stacks the most advantageous and this is known
as the "Neilson " system of harvesting.
The fan consists of a cylinder or barrel provided with side frames and through
the centre of which passes and is keyed the axle or spindle. The cylinder is
provided with external and internal blades and they may be say six in number
and may be made of metal or other material.
They are in shape segments of a circle of the same diameter (or nearly so) as
that of the cylinder and are mounted in such a manner on the external surface,
that their outer edges will be at the distance of say half the diameter of the
cylinder on which they are placed from the outer side of the cylinder, viz: the
wings on a ten inch fan would have their outer edges five inches from the surface
of the cylinder. I do not limit myself to these distances as in some cases I may
find it necessary to have the blades further from or nearer the cylinder as also with
those mounted internally on the cylinder.
When placed more radially for example it may be necessary to have a different
curve to that of the cylinder but I have found by my experiments that the afore-
said relative and approximate dimensions are most advantageous.
When the
blades are made in wood however they would have to be straight or nearly so and
in order to meet the curves as nearly as possible in such cases they should be
placed at an angle on and in the cylinder the angle thereof to be determined by the
outer and inner point as hereinbefore described.
In such a fan a wooden cylinder a may be used but it may be dispensed with in
some cases where cheapness of manufacture is desired.
The air ports leading from the interior of the cylinder are situated at the concave
side of the wings when the fan is used to exhaust, or at the convex side of the
wings when used to blow but these can obviously be varied although the Drawings
lodged with the Provisional Specification show them in one position only but in
the most advantageous manner.
The ports are at the junction of the wings with the cylinder or where the outer
and inner wings are connected.
The inner wings may be also, of, say the same curve as the radius of the cylinder
and they dip into the cylinder.
The outer and inner wings thus form a passage leading the air as the cylinder
revolves at high speed from the interior of the cylinder through the ports to the
rear of the outer wing when exhausting and to the back or it may be the front of
the outer wing when used as a blast fan, in which case it is covered in, but for
exhaust purposes the fan advantageously runs between two side frames without a
Cover

page_text: In order that my invention may be more fully understood I will now proceed
to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of my apparatus as used for exhausting air
whether for the purpose of ventilation or for exhausting the hot air from the
interior of stacks or other purposes where exhaustion of air is required.
a. a. is the fan cylinder having outer blades b. b and inner ones c. c. At the
junction of the blades with the cylinder are the ports d. d. situate between the inner
and outer blades b. and c. respectively.
The fan shown at Figure 1 is at the one end of the suction or blast pipe and
driven by a belt in the manner shown at Figure 1 in which t is the hand wheel
t' a spur wheel gearing with a pinion on the axis of which is the belt pulley t³
imparting motion to the pulley on the fan.
Or the axis of the hand wheel may be that of the fan as shown at Figure 1b
but free to run on the same. The wheel carries the spur wheel ü driving a
pinion u' on the axis of which is a spur wheel u² driving another pinion u³ which
is connected to the fan.
A fan of this construction can be provided with a travelling wheel or wheels and
handles in any convenient manner to facilitate its removal from place to place.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a blast fan and Figure 3-is a front view. his
the blast port the air being drawn in through the side or sides of the case as
indicated by the arrows in Figure 3 and discharged at h
In Figure 1 the fan is shewn without any circumferential cover though for
protection a frame fitting close to the sides of the fan is desirable together with
transverse stays and a shield may also be provided.
In sheet 2 Figure 4 shews the fan detached and to which similar letters as in
the previous figures refer.
The inner wings c. may be cut out of the cylinder a. and then bent down to
assume or nearly so the shape shown, the openings thus formed in the cylinder
serving as the port holes d.
In some cases I find it necessary to diminish or increase the area of the ports as
may be desired relative to the inlet or suction pipe and in order to effect this I
form the inner blades separately from the outer ones as shewn in Figures 6 and 6.
I provide the inner blades c. with back radial extensions c¹ or it may be out of a
cylinder inside the cylinder carrying the outer blades so that when the inner set of
blades are turned so as to assume the position shewn in dotted lines no air shall
escape only through the ports proper and in front of the blades. This adjustment
can be effected in many ways but a convenient method is by a radial alot or slota g.
and screws f. in order to tighten and secure them in position. Figure 6 is a front
view of this fan but with the blades shown in a different position.
It will be obvious that the inner fan may revolve in an opposite direction to the
outer one without departing from the principle of my Invention. Such a fan I
have shewn at Figure 7 revolving in the direction as indicated by the arrows.
The outer and inner sets of blades are free to work independently of each other
and rotating around a common centre i but the opposite motion is imparted to the
inner set of blades at greater speed by an intermediate friction or it may be a
toothed wheel k as shewn in dotted lines at Figures 7 and 9 but in front elevation
at Figure 8.
.
I do not limit myself to this method as other means may be employed for
example two belts one of which is crossed and each driving pulley connected to
its respective part of the fan.
Figure 9 is a modification of Figure 7 where the outer curves are opposite to
the inner ones viz. the convex portions travelling foremost in the direction of the
arrows both in the outer and inner blades instead of one going with the concave
portion first as in Figure 7.
The representation at Figure 7 is adapted to rotate both parts in the same
direction that is the inner ones travelling at a greater velocity than the outer
ones or vice versa by means of friction toothed or belt gearing or the two parts

page_text: may be secured in a similar manner to the means shewn in Figure 5 when the
two parts are required to revolve together in the same direction.
The tubular extension shewn at Figures 6 and 8 is for the purpose of-connecting
the exhaust pipe which is in communication with the place or part from which it
is desired to exhaust the air.
Figure 10 Sheet 3 shews one method of making my fan with wooden blades
The outer blades b are secured to c by screws or otherwise or the outer and inner
plates may be mounted on a barrel provided with port holes as shown at
Figure 11.
Figure 12 is a side elevation and Figure 13 a front view of my apparatus herein-
before described. mounted on a frame and with driving mechanism complete as
adapted for the purpose of exhausting air from stacks
A is the fan of one of the hereinbefore described constructions working between
side plates or frames B. B. The exhaust pipe C, fits over the socket of one of the
side frames B and is mounted on the framework D to which latter is connected
standards D' D' carrying the driving mechanism. E is the main pulley and E¹ its
shaft which passes freely through the bevil or mitre wheel F and is connected to
wheel H. The bevil or mitre wheel G is connected by a pivot or stud to the one
end of the handle I I'.
The bevil wheel F (through which the spindle E! passes) is provided with a
bracket F which is bolted or otherwise connected to the framework so as not to
turn By one rotation of the handle I with its wheel G two revolutions are
imparted to the wheel H as well as the pulley E details of which on a larger scale
are shewn at Figures 14 and 15 Sheet 4.
In Figures 12 and 13 J. J. are carrying wheels and their axis are connected to,
or form part of a bracket J provided with a vertical slot which is free to be raised
or lowered through the guides of the bracket K and secured in the desired position
by nut and bolt K¹ The handles L may be attached to or form part of the
frame D to facilitate the portability of the apparatus.
M is a leg preferably one at each side secured by a clamp M. The position of
this leg is adjustable by a set screw or equivalent and its height determined by
that of the carrying wheels J.
The advantage of this adjustment is that the frame work and with it the
fan A and its connections B. C, can readily be altered to suit the purposes described
or can be raised high for travelling.
I bave shown this apparatus provided with the geared speed motion although it
may be effected in any other well known manner for example as shewn at
Figure 16 where a spur wheel engages with a pinion on the axis E' of which latter
the driving pulley E is mounted which may be a belt pulley as shewn or geared
with the pinion of the fan
Figure 17 is a side elevation of a fan of the hereinbefore described construction
mounted on a framework and driven by foot power
O is the crank shaft having a chain wheel O' imparting rotatory motion by the
chain O' to the driving wheel P. A is the fan free to be raised and lowered by
nuts and bolts or other suitable mechanism for the purpose
The operator sits on a seat R on the framework S. This seat may be similar to
a bicycle saddle and capable of adjustment and there may be handles for him to
grip when driving the apparatus.
In small fans I find it convenient to build them up in sections by stamping or
pressing the inner and outer blades with part section of the fan cylinder between
them out of one or more pieces of metal
Fans of such construction are obviously applicable as a chimney cowl to create
a draught in chimneys that are apt to smoke
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my Invention and in what
manner the same is or may be performed I would have it understood that what I
claim is:-
First, The construction of fans for the various purposes of blast exhaust or

page_text: ventilation and provided with outer and inner blades as shown with ports at or
near their junction as set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Second In combination with the outer and inner blades or outer wings and
ports the method of adjusting and regulating the area of the port holes relative to
the size of the suction pipe as set forth and illustrated with reference to Figures 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawings
.
Third In combination with fans of the herein before described construction the
employment of bevil gearing for increasing the speed as applied to the exhaustion
or cooling of stacks in crop substantially as set forth and described with reference
to Figures 12. 13. and 14 of the accompanying drawings
Fourth In combination with fans of the herein before described construction, the
method of and means for adjusting or regulating the height of the apparatus to
which such exhaust or blast fans are applied for the reduction of temperature in
crops in stack as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the
accompanying drawings
Fifth The attachment to the fan case or to the frame carrying the same of the
hand wheel on the axis of which is a spur wheel gearing with a pinion and
imparting motion to the fan by a belt or by gearing substantially in the manner
as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1. 1ª. and 1b of
the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said George Marie Capell have hereunto. set my
hand and seal this Second day of January in the year of Our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
GEORGE MARIE CAPELL.