Improvements of Human Dwellings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements of Human Dwellings.
I, WILLIAM VAN DER HEYDEN, of Yokohama, Japan, Medicinæ Doctor, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The primary object of my invention is the construction of houses which will
enable people to live in the coldest climates and in the hottest countries being at
the same time perfectly hygienical.
According to my invention, the real dwelling place is erected on stone pillars,
between which a thick mud wall may form the enclosure of a space to which no
sun rays have access. The whole may therefore be built underground like a
common cellar provided that air may easily and freely circulate; the object of
this врасе is to supply air to to the dwelling which is not heated by the light of
the sun; it will be of benefit therefore to surround the whole by a verandah, which
may enlarge the area of shadow considerably.
"
On the above mentioned stone pillars as supports the walls of the house are
erected. These walls are made of a double row of plate glass. The panes for a
dimension of 3 feet width by 24 feet height ought to be of " thickness; for larger
dimensions the thickness has to be increased proportionally.
The glass panes are let in a cast iron frame on elastic strips made of caoutchouc
(or other substances which are impermeable to water, and elastic) and fastened to
the frame by pegs of wood, hard caoutchouc, or equivalent material.
The frames with their glass panes are fixed opposite each other by bolts and
screws into hollow iron pillars, which stand as uprights on the foundation walls.
Similar double frames with the width of the iron columns between them, are placed
above each other 4 or 5 according to the height given to the room; and next each
other in row according to the breadth and length of the dwelling.
The horizontal rows communicate with each other by metal tubes passed through
the iron supports in the cavity, so formed a strong solution of alumen is pumped
by means of a pipe which remains fixed in the wall; for each row there is a
separate pipe with cocks. The solution must be made at the highest temperature
one may expect in the surrounding air; between 140° and 150° Fahrenheit in
tropical climates.
The ceiling is made of the same material, in the same way, and forms at once
the roof in a one-storied house; but does not rest directly on the walls. Between
them a space of about 6 inches is left open which will be closed by planks, partially
left open for the ingress of heated air in winter and for the egress of air in summer.
The floor is made of planks resting on wooden or iron beams; alongside the
walls a variable number of openings are made in the floor; under these hollow
cylinders are fixed, filled with pure cotton and shut above and beneath with
perforated iron plates.
Through these openings the filtered air from the cellar at the temperature of
that space enters the dwelling and after circulating through the room is driven
off through openings under the ceiling, which correspond with a kind of chimney.
whose upper part (above the roof) is heated by the rays of the sun shining on coal
coated iron or by sunbeams passing through a solution of iodine.
During the days the sun does not shine, an electric ventilator must be used, this
same ventilator moved on sunny days by the air current, will act reversely and
charge a battery with electricity.
In the chimney which is built outside the house, a stove is placed with a heating
fane of I of the mere within the house

page_text: In cold days when the stove is to be used, the air is drawn from outside or from
under the house and has to circulate around the stove and enters the room under
the ceiling and circulating through the house can escape only by an opening on the
interior side of the chimney, corresponding with the space under the stove.
The chimney itself is closed above, but through its roof passes a long iron tube,
which proceeds from the firing place. In this same tube the air makes its escape
during the warm days, but is then closed from the space of the stove.
The house being closed all round the entrance is made from balow, by steps
leading up through an opening in the floor, which can be closed again by a cover.
All around the house at varying distance iron wire gauze is stretched between
poles, the same can cover the roof also. This will be only necessary where one
house stands alone.
The construction may serve for private dwellings, for hospitals, for hothouses, as
covering for long railway tracks, instead of the snow-sheds now used.
Whole towns may be built with the streets and squares and gardens all covered
in &c.
By my invention the following advantages are obtained.
First: The light of the sun enters from all sides into the whole dwelling, but
without the rays of heat, so that the temperature inside will be that of the air
which is let in. This will enable us to live in the hottest places of the world and
to work there.
Second: The heat made artificially within, cannot radiate through the walls and
will be fully utilized. In such a house therefore anyone can live and strive in the
polar regions; by means of this house the whole earth may be rendered habitable
which it is now only in a very limited way.
Third: The walls being absolutely impermeable the air of the room will contain
only that moisture I intend to give it.
Fourth: The air circulating regularly and automatically, there is no accumulation
of carbonic acid or other poisonous gases possible.
:
Fifth The air of the house being filtered before entering the house will not
contain dust, nor any bacteria (which is the greatest advantage of all) in fact it
will be possible to make the air as innocuous to health as can be made the drinking
water.
Sixth: The microbes people take inevitably with them on their skin, clothes,
food &c. will be for the greatest part destroyed by the sunlight which pervades the
whole dwelling, there being not a single dark corner in the whole house.
Seventh: It will be easy to hinder absolutely the entrance of ants, flies,
mosquitos or any other insect, which are not only great nuisances, but often
dangerous by communicating diseases.
Eighth: There is no fire of any extent possible in such a house.
Ninth: The house may be easily repaired.
Tenth The house itself is removable and can be put up in any other place.
Eleventh The surrounding iron netting will preserve the house from accidents
by stones, hail &c.
Twelfth: From lightning; as it forms the best known protection from magnetism
and electricity.
Thirteenth: It will protect the house from the destructive effect of strong winds;
it acts as the gauge of the safety lamp; the air waves are smoothed by it as the
waves of the sea by oil.
Dated this Tenth day of September 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements of Human Dwellings.
I, WILLIAM VAN DER HEYDEN, of Yokohama, Japan, Medicina Doctor, 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 refers to the construction of houses as hereafter described which
enable people to live hygienically both in the coldest climates and in the hottest
countries, while whatever the climate may be, an equal temperature, and an
efficient ventilation, are among other advantages, maintained, and in order that my
invention may be readily understood I will describe same with reference to the
accompanying drawings which show by way of example so much of a house and
details thereof, constructed according to my invention as will be necessary to
explain the construction and arrangement of same.
Figure 1 is a plan (portions of the flooring &c. being removed).
Figure 2 an end elevation of Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical cross section about the line X Y of Fig. 1, and drawn to a
somewhat larger scale than the latter figure.
Figures 4 to 11 are views appertaining to the construction and arrangement
hereafter referred to.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
According to my invention I construct the building with a basement and an upper
storey or storeys (a structure having one such upper storey being shown in the
drawings), the said basement heing situated under ground or enclosed by thick
walls A so that direct sunlight cannot enter; openings B B are formed for the
entrance of air the latter being filtered as it enters, through cotton C, Fig. 3,
with which the air apertures are packed the said cotton being retained in position
by gratings C¹ C¹ on either side. In the floor A¹ of the basement there is a well D
covered with a double iron grating E' E' between which cotton E is placed, and a
tube D' passes from the interior of the well D through the grating and upwards to
supply air of as constant a temperature as possible for the upper storey of the
house, the air being supplied to the well D from the atmosphere through the
apertures B and the basement of the structure all as hereafter described.
The basement may serve as a store room or "go-down" and where possible the
well D may serve as a water supply.
Within the basement there are pillars F for supporting the walls of the upper
storey of the building.
Upon the pillars or upon beams F¹ thereon are standards G preferably of
metal between which the walls extend, and according to my invention I make these
walls double and of plate glass, so arranged that between the two thicknesses of
glass there remains a space. As this space is intended to contain water or a solution
of a salt as hereafter described the glass panes should be connected and arranged
in such a way as to form watertight closed boxes or cases, the said walls of the
upper storey or storeys being composed of a number of such boxes or cases.
A construction of the box or case is shown at Figures 4 to 7, Figure 4 being
a sectional perspective view showing two supporting metal uprights or columns G
and one of the boxes or cases supported thereby. Figure 5 is a perspective view
of one of the boxes separated. Figure 6 is a vertical transverse section on the
line X Y of Fig. 5, and Figure 7 shows the box with the frame and glass of
one side removed, to show the interior. Figure 8 shows so much of two of the
boxes or cases for,the roof or ceiling, as is necessary to explain the construction
of same.
Each box or case for the walls, see Figs. 5 to 7, is composed of two similar
cast iron or other metal frames Hand H, and on these frames the glass frames J J

page_text: •
are laid and fixed thereto by suitable cement applied in a fluid condition so
that it fills up all the gaps and spaces left by any uneveness of the glass J J or the
metal frames H H¹.
A wood or other suitable frame K provided on both edges with a strip of rubber
(caoutchouc) L L, Fig. 6 is interposed between the two metal frames H H', and
bolts H'H' are passed through the corners of the metal frames H H so as to pass
outside clear of the frame K as clearly shown at Fig. 7; by these bolts the
frames H H are held together pressing against the frame K, and thus pressing the
elastic strips against the glass panes JJ in such a manner as to ensure an air and
water tight joint. The frame K should be prepared by being painted and varnished
or otherwise, so that no fluid may be absorbed by it. The water or solution is let
in through an opening H on the top of the metal frames and another opening H
is provided for the escape of the air; both of the said openings H'H' are closed
by, for example, a wood plug, after the filling.
The boxes so formed rest on steps G' formed on the cast iron or steel uprights or
columns G, shown at Fig. 4, which latter are formed with a foot G by means of
which they are secured by screws or the like to the beams F1 resting directly on
the aforesaid stone pillars F.
.
I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement of the uprights shown, such
being samples of construction, the design of which must be varied to suit the style
of architecture, and the details of the said columns may be varied to suit require-
ments; thus, one of the side flanges thereof may be made removable, so that the
boxes or cases may be readily removed for repair, or be placed in position without
disturbing those adjacent, and other constructional parts may be varied somewhat to
suit requirements, and according to circumstances.
The metal uprights as well as the spaces between the boxes or cases should be
covered with felt and over this with thin wooden planks such as M, Fig. 3, in order
to prevent the too rapid conduction of heat, and these wooden coverings are
provided both outside as well as inside the house in such a way that the metallic
framing is not exposed.
The ceiling N, which in a one storied house forms at the same time the roof, is
made in a similar way, that is to say, of double glass panes N' N' containing the
solution between them, and the construction may be as shown at Fig. 8.
As the boxes in this case lie horizontally, the effective depth of the fluid in them
is now much less, and considerably reduces the pressure of the liquid on the joints
so that the water-tight fitting of the glass panes is rendered thereby much easier;
I may therefore fix the panes N'N' between two wooden frames or beams such as O
which span the roof or ceiling, and I may form the joints with elastic strips some-
what as previously described.
Figure 8 shows such an arrangement where a flange O¹ is formed or provided
on the horizontal beam O and receives the lower glass N₁, above which a strip, say
of wood lined with india rubber or caoutchouc is screwed so as to press into the
glass. The upper glass pane N¹ may be of ordinary window glass and laid or rested
upon wooden supports fixed to the beam.
The water-tight spaces enclosed between the glass panes of the boxes of the
walls and of the ceiling or roof I fill with a solution of kali alumen or ammonia
alumen, which has the well known property of absorbing radient heat.
Supposing a temperature of the outside air in the tropical climates to be
between 140° and 160° Fahrenheit, or about 60° Celsius, I may to 100 parts of water
employ about 50 parts of alumen, that is half the weight of the water, or in some
cases if found preferable, I may use other salts, for instance sulphate of soda, and
others.
The tiers of glass boxes or cases placed one above another to form the walls
of the dwelling and supported on the steps of the metal column, see Fig. 4, do
not reach up to the glass cases forming the ceiling, the columns being somewhat
higher, a space is thus left. between the top of the walls and the ceiling, and this I
close by a woodwork moulding. It is through this space and moulding that the

page_text: heated air passes from the heating apparatus into the chamber, and the air may also
be caused to escape from the interior thereof through openings P, Figs. 3, 10 and.11,
in the aforesaid moulding. The various openings may each of them be closed if
desired for the regulation of the influx or efflux of the warm air.
Adjoining the house I provide a structure to contain the heating apparatus, which
structure may be situated close to, or entirely free from, the house, and say to the
south west thereof. The heating structure consists of a building formed by double
walls constructed as before described, that is to say of double glass cases for
containing liquid, excepting that in cold countries other materials than glass may
be employed, and the walls may be solid and not contain liquid, and this structure
may assume somewhat the form of a tower indicated by the letter R in the
drawings, see Figs. 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11. Within this structure a stove S, Figs. 9, 10
and 11, is placed, an iron chimney Six conveying the smoke through the roof of the
heating tower R which latter is otherwise perfectly closed. The air within the
tower R and around the stove becoming warmed is conducted through suitable
passages under the roof and passes through the aforesaid spaces P in the wooden
moulding aforesaid into dwelling, while the tower R is supplied with fresh air by
a separate pipe D' from the well as at Fig. 9, or by a branch D' Figs. 1, 10, and 11,
of the pipe D' before mentioned coming from the basement or well D in same, this
entering at the floor of the tower R, Figs. 10 and 11, near the stove S but not
communicating with same.
The air in the tower R cannot communicate in any way with the interior of the
store. The air to serve for the combustion of the fuel in the stove S passes through
a tube S¹ from the interior of the dwelling having served there for the respiration
of the inhabitants, the tube S¹ passing through the floor T of the dwelling place.
The cylindrical portion of the stove may be continued downwards to the basement,
as is shown at Figs. 10 and 11, where the ashes may be removed through a door S*
usually closed, or the stove casing may be continued partially into the basement as
at Fig. 9 and be provided with a movable bottom as at S in the latter figure.
The stove is supplied with fuel from above through a funnel feeding device, the
position of which is indicated at U Fig. 10, and this should be provided with a
balanced valve for closing same when not in use.
The double walls of the tower R may in hot or moderate climates be filled
with water or a solution of iodine, and in such circumstances the chimney may be
coated outside with carbon to absorb heat and thus keep up air circulation, or
the stove may in warm climates be replaced by a simple iron tube which may
be coated outside with a layer of carbon and the heat of the sun warms the air
inside the iron tube which air will rise and must then necessarily be replaced
by the air from the room. The carbon coating of the tube when such is
employed absorbs heat and will give this off during the night continuing to cause
thereby the circulation of air.
The floor T of the dwelling place proper should be made of wood of double
thickness, the space between being filled with sawdust as shown at Figs. 3 and 9,
while in the corners glass boxes W Figs. 1 and 3, similar to those of the walls
admit light to the basement, and also there is an opening by which the other
pipe D' proceeding from the well, brings air to the dwelling on hot days, it being.
at other times closed.
The entrance to the dwelling place is made by carrying several of the boxes
such as compose the walls, in a hinged iron frame as indicated at W₁ Fig. 1,
this opening into an entrance chamber W' closed by another ordinary door W,
or in some cases entrance may be had by steps and an opening in the floor of
the dwelling closed by a trap door, although this latter arrangement is not
shown in the accompanying drawings; in both arrangements the doors should close
airtight.
In houses constructed as described, the circulation of air within the dwelling place
is effected as follows:-
When the weather is cold and the stove S, is in action, air passes-to the stove
.

page_text: from the upper room by the tube S1 and the upper room or dwelling place is
supplied from the tower R which obtains filtered air by the tube D' from the
basement or well D; the diagram Fig. 10 clearly shows the direction of the air
currents under the latter conditions by means of the arrows therein shown.
In warm weather, the heat of the sun acting on the iron chimney draws air
through the stove from the dwelling, or the stove may be put in action as is
shown at diagram 11 with the same effect; the stove then receives its supply of
air from the pipe S₁ aforesaid air being drawn into the dwelling place through
the tube D' from the well D wherein as is well known the temperature is
nearly constant. In the latter case the apertures P at the upper part of the
dwelling place are closed as also is the tube D' while the opening of the tube D¹
in the Hoor T which was previously closed is now opened; the well D as afore-
said receives its supply of air through apertures B and filtering partitions C C'E E',
the directions of the currents being shown by the arrows Fig. 11.
In some cases where desired the mechanical action of fans or like apparatus
may be employed to promote circulation of air.
The solution of alumen does not readily freeze, but where this is likely as in
Arctic regions, I may surround the house with a glass casing V partly shown at
Fig. 9, leaving a space which may contain warmed air supplied from the heating
tower, or vapour of water or aetheric oils.
The glass casing may extend all round outside the house, and as this casing
should be carried over the ceiling N steel rope may extend across the building
some distance from the ceiling N, and these ropes support the outer horizontal glass
casing.
Where snowstorms, gales, or the like prevail, the whole structure may be sur-
rounded by ordinary wire gauze stretched between poles and fixed thereto by metal
springs, and the gauze may be continued over the top of the structure.
By my invention I am enabled to construct buildings into which the light of the
sun enters from all sides but without the rays of heat, so that the interior is main-
tained at an equable temperature, while the heat within will not radiate outwards
to any appreciable extent, and also the degree of heat and the admission of pure air
can be readily controlled, while the air admitted to the dwelling place is previously
filtered, and will not contain dust or bacteria, and is made innocuous to health.
I would sum up the advantages to be obtained by the use of my invention as
follows:
First: The light of the sun enters from all sides into the whole dwelling but
without the rays of heat, so that the temperature inside will be that of the air
which is let in. This will enable anyone to live in the hottest places of the world
and to work there.
Second: The heat made artificially within, cannot radiate through the walls and
will be fully utilized. In such a house therefore anyone can live in the polar
regions; by means of this house the whole earth may be rendered habitable which
it is now only in a very limited
way.
Third: The walls being absolutely inpermeable, the air of the room will contain
only whatever moisture is introduced with the air.
Fourth: The air circulating regularly and automatically there is no accumulation
of carbonic acid or other poisonous gases possible.
Fifth The air being filtered before entering the house will not contain dust or
bacteria, in fact it will be possible to make the air as innocuous to health as drinking
water can be made.
Sixth: The microbes taken on the skin, clothes, food &c., will be for the greatest
part destroyed by the sunlight which pervades the dwelling, there being not a single
dark corner in the whole house.
Seventh: It will be easy to hinder absolutely the entrance of ants, fleas, mos-
quitos or other insects, which are not only great nuisances, but often dangerous by
communicating diseases.
Eighth: There is no fire of any extent possible in such a house,

page_text: Ninth: The house may be easily repaired.
Tenth: The house is removable and can be put up in any other place.
Eleventh: The surrounding iron netting will preserve the house from accidents
by stones, hail &c.
Twelfth: From lightning, as it forms the best known protection from magnetism
and electricity.
Thirteenth: It will protect the house from the destructive effect of strong winds,
it acts as the gauge of the safety lamp, the air waves are smoothed by it as the
waves of the sea by oil.
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. A perfected sanitary house suitable for use in all climates, characterized by the
walls and roof being built up of a number of water-tight boxes, each composed of two
sheets of plate glass carried in rectangular metal frames, each box being filled
with a solution of alumen, the whole structure being supported by columns, upon
stone pillars connected by concrete walls, through apertures in which air is admitted
into a basement or cellar, and filtered by passing through pure cotton, the air
supplying a well made within the basement, from which well, air of unvarying
temperature is drawn by pipes to supply the upper room or dwelling place, the
vitiated air being drawn from the upper room to maintain combustion in a stove,
and around the outside of the said stove the air from the well passes, and becomes
warmed before it enters the room to supply the air exhausted by the said stove, or
the air may be supplied direct from the well to the upper room as set forth.
2. In sanitary dwellings, the construction and arrangement of the enclosure or
basement below the building supplied with air from the atmosphere, with a covered
well and tubes leading to the building therefrom, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In sanitary buildings the construction and arrangement of the walls and roof
of plate glass in frames or water-tight closed boxes for containing solution whereby
radient heat is excluded and so that the dwelling can only be warmed or cooled by
the temperature of the air within the building itself, substantially as set forth.
4. In sanitary dwellings the mode and means described and shown for filtering
the air whereby the said air passing into the dwelling from the enclosed space
and well, is filtered by removing bacteria and other noxious matters and vapors,
no air being admitted except by well defined routes, and not by doors, windows,
crevices, or by the walls themselves as is usually the case in dwellings as generally
constructed.
5. In sanitary buildings, the construction and arrangement of heating stove
enclosed in an outer casing, in combination with the arrangement for air admission
thereto and exit therefrom substantially as set forth.
6. The general construction, arrangement and combination of sanitary buildings
and parts and appliances connected therewith suitable for use in the hottest and
coldest climates, and possessing the other advantages named in a sanitary point of
view, all substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated
with reference to the accompanying drawings together with any mere modification
or modifications thereof.
Dated this Ninth day of Inne 1802