IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING BUILDINGS, WATER CLOSETS, SHIPS, OR VESSELS, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Rowan, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
VENTILATING BUILDINGS, WATER CLOSETS, SHIPS, OR VESSELS, AND THE
LIKE"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Rowan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1881.
THOMAS ROWAN, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING BUILDINGS, WATER CLOSETS,
SHIPS, OR VESSELS, AND THE LIKE."_
This Invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
ventilating buildings, water-closets, ships or vessels, and the like, whereby I ensure
a constant and regular supply of fresh, dry, and purified or disinfected (or other-
wise treated) air, with means for ejecting the vitiated or impure air.
In carrying out my Invention for ventilating a building, hall, chamber, or the
like, an air inlet is provided in any suitable position near the roof or ceiling; this
inlet opens into what I call an "air inlet box," having two divisions, the outer and
larger division containing coke saturated with any suitable solution, and serving
either to absorb moisture or to destroy infusoria; the other and smaller division of
the box may be filled with dry charcoal, lime stone, or other suitable material
which will absorb moisture, the box being provided with a tray for collecting any
solution which may drain from the coke or other saturated material. From any
suitable position near the floor of the building or chamber passes a shaft or pipe
(which I call the ejecting shaft or pipe) extending above the roof, where it is
provided with a cowl, preferably one constructed as hereinafter described, for
producing an induced current up the shaft or pipe. An air inlet shaft is also
provided, the lower end of which passes into the building just under the lower open
end of the hereinbefore described ejecting shaft or pipe, a nozzle at the end of the
said air inlet pipe opening into the lower end of the ejecting shaft or pipe. The
cowl which I prefer to employ for the ejecting shaft or pipe is constructed of a
horizontal tube, into one end of which is fitted a hollow truncated cone, with the

page_text: base outwards, the cowl being constructed to allow it to revolve in the usual
manner, so that the base of the cone shall always be presented to the wind.
By this arrangement it will be understood that the outer air entering the
building or room through the herein before described "air inlet box," it will be
purified and dried, and the vitiated air will be ejected through the air ejecting
shaft or pipe by the combined action of the air inlet pipe and cowl.
In some cases the air ejecting shaft or pipe may pass from near the roof of the
building, as will be well understood.
My improvements may be applied to compartments of ships or vessels, railway
cars, provision chambers, slaughter houses, and the like, and the air being caused
to pass through suitable antiseptics in the "air inlet box" will allow of meat and
other perishable articles being carried or stored for a comparatively long period of
time without deterioration.
The modification of the apparatus necessary for ventilating water closets will be
understood without further description.
.
My improvements are also specially applicable to hospitals, where the air is
sometimes required to be rendered moist or otherwise treated, in which case the
"air inlet box" is provided with a steam jet or suitably charged to produce the
required medicinal or other effect.
Further, to dissipate fog, or in cold weather, the air before entering the "air
inlet box" may be caused to pass through suitably heated pipes, and in hot weather
the pipes may be cooled.
In all cases more than one nozzle air inlet pipe may be employed where it is
desirable to increase the current and injecting force up the ejecting shaft; or air
may be mechanically forced or blown through the air injection pipe, with or without
an induced current in the ejection shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Rowan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th July
1881.
THOMAS ROWAN, of Ryde, Isle of Wight, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING BUILDINGS, WATER CLOSETS,
SHIPS, OR VESSELS, AND THe like.'
"
This Invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for
ventilating buildings, water closets, ships or vessels, railway carriages, tunnels, and
the like, whereby I insure a constant and regular supply of fresh, dry, and purified
or disinfected (or otherwise treated) air, with means for ejecting the vitiated or
impure air.
But to make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same
by reference to the accompanying Drawing.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation, shewing the arrangement for carrying
out my Invention for ventilating a building, hall, chamber, or the like. In this
Figure A represents a building; an air inlet is provided in any suitable position
near the roof or ceiling; this inlet opens into what I call an "air inlet box " B,
shewn also in detached transverse section at Figure 2, Sheet 1; this air inlet box
has two divisions, the outer and larger division A containing coke saturated with
any suitable solution, and serving either to absorb moisture or to destroy infusoria.
The other and smaller division b of the box may be filled with dry charcoal, lime
stone, or other suitable material which will absorb moisture, the box being
provided with a tray C for collecting any solution which may drain from the coke
or other saturated material, the bottom being perforated for this purpose. The
sides of the box B are also partly perforated, as shewn, to allow of the free passage
of the air; or the air inlet box may be constructed as shewn in Figure 2a, in which
the coke and other re-agents may be placed on perforated shelves or trays, the air
passing through the box before entering the building in the direction shewn by
the arrows. From any suitable position, such as at C, near the floor of the
building or chamber, passes a shaft or pipe D (which I call the ejecting shaft or
pipe) extending above the roof, where it is provided with a cowl E, preferably one
constructed as hereinafter described, and shewn in section at Figure 3, for producing
an induced current up the shaft or pipe D, or in some cases the cowl may be
dispensed with. An air inlet shaft F is also provided, the lower end of which
passes into the building just under the lower open end d of the hereinbefore
described ejecting shaft or pipe D, a nozzle G at the end of the said air inlet pipe F
opening into the lower end of the ejecting shaft or pipe D, as shewn, the upper
end of the same being provided or not with a cowl.
The cowl which I prefer to employ for the ejecting shaft or pipe D is shewn in
section in Figure 3, and is constructed of a horizontal tube H, into one end of
which is fitted a hollow truncated cone I, with the base outwards, it being essential
that the inner end of the cone shall only extend partially across the upshaft, the
cowl being constructed to allow it to revolve in the usual manner, so that the base
of the cone shall always be presented to the wind.
By my improved arrangement hereinbefore described and represented in Figures
1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1 of the Drawing, it will be understood that the outer air
entering the building or room through the "air inlet box "B will be purified and
dried in passing through the chambers a and b by the coke and charcoal (or other
materials respectively contained therein, as herein before described), and the vitiated
air will be ejected through the air ejecting shaft or pipe D by the combined action
of the air inlet pipe F and cowl E, or by the action of the air inlet pipe alone when
no cowl is employed.

page_text: In some cases the air ejecting shaft or pipe may pass from near the roof of the
building, as represented in Figure 4, in which the letters refer to corresponding
parts to those shewn in Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 1, and it therefore needs no further
description.
In all cases more than one nozzle air inlet pipe may be employed where it is 5
desirable to increase the current and injecting force up the ejecting shaft. Such
an arrangement is shewn in Figure 4°; or air may be mechanically forced or blown
through the air injection pipe, with or without an induced current in the ejection
shaft.
.
My improvements may be applied to compartments of ships or vessels, railway 1
cars, provision chambers, dairies, slaughter houses, and the like, and the air being
caused to pass through suitable antiseptics in the 'air inlet box' will allow of
meat and other perishable articles being carried or stored for a comparatively long
period of time without deterioration. The ventilation of ships' cargoes may be
readily effected by placing my improved ventilating shafts and air injectors at
various intervals and depths in the cargo, and they may be provided with a suitable
cowl, or the air may be forced through the injector by means of a fan or blower or
otherwise.
My improvements are also specially applicable to hospitals, where the air is
sometimes required to be rendered moist or otherwise treated, in which case the
"air inlet box" is provided with a steam jet or suitably charged to produce the
required medicinal or other effect.
The air from the interior of the hospital may be likewise disinfected or treated
by a number of ejecting shafts being led from the building into a chamber similar
to that described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and dated
the Seventeenth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and eighty,
No. 5303, when it may be treated similarly to sewer gas to destroy the infectious
germs. By this arrangement one cowl may be employed for several shafts, instead
of one cowl being required for each shaft.
"
Further, to dissipate fog, or in cold weather, the air before entering the "air
inlet box may be caused to pass through suitably heated pipes, and in hot weather
the pipes may be cooled.
The modification of the apparatus necessary for ventilating water closets is
represented in Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawing.
An
Figure 5, Sheet 1, shews an arrangement of several water closets placed above
one another. J is the soil pipe, into which each of the closet pipes e, e, e, open;
the soil pipe J is elbowed at K, as shewn, where it is provided with an air injecting
cone L, similar to that described in my Provisional Specification, No. 505, dated
the Fifth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
ejecting pipe M passes from the pipe N leading to the drain, and has an air
injecting pipe F for causing the current. The said pipe M may or may not be
provided with a cowl. The action will be understood without further description.
Figure 6, Sheet 1, shows a slightly modified arrangement applied to one water
closet. Instead of the air injecting shaft F an air injecting cone may be employed
similar to that described when referring to Figure 5. The arrangement of ejecting
shaft and injecting cone shewn in Figure 4 may also be sometimes employed for
ventilating buildings.
Figure 7, Sheet 1, shews a section of a tunnel provided with my method of
ventilation. D are the air ejecting shafts, one end being placed near the ground,
and at the top of the tunnel, or otherwise arranged according to requirements;
F are the air injecting pipes arranged in a similar manner to that hereinbefore
described, the upper ends of both the air ejecting shafts and the air injectors
extending to any suitable height above ground.
Figure 8 is an end view, and Figure is a section of a suitable construction of
apparatus for ventilating railway carriages. A is the roof of the railway carriage,
and D is the air ejecting shaft, which in this case is not provided with revolving
cowls, but the cowl is fixed, and is open at each end, so as to produce an upward

page_text: current of air in either direction of travel of the carriage; F, F, are the air injectors,
two in number, opening in opposite directions one to the other, so that a downward
current will be produced while the carriage is travelling in either direction; or the
apparatus may be placed near the bottom of the carriage, in which case the pipe D
would be turned upwards into the carriage.
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2, shew an arrangement of air inlet box suitable for
purifying the air admitted to railway carriages. The air is forced by the onward
motion of the carriage into the air channels P, and passes into the chamber Q
containing coke or other porous material, which is kept saturated with water or
other liquid. From thence the air passes through the grating R down through the
chamber S, which is filled with coke or other suitable porous material, and through
the perforated bottom into the chamber T, provided with any suitable purifying or
absorbing agent, and thence the purified air passes into the carriage U.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the best means
with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down,
as the same may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of my
Invention, but what I do claim is,―
The improvements in the method of and apparatus for ventilating buildings,
water closets, ships or vessels, and the like, substantially as herein before described
and represented in the accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification thereof.*
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Rowan, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
THOMAS ROWAN. (L.S.)