IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CREATING CURRENTS OF AIR OR GASES FOR VENTILATING OR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Lofthouse, of Beswick, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS
FOR CREATING CURRENTS OF AIR OR GASES FOR VENTILATING OR OTHER
PURPOSES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Lofthouse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1883.
ROBERT LOFTHOUSE of Beswick Manchester in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CREATING CURRENTS OF AIR OR
GASES FOR VENTILATING OR OTHER PURPOSES "
My Invention has for its object to provide simple and efficient means or apparatus
for creating currents of air or gases for purposes of ventilation preventing down
draught in chimneys and for other purposes where a current of air or gas is
required.
According to one modification of my Invention I fix on a shaft or spindle an
archimedian Screw and surround the said screw by a cylinder to which it may be
secured so as to cause the whole to revolve together in bearings carried on suitable
supports preferably provided with adjusting slots to admit of the apparatus and
brackets working in a tube the size of the Cylinder. The said Cylinder may be
made of light tin or iron either plain or with grooves or corrugations running
around it. The screw blades may also be made in two or more parts. The
apparatus may be arranged in any desired position but when it is fixed with the
screw in a vertical or nearly vertical position the bottom pedestal or bracket should
be provided with a footstep bearing for the end of the spindle to work in The
ends of the Cylinder may be strengthened by providing it with rings of cast
metal The apparatus may be fitted to work in an enlarged tube the action of the
screw therein effecting the displacement of a larger volume of air when the
apparatus is rotated by any suitable motor.
The aforesaid Cylinder may also be fitted on its outside with blades set at such
an angle that when the apparatus is rotated the blades on the exterior will blow
whilst the blades in the interior exhaust or vice versa, thereby producing a double
displacement which may be employed for supplying hot air under pressure and
exhausting foul air at the same time by one apparatus.
D

page_text: According to another modification I employ an Archimedian screw having two
or more blades secured to the inside of a vertical revolving cylinder the whole being
secured to a spindle as heretofore described and caused to rotate by the arm acting
on cups or lateral vanes fastened onto the outside of the cylinder-In conjunction
with this screw and Cylinder I may employ a fixed conical hood or cover arranged
a short distance above the top of the Cylinder and provided on the underside
with a deflecting cone so that as the air is being exhausted from the Cylinder by
the screw it is deflected by the hood and deflecting cone outside the Cylinder.
According to another modification I fix on a horizontal spindle a conical drum
having blades arranged at an angle and fitted to rotate in a stationary cone outside
which last cone is arranged another cone a space being left between them. Upon
rotating the conical drum air is forced through the internal cone and sucks air in
between the inner and the outer cones.
This arrangement is suitable for places where the rooms are low and to suit
shafting running at a low speed as this form of the apparatus does not require a
great speed and but little power to drive it.
According to another modification I provide the place to be ventilated with a
vertical tube having a widened or conical mouth at the upper end over which I fix
a dome shaped cap or cover and under this fixed dome is fitted to rotate another
cone provided on its inside with blades arranged parallel to the widened mouth of
the vertical tube On the outside of the rotating cone are cups or curved vanes
which are acted upon by the air so as to cause the cone to rotate the internal blades
thereby inducing an exhausting current in the vertical tube.
According to another modification I support from a stationary base or hood and
provide both the base and the hood with an oil cup or lubricator in which pivots or
the opposite ends of a spindle revolve On this spindle or these pivots is fixed a
Cylinder the upper part of which is provided with vanes set at an angle thereto
which vanes when the Cylinder is rotated induce a current which will force or
draw the air out of the Chimney or shaft to which the apparatus is applied and
discharge it beneath the stationary hood. The Cylinder is rotated by the air
acting upon cups or vanes with which the exterior of the said Cylinder is
provided.
According to a further modification I fix a plate or cover at a short distance
above the upper end of a vertical tube or shaft on the underside of which plate or
cover a cone is affixed with the smaller part downward and around this cone is
another cone arranged parallel or nearly so to the firmer one a space being left
between the two cones in which is fitted a dividing plate separating the space into
the passages At the upper end of this dividing plate are two diverging deflectors
which deflect any current that may be blowing in any direction and thus produce
an exhausting effect in the shaft and prevent down draught therein. In some cases
one of the deflectors of the dividing plate may be fitted with a plate having
openings in the side for directing the current across the top of the cap or cover to
the opposite side facing to the way the wind is blowing.
According to another modification I surround the vertical tube with an outer
tube or Cylinder divided by partition plates into three or four downcast exhaust
sections. This tube is provided at the lower end with a deflecting cone and at the
upper end with a cap or cover plate similar to that described with reference to the
last modification but provided with three or four Injectors corresponding to
the number of sections in the tube. These Injectors are suitably arranged to
catch the wind from whatever quarter it may blow. All the sections are always
working at the same time and an equal pressure and exhaust is thus obtained in
the discharge sections of the outer vertical tube
In conjunction with the inverted cones hereinbefore referred to outlets may be
provided for the purpose of driving the exhausting air from the tubes in a latera!
,direction,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Lofthouse in the Patent Office on the 27th June 1884.
ROBERT LOFTHOUSE of Beswick Manchester in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR CREATING CURRENTS OF AIR OR
GASES FOR VENTILATING OR OTHER PURPOSES
12
My Invention has for its object to provide simple and efficient means or
apparatus for creating currents of air or gases for purposes of ventilation or for
preventing down draughts in chimneys or for creating currents of air or gases
for other purposes and consists of various arrangements of parts for the said
purposes as hereinafter described.
One modification of apparatus constructed according to my Invention is
represented in longitudinal section in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.
I fix on a shaft or spindle A. an archimedian screw B and I surround the said
screw by a cylinder C secured to the said screw. The said shaft is mounted in
bearings D supported in any suitable way and the said shaft is caused to revolve
by any suitable means, the screw B and the cylinder C revolving there with. The
bearings of the shaft may be arranged in slots in the supports so as to admit of
adjustment if required. The cylinder C is situated in a larger fixed cylinder E
secured to any suitable support, for example to the bracket as shewn, and the said
cylinder C has on its exterior, blades or wings F. E² represents a fixed funnel or
end of a shaft or passage leading to the place to which air or gas is to be supplied
or from which it is to be drawn. The apparatus may be made of light iron or of
tin plate and the cylinder C may be plain as shewn or it may have grooves or
corrugations around it and it may be provided with strengthening rings of cast
or wrought metal. The screw blade B may be made in two or more parts if
desired. The apparatus constructed as shewn and described when rotated will
create very efficiently a current or currents of air or gas. The blades F can be set
at such an angle that they will cause a blowing action in and from the space
between the cylinders C and E whilst the screw B will exhaust air or gas in the
opposite direction or the blades F can be caused to exhaust and the screw to blow
if desired. I thus obtain a double displacement which may be utilized for example
for supplying hot air under pressure and exhausting foul air at the same time by,
the one apparatus. If it be not desired to give this exhausting and blowing effect
the cylinder E and the wings F may be dispensed with.
Although the apparatus is shewn in a horizontal position it may be arranged in
any desired position but when it is fixed with the screw in a vertical or nearly
vertical position the bottom pedestal or bracket should be provided with a footstep
bearing for the end of the spindle to work in.
According to another modification illustrated by Figure 2 I secure on a vertical
spindle A an archimedian screw B having by preference two or more blades
connected to the inside of a vertical revolving cylinder C the whole being secured
together as in the arrangement Figure 1 but instead of imparting motion thereto
by mechanical means it is caused to rotate by the air or gas acting on cups or
lateral vanes G fastened at a suitable angle on to the outside of the cylinder C.
In conjunction with the said screw B and cylinder C I may employ a fixed conical
hood or cover H arranged a short distance above the top of the cylinder and
provided on the underside with a deflecting cone I so that as the air or gas is
exhausted through the cylinder C by the screw B it is deflected by the hood H
and cone I outside the cylinder. To the upper end of the cylinder C may be fixed
a conical piece carrying inclined vanes or blades C which as the cylinder C

page_text: revolves travel in the interior of the cone I and assist the exhaustion of the
air from the cylinder C by drawing it to the exterior thereof. If desired this
apparatus may be driven by mechanical means instead of by the air and the
blades B may be fixed to the interior of the cylinder C instead of to the
spindle A.
According to another modification illustrated by Figure 3 I fix on a horizontal
spindle A. a conical drum C having blades F on the exterior arranged spirally or
at an angle thereto. This drum C is fitted to rotate in a stationary cone E outside
which is arranged another cone E¹ spaces being left between the said cones
Upon rotating the conical drum C which may be effected by a strap from any
suitable prime mover passed over the pulley a, air is forced through the internal
cone E and at the same time air is drawn in between the said cone and the
outer cone E¹.
This arrangement is suitable for rooms or places where the ceilings or roofs are
low and as it does not require to be driven at a high speed is especially applicable
where a small amount of power only is available.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of an apparatus constructed like that last described
but with the spindle A arranged vertically instead of horizontally-In both
arrangements the drum C on the shaft A may be provided with spiral blades on
the interior in place of or in addition to those on the exterior. By connecting to
the cone E tubes leading from vats or other places from which steam or fumes are
to be exhausted the apparatus will effect the exhaustion and at the same time
ventilate the room in which the apparatus is situated.
According to another modification illustrated by Figure 5.I provide the chimney
top or the tube or shaft C³, leading from the place to be ventilated, or from which
gas is to be drawn, with a widened or conical mouth C, at the upper end, over
which I fix a dome shaped cap or cover H. Beneath this fixed dome H is fitted to
rotate on a spindle A another cone C' provided in the interior with inclined
blades B, the inner edges of which are arranged parallel to the widened mouth C
of the tube or shaft C³. On the outside of the rotating cone C₁ are cups or curved
vanes G which are acted upon by the wind so as to cause the cone O¹ to rotate and
the internal blades B thereby to induce an exhausting current in the vertical
tube C³ whilst the fixed dome H prevents the direct action of the wind against the
delivery of the exhaust. If desired the cone C¹ may be rotated by mechanical
means
Figure 5 illustrates a modification wherein the parts C and C instead of
being conical are cylindrical. c is a rim to cover the opening between the tube C*
and the vanes B.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of a ventilator which is without rotating parts
and constructed according to my Invention.
C³ is the shaft or chimney communicating with the place or apartment to be
ventilated.
At a short distance above the upper end of this shaft I fix a plate or dome H
provided with a depending rim or edge I of a conical form, the smaller part of the
cone being downward and around this cone is another cone K arranged parallel or
nearly parallel to the cone I, a space being left between the two cones in which is
fitted a dividing plate or cone L which separates the space into passages kl. At
the upper end of the dividing plate or cone L are two diverging deflectors M N
which deflect any current that may be blowing in any direction through the
passages and thus produce an exhausting effect in the shaft C³ and prevent
down draught therein. A cap O may be fitted above the deflectors M and if
desired the plate L may be fitted with a plate having openings in the side for
directing the current across the top of the cap or cover H to the opposite side
facing to the way the wind is blowing.
Figures 7 and 8 represent in vertical section and plan respectively another
modification of stationary ventilator in which the vertical tube Ca is surrounded by

page_text: an outer tube or cylinder E divided by partition plates P into downcast exhaust
sections Q. Of these, four are shown as being a convenient number, but they may
be more or less in number. The tube or cylinder E is provided at the lower end
with a deflecting cone R and at the upper end with a cap or cover plate H
provided with four injectors S corresponding to the sections Q in the tube E. These
injectors are so constructed and arranged as to catch the wind from whatever;
quarter it may blow and conduct it down through the compartments and thus
produce an inducing current that will draw the smoke, vitiated air, or gases, from,
and prevent down draught through, the tube, chimney or shaft C³. All the
sections are always working at the same time and an equal pressure and exhaust is
thus obtained in them all.
In conjunction with the above, inverted cones may be provided at the outlets
for the purpose of driving the exhausting air from the tubes in a lateral direction.
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:
First-Apparatus for creating currents of air or gas for ventilating or other
purposes consisting in the combination of a stationary tube or passage E2 and a
rotating cylinder C provided in the interior with an archimedian screw blade or
blades B arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Second Apparatus for creating currents of air or gas for ventilating or other
purposes consisting in the combination of a stationary tube or passage E³, a
stationary tube or cylinder E and a rotating tube or cylinder C provided in its
interior with an archimedian screw blade or blades B and on its exterior with
inclined wings or blades F, the said parts being relatively arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the
accompanying Drawings.
=
Third Apparatus for creating currents of air or gas for ventilating or other
purposes consisting in the combination of a rotating cylinder C provided on the
exterior with inclined blades or wings C² and in the interior with an archimedian
screw or screw blades and a fixed hood or cover H provided with a deflecting cone
inside which the external blades or wings C³ are caused to revolve, substantially as
and for the purpose herein before described with reference to figure 2 of the
accompanying Drawings, whether the said cylinder C be rotated by the action of
the wind or by mechanical means.
Fourth-Apparatus for creating currents of air or gas for ventilating or other
purposes consisting in the combination with a conical rotating drum Č provided
with screw blades or inclined wings F and stationary or fixed cones E and E'
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described with reference to
Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth Apparatus for creating currents of air or gas for ventilating or other
purposes consisting in the combination with an expanded or conical tube shaft or
chimney top, of a fixed hood or cover H and a rotating cone C' provided with
screw blades or inclined wings B and G arranged and acting substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by Figure 5 of the accompanying Drawings.
Also the modification thereof illustrated by Figure 54.
Sixth-A stationary or non-rotating ventilating apparatus consisting in the
combination of a conical hood or cover H, the cone K, and the double
deflector L M N arranged substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by Figure 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Seventh-A stationary or non-rotating apparatus for ventilating exhausting and
like purposes, consisting in an outer tube or cylinder E surrounding the upper part
of the tube chimney or shaft leading from the place to be ventilated or exhausted,
the said tube or cylinder being divided into a number of vertical chambers or
compartments each communicating with the external air at the lower part and

page_text: provided at top with an injector constructed and arranged substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 7 and 8 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Robert Lofthouse have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal this twenty-third day of June One thousand eight hundred
and eighty four.
ROBERT LOFTHOUSE. (L.S.)