IMPROVEMENTS TW MACHINERY POP FORCING OR EXHAUSTING AIR OR AERIFORM FLUIDS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Finch, of Beaufort Square, Chepstow,
in the County of Monmouth, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
TW MACHINERY POP FORCING OR EXHAUSTING AIR OR AERIFORM FLUIDS."
Sealed the 1st November 1870, and dated the 23rd June 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Finch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
23rd June 1870.
I, EDWARD FINCH, of Beaufort Square, Chepstow, in the County of
5 Monmouth, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FORCING OR EXHAUSTING AIR OR AERIFORM
FLUIDS," to be as follows: :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for
forcing or exhausting air or aeriform fluids.
I form a case or box, I prefer to make it of wrought iron; on one side
of this box I fix a short cylinder; within this cylinder and concentric

page_text: with it I cause a shaft rapidly to revolve; upon this shaft I key tight
a cast iron boss, on each side of this boss I fasten a circular disc of iron,
these discs are about half the diameter of the cylinder, I attach to them
oblique vanes extending to but not actually touching the inside surface
of the cylinder. The consequence is that when the shaft having the
oblique vanes as described is in rapid motion in one direction it drives
air into the case or box described through or between the oblique vanes,
and there being a passage from this box it is driven through this passage,
and from thence by pipes it may be guided to where it is required to be
used or expelled. If the shaft be driven in the opposite direction the
tendency will be to draw in air through the passage it was expelled
through when driven in the other direction and deliver it out through
the oblique vanes, thus the machine is made either to force or exhaust
air or aeriform fluids by simply reversing the direction in which the
shaft carrying the oblique vanes is made to revolve.
In constructing the machine the shaft is made to pass through the
box at the outside of which the driving pulley is fixed, and it is so
arranged that each end of the shaft shall have a good bearing with a
screw that can be adjusted against the end of the shaft to resist the
reaction of the vanes.
Two of these machines having one driving pulley in the centre
between them, and one driving shaft common to both, may be made in
such a way that the pressure endwise on the shaft caused by the vanes
of one machine may be counteracted by the like pressure in the opposite
direction in the other.
When the machine is required to force or exhaust gases the entrance
through the vanes must be surrounded by an air-tight chamber into which
the gas must be allowed to flow through a pipe, and the passage from the
case or box must be connected by pipes with the vessel or receiver into
which the gas is to be delivered, the action of the machine will then be
as before described, by turning it in one direction it will exhaust the gas
from one vessel and force it into the other, by turning it in the opposite
direction it will forco gas into the vessel it before drew it from, and
exhaust the one it before delivered the gas into.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Finch in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
FINCH, of Beaufort Square, Chepstow, in the County of Monmouth,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Edward Finch, Her special licence that
I, the said Edward Finch, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Edward Finch, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR FORCING OR EXHAUSTING AIR OR AERIFORM FLUIDS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Finch, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Finch, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for
forcing or exhausting air or aeriform fluids.
I form a case or box, I prefer to make it of wrought iron; on one
side of this .box fix a short cylinder; within this cylinder and con-
centric with it I cause a shaft rapidly to revolve; upon this shaft I key
tight a. cast-iron boss, on each side of this boss I fasten a circular
:

page_text: disc of iron, these discs are about half the diameter of the cylinder.
I attach to them oblique vanes extending to, but not actually touching
*the inside surface of the cylinder. The consequence is that when the
shaft having the oblique vanes as described is in rapid motion in one
direction it drives air into the case or box described through or between
the oblique vanes, and there being a passage from this box it is driven
through this passage, and from thence by pipes it may be guided to
where it is required to be used or expelled. If the shaft be driven in
the opposite direction the tendency will be to draw in air through the
passage it was expelled through when driven in the other direction and
deliver it out through the oblique vanes, thus the machine is made either
to force or exhaust air or aeriform fluids by simply reversing the direction
in which the shaft carrying the oblique vanes is made to revolve.
In constructing the machine the shaft is made to pass through the
box, at the outside of which the driving pulley is fixed, and it is so
arranged that each end of the shaft shall have a good bearing, with a
screw that can be adjusted against the end of the shaft to resist the
reaction of the vanes.
Two of these machines having one driving pulley in the centre
between them and one driving shaft common to both, may be made
in such a way that the pressure endwise on the shaft caused by the
vanes of one machine may be counteracted by the like pressure in
the opposite direction in the other.
When the machine is required to force or exhaust gases the entrance
through the vanes must be surrounded by an air-tight chamber, into
which the gas must be allowed to flow through a pipe, and the passage
from the case or box must be connected by pipes with the vessel or
receiver into which the gas is to be delivered, the action of the machine
will then be as before described, by turning it in one direction it will
exhaust the gas from one vessel and force it into the other, by turning
it in the opposite direction it will force gas into the vessel it before
drew it from, and exhaust the one it before delivered the gas into.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: Figure 1, on Sheet 1, shows a front view of the propeller, and this
with Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, show the machine arranged for drawing air
in through the vanes of the propeller, and by its rapid rotation forcing
it out through the opening A, A, A, A, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, from whence
it may be conveyed to the place where it is required to be used.
Figure 2 shews the opposite side of the machine, this Figure and also
Figures 3, 4, and 5, show how the driving pulley is attached to the shaft
and how the shaft is sustained in its bearings, and how the bearings
are supported by and connected with the machine.
Figure 5, Sheet 1, shows the machine in section, the shaft and air
propeller in elevation in place in the short cylinder, in which they
revolve. The whole casing of the machine is shown made with wrought-
iron plates and angle iron, and in these Figures the mode of construction
is clearly illustrated.
Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 1, show a similar machine arranged for
bringing any special air or gas from any locality and forcing it to any
other locality where it may be required to be delivered or used. Instead
of air being drawn from the atmosphere through the vanes as before
described, a pipe B is attached in front of them and communicates with
the special air or gas that is requisite to be removed by the machine, the
rapid rotation of the propeller draws this air or gas in through the
pipe B and delivers it through the square orifice C, Figure 6, from
whence it may be conveyed as required.
Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 2, show a double machine with the lower
parts united and the driving pulley between the two. This pulley and
the driving shaft on which it is fixed are common to both. This double
machine is shown placed over a pit. The propellers are fixed on the
shaft and made to revolve, so that they shall draw air through the bottom
of the machine out of the pit or mine over which it is placed and deliver
it through the vanes of the propeller into the open air, or it may, by
the arrangement shown in Figures 6 and 7, Sheet No. 1, be conveyed
in pipes like B attached in front of the propeller cylinders to where it
may be wanted to be delivered. Figure 1 shows an elevation of one
propeller end of the machine; Figure 2 shows a longitudinal view of this
machine, one half in elevation, the other half in section. This machine
like the one previously described, is shown made of wrought-iron plates
and angle iron. To cause both propellers to draw air at the same time
from the pit through the bottom of the machine and deliver it through

page_text: the air propellers, it is requisite for the vanes of one propeller to be
placed at an angle opposite to the vanes of the other. This, of necessity,
neutralizes all end pressure on the shaft.
In the foregoing machines the requisite speed of the vanes of the
propeller is shown to be obtained by the rapid rotation of the shaft upon
which it is placed, produced by a strap being caused to pass over a
pulley, or the shaft might have a toothed wheel keyed upon it and be
driven by this wheel, or the shaft may be driven directly by steam power
as shown at Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, Sheet No. 2, the diameter of the propeller
being increased to obtain the requisite speed these Figures show a
machine placed over a mine. Figure 3 shows a plan of the machine,
one balf of it being over the mine, the other half on the solid ground;
Figure 4 shows a section through A, B; Figure 5, a section through C, D.
The cylinder in which the propeller E revolves is sustained by the iron
house of which it forms a part and rests on the ground. The entire
machine forms two chambers, these chambers being separated from each
other by the air propeller. One chamber is immediately over and
connects freely with the pit, the other chamber has carried from it an
iron stack open to the atmosphere. Outside the house at H, Figure 4
and Figure 6, there is shown a steam engine, the connecting rod of
which, when put in motion, causes the engine shaft I to revolve, which,
passing through the first chamber of the house, has fastened upon it
the air propeller and goes forward to a bearing which is supported by
two girders K. and L passing entirely across the house. The engine
being set in motion in one direction causes the air propeller to revolve
and draw air from the mine and deliver it up the stack.
If the engine
is turned in a contrary direction air is drawn down the
to pass through the vanes of the propeller, and is forced into the mine;
by thus alternately drawing air out and forcing air into a mine it may
be kept thoroughly cleansed of all aeriform impurities.
stack, is made
Another arrangement by which the shaft of the air propeller may be
driven is shown on Sheet 3. The machine shown on this Sheet is a
hand machine with the case made of wrought-iron sheets and angle iron
put together as shown. Figure 1 represents a plan of the machine with
the top plate removed; Figure 2, an elevation of the front of the
machine showing the oblique vanes; Figure 3 shows a side elevation
of the machine and position of the bearing of the main shaft; Figure 4
shows a bastard section of the machine at H, I; Figure 5, a bastard

page_text: section at K, L; Figure shows the friction rollers M, N, and me
support O for them and the air propeller shaft; Figures 7 and 8 show
full-sized details of the bearing for main shaft hereafter described.
This
case contains within it the air propeller and the machinery requisite for
driving it up to the speed required.
The machinery consists of the main shaft A, and the end of which
comes through the case to the outside, and upon this end a handle is
placed. In the inside of the machine upon this main shaft a pulley B is
fixed with turned-up true surface, and upon this true periphery an india-
rubber ring C is tightly stretched. Above this main shaft and crossing
the machine in the same direction there is an intermediate shaft D, upon
which there are placed a small iron pulley E and a toothed wheel F.
The small pulley comes immediately over and bears upon the india-
rubber ring on the periphery of the large pulley on the driving shaft.
The toothed wheel upon this intermediate shaft is made to work into a
four-threaded worm G which forms part and is solid with the air pro-
peller shaft, this latter shaft being placed at right angles with the other
two shafts. On one end of it the air propeller is fixed, the outer end
resting upon a bearing attached to the short cylinder in which the
propeller revolves. The other or back end is made to take a bearing.
on two friction rollers, and is retained laterally and endwise by the
upright support which carries the friction rollers and the shaft. Motion
is obtained by turning the handle upon the main shaft; this causes the
large pulley to revolve, and as it is made to press against the small iron
pulley upon the intermediate shaft this small pulley by friction is caused
to revolve, the shaft and toothed wheel revolving with it, and as the
toothed wheel is geared into the four-threaded worm on the air propeller
shaft rapid rotation of the air propeller is thus produced. To enable the
india-rubber periphery of the driving pulley to be pressed tightly against
the small pulley upon the intermediate shaft an arrangement is made by
neans of which the bearings or centre of the main shaft may be brought
at will nearer to the centre of the intermediate shaft. To better show the
construction of one of these bearings the detail full-sized Drawings,
Figures 7 and 8 are given. M shows the wrought-iron side of the
machine in section; N, a vertical cast-iron plate which carries the
bearing of the main shaft and forms the bearing of the intermediate
shaft. A round hole is bored through this cast-iron plate and the side
plate of the machine large enough to receive the brass bearing O of the

page_text: main shaft. This bearing has a collar P on one side, and is turned to fit
and revolve in this hole through the ironwork described, the collar being
brought against the inside of the machine; on the other side a screw
thread is cut, and it has upon it a hexagon nut Q shown of wrought iron.
A hole is bored for the shaft R through this brass bearing, but not in the
centre surrounding this hole. Beyond the iron nut the brass is formed
hexagon in shape at S. Both the bearings for this shaft are alike and as
described. When the shaft is in place and the bearings are required to be
adjusted the operation is thus :-Two small spanners are made to take
hold of the hexagon parts S of the protruding ends of the brass bearings,
and two larger spanners are made to take hold of and slacken the wrought-
iron nuts Q which hold the bearings to the ironwork. The first spanners
are raised until it is felt that the india-rubber on the pulley of the main
shaft presses with sufficient tightness against the small iron pulley on the
intermediate shaft, the iron nuts Q upon the bearing are then tightened
up hard, and the bearings and shaft are thus held firmly in their place.
Like the other machines described a pipe may be placed before the vanes
so that gaseous fluid may be brought from any quarter, and a similar pipe
attached to the exit so that it may be conveyed to any quarter. Pressure
is increased by the increase of speed and by the diminution of the space
allowed for the exit of the aeriform fluid acted upon and by the vanes of
the air propeller being placed less obliquely to the shaft. I further
augment the pressure by adding a piece of leather or vulcanized india-
rubber or such like material to the back part of each propeller blade, as
shown on Sheet 1 at D, Figure 8, so that as the pressure of air within
the machine increases this elastic substance yields and approaches to the
next vane, and thus tends to retain the elastic air within the machine.
When the gas or gaseous matter has to be delivered under pressure I
introduce a circular plate before the entrance to the air propeller shown
on Sheet No. 1, at Figure 1, F, at Figures 5 and 7 at G, and on Sheet
No. 2 at Figure 2, K, which plate covers over the narrow space between
the cylinder and the extremities of the propeller blades, through which
otherwise air will escape, this air as it rushes to get past is arrested by
this which I call a curtain plate, and again is seized by the oblique
blades of the air propeller and carried back into the interior of the
machine.
I further modify this arrangement by making the chamber in which
the air propeller revolves taper inwards more or less as shown on Sheet

page_text: No. 1, Figure 9, at K, and place around the edge an angle iron as shown
at L of the same Figure. The construction of the air propeller and
mode of putting it together is shown at Figures 10 and 11, Sheet No. 1;
M is the cast-iron boss bored out ready to be fixed upon the main shaft
and turned down true on each side to receive the two wrought-iron
discs N, N, which are bored out to fit the turned part of the boss when
in place, bolts are passed through the three and rivetted on both sides.
The blade O of the propeller is made of plate iron, a flat plate is cut
to the right shape, the distance it shall go down between the discs being
determined and the width ascertained that will be required to enable it to
go between the two discs at the angle intended. The blade is then slit
at each side and two ears P, P, are formed by bending one part of the
plate forward, the other in the contrary direction. The propeller blade
is now put down between the two discs, and the ears are rivetted to
them, one ear to one disc, the other ear to the other disc, and thus the
blade is held in place, each blade is fastened in the like manner. To
keep the wrought-iron discs in their right position and cause them to
revolve, as true as possible a distance piece Q is introduced through
each oblique vane and the discs, these consist of pieces of wrought-iron
pipe placed as shown, through each of which passes a rod of wrought iron
which is rivetted on the outside of each disc, and the whole are fixed
rigidly in place.
The obliquity of the vanes may vary according to circumstances, I
usually place them at an angle of 45 degrees with the shaft, and
for facility of construction use them flat, although the most effective
shape is the one they would assume if they formed part of a screw of
the pitch indicated by the angle made with the shaft.
It will be seen that in the machines herein-before described for forcing
or exhausting air or aeriform fluids, the air or aeriform fluid in place of
being drawn into the fan or propeller at the centre as is now usual, and
being expelled by centrifugal force, is drawn in between inclined blades
placed around the periphery of the propeller and is driven forwards by
them.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the modes by
which I prefer to carry it into operation, I would state that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein described, but what I claim
ia

page_text: First. The construction of what I have called the air propeller sub-
stantially as herein described and illustrated at Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11,
Sheet 1.
Second. The combination or arrangement of machinery for forcing
and exhausting air or other aeriform fluid substantially as herein de-
scribed and illustrated at Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet 1, and
Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, Sheet 2, of the Drawings annexed.
Third. The combination or arrangement of machinery for forcing and
exhausting air or other aeriform fluid substantially as herein described
and illustrated at Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2.
Fourth. The combination or arrangement of machinery for forcing
and exhausting air and aeriform fluid substantially as herein described
and illustrated on Sheet 3 of the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Finch, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.