Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating or Controlling the Temperature of Rooms, Halls, and other Enclosed Places.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1892 !
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating or
Controlling the Temperature of Rooms, Halls, and other
Enclosed Places.-
EDWARD WESTbrooke, 185 Queen's Road Dalston London, N.E. Gentleman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention has reference to a construction of apparatus whereby the tempera-
ture of a room, hall, and other enclosed space (hereinafter included in the term
room,) can be regulated, or controlled in an automatic manner, so that the
temperature of the room, may be kept within certain predetermined limits, or
degrees of heat and cold, say for example, within a range of fifteen degrees
Fahrenheit.
For this purpose, in connection with a suitable regulator, or valve arranged to
control the flow of fluid, such as air, out of the room, or place, the temperature of
which is to be controlled, I provide means for operating such regulator, or valve
and stop-mechanism under the control of an electro-magnetic device, the circuit of
which is completed by a thermometer or thermostat, upon the temperature attaining
either of the predetermined limits; the arrangement being such that when the
temperature of the room rises to the upper limit, the electro-magnetic device will
be actuated, and release the operating mechanism, which will then automatically
move the air regulator into the open position, in which it will be held by the stop-
mechanism, until the temperature falls to the lower limit, when the electro-magnetic
device will again act to release the operating mechanism, and permit it to move the
air regulator into the closed position, in which it will be held until the upper limit
is again reached, when the regulator will be again operated as before.
The valve instead of being arranged to control the outlet of fluid from the room,
may be arranged to control the inlet of fluid to the room.
An arrangement of apparatus for this purpose is as follows.
The air regulator is in the form of a flat plate of suitable material, preferably
metal, arranged to control the flow of air through a fixed metal casing, having
openings, or air passages at opposite sides.
This regulator is attached to, and rotated in one direction by a shaft, having a
constant tendency to rotate under the action of gravity, clockwork, electricity, or
any other suitable motive power.
Upon the shaft is fixed an insulated drum in which is a groove, so constructed
and arranged, as to form four sweeps or curves, connected with each other by
lateral grooves, the arrangement being such as to form four shoulders, or stops,
arranged 90 degrees apart.
Into the groove thus formed, projects a pin, or tooth carried by a pivoted rod,
or bar, connected to or geared with, the pivoted armature of an electro-magnet.
Upon the drum are fixed four contacts, that are in electrical connection with
each other, and are arranged in pairs, each in a different plane to the other, the
contacts being placed equal distances apart.
At one side of the drum is an insulated spring contact, adapted to bear upon each
of the drum contacts in turn, when the drum is intermittently rotated, and connected
with the line wire of a maximum and minimum thermometer.
At the opposite side of the drum are two spring contacts insulated from each
other, and arranged to make contact with the respective pairs of drum contacts;
one of them is connected with the maximum terminal of the thermometer, and the
other, with the minimum terminal thereof.
The arrangement is such that normally the circuit of the electro-magnet is

page_text: broken at the thermometer, but upon the circuit being completed, either through
the maximum or minimum-terminal, the electro-magnet becomes energized, moving
the pin, or tooth away from the shoulder or stop against which it previously rested,
and thereby permitting the drum, and air regulator to rotate through 90°.
During this movement the circuit of the electro-magnet. will be broken by reason
of the drum contacts, being moved away from the spring contacts, against which
they previously rested, so that the pin or tooth will be brought opposite to the next
shoulder or stop, and prevent further rotation of the drum until the other limit of
temperature is attained.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Automatically Regulating or
Controlling the Temperature of Rooms, Halls, and other
Enclosed Spaces.
I, EDWARD WESTBROOKE, of 185 Queen's Road, Dalston in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 has reference to a construction of apparatus whereby the
temperature of a room, hall, and other enclosed space (hereinafter included in
the term room) can be regulated or controlled in an automatic manner, so that
the temperature of the room may be kept within certain predetermined limits or
degrees of heat and cold, say for example within a range of fifteen degrees
Fahrenheit.
For this purpose in connection with a suitable regulator, or valve arranged to
control the flow of fluid such as air, out of the room or place, the temperature of
which is to be controlled, I provide means for operating such regulator or valve,
and stop-mechanism under the control of an electro-magnetic device, the circuit of
which is completed by a thermometer or thermostat upon the temperature attaining
either of the predetermined limits, the arrangement being such that when the
temperature of the room rises to the upper limit the electro-magnetic device will
be actuated, and release the operating mechanism which will then automatically
move the air regulator into the open position in which it will be held by the stop-
mechanism until the temperature falls to the lower limit when the electro-magnetic
device will again act to release the operating mechanism and permit it to move the
air regulator into the closed position in which it will be held until the upper limit
is again reached when the regulator will be again operated as before.
The valve instead of being arranged to control the outlet of fluid from the room
may be arranged to control the inlet of fluid to the room.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a front elevation and plan of one arrangement of
apparatus constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 3 is an end view of a contact drum hereinafter referred to; and
Fig. 4 is a developed plan view of part thereof.
Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of certain spring contacts hereinafter
described.
Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the working of the apparatus.
a is an air regulator or valve (hereinafter referred to as the air regulator).
It consists of a flat rectangular plate, preferably of metal, arranged to revolve in
a rectangular metal frame that may constitute the sides of the air opening to be
controlled, or may carry an air pipe as indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2,
one end of said pipe communicating with the room or space the temperature of
which is to be controlled and the other end with a room or space external to and

page_text: at a lower temperature than the first. The air regulator is fixed to a shaft c that
is supported at one end in a bearing in the frame b and at the other end in a plate
or support to which the frame is secured. This shaft has a constant tendency to
rotate for which purpose it is in the example shown, subjected to the action of
clockwork d that may be of ordinary construction, and one of the toothed wheels
of which gears with a toothed wheel e fixed on the said shaft. Upon the shaft c
but insulated from it by a sleeve ƒ of insulating material (Fig. 3) is fixed a metal
drum g formed or provided with a groove or chase so constructed and arranged as
to form four sweeps or curves that are connected with each other by lateral
grooves (Fig. 4) that form four shoulders or stops at h² arranged 90 degrees
apart.
On the exterior of the drum are fixed four contacts i¹³ that are arranged
90° apart and are in electrical connection with each other through the metal of the
drum. These contacts are arranged in pairs, one pair viz. i being in a different
plane to the other pair i¹³.
Into the groove or chase in the drum g (Figs. 1 and 2) projects a pin or tooth j
carried by a rod or trigger k that is pivoted at k¹ and carries a toothed sector k².
This sector gears with a correspondingly toothed sector on the adjacent end of
the pivoted armature of an electro magnet m.
The electro magnet m, and the brackets or supports k* and * in which the
trigger and armature respectively are pivoted, are supported by a bracket n fixed
to the plate or support 62 and to which may also be secured the insulated
terminals m² m² connected with the winding of the electro-magnet. o is a spring
arranged to bear against the rod or trigger k for the purpose of ensuring that the
pin or tooth j shall engage each stop or shoulder 2 in turn at the end of each
partial rotation of the drum so as to effectually arrest the drum g and prevent it
turning through more than 90° each time it is released. o¹ is an adjusting screw
by which the pressure of the trigger spring o on the rod or trigger & can be
regulated. At one side of the drum y are two spring contacts p p (Fig. 5) that
are insulated from each other and from the plate or support 62 to which they are
fixed. These contacts p p are arranged to make contact with the pairs of drum
contacts and ii respectively as the drum is intermittently rotated. Each of
these spring contacts is provided with a terminal, one of which p² is connected
with the maximum terminal K¹ of a maximum and minimum thermometer K
and the other p³ with the minimum terminal K2 of such thermometer.
terminals K K are connected to contacts K³ K respectively, arranged at suitable
points within the thermometer tube. At the opposite side of the drum
another contact formed with two spring arms 9 q', 9 being arranged to
make contact with the drum contacts in turn, and q¹ to make contact
with the drum contacts i in turn when the drum ġ is intermittently
rotated. These spring contacts are fixed to but insulated from the plate or
support b², and are connected to a terminal which, when the apparatus is in use,
is connected to the line terminal K³ of the thermometer K by means of a
conductor which includes in its circuit a battery u and the electro-magnet in as
shown in Fig. 7. The terminal K³ is connected to a contact K terminating
within the lower part of the thermometer tube. Each of the spring contacts pp',
9 q' is provided with an adjusting screw by which the pressure of the spring
contacts on the drum contacts can be adjusted to suit requirements.
All the
contacts may advantageously be tipped with platinum.
The
is
To prevent the electric current passing from the drum 9, to earth by way of the
rod or trigger k, bracket or support n and the plate 62, the said rod or trigger or
bracket or support, or plate should be insulated, or the rod or trigger may be
partly formed of insulating material, or the pin or tooth j may be formed of
insulating material, faced it may be with metal where it comes in contact with the
Bides of the chase or groove in the drum g, in order to lessen wear.
The working of the apparatus will be readily understood upon reference to
Figs. 1,2 and 7 and is as follows:-Assuming that the thermometer contacts K³ K*

page_text: 2
are set for making contact with the mercury in the thermometer at the desired
maximum and minimum temperatures say 70° and 60° F. respectively; that the
air regulator a is closed; that the temperature of the room or space to be
controlled is for the time being 65° F.; that the terminals K K of the
thermometer K are connected with the spring contact terminals p² p³; that the
terminal K³ is connected with the contact terminal r through the electro-magnet m
and battery u by the conductor ; and that the spring contact p is in electrical
connection with the spring contact through the drum so that the electrical
circuit is broken only at the thermometer; then on the temperature of the room
or space reaching the predetermined maximum limit, and consequent rise of the
mercury in the maximum arm of the thermometer, contact will be made with the
maximum contact K³ thus closing the electric circuit. A current of electricity
will then flow from the battery through the winding of the electro-magnet m
thereby energizing the same. The armature of the electro-magnet will
consequently be attracted and move the pin or tooth j from the stop or shoulder h²
against which it previously rested and cause it to pass through the corresponding
lateral groove h¹ into the next sweep or portion of the cam groove / and thereby
allow the drum g to be rotated by the clockwork d through 90° and move the air
regulator a into its open position. By this movement of the drum, the circuit of
the electro-magnet will be broken by reason of the drum contacts and 3
being moved away from the spring contacts p and q against which they
previously rested, so that the pin or tooth will be left free and will,
when the drum has rotated through 90°, come opposite the next shoulder
or stop 2 where it will be held by the action of the trigger spring so as
to prevent further rotation of the drum until the other limit of temperature
is reached. By the movement of the drum, the drum contacts i and 2 will be
brought into contact with the spring contacts p and q thus placing the minimum
contact K4 in connection with the battery so that when the temperature fails to the
lower limit and the mercury in the arm a¹ of the thermometer consequently reaches
such minimum contact, the circuit will be again completed, and the electro-
magnet energized. The armature being thus again attracted will move the tooth
or pin as before and allow the drum to again turn through 90° and move the air
regulator into the closed position in which it will be held until the higher limit is
again reached, when the various contacts being in the positions shown in Fig. 7,
the drum will be again released to open the air regulator. Thus when either limit
of temperature is reached, the air regulator will be opened or closed as the case
may be, in an automatic manner and held in the opened or closed position until the
other limit of temperature is reached when it will be again operated and moved
into the opposite position.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation; and Fig. 9 a section on the line a Fig. 8 illustrating
the application of apparatus according to this invention and indicated at A to an
air regulator a¹ of the perforated disc type arranged to control air openings 6* in a
window pane B. The air regulator may be mounted to turn upon a collar C on a
pin C the outer end of which passes through the window pane to which the pin is
fixed by a nut D. The inner end of the pin is bored to form a bearing for the
outer end of the driving shaft c which extends outward from the casing A of the
controlling apparatus fixed to the window frame, and carries a bevel wheel c¹ that
gears with a correspondingly toothed bevel wheel ² fixed to the air regulator.
The action of this arrangement is similar to that hereinbefore described with
reference to and shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive.
As will be evident, apparatus constructed according to this invention can be
variously modified. Thus the drum may be rotated in the opposite direction to
the arrow a, and the pin or tooth j instead of acting against the shoulder /² and
being subject to compression, may act against each shoulder ³ in turn after the
manner of a hook or catch and be thus subjected to tension. In this case the rod
or trigger and the armature must be so arranged that the pin or tooth j will be
moved in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 4) when the armature is attracted,

page_text: instead of in the opposite direction as with the arrangement hereinbefore described.
This may be effected by placing a toothed wheel between and in gear with the
toothed sectors and 1. The regulator a (Figs. 1 and 2) instead of controlling the
flow of air out of a room or other enclosed space, may be arrranged to control
the flow of hot water through a pipe located within such room or space.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I *
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for regulating or controlling the temperature of a room or other
enclosed space, comprising a regulator or valve adapted to control the flow of fluid
into. or out of the said room or space, means such as a spring or equivalent device
tending to operate such regulator or valve, and stop-mechanism under the control
of an electro-magnetic device the circuit of which is adapted to be completed by a
thermometer or thermostat upon the temperature of the room or space attaining
either of the predetermined limits, the arrangement being such that when the upper
limit is reached the operating mechanism will be automatically released and cause
or allow the regulator or valve to move into the open position in which it will be
held until the lower limit is reached when the operating mechanism will be again
released and the said regulator or valve caused or allowed to move into its closed
position in which it will be held until the upper limit of temperature is again reached,
substantially as described.
2. For controlling the temperature of a room or other enclosed space, apparatus
constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to
and shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive and in Figs. 8 and 9 for use in connection with
an electric battery and a maximum and minimum thermometer in the manner
explained with reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 18th day of March 1893.
EDWARD WESTBROOKE.