IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VENTILATION OF BUILDINGS, SHIPS, AND CARRIAGES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughts-
man, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VENTILATION OF
BUILDINGS, SHIPS, AND CARRIAGES."-A communication from abroad by
Eier of Bielefeld in the Kingdom of Prussia.
TT
Sealed the 28th April 1868, and dated the 30th October 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1867.
1, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VENTILATION OF
BUILDINGS, SHIPS, AND CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a mode of supplying fresh air to apartments and
compartments of carriages, and withdrawing or discharging the vitiated air
therefrom without producing drafts.
In applying the Invention to buildings, say, for example, a hospital, which
requires specially good ventilation; the walls are built hollow, that is, with
vertical air passages. The portion of the wall between the air passages and
the chamber or ward to be ventilated is built of bricks pierced with holes,
which as the bricks are laid form small horizontal air channels for the air

page_text: supplied to the vertical air passages. The passages are divided transversely at
a height of, say, five or six feet from the floor, and distinct air flues connect
with these divisions, the larger or upper division being used for supplying cold
and the smaller and lower division for supplying heated air to the ward or
chamber. The wall is faced with porous cement, which allows the air to per-
colate through in minutely divided streams into the chamber after the manner
of tent ventilation. The roof of the chamber is also porous and it forms
between the girders, which may be of iron, air exhaust flues. Below the floor
of the chamber or wardabove are also air flues separated from the lower flues by
substantiallaths enveloped with some material that is a good non-conductor of
sound. These flues are connected with vertical exhaust flues built in the
walls, and connected with a chimney shaft or an exhaust fan to quicken the
withdrawal of the vitiated air. The hollow bricks may in some cases be faced
with canvas or other ventilating medium. The heated air may be supplied
from any suitable heating apparatus to the flues before mentioned for
distributing the same to the chambers.
י. יז
In applying the Invention to ships the cabins are fitted with porous
ventilators which cover the walls or partitions and connect with air trunks
that run longitudinally of the ship, and are supplied with fresh air by trans-
verse trunks connected with a vertical air-supplying trunk. This trunk is
divided vertically into two air passages when there is a lower deck as well as
a main deck requiring ventilation. The upper end of the trunk is expanded
to catch the wind and conduct it below, where it is distributed through the
porous medium into the cabins and spaces requiring ventilation. For taking
off the vitiated air central longitudinal trunks running close under the decks
are used. These trunks communicate with a vertical exhaust trunk like that
used for supplying the air, and fans driven by steam power may be used to
impel the vitiated air upwards. The like machinery may also be employed
for ensuring a plentiful supply of fresh air to the cabins; valves or dampers
are fitted to the supply and exhaust trunks to regulate the draft as required.
For ventilating railway carriages according to this Invention each com-
partment is fitted with a cowl, which admits of being turned to or from the
wind as desired. The cowl is open to the compartment, and below the roof is
suspended a porous medium (say, a stout woven fabric,) which extends from side
to side and from one end to the other of the compartment. Through this porous
medium which serves to admit fresh air in minute streams projects a spindle
fitted with a handle and spur pinion for turning the cowl as desired, and thus
regulating the supply of air. The exhaust air is discharged through the floor
by means of valves capable of being opened or closed by the passengers, as

page_text: desired. In some cases it may be found convenient to reverse the direction
of supply and exhaust; this may be effected by turning the cowl from the
wind and opening the valves in the floor of the carriage. To prevent dust,
sparks, and rain entering the cowl its mouth is fitted with wire screens or
louvre boards.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th April 1868.
. TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her special licence that I, the said
Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, thesaid Alfred William Newton, my executors, administrators,
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 THE VENTILATION OF BUILDINGS, SHIPS, AND
CARRIAGES," being a communication to me from Herrn Scharrath, Engineer, of
Bielefeld, in the Kingdom of Prussia, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I,the said Alfred Vincent Newton,my executors oradministrators, by an instru-
ment 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 Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-

page_text: .
This Invention relates to a mode of supplying fresh air to apartments and
to compartments of carriages, and withdrawing or discharging the vitiated air
therefrom without producing drafts.
In applying the Invention to buildings, say, for example, to a hospital, which
requires specially good ventilation, the internal walls are built hollow that is
with vertical air passages in them. The portion of the wall between the air
passages and the chamber or ward to be ventilated is built of bricks pierced
with holes, which as the bricks are laid form small horizontal air channels for
the air supplied to the vertical air passages. The passages are divided hori-
zontally at a height of, say, five or six feet from the floor and distinct air flues
connect with the upper and lower divisions thus formed, the larger or upper
division being used for supplying cold and the smaller and lower division for
supplying heated air to the ward or chamber. The wall is faced with porous
cement, which allows the air at a pressure to percolate through in minutely
divided streams into the chamber after the manner of tent ventilation. The
roof of the chamber is also porous and it forms between the girders, which
may be of iron, air exhaust flues. Below the floor of the chamber or ward
above are also air flues separated from the lower flues by substantial laths
enveloped with some material that is a good non-conductor of sound. These
flues are connected with vertical exhaust flues built in the walls and connected
with a chimney shaft or an exhaust fan to quicken the withdrawal of the
vitiated air. The hollow bricks may in some cases be faced with canvas or
other ventilating medium. The heated air may be supplied from any suitable
heating apparatus to the flues before mentioned for distributing the same to
the chambers by the aid of suitably constructed fans or blowers.
From the above explanation it will be understood that the Invention so far
as it relates to buildings consists in introducing artifically warmed or cooled
air or air at the natural temperature, and also carrying off vitiated air, through
pores or porous material whenever the arrangements admit of the same that
is, at the wall and roof surfaces, it being only the floors which should not be
provided with pores; as the air would thus become vitiated by the dust from
the feet.
The same principle also applies to the ventilation of ships and of railway
and other carriages. The various kinds of heating apparatus as well as the
exhaust and blowing machines that may be employed form no portion of the
present Invention and will therefore receive no detailed description.
The terms pores and porous material I use in contradistinction to pierced
or perforated substances, it being essential to the success of the Invention that
ventilating surfaces shall be used (whether formed from mineral substances

page_text: or from animal and vegetable fibres) that will admit air without draft and
will allow of its escape without the establishment in an apartment of currents
setting towards the points of escape.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings the Invention is shewn as it
may be applied to buildings both in course of construction and after con-
struction, the illustrations given being intended to shew the adaptation of the
Invention to hospitals and to large apartments such as schools, also to public
buildings, club houses, &c.
Fig. A is a ground plan of a division wall showing the manner of making
both its faces ventilating surfaces, the section being taken in the line a, b, of
Fig. C; Fig. B is a longitudinal vertical section in the line c, d, of Fig. C,
which Figure is a cross section of the apartment shewn at Fig. B, the section
being taken in the line e, f, of that Figure; Fig. D is a cross section of an
apartment shewing the application of the Invention to a building already
erected and fitted for an hospital. g, Figures A and C, is a thick isolating
wall to prevent the penetration of sound, important in lecture rooms and
schools, and enclosed between walls t, t, which stand at such distances there-
from as to form vertical spaces on either side of the wall g. These vertical
spaces are divided horizontally into hot and cold air flues. The upper spaces h
are brought into communication with the outer air at times when the atmo-
sphere possesses the requisite degree of temperature and dryness for health,
but these spaces are to be shut off from communication with the outer air
when the weather is either too cold or too hot. Below the spaces / are the
flues or spaces i for supplying artificially warmed or cooled atmospheric air as
circumstances may require. These spaces, especially when formed in manner
shewn at Fig. D, for the sake of economy extend only to such a height from
the floor as to allow of the warmed or cooled air having the most beneficial
effect possible on the organs of respiration, more especially when invalids are
lying with their heads towards the side of thewall. Below these flues or spaces i
are channels or passages for the distribution or dividing of the air for the
spaces i.
In Figures B and D the mode of arranging beds for hospital wards
is shewu at m, m; n, Fig. A, are vertical channels which receive the artificially
tempered air from below and conduct it to the different floors; o is the
ceiling formed of plaster or mortar, and p, p, is a porous covering of woven
wire, cotton, fabric, canvas, or porous mortar, through which the vitiated air
passes off. In reception rooms this porous covering may be composed ofthin
wood or ordinary tapestry. 2, 2, Fig. B are a series of slats arranged at sinall
distances apart and form a very durable construction of porous surface for
preventing the settling of miasmas in hospitals. This arrangement is also.

page_text: applicable for schools, lofty dwellings, stables, &c.; r, Fig. B, shews a
channel or passage (in connection with the top of the apartment) for leading
off the vitiated air. In epidemic hospitals this can be connected with a
purifying fire. s, shews in section a channel or passage which can be brought
into communication (when desired) with the spaces h. The walls t being
division or inner walls are constructed of perforated bricks and serve for the
distribution or division of the air; " represents a covering of porous mortar,
canvas, wood, tapestry, gobelin tapestry, woven wire, or other like ventilating
medium, suited in appearance to the object or purpose of the apartment;
», Fig. D, represents the manner of providing a building already erected with
a porous air supplying surface, the space i behind the porous surface being in
communication with the air supply channels k, k. In hospitals this porous
surface need not extend upwards much higher than the head of the patients'
beds. The prevention of drafts by means of series of laths or flat strips or
slats of wood arranged side by side has already been noticed with reference
toq, Fig. B.
Where it is required to deaden the sound occasioned bychildren
or otherwise this is a very advantageous arrangement.
In applying the Invention to ships the cabins are fitted with porous
ventilators, which cover the walls or partitions and connect with air trunks
that run longitudinally of the ship and are supplied with fresh air by transverse
trunks connected with a vertical air supplying trunk. This trunk is divided
vertically into two air passages when there is a lower deck as well as a main
deck requiring ventilation. The upper end of the trunk is expanded to catch
the wind and conduct it below, where it is distributed through the porous
medium into the cabins and spaces requiring ventilation. For taking off
the vitiated air central longitudinal trunks running close under the decks are
used. These trunkscommunicate with a vertical exhaust trunk like that used
for supplying the air, and fans driven by steam power may be used to impel
the vitiated air upwards. The like machinery may also be employed for
ensuring a plentiful supply of fresh air to the cabins. Valves or dampers are
fitted to the supply and exhaust trunks to regulate the draft as required.
In Sheet II. the mode of applying the Invention to passenger ships is
shewn. Fig. A represents a partial cross section of a ship fitted with this
novel means of ventilation, the section being taken in the line a, b, of Fig. B.
Fig. B is a longitudinal section of the same taken in the line c, d, of Fig. A,
the direction of motion of the vessel being indicated by the arrow; Fig. C is
a sectional plan of the arrangement of ascending and descending air shafts
and horizontal flues or air passages connected therewith.
e, e, are band
pullies for receiving the driving band fwhich actuates the exhaust and blowing

page_text: apparatus; g and g₁ are tubes or passages in connection with the blowing
apparatus for supplying fresh air to the upper and lower decks, and h and h¹
are tubes or passages connected with the exhaust apparatus for carrying off
the vitiated air from the lower and upper decks; is the webbing or woven
material, wool, tapestry, or laths arranged at very small distances apart and
forming a porous medium for the incoming air; k is the porous medium
through which the vitiated air is drawn by the suction or exhaust established
in the tubes h, h¹, with which the spaces behind the porous medium k are in
communication.
For ventilating railway carriages according to this Invention each compart-
ment is fitted with a cowl, which admits of being turned to or from the wind
as desired. The cowl is open to the compartment, and below the roof is
suspended a porous medium (saya stout woven fabric) which extends from side
to side and from one end to the other of the compartment. Through this
porous medium, which serves to admit fresh air in minute streams, projects a
spindle fitted with a handle and spur pinion for turning the cowl as desired and
thus regulating the supply of air. The exhaust air is discharged through the
floor by means of valves capable of being opened or closed by the passengers
as desired. In some cases it may be found convenient to reverse the
direction of supply and exhaust. This may be effected by turning the cowl
from the wind and opening the valves in the floor of the carriage. To prevent
dust, sparks, and rain entering the cowl its mouth is fitted with wire screens or
louvre boards.
In Section III. the Invention as applied to railway carriages is fully illus-
trated. Fig. A is a longitudinal section of the carriage taken in the line a, b,
of Figure B, the carriage being supposed to be travelling in the direction of the
arrow; Fig. B is a transverse section of the same taken in the line c, d, of
Fig. A; Fig. C is a central vertical section of the roof ventilator shown on an
enlarged scale; Fig. D is a similar section of the floor ventilator one-third of
its real size, this floor ventilator it is only proposed to use in first and second
class carriages; Fig. E is a partial plan view of floor ventilator. e, Fig. A. is
the cowl to be employed when the wind is taken from above. This cowl is
mounted on a hollow socket made fast to the roof of the carriage and it carries
a ring of spur teeth into which gears a pinion keyed to the top of a spindle
which carries at its lower end a hand wheel f. By turning this hand wheel
the position of the cowl during high winds may through the action of the
pinion and ring of spur teeth be adjusted as required. g is a pin or bolt for
securing the adjusting wheel in any desired position; is a ring of packing for
securing the junction between the cowl socket and the carriage roof. Within

page_text: the socket is fixed a disc or cone i for the descending air to impinge on, and by
diverting its course to prevent the direct penetration into the carriage. k is
the woven material for distributing the air through the compartment without
draught. Under the carriage seats are fitted adjusting hand wheels for the
purpose of regulating the entrance or exit of the air through the flooring;
m (Fig. A) is a hand wheel for adjusting by means of a pinion in gear w th
a ring of teeth on the cowl beneath it the position of the cowl, to enable it to
carry off the spent air, and in the case of smoke entering from above admitting
fresh or pure air from below; n, shews the position of the roof lamp with
respect to the porous material k.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in the
Ventilation of Buildings, Ships, and Carriages," as communicated to me from
abroad, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it
to be understood that under the above in part recited Lettters Fatent I claim,
providing for the admission of fresh air (whether previously subjected to heat
or cold or not) to buildings, ships, and carriages, and the discharge of vitiated
air therefrom by a system of percolation through porous media in the manner
and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L 8.)