IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING AND VENTILATING, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING AND VENTILATING, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN."--A communication from abroad by John Johnson,
of Saco, State of Maine, United States of America.
Sealed the 14th August 1868, and dated the 16th April 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 16th April 1868.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HEATING AND VENTILATING, AND IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN," a communication to me from abroad by John
Johnson, of Saco, State of Maine, United States of America, to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object the radiation, diffusion, and dis-
tribution of heat, either in the same apartment in which the warming
apparatus is situate and heated, or in places remote from where the fire
[Price 8d.]

page_text: is applied to the said apparatus, and consists in the use of a small
proportion of liquid or vaporizable material enclosed within an air-tight
cylinder, vessel, or pipe having a large steam space as compared with
the volume of the liquid, the radiating and condensing surfaces of the
apparatus being so placed that all the water of condensation shall flow
back again to the generator or that particular part where the heat is
applied, to be again converted into steam or vapour which fills the entire
capacity of the apparatus, and consequently diffuses its heat thereto.
It is also proposed to cause steain to circulate through endless pipes or
coils having no openings, such pipes or coils containing only a very small
quantity of liquid in proportion to the capacity of the pipe in a bend
or coil of the pipe. One branch of this pipe must be so placed or inclined
as to ensure the free return of the water of condensation to the coil or
generator to which the heat is directly applied. The proportion of liquid
to the cubical contents of the radiating and condensing vessel or pipe
which has been found to answer well in practice is about two cubic
inches of liquid to one cubic foot of space in the steam chamber or pipe.
This system of heating is applicable to culinary purposes as well as to
warming and ventilating apartments.
According to one mode of carrying out this Invention a cylindrical
or other shaped closed vessel containing a small quantity of liquid to be
vaporised is employed, and a number of air tubes or passages are fitted
into it, passing from bottom to top so as to form condensing surfaces for
the vapour and radiators of heat to the currents of air passing up them.
The heat may be applied to the liquid either directly under the cylinder,
vessel, or radiator itself, or it may be applied to a long pipe or tube
extending to some other convenient locality, but in communication with
the aforesaid radiating vessel. Or in lieu of a radiating vessel a mere
coil of pipe may be used, one part of which, namely, that situate at the
lowest level, being heated in. any convenient manner so as to vaporise
the small quantity of liquid contained at that part; or a coiled tube or
hot water circulating pipe may be combined with a radiator provided with
air tubes, as above described, by having one part of the said hot water coil
passing through the radiating vessel, which vessel contains only a very
small quantity of water or other liquid to be vapourised by the heat
transmitted through by the hot water coil; or for culinary purposes a
jacketted vessel may be used containing in the jacket a small quantity
of liquid to be vaporised, the heat being applied directly to the bottom

page_text: of the jacketted vessel, whilst the food to be prepared is placed in recep-
tacles or wells in the vessel itself, and provided if required with lids or
covers; or a solid iron vessel or block may be cast round the upper one
of two coils or helices made in a strong iron endless pipe, the lower
coil or helice only containing the liquid to be vaporised by the direct
application of heat thereto. The heated vapour thus generated rises up
the pipe and traverses the iron vessel or block, imparting heat thereto;
by hollowing this vessel or block and providing it with a lid or cover it
forms a convenient utensil for cooking or preparing food. In cases
where low temperatures are required ether or alcohol may be used as the
vaporisable liquid, whilst high temperatures can be readily obtained by
the use of saline solutions, oils, or solids, without increase of tension or
pressure in the cylindrical vessel or coil.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the 16th day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the
31st year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or 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 HEATING AND VENTILATING, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," a com-
munication from abroad by John Johnson, of Saco, State of Maine,
United States of America, upon the condition (amongst others) that,
I, the said. John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators,

page_text: by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should par-
ticularly 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 John Henry Johnson, 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, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
The said Invention has for its object the radiation, diffusion, and
distribution of heat, either in the same apartment in which the warming
apparatus is situate and heated, or in places remote from where the fire
is applied to the said apparatus, and consists in the use of a small
proportion of liquid or vaporizable material enclosed within an air-tight
cylinder, vessel, or pipe, having a large steam space as compared with
the volume of the liquid, the radiating and condensing surfaces of the
apparatus being so placed that all the water of condensation shall flow
back again to the generator or that particular part where the heat is
applied, to be again converted into steam or vapour which fills the entire
capacity of the apparatus, and consequently diffuses its heat thereto. It
is also proposed to cause steam to circulate through endless pipes or coils
having no openings, such pipes or coils containing only a very small
quantity of liquid in proportion to the capacity of the pipe in a bend
or coil of the pipe. One branch of this pipe must be so placed or
inclined as to ensure the free return of the water of condensation to
that part of the coil or generator to which the heat is directly applied.
The proportion of liquid to the cubical contents of the radiating and
condensing vessel or pipe which has been found to answer well in
practice is about two cubic inches of liquid to one cubic foot of space
in the steam chamber or pipe. This system of heating is applicable
to culinary purposes as well as to warming and ventilating apartments.
According to one mode of carrying out this Invention a cylindrical
or other shaped closed vessel containing a small quantity of liquid to
be vaporised is employed, and a number of air tubes or passages are
fitted into it passing from bottom to top so as to form condensing surfaces

page_text: for the vapour and radiators of heat to the currents of air passing up
them. The heat may be applied to the liquid either directly under
the cylindrical vessel or radiator itself, or it may be applied to a long
pipe or tube extending to some other convenient locality, but in com-
munication with the aforesaid radiating vessel. Or in lieu of a
radiating vessel a mere coil of pipe may be used, one part of which,
namely, that situate at the lowest level, being heated in any convenient
manner so as to vaporise the small quantity of liquid contained at that
part; or a coiled tube or hot water circulating pipe may be combined
with a radiator provided with air tubes as above described, by having
one part of the said hot water coil passing through the radiating vessel,
which vessel contains only a very small quantity of water or other liquid
to be vaporised by the heat transmitted thereto by the hot water coil;
or for culinary purposes a jacketted vessel may be used containing in the
jacket a small quantity of liquid to be vaporised, the heat being applied
directly to the bottom of the jacketted vessel, whilst the food to be
prepared is placed in receptacles or wells in the vessel itself, and
provided if desired with lids or covers; or a solid iron vessel or block
may be cast round the upper one of two coils or helices made in a strong
iron endless pipe, the lower coil or helice only containing the liquid
to be vaporised by the direct application of heat thereto. The heated
vapour thus generated rises up the tube and traverses the iron vessel
or block imparting heat thereto; by hollowing this vessel or block
and providing it with a lid or cover it forms a convenient utensil for
cooking or preparing food. In cases where low temperatures are
required ether or alcohol may be used as the vaporisable liquid, whilst
high temperatures can be readily obtained by the use of saline solutions,
oils, or solids, without increase of tension or pressure in the cylindrical
vessel or coil.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is a sectional and front view of one form
of apparatus for carrying out the said Invention; Figure 2 is a
sectional and front view showing the application of heat at a point
distant from the cylinder or radiator; Figure 3 is a vertical section

page_text: showing a simple mode of conveying heat and returning the water
of condensation; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a coiled tube
and radiator; Figure 5 is a view of an apparatus for warming and
cooking food; Figure 6 shows a coiled iron pipe and attached iron
box..,
The cylindrical vessel A, Figure 1, rests at the bottom upon a suitable
stand B which supports it above the flame L of a lamp or gas burner.
When a fire or furnace is used the support or base is of brickwork,
and is provided with ash-pit, grate, and fire-doors. A series of air-tight
pipes G, G¹, G¹¹, G1, G₁, extend from the bottom D, E, of the cylinder
to the top C, being enclosed between the walls of the cylinder and
having both of their ends open as at x, y, to allow the free upward passage
of air in the direction of the arrows. The ends of these open pipes are
brazed or soldered steam-tight to the top and the bottom of the cylinder
or radiator A, thus forming an air-tight vessel. I prefer to construct the
tubes G with a quarter turn near their lower end, and allow their open
mouths to pass through the sides of the cylinder A, as in this position
they are less exposed to heat; a part of the bottom D, E, is convex
projecting downward as shown in the Drawing. It is obvious that
if the vessel A contains a large quantity of water and sufficient heat be
applied at L the apparatus would burst. It will be observed that a
very small quantity of water W is employed in proportion to the steam
space, which water is at the bottom of the vessel and at the nearest
point to the source of heat, and which after condensation by the contact
of the steam with the interior of the cylinder A, and the exterior of the
pipes G, G, returns to its place at the bottom D, E, to be again con-
verted into steam. The water is introduced into the vessel at an
aperture in the top or cover C, this opening being soldered up or
closed by a screw plug J, after the air has been partially or wholly
exhausted from the vessel. The quantity of water used is varied in
proportion to the size of the cylinder, that is to say, the cubical contents
of the space within the cylinder must bear a definite relation to the
quantity of water that is placed at the bottom of the cylinder to be
heated and converted into steam, say about two cubic inches of water to
each cubic foot of space in the steam chamber. When the whole of the
water is evaporated and the cylinder filled with steam, the application of
more heat at the bottom of the vessel merely superheats the steam
without materially increasing the pressure. When the fire is out and

page_text: the temperature reduced the steam is all condensed, and the water again
takes its place at the base of the cylinder. This operation is also con-
stantly going on when the heat is applied, the water of condensation
flowing down the exposed sides of the cylinder A and pipes G, the
amount of condensation being greater or less according to the temperature
of the external air.
One advantage attending the use of the system is that heat is evolved
almost immediately, and is ready for use as soon as ebulition takes place
in the small quantity of water at W. When the apparatus is exposed
to cold and not in use no injury results from the freezing of the water.
Instead of exhausting the air as before named the same effect may be
produced by boiling the water W, and soldering or closing the aperture
at J as soon as the steam has expelled the air from the vessel A.
In some cases water may be placed in a strong coiled iron pipe as
at Q, Figure 4. One branch of the pipe P enters the cylinder A at or
near the bottom, while_the_other branch O enters_at_a_higher_level_and_
conveys hot water to the cylinder A; the water W within it is heated
and evaporated, and the water of condensation flows back to the bottom
of the cylinder. The pipe Q, O, P, is continuous or endless, and fresh
water may be supplied when required through the stand pipe N in
which a small air space is left to prevent concussion and the bursting
of the pipe by the expansion of the water. The same rule as to the
use of a small quantity of water applies to this and to the other forins
of the apparatus as well as to that shown in Figure I. and before referred
to. Instead of the air tubes G, G', a casing may surround the cylinder A,
and through this space the air may be circulated and warmed in its
passage. The cylinder should be of such form as will offer the greatest
resistance to atmospheric pressure, or a collapse valve" may be used
opening inward to allow the air to enter when the fire is out and the
steam in the cylinder is condensed.
When low temperatures are required I make use of ether or alcohol
which vaporize at a low heat, and impart less heat to the radiator or
cylinder in which they are contained. Higher temperatures can be
readily obtained by the use of saline solutions, oils, or solids, without
increase of tension in the cylinder, the boiling point of these bodies
being high, the vapour from them will greatly increase the sensible
temperature over that of steam of the same tension,-when a hermetically
closed-chamber is filled-with these vapors. What is applicable to nearly

page_text: all general purposes, but for special uses other liquids may be applied,
keeping in view always the principle before named of a very large
space in the chamber as compared with the vaporizable material or
liquid.
A mode of warming and cooking is shown in Figure V., the dish or
stand M contains water at W, heat is applied at L, and the food to be
prepared or heated is placed in the openings K, K, K", which are
closed at the bottom and sides, and may be provided with covers to
retain the heat. By this plan all danger of burning or overheating is
avoided. It is also the case that ebulition takes place and goes on
quietly and regularly and almost entirely without noise. It is of value
for the boiling of oils, melting gums for varnishes, and in other useful
arts where direct heat is to be avoided.
For convenience of use in apartments situate at a distance from the
fire the lower part of the cylinder A, Figure II., has an aperture over
which the feeding pipe U is suspended, this receives water at the screw
plug J, which water passes downward through the pipe T which is of
such length as to extend to the fire. A vessel or chamber H receives
the small quantity of water W and is attached to the pipe T by the
nut X; the steam passes upward between the mouth of the pipe T
and the lower end of feed pipe U into the steam spaces S, S; care must
be taken that the pipe T is vertical, or that it occupies such a position
as to ensure the return of the water of condensation to the bottom of
the vessel H. A conical cap or funnel F, as in Figure I. may be
provided, and the heated air that rises through the tubes G may be
conducted by pipes to distant apartments. The heat may also be used
as represented in Figure III., being applied at L the steam rises through
the pipe S and the water returns through the inclined pipe R to the
lower vessel or boiler where the heat is applied, thus establishing and
maintaining a perfect and rapid circulation of steam.
If the radiating surface be large and the cubical contents of the
cylinder also large in proportion to the volume of water condensation
takes place continuously as before named, and the pressure upon the
cylinder is small, but if it be deemed desirable in any case to use a
safety valve, it may be applied to the cylinder and adjusted to any
required pressure.
When a high degree of heat is required for baking or other culinary
purposes, I make use of an apparatus like that represented in Figure VI.

page_text: A strong iron pipe has its ends united forming a loop having a coil of
two or three turns at each end, the lowest end should contain about two
cubic inches of water if the whole capacity of the tube is equal to one
cubic foot, in which case a temperature of 250° F. is equal to a pressure
of about fifteen pounds. The solid iron box 9 is cast around the other
coil which is shown in the section at 6, 7, 8; the inlet for steam is
shown at 4, a continuation of the highest pipe 2, the outlet for water
at 5 is a continuation of the lowest pipe 3, through this the water
returns to the coil 1, articles to be cooked are placed in the cavity 10
under the cover 11.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use for heating, ventilating, and other
purposes of a small but measured quantity of any liquid or vaporizable
material, when the same is enclosed within an air-tight cylinder, vessel,
or pipe, having a large steam space as compared with the volume of the
liquid, the radiating and condensing surfaces of the apparatus being
so placed that all the water of condensation is returned to the generator
to be again converted into steam.
Second. The circulation of steam through endless pipes having no
openings when the same is effected by heating a small quantity of water
at a bend or coil of the pipe, and so placing one branch of the pipe that
the water of condensation will return to the coil or generator.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, the Fifteenth day of
October, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)