Improvements in Air-moistening and Ventilating Apparatus.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1893-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Air-moistening and Ventilating Apparatus.
I, GUSTAV JOSEPHY, of Bielitz, in the Province of Austrian Silesia and Empir
of Austria, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates primarily to apparatus for moistening air; the same con-
sisting in the combination of a centrifugal drum with a ventilator, by the action of
which the water is cleaned, atomized and uniformly distributed as far as possible
throughout the space within which the moistened air is required.
Compared with other appliances hitherto in use for the same purpose, my
improved apparatus has the following advantages:-The power of the apparatus
is constant; the atomized water is dispersed without carrying with it any drops;
the spray is dispersed in all directions to a great distance from the apparatus; the
quality of the water employed may be indifferent, as it is cleaned by the apparatus
itself; and the action of the apparatus may be regulated from the floor of the
room where it is mounted, and its power increased or reduced at will.
The accompanying drawing represents in vertical section an air-moistening and
ventilating apparatus constructed according to my invention. A hanging support i,
fastened to the ceiling of the room in which the air is to be moistened, carries a
vertical spindle k, upon which is rotatively mounted a long sleeve e; the latter
being driven by means of the V-pulley e. The sleeve e forms the hub of the
centrifugal plate c and of the ventilating fan d, the blades of which are preferably
formed in one with the plate Upon the latter is mounted a light, finely-
perforated drum a, the inner face of which is lined with several layers b of wool-
felt or other suitable material, which may be simply set in place without being
secured, thus allowing of their easy removal and replacement. The material
serves both for absorbing the water to be atomized, and for filtering and cleansing
the same.
C.
This
Within the centrifugal drum a is arranged a conical distributing funnel h, which
is secured to the central sleeve e, and is provided with large perforations. The
perforated funnel h revolves with the drum, and is fed with water by a pipe n which
branches from the feed-main and is furnished with a regulating valve m.
valve may be opened or closed from below by means of cords m³ and a lever m²;
thus permitting the supply of water to the apparatus to be regulated from time to
time or to be shut off altogether.
The drum and the ventilator are surrounded by a stationary casing f, in the lower
part of which is an annular opening o, the top being open. Projecting into this
open top is a casing g arranged as shewn and fastened to the hanging support i;
an annular outlet for the moistened air discharged by the apparatus being thereby
formed.
The bottom c of the centrifugal drum has one or more outlet canals q, extending
radially outwards from a central recess; and to the bottom of the casing fis
attached a discharge tube P connected with the waste pipe r.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The water, admitted in regulated
quantity through the pipe n to the rotating funnel h, is distributed, throughout the
entire height of the centrifugal drum, and is forced through the felt and filtered
thereby. In the form of spray or mist, the water is projected outwards, through
the small perforations of the drum, against the exterior casing f. At the same
time by the action of the regulating fan d air is drawn in from below through the
opening and forced upwards along the wall of the casing f, carrying with it the

page_text: spray which is thereby projected through the annular space intervening between
the casings and g into the chamber where the moistened air is required.
In the event of the spray projected by the centrifugal drum comprising com-
paratively large bodies or drops of water, these, owing to their weight, are thrown
against the casing. On the other hand, if the mist conveyed by the ascending
current of air still contains rather large particles of dust, the latter will be driven
against the surface of the casing g, and running down the same will fall to the floor
of the outer casing f. In this manner only the very fine spray will be discharged
into the ambient space.
If the inlet-pipe n remain open when the apparatus is not in motion, water running
into the drum a flows off through the canals y to the space euclosed by the casing f,
and escapes thence by way of the discharge-pipe p.
As already stated, the action of the apparatus is regulated at will by operating
the inlet cock' m. When the latter is completely closed, the apparatus works
exclusively as a ventilator, simply sucking in air. It is obvious that the opening o
of the casing may be placed in communication with the external air, which the
apparatus then spreads into the room in a moistened or in an unmoistened state.
The centrifugal drum and the ventilating fan being the only moving parts, the
apparatus will be subject to but little wear, will need but little attention and require
a minimum of motive power.
Even when impure water is made use of, the atomizing is effected in a perfect
and uniform manner; all the defects belonging to nozzle-apparatus worked by
water under pressure thus being avoided. In particular, it is impossible for the
impurities contained in the water to choke or obstruct the small holes of the centri-
fugal drum, as this water has to traverse the layers of felt before passing through
the outer wall of the drum.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved air-moistening and ventilating apparatus constructed and
operating substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
2. In air-moistening and ventilating apparatus, the employment, as a water-
atomizer, of a centrifugal drum, the bottom of which is formed or provided with
blades to act as a ventilating fan, substantially as herein described.
3. In air-moistening and ventilating apparatus, the combination of a centrifugal
water-atomizer a and ventilating fan d with a surrounding casing provided with a
suitable inlet and outlet and disposed in such a manner that the current of air to
be moistened is caused to traverse the stream of spray or vapour thrown off from
the periphery of the centrifugal drum, substantially as herein described.
Dated the 21st day of January 1893.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.