Improvements in or connected with the Ventilating of Dwelling Houses and other Buildings, and the Appliances therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Ventilating of Dwelling
Houses and other Buildings, and the Appliances therefor.
I, JOHN LE MARCHANT BISHOP, of Upper Brook Street, Chorlton-upon-
Medlock, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Holding it to be an essential condition of true, effectual and safe ventilation in
dwelling houses, or other inhabited buildings or rooms, that the fresh air currents
admitted thereinto should be carefully directed away from the persons of the
occupants until such currents have become well diffused, and that they should then,
in such diffused condition, be quickly and thoroughly distributed through every
part of the building or room, the lower parts as well as the upper, I have, in order
to effect this object, devised a complete system of natural ventilation for dwelling
houses and all other buildings and enclosed structures occupied by persons or
animals to which such ventilation may be applicable, and in which it may be
possible and desirable to effect the same.
:-
The chief object for which the invention is designed is to ensure automatically
(a) The admission of air currents into a building or room at each angle of the
building irrespectively of the winds course.
(b) The diffusion of the admitted currents before reaching the persons of the
occupants.
(c) The complete distribution of the fresh air throughout the whole air space of
the room, with complete immunity of the occupants from draughts.
(d) The purification of the air before being admitted to the room.
(e) The warming, cooling, or otherwise conditioning the air, as may be required,
before admission. Thus, in hospitals, or sick rooms, the air may be passed through
a disinfecting fluid, such as a solution of permanganate of potash, or it may be
charged with a gas or vapour having disinfectant, medicinal, or antiseptic,
properties.
In carrying out the invention it is necessary to provide inlets whereby the fresh
air can enter, a receiving and distributing chamber with which all the inlets are
connected, distributing pipes passing from the receiving chamber to the different
rooms or apartments, and outlets in each room connected by pipes with an outlet
shaft, the several inlet and outlet pipes being controlled by valves, so as to
prevent back currents, and cause the current of air always to travel in the same
direction.
In such of the outer walls of the building as are convenient or in any other
suitable position I place an air inlet in the form of a compound cowl, or hood,
through which air will enter irrespectively of the direction in which the air or wind
is moving. This hood, or inlet appliance, conducts the air received or collected by
it into an air duct, or tube, situated at the inner side of the wall.
At present I prefer to employ two or more of such inlet cowls fitted in at the
angles or corner of the walls, and also on the flat walls. These cowls, or hoods, I
provide with two or more inlet orifices, to catch the wind at each angle of the
building blowing from any of four opposite points such as the four cardinal points
of the compass, each orifice, or the tube leading from it, being fitted with a valve
made from oil silk, mica, or other suitable material, to prevent any return or
outward current or passage of air. The cowls or hoods placed in the flat of the
wall will each catch the wind blowing from these points. The two or three inlet
orifices of each cowl communicate with a single internal air duct, so that the air
entering is at once carried thereto. Where two or more of the inlet cowls are

page_text: employed they may each be connected with a separate internal air duct, or two or
more of them may be connected together in one general or main air inlet trunk.
In some convenient place or situation in the building, preferably in the basement,
I place a chamber, with which the several air ducts leading from the air inlets are
connected. This chamber serves for the purpose of receiving the air, and
distributing it to the various parts of the building. I prefer to employ a separate
inlet air duct for each separate inlet cowl, or hood, each of such inlet air ducts
leading into the receiving chamber. This chamber fill with water, or other
liquid, to wash or purify the air as it enters the ends of the inlet tubes dipping
down below the surface of the water. A constant flow of water will, where
convenient or practicable, be maintained through the chamber, to remove the
impurities from the air which enters. Instead of water, a disinfectant fluid may be
used, or instead of, or in addition thereto, the air may, in this chamber, be charged
with gas or vapour having medicinal or antiseptic properties. In this chamber the
air may also be heated or cooled.
From the receiving and distributing chamber a second series of pipes, or air ducts,
pass, which convey the air, after being purified, to the several rooms or compart-
ments. These distributing pipes lead to inlets situated in the rooms where the air
is to be delivered. These inlets are preferably placed some height above the floor,
and are made to open upwards, to give to the admitted currents of air an upward
direction, causing them to proceed in a direct stream to the upper part of the room
or building.
The outlets from each room or apartment in the building are placed in the
skirtings, or other place, near the floor level, at short intervals around the room.
Each outlet orifice is covered with a grid, or with a perforated shutter, by which
they can be opened or closed as desired. The orifices each communicate with a
pipe or tube leading into an outlet air duct, through which the vitiated air escapes
to the open.
The air ducts from each room or compartment are all connected to a
main shaft or duct leading upwards to the open, preferably to the top of the
building through which a constant draught or current is maintained. The draught
or current through this shaft assists the working of the inlet tubes by reducing the
pressure in the rooms. If desired the draught or current of air in the cutlet air
duct or shaft may be assisted by means of a fan, or fire, the latter being suitable
for an hospital, as it would also be effective in destroying disease germs. The outlet
pipes are also fitted with valves, to prevent any return currents.
For the successful carrying out of this invention it is desirable that the windows
and doors should be made tight fitting to prevent either the ingress or egress of air
therethrough as such would disturb the flow of the air through the channel
provided and also that grates and fire places and outlets for the products of com-
bustion from gas lights should be made to be closed when they are not lighted or
in use.
The following advantages arise from this invention :-
(a) The continuous passage of fresh air currents through a building or room, so
long as the pressure of the outer atmosphere admits of the same.
(b) A more complete control of such currents than is obtainable by the ordinary
methods of ventilation.
(c) The self diffusion, purification and warming (or cooling) of the currents
before coming in contact with the persons of the occupants.
(d) Their complete distribution and continuous healthy agitation in and through
all parts of the room or building.
(e) The consequent subjection at all times of every part of the room, and every
accessible object therein, to the purifying action of fresh atmospheric air, with
complete immunity to the occupants from exposure to cold draughts and violent
alterations of temperature.
Dated this 19th day of September 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Ventilating of Dwelling
Houses and other Buildings, and the Appliances therefor.
I, JOHN LE MARCHANT BISHOP, of York Place, Oxford Road, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Agent, formerly of Upper Brook Street, Chorlton-
upon-Medlock, Manchester, aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
I consider it to be an essential condition of true, effectual and safe ventilation in
dwelling houses, or other inhabited buildings or rooms, that the fresh air currents
admitted thereinto should be carefully directed away from the persons of the
occupants until such currents have become well diffused, and that they should then,
in such diffused condition, be quickly and thoroughly distributed throughout every
part of the building or room, the lower parts as well as the upper. I have therefore
in order to effect this object, devised a complete system of natural ventilation (which,
however, may, whenever desirable, be assisted or supplemented, by mechanicaĺ
means,) for dwelling houses and other buildings and enclosed structures occupied by
persons or animals to which such ventilation may be applicable, and in which it
may be possible and desirable to effect the same.
The chief object for which the invention is designed is to ensure :-
(a) The admission of air currents into a building or room, automatically or
otherwise, irrespectively of the winds course.
(b) The diffusion of the admitted currents before reaching the persons of the
occupants.
(c) The complete distribution of the fresh air throughout the whole air space of
the room, with complete immunity of the occupants from draughts.
(d) The purification of the air before being admitted to the room.
(e) The warming, cooling, or otherwise conditioning of the air, as may be
required, before admission to the room. Thus, in hospitals, or sick rooms, the air
may be passed through a disinfecting fluid, such as a solution of permanganate of
potash, or it may be charged with a gas or vapour having disinfecting, medicinal,
or antiseptic properties.
In carrying out the invention it is necessary to provide inlets whereby the fresh
air can enter; a receiving and distributing chamber, with which all the inlets are
connected; distributing pipes, passing from the receiving chamber to the different
rooms or apartments, which deliver the fresh air into the rooms at convenient
altitudes between the floor and ceiling; and outlets in each room, connected by
pipes with an outlet shaft, which exhaust the foul air at or near the floor line, the
several inlet and outlet pipes being furnished with valves, for the purpose of pre-
venting back draughts and compelling the currents to travel in the desired direction;
thereby considerably enhancing the effectiveness of the system as a whole.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein, as examples, two different buildings are shown in which it is
illustrated; the one (Figs. 1 to 5) being designed to receive my system of venti-
lation and the other (Figs. 6 to 9) being an existing building to which the system
is to be adapted.
Fig. 1. Sectional elevation.
Fig. 2. Plan.

page_text: ig. 6. Tian.
Fig. 9. Part elevation in section on another plane.
The invention may be applied to any construction of building, and where it is
applied to new buildings designed to receive it prefer to construct the air
ducts, both for the admission of fresh air and the exhaustion of the foul air, as much
as possible of cavities preferably lined with earthenware pipes, built in the walls
(as shown in Figs. 1 and 2); but in the case of old buildings to which my system is
applied the air ducts may be constructed of tubes of zinc, sheet iron, or other
suitable material.
It will also be understood that the system may be arranged to work entirely
automatically as in Figs. 1 and 2, or it may be arranged to be worked mechanically
as in Figs. 6 to 9, where a fan or air propeller is employed to exhaust the foul air;
and in either arrangement a fan or air propeller may also be employed to assist in
impelling the fresh air.
Where the construction of the building renders it practicable I provide air inlet
apertures A in the outer walls of the buildings as near the caves or roof as con-
venient, and conduct the fresh air admitted thereby to a central receiver or
chamber B (placed preferably in the basement of the building) by means of ducts
or tubes C. The apertures A are furnished with compound cowls or hoods D
constructed and situated so as to catch or deflect the current of air inwards
simultaneously at the several corners or sides of the building irrespectively of the
direction in which the air or wind is moving. The cowls or inlet appliances D
conduct the air collected or received by them into the air ducts or tubes C. I
prefer to employ a number of the cowls D fitted, where practicable, at each of the
angles or corners of the walls, and similar cowls along the flat walls.
The cowls or hoods D I construct as shown (see Figs. 4 and 5) with three
inlet orifices d to catch the wind blowing from four opposite points of the compass.
Each of the orifices d is fitted with a valve d' made of mica, aluminium, oil silk
or other suitable material, to prevent any outward or return current or passage of
air. All the inlet orifices d of each cowl communicate with a single air duct C
by which the air entering either of them is conveyed to the central chamber B.
Where two or more of the inlet cowls D are employed they may each be connected
with a separate internal air duct C, or two or more of them may be connected
together in one general or main air inlet trunk.
In some convenient place or situation in the building, preferably in the basement,
I place the chamber B, with which the several air ducts C leading from the air
inlets A are connected. This chamber serves for the purpose of receiving the
air, cleansing it conditioning it and distributing it to the various parts of the
building. In it I place a quantity of water or other liquid to wash or purify
the air as it enters or passes therethrough. It is also provided with a run off pipe
and by maintaining a constant flow therethrough the receiver is kept cleansed. In
addition to the water in the chamber B upon the surface of which the air impinges
and passes over I provide a rose b, in the interior of the inlet tube, through
which a spray or stream of water flows intermingling with the inflowing air and
thoroughly washing it.
Or the air may be caused to pass through a column of coke, or other suitable
material, with water trickling down it. Or it may be passed through the body of
the fluid in the receiver B; or any other suitable or convenient method of washing
or purifying it may be employed.
The receiver B may be supplied with a disinfecting fluid such as permanganate
of potash and for hospital practice when required the air as it passes through is
mixed with any gas or vapour in any required proportions for disinfecting
antiseptic medicinal anaesthetic or other purposes by placing in the receiver a
vessel containing the gas or vapour or the chemical substances necessary for
producing the same.
The air as it leaves the chamber B may be heated by being drawn over a coil
of steam pipes in a chamber E, or around or through a convoluted stove, or by

page_text: other suitable appliance. Or when desired it may be cooled by being drawn
through a refrigerating chamber or by other convenient means.
From the receiving and distributing and heating chambers B and E a second
series of pipes, or air ducts F, pass, which convey the air, after being purified and
conditioned to the several rooms or apartments. These distributing pipes lead to
delivery tubes f situated at short intervals round the rooms where the air is to be
delivered. The delivery tubes f are placed some height above the floor, and
are made to open upwards, to give to the admitted currents an upward direction,
causing them to proceed in a direct stream to the upper part of the room or
building.
In each room or apartment I place at or near the floor level a number of outlet
orifices G each covered by an ordinary ventilating grid or perforated shutter,
which can be opened or closed at pleasure to regulate both the inflowing and the
outflowing currents of air. The orifices G are preferably in the skirtings, at short
intervals round the room or apartment, and, where the area is large, one or more
may also be placed in the floor. The outlet orifices G each communicate with a
duct or tube H leading into an outlet air duct I, through which the vitiated air
escapes to the open. The air ducts H from each room or apartment are all con-
nected to a main shaft or duct I leading upwards to the open, preferably to the
top of the building, through which a constant draught or current is maintained.
The draught or current through this shaft assists the working of the inlet tubes,
by reducing the pressure in the rooms. If desired the draught or current of air in
the outlet air duct or shaft may be assisted by means of a fan J, or by a fire, the
latter being suitable for an hospital, as it would also be effective in destroying
disease germs.
In the outlet air ducts H I place a small well to contain water
wherein such of the heavier gases and gas products as are not carried away by the
duct I may be collected or absorbed.
The distributing air ducts F and the outlet ducts H are also fitted with suitable
valves of oil silk, mica, aluminium, or other material, to prevent any return
currents, and to contribute toward the general efficiency of the system.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 6 to 9 the air is delivered direct from the air
inlet tube C which is merely an ordinary opening, into the purifying conditioning
and distributing chamber B the air being exhausted by the fan J in the shaft or
chimney I which is driven by an engine K. A second fan may be placed at the
orifice of the tube C or in any suitable position in the distributing pipes or ducts F
to propel forward the fresh or purified air.
For the successful carrying out of this invention it is desirable that the area of
the inlet ducts should well exceed that of the outlet ducts, and also that the
windows and doors should be made sufficiently tight fitting to prevent any such
ingress or egress of air therethrough as might interfere with the flow of the air
through the channels provided, and also to guard against the entrance of impure
air from other sources: further, that grates and fireplaces and outlets for the
products of combustion from gas lights should be made to close when they are not
in use.
The following advantages arise from this invention :-
(a) The continuous passage, automatically or otherwise of fresh air currents
through a building or room.
(6) A more complete control of such currents than is obtainable by the ordinary
methods of ventilation.
(c) The self diffusion, purification conditioning and warming (or cooling) of the
currents before coming in contact with the persons of the occupants.
(d) Their complete distribution and continuous healthy agitation in and through
all parts of the room or building.
(e) The complete expulsion from the room of sewer gas or other noxious
exhalations from the floor, cellars &c., before approaching the breathing line.
(f) The perfect economising of the admitted air, every foot of which is
compelled to do its share in the ventilation of the room, which circumstance

page_text: ensures for this system a degree of efficiency impossible to ordinary methods of
ventilating.
(g) The subjection at all times of every part of the room, and every accessible
object therein, to the purifying action of fresh atmospheric air, with complete
immunity to the occupants from exposure to cold draughts and violent changes of
temperature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I am aware that it has already been the practice to draw or force air into a
chamber in the basement of a building where it has been washed and passed
through a stove and afterwards delivered to the apartments above the breathing
line and also that the foul air has been extracted at the floor level and such I do
not claim but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The arrangement and construction of ventilating apparatus taken as a whole
consisting of the combination of inlet ducts leading to a central purifying and
conditioning chamber cowls placed around the building to catch the air
simultaneously at the different sides or angles thereof irrespectively of the wind's
course, a central purifying conditioning and distributing chamber in which the air
is washed purified or impregnated with gas or vapour a chamber or compartment
in which the air is heated or cooled a series of distributing ducts connected thereto
for conveying the fresh air therefrom to the rooms or apartments and delivering
the same at convenient altitudes above the floor at intervals around the room and
a series of outlet ducts drawing off the foul or vitiated air at or near the floor
level at intervals round the room the several air ducts being provided with valves
to prevent return or back currents and with or without fans or air propellers to
assist either the exhaust or the inlet current of air or both substantially as
described and shown.
2. In apparatus for ventilating buildings the combination with the inlet tubes
placed at convenient positions around the building and the distributing and delivery
tubes by which the air is conveyed to the different rooms or apartments of a central
chamber constructed to receive all the inlet tubes to contain a washing or
disinfecting fluid and provided with a spray of water to mingle with the incoming
air and in which the air is conditioned as required for medical antiseptic or other
purposes by the admixture therewith of gas or vapour substantially as described
and shown.
3. The inlet cowls with the several parts constructed and arranged to catch or
collect the air moving in any direction substantially as described and shown with
reference to Figs. 4 and 5.
Dated this 17th day of Tune 1902
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.