Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating and Maintaining the Velocity of Air Currents in Ventilating Shafts, and Preventing Down-draught therein.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1893-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating and Maintaining
the Velocity of Air Currents in Ventilating Shafts, and Preventing
Down-draught therein.
I, CHARLES FOSTER KITE, of Christopher Works, Chalton Street, London,
Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This apparatus is suitable for the shafts of automatic or mechanical ventilators,
the ventilating shafts of sun light gas burners, or any ventilating shaft where gas
is used. By its use the air current is regulated and maintained at a uniform
velocity, such velocity being automatically increased or diminished as required,
while all down draught is prevented.
At a given point the ventilating shaft is enlarged to twice its area so as to form
a valve chamber wherein is fitted a pilot light and a ring burner. The pilot light
is connected to the gas main in any convenient manner, while the ring burner is
connected by a suitable supply pipe with a gas valve or governor consisting of a
valve box fitted internally with an upper and lower reservoir each containing
quicksilver and in each of which a valve cap works up and down. These valve caps
are carried on a valve spindle one end of which projects through the top of the
valve box and makes contact with a regulator arm attached to or formed on a
diaphragm fitted in the centre of the valve chamber of the ventilating shaft while
the other end of such valve spindle enters the supply pipe by which gas is conveyed
to the ring burner and works up and down therein. The diaphragm forms a valve
plate that corresponds in area with the area of the ventilating shaft and is pivotted
in suitable bearings and balanced by a counterpoise attached to the regulating
arm. When the velocity of the air current in the ventilating shaft is at the
desired ratio the valve plate is sustained in a horizontal position, thereby bringing
the regulating arm in contact with, and depressing the valve spindle and valve
caps, whereby the lower valve cap is pressed down into the quicksilver thús
automatically closing the gas valve and shutting off the gas supply from the ring
burner. By this means all waste of gas is effectually prevented, and no more gas
is consumed than is actually required to increase the velocity of the air current to
the desired ratio. Upon the velocity of such air current failing or diminishing the
valve plate drops thus lifting the regulator arm and releasing the valve spindle
whereby the lower valve cap is raised out of the quicksilver and the gas valve
opened thus allowing the gas to pass into the ring burner and be re-lit by the
pilot light.
If preferred the quicksilver reservoirs may be dispensed with, and in lieu
thereof, the upper end of the valve spindle may be attached to the regulator arm
and its lower end furnished with a plug or cap that descends when the valve
plate is in a horizontal position thus automatically closing the gas valve and so
shutting off the gas from the ring burner until the valve plate drops through the
failure of the air current; when the valve spindle together with the plug or cap
is automatically raised by the lifting of the regulator arın, thus opening the gas
valve.
Owing to the instantaneous, and automatic action of my improved apparatus a

page_text: very considerable economy in the consumption of gas is effected, at the same time
that a sustained uniform àir current through the ventilating shaft is ensured.
Dated this 21st day of February 1893.
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Automatically Regulating and Maintaining
the Velocity of Air Currents in Ventilating Shafts, and Preventing
Down-draught therein.
I, CHARLES FOSTER KITE, of Christopher Works, Chalton Street, London,
Sanitary Engineer, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to automatically maintain and regulate the air
current in the outlet shaft of any ventilating apparatus, whether automatic or
mechanical, where gas is used.
And in order that my said invention may be readily carried into effect, I will
now with the aid of the accompanying drawings proceed to particularly describe
the same.
Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section, and Figure 2 a plan view of my
improved apparatus. Similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in both figures.
To carry out my
invention I construct an apparatus consisting of an outer casing
forming a valve chamber 1, which is fitted with an air flue 2, a ring or other suitable
burner 3 and a pilot light 3. The latter is connected to the gas main by a pipe 4,
while the burner is connected by a supply pipe 5, with a gas valve or governor,
consisting of a valve box 6, fitted internally with an upper and lower reservoir 7.
cach whereof contain quicksilver, and in each of which an inverted valve cap 8,
works up and down. These valve caps are carried on a valve spindle 9, one end of
which projects through the top of the valve box, and makes contact with a regulator
arm 10, attached to or formed on a diaphragm 11, fitted in the valve chamber,
while the other end of such valve spindle enters the mouth of the supply pipe 5,
and works up and down therein. The diaphragm forms a valve plate that corre-
sponds in area with the area of the air Hue, and is pivotted in suitable bearings,
and balanced by a counterpoise 12, attached to the regulating arm. When the
velocity of the air current in the ventilating shaft is at the desired ratio the valve.
plate is maintained in a horizontal position in the valve chamber, thus bringing
the regulating arm in contact with, and depressing the valve spindle and valve caps,
whereby the lower valve cap is pressed down into the quicksilver, thus automatically
closing the gas valve, and shutting off the gas supply from the burner. By this
means all
waste of gas is effectually prevented, and no more gas is consumed than
is actually required to increase the velocity of the air current to the desired ratio.
Upon the velocity of such air current failing or diminishing the valve plate drops,
thus lifting the regulator arm, and releasing the valve spindle, as shewn in dotted
lines in Figure 1, whereby the lower valve cap is raised out of the quicksilver,
and the gas valve opened, thus allowing the gas to pass into the burner, and be
re-lit by the pilot light.
1
:
If preferred the quicksilver reservoirs may be dispensed with, and in lieu
thereof the upper end of the valve spindle may be attached to the regulator arm,
and its lower end furnished with a plug or cap that descends when the valve plate
is in a horizontal position, thus automatically closing the gas valve, and so shutting
off the gas from the burner until the valve plate drops through the failure of the

page_text: air current; when the valve spindle together with the plug or cap is automatically
raised by the lifting of the regulator arm, thus opening the gas valve.
My improved apparatus may also be fitted in ordinary extracting flues, to cusure
a proper up-draught therein, and when so fitted the continuous up-draught created
thereby, counteracts any tendency to down-draught.
Owing to the instantaneous and automatic action of my improved apparatus, a
very considerable economy in the consumption of gas is effected; while the air
current is maintained at the required ratio.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
The improved apparatus for automatically regulating and maintaining the
velocity of air currents in ventilating shafts where gas is employed and preventing
down-draught therein constructed, arranged, combined, and fitted all substantially in.
the manner herein before described and shewn.
1049
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant.