IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND SHAFTS, AND IN CAPS AND COWLS FOR VENTILATING OR OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Richard Stevens, of Lewisham, in the County of
Kent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VALVES AND SHAFTS, AND IN
CAPS AND COWLS FOR VENTILATING OR OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Richard Stevens at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th December 1880.
CHARLES RICHARD STEVENS, of Lewisham, in the County of Kent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VALVES AND SHAFTS, AND IN CAPS AND COWLS FOR VENTILATING OR
OTHER PURPOSES."
The improvements consist of an outlet valve for ventilating purposes, made to
open vertically or otherwise to recede from its frame so as to allow the full area of
the opening to be effective, such valve being hinged or hung on a vertical rod and
balanced cross rods worked on centres. Also in making one or more reservoirs or
receptacles for holding mercury or other suitable material and supporting the valve
on floats intended to float on such mercury, the valve itself being kept in position
by suitable guide rods. The above improvements being intended more particularly
for use in ventilating or chimney shafts.
"
The improvements also consist in combining with the present " Sheringham
ventilating inlet valve curved partitions, in order that when said valve is open the
incoming air shall be deflected vertically instead of at an angle as at present, so
that instead of said valve being fixed as at present near the ceiling, it can be fixed
at any convenient height from the floor (say 4 feet) and thus become a more
effective ventilator; this improvement can be adapted to window ventilating valves.
The improvements also relate to exhaust and other ventilators for which I obtained
Letters Patent on 13 December 1877, and consist in shaping the vacuum chamber
and cap, and providing the said ventilators with a projection of or in the shaft at
bottom of the vacuum chamber and holes in or round the bottom of said chamber,
and so preventing water or snow from descending the ventilation shaft, and in
combined up and down shaft ventilators, making the top part of ventilator the
same shape as the improved exhaust ventilator, and the under part of the down
draught ventilator. The up and down draught shaft meeting in the socket for
TD 1021

page_text: receiving the improved double shaft. Also in furnishing said ventilators with a
self acting balanced valve to work inside the said chamber, and capable of being
opened by the up draught and closed by the down draught.
The improvements further relate to said or like ventilators, and consist in
making the conical cap to revolve, fitting it with blades, and connecting it with
a suitable screw fan having a clear opening in the centre and fitted inside the
vacuum chamber, also in balancing said cap by a lever supported on a rod
projecting from the vacuum chamber, so that on the wind blowing downwards
said cap will fall and close the chamber, but when the wind blows horizontally it
will cause the cap to rise.
The improvement in ventilating tubes or shafts consists in providing them with
an inner casing heated by any convenient means so that the air passing through
the tube is warmed.
The improvements also relate to louvres or fan lights, and consist in dividing the
opening with a sash bar and filling in about half the space, so that when the louvre
or fan light is opened the air comes through the reduced aperture, is expanded, and
down draught avoided.
The improvements relate further to drawer inlet ventilators which formed part of
my Invention for I secured Letters Patent, as above quoted, and consist in making
the curved partitions wider apart at the bottom than at the top to give freer
passage to the air, also in providing the same with a frame covered with wool or
other suitable material applied in such fashion that when saturated with water or
other fluid the wool is kept moist by capillary action, also in the mode of fitting
the frame for more easily removing same.
The various parts are to be made of metal, or of metal and earthenware
combined; wood or other convenient material may also be used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Richard Stevens in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th June 1881.
CHARLES RICHARD STEVENS, of Lewisham, in the County of Kent.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VALVES AND SHAFTS, AND IN CAPS AND COWLS FOR VENTILATING AND
OTHER PURPOSES."
The improvements consist of an outlet valve for ventilating purposes made to
open vertically or otherwise to recede from its frame so as to allow the full area of
the opening to be effective, such valve being hinged or hung on a vertical rod and
balanced cross rods working on centres. Also in making one or more reservoirs or
receptacles for holding mercury or other suitable liquid, and supporting the valve
on floats intended to float in or on such mercury, the valve being kept in position
by suitable guide rods. The above improvements being intended more particularly
for use in ventilating or chimney shafts.
The improvements also consist in combining with the present "Sheringham"
ventilating inlet valve curved partitions, in order that when said valve is open the
incoming air shall be deflected vertically, instead of at an angle as at present, so
that instead of said valve being fixed as at present near the ceiling, it can be fixed
at any convenient height from the floor, and thus become a more effective
ventilator. The improvements also relate to exhaust and other ventilators, for
which I obtained Letters Patent on 13 December 1877, and consist in the novel
shaping of the vacuum chamber and cap, and providing the said ventilators with a
projection of or in the shaft at bottom of the vacuum chamber and holes in or
round the bottom of said chamber, and so preventing water or snow from
descending the ventilation shaft, and in combined up and down shaft ventilators,
making the top part of ventilator the same shape as the improved shaped exhaust
ventilator, and the under part of the down draught ventilator. The up and down
draught shaft meeting in the socket for receiving the improved double shaft. Also in
furnishing exhaust ventilators with a self acting balanced valve to work inside the
said chamber, and capable of being opened by the updraught and closed by the
down draught.
The improvements further relate to said or like ventilators, and consist in
making the conical cap to revolve, fitting it with blades, and connecting it with a
suitable rotary screw fan having a clear opening in the centre, and fitted inside the
vacuum chamber; also in balancing said cap top by a lever supported on a rod
projecting from the vacuum chamber, so that the wind blowing downwards said
cap will fall and close the chamber, but when the wind blows horizontally it will
cause the cap to rise.
The improvement in ventilating tubes or shafts consists in providing them with
an inner casing heated by any convenient means, so that the air passing through
the tube is warmed. The improvements also relate to louvres or fan lights, and
consist in dividing the opening and filling in about half the space, so that when
the louvre or fan light is opened the air comes through the reduced aperture,
is expanded, and down draught avoided.
The improvements relate further to drawer inlet ventilators which formed part
of my Invention for which I secured Letters Patent as above quoted, and consist
in making the curved partitions wider apart at the bottom than at the top to
give freer passage to the air; also in providing the same with a frame covered
with wool or other suitable material applied in such fashion that when saturated
with water or other fluid the wool is kept moist by capillary action; also in the
mode of fitting the frame for more easily removing same.

page_text: The various parts are to be made of metal, or of metal and earthenware
combined; wood or other convenient material may also be used.
The accompanying Drawings will serve to illustrate a practical mode of
performing my Invention.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 refer to inlet valves, and are respectively plan, side elevation,
and section; a are the curved plates which give an upright vertical current to
the air.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 refer to outlet valves.
Fig. 4 is a sectional plan; Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 6, detail. In
this arrangement I hang the valve on floats supported in mercury; b is the
mercurial trough; c, the float carrying the valve d; e, opening; fis a guide rod.
Figs. 7 and 9 are back elevations, and Figs. 8 and 10 are the respective sectional
plans thereof, of a balanced outlet valve; g are the axi or centres upon which
spindle carrying the valve works; & is the valve; is the balance weight; m, the
frame. The air works this valve in such a manner that the whole of the valve is
receeded from or approached to the frame.
Referring now to the improvements in ventilators and chimney tops previously
patented by me, Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are elevation, vertical section, and plan of
chimney top with improved balance cap or top p for the pupose of stopping down
draught in the shaft; the wind pressure being downward closes the cap, which
immediately returns to its open position on the removal of the pressure. Figs. 14,
15, 16, 17, and 18 refer to exhaust ventilators. Fig. 14 is an elevation; Fig. 15,
top plan view; Fig. 16, partial section; Fig. 17, sectional elevation; and Fig. 18,
plan. N is the valve, and o the elastic seating; the valve N is supported and balanced
as shown, and normally is up as in Figs. 16 and 17, but on a downward pressure
the valve descends and closes the aperture.
Figs. 19, 20, 21, 21ª, and 22 refer to exhaust ventilators; Fig. 19 is an elevation ;
Fig. 20, plan of revolving top; Fig. 21 is a sectional elevation; Fig 21ª are the rods
upon which the rotary fan and revolving cap are supported; Fig. 22 is a section
through A, B, Fig. 21; R is the removable cap furnished with wind blades as shown
pivoted on a rod x, supported on cross rods V; S are suspending rods; t is the
rotary fan; Y is vacuum chamber; the fan t is annular on plan and has a passage
way through the centre preferably the size of the shaft. The wind impinging on
the curved blades of the cap R causes it and the spindle ✗ to revolve, also the
rotary fan t, inside the vacuum chamber, said fan being fixed on the same
spindle X, and so increases the upward current of air in the shaft.
Figs. 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27 refer to exhaust ventilators; Fig. 23 is an elevation;
Fig. 24, top plan; Fig. 25, a sectional elevation; Fig. 26, a section through C, D,
Fig. 25; and Fig. 27, a section through E, F, Fig. 25. In this arrangement the
improved forms and shape of the vacuum chamber and cap is fully shown, also the
arrangement for getting rid of rain, snow, or condensed vapour, which would
otherwise enter the shaft, and for that purpose the shaft projects into the vacuum
chamber, and holes Z are made at the bottom of the chamber.
Referring now to up and down ventilators shown in Figs. 28, 29, 30, and 31.
Fig. 28 is an elevation; Fig. 29, top plan; Fig. 30, sectional elevation; Fig 31,
sectional plan. This arrangement is used for creating an up and a down
current in a single but divided shaft; the upper vacuum chamber B is for exhaust,
and communicates with the shaft E; the lower chamber C communicates with
shaft D; A is the cap; the air impinging on F causes the downward current
in D; the air from chamber B and its shaft E is exhausted in the usual way.
Figs. 34, 35, 36, and 37 relate to chimney caps, and show improvement in the
mode of construction for sweeping same, H being a tubular space left in the cap,
into which the wheel of a sweep's brush can enter.
Figs. 32 and 33 show modification of revolving exhaust ventilator.
Figs. 38 and 39 are elevation and section of improved louvre or fan light
ventilator. In this arrangement apertures K are made in a frame carrying closed
parts M, and louvres L are provided to the apertures K, but considerably larger,

page_text: so that when said louvres are opened they form an expansion inlet for the air as
shown, so as to expand the incoming current and prevent draught.
Fig. 40 relates to vertical inlet tubes. Here a hollow perforated inside chamber
is used and suspended over a gas burner or other heater, and thus the air warmed
when desired; Q is the inner chamber; P, a gas jet.
Fig. 41 is sectional elevation of improved inlet drawer ventilator. A are the
improved partitions; B is a perforated frame for holding wool as shown; C, rim
for holding water or liquid as shown. The water gradually moistens the frame,
and the air passing through is cleansed and dampened.
Fig. 42 is a modification of same with a rotary perforated disc D to which wool
or other suitable material can be applied; E is a rotary fan supported on
uprights F; and g is the spindle which actuates D by the motion of the air and
of E. This modification can be also applied to vertical inlet tubes.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Richard Stevens, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, A.D. 1881.