Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Separation of Dust and Fog from, and the Moistening, Scenting, or Disinfection of Air to be Supplied to Certain Rooms and the Interiors of Certain Buildings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 16th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Separation of Dust and
Fog from, and the Moistening, Scenting, or Disinfection of Air
to be Supplied to Certain Rooms and the Interiors of Certain
Buildings.
I DEAN WOLSTENHOLME of 50 Mitchell Street, Great Ancoats Street,
Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Carder, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for use in the separation of dust and fog from
and the moistening, scenting or disinfecting of air, to be supplied to certain rooms
and the interiors of certain buildings. The rooms and buildings to which apparatus
constructed according to my invention may be applied are those to or from which
air may be supplied or exhausted by means of fans, or other means by which the
supply or removal of air to or from a room or building may be ensured. My
invention consists in improvements which enable me to construct simple, cheap and
efficient apparatus to remove dust and fog from, and when necessary or desirable to
moisten, disinfect or scent the air to be supplied to rooms or the interiors of buildings
to or from which air is supplied or exhausted by means of fans or other apparatus by
means of which the supply or removal of air to or from rooms or the interiors of
buildings may be ensured.
In constructing an apparatus according to my invention, I provide a chamber or
box which may constitute a part of a pipe or conduit by means of which air may
be supplied to the interior of a room or building. In the said chamber or box I
mount or arrange a suitable number of filters formed of frames of any suitable kind
in or upon which a woollen fabric with a raised surface or any other suitable fibrous
or porous material is secured. In or upon each frame or filter is also secured a
plate of perforated metal by which the woven fabric or other fibrous or porous
material is protected from injury. In some cases one or more or all of the said
filters may be formed of perforated plates between which is placed cotton wool
preferably in the form in which it is when just carded or any other suitable filtering
material. The said filters are arranged so as to be capable of being readily removed
from the box or chamber in which they are mounted so that whenever it may be
In
necessary or advisable to remove them they may be readily removed.
conjunction with one or more of the said filters, I arrange a pipe or pipes by
means of which water or other liquid may be supplied and in conjunction with such
pipe or pipes I may arrange any suitable jets or other means by which water may
be allowed to issue in the form of a spray or shower. In conjunction with the filter
or filters in conjunction with which the pipe or pipes for the supply of water or
other liquid are arranged, or another or others of the said filters I arrange a pipe
or pipes by means of which steam may be supplied to the air to be filtered by means
of the said filter or filters. The pipe or pipes by which water or other liquid is
supplied and the pipe or pipes by means of which steam is supplied is or are
provided with a tap or cock or taps or cocks by means of which the supply of steam
or water may be controlled or regulated as may be necessary or desirable.
ice-chest or chamber containing ice or other cooling material may be arranged in
conjunction with the box or chamber in which the filters above mentioned are
mounted or in conjunction with the pipe or conduit by which air is conducted to
An

page_text: or from the said box or chamber. Air is supplied to or drawn from the box or
chamber above mentioned by means of a fan or any other suitable apparatus which
I may be driven in any suitable manner and the air passing through the said box or
chamber will be moistened and filtered so that dust and fog will be removed there-
from. If a scenting or 'disinfecting material be added to or substituted for the water
supplied to the filter or filters above mentioned the apparatus may be caused to scent
or disinfect the air passing through it.
The apparatus constructed according to my invention is chiefly intended to be
used in the separation of dust and fog from the air supplied to the rooms or interiors
of factories but may be used in conjunction with rooms or buildings of other kinds
and if such apparatus be constructed on a suitable scale it may be applied for the
ventilation and disinfection of sick rooms and other similar purposes and in such
cases the fans or other means by which air is caused to pass through the filters
arranged in such apparatus may be driven by hand or in any other suitable
manner.
Dated this Fifteenth day of February 1894.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in the Separation of Dust and
Fog from, and the Moistening, Scenting, or Disinfection of Air
to be Supplied to Certain Rooms and the Interiors of Certain
Buildings.
I, DEAN WOLSTENHOLME of 50 Mitchell Street, Great Ancoats Street,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Carder 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 :-
My invention relates to apparatus for use in the separation of dust and fog from
and the moistening, scenting or disinfecting of air to be supplied to certain rooms
and the interiors of certain buildings. The rooms and buildings to which apparatus
constructed according to my invention may be applied are those to or from which
air may be supplied or exhausted by means of fans or other means by which the
supply or removal of air to or from rooms or the interiors of buildings may be
ensured. My invention consists in improvements which enable me to construct
simple, cheap and efficient apparatus to remove dust and fog from and when necessary
or desirable to moisten, disinfect or scent the air to be supplied to rooms or the
interiors of buildings to which air is supplied by means of fans. In constructing
an apparatus according to my invention I provide a chamber or box which may
constitute a part of a pipe or conduit by means of which air may be supplied to the
interior of a room or building. In the said chamber or box I mount or arrange a
suitable number of filters formed of frames of any suitable kind in or upon which
a woollen fabric with a raised surface or any other suitable fibrous or porous
material is secured. In or upon each frame or filter is also secured a plate of
perforated metal by which the woven fabric or other fibrous or porous material is
protected from injury. In some cases one or more of the said filters may be formed
of perforated plates between which is placed cotton wool preferably in the form in
which it is when just carded or any other suitable filtering material. The said
filters are arranged so as to be capable of being readily removed from the box or
chamber in which they are mounted so that whenever it may be necessary or
advisable to remove them they may be readily removed. In conjunction with one
or more of the said filters I arrange a pipe or pipes by means of which water or

page_text: other liquid may be supplied and in conjunction with such pipe or pipes I may
arrange any suitable jets or other means by which water may be allowed to issue
in the form of a spray or shower. In conjunction with the filter or filters in
conjunction with which the pipe or pipes for the supply of water or other liquid
are arranged or another or others of the said filters I may arrange a pipe or pipes
by means of which steam may be supplied to the air to be filtered by means of the
said filter or filters. The pipe or pipes by which water or other liquid is supplied
and the pipe or pipes if any by means of which steam is supplied is or are provided
with a tap or cock or taps or cocks by means of which the supply of water or
other liquid or steam may be controlled or regulated as may be necessary or desirable.
An ice-chest or chamber containing ice or other cooling material may be arranged in
conjunction with the box or chamber in which the filters above mentioned are
mounted or in conjunction with the pipe or conduit by which air is conducted to or
from the said box or chamber. Air is supplied to or drawn from the box or
chamber above mentioned by means of a fan which may be driven in any suitable
manner and the air passing through the said box or chamber will be moistened and
filtered so that dust and fog will be removed therefrom. If a scenting or
disinfecting material be added to or substituted for the water supplied to the
filter or filters above mentioned the apparatus may be caused to scent or disinfect
the air passing through it.
An apparatus constructed according to my invention is illustrated in the
accompanying drawing in which Fig. I is a side elevation partly in section and
Fig. 2 a plan of such apparatus with the lid of the chamber or box employed in
such apparatus removed and Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the chamber or
box employed in the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a section drawn upon a larger scale than
Figs. 1, 2, and 3 through one of the filters employed.
The same letters of reference are applied to corresponding parts in all the
figures.
(a) is the chamber or.box employed in the apparatus illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing. The chamber (a) may be formed of any suitable material but
preferably of galvanized iron. The chamber or box (a) is provided with a lid (a¹)
which is secured to the other part of such chamber or box (a) by means of set
screws or bolts and a packing of cloth or any suitable material is secured upon
the inner surface of the said lid or otherwise provided between the said lid (a¹)
and the other part of the chamber or box (a) so that when the said chamber or
box (a) is closed by the said lid (a¹) air may be practically prevented from
entering the chamber or box (a) between the said lid (a¹) and the other part of
such chamber or box (a).. The chamber or box (a) is placed in any convenient
part of the room or building to which the air passed through the apparatus is to
be supplied. A pipe (b) communicating with the air outside the room or building
in which the apparatus is placed is connected to one end of the chamber or box (a)
in order to conduct air thereto and to the other end of the said chamber or
box (a) is connected a pipe (c) which being formed with two branches (c¹) (c²) is
placed in communication with the inlet openings of a fan (d) of any suitable
construction supported by any suitable means and driven in any suitable manner
by means of a pulley (d'). The joints between the pipes (b) (c) and the chamber
or box (a) are so made that there may be no leakage of air between such
pipe (b) (c) and the sides of the chamber or box (a). The pipe (6) may be
provided at the end (6¹) at which air is intended to enter it with a grid or sieve
of any suitable kind by which the grosser particles of matter present in the air
entering such pipe (6) may be prevented from passing into such pipe (b). Upon
the interior surface of the sides (a²) (a³) and bottom (a) of the chamber or box (a)
are secured by means of screws or other suitable means a suitable number of
channel irons (a) the channels of which form grooves extending down the
sides (a) (a) and across the bottom (a) of the chamber or box. The channel
irons (a) are so secured upon the sides (a) (a³) and bottom (a) of the chamber or
box (a) that there may be no leakage of air between them and the said si.les and

page_text: bottom of such chamber or box. In the interior of such chamber or box (a) are
arranged or mounted filters (e) each of which is provided with a frame (e¹) made
to fit into and be capable of being slidden into and out of one of the grooves formed
by the channel irons (a) in the interior of the said box or chamber (a) when the
lid or cover of such box or chamber (a) is removed. The channel irons (as) are
provided with set screws so that the frame (e) of each of the filters (e) respectively
mounted in the grooves formed by the channels of the said channel irons (a³) may
be pressed against one side of the groove in which it is mounted so that there may
be no leakage of air between the said filters (e) and channel irons (a). If it be
preferred a packing of cloth or other suitable material may be placed on that face
of each of the frames (e) which is pressed against the side of the groove in which
it is mounted or a packing of cloth or other suitable material may be placed around
the edge of each of the frames (e¹). The joint between the frame (e') of each
filter (e) and the lid or cover (a¹) of the chamber or box (a) is so made and
provided with any suitable packing material that there may be no leakage of air
between the frame (e¹) of the said filter (e) and the lid or cover (a) of the said
chamber or box (a). The frame (e¹) of each of the filters (e) is formed of two
frames secured together by means of screws or in any suitable manner between
which are secured the edges of a piece of woollen fabric with a raised surface or any
other suitable fibrous or porous material which forms the said filter (e). Between
the two frames forming the frame (e¹) of each filter (e) is also secured a plate (e)
of perforated metal which without impeding the passage of air through the chamber
or box (a) will protect the woollen fabric or other fibrous or porous material from
injury. It is preferable that the plates (2) shall be made of material which is not
liable to rust in order that they may not be weakened by rusting. The filters (e)
are so placed in the chamber or box (a) that the air passing through such chamber
or box (a) will tend to press the woollen fabric or other fibrous or porous material
against the plate (e) used therewith. (✓) is a pipe by means of which water is
supplied to one of the filters (e). The pipe (f) is made to project from each side
of the chamber or box (a) in order that either end of such pipe (f) may be made
to communicate with the supply of water, the end of such pipe which may not be
used in any particular case being closed in any suitable manner. The pipe (f) or
the pipe by which it receives water is provided at any suitable place with a tap
or cock by means of which the supply of water may be regulated or shut off as
may be considered necessary or desirable from time to time. The pipe (f) is also
provided with a number of small openings by means of which the water supplied
by means of such pipe (f) is allowed to issue therefrom in the form of a spray or
shower, impinging upon the upper part of the filter (e) adjacent to such pipe (f).
(g) is a pipe communicating with the pipe (f) and serving when the supply of
water has been shut off from the pipe (f) to supply steam to the air to be filtered
by means of the said filters (e) in cases in which it may be preferred to supply
steam to such air rather than to moisten it with water. The pipe (9) is provided
at any suitable place with a tap or cock by means of which the supply of steam
may be regulated or shut off as may be considered necessary or desirable from time
to time. An overflow pipe (j) is made to communicate with the lower part of the
interior of the chamber or box (a) and convey any excess of water accumulating in
such chamber or box to any suitable place and is provided with a bend or trap of
any suitable form and suitable depth to hold water by means of which air is
prevented from passing through such overflow pipe (j). To the discharge opening
of the fan (d) is connected a pipe (h) by which the air discharged from the fan (d)
may be conducted to the desired parts of the room or building in which the
apparatus is placed. The pipe (h) is provided at suitable parts with delivery
openings or delivery pipes (1) by means of which air may be allowed to issue from
such pipe (h) the outlet of air from which is prevented except in so far as openings are
provided by the delivery openings or delivery pipes (h¹). The delivery openings or
delivery pipes (h') are provided with trumpet or bell-shaped parts at their lower
ends and baffle-plates to direct the air issuing from such delivery openings or delivery

page_text: pipes (h) in a horizontal direction are secured upon such delivery openings or
delivery pipes opposite to the openings of the trumpet or bell-shaped parts thereof
as is clearly indicated in the accompanying drawing. I prefer to arrange the
apparatus. so that the discharge of air from the delivery openings or delivery
pipes (h) shall take place at about seven feet from the floor of the room or building
in which such apparatus is employed. When the fan (d) is driven at a suitable
speed air from the outside of the room or building will enter the pipe (b) and
passing through the chamber or box (a) will be filtered by the filter (e) which is
moistened and the other filters (e). The particles of dust and fog which may be.
present in the said air will adhere to the filter (e) which is moistened which may
also impart moisture to the air passing through it. After passing through the
chamber or box (a) pipe (c) and the fan (d) the said air will be delivered by means
of the pipe (h) and outlet openings or delivery pipes (h') into the room or building
in which the apparatus is employed. If the apparatus illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing, be made of a suitable size and the fan (d) employed therewith:
be driven at a suitable speed air may be supplied by it to the room or building in
which such apparatus is employed in such quantity that air may be prevented
from entering such room or building in any other manner and thus the only
air which supplied to such room or building being filtered and freed from
fog and dust, fog and dust may be excluded from such room or building. The
size of the fan (d) the pipes (b) (c) and the chamber or box (a) and the size and
number of the filters (e) used therein will necessarily depend upon the capacity of
the room or building in which the apparatus is to be employed and the rapidity
with which it is desired to renew the air in such room or building. In the case of
filters (e) of large area or in other cases in which it may be considered desirable to
provide additional support to prevent the perforated metal plates (e) of such
filters (e) from bending under the pressure exerted upon them by the air being
filtered a rib or bar or ribs or bars may be provided to bear against each of the
said perforated metal plates in the central part thereof or at any other suitable
place and be connected at its or their ends to the frame (e') in which the said.
metal plate (e) is mounted.
If it be considered desirable more than one of the filters (e) may be moistened
and in cases in which it is desired to moisten more than one of such filters (e) a
pipe or pipes similar to the pipe (f) and communicating with such pipe (f) and if
need be provided with a tap or cock or taps or cocks may be provided in order to
conduct water or steam at times when it is preferred to use steam instead of water
to moisten the air passing through the apparatus and deliver such water or steam
against the upper part or upper parts of the other filter or filters (e) which is or
are desired to be moistened. If in any case it may be desirable to secure a more
thorough filtration of the air than is possible with the use of filters made of a
woollen or other fabric one or more of the filters (e) may instead of being formed
of a woollen or other fibrous or porous material protected from injury by means of a.
perforated metal plate be provided with two perforated metal plates having cotton
wool preferably in the form in which it is when just carded or any other suitable
filtering material placed between them. The filters (e) being capable of being
readily removed from the chamber or box (a) may be cleansed by washing or in
any other suitable manner or have the filtering material renewed as often as may
be considered necessary or desirable.
If it be considered desirable an ice-chest or chamber containing ice or any other
suitable cooling material may be arranged in conjunction with the chamber or
box (a) or in conjunction with the pipe (6) or in conjunction with the pipe (c) or
the pipe (4) in order to cool the air passing through the apparatus.
If it be considered necessary or desirable a sliding damper or sliding dampers or
any other suitable means of regulating the distribution of the air which has passed
through the apparatus may be provided at any suitable part or at any suitable parts
of the pipe (h).
If it be considered necessary or desirable a scenting or disinfecting material may

page_text: be added to or substituted for the water supplied by means of the pipe (f)
and the apparatus may thus be caused to disinfect or scent the air passing
through it.
If it be considered desirable in any case the pipe (9) for the supply of steam to
the air passing through the said apparatus may be dispensed with."
If it be considered desirable instead of the fan (d) being made to receive its
supply of air from the chamber or box (a) such fan (d) may be placed between the
pipe (b) and the chamber or box (a) and be made to discharge air into such
chamber or box (a).
The apparatus constructed according to my invention is simple and cheap in
construction and capable of being cheaply and conveniently applied in any room or
building where there is the necessary power to drive the fan employed and by
reason of the filters employed being capable of being readily removed from the box
or chamber in which they are mounted or arranged the filters may be readily cleansed
or renewed whenever it may be considered necessary or desirable.
The apparatus constructed according to my invention is chiefly intended to be
used in the separation of dust and fog from the air supplied to the rooms or interiors
of factories but may be used in conjunction with rooms or buildings of other kinds
and if such apparatus be constructed on a suitable scale it may be applied for the
ventilation and disinfection of sick rooms and other similar purposes and in such
cases the fans by which air is caused to pass through the filters arranged in such
apparatus may be driven by hand or in any other suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is -
1. In an apparatus for use in the separation of dust and fog from or the
moistening scenting or disinfection of air the combination of a chamber or box (a),
filters (e) mounted or arranged in such chamber or box (a) so as to be capable of
being readily removed therefrom and each formed of a woollen or other suitable
fibrous or porous material and each provided with a perforated metal plate to
protect such woollen or other fibrous or porous material from injury and a pipe or
pipes for the supply of water or other liquid to one or more of the said filters with
or without a pipe or pipes for the supply of steam to the air passing through
such chamber or box all constructed, arranged, employed and operating in
conjunction with a fan for producing a current of air for the purposes and
substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated in and by the
accompanying.drawing.
2. In an apparatus for use in the separation of dust and fog from or the
moistening or scenting or disinfection of air the combination of a chamber or
box (a), filters (e) mounted or arranged in such chamber or box (a) so as to be
capable of being readily removed therefrom one or more of which is or are
formed of perforated plates of metal with cotton wool or other suitable filtering
material placed between them while each of the others or the other is formed
of a woollen or other suitable fibrous or porous material and provided with a
perforated metal plate to protect the woollen or other fibrous or porous material
from injury, and a pipe or pipes for the supply of water or other liquid to one
or more of the said filters with or without a pipe or pipes for the supply of
steam to the air passing through such chamber or box all constructed, arranged,
employed and operating in conjunction with a fan for producing a current of air
for the purposes and substantially in the manner herein before described and
illustrated in and by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this Fifteenth day of November 1894.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.