IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO WINDOWS, DOORS, WALLS, AND ROOFS, FOR VENTILATING ROOMS AND BUILDINGS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Currall, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manager of Works, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO WINDOWS, DOORS, WALLS, AND ROOFS, FOR
VENTILATING ROOMS AND BUILDINGS."
Sealed the 23rd April 1875, and dated the 27th February 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Currall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th February 1875.
J, JOHN CURRALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS TO BE APPLIED TO WINDOWS, DOORS, WALLS,
AND ROOFS, FOR VENTILATING ROOMS AND BUILDINGS," to be as follows:-
In applying my Invention to windows for the purpose of ventilating
the room in which they are situated I combine with the said windows
apparatus constructed as follows:-I prolong each of the sashes of the
window and the sash frame, and in the prolonged part of each sash I
fix a frame open on opposite sides. The inner side of this frame, that

page_text: is, the side situated inside the apartment, is covered with wire gauze,
which wire gauze covering may be hinged to the said frame or be
made capable of ready removal or replacement, and the outer side of
the frame, that is, that side situated outside the apartment, is provided
with a sheet of glass. An opening for the ingress or egress of air is
left between one of the longitudinal edges of the glass side and the
bevilled opening in which it is fixed.
When the sashes are in their closed or normal positions, the wire gauze
sides of the prolonged parts of the said sashes are situated within
the sash frame, and no air can pass into or out of the apartment through
the said wire gauze sides. When however the upper and lower sashes
are opened for a short distance a portion of the wire gauze sides or
coverings of the prolonged parts are exposed, and fresh air may enter
through the lower sash into the apartment, and hot and vitiated air
may escape from the apartment through the upper sash, and the
ventilation of the apartment be thereby effected without draught. Or
instead of prolonging the sashes, as described, the bottom of the lower
sash and the top of the upper sash may be cut away so as to form in
the said sashes recesses or openings, the said recesses bevilling from the
outside of the sash to the inside thereof. The inner or wide parts of
these openings are covered with wire gauze let in flush with the surfaco
of the sashes while the narrow parts are open to the external air.
The top and bottom of the sash frame inside the room are furnished
with strips of wood, which, when the sashes are in their closed positions,
cover and conceal the wire gauze coverings of the recesses described in
the sashes and prevent the ingress or egress of air. When the sashes
are opened for a short distance the wire gauze coverings are situated
above and below these strips, and fresh air enters at the bottom sash and
vitiated air escapes at the top sash; or a trough shaped plate of metal
may be fixed to the bottom edge of the lower sash, and the top edge of
the upper sash for a similar purpose. That part of the trough plate
situated on the inner side of the sash is perforated with small holes or
covered with wire gauze; strips are used inside the sashes, which cover
the perforated sides of the troughs when the sashes are closed.
Or instead of applying the parts for ventilation to the sashes they may
be applied to the sash frame. In this case I cut in the sill of the sash
frame an opening which passes from the inside of the said frame to the

page_text: .
outside thereof. Over the opening inside the frame a covering of wire
gauze is fixed. When the sash is closed its bottom edge covers the
opening in the sill and prevents the ingress of air. When the sash is
raised air enters by the opening in the sill and passes into the room.
The same arrangement may be applied to the top of the sash frame
for permitting when the top sash is opened the egress of vitiated air.
In applying my Invention to swing windows I place on the inside of
the swing window, and on the lower part thereof, a V shaped compart-
ment. The wide end being covered with wire gauze, and the narrow
end forming an air opening or passage. When the swing window is
closed the wide covered end of the compartment is situated inside the
room, and no air can enter the room through the said compartment.
When however the swing window is opened the wide covered end of the
compartment is in communication with the external air, and air may
enter the room through the said compartment. The same arrangement
may be used at the top of the swing window for the egress of vitiated
air. In this case the upper air compartment is situated on the outside
of the swing window.
In applying my Invention to doors I make a recess near the bottom
part (or both bottom and top) of the door, which recess is covered
nearly to the bottom and outer side of the door by a plate. The recess
at the inside of the door is covered with wire gauze. By means of a
slide the wire gauze opening described at the inside of the door may be
covered or uncovered at pleasure. When the slide is raised air may
enter the room by the opening described, and when the slide is depressed
the entrance of air is cut off. Or instead of the arrangement described
wire gauze panels may be inserted in the door, and an unperforated
covering plate be hinged to the door for covering and uncovering the
wire gauze panels of the door. When the hinged covering plate is .
closed the door resembles an ordinary solid door. For ventilating
apartments and buildings by the egress of hot and vitiated air at the
ceiling or roof I let into the ceiling or roof, and immediately under the
rafters, wire gauze panels, and over the rafts I fix a covering plate.
There are thus formed in the roof air passages, which are in communi-
cation with the ridge tiles, the air escaping into the atmosphere through
the perforated sides of the said ridge tiles.
I make ventilators for flues or chimneys, and for walls, in the form

page_text: of a wedge shaped box, the wide end being covered with wire gauze,
and the narrow end, which is open, forms a longitudinal slit for the exit
of the air.
When this ventilator is applied to a chimney or flue the small
quantity of air which escapes through it into the chimney does not 5
interfere with the proper draught of the chimney. An opening is left
at the wide end of the ventilator for the insertion of a pipe. A throttle
valve may be adapted to the ventilator to regulate the current passing
tbrough it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Currall in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
CURRALL, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manager of
Works, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Currall, Her special
license that I, the said John Currall, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Currall, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
TO BE APPLIED TO WINDOWS, DOORS, WALLS, AND Roors, FOR VENTILATING ROOMS
AND BUILDINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Currall, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Currall, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
In applying my Invention to windows for the purpose of ventilating
the room in which they are situated I combine with the said windows
apparatus constructed as follows:-I prolong each of the sashes of the
window and the sash frame, and in the prolonged part of each sash I fix
a frame open on opposite sides. The inner side of this frame, that is the
side situated inside the apartment, is covered with wire gauze, which
wire gauze covering may be hinged to the said frame or be made capable
of ready removal and replacement; and the outer side of the frame, that
is, that side situated outside the apartment, is provided with a sheet of
glass. An opening for the ingress or egress of air is left between one of
the longitudinal edges of the glass side and the bevilled opening in
which it is fixed.
When the sashes are in their closed or normal position the wire gauze
sides of the prolonged parts of the said sashes are situated within the
sash frame, and no air can pass into or out of the apartment through the
said wire gauze sides. When however the upper and lower sashes are
opened for a short distance a portion of the wire gauze sides or coverings
of the prolonged parts are exposed and fresh air may enter through the
lower sash into the apartment, and hot and vitiated air may escape from
the apartment through the upper sash, and the ventilation of the
apartment be thereby effected without draught; or instead of prolonging
the sashes as described the bottom of the lower sash and the top of the
upper sashi may be cut away so as to form in the said sashes recesses or
openings, the said recesses bevilling from the outside of the sash to the
inside thereof. The inner or wide parts of these openings are covered
with wire gauze let in flush with the surface of the sashes, while the
narrow parts are open to the external air. The top and bottom parts of
the sash frame inside the room are furnished with strips of wood, which
when the sashes are in their closed positions cover and conceal the wire
gauze coverings of the recesses described in the sashes and prevent the
ingress or egress of air. When the sashes are opened for a short
distance the wire gauze coverings are situated above and below these
strips, and fresh air enters at the bottom sash and vitiated air escapes at
the top sash; or a trough shaped plate of metal may be fixed to the

page_text: bottom edge of the lower sash and the top edge of the upper sash for a
similar purpose. That part of the trough plate situated on the inner
side of the sash is perforated with holes and covered or not with wire
gauze. Strips are used inside the sashes which cover the perforated sides
of the troughs when the sashes are closed.
Or instead of applying the parts for ventilation to the sashes they may
be applied to the sash frame. In this case I cut in the sill of the sash
frame an opening which passes from the inside of the said frame to the
outside thereof. Over the opening inside the frame a covering of wire
gauze is fixed. When the sash is closed its bottom edge covers the
opening in the sill and prevents the ingress of air. When the sash is
raised air enters by the opening in the sill and passes into the room.
The same arrangement may be applied to the top of the sash frame
for permitting, when the top sash is opened, the egress of vitiated air.
In applying my Invention to doors I make a recess near the bottom
part (or both bottom and top) of the door, which recess is covered nearly
to the bottom and outer side of the door by a plate. The recess at the
inside of the door may be covered with wire gauze or with an unper-
forated plate. By means of a slide the wire gauze opening at the inside
of the door may be covered or uncovered at pleasure. When the slide
is raised air may enter the room by the opening described, and when the
slide is depressed the entrance of air is cut off; or instead of the
arrangement described wire gauze panels may be inserted in the door
and an unperforated covering plate be hinged to the door for covering
and uncovering the wire gauze panels of the door. When the hinged
covering plate is closed the door resembles an ordinary solid door.
I make ventilators for flues or chimneys, walls, ceilings, and roofs in
the form of a wedge-shaped box, the wide end being covered or not with
wire gauze, and the narrow end which is open forms a longitudinal slit
for the exit of the air.
When this ventilator is applied to a chimney or flue the small quantity
of air which escapes through it into the chimney does not interfere with
the proper draught of the chimney. An opening may be left at the wide
.end of the ventilator for the insertion of a pipe passing from a room
adjoining that in which the ventilator is fixed. A throttle valve or
wedge-shaped slide may be adapted to the ventilator to regulate the
current.passing through it.

page_text: Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which the
same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation and Figures 2 and 3 vertical
sections of a window provided with one of the arrangements of my
Invention. In Figures 1 and 2 the sashes are represented open, and in
Figure 3 closed. a, b, are the two sashes and c is the window frame.
The said sashes are prolonged at top and bottom, and in the prolonged
part of each sash I fix a frame marked respectively a³, b². These frames
are open on opposite sides. To the inner side of each frame a², 62, a wire
gauze covering d is applied, the said wire gauze covering being hinged
to the frame or otherwise secured thereto, so as to be capable of ready.
removal and replacement. The outside of the said frames a³, 62, is
covered with a sheet of glass e, a space being left between the longi-
tudinal edge of the sheet of glass e and the longitudinal bevilled
edge a³, b³, of the frames a³, b³, (see the sections Figures 2 and 3). The
opening thus left between the sheet of glass e and the part a³ or 6³ serves
for the ingress of air into the room at the bottom of the lower sash and
for the egress of air from the room at the top of the upper sash.
By means of the hinged or removeable wire gauze coverings d access
may be obtained to the inner side of the sheet of glass e for
cleaning.
-
When the sashes a, b, are in their closed or normal positions, as repre-
sented in Figure 3, the wire gauze sides d of the prolonged parts a³, bª,
are situated within the sash frame c, and no air can pass into or out of
the apartment through the said wire gauze sides. When, however, the
upper and lower sashes are opened for a short distance the wire gauze
sides or coverings d are exposed as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and
fresh air may enter through the lower sash into the apartment and hot
and vitiated air may escape from the apartment through the uppor
sash, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, and the ventilation of the
apartment is thereby effected without draught.
Figure 4 represents a front elevation, and Figures 5 and 6 vertical
sections of a window provided with my Invention, in which the prolon-
gation of the sashes is dispensed with. In this arrangement a recess or
opening of the form represented is made in the bottom of the lower
sash a, and a similar recess or opening f is made in the top sash b.

page_text: g
These recesses or openings ƒ bevil from the outside of the sash to the
inner side thereof, as seen in the sections. The inner or wide part of
each opening is covered with a wire gauze covering 9 fitted in a frame,
which frame is let in flush with the surface of the sash. The outer or
narrow side of the opening f communicates with the external air when
the sash is opened. The top and bottom of the sash frame inside the
room are furnished with strips of wood h, which said strips when the
sashes are in their closed positions cover and conceal the wire gauze
coverings g of the recesses f, and prevent the ingress or egress of air.
When the sashes a, b, are closed, as represented in Figure 6, no air
can pass through the openings f,f; but when the sashes are opened for
a short distance, as represented in Figures 4 and 5, the wire gauze
coverings g, g, are situated partly above and partly below the strips h, h,
and fresh air may enter at the bottom sash and vitiated air escape at the
top sash, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 5. Or the ventilation of
the room or apartment by the depression of the upper sash may be
effected by using at the front of the sash, instead of a wire gauze
covering, as represented in Figures 4, 5, and 6, a metal frame having
large openings in it. This modification is represented in front elevation
in Figure 7, and vertical sections in Figures 8 and 9. In the said
Figures 7, 8, and 9, the recesses in the top sash are marked fand the
metal frame fixed to the front of the said recess is marked i. The
openings in the metal frame i are marked k, the said openings being
situated opposite the cut-away parts f in the top of the sash. The
openings k may or may not be covered with wire gauze.
Figures 10, 11, and 12, represent a modification of my Invention in
which the ventilation of the room may be effected without opening the
sashes, Figure 10 representing the lower part of the sash and sash
frame in elevation, and Figures 11 and 12, vertical sections of the same.
In this arrangement I make an opening f in the sash communicating
with the external air, as before described, and I fix at the front of the
said opening, inside the sash, a metal frame / having large openings in
it. In this frame a slide works, the inner side of which slide is
bevilled or cut away, as seen in the sections, and the said bevilled side
is by preference fluted or corrugated. When the slide is in its lowest
or normal position, as represented in Figure 11, no air can pass into
the apartment through the opening f, When, however, the slide is
raised, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 12, the top of the bevilled face

page_text: of the slide is above the top of the sash bar a, and air can now pass
from the outside of the apartment through the opening and between
the sash a and slide into the apartment, as indicated by the arrows in
Figure 12. The slide is maintained in its raised position by means of
india-rubber bands m, m, around the ends of the slide bearing against
the frame in which it works.
Figures 13, 14, and 15, represent the arrangement of my Invention
in which the parts for ventilation are applied to the sash frame. In
this arrangement an opening n is cut in the sill p of the sash frame, the
said opening n passing from the inside of the said sill to the outside
thereof, one part of the slot being horizontal and the other part vertical.
Over the top of the vertical part of the opening na horizontal covering of
wire gauze q may be fixed, or the said wire gauze covering q need not be
used. When the sash a is closed, as represented in Figures 13 and 14, its
bottom edge covers the opening n in the sill and prevents the ingress of
air. When the sash is opened for a short distance, as represented in
Figure 15, air from the outside of the room enters by the opening n, as
indicated by the arrows. The arrangements, Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14,
and 15, may be used at the top of the window as well as at the
bottom.
The slide 6 is
Figures 16, 17, and 18 represent one arrangement of my Invention
applied to a door, Figure 16 representing a front elevation of a portion
of a door to which the ventilating arrangement is applied, and Figures 17
and 18 vertical sections of the same. Near the bottom of the door c is a
recess c³ covered at front by a metal plate or frame a, which may either
be continuous or unperforated, as represented, or be perforated and
covered with wire gauze. In the metal plate or frame a a slide 6 works,
the said slide being maintained in its raised position by bands d, d, of
india-rubber pressing against the said plate or frame a.
bevilled on its inner side, as represented in the cross sections, and the
said bevilled side may be fluted. When the slide 6 is raised, as repre-
sented in Figures 16 and 17, air from the outside of the door enters the
recess c² in the door, and rising between the inside of the door and the
slide 6 enters the room, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 17. When
the slide 6 is depressed, as represented in Figure 18, the entrance of air
is cut off. The arrangement represented may be applied both to the
bottom and top of the door.

page_text: The arrangement last described may be applied to walls as well as to
doors. When applied to walls the frame and slide are used by pre-
ference near the bottom of the said walls, and may replace the skirting
board.
Figure 19 represents in front elevation, Figure 20 in vertical section,
and Figure 21 in horizontal section another arrangement of my Inven-
tion for ventilating by means of the door. In this arrangement the
door f is provided with wire gauze panels g, g, g, and over these panels g
on the inside of the door an unperforated covering plate or second door h
is hinged at h³. When the hinged plate or second door is closed upon
the principal door f, as represented in Figures 19 and 20, the wire gauze
panels 9, 9, are covered, the door f resembling an ordinary door, and no
air passes through the wire gauze panels. When the covering plate or
second door h is opened on its hinges, as represented in Figure 21, air
may pass through the wire gauze panels g, g, into the room for venti-
lating the said room. The covering plate or second door / may be fixed
in its open position at the required angle by the jointed stay i (shown
separately in Figure 21^), the hooked end of the said stay engaging with
the rack bar k fixed on the inside of the covering plate or second door h,
in the manner represented in Figure 21.
Figure 22 represents in front elevation, Figure 23 in plan, and
Figure 24 in cross section, a ventilator for flues, walls, ceilings, and
roofs, constructed according to my Invention. The said ventilator
consists of a box 1, 12, 1³, of a wedge shape in cross section, the front or
wide end of which may either be perforated and covered with wire
gauze, or be made of a plate perforated with large holes without a
covering of wire gauze; or a continuous opening may be made in the
wide end . The narrow end is open and forms a longitudinal slot
(see Figure 22) for the exit of the air. When the front plate
of the ventilator has large openings in it and is not covered with wire
gauze a damper or slide may be used on the bottom of the ventilator for
the purpose of regulating the width of the exit end of the ventilator
and the quantity of air passing through the said end.
supported at its inner end by the bearing plate m
means of a handle or knob projecting from the front plate of the
ventilator.
This slide may be
and be worked by
Or the exit end of the ventilator may be made capable of adjustment

page_text: closing it. This arrangement of my Invention is represented in end
elevation closed in Figure 25, and end elevation open in Figure 26;
Figure 27 represents the slide used with the ventilator detached. In
this arrangement the side plates n, n, are hinged or jointed at n² to the
front plate p, which has the same shape as that of the ventilator repre-
sented in Figures 22, 23, and 24. On the end of the ventilator is a
slide 9, the handle end q² of which projects into the room.
The slide q
consists of a triangular shaped frame, the wide end of which is pro-
vided with lips or projecting parts 8 which engage with the edges of the
jointed plates n, n. When the slide q is drawn inwards to its full
extent, as represented in Figure 25, its lips s close the plates n, n, upon
one another and completely shut the ventilator, and when the said slide q
is pushed inwards it opens out the plates n, n, and brings the ventilator
into use. By adjusting the position of the slide q the size of the exit
opening of the ventilator may be increased or diminished, or the venti-
lator be completely closed.
When the ventilator last described is used in a vertical position the
slide q (which is vertical) may be made to constitute a rack, whereby the
adjusted position of the slide is fixed.
When it is required to ventilate two rooms by means of one ventilator
I place in the dividing wall of the rooms a trumpet mouth pipe t, as
represented in Figure 28, and connect the narrow end of the said pipe
with the front plate or p of the ventilator, an opening being made in
the said plate to receive the said pipe.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do
not limit myself to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as
the same may be varied without departing from the nature of my In-
vention, but I claim as my Invention of improvements in apparatus
to be applied to windows, doors, walls, and roofs, for ventilating rooms
and buildings,
First. The construction and arrangements or combinations of the parts
of apparatus herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 9,
both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings, to be applied to window
sashes for ventilating the room, apartment, or building in which the
window or windows is or are situated.

page_text: Secondly. The modification described and illustrated in Figures 10,
11, and 12 of the accompanying Drawings, in which the ventilation is
effected without opening the window sashes.
Thirdly. The construction and combination of parts herein-before
described and illustrated in Figures 13, 14, and 15 of the accompanying 5
Drawings for ventilating rooms and buildings by openings in the window
frame.
Fourthly. The construction and combination of the parts of apparatus
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 16, 17, and 18 of the
accompanying Drawings, to be applied to doors for ventilating the room
in which the said doors are situated, also the application of the said
ventilating apparatus to walls, as described.
Fifthly. The construction and combination of the parts of apparatus
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 19, 20, 21, and 21ª of
the accompanying Drawings, to be applied to doors for ventilating the 1
room in which the said doors are situated.
Sixthly. The construction and arrangement of the parts of ventilators
for chimneys, walls, ceilings, and roofs, herein-before described and
illustrated in Figures 22, 23, and 24 of the accompanying Drawings.
Lastly. The modification of the said ventilator herein-before described
and illustrated in Figures 25, 26, and 27 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said. John Currall, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JOHN CURRALL. (L.S.)