Improvements in Apparatus or Means for Humidifying, Drying, Warming, or Cooling and Distributing Air for Ventilating and other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus or Means for Humidifying, Drying,
Warming, or Cooling and Distributing Air for Ventilating and
other Purposes.
I ROBERT LOFTHOUSE of 15 Wright Street Greenheys Manchester in the County
of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 has for its object to provide simple and efficient means or apparatus
for humidifying drying warming or cooling and distributing air and the like for
purposes of ventilation and for other purposes.
I will describe my Invention with reference to the accompanying drawings Figure 1
of which represents in longitudinal section one modification of apparatus according to
my Invention for exhausting or distributing air. The said apparatus consists of two
fans or air propellers B B2 fast on one shaft A at a short distance apart. The blades b
of the fan B are twisted or set in a direction the reverse of that to which the blades ³
of the fan B² are set. When the shaft A is rotated in one direction the two fans will
both act to draw in air from their outer sides and force it outwardly through the space
between then, which current may be conducted by means of a suitable tube or conduit
to any desired place. By rotating the shaft A in the reverse direction the fans or
propellers B B will draw air from the space between them or from a channel leading
thereto and force the said air from the outer sides of the said propellers in two opposite
streams into the apartment or building or other place to be ventilated as indicated by
the arrows.
These fans or propellers are each surrounded by a cylindrical casing C
which if desired may be attached to the ends of the blades & b² so as to rotate
therewith or the said casings may be stationary and the blades bb' arranged to rotate
therein as shewn. In the latter case the said casings CC may be connected by
brackets C to a wall ceiling or other suitable part of a building and the bearings a
for the shaft A may be fixed to or mounted in the said casings as shewn or the said
bearings may be in brackets separate from the said casings. The shaft may be
rotated from any suitable prime mover by means of a strap passing round a pulley c
fast on the shaft A preferably between the casings as shewn in Figure '1 and
where space for attaching the brackets for supporting the shaft A is limited the said
brackets may be situated between the fans as shewn in Figure 2.

page_text: .
Instead of surrounding the fans or propellers by casings as hereinbefore described
the said fans may be arranged outside or between the casings as shown in Figure 3
the said casings forming conduits for the air which conduits may be extended to
outside the building or to any part of the interior thereof as desired.
Figure 4 shews a modification in which the two fans or propellers B B2 are each
provided with a separate conduit or discharge (2 the blades of the said fans being set
in the same direction in each so that they both act simultaneously to discharge or
propel the air in the same direction but through the separate passages CC by which
the said air may be conducted to any desired place or places. Or instead of the
blades of both fans being set to propel the air in the same direction the blades of one
of the said fans may be arranged to draw in air and the blades of the other fan be
arranged to exhaust or drive out air in which case the one casing may have a conduit
leading to the place from which fresh air is to be drawn to the place where it is to be
discharged and the other casing may have a conduit leading from the place from
which foul air is to be drawn and to the place where it is to be discharged.
The apparatus may be arranged so that the shaft A rotates horizontally as shewn in
Figure 4 or the said shaft may be arranged vertically as shewn in Figure 5 in which
latter case the lower end of the shaft A rotates in a footstep bearing d whilst the upper
end of the said shaft may be supported in bearings a in the casings C and C or if
desired in separate bearings attached to the wall or other suitable part of the building.
The blades of the two fans B B2 respectively are shewn in this figure set in
reverse directions as hereinbefore described so that when the shaft is rotated one of
the fans will draw fresh air into the building whilst the other fan will expel vitiated
air from the said building.
Figure 6 shews another modification in which the two fans B B2 are surrounded by
one casing divided by a partition es so as to form two chambers Cone fan working
in each chamber and the two chambers opening into one conduit D through which a
current of air is created by the two fans which current may be inward or outward
according to the form and set of the blades or according to the direction of rotation
of the shaft A carrying the fans.
Figures 7 and 8 represent in a longitudinal section and a transverse section
respectively an apparatus constructed according to my Invention for moistening
drying heating or cooling air and it consists of a box E containing a coil of
pipes F connected at one end with a steam supply pipe G and at the opposite
end with an exhaust pipe H. The upper end of this coil is provided with a_cock
or valve for cutting off when desired, the communication between the coil F and
the steam supply pipe G. Another cock or valve K is provided at the lower end of
the coil F for cutting off when required the communication between the said coil
and the exhaust pipe H. The lower portion F¹ of the coil F is preferably of copper
and is connected by a branch pipe L with the steam pipe G the said branch pipe L
being provided with a cock or valve M by means of which the communication between
it and the supply pipe G may be cut off when required. Another cock M³ is provided
for the purpose of closing the communication between the lower portion F1 and the
upper portion F of the coil.
The lower end of the box E is preferably trough shaped as shewn at A¹.to contain
water into which the lower portion F¹ of the coil is inserted or if desired the lower
end of the box E may be open and made to dip into a trough made separate from the
box containing water so that air (which enters the box through an opening N at the
top of the said box) in escaping from the bottom thereof will be caused to pass over
and in contact with the water contained in the trough so as to absorb moisture
therefrom. The portion F¹ of the coil may be perforated so that the water of
condensation collecting in the coil may pass through the said perforations into the
trough and in order to allow of the escape of the accumulated water in the trough
(owing to the condensation of the steam) I provide the trough with an overflow
pipe P which communicates with the exhaust pipe A the said overflow pipe being
fitted with a stop cock Q for the purpose of cutting off the communication when
required.

page_text: When the air admitted to the box E by the passage N is required to be dried before
entering the building, the cocks M. and I are closed so as to provent steam entering
the lower portion of the coil the cocks I and K, being opened to admit steam
from the pipe G to pass through the upper part of the coil and thence to the
exhaust pipe H whereby the upper portion of the coil will become heated so
that the air passing down through the box E by coming into contact with the coil;
will be heated and dried before passing from the box into the building.
If the air admitted to the box E is required to be moistened only before it enters
the building the cocks I and K are closed and the cock M is opened and the cock M¹
closcil to allow steam to pass through the lower portion of the coil which is
immersed in the water, whereby the said water will be heated and vapour evolved,
which will be taken up or absorbed by the air as it passes from the interior of the
box E into the building and be distributed therein in a humid condition.
If the air entering the box E is required to be cooled before it enters the building
the cocks M and Mare closed and the cocks I and K opened and cold air or cold
water is forced through the coil into the exhaust pipe H which coil is thus cooled so
that the air passing through the box by impinging against the coil also becomes cooled
before it enters the building.
The air may if desired be allowed to enter the building direct from the box E or I
may connect to the outlet from the box E a tube or conduit R Figure 9 leading to the
centre or other desired part of the building and I provide at any suitable part of this
conduit one or more fans or exhausters as shewn at B which may be constructed as
hereinbefore described or otherwise so as to draw the air from the box E and distribute
it through the end of the conduit R into the building.
I sometimes provide means whereby the air passing through the box E may be caused
to enter the said box either from outside the building or from the interior of the building
as. desired for which purpose I provide the box E with two entrances a¹ and a² one
opening inside the building and the other outside the building, and fitted with a
double valve as shewn at S so arranged that the said valve may be turned on its
centre so as to close either entrance as desired the other entrance being at the same
time opened.
Figuro 10 illustrates a modification in which I have represented the openings a' a²
for the admission of air to the box or chamber E at the bottom of the said box and the
trough containing water for humidifying the air as being situated at the outlet end r
of the conduit R instead of being connected to the box or chamber E as hereinbefore
described.
The conduit R enters the trough or box A' at the top and descends therein to within
a short distance of or below the surface of the water so that the air is forced by the
fan R down into the water whereby the said air is purified and humidified and passes
thence from the said trough or box through an outlet A2 into the building in a humid
condition.
The coil Fin the box or chamber E communicates with the trough or box A¹ by a
pipe F2 fitted with a stop cock M' to cut off the communication when required.
The said coil E communicates also with the exhaust pipe H by a pipe K¹ having a
stop cock K to cut off the communication when required.
By opening the cocks I and M and closing the cock K steam admitted from the
pipe G to the coil F will pass through the pipe F2 into the water in the trough
or box A¹ and be condensed thereby and the air admitted to the box or clamber E
after becoming warmed by its contact with the coil F will be drawn by the fan
or fans R from the chamber E and forced through the outlet r into the water in
the trough or box A¹ and pass therefrom into the building in a warm and humid
condition. If the air be required to be cooled and humidified cold water is placed.
in the trough or box A' and the cock M' closed and cold water is forced through.
the coil F so that air passing through the box or chamber E will be cooled by
contact with the said coil and be drawn from the box E by the fan or fans R¹
and forced into the cold water contained in the trough or box A' the said air
thereby being moistened before it passes from the said trough into the building
t

page_text: and if desired a spray of cold water may be injected into the trough to more
thoroughly cool and moisten the air. The trough A¹ is provided with an overflow
pipe P (with a stopcock Q) for conducting excess of water from the trough or box A¹
into the exhaust pipe H as before described.
From
Figure 10 shews an arrangement in which two air fans or propellers B B2 are
employed the one B for drawing the air from the chamber E and forcing it into
a humidifier and the other B2 for drawing the air from the humidifier and forcing
it into the apartment or building. These fans are enclosed by a casing divided by
a partition so as to form two chambers CC¹ one for each of the fans.
the chamber C containing the fan B a tube Cx descends into the water contained
in the trough or box A¹ so that the air drawn from the heater E by the fan B is
forced through this tube into the water whereby it becomes moistened or humidified.
The chamber containing the fan B communicates with the upper end of the trough
or box A¹ so that the fan 132 will exhaust or draw the air from the said trough or
box and force it out from the outer, end of the conduit R in a moistened or humid
condition into the apartment or building. The fans or propellers are preferably both
mounted on one and the same shaft A and driven simultaneously by a strap passing
over the pulley c.
The arrangements of service pipes admit of one and the same pipe being employed
for either steam or water and may be employed for spraying water in warm weather.
hh Figures 9 and 10 represent thermometers fitted respectively to the box E and
the trough A by comparison of which the temperature of the air in the box E and
of the water in the trough A' may be readily ascertained.
Figure 11 illustrates an arrangement of apparatus for moistening air in which the
air is caused to pass over a surface over which water is caused to flow continuously.
Instead of allowing the water to run to waste after passing over the surface
as heretofore I provide means whereby the surplus water is returned to and
again passed over the surface and more water is supplied as evaporation takes
place.
T represents a surface over or in contact with which the air to be humidified is
caused to pass, over this surface a constant stream or current of water is caused to
flow from a tank or cistern U provided with an oulet pipe V leading to the surface T.
The level of the water is maintained at a constant height in the cistern by a ball
cock W in connection with the supply pipe X and the outlet V is so situated that a
continuous flow from the cistern takes place over the surface T. The water flowing
down the surface T enters a well or recess Y from which it is raised into the tank or
cistern U which can be effected by an endless chain of buckets Z as shewn or by a
pump driven by any suitable means from the shaft of the air exhauster or fan which
forces the air over the surface T or by any other suitable means. The water is thus
constantly passed over and over the surface T instead of running to waste whilst the
supply is maintained constant to make up for evaporation or absorption by the ball
cock . Although I have 'illustrated in the drawings only two air fans or propellers
on one shaft more than two may be employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed "declare that what
I claim is
30 in war 1
First In apparatus for distributing or causing currents of air two or more air
propellers or fans carried' on and driven simultaneously by one and the same shaft
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1
to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
5
Second In apparatus for the purposes described a box or chamber provided with
an inlet for air and containing a coil of pipes fitted with cocks in combination with
the branch pipe L with its cocks or valves M M and the water trough A' with its
overflow pipe P, and cock or valve Q the whole being arranged to operate substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the 5
accompanying drawings.

page_text: Third In apparatus for the purposes described a box or chamber through which
the air to be treated is caused to pass the said box being provided with two inlet
passages one communicating with the apartment in which the apparatus is situated
and the other communicating with the exterior of the building the said passages
being fitted with a valve constructed and arranged so that when it is operated
to open one of the passages it will simultaneously close the other passage substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10 of
the accompanying drawings.
Fourth-The combination with apparatus such as is hereinbefore described of
a fan or propeller or fans or propellers for drawing the air through the
apparatus and distributing it in the apartment in which the apparatus is situated
or in any other desired part of the building substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figures 9, 10 and 10" of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth In apparatus for the purposes hereinbefore described the combination of
the box or chamber E containing the coil F the trough or box A¹ with which it
communicates so that steam admitted to the coil will condense in the said trough or
box, the conduit R provided with an exhausting and forcing fan R¹ for drawing the
air from the box E and forcing the same into the water contained in the trough or
box A¹ substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to
Figures 10 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixth-In apparatus for moistening air or the like the combination with a surface
over which a stream of water passes of means for returning and repassing the water
thereover substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 11 of the
accompanying drawings.
Seventh The general combinations and arrangements of parts constituting
apparatus as and for the purposes liereinbefore described and illustrated respectively
in Figures 7 and 8, 9, 10 and 10" of the accompanying drawings.
Eighth The combination with apparatus such as is shewn in Figures 9 & 10 of
Thermometers for comparison of temperature of the air and water substantially as
hereinbefore explained.