IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATION AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Crossley, of Brighouse, in the County of York,
Ventilator Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATION AND
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH.”.
Sealed the 5th February 1878, and dated the 8th August 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Crossley at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1877.
DAVID CROSSLEY, of Brighouse, in the County of York, Ventilator Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATION AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
The object of the first part of my Invention is to arrange an apparatus for the
inlet of fresh air into the rooms of public or private buildings without causing any
perceptable draught to the occupants therein.
Secondly. To arrange a noiseless self-acting outlet apparatus for ventilating public
or private buildings into the smoke flues, or air flues, or into the roof of the
building, in such a manner as to prevent the back or down current from blowing the
smoke or foul air into the room.
Thirdly. To construct a terminal outlet, suitable either for the top of a chimney
or air flue, or to fix on the roof of a building, for the purpose of improving the out-
ward draught of the same and preventing down-draught.
The first part of my Invention is an apparatus that can be applied as an inlet
for fresh air, and consists of a casing or box to be fixed in or against an opening
formed in the wall, communicating with the external air or with the hall or passage.
When fixed against the wall the top is fitted with a lid to open and close by hand,
and stop in any position required; the inside of the casing at or near the top is fitted
with a plate or plates of perforated zinc or wire gauze for finely dividing or distri-
buting the current of air entering the room, which takes a vertical direction. By
inserting a layer of cotton wool or other porous substance between the plates of zinc,
or by stretching a sheet of muslin or course cotton inside the casing, the air will be
filtered in passing through. This inlet can also be modified so as to fix in the wall
or skirting of the room, in the form of a drawer, to be opened or closed at pleasure
LD..

page_text: and fitted internally as before described, or so modified as to be let into the floor
on one or both sides of the hearth, and the lid kept open in position by means
of a ratchet attached thereto, and communicates with the external air by air bricks
inserted in the outside walls or with the hollow space under the floor. It can also be
applied and fixed in a window bottom, close to the sash, inside the room; the top is
then closed in, with the exception of a portion which is fitted with a lid to open or
slide, and fitted internally, as before described, and communicates with the external
air, either by raising the bottom sash or by an opening through the window bottom.
The second part of my Invention relates to certain improvements to the outlet
ventilating apparatus, for which Provisional Protection was granted me, dated
January 25th, A.D. 1877, and numbered 323; the improvement consists in applying
a light flexible screen to act in conjunction with the valve, door; or flap, described in the
before-named Specification; this screen comes at the back part of the box, inserted in
the wall, and is supported by a plate of perforated zinc which forms the back part
of the tin or metal box before described. This screen is to protect the before-named
door or flap from the voilent action of any sudden down-draught that may occur in
the chimney or flue, and assists the door or valve, in preventing the soot or smoke
from entering the room, and the said door or valve from making any perceptible
noise whilst closing.
A modification of this apparatus can also be applied to air flues as an outlet
ventilator, without the use of the before-named door, flap, or valve. In place of
which door flap or valve I fix a plate of perforated zinc to the front part of the box,
which is fitted into the wall, and communicating with the air flue; the back part of
'the box is also fitted with a sheet of perforated zinc, and the before-named flexible
screen is secured as described; it will thus ventilate a room, and sufficiently prevent
back-draught from an air flue, but is not sufficient without the valve for a smoke
flue.
The third part of my Invention relates to an improvement in terminal outlets,
suitable either for the top of a smoke flue (chimney tops), an air flue, or the roof of
a building. I form the terminal or ventilator of metal or terra cotta; the top end of
the terminal is expanded or bell-mouthed, and is arranged with louvers curved in
such a manner that the external current of air blowing into the said louvers will
be so divided in its course that it will take an upward or perpendicular direction,
and exert an extracting influence on the column of air or smoke rising through the
The different tiers of louvers round the
lower portion of the terminal and flue.
expanded top of the terminal are so arranged that the currents of air passing through
them have ample. room to escape without opposing each other in making exit out of
the top. The top of the terminal can be fitted with a cap to cover either the central
shaft or the expanded louvers made and fixed in such a manner that the smoke or
foul air has free egress and yet prevent rain, smoke, or foul air being driven down
'the flue or air shaft..
These apparatus when used in conjunction and in the required combination forms
a complete and perfect system of natural ventilation.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent_filed by
the said David Crossley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th February
1878.
_DAVID CROSSLEY, of Brighouse, in the County of York, Ventilator Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATION AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
The object of the first part of my Invention is to arrange an apparatus for the
inlet of fresh air into the rooms of public or private buildings without causing any
perceptible draught to the occupants therein.
Secondly. To arrange a noiseless self-acting outlet apparatus for ventilating public
or private buildings into the smoke flues or air flues, or into the roof of the building,
in such a manner as to prevent the back or down current from blowing the smoke or
foul air into the room.
Thirdly. To construct a terminal outlet, suitable either for the top of a chimney,
or air flue, or to fix on the roof of a building, for the purpose of improving the out-
ward draught of the same and preventing down-draught.
The first part of my Invention is an apparatus that can be applied as an inlet for
fresh air, and consists of a casing or box to be fixed in or against an opening formed
in the wall communicating with the external air or with the hall or passage. When
fixed against the wall the top is fitted with a lid to open and close by hand and
stop in any position required; the inside of the casing at or near the top is fitted
with a plate or plates of perforated zinc or wire gauze for finely dividing or distri-
buting the current of air entering the room, which takes a vertical direction. By
inserting a layer of cotton wool or other porous substance between the plates of zinc
the air will be filtered in passing through and extract the small particles of dust
therefrom. This inlet can also be modified so as to fix in the wall or skirting of the
room in the form of a drawer, to be opened or closed at pleasure, and fitted
internally, as before described; or so modified as to be let into the floor on one or
both sides of the hearth, and the lid kept open in position by means of a ratchet
attached thereto; the inlet valve communicates with the external air by air bricks
inserted in the outside walls or with the hollow space under the floor. It can also
be applied and fixed in a window bottom, close to the sash, inside the room; the top
is then closed in with the exception of a portion which is fitted with a lid to open
or slide and fitted internally, as before described, and communicating with the external
air either by raising the bottom sash or by an opening through the window bottom.
The second part of my Invention relates to certain improvements to the outlet
ventilating apparatus, for which Provisional Protection was granted me, dated January
25th, in the year of our Lord 1877, and numbered 323; the improvement consists in
applying a light flexible screen to act in conjunction with the valve, door, or flap,
described in the before-named Specification; this screen is attached to the back part of
the box inserted in the wall, and is supported by a plate of perforated zinc which forms
the back part of the tin or metal box before described. This screen is to protect the
before-named door, flap, or valve, from the violent action of any sudden down-
draught that may occur in the chimney or flue, and assists the door or valve in pre-
venting the soot or smoke from entering the room, and the said door or valve from
making any perceptible noise whilst closing.
A modification of this apparatus can also be applied to air flues as an outlet
ventilator without the use of the before-named door, flap, or valve. In place of
which door, flap, or valve, I fix a plate of perforated zinc to the front part of the box,
which is fitted into the wall, and communicating with the air flue; the back part of
the box is also fitted with a sheet of perforated zinc, and the before-named flexible
screen is secured, as before described; it will thus ventilate a room, and sufficiently
prevent back-draught from an air flue, but is not sufficient without the valve for a
smoke flue.
The third part of my Invention relates to an improvement in terminal outlets,
suitable either for the top of a smoke flue (chimney tops), an air flue, or the roof of

page_text: a building. I form the terminal or ventilator of metal or terra cotta; the top end of the
terminal is expanded or bell-mouthed, and is arranged with louvers curved in such a
manner that the external current of air blowing into the said louvers will be so
diverted in its course that it will take an upward or perpendicular direction, and
exert an extracting influence on the column of air or smoke rising through the
lower portion of the terminal and flue. The different tiers of louvers round the
expanded top of the terminal are so arranged that the currents of air passing through
them have ample room to escape without opposing each other in making exit out of
the top.
The top of the terminal can be fitted with a cap to cover either the
central shaft or the expanded louvers made and fixed in such a manner that the
smoke or foul air has free egress, and yet prevent rain, smoke, or foul air, being
driven down the flue or air shaft.
These apparatus, when used in conjunction and in the required combination, form
a complete and perfect system of natural ventilation.
In order that my improvements may be better understood, I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1
represents the front view of an air inlet apparatus; Figure 2 is a transverse section
of the same; Figure 3 is a modification of my inlet apparatus; Figure 4 is a section
of the same; Figure 5 is another modification of my inlet apparatus, shewn in
section, and fitted to the bottom of a window; Figure 6 is a front view of my
improved ventilator; Figure 7 is a transverse section of the same; Figure 8
is an elevation of my improved terminal outlet, one half of which is shewn in
section.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar parts.
Figure 1 represents the front view of my improved inlet valve, which is adapted
for fixing to the side of a wall, and is fitted with a lid A, secured by hinges B to
the casing C to the lid at each end of the same. I fix the quadrants D, which are
so arranged to press tight against the ends of casing C, in order that when the lid
is lifted up (as shewn in Figure 2) it will remain in any position; the inside of
casing is fitted with one or more plates of perforated zinc or wire gauze E, and the
space F between the same is filled in with cotton wool or other porous material,
in order to purify the air and extract therefrom the minute particles of dust.or
other matter that is floating in the air; the portion marked Ğ is inserted in the
wall, and is in connection with the external air.
Figure 3 is a modification of my improved inlet valve, arranged in the form
of a drawer, and inserted in the wall or skirting, the back part communicating with
the external air; this drawer is fitted with plates of zinc or gauze wire, and may
be filled in the space F between the plates E with cotton wool as before described;
H is a stop, fixed to the back part of the drawer, to prevent the same from being
pulled too far out.
Another modification is also shewn in Figure 5; this is a transverse section of a
casing fixed in the window bottom, and fitted with a lid and internal plates of zinc,
as before described; when the window J is opened the air will pass through the
perforated plates and cotton wool, and thus extract the dust from the air, the air
will pass into the room in a vertical or angular direction, and thus prevent the
draughts caused by the air taking a horizontal direction.
Figure 6 is a front view of my improved outlet ventilator, and is fixed in the wall
near to the ceiling of the room; the back part of the casing is in communication with
the air flue, or smoke flue, at the back part of the front frame K; between the
casing L is fixed a pad of cloth or other soft substance M; at the bottom of the
casing is fixed the curved shoe N, on which rests the bottom of the door or flap O;
the bottom of the door, flap, or valve is curved in such a manner, that in proportion to
the width of opening of the said door, flap, or valve the point of support is removed.
back from the face of the box or casing; this door, flap, or valve is balanced or so
adjusted by means of pendent P and adjustable weight P¹, that with the least
varying pressure of atmosphere acting upon the said door, flap, or valve, either
externally from the room, or internally from the flue, the same will open or close in

page_text: proportion to the difference of pressure. At the back part of the casing is fixed a
plate of perforated zinc R, to which is secured a pad of cloth S; to the top part of
the casing I secure a light or flexible screen T, which is for the purpose of checking
the downward current in the air or smoke flue, and for preventing the smoke from
entering the casing, and room, and checking the front door, flap, or valve from closing
too rapidly, and thus making a noise.
Figure 8 is an elevation of my improved terminal, half of which is shewn in
section, the top of the terminal is arranged with a number of louvers U, which are
curved, and so constructed that the area of the same is gradually contracted towards
the interior or shaft of the terminal. It will be readily understood that when the
wind is blowing on the terminal into the openings of the louver at U, the air will
pass in the direction of the arrows and by the curvature of the louvers, and the
reduction in area towards V the air will have an increased velocity imparted
to it, and will take a perpendicular direction out of the top of the terminal, and
thus have an extracting effect upon the smoke or air in the lower portion of the
terminal.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Ventilation
and Apparatus connected therewith," and explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself
to the precise details, but that what I believe to be novel and original
and claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
1. The arrangement and combination of the various parts required for constructing
the inlet and outlet ventilators, described in the before-named Specification, and
shown in the accompanying Drawings..
2. The arrangement of a terminal, having louvers so constructed as to divert the
current of air passing through the same into a vertical direction, with increased
velocity at its exit, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated on the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Crossley, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
JOHN WAUGH,
Engineer & Patent Agent,
Bradford.
DAVID. CROSSLEY. (L.s.)