AN IMPROVED MEANS OR MODE OF VENTILATING ROOMS OR APARTMENTS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Smith, of Leeds, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED MEANS OR MODE OF VENTILATING ROOMS OR
APARTMENTS, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 13th July 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Smith at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th July 1878.
JOHN SMITH, of Leeds, in the County of York. "AN IMPROVED MEANS OR
MODE OF VENTILATING ROOMS OR APARTMENTS, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
The object of my Invention is to arrange apparatus in such a manner and position
that a suitable quantity of atmospheric air can be admitted into any apartment
without draught or inconvenience to the occupants.
I place the apparatus for the inlet and outlet of air by preference near to the
ceiling. The fresh air is admitted from the exterior into the room or other apart-
ment through a tube, which may be carried up either inside the room or outside, or
in the wall.
The mouth of the inlet tube is made by preference bell or funnel shaped, which
has the effect of spreading the fresh air as it passes into the room through the
inlet tube.
The opening of the outlet tube into the room or apartment is placed in any con-
venient position in the ceiling, and is also by preference provided with a bell-shaped
or funnel mouth, and is in communication with any convenient up-cast shaft or
chimney.
The tube for the inlet when carried down and opened out for the admission of
fresh air at about the level of the floor of the apartment, allows the air to come in

page_text: to counterbalance the air exhausted by outlet, or by reducing the length of the
inlet tube the pressure of fresh air into the room or apartment is correspondingly
increased, so that should the air of any room or apartment more rapidly be required
changing, as in a kitchen or smoke room, the junction or opening is applied at any
required height, varying thereby the length of the inlet tube and at the same time
increasing or reducing the atmospheric pressure.
I do not limit myself to the exact shape of the mouth of the inlet or outlet
tubes, as these may be varied, and in some cases I prefer the inlet and outlet
combined, or as near together as possible, and fixed at or near the centre of the
room or apartment.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
January 1879.
JOHN SMITH, of Leeds, in the County of York.
"AN IMPROVED MEANS OR
MODE OF VENTILATING ROOMS OR APARTMENTS, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
"
The object of my Invention is to arrange apparatus in such a manner and position
that a suitable quantity of atmospheric air can be admitted into any apartment
without draught or inconvenience to the occupants.
...
I place the apparatus for the inlet and outlet of air by preference near to the
ceiling. The fresh air is admitted from the exterior.into the room or other apart-
ment through a tube, which may be carried up either inside the room or outside, or
in the wall.
The mouth of the inlet tube is made by preference bell or funnel shaped, which
has the effect of spreading the fresh air as it passes into the room through the
inlet tube.
The opening of the outlet tube into the room or apartment is placed in any con-
venient position in the ceiling, and is also by preference provided with a bell-shaped
or funnel mouth, and is in communication with any convenient up-cast shaft or
chimney.
The tube for the inlet when carried down and opened out for the admission of
fresh air at about the level of the floor of the apartment allows the air to come in
to counterbalance the air exhausted by outlet, or by reducing the length of the inlet
tube the pressure of fresh air into the room or apartment is correspondingly
increased, so that should the air of any room or apartment more rapidly be required
changing, as in a kitchen or smoke room, the junction or opening is applied at any
required height, varying thereby the length of the inlet tube and at the same time
increasing or reducing the atmospheric pressure.
I do not limit myself to the exact shape of the mouth of the inlet or outlet
tubes, as these may be varied, and in some cases I prefer the inlet and outlet com-
bined, or as near together as possible, and fixed at or near the centre of the room
or apartment.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood reference
is given to the accompanyinng Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and marks'
thomson
'
Fig. 1 is a section of a room or apartment with apparatus applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a railway carriage with apparatus applied.
thereto.
Fig. 3 is a section shewing one arrangement of the apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of a ship, also shewing the apparatus applied.
My arrangement of exhaust and inlet tube forms a self-regulating double current
system of ventilation, and is arranged as follows:-Fig. 1 shews the arrangement'
of the apparatus applied to rooms or apartments. Air is admitted into the room or
apartment a through a bell-shaped mouth b, which terminates a few inches below
the level of the ceiling c in ordinary apartments. A tube d is connected therewith,
runs between the joist, and is carried down to the level of the apartment a, and
when convenient prefer it to pass down within the wall as shewn, though of
course this is not necessary except for appearance sake. This tube 6 communicates
with the outside by means of the opening e, which may be bell, funnel, or other
convenient shape. Communication with the outer air may be also made at any
desired point of the vertical part of the tube d, but I have found in practice that

page_text: when the air is admitted to the tube d at e that the system of admitting is perfectly
self-regulating, and the fresh air enters in exactly such proportion as it may
be
required in the room or apartment, provision being made for the escape of vitiated
air as follows:-
.
".
An outlet tube f is provided having a bell-shaped mouth 'g (which is more
distinctly shewn at Fig. 3) fixed at the level of the ceiling e, and communicating
with any up-cast shaft h.
.
The level at which air is admitted into the tube d varies the pressure at which
it passes into the room at b, as, for instance, if air is admitted at B the pressure is
greater and the change of air more rapid in the room or apartment a than when
admitted at 6, and in the same proportion when the air is admitted at C into the
room or apartment a the pressure of air is greater and a change of air more rapid
than when admitted at B. The admission of air in all cases may be regulated by
stop-valves.
The inlet and outlet tubes may be either combined as shewn, or fixed separately
at suitable points in the ceiling, and in all cases by preference I employ bell-shaped
mouths both for the inlet and outlet tubes.
The application of my system to railway carriages is generally speaking very
similar to that applied at Fig. 1, so far as regards the construction of the bell-
mouthed inlets and outlets..
In the arrangement for railway carriages the tubes i and i¹ are used both for the
admission of fresh air and the exit of vitiated, such use depending upon the direction
in which the carriage is travelling, as, for instance, if it be moving in the direction
shewn by large arrow j air will be admitted into the carriage at k in the direction
shewn by arrows, and exhausted down tube i¹ through opening ; but if the carriage
be going in the direction shewn by large arrow m the operation will be reversed,
1 becoming the inlet and the outlet. Suitable swing covers n are arranged and
constructed of gauze or other perforated material so as to close automatically at the
front end of the carriage, as shewn at o, preventing thereby dust or other foreign
matter passing up the tube into the carriages.
"
To ventilate ships with this system I carry down an inlet tube p, Fig. 4, near the
floor of the "hold" or cabin, air being admitted at some convenient place q on
deck r. If increased pressure is desired the mouth of the tube p may be made so
that it can be turned in any direction, as shewn at 8, so that it may catch the wind.
The outlets t require to be as near the ceiling as possible and communicating with
the smoke funnel, flue, or up-cast shaft.
In some cases the outlet f may be dispensed when there is a fire-place in the
room or apartment.
' '
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and described with the
aid of Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it under-
stood that I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the parts
I have described and shewn, as the same may be varied or modified without
departing from the nature of my said Invention; but what I claim and desire to be
secured to me by Letters Patent is, the arrangement and application of the means
employed for admitting air into rooms or apartments either separate from or in
combination with apparatus for exhausting the vitiated air, and mere modifications
of the same, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Smith, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
JOHN SMITH. (L.S.)