Improvements in Ventilating and Heating Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ventilating and Heating Apparatus.
A communication by FREDRIK WALDEMAR LÖNNBECK, of Ekenäs, Finland, in the
Empire of Russia.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, M.Inst. M.E., of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to warming and ventilating buildings usually by means
of a single fire, and consequently with the greatest economy of fuel. This is
effected by an apparatus in which fresh air from outside is admitted through a
warming apparatus to the various rooms of the building, and the vitiated air is
withdrawn from these various rooms to the fire-place of the warming and venti-
lating apparatus.
In carrying out the invention the apparatus is provided with a heating stove
consisting of a furnace grate, furnace and fire doors. Communicating with the
furnace are flues arranged in this case vertically and through the brick-work
surrounding the flues are horizontal tubes connecting a cold air chamber with a
hot air chamber. A foul air chamber is provided below the grate into which is
led a foul air conduit brought from various parts of the building so as to feed
the grate with the foul air and allow it to escape with the smoke. A waste flue
is also provided having a damper so arranged that at any moment the products of
combustion by adjusting the damper can be sent direct into the chimney. This is
desirable when first lighting the fire. Apertures are also provided closed with
doors for cleaning the flues and a suitable outlet from the warm air chamber
conveys the warm air to orifices in the floors or the bottoms of the walls to the
various rooms of the house. Dampers are arranged dividing the hot and cold
air chambers respectively whereby the passage of the air through the tubes in the
brick-work surrounding the flues is obliged to take a circuitous course beginning
with the cold air chamber, passing through the lower part of the hot air chamber,
then through the next part of the cold air chamber and so on. These dampers
can be opened or closed as required.
In another arrangement the tubes instead of being horizontal are arranged
vertically from the cold air chamber to the hot air chamber, the fire-place being
located on top of the apparatus or it could be arranged beyond the apparatus.
In a private house of the German type or in an English town house the apparatus
would be built in connection with the kitchen fire, preferably on the first floor
or basement, suitable passages being provided to convey the warm air to the upper
rooms and conduits to convey the foul air to the furnace the exact arrangement
of course depending upon the style of building.
The products of combustion issuing from the fire box are by means of a long
winding flue or in some cases a single wide flat flue conducted between walls of

page_text: brick-work or tiles in which are embedded the tubes aforementioned. The flue
can be arranged in any convenient manner, horizontal or vertical, straight or
spiral depending on the requirements of the,case, and the heating apparatus
generally can be made of any convenient form, the dimensions varying according
to the circumstances of the case and the amount of heat required. The cold air
entering the cold air chamber passes through the tubes embedded in the brick-work
to the hot air chamber. The brick-work or more strictly speaking tile work
or fireclay block work enclosing the tubes is of sufficient thickness to be not easily
burnt or worn away. It together with the walls of the flue acts as a reservoir of
heat, regulating and equalising the amount of heat given to the air tubes and
acting as an accumulator of heat giving it out long after the fire has been with-
drawn. In practice these tubes can be made about eighteen inches in length
and one inch in diameter, and one-eighth of an inch thickness material in small
houses, but they may be of larger dimensions in larger houses. The air chambers
can be made of brick-work, metal or any other suitable material. They are
preferably about six inches to eight inches in width and the entire set of tubes
open out into them. In some instances their sides next to the brick-work are
formed as tube plates, and thus the brick-work of the flue is not essential to
prevent the mixture of the incoming fresh air with the products of combustion.
Where it is desired to increase the heating power of the apparatus very consider-
ably as in extremely cold weather the device aforementioned is used where the
hot and cold air chambers are subdivided by movable partitions and the air
'caused to circulate to and fro through several pipes before escaping, and thus the
greatly increased heat of the pipes caused by the vigorous combustion is taken
up: These partitions are hinged and are either all moved by a single chain, or
cach moved separately as desired. In some cases a circular apparatus_may..be
used in which the entire centre forms a warm air chamber. In this instance as in
the vertical chamber the exterior cold air chamber and the warm air chamber can
be divided by partitions if desired so as to oblige the air to take a circular
turn, or preferably there can be partial partitions only in the central chamber
preferably movable vertically so that they can slide down into receptacles in the
floor when not required and be drawn up by chains. Where these partial parti-
tions are used the opening is at opposite sides alternately and they can be
perforated. The bottoms may be connected of both the outer chamber and the
inner chamber and cold air from outside allowed to enter both. The air rising in
the centre chamber going in its zigzag course thus mounting above each partition
in succession gets thoroughly heated. These screens can be fixed or suspended
on chains at intervals so that they can be drawn up in position or let down flat
on the bottom so as to allow for a greater or less circulation of air as desired.
Instead of a separate passage or tubes for each apartment of the rooms, one side
of the house may be sufficiently served by a single main tube with short
branches to the various apartments both in the case of the warm air tubes and the
foul air tubes. The warm air being driven in below the floor keeps the floor
constantly warm and seeking an outlet will rise into the room through the two
or more apertures which are provided in the floor. These are preferably supplied
with ornamental gratings similarly the false ceilings, covering the entire area
of the room and being connected with the foul air escape orifices can be placed
in the ornaments of the ceiling in all parts, and thus the air withdrawn equally
from all parts of the room. The exhaust passages may with advantage meet at
a suitable point on a level with the joists of the ceiling, and from thence in one
main flue be conducted to the foul air room under the fire-box. A direct passage
arranged for being shut off with double dampers can be opened from this point
of junction to the chimney so that it can be used for ventilating the premises
during warm weather or when it is desired to relieve the apartments of superfluous
heat. There can be several exhaust conduits if desired down the walls to the foul
air chamber or the various false ceiling spaces can be united to, a single down-
cast flue. When a fire is lighted the doors of the fire-box and the ash-pit which

page_text: should fit thoroughly air-tight and are preferably double are closed. A strong
current of air at once passes into the fire-box from the foul air shaft and a
circulation is established. The current will simultaneously be started in the
exhaust tubes coming from the various apartments and thus the vitiated air will
be drawn off from the spaces above the false ceilings causing the air in the rooms
below to ascend to take its place. While the fire remains or while the flues
remain hot a continuous automatic and thorough circulation of air will thus take
place, pure air from the outside passing into the warning apparatus going through
the circulation and last of all supplying air for combustion in the furnace. The
products of combustion are then used for heating further air and escape at the
chimney at a very low heat, thus nearly the entire heat of combustion is usefully
used. In rooms where the floors are not specially required to be warmed, the air
from the heater may be conveyed to perforated conductors of triangular or other
shape all running at the top of the floors close to the walls. These conductors
can be used in place of skirting boards, and can have a highly ornamental
perforated exterior. Similarly where ordinary ceilings and floors are used a
perforated frieze can take the place of the hollow ceiling and perforations
therein, the frieze running round all sides of the room or only one or two sides.
Where two or more foul air conduits are conducted to the foul air chamber beneath
the grate this is preferably divided into as many parts, and each conduit passed
into the one part, so that each part of the grate shall be supplied from a separate
conduit. This however is not a necessity. Similarly the heater can be partitioned
off into two or more parts vertically and each part supply a separate conduit for
warm air, and receive a separate cold air supply from the outside. In countries
where the winter is mild and of short duration the heating apparatus is generally
placed at the back of the kitchen fire, and thus the products of combustion from
the kitchen fire are alone used for heating it. In colder countries however it is
better to have an additional source of heat such as a special fire for the purpose,
while in some cases the kitchen fire can be arranged to supply a part of the heater
and a special fire the other part, this latter being used as a reserve in specially
cold weather.
Tatod thi971 of Watu 1900
A communication by FREDRIK WALDEMAR LÖNNBECK, of Ekenās, Finland, in the
Empire of Russia.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, M.Inst. M.E., of the Agency for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
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-
This invention relates to warming and ventilating buildings usually by means
of a single fire, and consequently with the greatest economy of fuel. This is
effected by an apparatus in which fresh air from outside is admitted through a
warming apparatus to the various rooms of the building, and the vitiated air is

page_text: withdrawn from these various rooms to the fire-place of the warming and venti-
lating apparatus.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings which
filustrate various modifications of my apparatus as actually applied in buildings.
Figure 1 is a plan view of the warming apparatus:
Figure 2, a side elevation of the same structure;
Figure 3, a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same;
Figure 4, a transverse section of the same; taken in a plane between two rows
of pipes;
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the same;
Figure 6 a plan view of a circular modification of a heating chamber;
Figure 7a longitudinal section of another variety preferably used for flats;
Figure 8 a partial vertical section of a private house of the German type,
the first floor or basement being provided with a device substantially of the same
character as Figure 7 and built in connection with the kitchen fire;
Figure 9 partial vertical section of an English town house showing kitchen
range and rectangular heating apparatus somewhat similar to that in Figures 1
to 5 behind the range;
Figure 10, a plan of a house for the heating apparatus in one with the kitchen
range or behind the same;
Figure 11, a plan of the ceiling of the same place; and
Figure 12 a plan of the same premises with the warm air conduits above the
floor shown in dotted lines;
Figure 13 a transverse section of another variation;
Figure 14-a-transverse section of another variation of a furnace and foul air
conduit showing how the latter may be divided into several-currents to feed the
fire;
Figure 15 a transverse section of another modified arrangement of furnace and
foul air conduit;
Figure 16 a sectional plan on line 1-1 and
Figure 17 a vertical section on line 2-2 thereof.
Like letters relate to like parts on all the drawings.
Referring more especially to Figures 1 to 5, 6 is the heating stove, the
furnace grate, E the furnace, c the fire doors, R R flues, T T tubes passing
through holes in the brick-work partitions t and connecting the cold air
chamber K with the hot air chamber W. L is the foul air chamber below the
grate and Pash-pit. a is the foul air conduit which is brought from various
parts of the building to the foul air chamber L so as to feed the grate with the
foul air, and allow it to escape with the smoke. I waste flue and p a damper
arranged so that at any moment the products of comb stion by adjusting this
damper can be sent direct into the chimney. This is desirable when first lighting
the fire. Bis the chimney. S S are apertures closed with doors for cleaning the
flues. y is the warm air outlet which is taken to orifices in the floors or the
bottoms of the walls to the various rooms of the house. zz, Figure 4, are dampers
dividing the hot and cold air chambers respectively whereby the passage of the
air through the tubes is obliged to take a circuitous course beginning with air
chamber K passing through the lower part of chamber W then through the next
part of K and so on. These dampers can be opened or closed as required.
Referring now to Figures 67 & 8 in Figure 7 the tubes T instead of being
arranged horizontally are arranged vertically from the cold air chamber K to
the hot air chamber W. The fireplace can be as shown arranged in Figure 7
on top of the apparatus, or it could be arranged at one end of the apparatus as
set forth in Figure S. A. A shows the fresh air entrances leading to the heating
devices, the lower heating apparatus being of the flat type shown in Figure 7, and
the upper heating apparatus being substantially of the type shown in Figures 1
to 5. B is the chimney, j the joists, k horizontal partition, I furring
strips, m the flooring, R, false ceiling, R¹ flues somewhat similar to

page_text: the flue R in Figure 7. P. P. dampers similar to that shown in the
larger view, Figure 3. The remaining letters are the same as those already
described in the preceding drawings. In Figure 9 v are the warm air passages
to the upper flats. They are arranged beneath the floors.
The heating
apparatus W, K, bb, is shown as placed behind the kitchen fire . In Figures 10,
11 and 12, g g are the registers in the floor delivering the warm air from the
passages and the hollow flooring. are circular orifices opening into the
hollow ceiling and thence to the foul air conduits a a.
The mode of action of the entire apparatus is as follows:-
The products of combustion issuing from the fire box E or E are by means of
a long winding flue or in some cases a single wide flat flue conducted between
walls of brick-work or tiles in which are embedded the pipes T. The flue R
as is shown can be arranged in any convenient manner, horizontal or vertical,
straight or spiral, depending on the requirements of the case, and the heating
apparatus generally can be made of any convenient form, the dimensions varying
according to the circumstances of the case and the amount of heat required. The
cold air entering the cold air chamber passes through the tubes embedded in the
brick-work to the hot air chamber. The brick-work or more strictly speaking
tile work or fireclay block work enclosing the tubes is of sufficient thickness to be
not easily burnt or worn away. It together with the walls of the flue acts as a
reservoir of heat, regulating and equalising the amount of heat given to the air
tubes and acting as an accumulator of heat giving it out long after the fire
has been withdrawn.' In practice I propose to make these tubes about eighteen
inches in length and one inch in diameter, and one-eighth of an inch thickness
material in small houses, but they may be of larger dimensions in larger houses.
The air chambers can be made of brick-work, metal, or other suitable
material. They are preferably about six inches to eight inches in width and the
entire set of tubes open out into them. In some instances their sides next to the
brick-work are formed as tube plates & thus the brick-work of the flue is not
essential to prevent the mixture of the incoming fresh air with the products
of combustion. Where it is desired to increase the heating power of the apparatus
very considerably as in extremely cold weather, the device set forth in Figure 4
is used where the hot and cold air chambers are subdivided by movable partitions
and the air caused to circulate to and fro through several pipes before escaping,
and thus the greatly increased heat of the pipes caused by the vigorous combustion
is taken up. These partitions are hinged as shown and are either all moved by a
single chain or each moved separately as desired. In the circular chambers,
such as shown in Figure 6, the entire centre forms a warm air chamber. In this
instance as in the vertical chamber the exterior cold air chamber K and the warm
air chamber W can be divided by partitions if desired so as to oblige the air to
take a circular turn, or preferably as shown there can be partial partitions only
in the chamber W preferably movable vertically so that they can slide down
into receptacles in the floor when not required and be drawn up by chains. Where
these partial partitions are used the opening is at opposite sides alternately and
they can be perforated. I may connect the bottoms of both the outer chamber
and the inner chamber and allow cold air from outside to enter both. The air
rising in the centre chamber going in its zigzag course thus mounting above each
partition in succession gets thoroughly heated. These screens can be fixed or
suspended on chains q1 (Fig. 4) at intervals so that they can be drawn up in
position or let down flat on the bottom so as to allow for a greater or less
circulation of air as desired. Instead of a separate passage or tubes for each
apartment of the rooms one side of the house may be sufficiently served by a
single main tube with short branches to the various apartments both in the case
of the warm air tubes and the foul air tubes. The warm air being driven in
below the floor keeps the floor constantly warm and seeking an outlet will rise
into the room through the two or more apertures 9 which are provided in the
floor. These are preferably supplied with ornamental gratings, similarly the.

page_text: false ceilings, shown in Figure 8. covering the entire area of the room and
being connected with the foul air escape orifices can be placed in the ornaments
of the ceiling in all parts, and thus the air withdrawn equally from all parts of the
room. The exhaust passages may with advantage meet at a suitable point i,
Figure 11, on a level with the joists of the ceiling, and from thence in one
main flue be conducted to the foul.air room under the fire-box. A direct passage
arranged for being shut off with double dampers can be opened from this point.
of junction to the chimney so that it. can be used for ventilating the premises
during warm weather or when it is desired to relieve the apartments of super-
fluous heat. In Figure 11 the junction is shown joining the chimney B. There
can be several exhaust conduits if desired down the walls to the foul air
chamber L or the various false ceiling spaces can be united to a single down-cast
flue. When a fire is lighted the doors of the fire-box and the ash-pit which
should fit thoroughly air-tight and are preferably double are closed.
A strong
current of air at once passes into the fire-box from the foul air shaft and a
circulation is established. The current will simultaneously be started in the
exhaust tubes coming from the various apartments and thus the vitiated air will
be drawn off from the spaces above the false ceilings causing the air in the rooms
below to ascend to take its place. While the fire remains or while the flues remain
hot a continuous automatic and thorough circulation of air will thus take place,
pure air from the outside passing into the warming apparatus going through the
circulation and last of all supplying air for combustion in the furnace. The
products of combustion are then used for heating further air and escape at the
chimney at a very low heat, thus nearly the entire heat of combustion is usefully
used. In rooms where the floors are not specially required to be warmed, the air
from the heater may be conveyed to perforated conductors of triangular or other
shape all running at the top of the floors close to the walls as depicted-in-
Figure 12. These conductors can be used in place of skirting boards, and can have
a highly ornamental perforated exterior. Similarly where ordinary ceilings and.
floors are used a perforated frieze can take the place of the hollow ceiling and.
perforations therein, the frieze running round all sides of the room or only
one or two sides as set forth in Figure 11. Where two or more foul air conduits
are conducted to the foul air chamber beneath the grate this is preferably divided.
into as many parts; and each conduit passed into the one part, so that each part of
the grate shall be supplied from a separate conduit. This however is not a
necessity. Similarly the heater can be partitioned off into two or more parts
vertically and each part supply a separate conduit for warm air; and receive a
separate cold air supply from the outside.
In countries where the winter is mild and of short duration the heating.
apparatus is generally placed at the back of the kitchen fire, and thus the products
of combustion from the kitchen fire are alone used for heating it. In colder
countries however it is better to have an additional source of heat such as a special
fire for the purpose, while in some cases the kitchen fire can be arranged to
supply a part of the heat and a special fire the other part, this latter being used
as reserve in specially cold weather.
Referring to Figure 13 the flue R R carrying away the products of combustion
is arranged in a horizontal upward manner, the passages mounting straight one
above another with short vertical connections at the ends, which variety is
recommended for larger houses and where a good steady draught is desired.
The cleaning of the flues is done through the apertures S, closed with inner and
outer doors, while cold air preferably may be admitted into the cold air chamber
through several chambers K', branching off from a main passage below.
Figure 14 shows a variety in transverse section, of a firebox E and foul air.
conduit L, the former having a front grating consisting of five or more
bars placed horizontally one above another across the fireplace, and the main
foul air conduit L" being branched off into two separate ones, one half of the air
passing into the ash-pit L through a louvre shaped aperture Y divided into several-

page_text: horizontal passages by means of metal sheets of different length, the other half
of the air passing below at L' and in front of the ash-pit, where by means of a
vertical division plate ¹ placed across the fireplace, it is again divided, the inner
current being drawn into the fire between the bars of the front grating and the
outer current, entering behind the division plate ¹ discharging itself in filmy
sheets on top of the fire, by which several arrangements perfect combustion of the
fuel and consequently the greatest head is attained.
Referring to Figures 15, 16 and 17, the flues R are arranged horizontal as in
Figure 13, but the course of the smoke flue is altered and the arrangement for
feeding the fire with foul air is slightly different the latter of which consists
in allowing the air free passage into the fire not only through the grate from
beneath the ashpit as in the other arrangements but around and on top of the
grate as shown by the arrows. In this arrangement there will be no inner wall
or door to the ashpit but an open passage through which the air can pass and
rise upwards thereby ensuring a more thorough combustion. It will be seen that
the air chambers W and K are connected above the masonry so as to form one
chamber from which the warm air ducts (B¹) shown in dotted lines, in Fig. 15
lead in any desired direction. The advantage of this arrangement is prevention of
loss of heat through radiation from the top portion of the apparatus and increased
facility for leading the warm air passages in any direction. Furthermore it is
arranged to let the fresh air enter from either side as shown according to the
direction of the wind the opposite air channel being of course in the meantime
closed. It will be evident that this method could be adopted with all the herein-
before described arrangements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improvements in ventilating and heating apparatus consisting of a fire
grate, a closed ash pit below, a foul air chamber formed in one with it, a chamber
supplied with air from the outside, a warm air chamber, and a winding flue
built up between the two chambers with tubes passing through the walls of the
flue and connecting the hot air and cold air chambers, a series of adjustable
dampers separating the two chambers whereby the fresh air circulating through
the pipes is obliged to pass through a plurality of times before entering the hot
air channels of the building, a warm air conduit taking the air from the warm
air chamber and delivering it into the rooms to be heated and ventilated and foul
air conduits taking the exhausted air therefrom and delivering it into a space
below the grate whereby the building is both warmed and ventilated by the fire.
2. In a heating apparatus such as described, a direct passage from the furnace
to the chimney and a damper arranged so as to cut off either the direct passage
or the circuitous flue from the chimney at will, whereby when the fire is first
lighted a quick draught can be obtained by opening the damper direct to the
chimney and then when the heat is up it can be closed and the air pass through
the heating flue.
3. The combination with a heating device having a closed ashpit of a conduit
connecting the warm air chamber of the heating apparatus with apertures in a
hollow floor of a room such apertures connecting the spaces of the hollow floor
with the air in the room, foul air exits at the top of the room and a foul air
conduit bringing the air from such exits to the closed ashpit substantially as
described.
4. In a warming and ventilating device for buildings, the combination of a false
ceiling, furring strips, joists, and noise proof course forming a vacant space above
the ceiling, having orifices through the ceiling and furring strips above, and
floor enclosing a second vacant space above the noise proof course having orifices
opening into the rooms above, an air heating device, a conduit connecting the hot
air exit of the air heating device with the said space above the ceiling immediately

page_text: .
below the floor and a second conduit connecting the foul air chamber of the heating
device with the space immediately above the ceiling, substantially as described.
5. The various devices substantially as shown and described with reference
to Figure 14 whereby the current of foul air is divided into two parts in the
main conduit,, one part being discharged into the ashpit through an aperture
which further divides the current and the other part discharged in front of the
ashpit and into and on top of the fire.
6. In a heating apparatus for the purposes described connecting the two air
chambers above the masonry so as to form one chamber and causing the fresh
air to enter from either side substantially as described, with reference to
Figures 15, 16 and 17 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The general arrangement and construction of parts of the improved heating
and ventilating apparatus substantially as herein described and shown on the
accompanying drawings,
1
1000