IMPROVEMENTS RATUS FOR UTILIZING HEAT FOR HEATING, WARMING, AND WHETHER SUCH HEAT BE PROCURED BY THE AGENCY OF FURNACES, OR FROM OTHER SOURCES." IN APPA. VENTILATING, STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ritchie, of Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
RATUS FOR UTILIZING HEAT FOR HEATING, WARMING, AND
WHETHER SUCH HEAT BE PROCURED BY THE AGENCY OF
FURNACES, OR FROM OTHER SOURCES."
IN APPA.
VENTILATING,
STEAM BOILERS,
Sealed the 21st July 1868, and dated the 25th January 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ritchie at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 25th January 1868.
I, CHARLES RITCHIE, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING HEAT AND HEATING, WARMING, AND VENTILATING
WHETHER SUCH HEAT BE PROCURED BY THE AGENCY OF STEAM BOILERS, FURNACE3
OR FROM OTHER SOURCES," to be as follows:-
My present Invention is based on a similar system to that described
by my Provisional Specification lodged on application for Letters
Patent on the 23rd September, No. 2674, A.D. 1867, such system

page_text: having for its object the collecting of the heat obtained from the
surfaces of heated flue pipes or other heated passages, and the utilizing
of such heat, more or less of such heated surfaces being enclosed
within a case or receptacle, so as to effect the purpose of gathering
up or collecting the heat therefrom which then becomes an efficient
means of bringing into and through the said case or receptacle and
into a room, chamber, or such like enclosed space (whether large or
small) a sufficiency of fresh outer atmospheric air, in such a way as
to be unmixed with the deleterious products of combustion in the
flue pipes or heated passages aforesaid, or from the heat chamber
itself, such fresh air thus becoming warmed or heated in its passage
into the room or such like enclosed space, and the said fresh air
being sometimes rendered suitably hygrometric by introducing into
the case or receptacle a steam pipe or other appliance for introducing
steam, hot water, or other suitable agents. The said system comprising
provision for the supply of fresh outer atmospheric air to the furnace
or other source of heat, both for the support of combustion and
preventing the products thereof from returning and entering the room
or other enclosed space; but in some cases I do not make any special
provision for supplying fresh air to support combustion, it being
supplied naturally, as, for example, when my apparatus is designed
for a window or verandah, whether heated by gas, charcoal, or other-
wise, or as in the case of my apparatus as applied to railway and
other carriages at or under the floor thereof, the said apparatus being
in other respects constructed as above stated. My said system likewise
embracing the regulation automatically of the supply of gas, air, and
water, or any one or more of them, whenever the dimensions of the
apparatus or the circumstances of the case may happen to require
continuous water supply to the boiler, and the regulation of the pressure
of steam and the amount of heat used, and which automatic regula-
tion is effected by a hydraulic or suitable float within the boiler, and
by a piston working in a suitable cylinder or receptacle in the boiler,
and arranged so as to open and shut the supply passages or the
dampers, either the float or the piston or both being adopted according
to the nature of the case. Sometimes the heating chamber or source
of heat itself, or a portion thereof, should be enclosed in the said case
or receptacle, and pipes or conveyors should pass through the said heat-
ing chamber for heating such air.

page_text: Upon the above described system I now adopt as part of my Invention
apparatus (which may be either superadded to the aforesaid apparatus
so that both warming and ventilating operations may be proceeding
together and assisting each other, or be used apart therefrom as the
case may require), so that hereby the purpose of ventilating rooms,
chambers or enclosed spaces is effected by such apparatus, the same
being provided with gas burner, charcoal furnace, or other convenient
source of heat (and by preference of light also) in direct communi-
cation with a flue pipe or heat passage or duct, or a nest or aggregation
of pipes or passages or ducts opening into the outer atmosphere, such
flue pipe or passage, or pipes or passages, being enclosed within and
passing through but not opening into a case or receptacle (which case
or receptacle by preference may be surrounded by some non-conducting
material), which pipes or passages have communication with the atmo-
sphere, external to the room, chamber or enclosed space.
burner or other heater is so arranged that the vitiated air of the room,
chamber, or enclosed space, may be induced to ascend into the flue pipe
or the pipes aforesaid, together with the products of combustion from
the gas burner or heater.
The
gas
I also construct an apparatus for heating and warming by the use of
steam alone. In this case I convey steam from a boiler by means of a
heat passage or duct, or nest or aggregation of pipes or passages or
ducts opening into the outer atmosphere, such flue pipe or passage, or
pipes or passages or ducts, being enclosed within and passing through
but not opening into (except for hygrometric effect) a case or receptacle,
which pipes or passages have communication with the atmosphere
external to the room, chamber, or enclosed space. When the apparatus
for generating steam forms part of the warming and ventilating appa-
ratus aforesaid, the products of combustion from the furnace or source
of heat used for generating steam are carried through pipes or passages
to the outer atmosphere and through the case or receptacle as described
above. Sometimes I use heated air, or gas, or gaseous vapours and
steam, any or all of them in conjunction.
In some cases I would make my above described apparatus as a
stove and window, or stove, window, and ventilating apparatus all as
one article, constructing if desired my pipes or ducts in the framework.
Also in some cases I construct a verandah stove or stove verandah,
using the floor, or a portion of the floor of a verandah, so as to

page_text: enclose or contain the source of heat, and I then convey through
the frame or other part of the verandah which is suitably hollowed,
a pipe, or passage, or duct, or nest or aggregation of pipes or passages
or ducts, to the top or upper portion of the same with a like purpose
and effect as in the case of the window sill and frame. Upon like
system I utilize heat from any suitable source by conveying heated
pipes or passages or ducts through the framework of a railway or
other carriage.
The openings or means of communicating the heat
or the ventilating communicators are to be provided with slides or
valves or other means for regulating the admission of the heat or the
process of ventilation. In constructing the boiler or steam generator
and furnace or heat generating apparatus I sometimes use metal rods
or other materials in combustion therewith or otherwise, as heat
conductors, which may project from the surface of the boiler into the
furnace or heat generator, and being carried into or thropgh the said
boiler or steam generator (or otherwise suitably arranged) so as to
increase the heating effect. Sometimes the receptacle or chamber or
passage, which collects and conveys the pure outer air, which then
becomes warmed in its passage) from the outer atmosphere into the
room or such like enclosed space, is more or less enclosed or enveloped
by the heating apparatus and its combustion flues or flues or pipes or
passages.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Ritchie in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th July 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, CHARLES
RITCHIE, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in
the thirty-first year of Her reign,, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Charles Ritchie, Her
special licence that I, the said Charles Ritchie, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Ritchie, my

page_text: executors, administrators, 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 FOR UTILIZING HEAT FOR HEATING. WARMING,
AND VENTILATING, WHETHER SUCH HEAT BE PROCURED BY THE AGENCY OF STEAM
BOILERS, FURNACES, OR FROM OTHER SOURCES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Ritchie, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Ritchie, 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 present Invention is based on a similar system to that described
by my Provisional Specification lodged on application for Letters
Patent on the 23rd September, No. 2674, A.D., 1867, such system
having for its object the collecting of the heat obtained from the surfaces
of heated flues, pipes, or other heated passages, and the utilizing of
such heat, more or less of such heated surfaces being enclosed within
a case or receptacle, so as to effect the purpose of gathering up or collect-
ing the heat therefrom, which then becomes an efficient means of bring-
ing into and through the said case or receptacle, and into a room,
chamber, or such like enclosed space (whether large or small) a sufficiency
of fresh outer atmospheric air in such a way as to be unmixed with the
deleterious products of combustion in the flue pipes or heated passages
aforesaid or from the heat chamber itself, such fresh air thus becoming
warmed or heated in its passage into the room, or such like enclosed
space, and the said fresh air being sometimes rendered suitably hygro-
metric by introducing into the case or receptacle a steam pipe or other
appliance for introducing steam, hot water, or other suitable agents;
the said system comprising provision for the supply of fresh outer
atmospheric air to the furnace or other source of heat, both for the
support of combustion and preventing the products thereof from

page_text: But in some
returning and entering the room or other enclosed space.
cases I do not make any special provision for supplying fresh air to
support combustion, it being supplied naturally; as, for example,
when my apparatus is designed for a window or verandah, whether
heated by gas, charcoal, or otherwise; or, as in the case of my apparatus,
as applied to railway and other carriages at or under the floor thereof,
the said apparatus being in other respects constructed as above stated;
my said system likewise embracing the regulation automatically of the
supply of gas, air, and water, or any one or more of them whenever the
dimensions of the apparatus or the circumstances of the case may
happen to require continuous water supply to the boiler, and the
regulation of the pressure of steam, and the amount of heat used, and
which automatic regulation is effected by a hydraulic or suitable float
within the boiler, and by a piston working in a suitable cylinder or
receptacle in the boiler, and arranged so as to open and shut the supply
passages or the dampers, either the float or the piston, or both, being
adopted according to the nature of the case. Sometimes the heating
chamber or source of heat itself, or a portion thereof, should be enclosed
in the said case or receptacle, and pipes or conveyors should pass through
the said heating chamber for heating such air.
Upon the above described system I now adopt as part of my
Invention apparatus (which may be either superadded to the aforesaid
apparatus, so that both warming and ventilating operations may be
proceeding together and assisting each other, or be used apart there-
from, as the case may require), so that hereby the purpose of ventila-
ting rooms, chambers, or enclosed spaces is effected by such apparatus,
the same being provided with a gas burner or burners, charcoal furnace,
or other convenient source of heat (and, by preference, of light also)
in direct communication with a flue pipe or heat passage, or duct, or
a nest or aggregation of pipes, or passages, or ducts opening into the
outer atmosphere, such flue pipe or passage or pipes or passages being
enclosed within and passing through, but not opening, into a case or
receptacle (which case or receptacle, by preference, may be surrounded
by some non-conducting material), which pipes or passages have
communication with the atmosphere external to the room, chamber,
or enclosed space. The gas burner or other heater is so arranged that
the vitiated air of the room, chamber, or enclosed space may be induced
to ascend into the flue pipes or the pipes aforesaid, together with the
products of combustion, from the gas burner or heater.

page_text: I also construct an apparatus for heating and warming by the use of
steam alone. In this case I convey steam from a boiler by means of a
heat passage or duct, or nest or aggregation of pipes or passages or ducts,
opening into the outer atmosphere, such flue pipe or passage, or pipes
or passages, or ducts being enclosed within and passing through, but
not opening into (except for hygrometric effect) a case or receptacle,
which pipes or passages have communication with the atmosphere
external to the room, chamber, or enclosed space. When the apparatus
for generating steam forms part of the warming and ventilating
apparatus aforesaid the products of combustion from the furnace or
source of heat used for generating steam are carried through pipes or
passages to the outer atmosphere, and through the case or receptacle as
described above. Sometimes I use heated air, or gas, or gaseous vapours
and steam, any or all of them in conjunction.
In some
cases I would make my above described apparatus as
a stove and window, or stove, window, and ventilating apparatus
all as
one article, constructing, if desired, my pipes or ducts in
the framework. Also in some cases I construct a verandah stove
or stove verandah, using the floor or a portion of the floor of a
verandah so as to enclose or contain the source of heat; and I
then convey through the frame or other part of the verandah
which is suitably hollow a pipe or passage or duct, or nest or
aggregation of pipes or passages or ducts, to the top or upper portion
of the same with a like purpose and effect as in the case of the window
sill and frame. Upon like system I utilize heat from any suitable
source by conveying heated pipes or passages or ducts through the
framework of a railway or other carriage. The openings or means of
communicating the heat or the ventilating communicators are to be
provided with slides, or valves, or other means for regulating the
admission of the heat or the process of ventilation. In constructing
the boiler or steam generator and furnace or heat generating apparatus
I sometimes use metal rods or other material in combustion therewith
or otherwise as heat conductors, which may project from the surface
of the boiler into the furnace or heat generator, and be carried into or
through the said boiler or steam generator (or otherwise suitably
arranged), so as to increase the heating effect. Sometimes the receptacle
or chamber or passage which collects and conveys the pure outer air
(which then becomes warmed in its passage) from the outer atmosphere
into the room or such like enclosed space is more or less enclosed or

page_text: enveloped by the heating apparatus and its combustion flue or flues, or
pipes or passages. In order to prevent the condensed vapour or heat
which is generated at or near the external openings of the flue pipes or
passages remaining therein or being carried into the apparatus I provide
at the lowest available part a suitable receptacle for such condensed
vapours, together with a tap or appliance for drawing them off.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a section of a stove constructed according to my
Invention for the purpose of warming a supply of fresh air to a room,
chamber, or apartment.
The base of the stove is divided into three
compartments a, b, c, communicating respectively with the outer air
by pipes a, b, c', which may be led under a floor or through a wall in
any convenient direction. I prefer to construct these pipes as repre-
sented in the Drawing, so that the pipe c' is enclosed within b¹, and b¹
within a', the annular spaces between c' and b' and between b' and a¹
serving as ducts or channels which form air casings round the central
pipe c', and thereby prevent conduction of heat from it to the materials
through which the pipes pass. I prefer that these pipes should
terminate as represented in the Drawing when they reach the outer
air, the mouth of a' being directed downwards, that of c' being directed
upwards to some height, so as to act as a chimney, and b' may open
directly or may be turned in any convenient direction clear of a¹. The
upper part of the stove is divided into two compartments d and e. The
compartment d communicates with 6 by a pipe g and with c by pipes g¹,
and the compartment e communicates by pipes e¹ (passing through d)
with the chamber f containing the pipes g and g', while this chamber
f itself communicates by pipes f¹ with the compartment a.
The
highest compartment e has porous or perforated sides through which
air can issue in a soft and diffused current. The compartment b con-
tains a number of gas burners, or it may by adopting suitable propor-
tions be constructed to contain a stove, fire, or furnace. The action of
the stove is as follows:-The burners or fire in b being kindled air for
sustaining combustion enters from the atmosphere by the annular
pipe b'; the products of combustion ascend by the pipe g to the com-
partment d and descend thence by the pipes g' to the compartment c,
whence they issue by the central pipe c' to the outer air. Fresh air
for supplying the apartment enters by the pipe a' into the compartment;
a rises by the pipes f into the chamber f, and thence by the pipes e¹

page_text: into the compartment e, from which it issues by the perforated sides
into the apartment, being warmed in its course by contact with the
heated compartments and pipes through and round which it passes. It
will be seen that the compartment in which combustion takes place
and the other compartments and pipes connected with it are cut off
by this construction from all communication with the apartment to which
the stove is applied. Thus noxious and disagreeable products of com-
bustion are excluded from the apartment. Also, when gas is employed
as the source of heat, should the burners be accidentally extinguished,
and the gas permitted to issue without combustion, or should there be
a leakage of gas, such gas escapes into the outer atmosphere without
vitiating the air of the compartment or occasioning danger from fire or
explosion therein. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal and Fig. 3 a
transverse section of a stove constructed according to my Invention,
wherein the warming of air supplied to the room and the heating of
water for domestic use are combined with the arrangement of pipes
already described. a', b, c, are pipes constructed as described in
reference to Fig. 1 for the supply of fresh air to the room for the supply
of air to support combustion in the stove and for the discharge of
products of combustion respectively. a is a compartment for receiving
the supply of fresh air from the annular pipe a', and this compartment
communicates by spaces f, f', and pipes e¹ with the upper compart-
mente which is provided with porous or perforated sides; b is a fire-
place having fire and ash-pit doors, which can be opened from the room
for the supply of fuel or the removal of ash, but which are tightly
closed when the stove is in operation. This fire-place communicates
freely with the annular pipe b' by which it receives the supply of air
for combustion, and it also communicates by the channels g, g', with
the pipes e¹; h is a boiler containing water which may be fed by a
self-acting float apparatus or by hand in the ordinary way, and
The
whence water can be drawn when required by a stop cock.
action of the stove is as follows:-The fire being kindled in b
and the fire and ash-pit doors tightly closed, air enters by the pipe b¹
to support combustion; the products of combustion rise by the channels
g along the sides of the boiler which they heat and descend by the
channel g' past the pipes e¹ to the pipe c', by which they finally issue
as by a chimney. Air for supplying the apartment enters by the
pipe a into the compartment a, passes along the channel f through
the pipes e and the channel f₁ to the compartment e, whence it

page_text: In
issues by the porous sides into the apartment, being warmed in its
passage along the surfaces warmed by the products of combustion.
this as in the construction described in reference to Fig. 1 the com-
bustion chamber and the compartments and ducts connected therewith
are cut off from all communication with the apartment, and with its
supply of fresh air.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of apparatus constructed according
to my Invention, whereby the heat of the steam or water of a boiler
is applied to warming air supplied to an apartment.
a is boiler heated by gas burners or by a fire; b, b, are pipes,
placed in coils or circuits in chambers c. One end of each pipe turns
upwards within the boiler and the other end turns downwards. The
chambers c are divided by diaphragms or partitions into two compart-
ments, and part of their casings are perforated at c', c², for the passage
of air. The boiler a being heated steam generated therein enters the
pipes by their upper mouths, and the water produced from its
condensation in its passage through these pipes returns to the boiler by
their lower mouths. Air enters by the perforations at c' into the
compartment c, wherein it circulates past and along the pipes b,
receiving heat from them, and whence it issues by the perforations c².
It is obvious that instead of arranging chambers c and pipes b
symmetrically on each side of the boiler a as represented in the Figure,
.such chamber and pipes may be placed only at one side; also that
instead of dividing chamber c into only two compartments by one
diaphragm it may be divided into many, and the pipes b instead of
making only one complete circuit may make many circuits in such
compartments. Again, when it is not desirable to generate steam in
the boiler a it may be filled up with water, and in this case water
would circulate in the pipes b, entering them hot by their upper
mouths and becoming cooled as it circulates downwards towards their
lower mouths, receiving a fresh accession of heat in the boiler and
ascending to the top to circulate again, and so on continuously. In
heating the boiler a, Fig. 4, and in heating the stove represented in
Figs. 2 and 3, I prefer to apply to the gas burners or furnace the
automatic apparatus for regulating the combustion described in the
Specification of my Patent, Nod. 2674, dated the 23 Sept. 1867.
In cases where liquid fuel (such as oils or hydrocarbons) is used,
the supply pipe of such liquid fuel is fitted with the regulating apparatus
therein described, and when steam, superheated steam, or air is supplied

page_text: along with the liquid fuel and mingled with it for combustion, the
pipes or other ducts or channels for conveying such steam or air to
the burner or point of combustion are likewise fitted with the said
automatic regulating apparatus, the several valves or cocks in these
pipes or ducts or channels and in that which supplies the liquid fuel
being all connected together, and with the regulating piston described
in the Specification above referred to so that they are all acted on by
it simultaneously.
Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal, and Fig. 6 a transverse section of
apparatus constructed according to my Invention, whereby the heat pro-
duced by the combustion of a gas or other light is applied to heat air
for the purposes of ventilation.
"
a is a burner or set of burners for the combustion of gas or other
illuminating matter placed within a casing transparent at the front,
bottom, and sides, and communicating by a channel and pipe a' with
the outer air; c are pipes for the removal of the products of combustion
from a.
These pipes circulate in a chamber b, and finally unite in a
pipe c' by which the products pass to the outer air. The chamber b
is divided by diaphragms into compartments containing the circulating
pipes. Parts of the under casing of this chamber are perforated as
at b, b, and an annular pipe b' leads from it to the outer air. The
pipes a, b, and c', are constructed and arranged as described in
reference to the pipes marked by the same letters in Fig. 1.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The burners being
lighted air enters by the annular pipe a' to support combustion. The
hot products of combustion pass by the pipes c to the pipe c', by which
they are discharged. Air from the apartment to which the apparatus
is applied enters by the perforations 62 into the chamber 6 wherein it
circulates, coming in contact with the pipe c and becoming heated,
finally issuing by the pipe b¹. I prefer to fix this apparatus at or near
the cornice of the apartment so as to have the light in a high position
and at the same time to draw off by the perforations be the warm foul
air which is found at or near the ceiling of the apartment; the pipes
marked a¹, b', c', in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5; 6, may be separate and led in any
convenient direction. I prefer however the arrangement and construc-
tion represented in the Drawings because security is thus afforded
against fire in cases where these pipes have to pass near combustible

page_text: parts of the structure. The hottest pipe in such case as will be readily
observed is enclosed within another and that within a third, and while
the apparatus is in action currents of air pass along the enclosing pipes
and thus prevent the communication of heat from the inner pipe to the
surrounding materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is performed, I
would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the details or
proportions represented in the Drawings which I do not claim, what
I do claim being the Invention the nature whereof is set forth in the
first part of this Specification in and by the words preceding the words
"Description of the Drawings."
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ritchie, have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty-third day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
CHARLES RITCHIE. (L.S.)
Witness,
ALEXR. P. WRIGHT,
Secretary to the Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross.