An Improved Method of Warming and Ventilating Dwelling-houses, Offices, and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 27th Aug., 1887
Complete Accepted, 11th Oct., 1887
An Improved Method of Warming and Ventilating Dwelling-houses,
Offices, and the like.
JOHN HENRY GAMBLE 12 Chesholm Road Stoke Newington London, N. certificated
teacher do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
(I). I provide for the heating of all the rooms in one section of a house or building,
from the lowest room in that section by means of a heating flue (marked A on the
accompanying plan) of about the size of two ordinary smoke flues, and well lined
with fire proof plaster. Through this flue passes a metal tube or pipe (B) to carry off
the smoke and fumes from the fire. The heated air (obtained as afterwards explained
(II) rises to the rooms through this heating flue, which is stopped in each room by a
metal plate (C) fitting round the smoke pipe into the walls of the flue, about three
feet from the floor.
In the metal plate there is an opening (D), covered by a flap (E) which may
be opened or closed at discretion by a lever or screw (F) according as the heated
air is required in the room to which the flap belongs, or is desired to be sent
up to a room higher. The warm air is delivered to each room through an opening (G)
of the same size as the present fire grates, covered with ornamental iron work, and
surrounded, if desired, by a mantel-piece. The supply of warm air is regulated by a
venetian shutter (H) behind the iron work, and worked by a screw or ratchet bar.
The whole front is made moveable for repairs. Two or more sections of a building
would be heated by the apparatus being placed between them.
(II) The heat is obtained from the back of an ordinary cooking-range, suitable fire
place or stove (J) but the heated air in no case passes over or through the fire.
The air is heated by means of a stove fitted with upright tubes after the manner of
a steam-boiler, such tubes passing right through the stove from top to bottom, and
being open at both ends. From the Inlet the cold air passes to these tubes and
through them upwards into the heating flue. The stove is securely built round by
brickwork, and the only opening to it, either for feeding the fire or cleaning the
smoke flue is from the front. In case a cooking range or open fireplace is desired,
the heated air is obtained from the back of the range or fire place, which is constructed
in a single piece, or pieces fitted so as to prevent any escape of smoke.

page_text: (III) I provide for the ventilation of each section by means of a single ventilating
flue (K) throughout. In houses already built, this would adjoin the heating flue, but
in others it would be erected on the opposite side of the rooms. The spent air is
admitted to this flue by an opening (L) under the ceiling of each room, and regulated
by a venetian as in the inlet for warm air. This flue is fitted, at the bottom, with a
gas jet (M) or place for a lamp, for causing a draught, if necessary, in summer.
(IV.) I obtain the fresh air from the outside at a height of eight or nine feet from
the ground level, through an opening (N) covered with wire work, in the wall. The
cold fresh air is conveyed in a square tube (P) down the inside of the wall and across
the floor where it is delivered underneath the heating apparatus. In the horizontal
portion, on the floor, I place a valve (Q) by which the supply of fresh air may be
regulated or stopped altogether. In the tube, between the valve and the fire-stove,
I place, for winter use, a dust- and fog-box (R) fitted with wire screens of increasing
fineness, (the last being as fine as a respirator,) and after these a sheet of wadding
spread on wire points. In summer this box is replaced by a dust- and ice-box, in
which provision is made for the insertion of pounded ice, that the air may be cooled
as it passes through.
I claim for my invention the following Advantages
:-
1. Economy in labour by obviating the necessity for carrying fuel to the separate
rooms; the lighting and tending of separate fires; or the removal of dust, ashes &c.,
and the cleaning of grates.
2. Economy in fuel, in utilising the heat absorbed by the back and sides of the
grate, and also that radiated from the metal smoke-flue.
3. Abatement of smoke, by the use of coke or gas, if separate heating stove be
employed.
4. Security from fire, and absolute immunity from danger of ladies' dresses being
ignited by coming in contact with a fire in an open grate.
5. Freedom from soot, smoke and dust in the apartments.
6. No necessity to sweep chimneys in separate rooms, the necessity for sweeping
being reduced to a minimum and the smoke-flue being cleaned throughout from the
bottom room.
7. Prevention of draughts under doors and from windows by an ample supply of
fresh air, and by the ventilating outlet being under perfect control.
8. A free current of fresh, warm or cold air, regulated as required, and cleansed
from soot, dust, smoke and fog.
9. Thorough ventilation by carrying off the vitiated air, and the combustion of
the gas burners, without the necessity of opening doors or windows.
10. The upper, or bedrooms are aired and warmed by the heat now escaping up the
chimney or absorbed by the brickwork surrounding the grate.
11. Impossibility of air admitted to living or sleeping apartments being polluted
with sewer gas, the air supply being kept away and distinct from the drainage.
12. Efficiency for use during all seasons of the year.
13. That this system would be of great advantage in heating the bedrooms of
invalids, or persons suffering from bronchial affections.
Dated this 7th day of January 1887.

page_text: An Improved Method of Warming and Ventilating Dwelling Houses,
Offices, and the like.
I, JOHN HENRY GAMBLE of 12 Chesholm Road Stoke Newington London, N.
Certificated Teacher 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 :-
The Objects of this invention are:-
(a) To provide a thorough and efficient System of Heating and Ventilation
available for all seasons, and adapted to the Living and Sleeping Apartments of
Dwelling Houses, to Offices, Hospitals and to Public Rooms and Buildings by
supplying a free current, under complete and easy control of fresh warm or cold air,
filtered from dust, smoke and fog; and by carrying off the spent or vitiated air by a
thorough means, without the necessity of opening doors or windows.
(b) To prevent the air admitted to inhabited rooms being polluted with sewer gas.
(c) To provide an efficient and economical means of Heating by utilising to the
fullest extent, all the heat given off from the fire in warming air, either by means of a
special stove to burn fuel or gas, or by suitable kitchen range.
(d) To utilise the heat which escapes, or is absorbed, by an ordinary chimney, for
the purpose of warming the upper rooms, and also to warm a cistern of water for
bathing purposes.
(e) To abate smoke by the use of coke or gas instead of coal.
() To diminish risk from fire, not only to buildings generally but also to
individuals, especially children and females by warming.nurseries and the like, by a
fire from below.
(g) To economise labour and diminish inconvenience by reducing the number of
fires, and avoiding the necessity for carrying fuel to, and removing ashes &c. from the
separate rooms, as well as the need of sweeping the chimney of each separate
apartment.
(A) To promote cleanliness by abolishing soot, smoke, and ashes from inhabited
rooms.
To attain the above objects I provide a Ventilating Tube (P. Fig. 1.) of rectangular
section, composed of metal, and encased, if necessary, in wood, to take in the fresh
air from the outside. The fresh air is admitted to the tube through an opening, or

page_text: inlet, (N) in the outside wall, at a height of about ten feet or other convenient distance
from the ground. The inlet is protected by a screen of iron or wood work, to prevent
birds, mice, or any extraneous inatter getting into it; and is further protected by a wooden
or iron shield (V) fixed over it outside, and projecting some six inches beyond it on all
sides, and standing off some three inches from the wall to prevent unequal pressure on
the tube during stormy weather, but, being open on all sides to allow the free ingress
of fresh air. The inlet is placed in the Western or Southern wall of the edifice or both
as most convenient. From the inlet, the tube runs down the inside of the wall to the
basement or lowest floor, where it turns off towards the bottom of the Heating
apparatus, (J). In a convenient position in the horizontal portion of the tube,
between the outside wall and the Heating apparatus I place an Air Filter (R) hereafter
described, for the purpose of keeping back dust, smoke, fog, and the like.. The tube
is made sound and air tight throughout to prevent any ingress of sewer or noxious
gas by the suction caused by the Heating apparatus. The flow of air through the tube
is regulated or stopped altogether during the changing of the filter by a flap or
damper (Q) arranged in a convenient position and worked by a lever or ratchet bar.
The filtered air is delivered from the tube under the bottom of the Heating Apparatus.
The Air Filter (R. Fig. I and Fig. II) a parallelopipedon in shape, is unstopped
at both ends, and is made to fit into the Ventilating Tube, which, at this place is
provided with a hinged flap or door, to allow of the Filter being taken out for
cleansing. It is fitted transversely, at a distance of about one and a half inches apart,
with a series of oblong pieces of wire gauze (Fig. II a. b. c. d. e.) of increasing
fineness from the Inlet end; the last piece having 100 or more meshes to the inch.
Between the pieces of gauze I insert a filling put in moderately tight of cotton-wool,
or wadding, spread out so as to ensure the air passing through it. One side of the
Filter is hinged so as to allow the wadding to be changed when necessary. The mouth
of the Filter is made to fit up close to a flange in the Ventilating Tube and is kept
airtight by a rubber washer to which it is pressed by a spring or screw at the opposite
end. Two Filters, at least, are required for each Ventilating Tube in order that one
may be cleansed, and be refilled with clean wadding whilst the other is in use. In
summer some of the spaces between the pieces of gauze could be made use of in very
hot weather, for containing ice for the purpose of cooling the air passing in through the
Ventilating Tube.
The Heating-stove Fig. IV is also parallelopiped in shape, having a projecting
flange in front, by means of which it is made to fit securely to the brickwork of the
Heating Chamber. It is made of six oblong pieces of iron, securely fastened together
that there may be no escape of smoke. The fire bars are arranged about three inches
from the bottom plate, leaving a space for ashes or ashes pan. Passing right through
the Stove and in a vertical position are Air-tubes (a & b Fig. IV and a. b. c. d. e. Fig. III.)
arranged in rows, parallel to the back and near to it, being securely let in to the top
and bottom plates. The fire-bars are made in sections to fit around the tubes. The
door is arranged conveniently both for feeding the fire and for sweeping the smoke
flue. The smoke is taken off through a hole in the top plate (f. Fig. III) by a pipe of
the requisite size and shape, which conveys it up through the Heating-flue and
discharges it into the atmosphere at the usual chimney top. The radiation of heat
from this pipe is utilised to warm the upper rooms, through the chimney breast of
which it passes. The stove is raised from the floor and stands over the end of the
Ventilating Tube (P. Fig. I). The fresh air is thus delivered cold and filtered under
the Stove, and passing around it and through the stove tubes, becomes heated and
ascends through the Heating flue to the rooms as afterwards described. If the stove
is placed separately in the basement, the door should be kept shut; but if placed on
the ground floor, or in a room used for domestic or other purposes the construction of
the stove is modified so as to show an open front, and the flange is placed half-way
back, so as to divide the heated air, sending part into the room in which it is placed
and the rest upward, into the Heating-flue. The stove may be heated by gas jets
arranged in a suitable manner.

page_text: The Heating Range Fig. VI is constructed with an iron back secure from escape of
smoke. The flues from the oven and boiler are gathered into the flue leading direct
from the fire, below the top of the range and the smoke is carried away as before. The
heat for the upper rooms is obtained from the back of that part of the range containing
the fire place and the boiler, the cold air being kept from the oven side to prevent cooling
during the time the oven is in use. The cold air is brought in under the boiler side
of the range and is warmed by passing at the back of the fireplace and boiler and by
radiation from other parts, and from the smoke flue. A valve is placed in tho
Heating Flue in which a range is placed to turn the heat directly into the Ventilating
Flue and so discharge it without passing to the different rooms during that portion of
the year when artificial heat is not required. The supply of fresh air for such times
would be provided for by carrying up a separate Air Tube from the bottom, outside
the Heating Flue and regulated by valve openings in each room.
The Smoke Flue (B. Fig. I) is constructed of sheet metal as an ordinary stove pipe,
but is fitted with expansion joints to prevent loosening of the parts by heating and
cooling. It is placed inside, and near to three sides of, the Heating Flue, the space
between it and the fourth side, which is a side of the chimney broast being required
for openings and dampers to cover the same, to convey and regulate the heated air to
the various rooms. It is carried up to the top of the building and out through the
chimney stack as in the ordinary manner. Down draughts may be prevented by any
of the usual methods.
The Heating Flue (D. Fig. I) is made of about double the width of an ordinary
smoke flue and is smoothly plastered throughout the inside. The smoke-flue passes up
through it as explained above, keeping the smoke separate from the fresh air (B. Fig. 1.)
but heating it by radiation In each room (G. Fig. I.) at a height of about three feet
from the floor the passage of the heating-flue is stopped by a metal plate (C. Fig. 1)
fitting round the smoke-flue and into the walls of tho heating-flue. In this plate there
is an opening (D. Fig. 1) covered by a flap (E Fig. I) which may be opened as
required by a lever or screw (F. Fig. 1) according as the heated air is required in the
room to which the flap belongs or is to be sent up higher. The warm air is delivered
to each room through an opening (G. Fig. I) of about the same size, and in the same
place as the present fire grates. The opening is covered with ornamental iron work
and fitted, if desired, with a mantel piece. The supply of warm air is regulated by a
Venetian shutter or door, hung from the top and worked by a screw or ratchet-bar.
The whole front is made to take out for repairs to stove pipe &c. Above the
uppermost opening to the rooms, inside the Heating Flue and around the smoke flue
is placed a water-cistern (T. Fig. 1). for warming water for both purposes. Above
this is a valve (S. Fig. I.) communicating with the ventilating flue in order
to allow of the escape of the heated air when not required in the rooms.
The Ventilating Flue. (K. Fig. 1) I provide for the carrying off, of the vitiated air
from all the rooms by means of a single Ventilating-flue which extends from the
bottom to the top of the building and discharges itself into the atmosphere at the
ordinary chimney stack. It may be placed either adjacent to the Heating-flue, or, if
convenient, on the opposite side of the rooms. The spent air is admitted to this flue
from each room through an opening under or in the ceiling, and of a size graduated
according to the amount of air to be carried off; and the flow is regulated by a venetian
or other appliance worked from below. During the time when fires are in use the
supply of heated air is sufficient to produce the necessary draught through this flue,
but at other times a jet of gas or a lamp may be required as at (M. Fig. I.) The top
of the Ventilating-flue may also be protected by a cowl or other suitable appliance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The Air-filter.
2. The combination of Tube and Filter for supplying fresh air to the apartments or
building.

page_text: 4. The combination of flues for supplying the upper rooms with warm or cold air
from below.
5. The combination of the Ventilating-flue, either adjacent or opposite to the
Heating-flue, and the methods of controling the action of the same.
6. The combination of the flues for both these purposes (4 & 5).
7. The combination of doors, dampers & the like, necessary for distributing the
warmed air to the different rooms or parts of the building.
8. The combination of the water cistern with the Heating flue, and,
9. The Heating Range.