IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Weaver, of Clapham, in the County of Surroy,
Civil Engineer and Analytical Chemist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VENTILATION AND APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 20th July 1877, and dated the 23rd January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Weaver at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1877.
"
RICHARD WEAVER, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Civil Engineer and
Analytical Chemist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATION AND APPARATUS THERE-
FOR.
"1
This system of ventilation consists essentially of two parts, viz., inlet for the
supply of air, and outlets for the removal of vitiated air, and in the application of
either or both of them.
For public halls, churches, hospitals, and large structures generally I employ an
injector ventilator, same, for example, being fixed in the windows, walls, or doors.
The outer portion, towards the external atmosphere, is a scrubber or air purifier
arranged with a series of gills or deflecting plates, against which the air impinges,
.so that the blacks, smuts, smoke, dust, or other impurities strike, and are thrown
down. A stream or jets of water may also be provided at the upper part of the
scrubber, or in any other position, so as to wash or cool the air before passing into
the building, or the plates may be omitted. The gilts further serve to check the
entrance of too great a quantity of air when a strong wind blows upon the appa-
ratus. From a reservoir the air is tilted upwards by striking upon a series or
battery of deflector plates placed at a suitable angle. Drafts are avoided by fixing
the gills at such a distance apart that the inlet is also below the level of the outlet,
further assisted by deflector plate placed at any angle to suit varying require-
ments, so that the air is either shot or diffused into the building above the heads of
the occupants. The several openings, either inlets or outlets, may further have
provided perforated plates, gauze, or other material to strain or diffuse the air.
The inflowing current may also be regulated by a counterpoised valve. The
.extraction ventilator for the current of the exhausted or vitiated air consists of a
tube of any required shape, curvilinear, square, or oblong, placed in the roof, walls,
[Price 6d.]

page_text: or chimneys controlled by the action of a self-regulating counterpoised valve moved
by the action of the outgoing air current. The action of the extraction is assisted
by arranging the exit, and protected by a cone at a higher level than the inlet when
the outlet is into the external atmosphere.
For smaller structures I adopt the following modifications:--For rooms com-
municating in said structures with an inner hall, lobby, or passage, whilst varying the
arrangements to suit existing buildings, I prefer to fix the injector ventilator sub-
stantially the same as above described, without the scrubber, reservoir, and
deflector battery. The valve is also self-regulating by the inflowing current, and
admits the requisite quantity of air, and entire immunity from draughts is secured
by the deflector plate placed at a proper angle, not being vertical nor horizontal,
though same may be further provided with perforated plates, gauze, and such like
to diffuse the air. The position of fixture of the apparatus may be in the doors,
windows, walls, chimneys, heating and ventilating stoves, ranges, or fire-places.
A modification of the extractor ventilator consists of a tube or box fitted with
a self-acting regulator valve, which draws out the proper quantity of vitiated air
from the apartments without draughts to the occupants. All the several valves in all
the apparatus close when not required to pass air either to or from the apartments,
and back draughts are also avoided by the closure of the valves.
In an ordinary house apartment I preferably fix the apparatus in the chimney
breast wall, a little below the ceiling or cornice line over an aperture cut through
into the smoke flue, but it may also be fixed in the door or above the lintel, in the
upper part of windows or in the walls.
The whole system, whether injectors or extractors placed within the dwelling
house or public building, is adapted to ornamental and artistic treatment of design,
so as to obviate the common objection to such appliances on the ground of unsight-
liness, and same may be made pleasing and conspicuous objects of adornment, and
may be prepared of any shape or. figure.
In this extractor ventilator the up-current is obtained by the natural tendency
of heated or warmed air to ascend, aided by the form or configuration of the tube
or box, of which the inlet for the passage of exhausted air from the apartment or
place must be at a lower level than the air outlet into the chimney.flue, or other
space. A screen, that may be an artistic work or other ornamentation, is sometimes
fixed in front of the apparatus. In other positions of outlet than into the smoke
flue, or other upward shaft, the extractor apparatus may have its exit end lengthened
by a vertical or oblique pipe to assist the draught. When such outlet or tube is
directly into the external atmosphere it may be protected and assisted by a hood,
cowl, or louvers attached to its upper extremity.
The novelty and utility of this Invention consists in cleaning the air before
admission into the building when such cleansing is desirable, as in crowded and
closely built places, introducing and causing the air to flow at an inclined angle of
elevation by aid of the deflector as to avoid unpleasant and objectionable draughts,
also regulating the entrance of the proper quantity of fresh air by valves depending
for action upon a natural motion of air created by varying temperatures, and the
affinity of air to ascend wherever the process of combustion of animal matter, or
lights, or fuel is going on, so that the requisite amount of pure fresh air is furnished,
so as to maintain the atmosphere of the building or apartment of a uniformly pure
or wholesome quality equal or nearly equal to the condition of the external air to
suit the varying circumstances of the presence of many or few persons with or
without fires and artificial lights, the entire system being self-acting and regulating,
'requiring no aid or help from any person or external source. The operation is
assisted by the extractor ventilator controlled by the self-regulating valve acted
upon by the outgoing current, which is in unison with the inlet apparatus.
The objections to mere openings into the chimneys or other spaces by which
drafts, smoke, soot, smuts, and dust are admitted into the apartment are avoided in
this extractor ventilator by placing its opening from the apartment at a lower level
than its outlet, whereby back draughts are prevented, but where there is a dis-

page_text: position towards a reversed down current, which I find very rarely occurs, and under
exceptional circumstances it is obstructed by the valve at once closing. As the
valves are constructed to open to the fullest capacity of the several inlets and
outlets the passage of air corresponds to the sectional area of the boxes or tubes,
which is the actual and not merely nominal capacity of the apparatus.
The quantity of air entering or passing away from the apartments in buildings
is determined by the velocity of currents, and these currents are governed by the
differences of temperature; and to these natural laws the apparatus is designed so
that the supply of air per individual, freed from draughts, is fully equal to the
maximum quantity considered by the best authorities as necessary.
In the application of the system as an improved mode of ventilation to a private
house or other building throughout, I preferably ventilate the principal entrances
with an injector apparatus, so that a gentle air circulation is kept up in the various
passages, halls, and staircase wells acting as horizontal or vertical exhaust shafts in
connection with extractor fixed above the heads of the stairs in the highest
parts, or in the roofs, dormer windows, or skylights.
The basement containing
the sculleries and kitchens is separated from the upper inhabited portion of the
house, so that fumes and odours, suggestive of culinary operations, are not circu-
lated above.
1
:
From the lobbies, passages, halls, or staircase wells I obtain the necessary air,
which may if needed be previously warmed, to supply the various sitting and sleeping
apartments or chambers conducted by the injector ventilator placed on the doors or
internal walls, whereby the air of the whole building and of every room within it
is maintained of good quality, and much superior to what is usually present in
the majority of habitations.
In railway carriages, coaches, or other vehicles I prefer to ventilate by placing
the injector ventilator in some of its modified forms in the windows, sides, ends,
or roof of the conveyance, and avoid draught by the deflector plates. Railway or
other carriages subject to the entrance of dust and dirt may have the same excluded
by means of the scrubber with or without water.
For tunnels and underground locomotion the air of the coaches may be further
purified by charging the washing water with various caustic alkalies or earths, so
that in addition to the mechanical cleansing such deleterious gaseous matters, as
the several oxides of sulphur and carbon form chemical union with dissolved
salts, which thus become fixed and removed from the atmosphere.
The extractor ventilator may be fixed in the roof or sides of the carriages and the
exit ends, and so arranged as to improve the current through the carriage if desired
by the motion of the train against the outer air.
The apparatus may also be used for ships and floating craft generally.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Richard Weaver in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd July
1877.
RICHARD WEAVER, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Civil Engineer and
Analytical Chemist. " IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATION AND APPARATUS THERE-
FOR.
This system of ventilation consists essentially of two parts, namely, inlets for the
supply of air, and outlets for the removal of vitiated air, and in the application of
either or both or of certain parts of them.
For public halls, churches, hospitals, and large structures generally I employ an
injector ventilator, same, for example, being fixed in, the windows, walls, or doors.
The outer portion, towards the external atmosphere, is a scrubber or air purifier
arranged with a series of gills or deflecting plates (perforated or not), against which

page_text: the air impinges, so that the blacks, smuts, smoke, dust, or other impurities strike,
and are thrown down or removed. A stream or jets of water or other fluid may
also be provided at the upper part of the scrubber, or in any other position, so as
to cool the air before passing into the building, or the plates may be omitted.
The gills further serve to check the entrance of too great a quantity of air when a
strong wind blows upon the apparatus. From a reservoir the air is tilted upwards by
striking upon a series or battery of deflector plates placed at a suitable angle. Draughts
are avoided by fixing the gills at such a distance apart that the upper part of the inlet
is always below the level of the under part of the outlet, further assisted by deflector
plate placed at any angle to suit varying requirements, so that the air is either shot
or diffused into the building above the heads of the occupants. The several
openings, either inlets or outlets, may further have provided perforated plates of
gauze or other material to strain or diffuse the air. The inflowing current may also
be regulated by a counterpoised valve. The extractor ventilator for the removal of
the exhausted or vitiated air consists of a tube of any required shape, curvilinear,
square, or oblong, placed in the roof, walls, or chimneys controlled by the action of
a self-regulating counterpoised valve moved by the outgoing air current.
action of the extractor is assisted by arranging the exit end protected by a cone at
a higher level than the inlet, when the outlet is into the external atmosphere..
The
For smaller structures I adopt the following modifications:-For rooms com-
municating in said structures with an inner hall, lobby, or passage, whilst varying
the arrangements to suit existing buildings, I prefer to fix the injector ventilator,
substantially the same as above described, without the scrubber, reservoir, and
deflector battery. The valve is also self-regulating by the inflowing current, and
admits the required quantity of air, and entire immunity from draughts is secured
by the deflector plate placed at a proper angle, not being vertical nor horizontal,
and same may be further provided with perforated plates, gauze, and such like to
diffuse the air. The position of fixture of the apparatus may be in the doors,
windows, walls, chimneys, heating and ventilating stoves, ranges, or fire-places.
A modification of the extractor ventilator consists of a tube or box fitted with a
self-acting regulator valve, which draws out the proper quantity of vitiated air
from the apartments without draughts to the occupants. All the several valves in
all the apparatus close when not required to pass air either to or from the apart-
ment, and back draughts are also avoided by the closing of the valves.
In an ordinary house apartment I preferably fix the efflux apparatus in the
chimney breast wall, a little below the ceiling or cornice line, over an aperture cut
through into the smoke flue, but it may also be fixed in the door or above the lintel,
in the upper part of windows, or in the walls or ceilings.
The whole system, whether injectors or extractors placed within a dwelling
house or public building, is adapted to ornamental and artistic treatment of design,
so as to obviate the common objection to such appliances on the ground of unsight-
liness, and same may be made pleasing and conspicuous objects of adornment, and
may be prepared of any shape or figure.
In this extractor ventilator the up-current is obtained by the natural tendency,
of heated or warmed air to ascend, aided by the form or configuration of the tube
or box, of which the inlet for the passage of exhausted air from the apartment or
place must be at a lower level than the air outlet into the chimney flue, or other
space. A screen (that may be an artistic work or other ornamentation) is some-
times fixed in front of the apparatus. In other positions of outlet than into the
smoke flue, or other upcast shaft, the extractor apparatus may have its exit end
lengthened by a vertical or oblique pipe to assist the draught. When such outlet
or tube is directly into the external atmosphere it may be protected and assisted
by a hood, cowl, or louvres attached to its upper extremity.
The novelty and utility of this Invention consists in cleaning the air before
admission into the building when such cleansing is desirable, as in crowded and
closely built places, introducing and causing the air to flow at an inclined angle of
elevation by aid of the deflector, so as to avoid unpleasant and objectionable

page_text: draughts, also regulating the entrance of the proper quantity of fresh air by valves
depending for action upon a natural law of motion of the air created by varying
temperatures, and the affinity of air to ascend wherever the process of combustion
of animal matter, or lights, or fuel is going on, so that the required amount of pure
fresh air is furnished, so as to maintain the atmosphere of the building or apart-
ment of a uniformly pure and wholesome quality equal or nearly equal to the con-
dition of the external air to suit the varying circumstances of the presence of many
or few persons with or without fires and artificial lights, the entire system being
self-acting and regulating, requiring no aid or help from any person or external
source. The operation is assisted by the extractor ventilator controlled by the self-
regulating valve acted upon by the outgoing current, which is in unison with the
inlet apparatus.
The objections to mere openings into the chimneys or other spaces. by which
draughts, smoke, soot, smuts, and dust are admitted into the apartment are avoided
in this extractor ventilator by placing its opening from the apartment at a lower
level than its outlet, whereby back draughts are prevented; but where there is a
disposition towards a reversed down current, which I find very rarely occurs with
these appliances, and under exceptional circumstances, it is obstructed by the valve
at once closing. As the valves are constructed to open to the fullest capacity of
the several inlets and outlets the passage of air corresponds to the sectional area of
the boxes or tubes, which is the actual and not merely nominal capacity of the
apparatus.
The quantity of air entering or passing away from the apartments or buildings
is determined by the velocity of currents, and these currents are 'governed by the
differences of temperature, and to these natural laws the apparatus is designed, so
that the supply of air per individual, freed from draughts, is fully equal to the
maximum quantity considered by the best authorities as necessary.
In the application of the system as an improved mode of ventilation to a private
house, or other building throughout, I preferably ventilate the principal entrances
with an injector apparatus, so that a gentle air circulation is kept up in the various
passages, halls, and staircase wells, acting as horizontal or vertical upcast shafts in
connection with extractors fixed above the heads of the stairs in the highest parts,
or in the roofs, windows, or skylights. The basement, containing the sculleries
and kitchens, is separated from the upper inhabited portion of the house, so that
fumes and odours, suggestive of culinary operations, are not circulated above.
From the lobbies, passages, halls, or staircase wells, which are first treated as
above, I obtain the necessary air, which may if needed be previously warmed, to
supply the various sitting and sleeping apartments or chambers conducted by the
injector ventilator placed in the doors or internal walls, whereby the air of the
whole. building, and of every room within it, is maintained of good quality, and.
much superior to what is usually present in the majority of habitations.
In railway carriages, coaches, or other vehicles I prefer to ventilate by placing
the injector ventilator in some of its modified forms in the windows, sides, ends,
or roof of the conveyance, and avoid draught by the deflector plates. Railway or
other carriages, subject to the entrance of dust and dirt, may have the same excluded
by means of the scrubber with or without water.
For tunnels and underground locomotion the air in coaches may be further
purified by charging the washing water with various caustic alkalies or earths, so
that in addition to the mechanical cleansing such deleterious gaseous matters (as
the several oxides of sulphur and carbon form chemical union with the dissolved
salts, which thus become fixed, and) are removed from the atmosphere.:
The extractor ventilator may be fixed in the roof or sides, of the carriages and the
exit ends so arranged as to improve the current through the carriage if desired by
the motion of the air against the outer'air.
The apparatus may also be used for ships and floating craft generally, and for
house drains, sewers, and mines.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. A shows the general and complete arrangement of the influx ventilator, also
its application fixed in a window sash. a is the scrubber hung from the top sash
towards the outer air; b is the air space or reservoir; c, the louvre battery; d, the
deflector plate to tilt the air into the room at an angle of elevation; e is the valve
to regulate the admission of air; and e¹ are supplementary air entrances.
Fig. B is a modified form of Fig. A without the valve e, the reservoir b, and the
deflector plate d, showing its application for purifying and cleansing the outer air
passing into the place to be ventilated. The Figure is given in elevation and
section, the latter showing the mode of attaching to a window.
Fig. C is similar to Fig. B with the wash water and scrubber omitted. It is
intended to convey external air through a door, fanlight, window, wall, or other
medium to the place to be ventilated, the hood a serving to throw off the wind from
the louvres, and check the too great admittance of air secured by the wedge shape
of the projecting top and front plates.
Fig. D shows the general application of the influx ventilator for internal use, and
is fixed in the top rail of the door, the deflector plate a hanging forward into the
apartment, the air opening b from the passage and hall being covered with per-
forated material; and c is the valve.
Fig. E is an elevation and section of the influx ventilator, showing mode of
ornamenting the same, the plan of fixing to a door being shown in Fig. D.
Fig. H is an elevation and section of an efflux ventilator, suited for general
interior employment where a chimney or other flue is convenient, and is fixed near the
ceiling line. a is the hood, which acts as an upcast shaft, being perforated for the
passage of vitiated air from the room into the flue at a line of level below the
lowest part of the valve box b; c is the counterpoised valve, the balance acting from
either above or below, and opens when acted upon by the outgoing air to the full
capacity of the valve box if the current of air is considerable. The sonorous
vibrations are avoided when the valve falls by attaching to the valve or to the
flanges wool, cotton, or other soft and elastic material upon which the valve may
strike.
Fig. F shows a mode of application of the ventilator, Fig. H, to a chimney flue.
Fig. G is the general form of efflux ventilator [to be fixed in positions where the
apparatus in Fig. H is not applicable, and ventilates directly into the outer air, the
form in Fig. H being for internal use.
This apparatus consists of a tube provided at its upper part with louvre cones
fixed at divergent angles, and covered with a cap.
The motion of the wind is utilized to exhaust or draw up air through the tube
from the place to be ventilated, which passes between the open space dividing the
cones, and is inclined upwards in the tube parallel or nearly so to its axis, by which
action the air in the tube beneath is sucked upwards.
To obtain a good velocity of up current through the ventilator in very calm
weather the area of the outer circumference of the wind space separating the cones
is in excess of the area of the inner circumference, by which the force of the wind
entering the louvres is accumulated or concentrated, and the expulsive power of the
ventilator is increased. The area of the inner space of louvres must also bear a
definite ratio to the area of the tube, and should not exceed the sectional area of the
exhaust tube, and for most purposes may be of a lesser area.
To prevent a reversed current and down draught in the ventilator when the wind
is changeable, and does not travel horizontally, but at angles depressed from the
zenith, the louvre plates may be fixed near the upper end of the tube. The
inclination of the plates must also be such that the angle of reflection of the wind
striking upon the plane of louvres must be a higher angle of elevation than the
angle formed between the horizontal line with the rim of ventilator cap and the
edge of suction tube at its orifice. The object is to resist the passage of the wind

page_text: down the tube, entering between the orifice of tube and edge of cap at a depressed
angle, and forcing it back by the greater power of the wind entering the louvres at
a higher angle.
To control the velocity of up flow of air through the ventilator in stormy weather
the cap must be fixed at such an elevation above the orifice of tube that the area of
circumference of air space between tube and cap shall not exceed the area of the
suction tube.
For some purposes, and in certain positions where occasional reversed current is
immaterial, the cap may be omitted.
This apparatus may be employed in ventilating every kind of place where fresh
air is needed, or where foul air and vapours require to be speedily removed; and as
there seems no practical limit to its capacity and powers of extraction, it may be
made of large size, and employed for ventilating mines, tunnels, and sewers.
As may be seen from the construction of this apparatus it is also further applicable
as a chimney terminal.
Figs. I, K, L, and Mare varieties of the efflux ventilator described generally under
Fig. G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in
practice, I hereby declare that I claim the Invention of "Improvements in Ven-
tilation and Apparatus therefor," substantially as the same is herein-before set forth
and described, and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, it being understood
that I do not claim (except as constituents of my said Invention) nor do I limit
myself to the use of the details of mechanical construction herein-before described
and illustrated by the said Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Weaver, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
30 Witness,
T. MORGAN,
Secretary,
Inventors' Patent Right Ass"., Ld.,
21, Cockspur Street, S.W.
RICHARD WEAVER. (L.S.)