Improvements in Means of and in Apparatus for Ventilation and for the Maintenance of the Gaseous Contents of an Enclosed Space at a Uniform Purity and Composition.
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in Means of and in Apparatus for Ventilation
and for the Maintenance of the Gaseous Contents of an
Enclosed Space at a Uniform Purity and Composition.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN of 37 Brooke Street, Holborn, in the City of London
Consulting Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATION AND FOR THE
MAINTENANCE OF THE GASEOUS CONTENTS OF AN ENCLOSED SPACE AT A UNIFORM
PURITY AND COMPOSITION to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide automatic means of and apparatus for
ventilating an enclosed space and for maintaining the gaseous contents of such a
space at a uniform purity and composition so that the amount of replacement of the
gaseous contents is directly proportional to the impurity or change of composition.
In carrying my invention into effect I take advantage of the diffusive or osmotic
property of gases, and I may employ a ventilating or replacing apparatus which
may consist of a flap, valve, vane, screw, fan, propeller or other form of ventilator
or replacer which may be actuated by an electro motor which latter in its simpler
forms may consist of an electromagnet and armature of a solenoid and core or of a
coil and magnet or of two coils acting on one another or of a more complicated form
such as an electro-dynamic electromagnetic or electro-static machine. This electro-
motor may be in electrical connection by primary, secondary or other circuit with
a Generator, Dynamo, Converter, Condenser, Thermal or Chemical Battery, either
primary or secondary or other source or reservoir or transformer of electrical
energy. For the purpose of automatically calling the electro-motor and therefore
the ventilator or replacer into action I may employ what I may call an "Osmotic
Contact or device for making or breaking electrical contact through the influence
of the absorptive, diffusive or osmotic property of gases. One form of this may
consist of a bladder of animal or other membrane or of a vessel closed at one or
more parts by a diaphragm, partition or septum, porous or otherwise, (or of a vessel
wholly or partly of porous material) of such nature that transfer, diffusion or
gaseous osmose may take place through it. The principal impurity in the air
which it is generally desired to get rid of is the gas known as carbonic anhydride
(CO₂) but my invention will apply to other gases, and the amount of such gas in
the air surrounding the beforementioned vessel will determine the rate of transfer
diffusion or osmose through the said membrane, diaphragm partition or septum and
consequently the weight of the bladder or vessel. The bladder or vessel may be
attached to a lever balance beam or other equivalent device (a tension spring or
other equivalent device may be employed to react against its movement for the
purpose of regulation and adjustment) or to a spring as in a spring-balance &c, or
to a piston in a straight bent or other shaped tube or similar vessel containing a
دو

page_text: suitable fluid or the said bladder or vessel may form part of a straight bent or
other shaped tube containing a conducting fluid or a conducting piston float or
plunger so that alteration of the weight or tension of the gaseous contents of the
said bladder or vessel may cause the lever, balance beam or other equivalent device
to be moved through an angle or the spring to be stretched bent or deflected or the
piston with the suitable fluid to be moved in the tube or similar vessel or the con-
ducting fluid, or conducting piston float or plunger to be moved so that electrical
contact may be made and the current from the battery &c. actuate the electromotor
and therefore the ventilator or replacer.
Instead of the movement being caused and contact made by the alteration in
weight of the bladder or vessel it may be effected by the expansion or contraction
or change of shape or position of the bladder or vessel.
I may regulate the point or period at which contact takes place and therefore
ventilation or replacement commenced by regulating by suitable devices such as
adjustable screws &c. the distance through which movement or expansion or con-
traction or change of shape or of position takes place before contact is made and
the circuit closed. I may vary the rate of ventilation or replacement by varying
the electric current passing through the electromotor, as for example by providing
a number of contact points so that the greater the amount of movement, expansion
contraction or change of shape or of position the more elements of battery,
generator &c. may be cut in. Or I may vary the rate of ventilation by increasing
or decreasing, automatically or otherwise, the resistance of the circuit or by
increasing or decreasing, automatically or otherwise, the electromotive force, or
where a secondary circuit exists by exposing more or less of it, automatically or
otherwise, to the action of the primary circuit, or by inserting a core as will be
readily understood. Or I may vary the rate of ventilation or replacement by
varying the intensity of the magnetic or electric field, automatically or otherwise,
where a dynamo electric or electrostatic generator is employed, or by altering the
position of the brushes on the collector, automatically or otherwise, or by any of
the other known methods of varying the current produced by a dynamo-electric
or electrostatic generator. Or the rate of ventilation or replacement may be varied
by the greater or less immersion of the plates in the solution where a chemical
generator is employed or by varying their distance from one another, and that
either automatically or otherwise. Or I may vary the rate of ventilation or
replacement by varying the position of the brushes of the electromotor or by any
of the other well known methods of varying the speed of an electromotor and that
automatically or otherwise.
I may employ automatic cut outs or fuses to break the circuit when required.
It will readily be understood that other gases than carbonic anhydride will cause
the apparatus to act, it being arranged and adjusted accordingly. Thus the venti-
lator or replacer may be called into action in the event of an escape of coal gas and
so prevent an accumulation of the same to such extent as would be dangerous or
explosive.
It will be understood that the ventilator or replacer may not only exhaust from
an enclosed space but also inject into the same; and a chamber may be provided
with both exhausting and injecting apparatus for the purpose of maintaining its
gaseous contents uniform in composition.
Duplex contacts may be employed so that the same apparatus may make contact
in one direction when endosmose exceeds exosmose and in the opposite direction
when exosmose exceeds 'endosmose.

page_text: tans UT аца In Apparatus
тоцна поп
and for the Maintenance of the Gaseous Contents of an
Enclosed Space at a Uniform Purity and Composition.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of 37 Brooke Street, Holborn, in the City of
London, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR VENTILATION AND FOR
THE MAINTENANCE OF THE GASEOUS CONTENTS OF AN ENCLOSED SPACE AT A
UNIFORM PURITY AND COMPOSITION, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my invention is to provide automatic means of and apparatus for
ventilating an enclosed space, and for maintaining the gaseous contents of such a
space at a uniform purity and composition, so that the amount of replacement of
the gaseous contents is directly proportional to the impurity or change of com-
position of the said gaseous contents.
In carrying my invention into effect I take advantage of the osmotic properties
of gases, sometimes popularly called diffusion through, or mutual transfer through
a material, by which gases of different nature or density, separated by certain
materials, such as membranes, colloids or porous media, pass through such media in
different proportions, or at different rates, depending on the nature or density of
the respective gases, and on the particular material employed as the separating
medium. For the purpose of my invention I employ a ventilating or replacing
apparatus consisting of a flap, valve, shutter, slide, vane, screw, fan, propeller or
other equivalent form of ventilator or replacer, which is actuated by an electromotor,
which latter, in its simpler forms, may consist of an electromagnet and armature,
of a solenoid or sucking magnet and core, or of a coil and magnet, or of two coils
acting on one another, or of a more complicated form such as an electro-dynamic,
or electrostatic machine. This electromotor is in electrical connection, by primary,
secondary or other circuit, with a Generator, Dynamo, Converter, Condenser,
Thermal or Chemical Battery, either primary or secondary, or other source,
reservoir or transformer of electrical energy. For the purpose of automatically
calling the electromotor and therefore the ventilator or replacer into action I
employ what I may call an "osmotic contact," or device for making or breaking
electrical contact under the influence of the osmotic properties of gases.
osmotic contact consists of a vessel or cell formed wholly or partly of osmotic
material, that is of porous, membranous, or colloidal matter, or other material of
such nature, and sufficiently thin, as to allow of osmose, diffusion or transfer to
take place through it. For example I may use a bladder of animal or other
membrane, or a vessel of porous material, or a vessel closed at one or more parts
by a diaphragm, partition or septum, porous or otherwise, the said bladder, vessel,
diaphragm, partition or septum being of such nature that gaseous transfer, diffusion
cr osmose may take place through it. The commonest impurity in the air is the
This

page_text: gas known as carbonic anhydride CO₂, and as this is a gas whose specific gravity
differs widely from that of ordinary air, the osmotic contact is very sensitive to its
presence. But my invention also acts under the influence of other gases, and the
amount or proportion of the gas in the air surrounding the before mentioned vessel
or cell determines the rate of transfer, diffusion or osmose through the said vessel
or cell, and consequently determines the relative weight of the said vessel or cell to
that of the surrounding air. The vessel or cell may be attached to a lever, balance
beam, or other equivalent device, (a tension spring or other equivalent device being
if necessary employed to react against its movement, for the purpose of regulation
and adjustment, as will be readily understood) or to a spring as in a spring balance,
or to a piston in a suitably shaped tube or similar or equivalent receptacle con-
taining a suitable fluid, or the said vessel or cell may form part of a straight or
other shaped tube containing a conducting fluid, or a conducting piston, float or
plunger, so that alteration of the weight or tension of the gaseous contents of the
said vessel or cell may cause the lever, balance beam, or other equivalent device to
be moved through an angle, or the spring to be stretched, compressed, bent or
deflected, or the piston with the suitable fluid to be moved in the tube or other
receptacle, or the conducting fluid, or conducting piston, float or plunger to be
moved, so that electrical contact may be made, and a current flow which shall directly
or indirectly actuate the electromotor, and therefore the ventilator or replacer.
Instead of the movement being caused and contact made by the alteration in
weight of the vessel or cell it may be effected by the expansion or contraction or
change of shape or position of the whole or part of the vessel or cell, such as by the
extension or retraction of a more or less elastic septum or membrane forming part of
a vessel or cell; the vessel or cell, or the moveable part thereof, may carry a contact
piece for opening and closing the circuit. I may regulate or determine the point
or period at which contact takes place, and therefore ventilation or replacement is
commenced, by regulating, by suitable devices such as adjustable screws, or their
equivalents, the distance through which movement or expansion or contraction
takes place before contact is made and the circuit closed. I may vary or regulate
the rate of ventilation or maintain the gaseous contents of the enclosed space to be
ventilated at a uniform purity and composition by varying the electric current
passing through the electromotor, as for example by any of the following methods,
such as by providing a number of contact points, these contact points being so
joined up in circuit that the greater the amount of movement, expansion or
contraction the more elements of battery, or other source, reservoir or transformer
of electrical energy, may be cut in, or by increasing or decreasing automatically the
resistance of the circuit, or by increasing or decreasing automatically the electro-
motive force in any of the well known ways either by varying the number of
elements in series in the case of a chemical or thermo-electric generator, or by
varying the speed of a dynamic generator of electricity, or where a secondary
circuit exists by exposing more or less of it automatically to the action of the
primary circuit, or by inserting a core or exposing it more or less, as will be
readily understood, or by varying the intensity of the magnetic or electric field
automatically where a dynamo-electric or electrostatic generator is employed, or by
altering the position of the brushes or of one brush on the collector automatically,
or by any of the other known methods of varying the current produced by a
dynamo-electric or electrostatic generator, or by the greater or less immersion of
the plates in the solution where a chemical generator is employed, or by varying
their distance from one another automatically, or by varying the position of the
brushes of the electromotor, or by any of the other well known methods of varying
the speed of an electromotor automatically. I may employ automatic cut-outs or
fuses to break the circuit when required.
It will readily be understood that other gases than carbonic anhydride will cause
the apparatus to act, it being arranged and adjusted accordingly. Thus the
ventilator or replacer may be called into action in the event of an escape of coal
gas, and so prevent an accumulation of the same to such extent as would be

page_text: dangerous or explosive-the vessel or cell or moveable part thereof in this case
moving in the opposite direction to that in which movement takes place in the
case of carbonic anhydride. It will be understood that the ventilator or replacer
may not only exhaust from an enclosed space but also inject into the same; and
the chamber to be ventilated may be provided with both exhausting and injecting
apparatus, for the purpose of maintaining its gaseous contents uniform in com-
position. Duplex contacts may be employed, so that the same apparatus may
nake contact in one direction when endosmose exceeds exosmose, and in the
opposite direction when exosmose exceeds endosmose.
In order that my said invention may be more fully understood, I shall now
proceed to describe a few typical modes of carrying the same into effect, and for
that purpose shall refer to the several figures in the accompanying sheets of
drawings which represent diagramatically the features of my Invention. Figure I
represents a type of arrangements for obtaining osmotic contact by means of a
vessel or cell attached to one end of a lever or balance beam-A is the vessel or
cell, in this case of porous material, attached to one end of a lever or balance
beam L, the other end carrying in this case a piece of metal B which dips into two
cups of mercury and completes the circuit through the electromotor, in this case a
solenoid or sucking magnet S and core, and through the source reservoir or trans-
former of electrical energy, in this case a primary battery; the core of the solenoid
is shown connected to a quadrant Q affixed to the axis of shutter ventilator V so
that as the core moves in or out the ventilator is actuated accordingly, a spring
being in this case employed to retain the ventilator in its closed position. The
period at which contact is established may be determined by adjusting the distance
between the metallic conductor B and the surface of the mercury C by any of the
well known methods, such as by means of adjusting screws or equivalent devices
attached to any suitable part. In this arrangement contact is made by decrease of
weight of the vessel or cell but contact may be made by the increase of weight of
the vessel or cell, as, for example, by attaching the contact device to the same end
of the lever as the vessel or cell. This form of contact made be made a duplex one
by attaching a contact device to each arm of the lever. It is obvious that one
mercury cup only need be used, circuit being completed through the apparatus
which would then he made of conducting material. Figure 2 represents a type of
arrangements for obtaining osmotic contact by means of a vessel or cell-in this
case porous-attached to a spring. A is the vessel or cell, W the spring from
which it is suspended. An alteration of weight of the vessel or cell will cause an
extension or contraction of the spring, and contact may be made or broken by any
of the well known devices. The device here shown differs inter alia from that
shown in Figure I in that it exhibits an arrangement for completing three contacts,
for the purpose not only of determining the period at which ventilation or
replacement begins and terminates, but also for varying the rate of ventilation or
replacement, such variation being automatically effected by the amount of move-
ment of the vessel or cell. In this case the movement has the effect of cutting in
or out a greater or less number of elements of the source, reservoir or transformer
of electrical energy (in this case a primary battery G) according to the number of
points dipping in the cups C, the said elements being joined up either in series as
shown in the figure or in quantity.
It will be readily understood that I may employ any number of contacts either
in this or in any of the other arrangements herein specified. In this case of
Figure 2 the connection with electro-motor and ventilator is not shown. Figure 3
shows another arrangement whereby alteration of weight of the vessel or cell
makes or breaks circuit. The porous vessel A is attached to a piston P, which is
moveable within the tube T: contact is established between 1 & 2 by the descent
of the piston forcing up the conducting fluid Z into contact with the point C. The
conductors 1 and 2 are in circuit with the generator and with the electro-motor
which operates the ventilator. Instead of the conducting fluid itself making
contact with the point C it may carry a conducting piston, float or plunger for

page_text: so making contact. Figure 4 represents a type of arrangements for obtaining
osmotic contact by means of a tube containing a conducting fluid forming part of a
vessel or cell also shown in this case porous-A is the porous vessel or cell com-
municating with the tube T which contains a conducting fluid & such as mercury.
Any alteration of tension of the air contents of the vessel will cause a movement
of the conducting fluid, and complete the circuit. Duplex contacts C and D are
shown so that the electric circuit may be completed and the ventilator or replacer
brought into action either when exosmose exceeds endosmose or vice versa; circuit
being completed through C and 3 in one case, and through D and 3 in the other.
It will be readily understood that a conducting piston, float or plunger may be
floated on the surface of the fluid in the tube T, so as to make contact with C
and D instead of employing the conducting fluid itself to make such contact.
Figure 5 is a section representing a type of arrangements for obtaining osmotic
contact by means of a vessel or cell closed by an elastic diaphragm. Figure 6 is a
plan of the same. A is the vessel or cell, in this case also shewn a porous one,
closed by an elastic diaphragm D, the diaphragm shown in the figure being of
corrugated metal capable of responding to alterations of tension of the air within
the vessel or cell, and being moved so as to make contact with a point or points
placed near it, carried by a screw P¹; the period at which contact is made being
thus capable of adjustinent by turning the screw. Figures 7 and 8 represent a
slight modification of Figures 5 and 6 so as to enable the vessel or cell to be built
into a wall so as to have its surface flush with it or placed in some position where
only a portion of the surface of the vessel or cell need be exposed to the air of the
chamber or vessel to be ventilated. The part A is composed of osmotic material,
and must be exposed to the air of the chamber or vessel to be ventilated. The
part A¹ need not be of osmotic material. D is the elastic diaphragm by the
movement of which contact is established or broken. Figure 9 shows diagram-
matically this last form of contact in circuit with the electro-motor M shown on
the same shaft as the ventilator V. It will be readily understood that the source
reservoir or transformer of electric energy must be interposed between 1 and 2.
Figure 10 represents diagramatically one form of installation, by means of
which automatic regulation of the rate of ventilation or replacement is obtained in
addition to automatic action. In this diagram the form of osmotic contact
illustrated by Figure 4 is shown in use. A is the porous vessel or cell communi-
cating with tube T containing the conducting liquid l. C₁, C₂ Cs are contact
points from which the wires 1, 2, 3 lead each to one of the three coils S₁ S₂ Sy
constituting a compound solenoid. The battery G has one pole connected to 1, and
its cells are shown connected with the solenoid coils in such a manner that when
makes contact with C, a small number of elements of the battery are put in circuit
with S, which sucks in the core X. Should the impurity of the air cause to rise
still further so as to make contact with C₂, a greater number of cells will be cut
into circuit as well as the coil S, so that the core will be further sucked into the
compound solenoid. A still greater impurity of the air will by the same cycle of
effects bring S3, as well as more battery cells, into circuit and cause the core X to
be sucked still further in. It will thus be seen that the greater the impurity of 4
the air in the space requiring to be ventilated the greater will be the amount of
movement of the core X. In the case at present under description the movement
of the core X varies the rate of ventilation or air replacement in the following
manner. The rate of ventilation or air replacement varies with the speed of the
ventilator or replacer. The Ventilator or Replacer V being carried on the shaft of the 5
electro-motor M, its speed will vary with that of the said electromotor. The speed
of the electromotor will vary with the current passing through it. This current
will vary with the electromotive force, which latter will vary with the intensity
of the magnetic field of the dynamo D in which the armature revolves. This
Dynamo D being a shunt wound one, the intensity of the magnetic field will vary 5
with the current passing through its shunt circuit, which, again, will vary inversely
with its resistance. If now we can vary the resistance of the shunt circuit of the

page_text: Dynamo proportionally and inversely to the change of density of the air in the
space to be ventilated, it is clear that the rate of ventilation or replacement of
the air in the space to be ventilated will vary with its change of density or com-
position, and that automatically. In the shunt circuit of the Dynamo is inserted
à variable resistance R on the contact pieces of which slides one end of a lever L
the other end of which is attached to the core X. A spring W, which may be
adjustable, keeps the lever pressed against the stop O and away from the contact
pieces of the variable resistance. The shunt circuit is therefore normally kept
open, but when the core X has been sucked downwards a little way the other or
contact making end of the lever L moves upwards until it reaches the first contact
piece and so closes the circuit. The whole of the resistance is now in the circuit,
but if the core X is sucked still further downwards the contact end of the lever L
rises higher so as to include less of the resistance in the circuit; thus the further
core X is sucked downwards the less is the resistance in the shunt circuit of the
Dynamo D. Thus the resistance of the shunt circuit varies inversely with the
movement of core X. But it has been shown that the movement of core X is pro-
portional to the density or state of impurity of the air in the space to be ventilated
which therefore varies inversely as the resistance of the shunt circuit; and it has
been shown that the rate of ventilation varies inversely as the resistance of the
shunt circuit, therefore the rate of ventilation varies as the impurity of the air in
the space to be ventilated.
Any of the actions hereinbefore referred to may be brought about either directly
or indirectly, as for example by the interposition of intermediate transmitting,
multiplying or transforming mechanism.
I find that what is known as Wedgwood or biscuit ware, or marble of a
granular rather than a crystalline texture, answer well for the porous material
mentioned.
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. In apparatus for Ventilation actuated by an electro-motor a device herein
designated an osinotic contact for calling the electro-motor into action and causing
the action to cease when no longer required substantially as set forth.
2. In apparatus for ventilation and for the maintenance of the gaseous contents
of an enclosed space at a uniform purity and composition, such apparatus being
actuated by an electro-motor, a device herein designated an osmotic contact for
calling the electro-motor into action, causing the action to cease when no longer
required, and regulating the action while it lasts, substantially as set forth.
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