A SELF ACTING VENTILATOR. Temperature Regulator, HEAT INDICATOR, AND FIRE ALARM
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gilmore and William Richard Clark, both of Lower
Norwood, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "A SELF ACTING
VENTILATOR. Temperature Regulator, HEAT INDICATOR, AND FIRE ALARM.”
Sealed the 9th May 1879, and dated the 12th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gilmore and William
Richard Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th
February 1879.
JOHN GILMORE and WILLIAM RICHARD CLARK, both of Lower Norwood, in the
County of Surrey. "A SELF ACTING VENTILATOR, TEMPERATURE REGULATOR,
HEAT INDICATOR, AND FIRE ALARM."
This Invention consists of an arrangement of metals which by their expansion
with heat and their combined action one upon another move levers which open and
shut ventilating apparatus, or apparatus for regulating temperature, give notice on
electric or other alarums of certain degrees of heat or cold, and also when connected
with electric telegraphic apparatus set off an electric bell or clock alarm. The appa-
ratus will also indicate on a dial the degrees of temperature.
In carrying out this Invention I employ an apparatus consisting of metals of
differing expansive or contractile powers under beat, which in their combined action,
increasing or diminishing the radius of their curves, will move levers sufficiently
powerful to act upon apparatus of various kinds for the purpose of effecting the
objects above stated.
For example, when the Invention is applied as a regulator of temperature, a
curved spring may be employed, composed of two blades of metal of different expan-
sive or contractile power secured together throughout their length. The spring is
attached at one end or intermediately of its two extremities to a fixed point, and at
its opposite end is connected by a crank device or other suitable means to a rotary
valve or slide in such a manner that as the temperature is raised the spring will

page_text: expand, and thus act through the intervention of the crank and its connections upon
the valve, and open the same in proportion to the elevation of temperature, the
valve then again closing as the temperature diminishes. When the apparatus is
intented-to-be-used-as-a-fire alarm the-free-end of the spring is connected either by
-clockwork-or-by-means_of_electricity with a suitable alarum, so that when the
spring is expanded to an extent corresponding to an undue elevation of temperature,
the alarum-will-be-sounded, and thus:attention be-called to the existing danger. It
is obvious that by providing-a-hand-or-pointer-and dial-the motion of the spring,
and-consequently the degree of heat, may be indicated. When the apparatus is
intended to be used as a ventilator it may be constructed-in-a-similar-manner-to-the
heat regulator herein before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Gilmore and William Richard Clark in the Great Seal Patent
· Office on the 11th August 1879.
JOHN GILMORE and WILLIAM RICHARD CLARK, both of Lower Norwood, in the
County of Surrey. "A SELF ACTING VENTILATOR, TEMPERATURE REGULATOR, HEAT
INDICATOR, AND FIRE ALARM."
Our said Invention relates to apparatus for ventilating, for regulating tempera-
ture, for indicating heat, and for sounding an alarm when the temperature of any
place in which the apparatus is applied is raised beyond a maximum determined
degree. This apparatus consists essentially of a spring composed of two or more
blades of metals of different expansive or contractile powers, so arranged that as the
temperature is raised the spring will expand and curve, and on the temperature
being again lowered the spring will return to its normal condition; and the spring
constructed and connected, in the manner hereinafter described, with a rotary
valve or slide, and employed in combination or not with indicating or aların appa-
ratus, according to the purpose or purposes to which the Invention is to be applied,
so that the movement of the spring in its expansive or contractile action will be
transmitted to the said valve or slide, and if desired to the indicating or alarm
apparatus, and the same will be thereby operated as required.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate the application of our said Invention to the purpose'
of ventilating or regulating heat according to one mode of applying the same, Figure:
1 being a front elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 a longitudinal section of the
apparatus, and Figure 4 a diagram edge view of the spring. Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8-
illustrate another modification especially applicable to greenhouses or conserva-
tories, Figures 5 and 6 being vertical sections taken respectively at right angles the
one to the other, and Figures 7 and 8 an under plan and horizontal section corre-
sponding respectively to Figures 5 and 6. Figures 9 and 10 and Figure 11
illustrate in diagram the application of the Invention to "lcan to" ventilators,
Figure 9 being a vertical section and Figure 10 an elevation of one modification,
and Figure 11 an elevation of another modification. Figure 12 is an elevation illus-*
trating the application of the Invention to oven doors, and Figure 13 shews its
application to the ventilation of hats.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, which represent an apparatus constructed
according to our said Invention for ventilating or regulating temperature, A is a
Box or casing which may be inserted in or form part of a wall of the apartment or
place to be ventilated, or the temperature of which is to be regulated, the said box
having an opening at a communicating with the external atmosphere or otherwise.
as required, and an opening at b communicating with the interior of the said apart-
ment or place.
The passage from a to b, or vice versa, is opened or closed wholly or partially by'
a rotary valve B fast upon an axis c, and the action of the valve is regulated auto-
matically by variations in the temperature of the apartment or place itself in the
following manner-C is a spring. which is curved or bent to an angle at d, and is'
rigidly secured at its extremity e to the box or casing A, whilst its opposite end f
is supported upon the collar g of a rod h; this rod, which passes through a small
aperture in the spring is attached at its upper end to the arm i of a lever D mounted
upon a centre or fulcrum at k, and connected by its opposite arm it to a crank arm b
fast upon the valve axis c. The spring is composed of two metals of different
expansive or contractile power, the upper blade C¹ being composed of iron, for
example, and the lower blade C² (for example) of zinc,-whilst the two blades are

page_text: united so as to form one spring. The weight of the moving parts is so distributed
that at the normal determined temperature the end f of the spring C, by resting
upon the collar g and thus acting upon the arm i of the lever D, will maintain the
valve B.closed, whilst when the temperature is raised, the spring being thereby
expanded and its lower blade slightly curved-upwards,-carrying the upper or
controlling blade-C₁-with-it, the end of the spring will be raised from the collar g,
which following the spring_by_reason of the preponderating weight or force at the
--opposite.side.of the fulcrum k tlie valve B will be opened (as shown by dotted-lines
in Figure 3) to an extent proportionate to the degree of motion of the end fof-the-
spring,-the-valve-then-again closing as the temperature diminishes. The diagram,
Figure 4, indicates the nature of the curvature of the spring under the influence-
--of-heat.
"By the use of the curved or bent-spring applied in connection with the valve in
the manner described, great sensitiveness is secured, the apparatus being acted upon
by limited changes of temperature, and the movement occasioned by expansion or
contraction of the spring is transmitted to the valve in a multiplex ratio, so that
only a slight degree of expansion or contraction is required to produce a propor-
tionately long range of motion of the valve.
Facility is also provided for varying the degree of temperature at which it is
required that the apparatus shall act, as the collar g, which is made separate from
the rod h, is tapped, and the end h to which it is fitted is screw threaded at its
lower portion, so as to admit of the collar g being adjusted therein, and the connec-
tion of the arm of the lever D with the crank arm 7 is also made adjustable, a
series of holes being provided into one or the other of which the connecting pin may
be fitted. A hand or pointer m may be provided upon the axis c for the purpose
of indicating upon a dial n whether the valve is in its open or closed position, or
the dial n may be graduated if desired in order to enable the approximate tem-
perature to be ascertained by the movement around it of the hand or pointer m
coincident with the movement of the valve, in accordance with the expansion or
contraction of the spring.
When it is required to sound an alarm on a given maximum temperature being
exceeded, an alarum operated by clock work may be provided, the same being held
out of action by a detent L, which is released, as will be well understood, by the
end of the spring C being brought in contact with it. As these parts are moved in
accordance with the action of the spring, the attention of the persons interested is
thus called to the imminent danger of fire when an unduly elevated temperature is
attained.
Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 illustrate the application of the Invention to the ventilation
and regulation of heat in greenhouses, conservatories, or similar places. In this
example the curved or bent spring is made of a shape, and the rod h is simplified.
The other modifications in detail require no special description; a spring of the form
shewn in Figures 1 to 4 may however be employed, or the C spring, shewn in
Figures,5_to_8, may be substituted for the spring shown in Figures 1 to 4.
Figures 9 and 10 and Figure 11 are diagrams illustrating the application-of-the-
Invention (according to two respective modifications) to what are known as "lean-
to" ventilators for windows, walls, or doors, the said ventilators being constructed
of any suitable material, such for example as wood, zinc, or glass. The springs may
be either placed in the position shewn or in any other suitable position. Perfora-
tions may be provided at the back, so as to prevent the direct action of the
external air.
When a spring is employed the lever may be attached directly to the valve,
which then forms a flap carried by the lever. An example of this arrangement is
shewn in Figure 12, which illustrates the application of the Invention to an oven
door.
E is the door on or to which is formed or attached a box or trough F communi-
cating with the interior of the oven, and having an opening at p which is controlled
by a flap valve B carried by the lever.

page_text: A somewhat similar arrangement may be applied to the ventilation of hats, as
shewn in Figure 13, in which example a spring of a similar or different shape is
employed, its end at f acting upon the arm i of the lever D.
In the case of churches, public halls, and the like, any required number of the
improved apparatus may be employed, arranged at intervals around arched troughs
forming the heads of the windows, for example; or at a suitable distance apart in
boxes or chambers beneath the window sills; or where sun lights or centre pieces
over gasaliers are employed, one or more of the improved apparatus may be fitted
to the flue or flues leading from the sun light or contre piece to the external atmo-
sphere; or the apparatus may be arranged in any other suitable place. In all cases,
both in the application of the Invention to public and private buildings, the apparatus
may be fitted in the walls, roofs, or cornices, and at those parts thereof where it can
be most conveniently applied so as to produce the greatest practical advantage from
its use.
In addition to the applications hereinbefore referred to, the ventilating or heat
regulating apparatus is adapted for use in warehouses and rooms of large size, to
factories and stables, vats for chemical and manufacturing purposes, ships cowls,
cabins, and holds, stacks, and generally wherever ventilation or the regulation of
temperature is required.
Where a temperature indicator is required in conjunction with a regulator of tem-
perature, a dial suitably graduated may be provided, say for example at n, Figure 1,
in connection with the hand or pointer m, shewn clearly in that Figure; or a hand
or pointer and dial may be added in the case of any other modification herein before
described when it is desired to indicate the variations of temperature, as well as
regulate the same.
In the application of any of the arrangements herein before described, where it is
desirable that an alarm should be given when a given temperature is exceeded, a
suitable clock work alarum is added, as described with reference to the arrangement
shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
In the construction of the compound springs used in carrying out our said Inven-
tion, when they are composed of steel or iron and zinc we prefer to cover the steel
or iron blade with soldering fluid and to place thereon a sheet of tin foil, and also to
cover the zinc blade with soldering fluid and place it upon the tin foil, and then to
unite the whole by pressure with a hot iron.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we
would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
First. The employment of curved or bent springs composed of two or more metals
of different expansive or contractile power, when the said springs are fitted and
applied substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Secondly. The application and use of springs composed of two or more metals
of different expansion and contractile power to and in the simultaneous regulating
and indicating of temperature, in conjunction or not with the signalling of an undue
elevation thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Gilmore and William Richard Clark,
have to this our Specification set our hands and seals, the Sixth day of
August, One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM RICHARD CLARK. (L.S.)