IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS
Year: 1884

page_text: I FRANCIS WILLIAM WILLCOX 14 Salem Hill Sunderland / Durham Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
VENTILATORS to be as follows:
"
This invention has for its object improvements in apparatus for Ventilating
Vessels, Steamers, dwellings, public buildings & by means of an inlet or downeast
current of air caused by the action of the atmospheric air or wind, and at the same
time to preclude the possibility of water entering the ships holds, dwellings or
spaces to be supplied with air or ventilated. To accomplish this I carry up a
shaft from the space to be supplied with air. To the top of this shaft I fit a funnel
shaped mouthpiece which terminates at its lower end in a cone. This cone
partially enters another inverted cone or receiver which is connected with a bend
at right angles to the shaft fitted to the space to be supplied with air. In this
right angle branch I fit a weighted flap or other valve opening outwards so
balanced that the counterpoise will resist the force of the wind, but directly water
enters the inverted cone its weight causes the valve to open the water being
ejected from the side of the sliaft instead of entering the ships hold or space to be
supplied with air. Thus preventing damage to property by water, rain &o,
1-
Dated this Eleventh day of November 1884.
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page_text: •
I, FRANCIS WILLIAM WILLCOx of 45 West Sunniside Sunderland in the County
of Durham Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
VENTILATING AND SUPPLYING FRESH AIR TO HOLDS AND CABINS OF VESSELS, 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 this invention. is to supply the holds and Cabins of vessels,
buildings factories, or any space requiring ventilation with fresh air by the action
of the wind, or atmosphere, without allowing sea water or rain to enter, and
thereby preventing damage to cargo or contents of space to be supplied with
fresh air.
In order to supply a continuous current of fresh air, to the holds and cabins of
ships Factories, buildings, or other places requiring ventilation I carry up a shaft A
from the space to be supplied with air, as shown on annexed drawing, in that shaft
I fit a coned receiver B having a right angle bend, which I fit with a weighted flap
valve C the weight keeping it closed under ordinary circumstances, the bend 1
of the receiver is attached round an opening in the shaft A. On the top of the
shaft A I fit a bell mouth D the lower end of which terminates in a cone E which
projects partially into the receiver B. The shaft A can be fitted to revolve
upon a vortical spindle, the bell mouth D being provided with a vane to keep it
to the wind.
The action of the apparatus is as follows; The air entering bell mouth D passes
through its cone E into the receiver B and striking the weighted valve C passes
back over into shaft À, and thence to hold, cabin, or building to be supplied with
fresh air.
Should sea or rain enter the bell mouth D it passes into the receiver B causing
a weighted valve or flap C to open and allow the water to escape into the air, or
on to deck or roof without possibly gaining admission into interior of ship or
building and thus preventing damage to cargo &c. The weighted valve C is
adjusted to resist the force of the wind only.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said 3
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
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The fitting of the cone E, the Receiver B and the Self-acting valve O to Down-
cast Ventilators for supplying fresh air to holds of ships, factories, buildings, and
other places, requiring ventilation, and by their means rendering the access of sea 3
water or rain to spaces supplied with fresh air impossible at the same time enabling
the ventilator mouth being kept to the wind in any weather.