CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHT' IN CHIMNIES, WHICH MAY ALSO BE APPLIED FOR THE PURPOSE OF VENTILATION
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wenner, of Horwich, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHT' IN CHIMNIES, WHICH MAY
ALSO BE APPLIED FOR THE PURPOSE OF VENTILATION "
Sealed the 13th August 1867, and dated the 19th February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wenner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th
February 1867.
I, CHARLES WENNER, of Horwich, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHT' IN CHIMNIES,
WHICH MAY ALSO BE APPLIED FOR THE PURPOSE OF VENTILATION," to be as
follows:-
My Invention is designed for the prevention of "down draughts "in chimnies,
and for the purpose of effecting a better up draught, for which purposes it may
be also applied in the exterior of rooms for ventilating.
The improvements consist in the use and application of a curved "hood" or
"cowl" to the upper portion of the chimney pot or funnel, which is open at
the exit end, and turns with the wind on a vertical shaft, such "cowl" having
an opening in the back or long curve, into which a horizontal funnel or conica!

page_text: tube is fitted, so that the current of air passes directly through the top of the
hood at right angles to the chimney or air shaft, causing a great upward
draught, and preventing any downward current.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Wenner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WENNER, of Horwich, in the County of Lancaster, Civil Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Wenner, Her special license that I, the said Charles Wenner,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Charles Wenner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING DOWN DRAUGHT IN CHIMNIES, WHICH MAY
ALSO BE APPLIED FOR THE PURPOSE OF VENTILATION," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Wenner, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Wenner, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My Invention is designed for the prevention of "down draughts" in
chimnies, and for the purposes of effecting a better "up draught," for
which purpose it may also be applied on the exterior of rooms for ventilating.
The improvements consist in the use and application of a curved "hood"

page_text: or "cowl" into which the upper portion of the chimney pot or funnel is made
to project, such hood or cowl being open at the exit end, and turning with the
wind on a vertical shaft, and has an opening in the back or long curve of a
smaller sectional area than the area of the exit end of the cowl, and into. this
back opening a horizontal funnel or conical tube is fitted in order to catch
the wind. By this arrangement the air passes from the small opening in the
back of the hood or cowl over the top of and at right angles to the chimney
or air shaft through the said hood or cowl of larger sectional area, expanding
at the same time, and causing a great upward draught in the chimney or
ventilating shaft. To prevent any back current the hood or cowl is made of
sufficient length to allow the current of air which issues from the small
opening in shape of a cone to touch the sides of the cowl before passing into
the open air, so that no air current can enter through the front opening.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrative of same.
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a front elevation of the
improved "hood" or "cowl" as applied to chimnies for the purpose of pre-
venting "down draughts" in the same; and Figs. 3 and 4 represent a side
and front elevation of a similar form of "hood" or "cowl" having an
arrangement of lock or bolt to be employed for the purpose of retaining the
"hood" or "cowl" in any portion of its revolution, which may be effected in
various methods, Figs. 3 and 4 being shewn as examples.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, a, a, is the foundation or stationary funnel, upon
which the "hood" or "cowl " 6 is mounted, bearing upon the central spindle c,
which forms the axis or centre on which the hood or cowl turns or rotates
with the wind. The "cowl" or "hood" 6 at its extremity above the top
opening of the funnel a is left open for the exit of smoke or foul air; the
portion or long curve d is provided with a conical tube extending from the
back of the hood b and at right angles to the vertical tube or funnel a, from
whence the foul air or smoke issues into the "hood" or "cowl;" by this
arrangement the current of air passes directly through the top of the hood at
right angles to the chimney or air shaft, thereby causing a great upward
draught, and preventing any downward current. The direction of the course
of the smoke or air is indicated by arrows.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim,-
First, fixing the peculiar construction of hood or cowl at right angles to the
chimney or air shaft.

page_text: Secondly, the introduction of the chimney or air shaft into the hood or
cowl in such a manner that it project slightly into the inside of the cowl
or hood.
And, thirdly, the application of an opening at the back of the cowl of
smaller sectional area than the opening of the mouth of the hood or cowl,
and constructing the hood of sufficient length as to allow the current of air to
join the sides thereof before leaving it, as before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wenner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
Witnessed by
JOHN L. DAVIES, C. E.,
Office for Patents,
Manchester.
CHARLES WENNER. (L.S.)