US1800237A - Air-vent fan for vaults - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1931. J p w 5 1,800,237

AIR VENT FAN FOR VAULTS Filed May 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 'l :Ziiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiii --iiiiiiiiimmimniiiiimimimiiiniiimmiim 1d I April 1931- J. P. WILLIAMS 1,800,237

AIR VENT FAN FOR VAULTS Filed May 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN P WILLIAMS, OF MALVEBNE, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DUPLEX ELECTRIC COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. 3., A CGRPQRATION OF DELAWARE AIR-VENT FAY FOR VAULTS Application filed May 25,

This invention relates to air-vent fans for vaults and comprises an improved automatic ventilatmg means whlch is mounted at the inner side of a vault wall and is operative in relation to an air-vent device extending through the vault wall and adapted to be perated from the inside of the vault to provide a direct opening to the exterior of the vault. The purpose of such air-vent devices and means is to enable anyone locked in a vault,

either under burglarious attack or accidentally, to conveniently open up the air passage afforded by the vent through the wall and thus afl'ord ventilating communication with the air outside the vault. While the air passage thus aiiorded through the opened-up vent in the vault wall will enable a supply of air from the outside in sufficient degree to preserve the life of anyone imprisoned in the vault during a period of time until released,

it is desirable to provide supplementary ventilating means operative in relation to the opened-up vent to in-take fresh air from outside the vault and exhaust the foul or vitiated air therein, such supplementary means being usually an electric fan.

It will be understood that bank vaults, as usually constructed, are air-tight at the interior, and have time-lock closure doors, and

that therefore to preserve life within the vault under closed conditions it is necessary to provide emergency means for ventilation in communication with the outside air.

It is the object of my present invention to provide an improved ventilating fan means of the character above indicated, which will be automatic in relation to any type of airvent means afl'ording when operated and opened up an air passage through the vault 40 wall of sufficient vent area to conveniently and eflectively accomodate and enable the insertion of an intake tube comprised in the fan means and insertable from the inside ot the vault through said air passage and of lesser diameter than the latter to afford a surplus space for the exhaust through said air passage of the foul air within the vault.

My improvements are further designed to provide ventilating fan means of the character set forth which will possess advantages 1928. Serial No. 280,528.

in point of simplicity, convenience, economy in construction, ease and certainty of operation, effectiveness, and general efficiency.

It will be understood that my improved ventilating fan means are adapted for efl'ec- 5 tive employment in relation to air-vent passages through the walls of all types of vault construction, or large safes, or storage rooms or other compartments, under conditions in which air ventilation would be required to the no interior in the eventuality of anyone being imprisoned therein.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a face View of the inside wall of a vault, showing an air-vent means and t5 the improved fan ventilating means in operative relation thereto and in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the vault wall, showing the air-vent means in section and normal closed position and the improved ventilating fan means in normal relation thereto.

Fig. 3 is'a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2, showing the air-vent means in openedup condition and the intake tube of the fan 7 ventilating means in operative insertion through the air passage.

Fig. 4 is a detail front elevation of the automatic electric switch means for mounting the intake tube in normal position.

Fig. 5 is a detail top view of the mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 4:.

Fig. 6 is a detail cross-section on the line 66, Fig 4, showing in dotted lines the automatic switch action effected by removal of the intake tube.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric circuit connections with the auto matic switch and fan motor.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

I have herein illustrated, in connection with my improved ventilating fan means, a preferred form of air-vent means in relation to which the fan means is especially adapted, but it will be understood that my improved ventilating fan means constituting the present invention is adapted for effective use in re lation to any other type of air-vent means which aifords when opened up the desired air passage through the wall of the vault.

Said air-vent means as herein shown forms the subject-matter of my co-pending application for patent, Serial No. 280,527 filed May 25, 1928, and comprises an outer casing or sleeve, 18, constituting the main tubular body of the device and extending longitudinally through the vault wall, the interior bore of said casing being substantially of uniform diameter and preferably unobstructed throughout its main length and its interior diameter being of sufficient area (in practice, usually approximately 3") to not only afford an ample air opening for the reception of the intake tube of the fan ventilating means but also to provide additional space beyond, the intake tube for the exhaust of the foul air.

Said body casing is suitably an hored within' the vault wall, and is normally closed up by a. plug member, 19, which extends. longi tudinally within the bore of the casing and is carried by a controlling pilot-wheel member, 20, turnably mounted upon the rear or inner end of the plug and having a threaded engagement, as at 21, with the body casing 18', whereby the plug is held to a tight closure fit within the bore of the casing and is removable by operation of the pilot wheel to enable withdrawal-ofthe latter and the plug as an entirety from the casing andthus entirelyopen up the air passage, 22, through the vault wall which is then afforded by the bore of the casing.

My improved ventilating fan means is mounted at the inner face, 26%, of the vault wall, and in its entirety in associate relation to the controlling pilot, wheel or other means at the inner end of the air-vent closure plug whereby the latter is removed from the body casing.

Referring to the drawings, 25 designates.

the fan element, which may be of any usual or suitable type or construction adapted to operate under the action of; an electric motor. This fan element is positioned in supported connection upon the vault wall, at the inner face of the latter, its supported connection being preferably pivotal, as at 26, to enable the fan element to be swung from a normal position parallel to the vault wall into a position at right angles to the wall for operative service when thus desired; Extending from the fan element is a tubing, 27, constituting an air passage in connection with the fan chamber, said tubing being of sufficient length to extend from the fixed location of the fan element through the passage 22 of the bore of the body casing 18 of the vent means and project when in use a short distance beyond the outer end ofthe vent passage at the outside of the Vault wall, to facilitate the intake of the outside air through the tube to the inside of the vault under the action of the fan element.

Said tubing is preferably flexible, as herein shown, though it may be of any other suitable or adapted character affording convenient operation for insertion through, the vent passage in the wall of the vault. The tubing is preferably normally sustained in supported position ready for immediate and convenient use, and for this purpose it is provided at its terminal-end orifice with an enlarged head or cap piece, as at 28, which forms a flange extending laterally with relation to the diameter of the body of the tube and thus consti tutes a support upon a bracket member 30, which is mounted in fixed position upon the inner face of the vault wall.

In the preferred arrangement of" the foregoing elements, the fan 25 and bracket 3,6) are respectively located a short distance above and at opposite sides, of the pilot wheel Qr controlling ineans which projects at the inside of the vault and is operative to enable the re lease and removal of the plug 19 of the vent means, in which relative arrangement the tubing 27. extends in normal position from the fan element downwardly and under and around the pilot wheel or controlling memberand' upwardly at the Opposite side to the supporting bracket 30, this relative arrangement of the parts being such that immediate and convenient operation of the ventilating fan means is facilitated instantly upon removal of the. adjacent air-vent means The tube-end supporting bracket embodies an automatic electric switch in circuit with the fan motor and having a construction in which the switch is in off position and the circuit open when the tube 27 is in normal position, but is automatically and instantly thrown into on position and the circuit closed when the tube is withdrawn from its supporting bracket for insertion in the airvent wall passage.

The preferred construction'of the bracket member,for this purpose, comprises a pivoted latch, 81, operative substantially as a bellcrank leverand of se mental contour conforming to the cylindrical circumference of the tube 27,. a projective finger-piece, 32, being provided at the outer end ofsaid latch member and the inner end of the latter, as at 33, being extended through and beyond a slot,

3.4, in a stop-wall 35. The automatic operation of the switch-latch in relation to the insertion and removal of the tube 27 is thus such that when the tube is inserted in the latch and the latter is operated by the fingerpiece 32 to bind the tube against the stop wall 35 the segment of the latch encirclesthe 1 major part of the circumference of the tube and the latter is retained in lockedposition upon the supporting bracket member 3O with its head-flange 28 resting upon the latch 31. In the normal' position justdscribed the inner end extension 33 of the latch is in the position in which the switch mechanism is off and the circuit is open. In the reverse operation, when the tube is withdrawn outwardly from the switch-latch the segmental contour of the latter causes the movement thereof upon its pivot to the position in which the switch mechanism is in on position and the circuit is closed, and thus the fan element is instantly and automatically started in operation before the tube is inserted through the wall vent-opening.

In the preferred circuit connections of the automatic switch, to effect the operations just above described, the inner end extension 33 of the latch 31 is provided with a cam recess, 36, receiving and operatively engaging the corresponding end, 37, of a pivotally moving contact-piece, 38, having at its other end a contact point, 39, which makes and breaks contact between two opposite contact points, 4041, between the line wires or conductors, 4243, of the electric circuit. Thus, when the contact-piece 38 is operated by action of the switch-latch 31, the contacts 39 and 40-41 are made and broken to close and open the electric circuit which controls the automatic operation of the fan element.

The foregoing switch mechanism is preferably enclosed in a suitable boxing, 44, as shown, into which projects the inner end extension 33 of the latch 31, and the end of which boxing or enclosure forms the stopwall 35 against which the head portion 28 of the tubing 27 bears in its retention by the latch.

It will be understood that the line wires or conductors 42-43 of the electric circuit make operative contact with the fan motor, shown diagrammatically at 45, and that they are extended to any suitable or adapted connection with a source of electric energy, such as connection with an ordinary electric light circuit.

Beyond said fan motor the line wires are preferably extended, as at 464:7, to connection with an electric lamp, 48, mounted inside the vault, preferably over the door thereof, which lamp will be lighted automatically coincident with the automatic starting of the fan element, and will thus be lighted only when the fan is in operation.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. Under emergency conditions within the vault, it is only necessary to operate the pilot wheel or controlling means of the vent-device and withdraw the closure plug thereof inwardly to open up the vent-passage 22 of the bore of the body casing 18, whereupon the end of the immediately adjacent tubing 27 is withdrawn from its supported connection with the switch-latch 31 by merely pulling the tube outwardly therefrom, in which action the automatic switch mechanism instantly operates to close the circuit and start the fan element in operation, and the end portion of the ventilating tubing is then inserted through the vent-passage 22 until its outer end is a short distance beyond the outer face of the vault wall. Under the conditions of operation as just described, the fresh air from outside will then be drawn through the tube, under action of the fan, to the inside of the vault andthe foul air therein will be simultaneously exhausted from the interior of the vault through the excess space existing in the air passage 22 beyond the intake tube by reason of the differential lesser diameter of the tube from the diameter of the vent passage. My improved fan ventilating means thus affords a very simple and eifective mechanism which can be conveniently and instantly operated in a simple movement without excessive manual requirements, and which in its automatic operation efliciently serves for the immediate supply of outside air and the exhaust of foul air without necessity for any manual action other than that concerned in the insertion of the tubing through the vent passage.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself tothe detail construction and arrangement of parts as herein shown and described, as it is manifest that variations and modifications therein may be resorted to, in the adaptation of my invention to varying conditions of use, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an air-vent fan means of the class described, the combination with a vault wall having an air passage extending therethrough and provided with a removable closure, an electrically-operated fan element sccured at the inner side of said wall, a flexible tube extending from said fan element and insertible through said air passage, an electric switch comprising a segmental latchpiece pivotally mounted with relation to said well and operatively engaging a contact piece, said segmental latch-piece receiving the free end of said tube and retaining it against said wall and being automatically operated by the insertion and withdrawal of the tube, and an electric circuit for said contact-piece and fan element.

2. A ventilating device for a vault having a normally sealed opening of relatively small diameter through one of its walls, comprising a fan element permanently mounted on the wall adjacent the inner end of the opening, a flexible air conduit in communication with said fan adapted to conduct air under the impulse of said fan, a pivoted member to supportthe end: of the flexible conduit. in inoperatilve position, a-switch to start and stopsai'd 7 fan, said switch being operated by said pivoted member so that when the flexible conduit is placed in operative position, the fan will be operative to cause a current of air through the conduit and: means to open the opening to project the flexible conduit there; through. 4

3. Air-vent fan means of the class described, for a vault wall having an air passage extending therethrough andprovidedwith a removable closure, comprising an electrically-operated fan element permanently secured upon the inner side of said wall adjacent to and at one side of the inner end of said air passage, a flexible tube extending from said fan element and insertible through said air passage adapted to carry an air current induced by said fan, tube-supporting means upon the inner side of said wall adjacent to the inner end of saidair passage and at the side thereof opposite to the fan element, said means comprising an electric switch in circuit with said fan automatically operated to start said fan by the disengage-- ment of the free end of said tube and adapted to stopsaid fan. when the conduitis in normal position. a

4'. Air-vent fan means of the class described, for a vault wall having an air passage extending therethrough and provided with a removable closure comprising a fan element secured upon the inner side of said Wall, a flexible tube extending from said fan element and insertible through said air passage toconduot air through said passage; but out of contact therewith and switch means upon the inner side of said wall for engaging and supporting said tube in normal position and adapted to start said fanwhen said tube is removed from normal-position.

5. Air-vent fan means; of the class described, for a vault wall having an air passage extending therethrough and provided with a removable closure, the combination of anelectrically-operated fan element secured at the inner side of said wall, a flexible air tube in communication with said fan element and insertible through said air passage, an electric switch havin a latch-piece receiving and supporting the rec end of said flexible tube and automatically operated by the engagement and disengagement of the tube with said latch-piece, said fan adapted to force air through said air tube in one direction andthrough the-surrounding air passage in a different direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

JOHN P. WILLIAMS.

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