USRE323E - Heney buttan - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY BUTTAN, 0F concurre, CANAA WEST.

METHOD OF WARMING AND VENTILATING BUILDINGS..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent blo, 5,958. dated December 5,1848, auledated June 23, 184B;

Reissue- No. 323, dated August 14, 1855.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that'I, HENRY RUTTAN, of Cobourg, in the county of Northumberland, formerly part of the Newcastle district, in the Province of Canada West, have invented cer-y -tain improvementsl in the ventilation and warming of buildings, railroad-cars and other carriages, steamboats and -other vessels, and the apparatus bywhich the veutilatin'g air may be warmed in cold weather; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of 'this specification, iu

. Plate l illustratesl the application of my inventionto the ventilation of buildings. Plate 2 represent-s the apparatus for warming the air in cold weather. `Plates 3 and 4 illustrate the application of my invention to railroadcars.

1 will tlrst proceed to describe the application of my invention to house-ventilation. L

take, for instance, the building represented in llatel, which is a dwelling-house three stories highabove the basement, with a hall through the middle from bottom to top, and will 'describe its construction. lThe wallsmay be of wood, brick, stone, or -other material-say, brick, for example-and may b e made hollow throughout, terminating in flues to be carried out similar to common chimneys, for the es- Icape of the vitiated air; but if for any reason hollow walls be objected to, then I construct for the above purpose as many foul-air lues, a a a, (see the vertical sections, Fig. 1,) as may in their production upward embrace most if not all ofthe rooms within the building, said ues being severally of such size that their aggregate area is suicient to carry o the v'itiated air. These 'ues should be enlarged at' everysucceeding story upward. The lcopsy should be carried up to as great a. height'as practicable. I also con struct one or more dues, b b b b, (see Fig. 1,)which, as `they are for the introduction of pure air,'I call shafts. These are to open into the basement c c c c,

g immediately under the joists. There should,

for eiiiciency, be one of these in each of two opposite sides of the buildin g,or if one in each ofthe four sides all the better. `These shafts should be carried up into the walls and opened atti d ydL dv to a height above that'of the tloating miasm of impure localitiesand below that of the inlluence of the smoke of adjacent chimneys. At the lower end of the pure-air shafts b b b lb and closely under lthe joists of the lower story, theymust communicate or unitevwith ducts e e e e, (which may be made 0f boards,) and carried t0 a common point directly under where it is intended ,that the ventilator or warrnin g apparatus is to stand-say,

in the center of the hall on the rst iioor, and t there inclosed in abox, f. The mouths of these ducts, if there be any coming from opposite directions, should have han ging doors or shutters y g, (see Fig. 1,) made ofthe lightest material, and so adjusted that any violent movement of the external atmosphere down one shaft should shut up the opposite one,and viceversa. Above the box f, I open the door vinto the hall h. (See Fig. 1.) Then I put a casing, t' i, of

some tight and bright metal-say, tin-platearound the whole aperture, to stand about eight feet high. Within; this casing I placethe y ventilator hereinafter to be more particularly described, so that the whole of the ventilator except the front containing the door is hidden from view. Upon lthe top of this casing are, doors or other conveniences, through which the air passes /into the hall, and by the shutting or opening of which the temperature of the air passing up when there is fire in the ventilator may he .regulated without waiting` the tedious process of f altering the power of the re. .N is the lsmoke-pipe ot" the ventilator.

I have thus far shown how the pure air is brought into the buildin-g. I will now proceedr to describe the internal arrangements for the purpose of introducing the pure air to the several apartments at' the top and carrying o' the vitiated air at the bottom. The vitiated air, after leaving the apartments,cinculates in its way to Ithe foul-air'iiues a c through the l foul-air chamber between the floor ofthe story it leaves and the ceiling` of: the one next below` if,or,'iu other-words,.the fiul. air descends from the apartments-into a. foul-air chamber,

to be thence exhausted by the foul-air shaft or shafts. This circulation is provided for by perforating the studs and joists, as indicated at g g g in. Fig. 1, or by other suitable pas- The number or size of these passages sages. must of course b'e increased as the place `of exit of the vitiated air is approached. When the oor -is laid.it is kept separate from the wall, as shown at a a in Fig. 2, s niciently to allow the saine or a greater volume of air to escape between the ilooring and the wall than is allowed to come into the room; or, if the apartments are to be carpeted, the sui-base or skirting should he reduced or cut away at the under side, as shown at o o,in Fig. 4, to allow the same quantity of air to escape. Some part of every apartment may be made in almost all cases to come nextI to orv comprehend one or other of the main foul-air filles a, a a; if not, small diagonal iiues should be run from the room into the main fines; so also there may be small communications opened from the end ofevery hollow partition (if such be used in Athe building) with thc main or some branch line. fl`he openings k k k (see Fig. l) from each storyintothe foul-air lines are to be made on a level with the joists, and each of these openings may be closed oropened at pleasure by a small slide or gate, l l l. The pure air enters the apartments through apertures m m. (See Fig. 1.)' These apertures should be as high i'ip as the ceilings or cornices will admit. A narrow opening the whole length of the partition which separates the apartment from the hall is best, with here and therA a pillar left, of course, to support the superstructure, the cornice, when one is made, covering the whole from sight. When the arrangements for ventilation are complete, one or other of the pureair shafts b b b will always be receiving the external atmosphere. The admission of the air will be facilitated `by a swinging door or cap fitted to the mouth of each shaft, as shown in the vertical section Fig. 3 and the horizontal section Fig. 4. This door or cap, swingingr to either side according to the direction of the wind, will deeet currents of air and conduct them into the shaft when the wind is not blow ing directly into the mout-h. The admission of air will be accelerated when a tire is used in the ventilator. And again, the foul or vip tiated-alr flues 'being carried out' to a height much beyond the mouths of the pure-air shafts, act as exhausters by their draft, and the `moment the foul-air slides Z l l within the' rooms are opened' they will begin to till with pure air. Any one of the rooms in the building may thus be ventilated independently ofthe others, or the whole together. The whole building is constantly lled, and the initiative in this system of warming and ventilatin is in letting the cold and vitiated air out. pon thisprinciple a room or building perfectly air-tight, excepting the openings made for this purpose, is thoroughly ventilated, which it cannot be upon any other principle. The passage furthe escape of the vitiated air being below the floor, the tendencyT ofthe draft must be downward, and the miasm and carbonic'acid gas always lling the space below the floor of every inhabited apartment is thus kept below, instead of heilig drawn upward, as it would be with the draft anywhere above the floor. The sum ot the areas of the sections of the vitiatedair fl'ues a. a c a should somewhat exceed the sum of those ofthe pureair shafts b b b b,

In applying this system of ventilation to buildings already erected the same general arrangements as above described shonld as far as circumstances will admit, be observed. lt may be diflicult in this case topcrlorate the joists and studs, and if on account of the use of carpets the Hoor Acannot be perforated, a i'lue may be madearound the room by removing the surbase a sufiicient distance from the wall. The purenir shaft may be constructed of wood, and placed either directly against or at a distance from thc building. It'lnay also kbe inconvenient in a building already erected to open the wall to admit the pure air from the hail thc whole llength of. the almrtments. ln such case a single aperture will do.l

l will nowprcecd to describe the apparatus represented in Plate 2, by which the air is warmed in winter, which I term the winter ventilator. ln theconstrnction of this appa ratus l haveaimcd to lavoras much aspossible the rapid ascentcf the air in the midst of which it stands, s o as to prevent the absorption of the oxygen and the oxidation of the iron of which itis composed. The fire-chamber is situated within or between the radiating-pipes d d, which diverge from it for a certain distance,`a11d again converge to connect with a top flue, theradiating-pipes thus having an v oblique direction to prevent the stagnantand dead body of air which always more or less collects over the tops of Hat or round heaters. The comb'nstionair is taken from ythe pure air only, and is therefore more eicacious than when taken, as in the ordinary way, from a, cellar or room. This air is admitted from the bottom at b b, andalso from the top at c, that admitted from the top being supplied from an elevated chamber, a, which isprovidcd Afor the purposcof warming it. The upper combustion air is let down from the chamber a by a register, c,`(see Figs. 2,3, and 7,) in small jets, so that it is ready for combustion whenrit meets the unconsumcd gases of thev fuel. The radiating lines d d d divide equally all the 'heat of the flue, and carry it in current-s ccexistent with, parallel to, and between directly ascending currents of air, thus dispersingall the heat equally through the body of air. The iron heater or ventilator thus described is placed directly over the opening .before described in the floor of the hall, asrepresented in Fig. 2, where 'the tin casing ls-shownin red n outline.

As one of the great characteristics of my system of ventilation is the filling the building with the Ventilating-air, the. ventilator or air-warmer may for` winter ventilation aswell stand in the highest story as in any'ofihe lower ones, the work being as ecientlypcr formed in one place as the other.l

Tile regrate of the ventilator or air-warming machine shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of Plate 2 is composed of one or more cylindrical grates raised above the ordinary flat-grate door. It is-constructed with a view to the threefold advantage, first, of distributing or dispersing and mixing the incoming combustion air; second, of covering a great portion ot the apertures which admit this air from being choked up by the fuel; and, third, of contributing largely, by the hollows underneath formed by the raised portions of the grate," to the raising of the temperature of thet'nel. These objects are eiected, first, b v the cross-currents ofair from the fiat and perpendicular apertures A meeting; second, by the cap or covering B; third, by the hollow C underneath, as above stated.

A A railroad-carl or other carriage may be ventilated in the same Way as a building, or with little variation. I have shown, in Plates 3 and 4, two methods of applying my system to railroad-cars. That shown in Plate 4 will be first described. An inlet opening or openings, a, is made in 'the bottom, top, sides, or

n ends of the car, of suliicient size to keep up a constant-supply of pure air within.

Let this air be brought in a duct or ducts directly under the ventilator vor air-warmer when intended for winter ventilation This ventiiator, whichvmay be substantially like that hereinbefore described, may be placed in such part of the car -a-s may he most convenient. It is surrounded by a tin casing, b, in size .snicient to inclose both it and the quantityl ot' air admitted. This casing bis to reachl from the floor to the root' of thecar and to be secured both at bot-tom and top. The smokepipe C may be carried within it up to and out at the top. At d, as cl se Vas possible to the top, the casing b should have an opening or openings suicient to let out as much air as is admitted at the bottom. This aperturel may be furnished with a slide 'to vary it and regulate the temperature when required. `The flooring of the car is perforated, as indicated at e a. 4The perforations-should be so; distributedand of such capacity as to cause the air to pervade the whole car in making its escape through the bottom.. If the quantity of air should require to be increased, lips of tin or other material may-easily be so constructed on the outside and near the inlet opening 'or openings through vvvwhich the air is admitted as that by the motion of the car the incoming ure air may be increased in quantity. These ps might, however, be dispensed with, and the same result obtained by making the inlet or inlets through which theI air is admitted open in the direction in which the car runs. The egress of the foul air maybe assisted by sheltering in the directionin which the car runs' the holes 'e e, or other outlets for'the foul air. 4

For either summer or winter ventilation, coarse canvas, gauze, buckram, tine sievewire, or any other fabric which will distribute the air may be placed, as shown at f, in Fig. 1, of Plate 4, about two or three' inches below the transverse beams which now generally 'support the roofs of cars. Strips of wooden -in the Aother ease. the perforations in the bottom of the car may lath of that thickness may be placed at intervals longitudinally otJthe car, to which the fabric used may be fastened. The fresh air should b'e conducted into this interval between the fabric and the root, as s'hownby the arrows in Fig. 1, and the effect will be the `same as Small sliding covers for be constructed so that any passenger could shut or open those under his own seat, and thus regulate the ventilation of his locality.

Plate 3 exhibits 'another arrangement for car-ventilation which resembles in a greater degree than those just described my previouslyidescribed arrangements for house-ventilation, and also has the principles of increaseL ing the quantityof the incoming pure air by the motion ot' the car and of facilitating the' egress of the foul air by shelteringlthe escapeoriiices from the .current of aircaused'by the movement, more fully carried out. Fig; 1 is a longitudinal section ot' the car, and Fig. 2 a

horizontal section of the same below the tioor.

a a are foul-air shafts placed at one end of the car, oneon'4 each side of the door, commencing under thc tloorand extending thrcu gh the root', connecting'under the floor with nues d d, which extend under the ilo'or the whole -length ot the' caigand are ot' a width equal to the space usually occupied by the seats. At

the opposite end of the car -to the foul-air shafts a a openings c c are cut through the floor, or otherwise made into the -tlues d d, to allow vthe foul air from the car toescape int-o the 'said shafts. At the last named end ofthe car the pure-air shafts Ab b are arranged like the foul-air shafts at the opposite end termihating at the bottom in ducts e e, which convey the air over the surface of water contained in a close tank, f, to moisten it and dcpriveit of dust before allowing it to pass through the opening g,iwhich conducts it to the ventilator, which is placed over the said opening g, and

surrounded by a casing, h, as in all my otherventilating arrangements. The pure air is admitted to the car 'through openings i i in the top of the ventilatorcasing h, and is distributed through the car, constantly descending iu a body. The vitiated airescapcs through the openings c o, passes along the fines d d, under the passengers feet, and from thence enters the upright shafts a a., and finally makes its escape through the roof. In winter time when a tirel is used in the ventilator the foul air escapingv along the ilues d d will be at a much highertemperature than the external atmosphere, and will warm the passen gers feet. t, y, Y.

In order to increase the quantity of incoming or pure air, l place a cap or caps, j, a trans' verse section of' which I have shown iu Fig. 3, and a horizontal sect-ion in Fig. 4, over the pureair shafts, which is equivalent to the lips I have before referred to. In both the 4front and back of this cap I provide openings mm m' m for the admission of air, and furnish each opening with a swinging valveor shutter, n, opeiling inward. The shutters .of the openingsm m will bev opened and those of m m closed by the pressure ot' the. air consequent upon the movement ot' the car while runnin g in one direction, and those of the openings m m opened c and of m m closed by' the same means while runningin theopposite direction. In order to facilitate the egress ot' the vitiated air, I also place a cap, o., over the foul-air shafts a a, and provide openings inv the cap furnished with valves or shutters operating on a similar principle, but in a manner precisely the reverse of the valves or shutters n n.

I will now proceed to point out brietly the. application ot my system ofventilation to stezunboats, ships, and other vessels. In building a new mer or other vessel the space between the lining and the vcssels plank might with greatI ease be converted into au escape-passage for the foul air. In applying the system to a n old one the foul air might be made to pass under the seats by which the cabins are commonly surrounded, and takcu'out at properiutervals by wooden pipes or chimneys. The door, however, ought it' ossblc to be perforated in order that the body of foul air and carbonio acid gas which is there constantly generating, and at every opportunity coming up through the cracks and crevices, might be constantly drawn otl'. This space is lworse if possiblcthan iu a dwelling-house. In the case ci' a steamerthe expense of fuel and room occupied by an air warmer or ventilator may be saved by bringing the external air (properly confined, of course) oversonie part ot the boiler or some of' the steam-pipes into the cabin or hold through an aperture which could be closed or opened and the temperature thereby regulated at pleasure. rIlle. pure air would be best precipitated downward through the deck by a \vind-sail. It', however, an air-warmer be required, the fresh air must be brought under it. and the casingconstructed similar to those` in the buildings and railrozul-ci'n's.'

Ilaving thus l'ully described the principles otand'practical application ol my invention.,

I will proceed to point out what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

`1. The mode herein described of warming and Ventilating buildings, railroadcars, and apartments of every known description, the same consisting in introducing the air from without by conductingit under the door of the building or apartment and directly under the air warmer or Ventilator for the purpose' of being warmed for distribution, the air after being thus warmed rising in a central or otherwise convenient apartment or passage, and thence being admitted into the vvarious rooms of the building or into the apartment, near the ceiling or roof, without the aid of pipes, and thence passing downward and through. openings in the lower part ol" the rooms or apartment, and thence outward through-the various channels prorided connected with the foul-air shaft. I do not claim simply introducing warm air at the top of a ro'om and discharging it at the bottom, but only intend to claim this when effected in the manner substantially Aas above described.

2. The arrangement of the radiating pipes or tlucs of the air-warmer in combination with thc firechamber situated within or between them, in the manner substantially as set forth'.

3. In combination with the elevated air chamber and ilucs of the air warmer, the ar rangement of the openings for admitting heat,- ed air above the fire to complete the combustion, as herein set for'th.

4. The construction of the 'tire-grate .as

herein set forth-viz., with one or more grates of cylindrical or other form raised above the ordinary grate-floor, said raised grates be'- ing capped or covered in such manner as to- -protect the Vertical bars from4 the fuel substantially as "herein set, forth, and the-principlo of their action beingr substantially as herein set forth.

.5. The mode ofconducting the air into the pure-airshai'ts `whatever may be the direction of the wind4 or of the external currents of air by placing a swinging v alve or shutter at the month of said shafts, substantiallyr in the manner herein set forth.

6.v So constructing or placing the mouths of the pnreair shafts for the 'ventilation of railroad-carsthat by the motion ot the car the incoming pure air may be increased in quantity, as herein fully set forth.

H. RUTTAN.

- Witnesses:

HENRY T. BROWN, R. W..FENWrcK.

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