Ventilator

May 9, 1939.

C. C. HOPKINS

VENTILATOR

2,157,609

Filed May 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2157609A_D0001.tif" />

May 9, 1939.

C. C. HOPKINS

VENTILATOR

2,157,609

Filed May 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2157609A_D0002.tif" />

_____v

<img file="US2157609A_D0003.tif" />

Patented May 9, 1939

2,157,609

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ' 2,157,609

VENTILATOR Constant C. Hopkins, Woodstock, Ill., assignor Of one-half to Percy H. Waller, Chicago, Ill. Application May 17, 1937, Serial No. 142,974

Claims. (Cl. 98—43)

The present invention relates, to a ventilator.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved ventilator which combines extreme efficiency in handling a relatively r large quantity of air free from dust, moisture ’ and other impurities, with a form and dimensions adaptable particularly to modern stream-line requirements.

Another object of this invention is the proviI® sion of an improved ventilator of highly simplified construction which Will effectually prevent ingress or passage to the space being ventilated of cinders, dust particles, moisture, snow or light rays. ^:

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a ventilator particularly adaptable for use in connection with a vehicle and which projects only a short distance upon the exterior of the vehicle and is so formed as to divert the air flow, 20 due to the motion of the vehicle, thereabout and prevent in great measure the direct impingement of sand, dirt, snow, rain, etc., thus greatly eliminating the normal susceptibility of such devices to surface wear.

Numerous other objects and advantages will more fully appear during the course and progress of the following specification. '

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a ventilator 30 constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2—2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken on the line 3—3 in 35 Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of : the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional elevation taken on the line 5—5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken through an alternative type of. ventilator embodying the present invention.

The ventilators, selected for the purpose of illustrating the present invention, comprise a tu45 bular ventilating shaft to which may be secured to the roof 12 or any other convenient portion of the enclosure to. be ventilated. The roof shown in. Figs. 1 and 2 may comprise, for example, the top of a railway car although it will be 50 obvious that the device may equally well be applied to an ordinary building. The ventilating shaft 10 comprises, in the embodiment shown, a cylindrical tube having rigidly secured to its outer wall at an intermediate point along the 55 length of the shaft an annular angle member 14.;

This angle member provides an outwardly projecting portion forming an annular flange adapted to be fastened securely to the roof 12 through the agency of screws 16.

: The ventilating shaft 10 is extended a substan- ₅tial distance above the plane of the roof 12 to form an upstanding annular, wall 18 which function' as a baffle and is important to the maintenance of proper ventilation without the introduction of moisture; dust’particles and other ₁₀contaminating materials. At .a point spaced from the ..upper edge of. the wall 18 an annular flange . 20 extends outwardly from, the shaft in a transverse, direction, being secured rigidly in assembled position by means Of the downwardly 15 projecting portion 22, indicated more clearly in Fig. 2, which is held rigid with the shaft and the angle member 14 by welding, brazing, riveting or any other suitable fastening means. The flange 20, at a point spaced a: predetermined distance ₂o from the wall 18, is bent upward.sharply to form the vertical annular :wall 24 generally parallel to the wall 18 shown in Fig. 2.

Over the .entire protruding assembly is positioned a dome 26 which is preferably shaped in 25 a gentle curve so as to provide a pleasing external appearance, and inhibit undesired turbulence of flow within the ventilator. The dome 26, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is provided with a downwardly 30 projecting, annular wall 28 which is secured in placed by. a turned-over flange 30 welded oxriveted to the inner face of the dome. It will be apparent from the figures that the annular wall 28 is so positioned as to project downwardly 35 intermediate of the upstanding walls 18 and 24.

The dome assembly is supported and spaced a predetermined distance ^; above the ventilating shaft assembly by means of a plurality of suitable brackets: As shown in the figures, the 40 brackets 32 are four in number and are circumferentiafly spaced about the annular flange 20. Each comprises a relatively narrow metallic strip having horizontally extending legs 34 secured to the flange 20 by means of rivets 36. The up- 45 standing legs 38 are secured to the downwardly projecting wall 28 by. means of rivets 40. In the embodiment shown, the bottom edge of the wall 28 will be positioned a predetermined distance above the flange. 20_; the.upper edges of the. walls 50 18 and 24 being spaced a-generally corresponding distance below.the under surface of the dome 26 to permit the passage of air.

It will be noted that in the preferred embodimentthe upstanding legs 38 of the brackets are 55

2,167,609 arranged generally intermediate of the walls 18 and 24. In this position the openings above the said walls remain unconstricted by a supporting means at all points around their periphery.

A plurality of apertures 42 are also circumferentially spaced about the flange 20. These apertures constitute weep-holes and perform the function of conveying off any moisture or foreign matter which might be conveyed by the air draft 10 or permitted to accumulate in the annular space between the walls 18 and 24.

Means are provided in the preferred embodiment to sustain a forced draft of air through the ventilator and comprise an electric motor 44 hav15 big a driving shaft 46 to which is fixedly secured· an impeller 43 for rotation therewith. The impeller 48 is adapted to operate after the fashion of a centrifugal pump or blower and has centrally thereof a plurality of apertures 58 adja20 cent its outer edge, being provided with a plurality of radial vanes 52.

In operation, the rapidly rotated impeller draws the air through the apertures 50 and drives it radially. According to the present preferred 25 embodiment, the impeller is located just under the dome 26 and closely adjacent the under surface thereof so that the air draft is impelled directly into the space above the upper end of the wall 18. It will be apparent that the present 30 device may be readily adapted to a reversal of action by drawing the air inwardly instead of forcing it outwardly above the wall 18.

The motor 44 may be supported by any suitable means, as shown in Fig. 2, being engaged by a 35 clamping member 54 supported by means of resilient rubber blocks 56 and opposed legs 58 fastened to the ceiling 60 of the chamber to be ventilated through the agency of screws 62.

, Draft control means is preferably provided on 40 the interior of the wall 60, as shown more in detail in Figs. 2 and 4, the said control means comprising a plate 64 suitably fastened to the wall and provided with a plurality of apertures 66 A butterfly valve disk 68, provided with a plural48 'ty °? correspondingly formed apertures 70, is supported rotatably in a plane adjacent to the plane of the plate 64 by a resiliently mounted pivot 72. Handle means 74 permits ready adjustment of the disk 68 about the pivot 72 for the 5θ purpose of controlling the effective size of the openings to the ventilating shaft 10.

In operation, it will be apparent that the air draft passing through the upper portion of the ventilator must necessarily move adjacent four ₅₅ alternate and oppositely disposed baffles. Thus when the motor 44 is actuated by a suitable electric switch (not shown) to drive the impeller 48 in the manner aforementioned, a draft of air is forced radially through the space above th» wall CO 18, impinging directly upon the wall 28 and having its direction of flow sharply changed. Again as the air draft reaches the flange 20 another sharp change in flow takes place in a radial direction. Following this, after striking the wall ₀₅ 24 and again the inner surface of the dome 26 the air is finally released to the outside atmosphere. These repeated reversals of the stream lines are thought to be responsible for the improved operation of the present device· whereby 70 ventilation is enabled with complete absence of ingress of rain, dust particles and the like.

The operative advantages remain substantially the same whether the motor 44 is in operation or at rest. So, too, with the action reversed so that 78 the motor 44 operates to draw the air inwardly of the shaft 10 from outside of the dome 26, it has been found that only relatively pure air will be delivered, separated from any substantial particles in the exterior atmosphere.

The alternative preferred embodiment, shown g more in detail in Fig. 6, comprises the same general structure as described above, omitting the annular depending wall 28 and the electrically driven impeller. When employing the present device, it is a simple matter to insert the motor io 44 and its associated structure since the brackets 58 may be separate from the remainder of the device and may at any time be held permanently in operative position by merely fastening the screws 62 in the ceiling 60. ₁₅

The embodiment shown in Fig. 6, moreover, provides for the support of the dome member 26 by means of a plurality of brackets 76 welded or riveted to the under surface of the dome and adapted to register with the brackets 32 for se- 20 curement rigidly therewith as by welding or the like. According to this embodiment, an outstanding annular flange 20 is rigidly secured to the central ventilator shaft 10 through the agency of a turned-over portion rigidly fastened to the 25 outer wall thereof. So, also, the present embodiment provides a pair of generally parallel walls or baffles 18 and 24. Where it is highly important to prevent' passage of dust and foreign matter under the dome, an annular, downwardly 30 projecting baffle may be situated on the brackets 76.

The present invention provides a highly efficient and improved ventilating device particularly adapted for railway car ventilation. The « outer shape of the dome .member, shell or coverplate, due to its modest dimensions, lends itself to the modern stream-line design conventional in this art. Moreover, the particular novel structure and arrangement of parts permits a propor- 40 turning of the exterior parts such that the venti- lator does not necessarily project any considerable distance from the roof or wall of the car Thus, the normal wearing of the exterior portions, due to the impact of flying sand, grit, rain, 45 snow and the. like has been found to be greatly minimized. According to the present invention, these advantages are all attained With no sacrifice a_s to the efficiency of the ventilator, or its ability to separate foreign particles.

The instant ventilator furthermore is suitable to act, either as an exhaust, or intake ventilator with or without a power unit and under all conditions is perfectly weather-proof. These advantages render it ideal, not only in connection 55 with railway cars as aforementioned, but with all other vehicles such as aeroplanes, motor cars and ships. It will be obvious from the above that the present ventilator is also extremely advantageous in the ventilation of homes, photographers’ dark «0 rooms, telephone booths and the like.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form «5 construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of 70 illustrating the invention.