221. Sugg’s Continuous Up-Draught Ventilator.
Sugg’s Continuous Up-Draught Ventilator.—This new ventilator is submitted to the consideration of architects as embodying a novel system. It has been the custom hitherto to guard against down-draughts by fixing talc flapper arrangements at the lower ends of ventilating shafts (in the case of the lower floors of buildings), and to adopt either a sliding door or revolving shutter worked by cords from the floor to ventilators fixed at the roof ridge. It is clear that, with these arrangements, the outer cold air has free access through the cowl to the ventilating shaft, and, in fact, right down to the back-draught preventers, or shutters, at the lower end of the shaft. With this continuous up-draught ventilator the valve is in the cowl, and is opened by the up draught. Thus the whole of the shaft, right from the room to the cowl, is filled always by the warm air of the room, and is never allowed to become cold and damp by the ingress of the outer air. The valve impedes the outward passage of the foul air as little as (or less than) the old-fashioned talc flappers. It is noiseless, cannot get out of order, and its combination with the cowl renders the entire apparatus the cheapest and most effective extracting cowl and down-draught preventer in the market.
The reliance placed upon the strength of the up-draught to open the valve is based:—First—On the extraordinary aspirating power of this form of cowl. Most ventilators only expose one side at a time to the wind’s action, but this one allows its entire area (more than equal to the area of the tube) to be acted upon at the same moment. Secondly—Upon the fact that beneath the valve is a column of warmed air. The loss in ascending energy caused by cold flues may be put down, as an average, at 40 per cent., but the adoption of this new “exit valve” system conserves the power of the current to almost its fullest extent. With the continuous up-draught ventilator the great ventilating agents—the aspiration of the wind and the movements of air at different tensions—are utilised in a very great degree, and experiments prove the justification in claiming for it results never before attained.
Some of its advantages are as follows:—(1) It is noiseless in its action and is weatherproof. No water can by any means get down the ventilating tube. (2) It extracts powerfully when the least current of air impinges upon it. The whole surface of the ventilator comes into action immediately, and a continuous up-draught is produced at all times. (3) It is fitted with a new patent automatic float valve, which is exceedingly simple in action, and cannot get out of order. It opens with an up-current and shuts when this current ceases. Thus, down-draught is impossible. Not only those down-draughts caused by wind movements, but also those induced by the specific gravity of the cold air in the ventilating tubes, hitherto incurable, are completely prevented. (4) It is well and strongly made, is complete in itself, cannot get out of order, and will last for years. It is made in sizes from 2 to 18 in., and is made in zinc, galvanized iron or polished copper. It is also made in special ornamental forms for large buildings, prices of which will be given on receiving size of air shaft and pitch of roof. (5) It is specially adapted for use with sun burners, gas fires, &c. The heat of horizontal tubes, particularly when lined with asbestos according to Sugg’s plan, contributes to its extracting energy, while the valve effectually prevents any of those down-draughts so often associated with this mode of ventilation. (6) This system of ventilation and lighting works without attention. It can be put in operation at a moment’s notice. By its use can be guaranteed not only the most effective lighting, but also a controllable and absolutely reliable induction and eduction of air from any building. It is shown in Fig. 221, and is made by William Sugg & Co., Ld., Grand Hotel Buildings, Charing Cross, London, under Sugg and Simmance’s patents.
Warming: by Open Fire. Continued from p. [69].
“The Eagle Convertible Open and Close Fire-grate,” Fig. 37 (makers, Eagle Range and Foundry Co., 176, Regent Street, London), is one of the latest improvements, and is to be commended as possessing all the details advocated by Dr. Teale and others, viz. the grated bottom and economiser, to which in this case is attached an ashes pan for convenience and cleanliness, and the fire-brick sides and back, the latter projecting to deflect the heat, &c.; the front bars are somewhat flat in section, and incline up outwards at an angle of about 20 degrees, which effectually prevents cinders and fuel falling from the fire, and having the further advantage of making the front of the fire visible to any one standing near. The chief novelty of this grate is its possessing 3 pairs of doors, which when open fold back out of sight behind the tiled side panels, and can be closed, to partly or wholly cover any portion of the fireplace. Fig. 37 shows the stove with the two upper pairs of doors closed. When first lighting the fire, or when the fire has become very low, and is heavily fed, with the doors closed thus, a rapid draught is carried through the fire, which burns very rapidly, and is established in a few minutes, after which the upper doors are opened. By closing the two lower doors only, it can be left quite safe at night, and as there is no means of the air passing through the fire, the combustion is very slow, in fact it only smoulders, yet keeps up a warmth in the apartment, and it can be relied upon that it will not be out in the morning; this is of especial convenience in invalids’ rooms. This stove is, in the majority of cases, a sure cure for smoky chimneys, and has several other advantages that would occupy too much space here.
“The Parson’s Grate,” Fig. 38 (Barnards, Bishop and Barnards, Queen Victoria Street, London), is a very well-known and good form of slow-combustion grate, and has the advantage of being changed to a fast-combustion grate at will, by means of a sliding blower, when first igniting the fire or at any time that it is desired to make it burn briskly; the bottom, back and sides of the fire-basket are of solid fire-brick, and it will be seen from the illustration that the blower can be drawn down to any point and so regulate the draught and speed of combustion to a nicety; this is of especial convenience when the chimney has a tendency to smoke.