IMPROVED SYSTEM OF. VENTILATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 131, 29 November 1902, Page 2

IMPROVED SYSTEM OF. VENTILATION.

A WELLINGTON INVENTION. Nowadays, when, regard for the laws of sanitation occupies the minds of governing bodies, the adequate ventilation of public buildings and places "where large numbers ox people congregate for any period of time is a question of primary importance. To supply fresh, sweeteued air, and drive out accumulating vitiated air exeroifces the skill of architects and engineers. Many meihods make provision for the s-aniuuy ventilation oi large buildings and meet-ing-houss I*,1 *, bufc none io far appear to salisfpctoriJy meefc all i equipments, inasmuch as thfey fail to efi'ect an even distribution of fre&h air over the whole area. Draughts of external air are conducted into a ciovrded aiena and the requited quuntiiy psr head may be mathematically accurate ; but thepe methods absolutely fall short in giving the necessary supply to each individual ; therefore, the greater proportion of an audience will remain in a. condition 'of discomfort with, unhealthy surroundings. These difficulties and shortcomings, however, have been surmounted in* an ingenious and as perfect a manner as it is possible to conceive by a Wellington film of young engineers, Messrs. Kelly, Fisher, and Wix. This firm, after several months of study, experiments, ard working out the principle of the iiJatt, have succeeded in completing an adni'rabia system of air-supply and ventilai :o.i which furnishes the deficiencies referied to. The inventors have so satisfied Mr. P. .R. Dix wiib the value and perfect suii.ibilicy of their plan that that, popular and enterprising caterer of public amu-rivients hris had an extensive plant installed at great expense at the Theatre Royal, Mhich was successfully in 9u o 'iu\ited on Wednesday night in, the presence of a full audience, including 1 a number of our le.iding citizen, Viho expressed themselves deeply interested in the unique arrangements. A brief account of Messrs. Kelly, Fisher and Wix's sys>tem will ba gratifying to our readers, but,* before describing the main features of their Patent Ventilator, Air Distributor, and Fumigator, it may be here said that actual ventilation does not limit the scope of. its uses ; nor are they confined to htills and theatres. The system can also be adipted to the ventilation of slwps. It can be applied to schools, hospitals, asylums, churches, houses of parliament, hotels, public offices and institutions, council chambers, fsctorics, mills, and private dvellinis. Not only will it afford regular ventilation, but it will also alternately fnmigafce, sterilise vitiated atmosphere and destroy microbes and distribute perfumed air ■through an entire audience In summer, cool air can be supplied, and hot air in winter, in each '-.ise of any needed temperature. T'hua a. whole house, or any se.pai'ate room can be made comfortable in cold weather -without the trouble of lighting fires, or the oppression of Himmer caa be counterbalanced without opening doors and windows, inviting the industrious burglar or admitting the vexatious dust. Finally, amongst other usei'ul pui'poses the system will act as an effectual fire extinguisher by meass of either water or carbonic acid. One- great merit of the invention ie its simplicity of control and facility of ait'-di-tribution. In' the lirst place atmospheric stock is drawn from external sources at a high elevation, thereby ensuring Tjure quality of air, the head of the induction shaft being covered with a cap protected by a fine meshed gauze, which prevents the •introduction of foreign matter, like dust, soot, etc. The indrawn air ptvssos into cylindrical pumns driven by electric power aud is forced into a. receiving tank or aerometer, from which it issues into the main, either in a virgin state or scenlcd with any perfume, or as a. fumigating agent, according to requirement. From Iks main the air passes into a network of distributing pipes laid on to all parts of the theatre. These pipes are carried to and fixed to the back or arm of each chair in the stalls and dress cirile. Within reach of every seaiholder is a movable exit nozzle, by 'turning which refreshing air can bo obtained -pud diverted to the face, body or legs, as may be desired, and fts often as needed. A separate systsm. is extended to the pife, •uheie conducting pipes axe laid beoeath the rons of seats from whoso o-pen exits issues a constant Sow of fresh air to purify the abnosphera. The application of a\r through the exit-nozzles is soft and pleasant to each individual as well as to the whole house. Tt a\ ill be seen that we have here a decided improvement on existing methods, ard its great sanitary value should be at once recognised. The building is not ely thoroughly ventilated, throughout tho v.hole of its interior; but each one pre-ant en raecive at will the benefit of an independent, supply of cool, refreshing air. There is no stagnation I in any poition of the house, all impurities being negatived and driven, upwards to find pgress at the dome ventilators. Most of tke plant has been manufactured and erected by Messrs. Kelly, Fisher, and Wix themselves. Messrs. Andrews and Manthel, electrical and general engineers, manufactured, wivli much crodifc ai.d skill, the pump spatially designed by tli&rn for the inventors afltr much cateful thought and planning, their expert knowledge being of great assistance to Messrs. Kelly, Eisher, ;u>d Wix in their enterprise. Mr. Jol:n Welsby, of Marian-street, acted in the capacity of consulting engineer to the firm, and from him we have gathered the fotepbing particulars, together "wfth his opinion that the new system has a great future before it in all narts of the world where it has been patented.— Advt.