Patent GB-190625769-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in the Means of Raising Coal and other Minerals and the like from Mines.
Inventor: BRINDLEY JOHN
Filed: 1906-11-15
Granted: 1907-10-17
Abstract: 25,769. Brindley, J. Nov. 15. Elevators; conveyers; tipping apparatus; ; skips.-A pneumatic conveyer is used for raising coal, minerals, &c. from mines, and may or may not be arranged in conjunction with the ventilation system of the mine. The coal is tipped into the conveyer by means of an air-lock tipping- apparatus. Air is forced through the conveyer tube 2, Fig. 1, by means of fans 31 of the centrifugal multi-stage type, driven by electromotors and so arranged that any number of stages can be brought into action automatically, in accordance with the demand for increased pressure occasioned by the presence of larger pieces of coal. The surface delivery tube has a wide mouth, and is provided with hinged gates which are so adjusted as to check the velocity of the coal as desired. Two fans with their airlocks, and two delivery tubes may be arranged one to each shaft of a coal mine, the shaft forming a downcast flue. A pneumatic delivery tube is mounted in the main shaft 1 ; an horizontal part 4 of the tube is provided within a passage 3 which communicate with the tippler 6 and main roads 5. The coal is conveyed from the workings to the airlock 6 in tracks 7 running on tram-lines ; sliding doors are provided at either end of the air lock, and are closed simultaneously through linkage by a handle. The horizontal tube 4 is provided with a hopper 21, Fig. 5, opening to the interior of the air-lock 6. The tippler is in the form of a cylinder 24 with an opening 23 through which the coal is passed to the hopper, the cylinder being rotated by an electromotor 24. When the tippler rotates, the truck is supported by brackets 29. Air is continually forced through the tube 4 and the coal forced upward along the tube 2. The surface delivery apparatus comprises hinged swivelling tubes 41, 42, 45 operated by a windlass 44. Steam or water in the form of a fine spray may be introduced into the delivery tube, so as to damp the coal and prevent an undue amount of dust at the delivery outlet. In Fig. 7, a short length of tube 71 is shown inserted between two lengths of the tube 2. Round the pipe 71 is an annual channel 72 into which steam or water is fed through a pipe 73. The steam or water is passed into the pipe 2 through openings 74 inclined upwards. The coal is delivered on to picking bands 48, and the delivery chamber is mounted upon a swivel whereby it can swing to any suitable position in order to deliver the coal directly into trucks if necessary. Two or more delivery tubes, which may communicate with different workings, may be employed in one shaft. To break the force or velocity of the ascending coal in the pneumatic tube, the air supply may be cut off automatically at a given point, and so allow the expanding air and acquired momentum of coal to finish the delivery without unnecessary breakage. A modified form of air-lock and tippler is shown in Fig. 6, in which the tippler 55 is semi-rotating and mounted in the air-lock chamber 56. It is divided into two compartments by the partition 57, an opening in one compartment being diametrically opposite the opening in the other. The tippler is moved endways, and is rotated by means of an hydraulic ram 60, which is rifled and engages a nut 61. One compartment is filled while the other is being emptied.