Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1875-07-16
vENTILATING MINES.

Levi j. Henry, of this city, has re-
Gently patented through the agency con-
nected with this office process for ven-
tilating, purifying and cooling the air of
mines, wells, sewers, vaults, etc. II
consists principally in the employment
of water, which is carried in suitable
pipes to various parts of the space to be
operated on and is discharged through
spray Jets or novels. This spray, when
falling down the shaft, will carry me-
chanically entangled with il consider
able amount of air, while similar spray
Jets in various parts of the space below
will serve to cool the air. One form of
the apparatus to be used in mines may
be described as follows:
At the top of a mining shaft a connec-
ton with a hydrant or tank of water
should be made, through the medium OF
any metallic pipe or India rubber hose.
The pipes for the main supply of water
should be permitted TO descend the shaft.
At every 100 or 200 feet, a jet or nozzle
is securely connected with the pipes or
Wine, so that in its downward course
the water may be thrown out in the form
of spray. These sprays may be put in
any required place.
The action of spray OF water in puri-
flying the atmosphere is too we'll known
to require any further explanation. In
addition to this cooling of the air fur
Their advantage is gained in forcing
downward of q body of cool air on ac-
count of its becoming mechanically en-
tangled with the falling spray, thus fur
nishing certain amount of air for the
purpose of ventilating the lower levels
of a mine. The spray of falling water Is
also very valuable as protection against
fire in such mines or shafts as are ex-
cessively dry, and the full strength of
the timbers will be better preserved by
this wetting.
In order to increase the circulation of
cool dir in the mine the inventor further
utilities the water which passes down the
| pipes, by connecting the pipes at certain
points with the box or case of a water
wheel, said wheel being turned by the
| momentum of passing water. The pipes
are continued below the wheel case, and
the different discharge openings below
| will cause sufficient current to rotate the
| wheel. This wheel is connected with a
| blower at suitable point, so that
|
cooled by the spray and force it down.
ward through pipes to different points
where it can be used in the mine. The
water to be used as above described may
be taken either from the surface, or ii
may be collected in tanks at different
parts of the mine or shafts, care being
taken that sufficient fall is given to pro.
duce the necessary result. For local use
by the miners on low levels of deer
mines where the the temperature is ele
waited and the air close and sitting, fexi
Bile tubes are connected with the mair
pipe, or with the tanks, and these tubes
are provided with spray nozzles, which
are always within easy reach of thu
operator, and may in some cases be at
tached to the body so that if desired
spray may be thrown over the person
Extra faucets or cocks are connected
with the pipes which pass through tn
timbers, and which, in case of fire in the
timbers, can ct moments warning b
turned on by workmen, thus giving
sense of safety in the event of fire il
, the mine.-[ Pacific Mining and Scientifi
Press, 10.