IMPROVEMENTS IN GETTING, BREAKING, AND BLASTING COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS BY MEANS OF THE BURSTING AND EXPANDING OF CARTRIDGES BY THE APPLICATION OF AIR AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, ALSO IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SAME AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Marsh, of the Town and County of the Town of
Nottingham, Colliery Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN GETTING,
BREAKING, AND BLASTING COAL AND OTHER MATERIALS BY MEANS OF THE
BURSTING AND EXPANDING OF CARTRIDGES BY THE APPLICATION OF AIR AND
OTHER SUBSTANCES, ALSO IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SAME
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Jed the 24th April 1877, and dated the 22nd December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Marsh at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd December 1876.
SAMUEL MARSH, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Colliery
Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GETTING, BREAKING, AND BLASTING COAL AND OTHER
MATERIALS BY MEANS OF THE BURSTING AND EXPANDING OF CARTRIDGES BY
THE APPLICATION OF AIR AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, ALSO IN MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS EMPLOYED FOR SAME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention consists, in the first part, of cartridges placed in direet connection
to pumps, and the pressure therein increased until explosion occurs, also by having
a portable exploder charged with compressed atmospheric air by the same machinery,
and then taken and connected to the cartridge as subsequently described for direct
action.
Secondly. In the use and construction of expanding cartridges, which are com-
posed of iron or steel with telescopic joints, or of clastic substances similar to india-
rubber.
Thirdly. In the employment construction of cartridges filled with gaseous
substances (hydrogen and oxygen), and these exploded by electricity or percussive
substances.
The way I accomplish the first part of my Invention is by pumps or rains, the
barrel of the pumps being placed on light angle iron or steel supports, the power
being obtained from a crank placed at the opposite end, driving either direct or by
means of gearing; when required to work in a small space I employ a hollow con-
necting rod to which the cranks are secured and applied opposite to the centre of
the piston on the outer portion of the hollow connecting rod furthest from the
79

page_text: crank shaft. I thus provide pumps that may be used in the working of a mine, or
connected to power on the surface.
When employing atmospheric air an iron or other strong and portable vessel or
exploder constructed with a valve to retain the highly compressed air forced in by
the pumps or rams to such a pressure as may be required (eight or ten thousand lbs.
per square inch); when such portable vessels are so charged they may be carried
and connected to the cartridge placed in the substance to be broken by means of a
specially constructed set of pipes. The cartridge which is composed of iron or steel
in the form of a cylinder is securely rammed or stemmed in, and when connected to
the exploder the valve is opened and the admission of air bursts the cartridge and
brings down the coal; after the blasting operation is finished the exploder is
unscrewed and ready to be charged again; or I take the apparatus into the workings
and connect together by the same arrangement of joints and pipes as when useing
the portable exploder; the apparatus is then worked by manual labour or other
motive power until the cartridge is burst by the air pump or rams direct.
In the second part of my Invention the methods I use to force or break down
the coal or other substances is by means of an expanding cartridge or ram so con-
structed as to move with a telescopic action. The expanding cartridge is made of
a similar diameter to the cartridge used in the first part of my Invention, and is
connected by similar means to that used in the first part for compressing air to the
pump or ram, or to a pump such as is made for hydraulic purposes to produce a high
pressure. The telescopic cartridge is made in two parts of either iron or steel, onc
part is bored to receive a second which is made to fit as tightly as possible, but to
admit of the other part moving inside after the manner of a telescope. The inner
sliding portion is constructed at one end to admit a certain form of leather ring or
glutting packing, that when the water from the pump or ram is brought to bear on
the packed piston it expands with the expanding outer case by the pressure, and
thus retains the water so used to elongate or expand the cartridge. The bored part
of the telescopic cartridge has a pipe of similar make to that used for the first part
of my Invention screwed into the fast end, to admit the water from the pumps or
rams.
.
I also use an india-rubber expander so constructed as to be acted upon by the
hydraulic power as above described in the case of the expanding cartridge being
placed in the mass to be acted upon. I have holes drilled in the coal to be got, into
which are placed the telescopic cartridges with the pipes attached to them;
I use
either one or more, and if more than one the holes are drilled into the coal at proper
distances apart, so that when they are placed in position and rammed with such
material as is generally used for stemning or ramming a shot in coal-getting by gun-
powder, the end of the pipe left out of the face of the coal is connected by means
of a flexible pipe to the pumps or rams, and to the others if a number are used at
one time, so that the whole connected together form a battery which being acted
upon simultaneously causes an enormous strain upon the coal and brings it down;
a start being given to the coal the power is not lost, but can be continued until it is
dislodged.
The way I accomplish the third part of my Invention is by compressing gaseous
substances, such as oxygen and hydrogen, mixed in such proportions to form an
explosive of sufficient strength and power to break down coal, disintegrate rock
and other substances, or as an explosive for purposes of warfare, such as guns,
torpedoes, rockets, mortars, and other weapons. I use the same kind of pump or
rams for this the third part of my Invention as in the first part, but for the proper
mixing of the gases in the cartridge I construct the diameters of the pumps or rais
of different sizes, according to the nature of the gases and the quantities of each gus
I want to mix, to cause the necessary explosion on the application of electricity or
percussion.
I have the barrel of the pump enclosed in a metallic case which I keep filled with
the gas required to be used by the pump, so that the gases are kept separate until
finally forced into the cartridge for use by the two pumps of different capacities, or

page_text: I work the pumps with a stuffing gland or neck, and insert a pipe into the opening
of the pump barrel for the adinission of air or gas having a cock, so as to cut off the
air or gas when required; the other end of the pipe is connected to a cistern or
vessel containing the gas used for each pump, so that when the pumps are worked
by turning the crank shaft they force the gas into the cartridge (which is screwed
on to a pipe connected with the pumps as above described); the quantity of gas
required is regulated by an indicator guage connected with the pumps.
The cartridges I use for the third part of my Invention are made of a strong
metallic substance as in the first part, viz., with ends to admit of holes being drilled
in them to receive a tapped thread, in which holes I screw a piece of vulcanite or
non-conducting material in which is placed two copper wires to be afterwards
attached to a galvanic battery for igniting the gases in the cartridge; the other end
is fitted with a charging piece containing a valve of either india-rubber or suitable
substance to retain the gases when forced in by the above-mentioned pump; after
the cartridges are charged they are unscrewed from the puinps, and the opening in
them plugged and hermetically sealed; or I use a cartridge for gases with a per-
cussive substance or material at one end to ignite the gases contained in the
cartridge, so that when they are placed in the required position for their work a
blow is given to that portion of cartridge, the ignition of the gas takes place, and
the desired result produced.
The cartridges when required to break down coal are in all cases rammed securely
in the holes prepared for them as when gunpowder is used, no other preparation or
apparatus being required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Marsh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd June
1877.
SAMUEL MARSH, of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham, Colliery
Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN GETTING, BREAKING, AND BLASTING COAL AND OTHER
MATERIALS BY MEANS OF THE BURSTING AND EXPANDING OF CARTRIDGES BY THE
APPLICATION OF AIR AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, ALSO IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS
EMPLOYED FOR SAME AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
My said Invention relates chiefly to the getting, breaking, and blasting of coal
and other materials by the agency of compressed air or other clastic fluids, water, or
other liquid, and other substitutes for gunpowder and similar inflamınable explosives
ordinarily employed, and it consists,-
First. In boring or forming a hole or holes in the coal or other material to be
disintegrated, and inserting and securing therein a cartridge or cartridges after the
manner of blasting by the aid of gunpowder or other inflammable explosives, and
charging the said cartridge or cartridges with compressed air or other clastic fluid
until explosion takes place by either forcing such air or other elastic fluid thereinto
directly by means of a pumping apparatus, constructed and arranged as herein-
after described, or through the intervention of a portable receptacle or receptacles
charged with such air or other elastic fluid to the requisite elevated pressure by
means of the said pumping apparatus, all as herein-after more fully described. The
pumps may be actuated from a shaft by cranks or eccentrics, the connecting rods
from which are attached to the connections with the pump pistons or plungers at
a maximum distance from the said shaft in order to obtain the requisite equability
of motion, whilst the minimum distance admissable is maintained between such
shaft and the adjacent extremities of the pump cylinders or barrels, so as to
economize space.
Secondly. In the employment of telescopic extending cartridges and elastic
expanding cartridges.

page_text: Thirdly. In the application and use of cartridges containing oxygen and hydrogen
or equivalent mixtures of explosive gases, such cartridges being charged with the
said gases in the requisite proportions by means of compound pumps with barrels
of suitable proportionate areas, and being exploded by electricity or percussion.
This part of iny said Invention is also applicable to cartridges for naval and military
purposes, and to torpedoes and shells or rockets.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now pro-
'ceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
accompanying Sheets of Drawings, the same letters indicating corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of my Drawings represents a general sectional view of a coal
working illustrating one mode of carrying out the first part of my said Invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation; and Figure 3 an end view of the improved pumping
apparatus employed; and Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of one of
the pumps detached.
Figure 5 is a detail of a union joint for connecting together the sections of which
the pipes leading from the puinping apparatus are composed, as herein-after
described.
Figure 6 represents a longitudinal section of a cartridge employed in carrying
out this part of my said Invention.
Figure 7 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the construction and arrange-
iment of the telescopic extending cartridges, which in part form the subject matter
of the second part of my said Invention.
Figures 8 and 9 are longitudinal sections illustrating respectively two modi.
fications of the elastic expanding cartridge constructed according to this part of my
said Invention.
Figure 10 (Sheet 2) is a front view of a portion of a working illustrating the
application of this part of my said Invention."
Figure 11 (Sheet 2) represents a vertical section of a portion of a compound
pump; and Figure 12 represents a longitudinal section of one of the cartridges
employed in carrying out the third part of my said Invention.
In carrying out the first part of my said Invention as applied, for example, to
the getting of coal, I undercut the coal, as shewn at A, Figure 1, and I bore or
forni a hole, as shewn at B, or a series of holes side by side at intervals apart, and
insert in the hole or holes thus made a cartridge or cartridges C of the construction
herein-after described, and which I secure by a ramming D in the ordinary manner
for the operation of blasting by gunpowder or other inflammable explosives. I
then charge the said cartridge or cartridges with compressed air or other elastic
fluid until explosion takes place by the aid of the pumping apparatus shewn in
Figures 2, 3, and 4, and next herein-after described. This apparatus consists of
two series of pumps, each series being composed in the exainple shewn in my
Drawings of two pumps. The barrels E of the whole are mounted on light frames
of angle iron or steel, and their pistons or plungers G converge towards and are
connected to one common crank shaft H. This shaft carries fly wheels I, having
handles a for the facility of turning the same by hand, or it may be driven by
power if desired.
When it is required to bring the actuating handles for working the apparatus by
hand more conveniently within the range of the operator the handles may be fitted
on a separate shaft b, and the motion be transmitted to the upper shaft H by means
of gearing K, K³, as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 2, in which case the spur
wheel K inay be either of less diameter than the spur wheel 'K', as shewn, and the
speed be thereby augmented, or a converse proportion may be adopted for the
purpose of multiplying power, or the two wheels K, K³, may be of equal diameter,
the speed and power remaining unchanged, and the height of the handles only being
reduced. In either case power may be substituted for manual labour for driving
the apparatus if desired. The lower portions of the barrels E are immersed in water
or other cooling liquid contained in a tank L, which is also carried by the frames F.

page_text: The air enters the barrels at c, and is forced out at d, the whole of the barrels being
in intercommunication by means of pipes e, e. A gauge L' is provided for indi-
cating the pressure attained when in the act of compressing or forcing the air. The
whole apparatus is mounted on wheels M, M, for the facility of moving it from
place to place.
Figure 4 shews the details of the construction and arrangement of one of the
pumps, with its connections to the crank shaft. The barrel E is embraced by a
strap E, to which the rod G¹ of the pump piston or plunger G is attached at f, and
the connecting rod G, which is bifurcated, surrounds the strap E', to which it is
attached at g, the point of connection g being situate at the necessary distance from
the shaft II to obtain the requisite equability of motion, whilst the extremity f¹ of
the barrel is arranged in as close a proximity to the said shaft as is practicable, by
which combination space is economized, whilst at the same time great efficiency is
obtained. A valve is provided, which is acted upon by a spring i, tending to
force it towards its seat at , until by the augmentation of pressure at the exterior
of the valve, by continuing to force or compress air, the valve is pressed towards its
seat under the action of such pressure in conjunction with the force of the
spring i.
In applying the apparatus for the purpose of exploding the cartridge C, according
to one mode of carrying out this part of my said Invention, which is illustrated in
Figure 1, 1 employ a portable receptacle or receptacles N, which I charge by means
of the apparatus herein-before described with the compressed air to the requisite
pressure (say, 8,000 or 10,000 lbs. per square inch), the air being retained therein
by means of a valve of any suitable construction. The receptacle or receptacles N,
which I designate portable exploders, are then conveyed to the place where they
are required for use, and arc. connected by means of pipes O fitted with union
joints (see detail, Figure 5) for the facility of an independent motion of the different
sections of which the pipes are composed to the cartridge or cartridges C. to bc
exploded. The valve of the exploder is then opened, and the air being discharged
therefrom the explosion of the cartridge is effected, whereby the coal is brought
down as in the operation of blasting by gunpowder or other inflaminable explosives,
after which the exploder is detached to be re-charged for a succeeding operation.
According to another mode of carrying out this part of my said Invention I take
the pumping apparatus herein-before described into the working, and connect it at
d to the pipes O, Figure 1; the air is then forced direct into the cartridge or
cartridges C until explosion takes place. I prefer this method as being more certain
in action and more convenient for mining, especially in coal seams.
The cartridge employed in carrying out this part of my said Invention may be of
the description shewn in Figure 6, being composed of iron or steel or other suitable
metal or material, and by preference provided with hinged catches m to engage
with the coal, and when the explosion takes place co-operate in its disruption, or
any other description of cartridge which will answer the purpose may be employed
in substitution therefor.
The second part of my said Invention, which consists in the employment of
telescopic extending cartridges and elastic expanding cartridges in combination with
hydraulic or other fluid pressure, is illustrated by Figures 7, 8, and 9, Sheet 1, and
Figure 10 (Sheet 2), Figure 7 representing the telescopic extending cartridges, and
Figures 8 and 9 representing respectively two modifications of the elastic expanding
cartridge, and Figure 10 illustrating the application to and in the getting of coal of
cartridges constructed according to either of the arrangements, Figures 7, 8, and 9.
Referring to Figure 7, which represents a battery of two cartridges, each cartridge
is composed of two parts, an outer n and an inner o; the former (n) which is fitted
with catches m to engage with the coal is capable of sliding over the other (o)
towards the face of the working, and thus facilitating the disruption of the coal
when the water or other fluid is forced therein, as next herein-after described,
suitable packing being provided at p for the purpose of retaining the fluid, and
also if necessary the pipes being fitted with suitable telescopic joints or otherwise

page_text: arranged to admit of the longitudinal motion of the outer portion n of the
cartridge.
Figure 10 (Sheet 2) illustrates on a reduced scale the application of this part of
my said Invention, in carrying out which holes are bored in the coal in a manner
similar to that herein-before described in carrying out the first part of my said
Invention, and the telescopic extending cartridges are inserted and secured therein.
In the Drawing I have represented a battery of three cartridges inserted in the holes
thus formed and secured therein by a ramming D, which cartridges are connected
by a system of pipes O to a pump O¹, say, for example, a hydraulic pump of any
ordinary or other suitable construction, by the act of operating which by turning
the handles a the cartridge is extended, the catches m being forced into the coal and
its disruption effected in the manner herein-before described. The elastic expanding
cartridge, two modifications of which are shewn respectively in Figures 8 and 9
(Sheet 1), is also employed in combination with hydraulic or other fluid pressure in
substitution for the telescopic extending cartridge lastly herein-before described.
Referring to Figure 8, the cartridge consists of a cylinder of india-rubber or other
suitable elastic material having a longitudinal hole or bore q extending throughout
the greater part of its length but leaving a solid end at 7, whilst the opposite or
outer ends has attached to it the pipe O leading from the hydraulic pump O¹,
Figure 10. The cartridge is by preference surrounded with wire coils, as shewn at t,
for the purpose of increasing its adhesion, and it is also fitted with catches m similar
to those with which the telescopic extending cartridge is provided. On operating
the pump the water is forced into the cartridges, whereby the latter are caused to
expand and exert pressure upon the coal, and the operation being continued the
pressure is increased until the disruption of the coal takes place.
In the modification of elastic expanding cartridge illustrated by Figure 9, the
pipe O is continued throughout nearly the whole length of the cartridge, and branch
openings or outlets u leading from its bore are made at intervals for the egress of
the water, which then acts upon the cartridge so as to expand the same in a manner
similar to that herein-before described with reference to the modification shown in
Figure 8.
The third part of my said Invention is illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 (Sheet 2)
of my Drawings. It consists chiefly in the application and use to and in the getting,
breaking, and blasting of coal and other material, and also for naval and military
purposes of cartridges containing oxygen and hydrogen, or equivalent inixtures of
explosive gases, which cartridges are charged with the said gases by the aid of
pumps constructed generally in the manner herein-before described with reference
to the first part of my said Invention but having barrels of suitable relative areas
to supply the component gases in the necessary proportions for the production of an
explosive agent of the strength and properties required, the explosion being effected
cither by electricity or percussion, as desired. E, E¹, are the pump barrels, one of
which is intended for the supply of hydrogen and the other for the supply of
oxygen, either the larger or the smaller being used for either gas, according to the
precise nature of explosive mixture required. The two gases are contained in
cisterns QQ, which in my Drawings are shewn as situate one on each side of the
pump E, E¹, but which may surround the pump barrels or be otherwise arranged.
Un opening cocks or valves V, VI, in the connecting pipes R, R', the gases pass from the
cisterns Q, Q, into the pump barrels E, E, and by the act of operating the pistons
or plungers G, G³, the gases are forced through a common pipe or passage S into the
cartridge C which is attached to its extremity, a gauge L¹ being provided for
indicating the pressure attained in order to enable the operator to regulate the
supply of gas. Figure 12 shews the cartridge detached. It consists of a hollow
cylinder composed of a strong metallic substance, in one end of which is drilled and
tapped a hole for the reception of a plug w of vulcanite or other insulating material
in which are placed two copper wires x, x, to be subsequently connected to a
galvanic battery for igniting the gases in the cartridge, whilst to the opposite end
of the cartridge there is fitted a charging piece y for connection to the pipe S, and

page_text: containing a valve 3 of india-rubber or other suitable material for retaining the gases
after the cartridges are charged and disconnected from the pumps, additional
security being obtained by plugging and hermetically scaling the aperture in the
charging piece y in which the pipe S has been fitted.
If desired the cartridge, Figure 12, may be arranged so as to be fired by percus-
sion in lieu of by electricity, the end at w being provided with a suitable cap or
priming for ignition, as will be well understood without further explanation.
This part of my said Invention is applicable among other purposes to torpedoes
and shells or rockets, the same being charged with the component gases in the
required proportions in the manner herein-before described with reference to
cartridges. The torpedoes may be exploded by electricity or percussion fuses, and
the shells or rockets may be exploded by time or percussion fuses, the shells on their
explosion einitting an intense heat and light in addition to producing the destructive
effects due to their disruption.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patont is,-
First. The system or mode of getting, breaking, and blasting coal or other
materials by boring or forming a hole or holes in the coal or other material to be
disintegrated, and inserting and socuring therein a cartridge or cartridges after the
manner of blasting by the aid of gunpowder or other inflammable explosives, and
charging the said cartridge or cartridges with compressed air or other elastic fluid
until explosion takes place by either forcing such air or other clastic fluid
thereinto directly by means of pumping apparatus constructed and arranged as
herein set forth, or through the intervention of a portable receptacle or receptacles
charged with such air or other elastic fluid to the requisite elevated pressure by
ineans of the said pumping apparatus, all substantially as herein-before described
and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Attaching the connecting rods from the actuating cranks or eccentrics
to the connections with the pump pistons or plungers at the maximum distance
from the crank or eccentric shaft whilst maintaining the minimum distance between
such shaft and the adjacent extremities of the pump cylinders or barrels, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose licrcin-before described.
Thirdly. The employment of telescopic extending cartridges, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly. The employinent of clastic expanding cartridges, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before described.
Fifthly. The application and use of cartridges or other explosive receptacles con-
taining oxygen and hydrogen or equivalent mixtures of explosive gases, such
cartridges or receptacles being charged with the said gases in the requisite pro-
portions and exploded, substantially in the manner and by the means herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Marsh, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and sorreantse pawan
SAMUEL MARSH. (L.S.)