IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING COAL MINES, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firin of Haseltine, Lake,
"
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING COAL MINES, AND FOR SIMILAR
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Francis Murphy, of Streator,
Illinois United States of America
Sealed the 19th May 1876, and dated the 11th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING COAL
MINES, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication.
The first part of my Invention relates to an arrangement of fans upon opposite
sides of the air-receiving chamber and on the same shaft to balance each other, and
to an arrangement for tubing the shaft and galleries of the mine, and regulating the
connection between the ventilating tubes and the receiving chamber by suitable
valves.
The second part of the said Invention relates to a construction and arrangement
of the apparatus for use in a position directly above the mouth of the shaft, and so
that it may be operated either as an exhaust or a blower without reversing the
motion of the fans.
The third part of the said Iuvention relates to the construction of the fans or
blowers.
The fourth part relates to the application of my improved fan or blower to an
apparatus for ventilating ships, houses, and other structures.
The air-receiving chamber is provided with openings at opposite sides thereof,
and balanced fans are arranged on the same shaft, and outside of the said air-
receiving chamber. The blades or wings of the fans are of wrought iron or steel
and firmly dovetailed to the hub, being made thicker near the hub, and with a
gradual taper.
The tube sections have inverted side brackets and surrounding supporting pieces
combined with brackets of shaft lining for bearing the tube sections independently
of each other. I combine a valve, lever, a rope and pulley, a sector pulley, a
spring and lever, and locking plate with the air tube of a ventilating apparatus.
Price 8d1

page_text: When the shaft is sunk to a lower vein or level having one or more working veins
above, it is necessary to regulate and control the ventilation between them. This is
done by means of a valve above ground, but which should be applied to the
tube section at the required depth below. This valve may be partly or entirely
opened and closed by the attendant stationed above ground, the telegraph alarm
connection with the different headings and levels informing him how to set the
same. The ventilation of the whole mine is thereby controlled entirely from the
surface in a reliable and casily attended manner. The said valve is pivoted and
fitted to a metal casing, and set as required by means of the lever that is connected
by the rope and pulley with the sector-shaped pulley on the valve shaft lever,
holding the valve in any position by being fastened by a stop pin to a perforated
circular guide piece. The sector-shaped pulley of the valve is acted upon in
opposite directions by a weight or spring. The air chamber is placed immediately
above, and opens directly into the shaft.
The receiving chamber is sometimes placed directly over the shaft of the mine
without the intervention of any other mechanism, and galleries lead from the shaft.
Two fans or blowers are placed upon the same shaft or opposite sides of the
receiving chamber. Motion is communicated to this shaft by any suitable mc-
chanism, and thus the blowers are rotated in the proper direction. The chamber is
provided with circular openings directly opposite the fans, which are unenclosed if
the apparatus is to be used only for the purpose of exhausting foul air from the mine,
and with this arrangement fresh air inay be forced into the chamber and down the
shaft by reversing the motion of the fans when the latter are of ordinary construction.
But to make this apparatus capable of use, both as a blower and exhaust without
the necessity of reversing the motion, I construct the small supplementary com-
partments at the sides of the receiving chamber and place the fans within them.
In the two remaining sides of the receiving chamber doors are constructed, and the
side compartments are also provided with doors at their tops and at their sides.
From the bottom of the chambers passages lead to the open air, which are controlled
by slides. From the same compartments, passages lead to the shaft below the air
receiving chamber. To the lower part of the frame are hinged two doors, which
are suspended in front and close the mouth of the passages, but may be swung
up to a horizontal position, when they will entirely close the mouth of the shaft.
The doors are provided with weighted catches which assist to hold them in either
a vertical or horizontal position. Small plates pivoted to the frame of the chamber
engage with these catches to hold them in a vertical position, and weighted dogs
are also pivoted to the inside of the frame surrounding the mouth of the shaft, and
engage with hooks or catches upon the inside of the doors, when they are thrown
up into a horizontal position, and securely hold them'in such position until released.
These dogs are of peculiar construction, and consist of two arms at right angles to
each other, the horizontal one being weighted at its outer end, and extended
forward beyond the other arm, to form a projection through which the pivat bolt
is placed.
This ventilating apparatus constructed as described may be used either as an
exhaust or a blower without reversing the revolution of the fans. The wheel or
fan consists of an ordinary hub to which the blades are attached, the latter being
curved. To the outer ends of these blades the rim is rigidly attached. This rim is
gradually curved outward, so as to present a flaring or bell shaped appearance, the
outer diameter of the rim being considerably larger than the inner diameter of the
same. Instead of attaching the rim to the blades of the fan, the former may be
fixed rigidly to the air trunk or chambers, and the fan constructed so as to revolve
within the rim, the outer ends of the blades being fitted accurately to the inner
contour of the rim.
Instead of casting the rim, blades, and hub together, the fans may be cast with
simply an arm or spoke connecting the hub and rim, the spoke being widened at
the rim so as to form a rib.
The blower is sometimes constructed with a solid disc, upon one side of which

page_text: and at its outer edge are attached flanges, surmounted and covered by a narrow
annulus. The flanges are of peculiar construction: from their origin upon the disc
they are at first protected a little distance outward upon a line tangential to a
curve, with a radius terminating at about the point of origin, but are then changed
in direction, and follow a curve until they reach the periphery of the disc. Instead
of a solid disc of metal, the back may be constructed with metallic hubs and spokes,
the spaces between the latter being filled with wood.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
September 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING
COAL MINES, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication to me from abroad
by Francis Murphy, of Streator, Illinois, United States of America.
The first part of my improvements consists in an arrangement of fans upon
opposite sides of the air-receiving chamber and on the same shaft to balance each
other; and in an arrangement for tubing the shaft and galleries of the mine, and
regulating the connection between the ventilating tubes and the receiving chamber
by suitable valves.
In the accompanying Drawings-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ventilating apparatus for coal mines and the like.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same, and
Figure 3 shows in detail side and end views of a blade of the spiral fan.
A represents the base supporting timbers which are arranged around the shaft
opening, with the vertical posts or standards B mortised therein. These standards
Bare stiffened and firmly retained in position by braces a and tie rods b attached
to swivel bails d near the top, and to sockets, washers, and nuts of the base pieces.
The posts B carry at their upper parts in suitable bearings the fan shaft C, which
is revolved by pulley and belt connection from the engine. A top cross piece B¹
is securely fastened to the top of posts B, and bears by intermediate wedges on the
top of the air chamber D, which is thereby rigidly retained in position, its base
part being bound to the connecting tube column E by the metallic valve frame E¹
of the same.
The air chamber D is provided with circular openings e at opposite
sides, the fan shaft passing centrally through the same, and carrying outside and
near each opening a fan C. The fans C¹ are equal in every respect, with the
exception that one has right and the other left, or contrary spiral blades. The
fans are keyed firmly to the shaft and balance cach other, so as to neutralize the
lateral pressure of one fan and utilize the power of the fans to a greater extent.
The blades or wings of the fans are of wrought iron or steel and firmly dove-
tailed to the hub, being made thicker near the hub, and with a gradual taper, as
shewn in Figure 3. Each blade is curved in the manner shewn in Figure 2 to
produce the cutting of the air at a certain angle, and thereby the exhaustion of the
shaft by being revolved in one direction and the forcing in of air by being turned
in the opposite direction.
The working capacity of the balanced fans is nearly doubled without enlarging
the apparatus as compared with a single fan, while the safety of the apparatus is
increased by the neutralization of the lateral pressure. The air chamber or casing
is carried over the fan shaft by having slots or recesses at the lower side, which are
closed by dovetailed pieces when the air chamber is seated on the tube column.
The descending shaft tubes E are supported at suitable intervals by inverted
brackets f of the width of the tubes that are firmly attached to the outer side of
the same, resting on surrounding and bolt-connected cross pieces g, which are sup-
ported by brackets g¹ of the shaft linings. The different tube sections are thus

page_text: separately supported as extended downward into the shaft without producing any
pressure or weight on the lower sections of the column. The setting up, replacing,
and detaching of the tube sections is thus accomplished in a quick and convenient
manner.
The
When the shaft is sunk to a lower vein or level, having one or more working
veins above, it is necessary to regulate and control the ventilation between them.
This is done by means of the valve F, which is shewn in Figure 2, above ground,
but which should be applied to the tube section at the required depth below. The
valve F may be partly or entirely opened and closed by the attendant stationed
above ground, the telegraph alarm connection with the different headings and levels
informing him how to set the saine. The ventilation of the whole mine is thereby
controlled entirely from the surface in a reliable and easily attended manner.
valve F is pivoted and fitted to a metal casing F₁, and set as required by means of
a lever connected by a rope and pulley i, with a sector-shaped pulley on the
valve shaft lever h, holding the valve F in any position by being fastened by a stop
pin to a perforated circular guide-piece ². The sector-shaped pulley 7 of the
valve is acted upon in opposite directions by a weight or spring 1, so that as soon
as the lever is released the valve is readily swung into closed position. The valve
casing is fitted accurately to the air tube, and the joints closed by a suitable cement
to make them air-tight and secure the reliable exhaust and supply action of the
fans. The air chamber is connected by a flexible tube with a water gauge G, that
is placed on any suitable standard or point free from the vibrations of the machinery.
The gauge indicates on a graduated scale of the glass tube the degree of exhaustion
produced by the fans.
The second part of these improvements relates to a construction and arrangement
of the said apparatus for use in a position directly above the mouth of the shaft,
and so that it may be operated either as an exhaust or a blower without reversing
the motion of the fans. This construction is illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of
the Drawings, in which Figure 4 is a side elevation of the said apparatus; Figure 5
is an end elevation of the same; and Figure 6 is a cross section on the line x, x,
Figure 4, drawn to an enlarged scale.
A represents the receiving chamber, which is placed directly over the shaft B of
the nine without the intervention of any other mechanism, and C, C, are galleries
leading from the shaft B. Two fans or blowers D, D, are placed upon the same
shaft E on opposite sides of the receiving chamber. Motion is communicated to
this shaft by any suitable mechanism, and thus the blowers rotated in the direction
indicated by the arrows. The chamber A is provided with circular openings a
directly opposite the fans, which are unenclosed if the apparatus is to be used only
for the purpose of exhausting foul air from the mine, and with this arrangement
fresh air may be forced into the chamber and down the shaft by reversing the
motion of the fans when the latter are of ordinary construction.
But to make this apparatus capable of use both as a blower and exhaust without
the necessity of reversing the motion, I construct two small supplementary coin-
partments A, A1, at the sides of the receiving chamber A, and place the fans within
them, as seen in Figure 6 of the Drawings. In the two remaining sides of the
receiving chamber, doors A² are constructed, and the side compartments are also
provided with doors a¹ at their tops, and a² at their sides. From the bottom of the
chambers A¹ passages F, F, lead to the open air, which are controlled by slides f, f.
From the same compartiments A¹, passages G, G, lead to the shaft B below the air-
receiving chamber. To the lower part of the frame are hinged two doors H, H,
which are suspended in front, and close the mouth of the passages G, G, as seen in
dotted lines in Figure 6, but may be swung up to a horizontal position, when they
will entirely close the mouth of the shaft, as seen in Figure 6 in full lines.
doors are provided with weighted catches b, b, which assist to hold them in either
a vertical or horizontal position. Small plates c pivoted to the frame of the chamber
engage with these catches to hold them in a vertical position, and weighted dogs d
are pivoted to the inside of the frame surrounding the mouth of the shaft, which
The

page_text: dogs engage with hooks or catches e upon the inside of the doors H, when they are
thrown up into a horizontal position and securely hold them in such position until
released. These dogs are of peculiar construction, and consist of two arms at
right angles to each other, the horizontal one being weighted at its outer end and
extended forward beyond the other arm, to form a projection through which the
pivot bolt is placed. By this construction the centre of motion is forward of both
arms of the dog, as clearly shown in Figure 6, so that the entire weight of both
arms operates to secure quickness of action and a reliable fastening.
The operation of the said apparatus is as follows, that is to say -When it is used
as an exhaust the passages G are closed by the doors H hanging down in a vertical
position, and the chamber A opens directly into the shaft; the doors of the
chamber A are closed, but those of the compartments A¹ are thrown open, and the
passages F are also opened by withdrawing the slides f, so that there may be
the fullest opportunity for the escape of the foul air drawn into the compartments A¹
by the revolution of the fans. When it is desired to force fresh air into the mine,
the slides and the doors of the compartments A¹ are all closed, the side doors of
the chamber A are opened, and the mouth of the shaft is closed by swinging up the
doors H, thus at the same time opening the passages G from the compartments A¹
to the shaft B. The fans being revolved in the same direction as before continue
to exhaust air from the chamber A; but it is fresh air coming through the open
doors, and not from the shaft which is closed. The compression of the air in the
chambers A by this operation of the fans will force a current down the passages G
into the shaft B and galleries C of the mine.
The third part of these improvements relates to the construction of the fans or
blowers, and is illustrated in Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the Drawings, of
which Figures 7 and 8 represent a front and sectional view of a fan whose blades
are surrounded by a flaring or bell-shaped rim, cast in one piece with the blades.
Figures 9 and 10 represent similar views of this fan constructed in a somewhat
different manner, and Figures 11 and 12 are front and sectional views of the said
fan, especially adapted for use with the arrangement of chambers described in the
second part of this Specification.
In Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, A represents the wheel or fan consisting of an ordinary
hub B, to which the blades C are attached, the latter being curved as clearly shown
in Figures 2 and 3. To the outer ends of these blades a rim D is rigidly attached.
This rim is gradually curved outward so as to present a flaring or bell shaped
appearance, the outer diameter of the rim being considerably larger than the inner.
In an ordinary rimmed fan, the rim being of the same diameter throughout, when
the fan is used for the purpose of exhausting, the outflowing current of air is
restricted by the rim and produces considerable friction. By constructing the fan
in the manner above described this difficulty is nearly obviated, for the current of
air is permitted to expand the moment it enters the fan, and the expansion continues
until the foul air drawn from the mine or elsewhere is finally dissipated in the
surrounding atmosphere.
If the said fan is used as a blower, it will be seen that by reason of the bell-
shaped rim a large quantity of air will be gathered between the blades, and forced
backward and slightly compressed until it enters the receiving chamber. Instead
of attaching the rim to the blades of the fan, the former may be fixed rigidly to the
air-trunk or chambers, and the fan may be so constructed as to revolve within the
rim, the outer ends of the blades being fitted accurately to the inner contour of
the rim.
Instead of casting the rim, blades, and hub together, the fans may be cast with
simply an arm or spoke c connecting the hub and rim, the spoke c being widened
at the rim to form a rib d, as shown in Figure 10. Two pieces of sheet metal C¹, C³,
of suitable shape are then placed within the rim so as to enclose the spoke, in which
position they are firmly fastened by rivets passing through their outer ends and the
ribs d, their edges being also riveted together, as clearly shewn in Figure 9. If
desired, a rib may also be cast on the hub, to which the blade plates may be riveted,

page_text: and for greater security the plates, if necessary, may be riveted to the spokes along
their entire length.
The blower shown in Figures 11 and 12 is constructed with a solid disc D, upon
one side of which and at its outer edge are attached flanges d, which are in turn
surmounted and covered by a narrow "annulus" D¹. The flanges are of peculiar
construction; from their origin upon the disc they are at first projected a little
distance outward upon a line tangential to a curve with a radius terminating at
about the point of origin, but are then changed in direction and follow a curve
until they reach the periphery of the disc. Instead of a solid disc of metal the
back D may be constructed with metallic hubs and spokes, the spaces between the
latter being filled with wood for the purpose of making the blower lighter. In
operation the disc D is placed on the outside, the annulus D¹ being fitted to run
close to the casing of the air chamber. The blower may also be placed inside the
air chamber in a reverse position, when it will operate satisfactorily as an
exhauster, but not so well to force fresh air down the shaft.
The fourth part of these improvements relates to the application of my improved
fan or blower to an apparatus for ventilating ships, houses, and other buildings or
places.
Figure 13 is an elevation of an apparatus for this purpose, and Figure 14 is a
sectional view on the line y, y, Figure 13.
In these Figures A represents a ventilating air flue leading from the lower parts
of a vessel, or from the rooms of a building. Upon a suitable support B is mounted
a shaft C, which extends up through the end of the tube or flue A and to its upper
end, and just outside of said flue is attached one of the flaring rimmed fans shown
in Figures 7 and 9, the flaring mouth of the fan being placed over and opening
into the tube A. Above the fan is placed another tube E extending into the open
air. The fan D being put in motion in the proper direction foul air will be
exhausted through the tube A from the apartments or spaces which it connects and
driven out into the open air through the tube E. It is evident that by reversing
the operation fresh air may be forced down into the apartments or spaces with
which the tube A connects.
A modification of this part of my Invention relating to apparatus for the purpose
of ventilating houses, vessels, and the like is illustrated in the following Figures of
the Drawings, in which Figure 15 represents a side elevation, part in section, of
this modified apparatus; Figure 16 is a sectional plan on the line x, x, Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a vertical section of the same; and Figures 18, 19, 20, and 21 are
different views showing the construction of the fans or blowers.
A represents an air shaft extending from the top to the bottom of the building,
and closed at both top and bottom. Into this shaft openings should be made on
each floor to communicate with the room or rooms on the floor, and near its lower
end it should communicate directly with an air chamber B. A supplementary
chamber C is constructed upon each side of the chamber B, and apertures are so
made that each chamber C communicates directly with the chamber B. The
chambers C also communicate at their upper ends directly with a second air shaft D,
which extends out of the building into the open air. Fans or blowers E, E, are
placed upon a shaft extending across the chambers B and C, one fan being arranged
in each of the chambers C opposite the opening into the chamber B, and these fans
are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows by any suitable driving
mechanism. Swinging doors F, F, are arranged so as to close the opening from
the shaft A into the chamber B, and at the same time open direct communication
between the shaft A and the chambers C. For this operation the width of the
chamber B is made just double that of one of the chambers C, so that the doors F
when swung together will exactly fill the space equal to the width of the chamber B.
Similar doors G also control the passages leading from the chambers C into the
shaft D, as shown in Figure 17 of the Drawings. These doors are so constructed
that when closed they shut in the top of the chamber B, and when opened close
the passages from the chamber C to the air shaft D.

page_text: In this modification of my Invention, the general construction of the blowers is
the same as that shown in Figures 11 and 12 of the Drawings, and described in
connection with the third part of this Invention. The blowers E are constructed
with a disc a, which in this modification is strengthened by radial arms b. The
annular disc c is similar in construction to that heretofore described, and between
the two discs are placed the flanges or wings d, which are also the same in con-
struction as heretofore shown. The annular disc c is strengthened and supported
by radial arms c attached to the shaft of the blower and to the disc, and extending
across the open space through which the air passes into or out of the blower.
These arms are flat pieces of metal, and to prevent the obstruction of the air in
passing through the blower as much as possible, that portion of the arms extending
across the central opening of the blower is made oval in form and bent outward, as
shewn in Figures 18 and 21, the latter of which represents a cross section of this
portion of one of these arms. By turning the arms outward in this way they are
inade to assist in taking air from the main chamber into the supplementary
chambers.
The said blowers are always rotated in the same direction, and when it is desired
to exhaust the vitiated air from a building the doors F are so arranged as to open
communication between the shaft A and the chamber B, and at the same time
communication between said shaft and the chambers C is closed. The revolution
of the fans now draws the air down through the shaft A and chamber B into the
chamber C, whence it is driven through the shaft 1 into the open air. If it is
desired to force fresh air into the building, communication between the shaft A and
chamber B is closed by swinging together the doors F, which at the same time
opens communication between this shaft and the chamber B. If now the wheels
are rotated as before fresh air will be drawn down through the shaft D and
chamber B into the chambers C, and thence it will be driven into the shaft A and
out through the registers into the rooms of the building.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim―
First. The combination of the air-receiving chamber provided with openings at
opposite sides thereof, and the balanced fans arranged on the same shaft and outside
of the air-receiving chamber, all constructed as shewn in Figure 2 of the Drawings,
and operating as above described.
Second. The combination of tube sections having inverted side brackets, and
surrounding supporting pieces with brackets of shaft lining for bearing the tube
sections independently of each other, as shown in Figure 2 and as above described.
Third. The combination of the valve, lever, rope and pulley, sector pulley, spring
and lever locking plate with the air tube of a wire ventilating apparatus, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 2 and as above described.
Fourth. The combination, as above described, of the air-receiving chamber, the
balanced fans, and the shaft tubes, provided with suitable valves, as shewn in
Figure 2 of the Drawings.
Fifth. The combination of the air chamber placed immediately above and opening
directly into the shaft, the supplementary compartments, and the fans, as shown in
Figure 6 of the Drawings and as above described.
Sixth. The supplementary compartments arranged on opposite sides of the
chamber and enclosing the fans, as shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawings and
as above described.
Seventh. The combination, as above described, of the chamber provided with
doors, the chambers enclosing the fans, and the passages leading directly from the
chambers to the shaft of the mine, as shown in Figure 6 of the Drawings.
Eighth. The combination, as above described, of the chamber provided with
doors, the chambers enclosing the fans, the doors at the mouth of the shaft, and the
passages connecting the chambers with the shaft of the mine, as shown in Figure 6
of the Drawings.

page_text: Ninth. The combination, as above described, of the chamber and compartments
provided with doors and either with or without an air flue, as shown in Figure (
of the Drawings.
Tenth. The doors for opening and closing the mouth of the shaft and the passages,
as shown in Figure 6 of the Drawings and as above described.
Eleventh. A ventilating apparatus constructed as above described, which may be
used either as an exhaust or a blower without reversing the rotation of the fans, as
shown in Figures 4 and 6 of the Drawings.
Twelfth. The combination of the weighted catches attached to the doors and the
plates, as shown in Figure 6 of the Drawings and as above described.
Thirteenth. The combination of the dogs and doors having catches, as shown in
Figure 6 of the Drawings and as above described.
Fourteenth. A ventilating apparatus, consisting of an air chamber having circular
openings in opposite sides thereof, and fans or blowers, constructed as described,
placed upon the same shaft and arranged on opposite sides of the chamber, as shown
in Figure 6 of the Drawings and as above described.
Fifteenth. The exhaust fan or blower constructed with blades and the flaring or
bell-shaped rim, shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the Drawings and as above described.
Sixteenth. The combination of the rim provided with a rib, the spokes, and the
plates, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 of the Drawings and as above described.
Seventeenth. A fan or blower consisting of a disc, flanges, and "annulus,"
constructed as shewn in Figures 11 and 12 of the Drawings and as above described.
Eighteenth. A ventilating apparatus, consisting of the air flues or tubes, and the
fan mounted upon a shaft on a suitable support, as shown in Figures 13 and 14 of
the Drawings and as above described.
Nineteenth. The modification of the said Invention for ventilating houses, ships,
and other structures or places, shewn in Figures 15 to 21 of the Drawings and as
above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.