IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING COAL AND OTHER MINES, COAL LADEN AND OTHER VESSELS, AND OTHER CONFINED SPACES
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Leigh and James Hampson
Gartside at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1879.
(A communication from abroad by Samuel Marsh, of Calais, France.)
JOHN LEIGH and JAMES HAMPSON GARTSIDE, both of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR
VENTILATING COAL AND OTHER MINES, COAL LADEN AND OTHER VESSELS, AND
OTHER CONFINED SPACES." (A communication from abroad by Samuel Marsh, of
Calais, France.)
This Invention relates to the ventilation of coal, iron, stone, or other mines,
holds, and furnace rooms of ocean steamers, coal laden vessels, iron plated ships, and
other vessels of war, factories, mills, gassing rooms, cellers, and such other confined
spaces as may require such ventilation.
The said improvements consist in a certain method of forcing compressed
vaporized air (such as is mentioned and referred to in the Provisional Specification
of an application for Letters Patent for "Improvements in Obtaining and Applying
Motive Power, and the Construction of Apparatus for such Purpose," filed and
bearing even date herewith) into mines or other confined spaces, and in apparatus
to be employed for such purposes.
The Invention as applied to mines consists principally in the use of a set of
pumps (constructed as described in the Provisional Specification above referred to)
for forcing vaporized air into the down cast shaft, the density and weight of such
vaporized air being such as to drive the air of the pit before it, and greatly
accelerate the descending column of air and proportionately increase the
ventilation.
The second part of the Invention consists in the use of a set of pumps for the
purpose of obtaining vaporized air at a high pressure (say about 1000 pounds to
the square inch), and forcing the same into and down small bore wrought iron
pipes, arranged either in a spiral or circular manner, or in parallel lines round the
inside of the shaft to convey the air to the workings.
Thirdly. It is proposed to perforate such pipes at stated distances, the holes to be
drilled at such angles as may be most suitable, or to screw jets into the supply
pipes so as to throw a series of downward streams of vaporized air into the shaft.
And for the further subdividing of the said vaporized air so as to produce a very
fine spray or cold vapour, it is proposed to cover the perforations or jets with
prepared india rubber, fine wire, cloth, felt, or other suitable substance.
Fourthly. It is proposed to extend the same principle of carrying high pressure
vapourized air into the headings and the workings on the face of the coal, but at a
higher pressure than what is delivered in the down cast shaft (say from 4000 to
5000 lbs.). To obtain this object a smaller set of pumps will be provided to force
the air at a higher pressure into the more extended workings of the mine, where

page_text: the inflammable gas exudes from the coal in greater profusion, and thereby dilute
the said gas to such an extent as to render it uninflammable, and by the forced
current of air from the pipes drive the exhausted air forward to the return air ways,
reducing the temperature of the workings at the face of the coal and leaving purer
air for the men to work in.
Fifthly. To assist in keeping up a steady supply of air for this part of the
Invention, it is proposed to have strong air containers or reservoirs charged from
the first set of pumps between the air pumps and the connection of pipes, or to
have a few lengths of pipes of a larger size near to the pit mouth to answer the
same purpose. A similar arrangement for the second set of pumps (with the higher
pressure) is to be extended into the workings where the coal is being got. The
impetus given by the cold vapoury air being forced at a high pressure through the
perforations into the downcast shaft will accelerate the current of air by being
driven in the same direction as the air is desired to move in the air ways. The air
being forced down the pit in a cold and highly compressed state, and continued
being forced in a forward direction in the main roadways, and from thence in a
still more highly condensed state into the workings or to the face of the coal being
got, and as the air being so forced will be in an aqueous or vapoury state the
temperature will be reduced. The dusty or dangerous particles of coal floating in
the air will become saturated to a certain extent, and thus render the roadways and
workings safer, as it is well known that these dusty particles of coal and shale in
the air, and trodden down and ground together on the roadways, form a most
dangerous element at the time of an explosion. The watery portions of the com-
pressed air are also absorbed into the sides of the roadways (that is, into the shales),
and thus close the spores or air cells of the shale or bind as well as the coal not got,
thereby preventing in a great measure further escape of the pent up gases lying
dormant in both coal and shale.
Sixthly. For coal laden vessels and armour plated and other vessels of war, it is
proposed to employ the same class of pumps as for mines, and the same arrange-
ment of small-bore wrought iron pipes to be laid down in a circular coiled
serpentine or other convenient form on the deck flooring when the coal is stored
for a voyage, and to have the pipes perforated at intervals throughout the entire
length, the perforations or jets being (by preference) covered with suitable material
to protect the holes from becoming blocked with coal dust; and secondly, to cause
the finer dissemination of the aqueous air through the loose porous mass of coal, so
as to cause the air to force the gases which accumulate in the midst of the coal to.
rise to the surface of the same, and then to be passed forward into the open air and
thus rendered innoxious, and thereby prevent explosions of gases in the holds of
vessels.
It is proposed so to arrange the pumps that they may be worked either by the
engines of the steamer, or to have special steam or other power provided, or to be
worked by hand when required.
Seventhly. It is also proposed to ventilate fire holes and ordinary coal bunkers
in large ocean going steamers and other vessels by forcing out the impure air from
below (and the overheated air caused by the large furnaces of the boilers), by
similar means to those above described for forcing air into the downcast shafts of
mines, so as to render such places safer and more fit for human beings to work in.
Eighthly. It is proposed to use a similar process for purifying the air in gassing
rooms and other factories or mills, where dust and cotton fibres, flour, or other
particles float thickly in the air so as to render it unfit for human beings to
breathe. The condensed vapory air will be found to clear away the floating
particles much more quickly and effectively than ordinary air would do.