Improvements in or Connected with the Ventilation of Coal Mines to be Employed for the Safer Working of the Mines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 7th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept.,
1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with the Ventilation of Coal Mines
to be Employed for the Safer Working of the Mines.
I JABEZ STANLEY of 127 Ellesmere Road Sheffield in the County of York
Ironfounder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is well known that coal mining is especially dangerous during all low or decreased
atmospheric pressure which so often causes falls of the roofs or other parts of the
mine, and escapes of gas therein. The system of ventilation hitherto used tends to
evil whenever the air is rapidly drawn through the workings of the mine during such
low or decreased atmospheric pressure, for the direct or forward force of the air
destroys its propping power for the roofs and sides, and likewise facilitates explosions
owing to the gases being drawn out of the solid coal.
The present system of ventilation as used in coal mines only deals with the enemy
gas, that is, the gas escapes under the force of gravitation, which remains the same,
while the atmospheric pressure is seriously less, hence the great increase of gas which
must be got rid of.
My Invention, which is especially aimed at the saving of life in mines, consists in
accomplishing by mechanical means what nature does when the atmospheric pressure
is favorable and when there is therefore a minimum of danger.
I propose to force air (suitably regulated as may be required) into the mine down
the ordinary shaft, by means of any forcing engine or blower which may be best, the
air after passing down the shaft will pass through the workings of the mine as at
present, and thence out through an upcast shaft; this upcast shaft, however, will be
provided with a suitable regulating valve at its top, so that a favorable or maximum
pressure of air can be maintained during all weathers through all parts of the mine,
at all times and at all seasons.
Dated this 7th day of November 1888
BRISTOW HUNT,
Aldine Chambers, Sheffield, Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with the Ventilation of Coal Mines
to be Employed for the Safer Working of the Mines.
I JABEZ STANLEY of 127 Ellesmere Road Sheffield in the County of York
Ironfounder do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, that is to say :-
It is well known that coal-mining is especially dangerous during all low or decreased
atmospheric pressure which so often causes falls of the roof or of other parts of the
mine or the workings therein, and also escapes of gas.
The system of ventilation hitherto used tends to evil whenever the air is rapidly
drawn through the workings of the mine during such low or decreased atmospheric
pressure, for the direct or forward motion and force of the air destroy its power of
propping the roofs and sides and likewise facilitate explosions owing to the gases
being drawn out of the solid coal.
The present system of ventilation in coal mines only deals with the enemy gas, that
is, the gas escapes under the force of gravitation which remains the same while the
atmospheric pressure is seriously less, hence the great increase of gas which must be
got rid of.

page_text: My invention which is especially aimed at the saving of life in mines-consists in
accomplishing by mechanical means what nature does when the atmospheric pressure
is favorable and when therefore there is a minimum of danger.
I force air (as required) into the mine down the ordinary down cast shaft of the
mine, by means of any forcing or blast engine or blower which may be considered
the best.
The air after passing down the shaft passes through the workings in the mine as at
present and from thence it passes out through the ordinary upeast shaft. When both
are drawing shafts the usual doors to prevent ingress and egress of the air will be
required for both upcast and down cast shafts; the air is to enter the latter below the
doors.
The upcast shaft is provided at the top or near thereto in an off shoot from the
shaft with a regulating valve (or valves) of any suitable description, say, a swivel
door to partially open or close by its own weight, so that a favorable or maximum
pressure of air can be maintained during all weathers, through all parts of the mine,
at any time, and in all seasons.
In favorable atmospheric conditions it may be found that no valve or check is
needed to obtain the desired pressure, the friction of the air being sufficient to produco
In such case the check or valve may be set wide open.
it.
The before described improved system of ventilation is applicable to ordinary sized
mines, but in order to ensure the more perfect ventilation of the larger coal mines 1
also employ an additional supply of compressed air, and I provide a reservoir or
receiver made of suitable metal or of other suitable material in which air is received
from the blast engine or blower through an opening in the reservoir or receiver which
can be closed or opened when necessary.
This reservoir or receiver will be placed in the most convenient part of the mine,
that is, either inside the workings or outside the mine.
One or more mains or conduits will be fixed and laid inside the mine and workings,
so as to proceed from the air reservoir or receiver as permanent outlets thereof, from
which branches in the form of pipes or tubes will be attached.
These branches will be made of iron or steel pipes or tubes, or of flexible tubes or
tubing, such as hose pipes.
Wherever the ordinary current (or currents) of air fails to displace and discharge
the gas or foul air from the mine or to supply thoroughly any part or parts of the
workings with the pure air the above described air mains and branches therefrom
are to be used as accessories to the means adopted in forcing air down the mine
shaft and through the workings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The accomplishment, by convenient mechanical means or appliances, of the
more perfect or better ventilation and consequently the safer working of coal mines
and effecting tho saving of life to those engaged or having to be in mines, substantially
in the manner as hereinbefore specified.
2. The novel method of obtaining pressure by the aforesaid means, versus depression
by the present method of abstracting the air from the mine, such method being
universally admitted to fail in giving a sufficient supply of air, to render harmless
all noxious gases, as required by Act of Parliament.
1000
DROCK CHIs own way of
BRISTOW HUNT, R.P.A.,
Aldine Chambers, High Street, Sheffield, Agent for the Applicant.