IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING, DISCHARGING, AND TRANSMITTING AIR, WATER, OR OTHER FLUIDS.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Brakell, of No. 8, York Street,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING,
DISCHARGING, AND TRANSMITTING AIR, WATER, OR OTHER FLUIDS.'
13
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Brakell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 27th February 1873.
I, CHRISTOPHER BRAKELL, of No. 8, York Street, Manchester, in
5 the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
EXHAUSTING, DISCHARGING, AND TRANSMITTING AIR, WATER, OR OTHER FLUIDS,"
to be as follows:—
The first part of my Invention consists of machinery and apparatus
and the application to the ventilation of mines, and for the better
description of the same I hereto annex a Drawing showing. front and
side elevations and plan.

page_text: The fan or ventilator marked D in the Drawing receives the air or
gases on one side only, and discharges at the periphery, and consists
of a strong cast-iron boss keyed on the fan shaft. The boss has a flange
on one side to which the blank or closed side of the fan is secured, and
to the face of this one end of the vanes or wings of the fan are attached,
while the other ends are attached to the face of of the opposite or inlet
side of the fan. The inlet works almost in contact with a casting of
circular form built into the culvert B, and which has a cross piece or
bracket to support one end of the fan shaft.
There is
The Drawing shows the fan or ventilator driven direct by an independant
steam engine but boiler, and it will be evident that it may be worked by
means of a belt or gearing from an engine and boiler used for other
purposes as well. The vanes of the fan are shown curved, but they may
be straight and fixed either radial or tangentially to the axis. The inlet
of the fan B is in connection with the main or pit shaft A.
also another culvert or connection with the shaft marked O below the
fan inlet, and which I call the induced current inlet. The fan being
put in motion draws the air or gases through the inlet B and discharges.
the same into the spiral chamber E. The velocity given to the air
represents a certain power or force, and I make use of this power to
induce or draw other other air from the mine by its passage across the
mouth of the louvres F, F, F, which are in connection with the induced
current inlet C. The induced current discharge is shown square with the
louvres on two sides only, but it may be made circular, as also the
louvres.
B
Another part of my Invention applicable to the ventilation of mines
is as follows: The main or pit shaft being closed or partially so I fix
a number of steam jets in the shaft, and around each jet I place
number of circular rings or louvres outside of and above each other,
leaving a space between each ring or louvre, and as the steam rushes
through it draws or induces the air or gases from the mine through
the annular spaces or louvres in its passage across the mouths of the
same.
In cases where the main shaft of the pit is required for use in raising
stuff I do not close the shaft altogether but arrange the apparatus
around the sides so as to leave room for the working operations of the
mine, and the body of air or gases being put in motion by the apparatus
"

page_text: some of it will pass through the open space as well as through the
induced current funnels.
In cases where the apparatus is not applicable at all in the main
shaft through want of space I fix it in a culvert in connection with it,
and while a certain amount of air or gases is drawn off by the induced
current apparatus its action communicates a certain momentum or
velocity to the whole of the air in the main shaft, so that in addition to
that which is drawn off by the apparatus there will be an upward current
through the top of the open main shaft.
Another part of my Invention consists of a machine which I will call
a centrifugal steam pump. In such machines as hitherto made by me
the fluid enters on both sides of the revolving disc, which forms a
complicated machine and expensive to manufacture. To simplify and
cheapen such machines and make them much easier in their application
I propose to make them with a revolving diso to receive the fluid on
one side of a disc only, the disc consisting of a blank plato to which
vanes or wings are attached, the other edges of the vanes being either
almost in contact with the stationary outside shell of the machine or'
elsc closed in. On the same spindle as the disc described I fix a turbine
wheel, consisting of a wheel with buckets on its periphery, to which
steam or other fluid under pressure is guided by ports curved tangentially
to the axis. The machine consists of a bottom casing, in which the
turbine wheel works, and which is cast in one piece with the one-half of
the pump shell, the connection between the turbine casing and the pump
casing being closed by a plate with a stuffing box, through which the
shaft passes. It will thus be seen that I make the outside casing of the
complete machine in three castings only, namely, the bottom casing, i
which serves for the turbine chamber and one-half of the pump chamber,
the plate for closing the turbine chamber, and the top half of the pump
chamber. This machine will be found of great utility in transmitting
fluids, as it occupies a small space and requires no belting or gearing,
the pump being driven direct by the turbine wheel on the same
spindle.
Another part of my Invention consists of a machine for exhausting,
discharging, and transmitting air, water, or other fluids, which I
construct as follows:-I make a cylindrical casing with an inlet and
outlet opening in the circumference near to each other. The ends of
1

page_text: the cylinder are closed by covers provided with bearings to support the
shaft or shafts. In the cylinder I place a shaft, which projects beyond
the cover at one side, and is supported by an outsido bearing. On this
shaft I place a hollow spindle, which also projects beyond the cover, but
is not so long as the shaft on which it is free to revolve. The hollow
spindle also extends only to one-half of the inside of the cylinder. On
the hollow spindle and also on the shaft I fix a boss, from which
projects a vane or plate extending to and in contact with the interior
surface of the cylinder, or nearly so. The boss on the hollow spindle
and that on the shaft each take up only one-half the length of the
cylinder, but the vano or plate projecting from each of them extends
from the one side cover of the cylinder to the other, the half of the
one vane or plate overlapping the half of the other, and when moving
round just clearing the separate central bosses.
The mode of action is as follows:-The two vanes or plates being
brought to that point of the circumference of the cylinder between the
inlet and the outlet opening, one of them is held by a catch, while tho
other is caused to revolve, and when it comes round to the stationary
vane disengages the catch holding the same and is itself held stationary
while the vane so loosed makes a revolution, and acts in the same way,
each of the vanes alternately making a revolution, so that each vane
draws in the air or fluid through the inlet on the one side of the vanc,
which is stationary, and at the same time discharges the contents of the
cylinder through the outlet opening on the other side of the stationary
vane.
There are several ways of giving the required alternate motion to the
vanes, and I will hero describe some of them:-On the hollow spindlo
referred to I fix a toothed wheel, and I also fix another on the shaft on
which the hollow spindle revolves. On an independent shaft I fix two
wheels of double tho diameter of the two wheels referred to. These
larger wheels have teeth only on one-half of their circumference, and the
independent shaft being caused to revolve, the half wheels alternately
gear with the two wheels and give the motion required. Instead of
toothed wheels frictional gearing may be used.
Another plan is to fix a clutch on the hollow spindle and another on
the shaft, and between them place a driving pulley or wheel running
loose on the shaft, which pulley has a provision, by means of which it

page_text: is put in and out of gear alternately with the clutches on the hollow
spindle and the shaft referred to. Instead of the one of the side edges
of tho vanes revolving in contact or nearly so with the sido cover of
the cylinder I can attach a side plate to each boss, the circumference of
which plate would work in contact, or nearly so, with the insido of the
cylinder; this would greatly strengthen the vanes and be of advantage
in several other points.
Another part of my Invention consists of a machine to be used for
similar purposes to the one last described, and is constructed as
follows:-I prepare a cylindrical casing, the ends of which are closed
by covers provided with bearings to support a shaft. On the shaft is
fixed a boss, from which projects a vane or plate extending to and in
contact with, or nearly so, the interior surface of the cylinder, while its
sides are also in contact with, or nearly so, the side covers. At one
point of the cylinder is a stationary division plate extending from tho
surface of the cylinder to the boss on the shaft, and in contact, or nearly
so, therewith. In this division or on cach side of it I prepare inlet and
outlet valves. The plate attached to the boss referred to is caused to
travel from one side of the division to the other in a reciprocating
circular motion, and as it moves opens an inlet valve and closes a
discharge valve on the one side of the division, while it opens the
dischargo valvo and closes the inlet valve on the opposite side, and in
this way altornately draws in and discharges the air or fluid on each
sido.
There are several methods of giving the required reciprocating circular
motion, and I here describe some of them:-On the shaft of tho machino
I fix a toothed wheel; gearing with the samo is a rack, to which recipro-
cating motion is given by a crank or excentric.
Another plan is by means of an internal wheel with two wheels insido
gearing together, so that when one is drawn out of gear the motion is
reversed. Instead of toothed wheels frictional gearing may be used.
Another plan is by means of an internal and external circular rack
and pinion.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ohristopher Brakell in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 27th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHRISTOPHER
BRAKELL, of Number Eight, York Street, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Christopher Brakell, Her
special licence that I, the said Christopher Brakell, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Christopher Brakell,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING, DISCHARGING,
AND TRANSMITTING AIR, WATER, OR OTHER FLUIDs," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Christopher Brakell, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Christopher Brakell, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what' manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained

page_text: The fan or ventilator marked D in the Drawing receives the air or
gases on one side only, and discharges at the periphery, and consists of
a strong cast iron boss keyed on the fan shaft. The boss has a flange on
one side to which the blank or closed side of the fan is secured, and to
the face of this one end of the vanes or wings of the fan are attached,
while the other ends are attached to the face of the opposito or inlet'side
of the fan. The inlet works almost in contact with a casting of circular
form built into the culvert B, and which has a cross piece or bracket to
support one end of the fan shaft.
The Drawing shows the fan or ventilator driven direct by an inde
pendent steam engine and boiler, but it will be evident that it may be
worked by means of a belt or gearing from an engine and boiler used
for other purposes as well, and the vanes of the fan may be curved as
shown, or straight, and fixed, radial or tangential to the axis. The
inlet B of the fan is in connection with the main.or pit shaft A. There
is also another culvert or connection with the pit shaft marked O below '
the fan inlet, and which I call the induced current inlet. The fan being
put in motion draws the air or gases through the inlet B, and discharges
the same into the spiral chamber E. The velocity given to the air
represents a certain power or force, and I make use of this power to
induce or draw other air from the mine by its passage across the mouths
of the louvres F, F, F, which are in connection with the induced current
inlet O. The induced current discharge is shown square with the
louvres on two sides only, but it may be made circular as also the
louvres.
Another part of my Invention applicable to the ventilation of minos is
as follows: The main or pit shaft being closed or partially so, I fix a
number of steam jets in the shaft, and around each jet I placé à number
of circular rings or louvres outside of and above each other, as shown by
Figures four and five in the Drawing, leaving a space between each ring
or louvre, and as the steam rushes through it draws or induces the air or
gases from the mine through the annulär spaces or louvres in its passage
across the mouth of the same. In cases where the main shaft of the pit
is used for raising stuff, or pumping, I do not close the shaft altogether,
but arrange the jets and louvres around the sides so as to leave room for
the working operations, and the body of air or gases being put in motion
by the steam jet apparatus, some of it will pass through the open space
as well as through the induced current funnels.

page_text: In cases where the apparatus is not applicable at all in the main shaft
through want of space, I fix it in a culvert in connection with it, and
while a certain amount of air or gases is drawn off by the induced
current apparatus, its action communicates a certain momentum or
velocity to the wholo of the air in the main shaft, so that besides that
which is drawn off by the apparatus, there will be an upward current
through the top of the open main shaft.
Another part of my Invention consists of a machine which I will call
a centrifugal steam pump, as shown by Figure six in the Drawing, being
a sectional elevation. In such machines as hitherto made by me, the fluid
enters on both sides of the revolving disc. To simplify and cheapen
such machines and casier of application, I make the disc to receive the
fluid on one side only, the disc consisting of a blank plate to which
vances or wings are attached, the other ends of the vanes being either
almost in contact with the stationary outsido shell of the machine, or
clse closed in. On the same spindle as the disc I fix à turbine wheel to
which steam or other fluid under prossuro is guided by ports curved
tangentially to the axis. It will be seen from the Drawing that tho
outside casing of the machine consists of three castings only, namely,
a bottom casting, which serves for the turbine chamber, and one-half
of the pump chamber, the plate for closing the turbine chamber, and the
top half of the pump chamber.
Another part of my Invention consists of a machine as shown by
Figure seven front elevation, and Figuro cight end clevation, and is
constructed as follows:-I make a cylindrical casing with an inlet and
outlet in the circumference near to each other. The ends of the cylinder
are closed by covers provided with bearings to support the shaft or
shafts in the cylinder. I place a shaft which projects beyond the
cover at one sido, and is supported by an outside bearing; on this shaft
I place a hollow spindlo which also projects beyond the cover, but is not
so long as the shaft on which it is free to revolve. The hollow spindle
only extends to one-half of the inside of the cylinder on the hollow
spindle, and also on the shaft I fix a vane or plate extending to and in
contact with or nearly so the interior surface of the cylinder. It will be
seen that the vanes or plates are only supported on one-half of their
breadth, but they extend from one side cover of the cylinder to the
other, the half of the one vane or plate overlapping the half of the other,
and when moving round just clearing the separato shafts or spindles.
•

page_text: The mode of action is as follows:-The two vanes or plates being
brought to that point of the circumference of the cylinder between tho
inlet and outlet openings, one of them is held by a catch while the other
is caused to revolve, and when it comes round to the stationary vano
disengages the catch holding the same, and is itself held stationary
while the vane so loosed makes a revolution, and acts in the same way
cach vane alternately making a revolution; so that each vane draws in
the air or fluid through the inlet on the one side of the vane, and at tho
same time discharges the contents of the cylinder through the outlet
opening on the other side of that stationary.
There are several ways of giving the required alternate motion to the
vanos, and I will hero describe some of them. On the hollow spindle
referred to I fix a toothed wheel, and I also fix another on the shaft on
which the hollow spindle revolves. On an independent shaft I fix two
wheels of double the diameter; these larger wheels have teeth only on
one-half of their circumference, and the independent shaft being caused
to revolve, the half wheels alternately gear with the two wheels, and
give the motion required. Instead of toothed wheels frictional gearing
may be used.
Another plan which I show applied in my Drawing is to fix a clutch
on the hollow spindle, and also on the shaft, and between them place a
driving pulley or wheel running loose on the shaft. This pulley is
brought into gear alternately with the clutches on the hollow spindle and
the shaft by means of two grooves, which at one point cross each other,
as shown in Figure nine of my Drawing. Working in these grooves is a
fixed pin, and when the pulley rovolves it is alternately pulled into gear
with the one or other clutch by the traverse given to it by the said fixed
pin. Frictional gearing clutches may be used instead of toothed clutches.
When necessary I attach a side plate on the shaft and hollow spindle to
support the sides of the vanes or plates which overlap and strengthen
them.
Another part of my Invention consists of a machine for similar
purposes to the one last described, and is constructed as follows: —I
prepare a cylindrical casing the ends of which are closed by covers
provided with bearings to support a shaft. From the shaft projects a
vane or plato extending to and in contact with or nearly so the interior
surface of the cylinder, while its sides are also in contact with or nearly

page_text: so the side covers. At one point of the cylinder is a stationary division
plate extending from the surface of the cylinder to the shaft or its boss.
In this division or on each side of it I prepare inlet and outlet valves.
The plate attached to the shaft referred to is caused to travel from one
side of the division to the other in a reciprocating circular motion, and 5
as it moves opens an inlet valve and closes a discharge valve on the one
side of the division, while it opens the discharge valve and closes the
inlet valve on the opposite side, and in this way alternately draws and
discharges on each side.
There are several methods of giving the required reciprocating circular 1
motion, and I here describe some of them. On the shaft of the machine
I fix a toothed wheel; gearing with the same is a rack to which recipro-
cating motion is given by a crank or excentric.
Another plan is by means of an internal wheel with two wheels inside,
gearing together, so that when one is drawn out of gear the motion is 1
reversed. Instead of toothed wheels frictional gearing may be used.
Another plan is by means of an internal and external circular rack and
pinion.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Brakell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of August, in 20
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
three.