IMPROVEMENTS IN MEASURING, RECORDING, AND INDICATING THE PASSAGE OF AIR THROUGH MINES, SEWERS, AND TUNNELS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hall, of Rainhill, in the County of Lancaster,.
Mining Engineer, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN MEASURING,
RECORDING, AND INDICATING THE PASSAGE OF AIR THROUGH MINES, SEWERS,
AND TUNNELS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sealed the 7th May 1878, and dated the 10th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hall at the Office.
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th November 1877.
"E
HENRY HALL, of Rainhill, in the County of Lancaster, Mining Engineer.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEASURING, RECORDING, AND INDICATING THE PASSAGE OF
AIR THROUGH MINES, SEWERS, AND TUNNELS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of my said Invention is to provide means and apparatus whereby
the amount of air passing through each and every portion, or any desired portion,
of a mine, sewer, or tunnel may be readily ascertained at any selected point or place,
such as the pit head or mouth of the sewer or tunnel. For this purpose I employ
apparatus or appliances, say, anemometers, for measuring the quantity or speed of
air flowing through the mine, sewer, or tunnel, in combination with electric wires,
for conveying a record or an indication of the motion of such anemometers or
measuring apparatus or appliances to one or more points or stations, so that the
state of ventilation of any and every portion of the mine, sewer, or tunnel may be
readily ascertained by those concerned.
Means and apparatus whereby my Invention may be carried into effect will now
be described; although other arrangements may be employed without departing
from my Invention. An anemometer of ordinary or convenient construction is,
placed in each or any passage or way of the mine, sewer, or tunnel, and one of the
moving parts of each such anemometer is so fitted or provided with a contact,
maker and breaker, that an electric circuit .is. alternately made and broken at a,
Din I

page_text: speed corresponding to the speed of the anemometer. The records from the said
making and breaking of contact are transmitted through the electric wires to the
desired point or points, as mentioned, and there indicated on a dial or by the
ringing of a bell.
Instead of opening and closing circuit each anemometer may cause a bell or other
instrument to sound, and the sound may be conveyed to the desired point or points
by means of telephones and wires.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Hall in the-Great Seal-Patent Office on the 10th May
1878.
HENRY HALL, of Rainhill, in the County of Lancaster, Mining Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEASURING, RECORDING, AND INDICATING THE PASSAGE OF
AIR THROUGH MINES, SEWERS, AND TUNNELS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR.'
"
33"
The object of my said Invention is to provide means and apparatus whereby the
amount of air passing through each and every portion, or any desired portion, of a
mine, sewer, or tunnel may be readily ascertained at any selected point or place,
such as the pit head or mouth of the sewer or tunnel. For this purpose I employ
apparatus or appliances, say, anemometers, for measuring the quantity or speed of
air flowing through the mine, sewer, or tunnel, in combination with electric wires,
for conveying a record or an indication of the motion of such anemometers or
measuring apparatus or appliances to one or more points or stations, so that the
state of ventilation of any and every portion of the mine, sewer, or tunnel may be
readily ascertained by those concerned.
Means and apparatus whereby my Invention may be carried into effect will now
be described, although other arrangements may be 'employed without departing
from my Invention. An anemometer of ordinary or convenient construction is
placed in each or any passage or way of the mine, sewer, or tunnel, and one of the
moving parts of each such anemometer is so fitted or provided with a contact maker
and breaker that an electric circuit is alternately made and broken at a speed
corresponding to the speed of the anemometer. The records from the said making and
breaking of contact are transmitted through the electric wires to the desired point
or points, as mentioned, and there indicated on a dial or by the ringing of a bell.
Instead of opening and closing circuit each anemometer may cause a bell or other
instrument to sound, and the sound may be conveyed to the desired point or points
by means of telephones and wires.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a sectional plan view of apparatus or
appliances constructed under my Invention, and arranged to operate in connection
with a telephone; 1, framework; 2, vanes supported on and free to revolve with
the axle 3; 4, endless screw attached to the axle 3, and giving motion to the toothed
wheel 5; 6, shaft carrying the toothed wheel 5. On the shaiti6.a cam 7 is secured,

page_text: so as to catch against and bend the spring 8 secured to the bracket 9. The noise
or sound made by the vibration of the spring 8 when released from the cam 7 is
communicated through the telephone 10 and wires 11 to a second telephone, or any
desired number of telephones at any desired place or places.
One of the appliances above described is placed in each of the ways or passages
in which it is desired to ascertain the speed of travel of the air current, and the
wires connected to the telephones of the appliances are all brought to the desired
place or places, and are arranged so that said wires of any of the appliances may be
connected to a telephone.
When it is desired to ascertain the speed at which the currents of air are passing
through any passage or way in a mine, or other desired place, it is only necessary
to connect a telephone to the wires leading from the appliances in the desired
passage and listen to the sound of the vibrating spring. The number of times a
minute that the spring is caused to vibrate depends on the speed with which the
vanes are caused to revolve by the currents of air, and will indicate the speed of
the said currents of air passing through the way or passage in which the appliances
are placed. In this way it is not necessary to enter the mine, tunnel, or sewer, in
order to know whether it is properly ventilated.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of another modification of apparatus or appliance con-
structed under my Invention; 1, framework; 2, vanes; 3, carrying axle; 4, endless
screw, giving motion to the tooth wheel 5 on the shaft 6; 12, piece carried by the
shaft 6, which makes and breaks contact with the piece 13; 14, battery; 15, wires.
It will be obvious that every time the pieces 12, 13, come into contact that an
electric current from the battery 14 will be free to pass through the wires 15, and
that if the said wires are connected to an electric bell or electric bells the said bell
or bells will ring every time contact is made by the pieces 12 and 13.
Instead of attaching the wires to a bell or bells they may be attached and give
motion to an indicator.
Having now described and illustrated my said Invention in such manner that
others will be enabled to carry my improvements into effect, I would have it
understood that I do not confine myself to the details described and illustrated, but
what I claim is,―
First. Indicating or recording the passage of air through mines, tunnels, and
sewers, substantially as set forth.
Second. The apparatus or appliances for indicating or recording the passage of
currents of air, constructed and arranged substantially in the manner and for the
purposes set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hall, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
J. JOHNSON,
Patent Office,
Witness.
4, Clayton Sqr.,
L'pool.
HENRY HALL (LS.)