IMPROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS IN COLLIERIES OR OTHER MINES, AND IN THE APPARATUB CONNECTED THEREWITH.”
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Stephen Martin Rogers, of Truro, Cornwall, and Stephen
Rogers, of the City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS OF
PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS IN COLLIERIES OR OTHER MINES, AND IN THE
APPARATUB CONNECTED THEREWITH.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Stephen Martin Rogers and
Stephen Rogers at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th June
1879.
STEPHEN MARTIN ROGERS, of Truro, Cornwall, and STEPHEN ROGERS, of the City
of London. "IMPROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS IN COLLIERIES OR
OTHER MINES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Our Invention relates to improved means of preventing explosions in collieries or
other mines, and in apparatus therefor,
It consists in the application and use of steam conveyed through the workings of
a coal or other mine by carefully clothed pipes, suitably arranged, and furnished at
the different levels or workings with proper jets regulated by valves or stop cocks,
whereby in case of gas being found to exist in any working place a considerable
quantity of steam could at once be turned into it, so as to completely neutralize
the explosive power of the gas; also by using the steam in small quantities during
the day, the coaldust, which at present so much assists in producing explosions,
would be precipitated and kept so moist as to be incapable of floating in the air of
the levels.
The steam may be obtained from the boilers existing at the surface or under-
ground, or from special generators suitably arranged for the purpose.
Our Invention is also applicable for neutralizing or precipitating all gases or dust
arising in the under-ground workings of mines from the blasting and breaking of
rocks with gunpowder, dynamite, gun cotton, or other explosive compounds, in
which case the steam may be supplied by a portable boiler, movable to any point
of the work where blasting is being carried on, or where an accumulation of gas or
dust has taken place therefrom.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Stephen Martin Rogers and Stephen Rogers in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 27th December 1879.
STEPHEN MARTIN ROGERS, of Truro, Cornwall, and STEPHEN ROGERS, of the City
of London. "IMPROVED MEANS OF PREVENTING EXPLOSIONS IN COLLIERIES OR
OTHER MINES, AND IN THE APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Our Invention relates to improved means of preventing explosions in collieries or
other mines, and in apparatus therefor.
It consists in the application and use of steam conveyed through the workings of
a coal or other mine by carefully clothed pipes, suitably arranged, and furnished at
the different levels or workings with proper jets regulated by valves or stop cocks,
whereby in case of gas being found to exist in any working place a considerable
quantity of steam could at once be turned into it, so as to completely neutralize
the explosive power of the gas; also by using the steam in small quantities during
the day, the coal dust, which at present so much assists in producing explosions,
would be precipitated and kept so moist as to be incapable of floating in the air of
the levels.
And in order that our said Invention inay be well understood we shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, reference being made to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, like letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in all the Figures. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a colliery or other mine
to which our Invention is applied, and Figure 2 a sectional plan of the same,
showing the various levels or workings.
A, A, are the main pipes conveying steam from the two ranges of steam
boilers B, B¹, respectively to the bottoms of the shafts C, C', where they are fur-
nished with main check valves D, D¹, of any suitable construction, and from which
branch the various subsidiary pipes A2, A3, leading as required through all the
numerous levels or workings of the mine, as shown, and furnished at suitable
intervals, determined upon by the engineer, with nozzles or jets, such as at E,
regulated by valves or stop cocks, whereby, in case of gas being found in any level
or working, a more or less quantity of steam can be immediately turned into and
directed through it by means of the nozzles or jets at that part, and so completely
neutralise the explosive power of the gas. Blow off cocks or valves are also fitted
to the main steam pipes A, A', and subsidiary pipes A³, A³, for discharging any
condensed water from the steam in the said pipes, their number and situation being
regulated according to the arrangement of the work. The various valves, cocks,
and nozzles may be of any suitable construction.
The main pipes A, A, and subsidiary pipes A³, A³, may be clothed with any
description of nonconducting material found most convenient for preventing con-
densation therein.
If desired the steam may be obtained from special boilers situated at any con-
venient part of the workings underground, in lieu of the ranges of boilers B, B', at
the surface, as described.
Our Invention is applicable for neutralizing or precipitating all gases or dust
arising in the underground workings of mines from the blasting and breaking of
rocks with gunpowder, dynamite, gun cotton, or other explosive compound, in
which case the steam may be supplied by a portable boiler, moveable to any part of
the work where blasting is being carried on, or where an accumulation of gas or
dust has arisen therefrom.
It is also applicable for preventing explosions in the coal bunkers or in the holds
of steam or other ships carrying coal, in which case the steam is derived either from
the ship's boilers or from a special generator, and directed by a pipe (or pipes) pro-
vided with suitable stop cocks over or amongst the coal contained in the bunkers
or holds,

page_text: Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect, we
would observe in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original, and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
The application and use of steam conveyed through and discharged into the
workings or levels of a coal or other mine, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Stephen Rogers, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Stephen Martin Rogers, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy nine.