Improvements in Apparatus for Laying Coal Dust in Coal Mines.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Laying Coal Dust in Coal Mines.
I, WILLIAM SAINT of Kersal Bank, Higher Broughton, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Mines, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention to be as follows :-
My invention refers to novel apparatus for spraying, humidifying or charging
with moisture the atmosphere or air currents of coal mines whereby to lay coal dust
and thus prevent explosions, and my invention consists essentially of spraying
nozzles or dew jets supplied with water through suitable pipes laid in the road ways of
a coal mine, and which spray the water in such a minute state of division that it is
readily carried forward by the air currents of the nine and distributed broadcast, and
thus damps down or lays the fine coal dust whether on the floor, roof or sides of the
mine passages.
These jets are arranged at suitable distances apart, and supplied with water
under pressure from any convenient source. Each nozzle consists of a metal tube
or casing provided with means for connecting it to the said pipes at one end and
with a screwed cap at the other end. Within this screwed cap is a small metal
dise or plate, having one, two or more fine holes or piercings in it, arranged away
from the centre of the plate and drilled or pierced diagonally with the plane of the
plate. This plate is a fixture, and is so disposed as to leave a small cavity or
recess between it and the cup, and in the nozzle cap is a fine counter sunk hole.
Water from the pipes being admitted into the jets or nozzles, it flows through
the fine holes aforesaid in the plate or disc and into the space or cavity between it
and the cap, and owing to the pressure behind it and the peculiar formation and
position of the said holes such water is caused to gyrate or whirl round within the
cap, and issuing through the countersunk hole in such cap, produces an exceedingly
fine spray with little or no drip.
Instead of the holes in the plate being diagonal as aforesaid they may be at
right angles with the plane of the plate, but the spray will not be so fine, or the
plate may be cupped or indented in one or more places and the hole or holes drilled
in the cups or indentations at any angle. By proportioning the size of the hole
in the cap and the hole or holes, in the plate the fineness or density of the spray may
be varied.
Instead of the plate being separate it may form part of the nozzle or nozzle cap.
These jets or nozzles are served with water either continuously or intermittently
and automatically so as to operate at intervals of time, and one way of doing this
is to serve the pipes by an arrangement of flushing cistern, so that the spraying
comes into operation according to the time it takes the cistern to fill and which in
turu is regulated by the speed at which the water is allowed to run into the cistern.
Such cistern could be fitted any where in the shaft of a mine or on the surface, at a
height sufficient to give a suitable pressure for serving the jets, and I prefer that
the water supplying this cistern shall be brought through a filter or strainer so as
to clear the water of any matter that may be liable to foul or obstruct the
sprayers. In order to still further insure that the sprayers shall not be put out of
order by any particles coming down with the water, or oxidised matter due to
corrosion, I fit a small sponge or other suitable filter or sieve within the casing of
each nozzle, and a disc of wire gauze or perforated metal at either end, so that the

page_text: water has necessarily to pass through such filter or sieve before reaching the
plate.
I may provide a stop cock to each nozzle so that each can be regulated, or if
need be stopped off altogether and I arrange the jets and pipes in series, so that
some, or all may be put into operation at will. Within each nozzle, or on the pipes
I arrange suitable valves or appliances to prevent syphoning or running back
through the sprayers when the water is not under pressure.
In lieu of the aforesaid single plate and nozzle cap, a set of plates may be used,
one having the diagonal hole or holes, and the other the central countersunk hole,
held apart by an intervening washer or thickened edge, and clamped on to the
outlet end of the nozzle by a hollow nut or coupling cap. Such discs may be
combined, or formed in one piece, but for the purpose of cleaning out are, by
preference made separate.
Dated this 14th day of May 1895.
WILLIAM SAINT,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Laying Coal Dust in Coal Mines.
I, WILLIAM SAINT of Kersal Bank, Higher Broughton, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Mines, 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 in and by the following statement :-
My invention refers to novel apparatus for spraying, humidifying or charging
with moisture the atmosphere or air currents of coal mines whereby to lay coal
dust and thus prevent explosions, and my invention consists essentially of spraying
nozzles or " dew "
jets supplied with water through suitable pipes laid in the
road ways of a coal mine, and which spray the water in such a minute state of
division that it is readily carried forward by the air currents of the mine and
distributed broadcast, and thus damps or lays the fine coal dust whether on the
floor, roof or sides of the mine passages.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will
now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section, and Fig. 2 an exterior view of one form of my
improved spraying nozzle, and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional and plan views of another
form.
Fig. 5 shews plans and sections of details (on enlarged scale) and Fig. 6 &
detached view of a strainer or sieve used with the improved nozzle.
Fig. 7 illustrates in section a back pressure valve, used with my invention.
Each nozzle consists of a metal tube or casing (A) provided with means for
connecting it to the supply pipe (shewn dotted on Fig. 1) with a screwed cap (B)
at the other end. Within this screwed cap is a small metal disc or plate (C) having
one, two or more fine holes or piercings (D) arranged away from the centre of the
plate and drilled or pierced diagonally with the plane of the plate as illustrated
more clearly in Figs. 5. This plate (C) is a fixture, and is so disposed as to leave
a small cavity or recess (E) between it and the cap (B) and in the nozzle cap is a
fine counter-sunk hole (F).
Water from the supply pipe being admitted into the nozzle it flows through the
fine holes (D) aforesaid into the space or cavity (E), and owing to the pressure
behind it and the peculiar formation and position of the said holes, such water is

page_text: t
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caused to rapidly gyrate or whirl round, and on issuing through the counter-
sunk hole (F) breaks up by the centrifugal action, and thus produces an exceedingly
fine spray with no drip.
Instead of the holes in the plate being diagonal as aforesaid they may be at
right angles with the plane of the plate, but the spray will not be so fine, or the
plate may be cupped or indented in one or more places and the hole or holes
drilled in the cups or indentations at any angle. By proportioning the size of the
hole in the cap and the holes in the plate, the fineness or density of the spray may
be varied.
The nozzle is served with water either continuously, or intermittently and
automatically so as to operate at intervals of time, and one way of doing this is to
serve the pipes by an arrangement of flushing cistern, so that the spraying comes
into operation according to the time it takes the cistern to fill and which in turn is
regulated by the speed at which the water is allowed to run into the cistern.
Such cistern could be fitted any where in the shaft of a mine, or on the surface,
at a height sufficient to give a suitable pressure for serving the nozzles, and I prefer
that the water supplying this cistern shall be brought through a filter or strainer so
as to clear the water of any matter that may be liable to foul or obstruct the
sprayers. In order to still further ensure that the sprayers shall not be put out of
order by any particles coming down with the water, or oxidised matter due to
corrosion, I fit a small sponge (G) (see Fig. 1). or a metal filter or sieve (G')
(see Fig. 6) within the casing of each nozzle, and if desirable a disc or wire gauze
or perforated metal at either end, so that the water has necessarily to pass through
such filter or sieve before reaching the plate (C).
I may provide a stop cock to each nozzle so that each can be regulated, or if
need be stopped off altogether, and I arrange the nozzles and pipes in series so
that some, or all may be put into operation at will. Within each nozzle, or on the
pipe I arrange a suitable valve or appliance to prevent syphoning or running back
through the sprayers when the water is not under pressure, and such valve takes,
by preference, the form shewn in Fig. (7), screwing into the nozzle body at (H),
and on to the pipe connection at (I). (J) is an india-rubber ring covering up the
openings (K) for the passage of water, and only permitting such water to flow
one way.
In lieu of the aforesaid single plate and nozzle cap a set of plates (L) and (M)
may be used (see Fig. (3)), one having the diagonal hole or holes (N) and the
other the central counter-sunk hole (O) held apart by an intervening washer or
thickened edge, and clamped on to the outlet end of the nozzle by a hollow nut or
coupling cap (P).
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood
that although more particularly described as applied for laying coal dust, my
improved nozzle is applicable to various other spraying purposes, and what I claim
and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1st. The nozzle (A), and cap (B) with hole (F), and containing plate (C) with
holes (D), and filter (G), or (G), mounted and arranged as set forth.
2nd. The nozzle (A) and cap or coupling piece (P), containing plates (L)
and (M) (with holes (N) and (O)), and filter (G) or (G¹), mounted and arranged
as set forth.
3rd. The spraying nozzles herein described supplied with water, and means
for regulating or controlling the same, as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of February 1896.
WILLIAM SAINT,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.