Apparatus to be Used in the Ventilation of Mines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus to be Used in the Ventilation of Mines.
I, HENRY FULLWOOD, of No. 337, Canning Street, North Carlton, in the Colony
of Victoria, Silversmith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
The object of this invention is to provide apparatus to be used in the ventilation
of mines, whereby the supply of fresh air to any particular part of the mine can
be controlled, means being provided whereby workmen in the mine can indicate
to an operator above, at what locality or localities in the mine they desire a full
supply of fresh air; and means also being provided whereby an operator on the
surface can readily give effect to this requirement. system of pipes is provided
having shut off valves or the like under control of the operator above and
arranged so that a thorough circulation of fresh air can be provided for at the
particular places where the workmen are engaged, or where the foul gases are
being liberated in quantities. The valves in the pipes traversing the old and
closed workings of a mine may be adjusted so as to be partly open to prevent any
accumulation of gases, at the same time, so that the suction force of the fans,
pumps or the like employed in exhausting the gases, will not be expended
unnecessarily, but will be conserved to maintain a thorough circulation of air
where more directly required.
In order to make my invention clear, I shall now refer to the accompanying
sheet of drawings in which-
Figure 1 represents a section of a mine to which my invention is applied.
Figure 2 represents an indicator on the surface of the mine.
Figure 3 shews means for opening and closing the dampers, stop-cocks or
valves.
Figure 4 shews the connection of dampers with pipe to an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 shews' end view of pipe end cover.
Figure 6 shews an attachment for the end of pipes.
Figure 7 an attachment for the end of hosing.
In the drawings, I have represented my invention applied to a mine having a
vertical shaft and horizontal drives; but it will be readily understood that same
can be applied to mines otherwise formed.
A" represents a pipe which is connected at the mine surface with any suit-
able means of exhausting or forcing, such as a fan, blower, pump or furnace;
and which enters the mine and has branches "A¹" which proceed into the
drives or other workings of the mine. The pipe "A" is provided with
dampers "B" or stop-cocks or valves, set directly beneath the branch pipe
junctions, and similar dampers or the like are provided in the pipes "A¹," near
their junction with the pipe A." The dampers have spindles and weighted
arms B" (Fig. 4), the weighted arms being connected with cords "C" and
the dampers being set in such a manner that an upward pull of the cords will
raise the weighted arms and turn the spindles so as to close the dampers; and a
66

page_text: The
release of same will allow the weighted arm to drop and the spindle to turn and
so open the damper. The cords "C" are provided with the necessary guides "C"
and pass over pulleys "D" set within boxes "E" at the ground level.
cords are thence conducted to the engine room, or other suitable position at the
mine surface; and pass over the necessary pulleys "C2" and are connected with
mechanisms for causing a pull upon same. In Figure 3, I have illustrated one
of such mechanisms. F is a quadrant having its top provided with ratchet
teeth, said quadrant being fixed in a convenient position for operation.
lever F" is centred on pin "F2" set in such quadrant-a spring pawl "F"
is arranged to enter the ratchet teeth and form a stop.
.
A
"G" represents a cord which passes over a pulley set in the boxes "E" afore-
said, and which proceeds down the mine and is connected at its lower end with
indicating mechanism, such mechanism being set within the main drive, or in
other desired position in the mine. The said cord passes over the necessary
pulleys, at the ground surface and is connected with a similar indicator, prefer-
ably set near the row of damper operating levers "F" aforesaid.
家家
"
The indicating mechanism consists of a slide plate "H" which enters a dove-
tailed groove formed in a board H'." The slide plate has a handle "H2" for
operating it, a pointer His attached to it, and also a bell "H*." The
grooved board "H" has a serrated strip "H5" mounted on its face, so arranged
that on motion of the slide plate "H," the lever of the bell will come in contact
with the said strip and so be caused to ring-the board also has a number of
letters or figures on its face. The slide plate of each indicator has a cord "J"
attached which carries a balance weight so that the movement of one slide plate
will communicate motion to the other.
6
I provide covers K to fit the end of the pipes, such covers having
doors "K," consisting of discs arranged to move radially on pin "K"-a handle
is provided to the door. The covers are slotted at "K" and said slots receive
a pin on pipes and are thus held in position. The disc and the flange of cover
have holes "K3"- the amount of opening of the disc may be controlled by
means of a pin passed through the holes.
I also provide a flexible hose "L" having at one end a coupling piece "L"
to fit on to an end of pipe when desired in place of "K," such hose terminating
in a hopper or receiver "L" which is constructed of sail cloth, oil-cloth, or other
flexible material, and having a metal rim. This receiver may be detachable from
the hose and may be constructed so as to fit directly upon the pipes (see Fig. 6).
These receivers may, in some cases, be provided with perforated tubes
(Fig. 7) to enter fissures in the mine where gas is being liberated in large
quantities.
L3"
I may employ means for propelling forward the receiver connected to the flex-
ible tube, the object of same being that a workman, when blasting to any great
extent, can, after explosions, propel forward the funnel which will immediately
receive the gases, and a supply of fresh air will take their place. The pipes "A1"
may be provided with short branches "A2" directed outwardly, the object being
to quickly receive the heavy or light gases (as the case may be), and so ensure
thorough ventilation.
The modus operandi of the invention is as follows-The workmen in the mine,
who may wish to have a particular drive or drives, in which they are working,
thoroughly ventilated, will move the slide plate "H" of the indicator, so that
its pointer will rest in line with one of the reference figures. The motion will
cause the slide on the surface indicator to move correspondingly and the bell to
be rung, so as to attract the attention of the person in charge, who can then
ascertain by a specially prepared code list what such reference letter indicates,
for instance, if the pointer be at "4" this might indicate that the drive from
which the message comes, is required to be specially ventilated. The surface
operator will then operate the levers so as to open and shut the necessary dampers

page_text: or valves and allow a passage only through those pipes necessary to effect the
ventilation where required. I provide an indicator to each working place con-
nected with one above, so that messages may be readily transmitted by the men
working in any place in the mine.
66
The covers K form an auxiliary to the system and by means of which the
workmen can further control the ventilation in a particular locality in the mine.
It is preferable in connection with my system that the foul air be exhausted
rather than that fresh air be forced in, and I have found from experience that
this course is more efficient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Apparatus to be used in the ventilation of mines, consisting of a system of
pipes having a damper, stop-cock or valve, connected at or near each branch, in
combination with means for indicating the particular valves desired by a person
below ground to be operated, and means by which an operator above ground can
operate such valves substantially as set forth.
2. In apparatus to be used in the ventilation of mines-indicating mechanisms
consisting of the parts described with reference to Figure 2 in duplicate, one
above ground and one below and connected by cord G" substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
$6
3. In apparatus to be used in the ventilation of mines-a main pipe with
branches, such branches having dampers near their junction with main pipe, and
main pipe having dampers directly below such branch pipe, said dampers having
weighted levers with cords attached which pass out of mine and are connected
with means such as illustrated on Figure 3 for operating such dampers substan-
tially as and for the purposes set forth.
«
4. In apparatus to be used in the ventilation of mines-adjustable covers as
K" to fit the ends of pipes substantially as illustrated on Figs. and 5 and for
the purposes described.
5. The combination and arrangement of the whole of the parts substantially
as herein described and illustrated on Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
TOTCHLUCI
1030.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.