IMPROVEMENTS IN Appa- RATUS FOR PUMPING, DRAINING, AND VENTILATING, AND FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER ESPECIALLY FOR USE UNDERGROUND
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Septimus Stephen Williamson, of Saundersfoot,
in the County of Pembroke, Gentleman, and David Parsell, of the
same Place, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN Appa-
RATUS FOR PUMPING, DRAINING, AND VENTILATING, AND FOR OBTAINING AND
APPLYING MOTIVE POWER ESPECIALLY FOR USE UNDERGROUND.”
Sealed the 22nd July 1878, and dated the 3rd May 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Septimus Stephen
Williamson and David Parsell at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 3rd May 1873.
We, SEPTIMUS STEPHEN WILLIAMSON, of Saundersfoot, in the County
of Pembroke, Gentleman, and DAVID PARSELL, of the same Place,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im.
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PUMPING, DRAINING, AND VENTILATING, AND FOR,
OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER ESPECIALLY FOR USE UNDERGROUND,”.
to be as follows:—
Our apparatus is especially serviceable for raising water to con-
siderable heights, for instance to 33 feet and beyond, and it is par-
ticularly useful in mines.

page_text: For the purpose of our Invention we pump or raise water in successive
stages, or to successive levels. There is a passage for exhausting the
air, and another passage for the water. At suitable intervals or levels
we fix chambers, vessels, or cisterns furnished with valves worked by
floats, and otherwise. These chambers communicate with a passage 5
for exhausting air, and also with a passage or lift pipe through which
the water is raised. The latter passage is furnished with valves. An
exhausting engine or pump worked by a steam engine or other means
exhausts air from the chambers.
-
There are two valves in the water passage for each chamber, for 1
instance, supposing three chambers' to be employed there would be
six valves, one for inlet to each chamber, and one for outlet from
each chamber. Each chamber contains two valves, or rather two sets
of valves, each set consisting of two balance or equilibrium valves on
a stem or rod, one pair communicating with the air exhaust pipe, and 1
the other opening and closing communication with the atmospheric air
in the working, or elsewhere.
.
When the pump or exhauster draws air from the chambers the
water to be raised or pumped up will rush in, thus when the lowest
chamber is exhausted water will enter it and raise the pair of float a
valves, which close communication with the exhaust passage while
opening the other pair of valves, or those which communicate with
the general or exterior air. The air rushes in and exerts pressuro
on the water, driving it out into the water passage, its force closing
the inlet valve therein and opening the outlet valve in the said water
passage or lift pipe, and the water rushes up into the next chamber
where the operation is repeated, and so on in each successive chamber.
till the water is raised-to the desired height where it may be discharged,
or it may be conveyed into a cylinder to be used for motive purposes,
for instance the water may be used. to. drive a compressed air engine,
and work an air locomotive for propelling a train of waggons or trucks.
to be "hauled" or "trammed," that is to say, propelled in the mine.
workings.
The pipe through which the air is conveyed to the locomotive has
branches so as to feed the locomotive with air at intervals along the
trams, tramways' levels, or workings; this may be carried out as
follows: A portion of the water pumped up by the pumping appa-

page_text: ratus into a cistern at the top of the mine is conveyed thence by a
descending pipe into a part of the. mine workings in which it is to bo
employed. Here is fixed a cylinder or ram in connection with a
compressed air engine. The water is carried by the descending pipe
into this cylinder or ram, and works the piston of the compressed
air engine into which air is introduced in any convenient manner.
The air is conveyed from this engine into a longitudinal tube or
otherwise shaped air vessel fixed to (or near to) the roof or other
parts of the workings or passages of the mine, and extending to any
desired length in the same; a number of short pipes branch from this
tube at right angles or any convenient angle opening in a downward
or other convenient direction. On the tramway laid on the floor of
the working is a locomotive with an ordinary train of waggons or trucks
attached to it.
The locomotive is worked by compressed air with which it is fed
through the branch pipes above mentioned from the compressed air
engine through the longitudinal tube or other vessel and the branch
pipes above mentioned, the pipes being disposed at intervals along the
longitudinal tube or other air vessel, so as to renew the supply of air
to the air locomotive as required. Suitable cocks or valves are used
to permit, control, and stop the flow of air.
The hydraulic power or pressure obtained by means of our pumping
or water-lifting apparatus may be applied in similar manner for driving
or working other apparatus for motive purposes besides locomotives.
Objections are sometimes made to the use of compressed air for
motive purposes, as above described, by reason of the air becoming
heated owing to the pressure. Now in performing our Invention we
obviate such evils by carrying the pipes or vessels conveying or holding
the compressed air through vessels or channels of cold water, our appa-
ratus giving ample and conveniently placed supplies of cold water for
the purpose.
The pumping or water lifting apparatus will of course be available
for draining mines.
Also the rush of air obtained by the action of the above-described
13

page_text: The pumping up of the air from stage to stage by the pumping
apparatus as first described causes, as above mentioned, the air to
rush in from the workings or passages of the mine in which the
apparatus is used into the chambers when communication is opened
by the valves between the chambers and the air in the workings 5
or passages, in order that the latter may act on the water in the
chambers.
It is evident that the air in rushing into the chambers will cause
a movement, disturbance, or circulation of the air in the workings
and passages of the mine or other confined place, and hence there will 1
be ventilation therein.
Also for purposes of ventilation we sometimes work a ventilating
fan by means of the hydraulic pressure or power obtained from the
pumping or water lifting apparatus above described.
An exhausting or blowing cylinder or other like contrivance may be 1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Septimus Stephen Williamson and David Parsell
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd November 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SEPTIMUS
STEPHEN WILLIAMSON, of Saundersfoot, in the County of Pembroke,
Gentleman, and DAVID PARSELL, of the same Place, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing dato the Third day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said Septimus Stephen Williamson and David Parsell,
Her special license that we, the said Septimus Stephen Williamson and
David Parsell, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said Septimus Stephen Williamson and David Parsell, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during

page_text: 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 "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PUMPING, DRAINING, AND VENTILATING, AND FOR
OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER ESPECIALLY FOR USE UNDERGROUND,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Septimus Stephen
Williamson and David Parsell, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under
the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Septimus Stephen Williamson
and David Parsell, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
-
Our apparatus is especially serviceable for raising water to considerable
heights, for instance to 33 feet and beyond, and it is particularly useful
in mines.
For one purpose of our Invention we pump or raiso water in suc-
cessive stages or to successive levels. There is a passage for exhausting
or conveying the air and another passage for the water. At suitable
intervals or levels we fix chambers, vessels, cylinders, or cisterns
furnished with valves worked by floats and otherwise. These chambers or
vessels communicate with a passage for exhausting or conveying air, and
also with a passage or lift pipe through which the water is raised. The
latter passage is furnished with valves. An exhausting engine or
pump worked by a steam engine or other means exhausts air from the
chambers.
There are two valves in the water passage for each chamber, for
instance, supposing three chambers to be employed there would be six
valves, one for inlet to each chamber, and one for outlet from each
chamber. Each chamber contains two valves or rather two sets of
valves, each set consisting of two balance or equilibrium valves on a

page_text: stem or rod, one pair communicating with the air exhaust or conveying
pipe and the other opening and closing communication with the
atmospheric air in the "working" or elsewhere.
When the pump or exhauster draws air from the chambers the water
to be raised or pumped up will rush in, thus when the lowest chamber is
exhausted water will enter it and raise the pair of float valves which
close communication with the exhaust passage while opening the other
pair of valves or those which communicate with the air. The air rushes
in and exerts pressure on the water, driving it out into the water passage,
its force closing the inlet valve therein, and opening the outlet valve in
the said water passage or lift pipe and the water rushes up into the next
chamber where the operation is repeated, and so on in each successive
chamber till the water is raised to the desired height where it may be
discharged or it may be conveyed into a cylinder to be used for motive
purposes, for instance, the water may be used to drive a compressed air
engine and work an air locomotive for propelling or moving a train of
wagons or trucks to be "hauled," or "trammed," or propelled.
Here is fixed
The pipe through which the air is conveyed to the locomotive has
branches so as to feed the locomotive with air at intervals along the
tramways, levels, or workings. This may be carried out as follows:-A
portion of the water pumped up by the pumping apparatus into a cistern
at the top of the mine is conveyed thence by a descending pipe into a
part of the mine workings in which it is to be employed.
⚫a cylinder in connection with a compressed air engine. The water is
carried by the descending pipe into this cylinder and works the piston of
the compressed air engine into which air is introduced in any convenient
manner. The air is conveyed from this engine into a longitudinal tube
or otherwise shaped vessel fixed in the workings or passages of the mine,
and extending to any desired length in the same. A number of short
pipes branch from this tube at right angles or any convenient angle and
open in a downward or other convenient direction. On the tramway
is a locomotive with an ordinary train of wagons or trucks. attached
to it.
The locomotive is worked by compressed air with which it is fed
through the branch pipes above mentioned from the compressed air
engine through the longitudinal tube or other vessel and the branch
nines above mentioned, the pipes being disposed at intervals along the

page_text: longitudinal tube or other air vessel, so as to renew the supply of air to
the air locomotive as required. Suitable cocks or valves are used to
permit control and stop the flow of air.
The hydraulic power or pressure obtained by means of our pumping
or water lifting apparatus may be applied in similar manner for driving
or working other apparatus for motive purposes besides locomotives.
Objections are sometimes made to the use of compressed air for motive
purposes (as above described) by the reason of the air becoming heated
owing to the pressure. Now in performing our Invention we obviate
such evils by carrying the pipes or vessels conveying or holding the
compressed air through vessels or chambers of cold water, our apparatus
giving ample and conveniently placed supplies of cold water for the
purpose.
The pumping or water lifting apparatus will of course be available
for draining mines.
Also the rush of air obtained by the action of the above described
apparatus serves to ventilate the mine or other confined place in which
the apparatus is to be employed.
The pumping up of the air from stage to stage by the pumping
apparatus, as first described, causes (as above mentioned) the air to rush
from the workings or passages of the mine in which the apparatus is
used into the chambers, when communication is opened by the valves
between the chambers and the air in the workings or passages in order
that the latter may act on the water in the chambers. It is evident
that the air in rushing into the chambers will cause a movement,
disturbance, or circulation of the air in the workings or passages of the
mine or other confined place, and hence there will be ventilation.
Also for purposes of ventilation we sometimes work a ventilating
fan by means of the hydraulic pressure or power obtained from the
pumping or water lifting apparatus above described.
An exhausting or blowing cylinder or other like contrivanco may be
used for the same purpose as the fan.
Our Invention will be well understood on reference to the accom.
panying Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section of an
apparatus shewn as fitted in a mine shaft. The mine shaft A is in
communication with the passages, goafs, or workings A* of the mine,

page_text: as usual; B, B¹, B³, are chambers or vessels connected with the shaft,
their number varying according to the depth of the mine and the
quantity of water to be raised; these chambers are each connected with
an air pipe or tube C, which is of the length of the mine shaft or nearly
so, and which is connected with a vessel D at the top of the mine or
other level, which vessel is exhausted in the ordinary manner by
cylinder E, the piston of which is worked by a steam engine F or other
motive power. These chambers B, B¹, B³, are also in connection with
another pipe G, for conveying the ascending current of water into and
out of the chambers.
L, L, M, M, are valves in the water pipe G. The air tube is closed
at bottom by a flange or door, made removeable, so that it may be taken
out and replaced as the air tube is sunk lower or raised higher. At the
upper portion of each of these chambers B, B³, B², are fitted two sets of
valves H, H, and I, I, of the equilibrium kind. They are attached to
rocking levers h, h, i, i, one valve of each set having its spindle
elongated, and on this spindle a float J is free to rise and fall, and by
acting on a fixed collar K on this elongated spindle it closes one set of
valves and opens the other set as the water from the mine and workings
rises in the chambers under the action of the exhausting apparatus.
The action of the exhausting and pumping apparatus is as follows:-
The air being exhausted from the vessel D communicates its
exhausting effects to the chambers B, B¹, B³. Now suppose this
exhausting action is taking effect, say for instance upon the centre
chamber B¹, the water will enter it through the water inlet valve L,
and the water continuing to rise lifts the floats J, J, on the spindles or
rods of the valves H, H, and I, I, until they come in contact with the
collars K, when the valves H, H, communicating with the exhauster
will be closed and the valves I, I, communicating with the external air
in the workings will be opened, the inflow of water to this chamber
ceasing for the time the inlet valve L closes; The valves in this
chamber B will then be in a position similar to those in the chambers
B or B. The centre chamber B¹ now being filled with water, and the
chamber B above it being exhausted under the action of the exhausting
machinery D, E, F, the water in chamber B' will rise through the
pipe G, and valves M, and L, into the chamber B under the pressure
of the air on its surface, which air enters through the openings (of the
seatings) of the valves I, I, which are now open, the water continuing
.

page_text: to fall in chamber B and rise in B¹ until the floats J no longer press on
the collars K, when the valves H, H, will open and the valves I, I,
close ready for the action to be repeated. It will thus be seen that the
water is lifted from one chamber to the next above it, and any number
of these chambers can be used, the depth and extent of the workings of
the mine regulating the number required. Water may thus be raised
to a height of 33 feet and more. The air rushing into the chambers
B, B', and B³, from the workings, goafs, and different levels of the mine
will carry off a quantity of foul or vitiated air and deleterious gases and
greatly assist in the proper circulation and ventilation of the mine or
other place in which they may be fitted. The water being lifted to the
upper chamber may be caused to run into a tank N from which a
pipe O descends through the shaft conveying more or less of this water to
work an hydraulic engine P, which actuates an air pump or compressing
engine Qand fills a vessel or reservoir R, R, with compressed air, which
is led into the passages or workings A* of the mine by piping S, fitted
with short branches T, and valves Tx, at convenient intervals along
its length for supplying a locomotive engine W with compressed air
at any part of the workings, by which the locomotive is made to haul,
tram, or propel, a train of trucks or cars along the galleries, roads, or
passages, or rails or trams.
We can also use compressed air for working a small engine U in the
mine, this engine is worked from the air vessel R, and may be used for
any purpose within the mine for which motive power is required.
To keep the compressed air cool we fit the underground pipes
and vessels containing it in cases or jackets filled with cold water.
The escaping air from the locomotive engine W and from the stationary
engine U causes circulation of air and consequently ventilation in the
passages of the mine; but when this is imperfect and foul, and
dangerous gases accumulate, we form recesses X in the roof of the
galleries of the mine into which the lighter and deleterious gases ascend
and are drawn off through branch pipess Y, communicating by pipes X*
with the exhausting chambers B, B¹, B³, or with the exhausting
machinery D, E, F. Or we connect our exhausting apparatus with the
pipe a, the vertical portion of which is enclosed in a casing 6, as seen
in Figure 3, for collecting the gases and foul air. This casing being
placed over or near the mine shaft on the ground level the foul air and
gases are drawn into it under the action of the exhausting apparatus

page_text: through the conduit c, when, owing to the specific gravity of the gases
being lighter than that of air and the action of the plates d, the
gases are caused to ascend to the top of the casing where they are
drawn into the pipe a through the perforations in its cap, and drawn
away and discharged into the chambers B, B¹, B³, or into a furnace, or
into the atmosphere, or into receivers, in order to be collected and
utilized or purified, or elsewhere where convenient, and pass away by
the conduit c, the uprights f within the casing serving to assist to
separate the air from the foul gases. We sometimes use a ventilating
fan, or an exhausting or blowing cylinder, or other like contrivance, for
the purposes of ventilation, which fan or apparatus we work by means.
of the hydraulic pressure or power obtained from the pumping or water
lifting apparatus above described. The water not required for the
hydraulic engine P flows away from the tank N by a spout V to a tank
or elsewhere, where required.
We do not in all cases use exhausting machinery D, E, F, nor do we
raise the water by exhausting the boxes or chambers B, B¹, B*; but in
some instances we modify the arrangement as follows:-We force or
compress air into the chambers instead of exhausting it. The air is
forced or compressed into the pipe C and acts on the water, the valves
being arranged accordingly, that is to say, they are reversed in position
and action; or in other words the valves which rise to close their openings
are over instead of under their seats, and thus open in an upward instead
of a downward direction, and the valves which descend to close the
openings are reversed so as to close in rising. Or a double beat valve :
may be mounted on the spindle for the purpose of applying the
arrangement for compressing air instead of exhausting air.
When the apparatus is used for compressing instead of exhausting
the lowest chamber is immersed in water.
Sometimes when working a locomotive for moving, hauling, or
tramming waggons or trucks underground along tramways, levels, or
workings of the mine underground we obtain the compressed air from
the surface of the mine, where it is compressed by hydraulic or steam
power and conveyed through pipes and branches above described (as
used for conveying the water) into air receivers, and thence through the
air pipe to the locomotive.
Our improved pumping apparatus may if desired be worked with a

page_text: low pressure of air, say half an atmosphere (less or more), or with one,
two, three, or more atmospheres, as described.
Sometimes we work the fan which we use for ventilating purposes
underground by means of hydraulic or steam power taken from the
surface or outside of the mine.
Among the places in addition to mines to which our apparatus is
applicable we may specially mention quarries, holds of vessels, also
docks and other works.
Although we have described the apparatus as applied to a mine
it may be applied in a similar manner elsewhere for purposes of the
Invention.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, we declare that we claim,―
First. The construction and arrangement of chambers or vessels
combined with valves and tubes for lifting water, pumping, or draining,
constructed and operated in the manner herein described.
Second. The actuating of locomotives underground by means of
compressed air in the manner and by the means described.
Third. The employment of hydraulic power for compressing air
as described.
Fourth. The mode of and arrangements of apparatus for ventilating,
herein-before described..
In witness whereof, wo, the said Septimus Stephen Williamson
and David Parsell, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this
Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness to both signatures,
E. DE PASS,
Patent Office,
68, Fleet Street,
London.
S. S. WILLIAMSON. (L.S.)
(L.S.)
D. PARSELL.