IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF WATERING THE ROADWAYS OF COLLIERIES, STREETS LAWNS AND OTHER PLACES AND FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID MANURE AND OTHER LIQUIDS AND IN APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAME " PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Smethurst of Landgate House Brynn near
Wigan Colliery Proprietor and Thomas Taylor Crook of Stanley Iron Works
Bolton Engineer Millwright and Ironfounder both in the County of Lancaster
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF WATERING THE
ROADWAYS OF COLLIERIES, STREETS LAWNS AND OTHER PLACES AND FOR
DISTRIBUTING LIQUID MANURE AND OTHER LIQUIDS AND IN APPARATUS FOR
EFFECTING THE SAME
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Smethurst and
Thomas Taylor Crook at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
27th February 1883.
WILLIAM SMETHURST of Landgate House, Brynn near Wigan, Colliery Pro-
prietor, and THOMAS TAYLOR CROOK of Stanley Iron Works, Bolton. Engineer,
Millwright and Ironfounder, both in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF WATERING THE ROADWAYS OF COLLIERIES, STREETS, LAWNS
AND OTHER PLACES, AND FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID MANURE AND OTHER LIQUIDS,
AND IN APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING THE SAME."
"3
The object of our invention is to construct a centrifugal machine at a com-
paratively small cost, which will effectively water the roadways of collieries, streets,
lawns and other places; which is also applicable for distributing liquid manure and
other liquids; and is constructed as follows:-
Upon a suitable carriage mounted on wheels, we place a water tank, either
cylindrical, semi-circular, square or of any other convenient shape, to the lower.
side of which is fixed an outlet pipe provided with a regulating valve, to the outer
end of which is secured a stationary disc or plate, on which revolves a hollow disc,.
perforated on the outer rim with suitable holes for discharging the water or liquid.
This disc can be substituted with a hollow centre, provided with suitable projecting
perforated pipes or wings, placed either vertically, diagonally or horizontally. The
disc or its equivalents are worked from one of the axles of the carriage by suitable
gearing provided for the purpose.

page_text: The regulating tap can be operated upon by hand, or by an ordinary pair of
Governors suitably placed, for regulating the flow of the water or liquid auto-
matically, according to the speed at which the centrifugal machine is driven; thus
using the water or liquid economically and giving an equal distribution over the
surface traversed, or nearly so.
.
In the case of watering the roadways of collieries, the carriage is made to run
on the ordinary tram rails used for the coal waggons, and can be traversed by
horse or manual labor; the carriage being provided with the necessary appliances.
for such.
The principle of this invention is to distribute the water centrifugally, so as to
wash the fine dust from the roof and walls of the roadways, as well as the particles
of dust flying in the atmosphere, which is very essential, as it is this fine dust
that causes the most serious explosions in coal mines, when an escape of gas
takes place.
In applying our invention for watering streets, lawns, and other places, and in
distributing liquid manure and other liquids, we use the ordinary carts or vans, the
discharge pipes of such being simply displaced and substituted with the aforesaid
circular disc or discs or their equivalents before stated, placed diagonally or
horizontally. The water or other liquid is conveyed from the cart or van by pipes
to the disc or discs, the passage being provided with a valve which can be operated
upon by the hand or foot of the driver of the vehicle.
In providing the watering or liquid cart with two or more of the centrifugal
distributing discs, the width of distribution can be regulated according to the
extent required; which in the case of a narrow road or street, is effected by
shutting off the water from any individual disc, by means of a three way valve or
its equivalent. The centrifugal disc or discs are driven from one of the axles or
from one of the wheels with suitable gearing, such as shafts, wheels, straps, chains
or other equivalents.
1

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Smetburst and Thomas Taylor Crook in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 25th August 1883.
WILLIAM SMETHURST of Landgate House Brynn near Wigan Colliery Proprietor,
and THOMAS TAYLOR CROOK of Stanley Iron Works Bolton Engineer, Millwright
and Ironfounder both in the County of Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD
OF WATERING THE ROADWAYS OF COLLIERIES, STREETS, LAWNS AND OTHER PLACES,
AND FOR DISTRIBUTING LIQUID MANURE AND OTHER LIQUIDS AND IN APPARATUS
FOR EFFECTING THE SAME
"
The object of our invention is to construct a centrifugal machine at a com-
paratively small cost, which will effectively water the roadways of Collieries
Streets, Lawns, and other places; which is also applicable for distributing liquid
manure and other liquids, and is constructed as follows:-
Upon a suitable carriage mounted on wheels we place a water tank either
cylindrical, semi-circular, square or of any other convenient shape, to the lower side
of which is fixed an outlet pipe provided with a regulating valve, to the outer end
of which is secured a stationary disc or plate on which revolves a hollow disc,
perforated on the outer rim with suitable holes for discharging the water or
liquid: This disc can be substituted with a hollow centre provided with suitable
projecting perforated pipes or wings placed either vertically, diagonally, or hori-
zontally The discs or its equivalents are worked from one of the axles of of the
carriage by suitable gearing provided for the purpose.
The regulating tap can be operated upon by hand or by an ordinary pair of
governors suitably placed for regulating the flow of the water or liquid auto-
matically according to the speed at which the centrifugal machine is driven, thus
using the water or liquid economically and giving an equal distribution over the
surface traversed or nearly so0.
In the case of watering the roadways of collieries, the carriage is made to run
on the ordinary tramrails used for the coal waggons, and can be traversed by
horse or manual labor, the carriage being provided with the necessary appliances
for such.
The principle of this invention is to distribute the water centrifugally, so as to
wash the fine dust from the roof and walls of the roadways as well as the particles
of dust flying in the atmosphere which is very essential as it is this fine dust
that causes the most serious explosions in coal mines when an escape of gas
takes place.
In applying our invention for watering streets, lawns and other places and in
distributing liquid manure and other liquids, we use the ordinary carts or vans, the
discharge pipes of such being simply displaced and substituted with the aforesaid
circular disc or discs or their equivalents before stated, placed diagonally or hori❤
zontally. The water or other liquid is conveyed from the cart or van by pipes to
the disc or discs, the passage being provided with a valve which can be operated
upon by the hand or foot of the driver of the vehicle.
In providing the watering or liquid cart with two or more of the centrifugal
distributing discs, the width of distribution can be regulated according to the
extent required which in the case of a narrow road or street is effected by shutting
off the water from any individual disc, by means of a three way valve or its
equivalent The centrifugal disc or discs are driven from one of the axles or from
one of the wheels with suitable gearing, such as shafts, wheels, straps, chains or
other equivalents
In order that our invention may be more fully understood we will now proceed

page_text: to describe the drawings upon the sheets hereunto annexed, the same letters or
* reference being used throughout all the Figures to indicate the same or corresponding
parts of our invention
Fig 1 is a part sectional and a part longitudinal elevation of our improved
apparatus for watering the roadways of Collieries, Streets, Lawns and other places
by centrifugal force. A is the axle of the carriage or other vehicle or van for
carrying the water or liquid to be discharged. On this axle is placed the bevel
wheel B working into the bevel pinion C on the shaft D, working in the fixing E
which is fastened in any convenient way to the framing of the carriage F. On
the shaft D. is fixed the circular disc G provided with the chamber H having the
small holes or outlets I on the outer rim of the disc G. The chamber H is covered
by the circular stationary disc or plate K with the circular protection L truly
turned to fit the circular chamber H and which is held in position by the conducting
pipe M which supplies the liquid to be discharged by the disc G being supported on
the boss of the said disc
The water or liquid is supplied to the circular disc G through the pipes M and
as the machine travels the disc G revolves thus distributing the water or liquid
centrifugally, the space and quantity being regulated by the speed the machine is
driven at
Fig: 2 is a part sectional and a part front elevation of the disc G with the
stationary disc K removed shewing the chamber H with the perforations I for
discharging the water or liquid.
Fig 3 is a sectional elevation of a machine for watering the roadways of
Collieries or other similar places. On the carriage F is placed the tank N which
may be of the form shown, or any other convenient shape, such as cylindrical,
square or barrel, to the lower side of which is fixed the outlet pipes M conveying
the liquid to the centrifugal circular disc G, being provided with the tap O for
regulating the supply or to shut off the water or liquid when the machine is
stopped.
The carriage is provided with the wheels P which are made of suitable form as
shown to travel on the ordinary tramrails R used for the coal waggons, and can
be driven by horse or manual labor the carriage being provided with the necessary
stang or hooks.
Fig: 4 is an end elevation of tank carriage and centrifugal apparatus shewn in
Fig 3.
Fig. 5 is an arrangement for regulating the flow of the water or liquid auto-
matically according to the speed at which the centrifugal machine is driven. The
object of this is to economise the water or liquid as far as possible, thus when
the machine is being driven slowly the governors S only operate or open slightly
the tap O, thus giving a small quantity of water or liquid, whereas if the speed is
accelerated the governors rise and open the tap or valve O still further, giving &
greater supply of water or liquid to meet the increased speed and space traversed
by the machine-The Governors S are placed on the end of the tank N or in any
other convenient place and driven by the ropes T or other equivalents, such as
Gearing chains & from the boss G' on the circular disc G. When the machine is
stopped the governors are down when they will have shut off the supply of water
or liquid, thus preventing any waste
In another arrangement we substitute the disc G by providing a hollow centre
with projecting pipes or wings as shown in Figs 6. 7 and 8 which will be found
very convenient for distributing liquid manure and consists in providing the hollow
centre G' with the long boss G² on which is formed the neck as well as the pro-
jection for carrying the bevel pinion C by which it is driven from the bevel wheel B
on the axle A-The hollow centre is supported from the fixing E on the framing F-
On the outside of the hollow centre or boss G¹ are placed the pipes or tubes G,
being formed for the outlet as shewn in sectional plan in Fig: 8 For the purpose
of cleaning out the hollow boss G' it is provided with the screw V which can be
easily taken out and replaced at will
_

page_text: Figs 9 10 and 11 shows arrangements of our invention for watering streets
lawns and other places in which case the ordinary carts or vans are used being
represented by N to which the circular disc or discs are applied either horizontally
diagonally, or vertically as shewn which are driven from the axles A or from the
wheels W to which may be fixed the pulley X driving the shaft Y with the
band Z-The disc or discs are held or supported by the fixings E from the vans
or carts
In providing the watering or liquid cart or van with two or more of the
centrifugal distributing discs, the width of distribution may be regulated according
to the extent required which is effected by placing them as shewn in Fig. 12, being
provided with the three-way tap O which is provided with the double lever (a)
which is operated by the rods (b) extending to the foot or hand lever of the driver
of the vehicles. The water or other liquid is conveyed from the cart or van by the
pipes M to the discs G as before described
Fig: 13 is a sectional plan of the three way tap-shewing position of stopper
when both discs are discharging water or liquid, the arrows indicating the flow
of such.
Fig 14 shews the same stopper altered in position when only one disc is
discharging, the other revolving at the same time although not discharging
Fig: 15 is an elevation of a manure tank supplied with the hollow centre and
pipes as shewn in Figs: 6. 7 and 8, being supplied with the tap O underneath
which is operated upon by the lever (c) and rod (d) which is held or supported by
the handle of the tank. The disc is driven from the axle as before described
Having thus stated the nature of our invention, and described the mode of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details or configuration of the parts, we have shewn and described, as
the same may be varied or modified, without departing from the principle of our
invention, according to the various vehicles to which it may be applied, but what
we claim and desire to be secured to us by Letters Patent is :-
First The improved method of distributing water or other liquids centrifugally,
by the disc G, provided with the means for effecting the same for the purposes
herein set forth, substantially in the manner described and as shewn on the
drawings, or any mere modification thereof
Second-The apparatus shewn in Figs: 67 and 8 or any mere modification
thereof for distributing water or other liquids centrifugally as and for the purposes
herein set forth
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Taylor Crook for myself and on behalf
of the said William Smethurst have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-
third day of August one thousand eight hundred and eighty three.