AN IMPROVED ADDAD TES HOR BREAKING DOWN OR GETTING COAL AND PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION METHOD OF ANDer. APPARATUS FOR BREAKING DowN OR GETTING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS IN MINING, QUARRYING, OR TUNNELLING OPERATIONS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Sebastian Smith, of Leicester, in the County of
Leicester, Land Agent and Solicitor, and Thomas Moore, of Shipley, in the
County of Derby, Colliery Underviewer, for an Invention of "AN IMPROVED
ADDAD TES HOR BREAKING DOWN OR GETTING COAL AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Sebastian Smith
and Thomas Moore at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th May 1881.
CHARLES SEBASTIAN SMITH, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Land Agent
and Solicitor, and THOMAS MOORE, of Shipley, in the County of Derby, Colliery
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND
Underviewer.
APPARATUS FOR BREAKING
DowN OR GETTING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS IN MINING, QUARRYING, OR
TUNNELLING OPERATIONS."
<
of
According to our present Invention we effect the breaking down or getting
coal and other minerals in mines, quarries, or tunnels, by means of caustic lime
introduced into bore holes in the said minerals and then brought into contact in a
confined condition with water, so that by the expansion of the lime in becoming
slaked and by the pressure of steam generated considerable force is produced,
sufficient to effect the breaking down of the mineral. By this means, in the case of
coal mines, the double advantage is gained of effecting the breaking down the
coal without danger of explosion of fire damp, and with the production of a
greatly reduced proportion of small-coal as compared with the ordinary blasting
operation.
Our Invention may be carried into practice in a variety of ways, but according
to the arrangement and mode of operating we employ by preference, the caustic
lime is ground fine and then consolidated by pressure into cartridge form, each
cartridge having a groove on the slide, which cartridges are enclosed in waterproof
casings to protect them from damp. A solid rod or needle is first inserted into the
bore hole, the cartridges are then introduced, the surface of the groove being next

page_text: to the needle, and they are rammed so as to insure their filling the bore hole.
After the cartridge or cartridges have been enclosed either by tamping with clay
or other suitable material, or by a bung or otherwise, the needle is withdrawn and
a tube is inserted in its place, which tube is fitted with a tap or automatic check
valve or other means of closing it. Through this tube the water is conveyed to
the lime by a force pump or other power; when the water has been so forced in,
the pipe connecting the pump or other power with the said tube is detached and
the tube is closed so as to prevent the escape of the steam generated by the action
of the water on the lime.
In order to cause the whole mass of the cartridge or cartridges to be subjected
more or less simultaneously to the action of the water so as to bring about a rapid
and energetic action the cartridge may have a groove, as before mentioned, formed
along its side or a hole through its centre, into the front end of which groove or hole
the said tube for conveying the water is made to enter, so that the water is forced
in along the whole length of the cartridge or cartridges. Or the tube itself may be
made to extend along the whole length of the cartridge or cartridges and be
provided with perforations or slits through which the water can issue.
The lime we prefer to use is made from mountain limestone.
Although we prefer to employ the lime in the form of consolidated cartridges, as
described, yet it may also be rammed into the bore holes in an unprepared condition,
the tube for conveying the water being first introduced into the bore hole at the
side or centre thereof; or a solid rod or
"needle
may be introduced in the first
instance, as aforesaid, and after withdrawing the same the tube for the water
supply is inserted in its place.
""
If desired, other fluids, such as diluted sulphuric acid, may be employed, or the
water may be used hot to accelerate the expansive action of the lime, and other
substances, may be mixed with the lime for the same purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Sebastian Smith and Thomas Moore in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd November 1881.
CHARLES SEBASTIAN SMITH, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Land Agenț
and Solicitor, and THOMAS MOORE, of Shipley, in the County of Derby, Colliery
Underviewer. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR BREAKING
Dowx OR GETTING COAL AND OTHER MINERALS IN MINING, QUARRYING, OR
TUNNELLING OPERATIONS."
According to our present Invention we effect the breaking down or getting of
coal and other minerals in mines, quarries, or tunnels, by means of caustic lime
introduced into bore holes in the said minerals and then brought into contact in a
confined condition with water, so that by the expansion of the lime in becoming
slaked and by the pressure of steam generated considerable force is produced,
sufficient to effect the breaking down of the mineral. By this means, in the case of
coal mines, the double advantage is gained of effecting the breaking down of the
coal without danger of explosion of fire damp, and with the production of a
greatly reduced proportion of small coal as compared with the ordinary blasting
operation.
Our Invention may be carried into practice in a variety of ways, but according to
the arrangement and mode of operating, by preference employed by us, the caustic
fime is ground fine and then consolidated by pressure into cartridge form, each
cartridge having a groove on the side, which cartridges are enclosed in waterproof
casings or packed into airtight boxes or both to protect them from damp.. An iron
tube provided with perforations and having a covering of cotton or other fibrous
material, and also fitted with a tap or automatic check valve or other means of
closing it is first inserted along the whole length of the bore hole, the cartridges
are then introduced, the surface of the groove being next to the tube, and they are
rammed so as to insure their filling the bore hole. After the cartridge or cartridges
have been enclosed either by tamping with clay or other suitable material, or by a
bung or otherwise, a force pump is connected with the said tube and the water
is so conveyed to the lime; when the water has been forced in, the pipe connecting
the pump or other power with the said tube is detached, and the tube is closed so
as to prevent the escape of the steam generated by the action of the water on the
lime.
In cases where the material operated upon is so dense as not to allow the escape
through it of the air when the water is being forced in we form on the before
described tube a very small external channel sufficient to allow the air to escape
gradually as the water is forced in, but too small to allow any appreciable quantity
of steam to escape afterwards.
In order to cause the whole mass of the cartridge or cartridges to be subjected
more or less simultaneously to the action of the water so as to bring about a rapid
and energetic action, the cartridge may either have a groove, as before mentioned,
formed along its side, or it may be formed with a hole through its centre, along
which groove or hole the said tube for conveying the water is placed, or the tube
may merely enter the front end. thereof, so that the water is forced in along the
whole length of the cartridge or cartridges. Or a solid rod or needle may first be
inserted into the bore hole and after the cartridges have been inserted and enclosed
by tamping, or a bung, or otherwise, the needle may be withdrawn and a tube
inserted in its place, which tube is fitted with a tap or other means of closing it,
and through this tube the water may be conveyed to the lime.
The lime we prefer to use is made from mountain limestone.

page_text: Although we prefer to employ the lime in the form of consolidated cartridges,
as described, yet it may also be rammed into the bore holes in an unprepared
condition, the tube for conveying the water being first introduced into the bore
hole at the side or centre thereof; or a solid rod or * needle" may be introduced in
the first instance, as aforesaid, and after withdrawing the same the tube for the
water supply may be inserted in its place.
If desired other fluids, such as diluted.sulphuric acid, may be employed, or the
water may be used hot to accelerate the expansive action of the lime, and other
substances may be mixed with the lime for the same purpose.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do not claim
generally the use of caustic lime for breaking down coal, as we are aware that
various unsuccessful attempts have from time to time been made to use caustic
lime for this purpose, but we claim,-
First. The method of breaking down or getting coals and other minerals by the
introduction into bore holes of caustic lime, which after compression and confining
by tamping or otherwise is brought into contact with water or other suitable liquid
along the entire or greater part of the length of the charge, so as by the expansion
of the lime and pressure of the steam generated to produced sufficient force for
breaking down the mineral, substantially as herein described.
Second. The use for breaking down or getting coal of cartridges formed of
compressed caustic lime having one or more longitudinal grooves or passages to
serve as channels for the introduction of water.
Third. The use in combination with cartridges or charges of caustic lime of a
perforated, or slotted, or permeable tube placed along the side or through the body
thereof, and serving to bring water into intimate contact therewith, substantially as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Sebastian Smith, have hereunto set
'my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One-thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
C. SEBASTIAN SMITH. (L.S.)