Presence of Gas, being more Particularly Applicable for Use in Coal Mines.
Year: 1884

page_text: Presence of Gas, being more Particularly Applicable for
Use in Coal Mines.
We, JOHN DELLA BELLA, Barometer Maker, THOMAS CHALONER, Painter, both of
122 Friargate, Preston, in the County of Lancaster, and WILLIAM CHALONER, of
61 Harrington Street, in the same town, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of said invention for "AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR INDICATING
THE PRESENCE OF GAS BEING MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR USE IN COAL
MINES to be as follows:-
"
This invention consists in employing a hollow air-tight bulb carrying a vertical
stem or rod upon the upper end of which is carried an air vessel or balloon the
bulb being so weighted or balanced as to float near the surface of a column of
water until depressed by the presence and action of the gas upon the balloon as
hereinafter described. The water column is preferably contained within an upright
transparent glass tube provided with a cap or cover having a central hole or guide
bearing through which the stem (which may be made of wire, glass, or other
suitable material) is free to slide up and down. The air balloon surmounting the
stem may be composed of thin metal, glass, india-rubber or other material and be
coloured or tinted so as to render it more discernible. The bulb at the base of the
stem is preferably weighted or balanced by means of mercury placed within its
interior as will be well understood. The apparatus as above described is enclosed
within a case or box having glazed sides, the top of the case or box being placed
against or near the roof or ceiling of the mine or other place in which the apparatus
is to be employed. Suitable openings are made in the box to admit of the free
ingress and egress of air or gas as the case may be. When the gas accumulates in
the upper end of the box it will gradually cause the air balloon, and with it the
bulb below, to be depressed and the fall or sinking of the bulb in the water column
will be plainly visible the amount of its depression indicating the amount of gas in
the mine or other place. The floor or bottom of the case supporting the apparatus
is preferably suspended by means of cords and balance weights so that the

page_text: attendant may be able, on observing the downward movement of the bulb, to test
the apparatus by moving the apparatus in a downward direction when, if it be in
working order, the bulb will rise in the tube so long as the air balloon is clear of
the gas above.
Thus by moving the instrument up and down the amount or level of the gas
present may be readily ascertained. In lieu of a water column and bulb an
oscillating lever or beam centrally fulcrummed may be employed the air balloon
being mounted upon one end of the beam and a sliding balance weight upon the
other end, which latter may be arranged in the form of a pointer moving in front
of a suitable dial or index plate.

page_text: An Improved Instrument or Apparatus for Indicating the
Presence of Gas, being more Particularly Applicable for
Use in Coal Mines.
We, JOHN DELLA BELLA, Barometer Maker, THOMAS CHALONER, Painter, both of
122, Friargate, Preston, in the County of Lancaster, and WILLIAM CHALONER, of
61 Harrington Street, in the same town, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for "AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPARATUS FOR INDICATING
THE PRESENCE OF GAS BEING MORE PARTICULARLY APPLICABLE FOR USE IN COAL
"
MINES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists in employing a hollow air-tight bulb carrying a vertical
stem upon the upper end of which is carried an air vessel or balloon, the bulb
being so weighted or balanced as to float near the surface of a column of water
until depressed by the presence and action of the gas upon the balloon as herein-
after described. In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings the water column is
preferably contained within an upright transparent glass tube a provided with
a cap or cover having a central hole or guide bearing through which the stem b
(which may be made of wire, glass, or other suitable material) is free to slide up
and down. The air balloon c surmounting the stem may be composed of thin
metal, glass, or other material and be coloured or tinted so as to render it more
discernible. The bulb d at the base of the stem is preferably weighted or balanced
by means of mercury placed within its interior (at e) as will be well understood.
The apparatus as above described is enclosed within a case or box f having glazed
sides, the top of the case or box being placed against or near the roof or ceiling g
of the mine or other place in which the apparatus is to be employed. Suitable
openings are made in the box to admit of the free ingress and egress of air or gas
as the case may be. When the gas accumulates in the upper end of the box it will
gradually cause the air balloon c, and with it the bulb d below, to be depressed (as
shewn in dotted lines) and the fall or sinking of the bulb in the water column will
be plainly visible, the amount of depression indicating the amount of gas in the
mine or other place. The floor or bottom of the case supporting the apparatus is
preferably suspended by means of cords and balance weights hh so that the
attendant may be able, on observing the downward movement of the bulb, to test
the apparatus by moving it in a downward direction, when, if it be in working
order, the bulb will rise in the tube so long as the air balloon is clear of the gas
above. Thus by moving the instrument up and down the amount or level of the
gas present may be readily ascertained. In lieu of a water column and bulb an
oscillating lever or beam centrally fulcrummed may be employed, the air balloon
being mounted upon one end of the beam and a sliding balance weight upon the
other end, which latter may be arranged in the form of a pointer moving in front
of a suitable dial or index plate.
Figs. 2 and 3 are interior side and plan views respectively of an arrangement of
portable apparatus in which the air balloon is carried upon one end of an oscillating

page_text: lever or beam as above described. Figs. 4 and 5 are side and plan views of the
apparatus when closed.
is the oscillating lever or beam (fulcrummed upon a needle pointed spindle j
mounted in end bearings kk) carrying upon one end the air balloon c and at the
other end the balance weight 7 adjustable by being screw-threaded upon the beam i.
A pointer or finger m is affixed to the beam its outer end moving radially in front
of a dial or index plate n. The casing containing the apparatus is provided with
a removable cap at o and also with a sliding cover to the opening 2. The dial
frame is glazed at its inner side and when the openings o and p are closed the
casing will be airtight. By this arrangement the gaseous or impregnated atmo-
sphere may be admitted to the interior of the case and shut in at a dangerous part
of the mine; the apparatus being then removed to a place of safety, the indication
on the dial may be examined in the presence of a flame or light. r is a wing or
stop which by means of the handle or fingers is turned over and holds down the
beam when the instrument is not in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
i
'
The use or employment of apparatus in which a balloon or vessel containing
atmospheric air is caused to be depressed in the presence of gas arranged and
'operating substantially as described and shewn in the drawings for the purpose
set forth.