A Method of Watering Dust in Mines with Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th May, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Watering Dust in Mines with Apparatus therefor.
THOMAS PEACOCK Acorn Cottage, Sacriston, Durham, Mine Surveyor and
Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This apparatus will consist of a closed tank or vessel, capable of withstanding
the necessary pressure, the size and shape of the vessel to be designed to suit the
various requirements of the mine or place where it may be used.
This vessel will be mounted on wheels, and generally adapted to suit the
haulage arrangements of the mine or place where it may be used.
The vessel will be fitted with inlet and outlet pipes, the inner ends of which will
be placed at, or near to, the bottom of the vessel. The outer end of the inlet pipe
will be fitted with a suitable check valve, and a union or other pipe coupling for
ready and convenient connection to, and disconnection from the air and water mains
of the mine.
The outlet pipe will have a regulating valve, from which it may be carried over
the top and down the sides of the vessel, having small perforations made in its
outer face, so that the water may be thrown in the form of spray in all directions
of a plane drawn through the vessel perpendicular to its direction of movement.
The pipe may also be fitted with a short length of hose having a finely perforated
rose upon the end, or both forms of outlet pipe may be applied, or any other form
of outlet pipe as may be found most convenient to meet the requirements of the
mine or place where it may be used.
A safety valve, pressure gauge, and water-level gauge will be fitted to the vessel
at points convenient for safety and observation.
The method of using this apparatus will be as follows:-
The vessel will first be filled with compressed air of a pressure varying with the
requirements of the mine, which may be done by either connecting the inlet pipe
to the main of an air-compressor where such exists, or by forcing air into the vessel
by means of a pump or other contrivance.
The vessel is then to be partly filled with water forced in against the air, and to
a much higher pressure than the air.
When fully charged the vessel may be drawn along a haulage road requiring
watering, by the ordinary system of haulage in use, and on opening the regulating
valve the water will be thrown against the roof, sides, and floor of the mine by the
expansive force of the confined air.
The vessel may likewise be taken into the workings of a mine, and the dust
watered by the hose and similar appliances herein before mentioned.
When the tank is emptied of water the outlet should be closed, so that the
confined air may be available for the next charge.
DLLs of Wahmuar 1892
THOMAS PEACOCK.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Watering Dust in Mines with Apparatus therefor.
THOMAS PEACOCK Acorn Cottage, Sacriston, Durham Mine Surveyor and
Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This apparatus will consist of a closed tank or vessel, capable of withstanding

page_text: the necessary pressure, the size and shape of the vessel to be designed to suit the
various requirements of the mine or place where it may be used.
This vessel will be mounted on wheels and generally adapted to suit the haulage
arrangements of the mine or place where it may be used.
The vessel will be fitted with inlet and outlet pipes, the inner ends of which will
be placed at, or near to, the bottom of the vessel. The outer end of the inlet pipe
will be fitted with a suitable check valve, and a union or other pipe coupling, for
ready and convenient connection to and disconnection from, the air and water
mains of the 'mine.
The outlet pipe will have a regulating valve from which it may be carried over
the top and down the sides of the vessel, having small perforations made in its
outer face, so that the water may be thrown in the form of spray through all
directions of a plane drawn through the vessel perpendicular to its direction of
movement. Tlie pipe may also be fitted with a short length of hose having a
finely perforated rose upon the end, or both forms of outlet pipe may be applied,
or any other form of outlet pipe, as may be found most convenient to meet the
requirements of the mine or place where it may be used.
A safety valve, pressure gauge, and water-level gauge will be fitted to the vessel
at points convenient for safety and observation.
The method of using this apparatus will be as follows
The vessel may be charged in two different ways:
:
First, the vessel will be filled with compressed air, of a pressure varying with
the requirements of the mine, which may be done by either connecting the inlet
pipe to the main of an air-compressor, where such exists, or by forcing air into the
vessel by a pump or other contrivance. The vessel is then to be partly filled with
water forced in against the air and to a much higher pressure than the air.
Second, the vessel may be partly filled with water at atmospheric pressure by
connecting the inlet pipe to a supply tank, and opening the safety, valve, after
which the inlet pipe will be connected to the main of an air-compressor and the
remaining space filled with compressed air.
When fully charged the vessel may be drawn along a haulage road requiring
watering, by the ordinary system of haulage in use, and, on opening the regulating
valve the water will be thrown against the roof, sides, and floor of the mine, by
the expansive force of the confined air.
The vessel may likewise be taken into the workings of a mine, and the dust
watered by the hose and similar appliances hereinbefore mentioned.
Where the vessel is loaded by the first method described above, the outlet should
be closed when the vessel is emptied of water, so that the confined air may be
available for the next charge..
This apparatus will also be available for use as a means of extinguishing fires
in the workings of mines.
Referring to the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings,
Fig. 1 represents inside elevation, and Fig. 2 in. end elevation, one form of
watering tub, and
Fig. 3 represents in side elevation, and Fig. 4 in end elevation, another form of
watering tub, the chief difference, being in the outlet pipe C.
On Figs. 1 and 2 the outlet pipe is shown passing around the vessel A', and
connected to the same by a regulating valve or cock D, the pipe being perforated
in its outer face, so that the water is distributed all around the tub. On Figs. 3
and 4 the outlet pipe C is showu passing inside the vessel A, from a point near the
centre of the base of the vessel to the centre of one end of the vessel, the outlet
being closed by a valve D designed to act both as a spraymaker and regulating
valve. It is of that type commonly known as mushroom valves but has a screw-
thread upon the inner end of the spindle, which is screwed into a nut formed in the
valve seating, so that when the valve is unscrewed, the water will escape in the
form of a thin sheet moving radially from the valve and thus producing a similar
result to that accomplished by the outlet pipe illustrated on Figs. 1 and 2.

page_text: The other details lettered on the drawings are the inlet pipe and valve B, the
safety valve E, the pressure gauge F, and the water-level gauge G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The use of compressed air as a storage of power for discharging water from a
vessel for the purpose of laying dust in the workings of mines, or for analogous
uses substantially as hereinbefore described.
'
2. An apparatus for conveying and distributing water by means of compressed
air as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
capable of distributing water either when at rest or in motion in the manner
hereinbefore described.
3. An apparatus consisting of a tank or vessel mounted on wheels, with inlet and
outlet pipes and other valves and fittings for the purpose of watering or laying
dust in the workings of mines, or for analogous uses, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying sheets of illustrative drawings.
Dated this 8th day of August 1892.
THOMAS PEACOCK.