Improvements in connection with Coal Mines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
Improvements in connection with Coal Mines.
I, GUSTAV PICKHARDT of Bonn ", the Rhine, German Empire Manufacturer
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 :-
My invention relates to an improved system and apparatus for drying and
rendering fit for use, the coal in coal mines that has been inundated with water,
and which it has hitherto been considered sufficient, to provide means for the
removal of such water, without regard to the saving of the coal covered thereby,
and by which many tons of useful fuel has been annually wasted hitherto.
In such mines the working is usually commenced upon the "dip" as it is termed,
or where the depression of the strata of coal is greatest. The first consideration is
the means of draining off the water from the feeders and springs with which the
coal is usually intersected. If the situation and other circumstances will admit
of it, an "adit" is driven through the side of the hill to the lowest part of the
mine, which permits the water to run off to a lower level, which often carries with it
tons of small but good and useful coal that is never afterwards recovered to benefit
the mine owner and my invention is designed, under such circumstances, to recover,
dry, and render of commercial value to the owner the coal hitherto so lost, and [
attain this by providing at the end or outlet of such adit, a culvert or receptacle
for the said small coal, which will be fully understood by reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which :—
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of such culvert or receptacle, while Fig. 2 is an
enlarged view of the perforated or otherwise straining portion of same.
For the purposes of my invention, I build, as near as may be convenient to the
outlet of the "adit" or coal and water conduit A, a circular, rectangular or other
shaped culvert or receptacle B, which may be of stone, brick, concrete or concrete
blocks, or any combination of such or other material suitable for the purpose, and
of any desired capacity capable of dealing with the output. The bottom of said
culvert or receptacle I construct of any suitable material, which for convenience
may be formed of iron girders or cross-stays C, upon the centre of which I build or
otherwise provide, of any suitable material, (which may be such as that used in the
construction of B) a central mound or ridge D, which, if B be rectangular, may be
in the form of a party wall, pyramidal in cross section, or if B be circular this may
be in the form of a mound or pyramid in the centre of B, and if the former, 1 build
upon C, parallel with D, sloping sides E and F, joined to B, so that a space or
passage exists between these and D, but when D is in the form of a mound, and
the culvert or receptacle B is circular, only one of such ridges would be used,
say E, extending around B, so that a circular passage exists between this and D.
In either case I place within the said passage or passages, one or any number
(sufficient for the purpose) of preferably metallic, basins or tapered vessels such
as G, shaped to fit and entirely occupy the passage between D and the ridge E or
ridges E F, and these may be either built into D and E or E F, as at Fig. 1, or
simply dropped into position therein as at Fig. 2, preferably the latter.
In the bottom of each of said vessels G. I provide a preferably metallic straining
surface H, which may be in one or more pieces, and either in the form of grids, or
perforated plates, or otherwise provided with passages J through which water may
percolate freely, and this or these may be either lodged upon the lower surface

page_text: of G so as to be easily removed therefrom as at Fig. 1, or built therein permanently
as at Fig. 2, or otherwise, as may be found convenient.
In preparing the apparatus for use, the percolating surfaces H would be first
covered by a layer K, of some coarse material, such as builders rubbish, stone
chips, coke, chards or the like, and upon this would be placed a layer of finer
material L, which may consist of small coal such as nuts, or coke, or any other like
material, the specific gravity of which, must exceed that of water. Or the position
of K and L may be reversed if desired, but I prefer to place these as stated and
shewn.
The conduit A at any convenient part of its length, would be provided with
suitable means for opening and closing its passage at will, and this, when open,
would convey the water from the mine and the coal carried therewith, into the
receptacle B, as shewn at Fig. 1, and the said coal would fall and be conveyed by
the portions D, E, F. to, and collect upon, the surface or surfaces L, while the
water therewith would percolate through this and the surface or surfaces K,
and the grids or the like H, and be conveyed by gravity or other suitable
means therefrom, thereby collecting in the vessel B the coal that in the usual
way is now lost to the owner, and which, by closing the conduit A, so as to
arrest the supply, may be periodically collected and removed from the receptacle B
when all the water has drained therefrom.
In most cases the water in B would percolate through K and L as fast as
supplied by the conduit A, but the collection of the saved coal in B would
naturally retard filtration, and in order that the water may not overflow B,
an overflow conduit M may be conveniently provided in the upper surface of B
as shewn at Fig. 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st. As a new or improved method for recovering and drying coal during
the process of draining coal mines, the employment of the herein described
system, and the apparatus in connection therewith, combined and operating
substantially as and for the purposes stated, and shewn by the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In an improved method of recovering and drying coal during the
draining of coal mines the combination of an adit, terminating in a conduit A,
leading into a culvert or chamber B, having an overflow channel M, and
provided with suitably-borne pyramidal ridges or mounds such as D, and sloping
ridge E or ridges E F, carrying or holding between them chambers G, each
provided with a grid or grids or other perforated surface or surfaces H J,
upon which is mounted packings of any suitable filtering medium such as K
and L, the whole connected and operating substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
noted this 14th day of November 1801
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.