An Improved Apparatus for the Ventilation of Mines and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for the Ventilation of Mines and the like.
I, WILLIAM ASMUS, of Canterbury Road, Albert Park, in the Colony of Victoria,
Miner, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "An improved apparatus
for the ventilation of mines and the like" and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to means for ventilating mines and other confined works
and consists of connecting a pipe to the fire-box of a furnace erected on the surface
of a mine, say to the fire-box of a boiler supplying steam to the engine operating the
pumping or crushing plant or a furnace provided for this specific purpose of ventila-
tion. This pipe is inserted in the face of the fire-box and opening into the interior
of the box below the fire-bars and is provided with a regulation valve near the
furnace to shut off or regulate the heat. This suction pipe is curved or elbowed in
any suitable manner and extends from such fire-box down the shaft or into and
along the tunnel of the mine as the case may require and thence by elbows curves
or T-joints through the whole of the drives and underground workings preferably
overhead along the roofs of the drives, and having suitable valves at such inter-
sections to regulate or shut off the suctional operation of same in or from any por-
tion of the workings as may be desired. The fire-hox will be closed when the venti-
lator is in operation, the heat in the furnace causing a vacuum in the pipe, and
setting up a suctional influence, drawing out of the mine all noxious and foul air
and gases to be replenished by fresh and pure air by the natural atmospheric
gravity, or by any well known artificial means, while the air suctionally drawn
from the mine into the fire-box will partially supply the oxygen required for com-
bustion in the furnace. As a means of supplying such additional air as may be
required to aid or increase combustion in the furnace without opening the fire-
box doors or any portion of the front of such furnace, an air inlet flue with funnel
shaped termination will be provided leading into the fire-box such air inlet flue
consisting of a pipe jacketted around the suction pipe such jacketting extending
down the suction pipe for a given distance and being enclosed at its base by move-
able lids which when shut will enclose the circular opening between the suction
pipe and such air inlet flue so that any one or more of such lids may be set open
to admit of air to the furnace as may be required according to the direction of the
wind. To increase the suctional action the suction pipe will be so constructed as to
gradually increase in circumference as it extends down the shaft or along the
tunnel equal to a circumferential increase of say two inches in one hundred feet
or thereabouts. The door of the furnace or fire-box will be made preferably in
two sections or wings each wing being cut out to fit closely around the air inlet flue,
the elbow in such pipes extending outwards a sufficient distance from such double
door as to permit of the wings of such door being opened and closed conveniently.
The suction pipe may be extended right up to the
"face"
or head works in any
part of the mine by means of canvas or other flexible piping to serve ventilative
purposes until same be replaced by permanent metal piping.
"
In order that my said invention may be more clearly understood I will now

page_text: describe same in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings throughout
the figures, of which similar letters serve to indicate similar parts. Figure 1
is a front view of the furnace and fire-box shewing the ventilative apparatus con-
nected thereto.
Figure 2. A side view of the same in longitudinal section.
Figure 3. Enlarged front view of the suction pipe jacketted to provide an air
inlet flue and moveable flaps to regulate such air supply.
Figure 4. A view (broken) to shew the method of opening and closing or regulat-
ing such movable flaps.
Figure 5. A side view in longitudinal section of the suction pipe air inlet flue
and regulation valve.
course
In Figure 1, A is the fire-box or furnace, B the suction pipe (which may be
extended down into and through the whole of the workings of the mine by suitable
connections bends or elbows such suction pipings being controlled by regulation
valves similar
as E, F, FI, and G, Figure 5
to the valve shewn
intervals where required such suction pipe B in-
placed suitably at
of the same
circumference down or along. the
creasing in
by about two inches in one hundred feet or thereabouts) H, H double door to fire-
box cut out so as when closed to encircle the air inlet flue C, such double doors being
secured by catch H I. In Figure 2, A is the fire-box or furnace, B the suction pipe
extending and increasing in circumference as before described, C the air inlet flue
jacketted around the suction pipe, B, such air inlet flue having a funnel termina-
tion, D), in the fire-box under the firebars, H the double doors or fire-box, K the
moveable flaps to regulate the intake of air swinging pivotally on hinges N, and
opening upwards thereon. In Figure 3, B the said suction pipe, C the air inlet
flue jacketted as before described, F the handle for manipulating the valve E
(see Figure 5) by means of ratchet wheel G, and pawl F, FI, K the moveable flaps
for regulating the intake of air as before described opening upwards pivotally on
hinges N, and secured where set open by catch S:-In Figure 4, B the suction
pipe, C the air inlet flue jacketted around B, K one of the moveable flaps set open
and secured by ratchet, J, the dotted curve shewing the upward traverse of K when
being opened. In Figure 5, B the suction pipe, C the air inlet flue (jacketted
around B), D the funnel termination of C, F the valve handle, FI the pawl, G the
ratchet wheel, and E the interior valve. The air inlet flue C being secured by
pin supports CI.
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. In a ventilative appliance such as described the combination of a suction pipe
such as B and air inlet flue such as C (jacketted around B) with funnel such as D
moveable air inlet flaps such as K connected to C, moving pivotally on hinges such
as N and regulation valve and connections such as E, F, FI, and G fixed and
applied to a furnace as before described and illustrated.
2. In a ventilative appliance such as described a suction pipe such as B increas
ing in circumference downwards or along its course from the furnace as before
described and illustrated.
3. As a means of ventilating mines and the like the combination of a furnace
such as A, folding doors thereto such as H, H, suction pipe of increasing circum
ference such as B, an air inlet flue jacketted as described, moveable flaps such a
K, N, catches such as J, and valve and connections such as E, F, FI, and
adjusted fitted together and applied substantially as before described and illustrated
Domban 1807
5
WILLIAM ASMUS.