CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING SUB- TERANEOUS AND OTHER PLACES, AND IN CONSTRUCTING AN APPARATUS OR APPARATUSES IN WHICH COMBUSTION IS CARRIED ON, AND ALSO IN APPLYING CERTAIN FLUIDS TO VARIOUS PURPOSES, AND OP: CONSTRUCTING AN APPARATUS OR VESSEL FOR THE APPRO- PRIATION OF SUCH FLUIDS
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN COOPER
DOUGLAS, of Great Ormond Street, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Tenth day of August, in the sixth year of His reign, did,
for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Cooper Douglas, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said John Cooper Douglas, my exors, adñors, and assigns, or such
others.as I, the said John Cooper Douglas, my exors, admors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATING SUB-
TERANEOUS AND OTHER PLACES, AND IN CONSTRUCTING AN APPARATUS OR APPARATUSES
IN WHICH COMBUSTION IS CARRIED ON, AND ALSO IN APPLYING CERTAIN FLUIDS TO
VARIOUS PURPOSES, AND OP: CONSTRUCTING AN APPARATUS OR VESSEL FOR THE APPRO-
PRIATION OF SUCH FLUIDS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso,
that I, the said John Cooper Douglas, shall cause a particular description of
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six.calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had,
will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Cooper Douglas, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being bad to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say-
My Invention for ventilating subteraneous and other places consists, first,
in improvements on the ordinary systems of ventilating coal mines; and,
secondly, in the means of ventilating large buildings. It is well known that
according to the ordinary practices of working coal mines, it is usual to work
out the coal from the shafts to the boundary line of the intended pit, and
thence to the upcast shaft, which constitute the air courses.
Then commences
the working back to the shaft, leaving at proper intervals what are called
pillars, for supporting the upper surface of the mine, or what is termed the
roof. These pillars are of such dimensions as the miner may judge requisite
for the nature of the materials above and below. In the courses or vacant
passages which are created by the removal of the coal, the air from the down-
cast shaft circulates in the direction the nearest to the upcast shaft, and the.
circulation and the directions thereof are governed and directed by suitable
doors and brattices, as is well understood; and it is generally acknowledged
that so long as the pillars are left standing, and are not, as it is technically
called, "robbed," there is little difficulty in ventilating a coal mine, from the
circumstance that currents of atmospheric air from. the downcast shaft; are
readily made to pass into every part of the mine, and carry away up the
upcast shaft the gas which rises or is emitted from the various parts of the
mine, and thus tend to keep the same from mixing with the atmospheric air to
that degree as to cause explosive mixtures; but so soon as the working
away or "robbing" of the pillars commence, there is a constantly encreasing
vacant space left, technically called a goaf," which being unventilated,
or only very partially ventilated, by of the means heretofore resorted
to, the gas collects in this " goaf," and becomes what may be called a
charged gasometer, which progressively renders the mine more and more
dangerous, from giving out large quantities of gas, which, when considered
with reference to the quantity of atmospheric air circulating at the time, will
constantly be forming explosive mixtures, which would not be so likely to be
the case if the circulation of the air in the mine were to take full effect over.
every portion of the "goaf," as it did during the time the pillars of coal were
left standing. This result has been attempted to be prevented by making
brattices to produce and direct the circulation or ventilation of atmospheric
any
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page_text: air into the "goaf," but in such instances, the falling of the roof, it not being
supported by the "brattices," quickly destroys the ventilation in the "goaf,"
and it has also been attempted to stop off the "goaf" from the mine by walls
or thick brattices, but in such cases the spaces left behind such walls quickly
becomes a magazine of gas, and by an admixture of atmospheric air pressing
through crevices, the same soon becomes of an explosive character, or else the
gas by the internal pressure forces itself into the mine, and should there be
the slightest opening in any part, and in case a naked flame comes near such
magazine, the whole will be blown up, carrying away the brattices or walls,
and doing much and serious mischief.
Now, the object of the first part of my Invention is to continue the circu-
lation of atmospheric air from the downcast shaft to the upcast shaft through
that part of the mine from whence the pillars of coal have been removed,
(called the "goaf,") and this I do by raising or constructing strong and
sufficient pillars of masonry or of brickwork, in order to support the roof, and
to keep up the air courses in the directions to which they were kept by the
pillars of coal; and I proceed to build first in those spaces from which the
coal has been removed, and following up the same as parts of the pillars of
coal are worked, taking care not to leave open a large space which would
in any way interfere with the circulation of the air in the desired direction.
These pillars of masonry or brickwork may be assisted in their construction
by props and beams of timber or iron. It should be remarked, that as this
portion of the mine will not be required to be traversed often, it is not necessary
to leave openings for doors, &c., between the pillars so raised, unless it be for
the purpose of controlling and regulating the circulation or ventilation, but
such pillars should be built in with a view to strongly support the. roof, and
continue the ventilations in the same directions with those which the currents-
of atmospheric air were caused to take by the pillars of coal with their
brattices before such pillars of coal were removed, and may therefore be called
continued walls of masonry. In removing the pillars of coal, care should at
all times be observed, that too large a space should not be left from one point.
to another which supports the roof, it always being preferable to follow up the
construction of the wall or constant pillars as closely as possible, in order to
prevent the roof falling in; and to facilitate the working of such continuous
walls or pillars, it will be desirable to have moveable brattices, in order
to place them over any opening which must necessarily be left for a time;
by this means the directions of the currents of air may be governed with
the greatest possible facility. The various ways in which mines are worked;
and the different manner in which different persons direct the pillars of coal to

page_text: be left in working a mine, render it difficult to point out means to meet every
variety of call of management, but the foregoing directions will be sufficient
for a miner of intelligence to fully carry my Invention into effect, to what-
ever description of mining is pursued, in the particular mine to which it
is desired to apply my improvements. And further, it will have become
evident that where the Invention is intended to be applied to a new mine,
the whole of the coal may at once be got, taking care in the progress of
the working not to proceed too far. at any time without constructing strong
and sufficient pillars or walls of masonry, &c., in order to give full support
to the roof of the mine; by this means the air courses will at once be made
by masonry, and will in reality. be tunnels for air courses, by which means
the ventilation will at all times be kept most free from the downcast shaft
throughout in mine, and the impure and mixed air and gas will pass away up.
the up cast shaft, owing to their being no vacant spaces or "goaves " left in
the working of the mine. And I would observe, in respect to applying my
improvements to old mines, and where the pillars have been or are to bo
removed or "robbed," the object being to keep open a clear run or course for
the air for the same to circulate in the directions, or nearly so, which the air
was constrained to pass into when the pillars of coal with brattices between
them were standing. In place of filling up the spaces or "goaves" of a
mine with walls or pillars of masonry to support the roof and keep up the air
courses, I sometimes employ large and strong iron or other pipes, on to which
the roof is permitted to fall, and I fill up the interstices or sides thereof with
brick or stones, and thus keep open air courses through those portions of the
mine from which the pillars are worked; but the latter plan is not so secure as
that already described, seeing that the gas may accumulate in the interstices
which are not well filled; I do not therefore generally recommend, this plan,
but the judicious miner will be able to apply the one plan or the other,, as
circumstances may require, and in some instances may advantageously combine
the two means. And it should be remarked that, in respect to the return
courses for the foul air, as the wall of coal and doors are progressively removed
from the back part of the mine to the upcast shaft, I follow up and continue
such wall with masonry, &c., as described; with respect to the pillars, whereby
such return or foul air courses are continued, in order to carry off the foul air
as heretofore, the walls remaining being of masonry, &c., in place of coal..
Secondly, my improvements in ventilating relate to obtaining power from
the shaft, which is produced by the currents of rarified air which pass
from a mine, and using the same to pumping air, water, or raising coals or
other materials from the mine, according to some of the means resorted to

page_text: for obtaining drafts of air through mines. It is usual to have a furnace or
furnaces at the bottom or upper surface, or the mouth of the pit or upcast
shaft, and the air from the mine passes over the heated furnace, whereby it is'
rarified, and consequently rushes with velocity up the shaft and chimney, and
hence is a draft obtained. I propose to have the furnace at the top of the
upcast shaft placed at a proper distance from the mouth of the shaft to
construct the furnace and machinery, and also place my wheel between them,
by which a rapid removal of the air from the mine takes place, which is con-
stantly made up by fresh and pure atmospheric air passing down the downcast
shaft into the mine; according to the modes now in use the currents of air
thus passing from the upcast shaft are permitted to pass off without being
applied to any useful purpose. Now, the second feature of my Invention
is to place between the upcast shaft and the furnace by which the draft
is excited, a wheel similar to a water wheel, which will be driven round by
the constant draft, and by means of millwork, cranks, or otherwise, con-
nected with the axis of the wheel, I apply the power obtained by the rotatory
motion of the wheel to the pumping of air or water, or raising coals or other
materials. But in order to apply this part of my Invention, it is desirable to
encrease the dimensions of the flues or air-ways from the upcast shaft to the
chimney, in order by the increased area thereof to make up for the obstacles
or stoppage the air would meet with in its progress from the mine.
Figure 1 represents the section of part of the upcast shaft of a mine. a, a, the
air courses towards the fire or fires in the furnace or furnaces; is an
arched roof or covering, which forms part of the air courses; this arched roof
may be called the wheel chamber; c is a wheel, similar in construction to a
water wheel; and d, its axis, which passes out of the chamber b, and turns
in suitable bearings, which however are not shown in the Drawing. The
direction of the arrows show the course of the currents of air, and also the
wheel. In place of having a wheel to obtain a power from the draft, as herein
described, it is evident that a cylinder similar to a steam-engine cylinder
may be placed between the upcast shaft and the furnace, and having slides
by which the current may be alternately changed from pressing from one side
to the other of the piston, but the same is not so effectual as the wheel.
Figure 2 shews the section of a building or large room, which is ventilated
according to similar principles to that above described; e, e, is a globe or
other shaped chamber, which I prefer to be glazed. This chamber is at the
center or other convenient part of the ceiling of the room; within this
chamber are suspended gaslights or burners, as shewn in the Drawing, and
which constitutes the main feature of my Invention, so far as relates to venti

page_text: lating rooms and lighting them at the same time. f is an opening at the
bottom of the chamber c, e, and up which the air passes through from
the room to the burners to support combustion, which at the same time
creates an upward current and carries off the impure air from the upper
part of the room, in addition to which the current of expanded air passos
rapidly off at the pipe g, and in its progress to the outer atmosphere it turns a
wheel similar to that before described, which wheel, by suitable shafts and
gearing, drives the pumps h, h, which remove any impure air which may be at
the parts of the ceiling where they are situated, but to this I lay no claim in
the present part of my Invention. In applying this part of my Invention
to ventilating rooms as above described, I prefer that the fresh air which is
permitted to enter into the room should pass up from the earth to the highest
position, either by means of hollow ornamental pillars or other ways, and enter
near the ceiling, as is shown in Drawing, by which means a circulation of the
air will take place somewhat similar to that represented by the arrows.
I will now proceed to describe my Invention so far as it relates to
6 con-
structing an apparatus or apparatuses in which combustion is carried on."
This part of my Invention consists, first, in constructing apparatus for burning for
the purposes of affording light to the mine, the carburetted hydrogen gas which
is constantly found more or less in coal mines; and, secondly, in improvements
in what are called Davy's safety lamps. It is well known that whereover
there is a portion of the mine which is not ventilated, there is a constant
accumulation of carburetted hydrogen gas, and such is also the case of the
upper surface of the return or gas course, the gas floating on the air therein,
which may with facility be collected into an ordinary gasometer, if placed in
any convenient situation in the mine, by a wheel similar to those used for
blasting iron furnaces, or any other good forcing machinery, or it may be done
by raising the gasometer progressively by weights or by power, by which
means there will become a vacuity above the water surface, into which the gas
will flow, and when the gasometer is sufficiently charged the induction way is
to be closed. It will therefore be desirable to have two gasometers, one in
the course of being charged, whilst the other is to supply the burners, and even
where the mine is fully ventilated there are constantly to be found "blowers"
of gas, which by means of trunks or pipes may be led or forced into the
gasometer, which may be kept under any suitable pressure in order to keep up
the requisite supply of gas to the burners in the lamps hereafter described.
It will be desirable that the gasometers should be situated at the lowest level
of the mine, by which means the mains or principal gas pipes therefrom may
rise but very gradually to the highest position.

page_text: "
Those mains are to be laid closely under the pillars of coal, or, when they are
removed and replaced according to my first-described improvements, under the
walls or pillars of masonry, in order to be out of the way of the men, in order
not to interfere with their working. From the gas mains are to proceed small
gas tubes to the lamps. From these instructions a workman well acquainted
with gaswork fittings, aided by one who is capable of pointing out the means
of collecting the gas from "blowers or from "goaves," the gasometers and
mains will readily be applied. This part of my Invention consists in burning
the gas of coal mines so collected in lamps, which must be so constructed that
they will not be liable to cause or pass an explosion. Now, various arrange-
ments may be used for this purpose; I do not therefore confine myself to any
particular shape or construction, but will describe such as I believe to be best
for the purpose. The lamps are to be placed at such distances and in such
places as the convenience of the mine will allow, and, according to the extent
of light required, small gas tubes are to proceed from the gas mains, one to
cach lamp, in a similar manner to that pursued in ordinary streets lamps,
excepting that where the tube enters the lamp-hole must be closed air-tight,
and such must be the case with all other of the tubes in connection with the
lamps bereafter mentioned.
Figure 3 shows the section of a lamp suitable for burning the gas in coal
mines, and for affording light thereto. A is the gas main; B, gas pipe to the
burner in the lamp; C, stop-cock for shutting off the gas from the burner D.
The lamp is constructed as follows:-E is a circular plate, which constitutes
the bottom of the lamp; F is an opening, with a screw plug for passing up a
light to light the lamp; G are two cylinders of wire gauze, such as is used for
making Sir Humphrey Davy's safety lamps. These cylinders of wire gauze are
affixed closely down to the plate E, in such manner as to prevent the passage
of flame in case of an explosion taking place within, which, however, scan
never be the case unless the glass is broken, and even then the flame would in
all probability be fully protected by the two surfaces of wire gauze having a
space between them. H is glass cylinder, which is cemented into the bottom"
of the lamp and into the ring I, as shown in the Drawing; J is a dome or top
to the lamp, which is connected to the heated air pipe K, which passes to the
upcast shaft or into the foul air course; L is a pipe by which atmospheric
air is conveyed to the lamps in order to support combustion therein, this pipe
should come from the downcast shaft; M, M, are screw couplings by which)
the lamp, when out of repair, or when it requires cleansing, may be removed.
The stop-cocks on each of the tubes to and from the lamps at that time
being closed to prevent the passage of gas or atmospheric air from the respec-

page_text: tive pipes, and also to prevent the hot-air from the hot-air pipe passing into
the, mine. In thus applying the gas of the mine for the purposes of producing
light thereto, care should be taken not to attempt lighting any lamp when the
state of the atmosphere in the mine is at all inflamable, or when the naked
flame of a candle may not safely be held where the lamp is situated, but when
once the lamps are lighted they will burn without the hazard of exploding.
I will proceed now to describe my improvements in what are called Sir
Humphrey Davy's safety lamp. A, Fig. 4, is the cistern which contains the
oil; B, the rim, in which the wire gauze is fastened to the cistern A by a
screw; C, an aperture for supplying the cistern with oil, fitted with a screw
plug; D, the wick; E, bent wire for triming the wick; H is a water cistern,
to act as a refrigerator for keeping the parts cool; J and K are two cylinders
of wire gauze at some distance apart, say from a half to three-quarters of an
inch the one from the other, by which means the Davy lamp is rendered more
safe, from the greater difficulty of currents of gas passing through the two
distinct cylinders of wire gauze, which two distinct cylinders of wire being
placed at a distance one from the other, and thus forming what may be called
a double Davy lamp, which constitutes the first part of my improvements.
L, L, are a series of projecting plates of metal affixed to the chimney of the
lamp; these are more effectually to conduct the caloric from the chimney
to the water, by which means the chimney and all other parts become more
secure from getting red hot; and I do claim such conductors of metal being
added to a Davy lamp in order to conduct the heat more quickly to the water,
and more effectually to cool all parts of the lamps which are liable to become
red hot, the particular shape of such conductors L not being particular.
I will now proceed to describe my Invention so far as it relates to "applying
certain fluids for various useful purposes." The object of this part of my In-
vention is to collect the gas in a coal mine into portable reservoirs, and convey
them from the mine and apply the gas for lighting buildings and other places,
and the same may be applied to cooking or to any of the ordinary purposes to
which coal gas generated by distillation, as is the ordinary practice of gas-
works, has been and is applied. And in order to carry this part of my Inven-
tion into effect, I prepare suitable reservoirs of convenient dimensions for
portability, such as are commonly called portable gasometer, and I fill the
same with the gas, which, as before described, may be collected either from the
"goaves" or from "blowers," and compressed within such portable gasometers
by means of suitable pumps, as is well understood by engineers, for compress-
ing gas into portable reservoirs. I would remark that all I claim is the
collecting of the inflamable gas in mines into portable reservoirs, and applying

page_text: the same to various useful purposes, and, amongst others, to obtain power by a
machine, as hereafter described.
Fig. 5 represents a machine or engine constructed according to my
Invention. a, a, is a cylinder, which is to contain certain proportions of the
hydrogen and oxygen gases in order to obtain an inflamable mixture, which,
on being ignited, create a vacuum, and at the same time the gas, in com-
bining and igniting, are converted into water, as will be hereafter fully
described. b, b, are the upper and lower covers of the cylinders a, a;
within the cylinder a is placed the piston c, which has the piston rod d
passing through a stuffing box e, as shown; this piston floats on the surface of
the combined gases, and in order to obtain additional elastic force the piston
is weighted at f. The cylinder a, a, is charged with two gases, hydrogen
and oxygen,
that is to say, one volume of oxygen to two of hydrogen, or there-
abouts, which, as is well known to chemists, will, when ignited in a close
vessel, be converted into water, and thus produce a vacuum. And in order to
measure into such cylinder a, a, the proper quantities of each description of
gas, I apply two pumps, one to force in the oxygen and the other to force in
the hydrogen, which may be worked by suitable connecting rods actuated by
the engine, and which will be readily applied by an engineer capable of con-
structing the other parts of the engine. One of these pumps is of double
capacity to the other; the larger pump forcing in the hydrogen gas to the
cylinder a, a, and the smaller pump forcing in the oxygen gas into the
cylinder a, a, each pump working an equal number of strokes. E, E, aro
two tubes leading from the cylinder. a, a, to the working cylinder g, there
being also slides at each end of the cylinder g, similar to steam-engine slides,
at h, h, which are alternately acted on by suitable gearing worked by the
engine; i, i, are two lighted lamps opposite openings at each end of the
cylinder g; these openings have slides actuated by the engine, the one being
closed when the other is opened, and the same are only opened for a very short
period of time, and are only intended to ignite the gas and then to be closed,
as will be fully described hereafter. j is the piston in the working cylinder in
the engine, and k, the piston rod, which is connected to a crank and main shaft
in like manner to a steam engine.
Having thus described the nature of the arrangement of the main or prin-
ciple parts of an engine constructed according to my Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner of its action, first remarking that the details of the
working parts are not introduced into the Drawing as here described, in order
to prevent complexity, and they will readily be applied by an engineer: In
setting this engine into motion, I will suppose that the left-hand end of the

page_text: cylinder g is in a state of vacuum, that the slide at that end of the cylinder is
closed, and that the flame of the lamp at that end is shut out.
The pressure
of the gas at the right-hand end of the cylinder is pressing the piston h in the
working cylinder towards the left-hand end of that cylinder, and when the
piston arrives at the end of the stroke the slide at the right-hand end of the
cylinder is closed, and that at the left-hand end opened; and such is the case
with the slide to the lamp at the right-hand end, it is opened and instantly
closed; by this means the gas is ignited and converted into water, and a
vacuum formed; the gas then passes the 'piston from left to right, and then
again from right to left, and so the engine continues to work, giving off its
power to drive any machinery.
I will now proceed to explain so much of my Invention as relates to "con-
structing an apparatus or vessel for appropriating of such fluids," and the same
consists of an apparatus for condensing the gas found in coal mines and
collected as above described.
Fig. 6 represents two cylinders, A and B, of equal dimensions, each are
divided into two parts, the upper part of each being of the largest area. These
divisions are caused by the fixed plates C having openings at D, and they
have also the small cylinders E affixed to the plates C; within these small
cylinders E there are pistons F, having piston rods affixed thereto; within
the cylinders A, B, work the solid pistons G, II, their piston rods being
connected by suitable parrallel rods to a vibrating beam as is also the case
with the piston rods of the small pistons F. The under portion of the
cylinder A, B, are to receive gas at the time of the ascending of the pistons
G, H, by the pipes K, there being valves opening inwards; and on the descent
of the pistons G, H, the gas is forced into suitablo portable reservoirs, as
before described, for storing the gas therein, in order to its being conveyed
from the mine; and this is done by having such portable reservoirs screwed
on to the pipes L, there being stop-cocks on the portable reservoirs to prevent
the return of the gas when once forced therein. It will be evident that the
machine being in the position shown in the Drawing, the pressure of the water
on each side of the pistons is equal; but when a force be given to the right-
hand piston F, the same will descend, and the water reacting against the
division plate C, the piston G will descend, the weight or force being only
given in order to start the machine, as after being once started it will continue
to work; and it should be stated that the engine or machine must be provided
with an ordinary fly wheel.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carry-
ing the same into effect, I would wish it to be understood that I do not claim

page_text: any of the separate or combined parts of the apparatus or machinery herein
described, other than are particularly pointed out, and hereafter distinctly
claimed as my improvements; nor do I confine myself to the precise means
pointed out for applying my Invention, as circumstances will require variations
to adopt my improvements to various cases. But in order that the points of
Invention or improvements may be fully known and limited, I would have it
understood that I claim,-
First, the means of continuing the circulation or ventilation of coal mines,
as above described.
Secondly, the obtaining power from the draft of the upcast shaft of a coal
mine, and applying it to pumping air, water, or for raising other materials.
Thirdly, the application of gas lamps or burners within a chamber at the
ceiling of a room, as above described.
Fourthly, the burning of the gas collected in a coal mine in suitable lamps
for lighting the mine, and also for improvements on the Davy lamp, herein
described.
Fifthly, the collecting of the gas in the mine into portable reservoirs, and
applying the same to various useful purposes, as above described.
Sixthly, the constructing an engine to be worked by such gas in combina-
tion with oxygen gas, as above described.
Seventhly, the constructing the hydraulic apparatus for compressing and
appropriating the gas, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cooper Douglas, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirty-cie