Improvements in Means for Ventilating Underground Workings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Jan., 1895-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Ventilating Underground Workings.
I, JOHN FEATON, of Haslett Street, Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand,
Mining Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to extracting foul air from mine workings automatically,
that is to say-Into the workings to be ventilated is fixed from the surface an air
tight pipe. On the end of the pipe in the workings to be ventilated is fixed a bell-
shaped month. This can be taken off and placed on again as the length of piping
may be extended, the end of the pipe to be from ten to twenty feet, as may be
deemed necessary, back from the face of the workings.
The surface end of the pipe in the case of a tunnel is carried up to a height of
thirty or more feet above the surface, through a small shaft made for that purpose
a short distance back in the tunnel from the mouth: In the event of the surface
ground not being favourable for a pipe shaft the ventilating pipe may be extended
to the mouth of the tunnel and then carried upwards.
On the top of the pipe should be fixed a ventilating cowl or ventilator of
any type.
On the pipe close to the curve, where it bends upwards from the tunnel, is fitted
a lamp: Kerosine, gas or other heat producing material may be used, or any
other apparatus, other than a lamp, for the purpose of heating the air passing
through the ventilating pipe.
The flame from the lainp is introduced into the pipe through an aperture cut in
the bottom of the pipe for that purpose.
The lamp may be lighted when there is little or no wind on the surface, but
when blowing may be extinguished and the aperture at the bottom of the pipe
closed by a slide fixed in the lamp.
In ventilating from a shaft the lamp or other apparatus that may be used is
fitted on at the bend of the pipe at the top of the shaft. It is advisable to have
this part protected by a covering of wood, or other material. The above-mentioned
lamp or other apparatus that may be used for heating the air passing through the
ventilating pipe may as in the case of a tunnel be used when there is little or no
wind blowing.
In the case of ventilating drives trending from a shaft, a double junction pipe is
fixed on and the ventilating pipe carried each way to the face of the workings as
in a tunnel driven from the surface.
If the shaft is carried down below the drives the ventilating pipe can be
continued or extended.
The ventilating air tight pipes or pipe being fixed in position a current of air is
established through the workings and ventilating pipe.
Dated this 3rd day of April 1894.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Means for Ventilating Underground Workings.
I, JOHN FEATON, of Haslett Street, Auckland, in the Colony of New Zealand,
Mining Agent, do hereby declare the nature of my invention 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 improvements in ventilating mines or underground
workings. A closed or airtight pipe or pipes reaching from the farthest points in
the workings, where it or they terminate in a bell-shaped mouth and such pipes
communicate with a vertical pipe, which said vertical pipe extends upwardly some
distance into the open air and is surmounted by an exhaust cowl or ventilator of
any suitable form or construction which will cause an upward current of air in
said pipes.
Besides the mentioned features this invention contemplates the use of heat for
providing a draught or current in the pipe or pipes on calm days, or at times when
the exhaust produced by the cowl's action is not sufficiently effective. The heat is
applied by means of a fire, gas burner, a lamp, or other contrivances, but preferably
a lamp as hereafter described, whose flame is admitted into the pipe at any desired
point or points in the workings. To enable this invention to be properly under-
stood I will proceed to describe the same with aid of the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation shewing an application of the invention to the
ventilation of a tunnel.
Figure 2 being a similar view illustrating the ventilation of a shaft in a mine.
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the junction of the ventilating pipe shewn in
Fig. 2, and shewing the application of a heating appliance thereto.
Figures 4 and 5 being enlarged views of the lamp and holding arrangement.
A, Fig. 1, is the tunnel and A¹, Fig. 2, illustrates a shaft. A², being drives
therefrom: B, an exhaust cowl on top of the ventilating pipe B': B², B², hori-
zontal branches of the pipe B' in the workings. These branches are fitted at end
with bell mouths Bt. A lamp as hereafter particularly described may be used in
connection with the pipes, say in the position indicated at C, Fig. 1, as hereafter
described. In Fig. 2, an arrangement is shewn in which the pipe B', is fixed in a
shaft with two drives, the branches B2, B2, taking along the drives, and the pipe B¹,
continuing down the shaft A.
If thought desirable or found necessary, valves may be fixed at the ends or in
the pipe to regulate the draught or current of air. The end of the pipes B1, B2, B²,
should be a reasonable distance, say ten or more feet as may be deemed necessary
from the face of the working. The outer part of the pipe B¹, is carried up to the
height of say thirty or more feet above the surface through a small shaft made for
the purpose a short distance back in the tunnel and fitted at top with the exhaust
cowl B. This cowl must always be well above the level of the workings. In the
event of the surface ground not being favourable for a pipe shaft, the pipe may be
extended to the mouth of the tunnel and then carried upwards as shewn in dotted
lines Fig. 1. The exhaust cowl or ventilator may be of any ordinary type.
Under the pipe close to the junction B, Fig. 2, preferably on a curve-is
fitted an oil lamp Cx, as shewn at Figs. 3, 4, and 5: though any other heat
producing material might be used for the purpose of heating the air passing through
the pipe and so increasing the upward or outward current of air when deemed
necessary. The flame from the lamp is introduced into the pipe through an
aperture C¹, cut in the bottom of the pipe for that purpose. The lamp is lighted
when there is little or no wind outside to operate the exhaust cowl. When the
lamp is not required the opening C' in pipe is closed by a slide (2. In ventilating

page_text: a shaft, the lamp C, is fitted on to bend B*, Fig. 2, in the pipe at the top of the
shaft, and it is preferred to have this part protected by a covering of wood or other
material shewn in dotted lines C³, Fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In mines or underground workings, the combination with a pipe or pipes
extending underground and above the surface, the outside portion being surmounted
by an exhaust cowl or ventilator, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In ventilating mines and underground workings, accelerating the exhaust by
introducing heated air into the ventilating pipe or pipes, substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1895.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
37, Cursitor Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.