IMPROVEMENTS IN MA- AM D
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Ridley, of Morlin, near Leeds, in the County
of York, and James Grafton Jones, of No. 4, Cambridge Villas, Battersea,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MA-
AM DATE"
Sealed the 6th January 1868, and dated the 14th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Ridley and
James Grafton Jones at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 14th July 1862.
We, ROBERT RIDLEY, of Morlin, near Leeds, in the County of York, and
JAMES GRAFTON JONES, of No. 4, Cambridge Villas, Battersea, in the County
of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING MINES AND OTHER PLACES," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object "Improvements in Machinery and Appa-
ratus for Ventilating Mines and other Places." For these purposes at the top
of the upcast shaft of a mine, a hollow rotatory apparatus is placed, which has
an opening through its under surface or through that surface which is next the
mine, such opening being, by preference, of a diameter (as near as may be)
corresponding with the diameter of the upper end of the upcast shaft. This
apparatus consists of the under cover or end with the opening into it, and an
upper cover or closed end, to which an axis or shaft is fixed in its centre, which

page_text: axis or shaft passes through the closed end where it is put in motion by any
suitable power, the lower end of the axis steps into and is supported by a
suitable bearing carried by a bearer or frame fixed across the upcast shaft.
The upper end of the axis or shaft also turns in a suitable bearing outside of
the apparatus carried by a suitable beam or framing external of the apparatus,
and fixed to the land above the upcast shaft. The periphery of the apparatus
is not cylindrical, but is formed with openings (by preference four), in planes
radiating from the centre of the apparatus; the circumference of the apparatus
is closed except at these openings by four curved plates (if there be four
openings or outlets), cach of which plates springs from the inner end of one
opening and passes to the outer end of the next opening. Provision is made
in the under surface of the apparatus so that air may not pass from the outer
atmosphere into the apparatus. The apparatus when in use is caused to
rotate with considerable velocity in such direction that the air rising up the
upcast shaft is drawn into the interior of the apparatus, and flows out of the
several openings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Ridley and James Grafton Jones, in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 14th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, ROBERT
RIDLEY, of Morley, near Leeds, in the County of York, and JAMES GRAFTON
JONES, of No. 4, Cambridge Villas, Battersea, in the County of Surrey, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, givo and grant unto us,
the said Robert Ridley and James Grafton Jones, Her special licence, that
we, the said Robert Ridley and James Grafton Jones, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Robert Ridley and James
Grafton Jones, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS FOR VENTILATING MINES AND OTHER PLACES," upon the condition

page_text: (amongst others) that we, the said Robert Ridley and James Grafton Jones,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their
hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Grafton Jones, on behalf of
myself and the said Robert Ridley, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery and apparatus
for ventilating mines and other places. For these purposes at the top of the
upcast shaft of a mine a hollow rotating apparatus is placed, which bas an
opening through its under surface or through that surface which is next the
mine, such opening being, by preference, of a diameter (as near as may be)
corresponding with the diameter of the upper end of the up-cast shaft. This
apparatus consists of the under cover or end with the opening into it, and an
upper covor or closed end, to which an axis or shaft is fixed in its centre, which
axis or shaft passes through the closed end, where it is put in motion by any
suitable power, the lower end of the axis steps into and is supported by a
suitable bearing, carried by a bearer or frame fixed across the upcast shaft.
The upper end of the axis or shaft also turns in a suitable bearing outside of
the apparatus, carried by a suitable beam or framing external of the apparatus,
and fixed to the land above the upcast shaft. The periphery of the apparatus
is not cylindrical, but is formed with openings (by preference four) in planes
radiating from the centre of, the apparatus. The circumference of the
apparatus is closed, except at these openings, by four curved plates (if there
be four openings or outlets), each of which plates springs from the inner end
of one opening, and passes to the outer end of the next opening. Provision is
made in the under surface of the apparatus so that air may not pass from the
outer atmosphere into the apparatus. The apparatus when in use is caused
to rotate with considerable velocity in such direction that the air rising up the
up-cast shaft is drawn into the interior of the apparatus, and flows out of the
several openings.
Having thus stated the nature of our said Invention, we will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same

page_text: Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the upper part of a mine or other shaft
in section, having apparatus applied therėto according to our Invention;
Figure 2 is a plan thereof; Figure 3 shows a plan of the hollow rotating appa-
ratus (on a larger scale than in Figures 1 and 2), which is applied to the upper
part of the up-cast shaft of a mine. This Figure shows the manner in which
it is preferred to set out the curved plates which, respectively connect the inner
end of one ventilating opening with the outer end of the next ventilating
opening.
In the arrangement shown at Figures 1 and 2, the upper sido of the hollow
ventilating apparatus is closed, whilst on the under side there is an opening in
the centre, nearly coinciding with the interior diameter of the upper part of
the shaft. The apparatus is formed with four ventilating openings, which are
in planes radiating from the centre (though apparatus may be made with more
or less ventilating openings).
a, a, aro .the 'four ventilating openings; b, b, are the curved plates which
connect-or intervene between the ventilating openings; c is the top plate or
cover of the apparatus; d is the under side of the apparatus, which is closed
excepting at the centre, where there is an opening into the hollow rotating
apparatus nearly coinciding with the size of the upper part of the shaft of the
mine; e is a descending flange or projecting ring; fis a plate closing in the
top of the shaft of the mine external of the ring e, in order to prevent air
passing down from the outer atmosphere into the shaft, and thence interior of
the ventilating apparatus; g is the shaft or axis of the rotating ventilating
apparatus, which is supported by a step h, and turns in a bearing i, which are
carried by beams j,j, one in the mouth of the shaft and the other above, the
ventilating apparatus applied thereto is. a drum k which receives an endless
band from a steam engine or other suitable power.
Figure 4 shows a vertical section of the upper part of the shaft of a mine,
together with apparatus constructed and applied according to our Invention;
Figure 5 shows an external view thereof; and Figure 6, a plan..
In this arrangement the hollow rotating ventilating apparatus is constructed
to work on a horizontal axis, and it is provided with two openings into it, one
on either side of the central plate c', to which the shaft or axis is fixed. In
this arrangement the top of the shaft of the mine is covered in, and the air.is
caused to pass up two passages :l, l, into the two openings f, f, of the hollow
rotating ventilating apparatus, which in this arrangement is preferred to be
constructed double, as is shown, the central partition c¹ forming the enclosed

page_text: space into two compartments. In this arrangement the plates or covers d, d,
have each a projecting flange or ring &, which enters the cylindrical openings
in the air passages f. f, formed by the metal cylinders, by which the external
air will for the most part be prevented passing into the ventilating apparatus.
In the construction of apparatus above shown and described, the outlet
openings a, a, are shown to be all on the same plane, but this is not essential,
as they may be arranged in different planes, and the end covers in such case
may be inclined to the shaft or axis in place of at right angles thereto, as is
shown, the periphery being then made cylindrical. In the Drawing, the outlet
passages a, a, are shown to be rectangular, but this is not essential.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we would have it understood that what we claim is, the
combined arrangement of machinery and apparatus herein described for venti-
lating mines and other places.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Grafton Jones, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
JAMES GRAFTON JONES. (L.B.)