IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE PRESENCE AND PROPORTION OF INFLAMMABLE GAS IN MINES SHIPS. AND ELSEWHERE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Young, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim;
Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR
ASCERTAINING THE PRESENCE AND PROPORTION OF INFLAMMABLE GAS IN
MINES SHIPS. AND ELSEWHERE."
Sealed the 30th January 1880, and dated the 29th October 1879.
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Young at the Office
of the Cominissioners of Patents on the 29th October 1879.
WILLIAM YOUNG, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland. " IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE PRESENCE AND PROPORTION
OF INFLAMMABLE GAS IN MINES, SHIPS, AND ELSEWHERE."
This Invention relates to improvements in means and apparatus for ascertaining
the presence and proportion of inflammable gas in mines, ships and elsewhere.
In carrying out my Invention I employ an apparatus consisting principally of a
pipe of suitable length, and provided with appropriate taps and appliances into
which the gaseous mixtures required to be tested are introduced; I afterwards add
carbonic acid or other suitable heavy gas, the weight of which must be well known
until the contents of the herein before described pipe become of the same specific
gravity as atmospheric air. By having measured and thereby ascertained the
quantity of carbonic acid or other heavy gas employed to bring the gases in the
lierein before described pipe to the same specific gravity as atmospheric air,
the proportion of inflaminable gas in the pipe can be easily and accurately
ascertained.
For the purpose of obviating any difficulty in ascertaining the exact quantity of
heavy gas required to bring the specific gravity of the gases contained in the pipe
to the specific gravity of air, 1 introduce at the top of the gas containing pipe
ammonia, and separately, but in close proximity thereto, hydrochloric acid, which
forms a dense smoky-looking matter which mixes with the gases and makes any
current of these, gases readily visible, and such currents will continue so long as
the contents of the pipe and atmospheric air differ.
The apparatus constructed as hereinbefore described will indicate the proportion
of inflammable gas to the air in any mine, provided the locality where the trial is

page_text: made be free from inflammable gas, and the quantity of that gas existing in such
locality must be added so as to ascertain with accuracy the proportion of gas
existing in that part of the mine.
My improvements further relate to means for avoiding these calculations, and for
rendering the apparatus available in mines where the inflammable gas is mixed
with the ventilating currents, and where an inconvenience exists in obtaining a
suitable atmosphere wherein observation can be conveniently conducted. In
carrying out this part of my Invention I attach a second pipe to the hereinbefore
described apparatus, and into this second pipe I introduce air free from inflammable
gas; and one end of a short flexible pipe is attached to and communicates with the
upper end of this pipe, while the other end of the flexible pipe is attached to and
communicates with a bell glass, which is to be firmly pressed upon sheet india
rubber placed on the top of the apparatus so as to be air tight, or by any other
arrangement whereby the pipe containing the mixed gases is made to com-
municate with the air pipe under a bell glass, as above described; this operation
being effected when mixed gases from any mine containing inflammable gas are
introduced into the hereinbefore described pipe, a current of the mixed gases loaded
with smoky-looking matter, and very easily perceived must enter the bell glass and
be distinctly seen. This current will continue so long as the mixed gases in the
one pipe are of less specific gravity than the air in the air pipe.
Another means of obtaining the same information is by mixing atmospheric air
contained in a similar pipe to that hereinbefore described with hydrogen or other
light gas of a known weight, until the gaseous mixture in the pipe becomes of the
same specific gravity as the gases from the mine. The quantity of hydrogen
necessary to obtain the required specific gravity will also when ascertained, indicate
the exact proportion of inflaminable gas contained in the gaseous mixture.
I however prefer to employ the former method in which carbonic acid gas is made
use of.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Young in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th April
1880.
WILLIAM YOUNG, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR ASCERTAINING THE PRESENCE AND PROPORTION OF
INFLAMMABLE GAS IN MINES, SHIPS, AND ELSEWHERE."
This Invention relates to improvements in means and apparatus for ascertaining
the presence and proportion of inflammable gas in mines, ships, and elsewhere.
In carrying out my Invention I employ an apparatus consisting principally of a
pipe of suitable length, and provided with appropriate taps and appliances into
which the gaseous mixtures required to be tested are introduced; I afterwards add
carbonic acid or other suitable heavy gas, the weight of which must be well
known, until the contents of the herein before described pipe become of the same
specific gravity as atmospheric air. By having measured and thereby ascertained
the quantity of carbonic acid or other heavy gas employed to bring the gases in
the liereinbefore described pipe to the same specific gravity as atmospheric air,
the proportion of inflammable gas in the pipe can be easily and accurately
ascertained.
For the purpose of obviating any difficulty in ascertaining the exact quantity of
heavy gas required to bring the specific gravity of the gases contained in the pipe
to the specific gravity of air, I introduce at the top of the gas containing pipe
ammonia, and separately, but in close proximity thereto, hydrochloric acid, which
forms a dense smoky-looking matter which mixes with the gases, and makes any
current of these gases readily visible, and such currents will continue so long as the
contents of the pipe and atmospheric air differ.
The apparatus constructed as hereinbefore described will indicate the proportion
of inflammable gas to the air in any mine, provided the locality where the trial
is made be free from inflammable gas, and the quantity of that gas existing in
such locality must be added, so as to ascertain with accuracy the proportion of
gas existing in that part of the mine.
My improvements further relate to means for avoiding these calculations, and
for rendering the apparatus available in mines where the inflammable gas is mixed
with the ventilating currents, and where an inconvenience exists in obtaining a
suitable atmosphere, wherein observation can be conveniently conducted. In
carrying out this part of my Invention I attach a second pipe to the hereinbefore
described apparatus, and into this second pipe I introduce air free from inflammable
gas; and one end of a short flexible pipe is attached to and communicates with
the upper end of this pipe, while the other end of the flexible pipe is attached
to and communicates with a bell glass, which is to be firmly pressed upon sheet
india rubber placed on the top of the apparatus so as to be air tight, or by any
other arrangement, whereby the pipe containing the mixed gases is made to com-
municate with the air pipe under a bell glass, as above described; this operation
being effected when mixed gases from any mine containing inflammable gas are
introduced into the hereinbefore described pipe, a current of the mixed gases
loaded with smoky-looking matter, and very easily perceived must enter the bell
glass and be distinctly seen. This current will continue so long as the mixed
gases in the one pipe are of less specific gravity than the air in the air pipe.
Another means of obtaining the same information is by mixing atmospheric air
contained in a similar pipe to that herein before described with hydrogen or other
light gas of a known weight, until the gaseous mixture in the pipe becomes of the
same specific gravity as the gases from the mine. The quantity of hydrogen
necessary to obtain the required specific gravity will also when ascertained,
indicate the exact proportion of inflammable gas contained in the gaseous mixture.

page_text: I however prefer to employ the former method in which carbonic acid gas is made
use of.
But to make my Invention better understood I will now proceed to describe the
same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 is an clevation
of my improved apparatus; Figure 2 is a section on line A, B, of Figure 1; Figure
3 is a plan of the top of the apparatus. Figure 1 is drawn to a scale of about one
fourth full size, and the remainder of the Figures are drawn full size.
This apparatus is constructed of three vertical tubes about fifty inches in length
Of these tubes a is the
and about five eighths of an inch in external diameter.
one for containing the gases to be tested; b is the tube for containing air free from
inflammable gas; and c is a tube forming a rod on which the scale is painted or
engraved. This scale serves to represent the quantity or proportion of gas in one
hundred parts of the mixture, the length between the division marks on the scale
being made according to the relative diameters of the bores of the tube a, containing
the gases to be tested, and the tube g, hereinafter described, for containing carbonic
acid gas. The lengths of these marks might be calculated, but I prefer the method
of employing a mixture of hydrogen gas and air of the same specific gravity
as mine gas, which is obtained by mixing about 92 measures of hydrogen gas to
108 measures of air, and further combining one measure of this mixture with 9
measures of additional air, which mixture will give the same specific gravity as 10
per cent. of mine gas, and gives a certain uniform length mark on the scale which
I divide into 10 equal parts, and continue the scale in the same proportion to
the end.
To the vertical tube a, for containing the gas to be tested, I attach a two way
cock e placed at about twelve inches from the top, and which cock e communicates
When this two way
with an india rubber bag f and with an india rubber tube g.
cock e (which is shewn in sectional full size view at Figure 6) is in the position
shewn in the Drawing during the drawing up of the slide, the contents of the tube
g will enter the vertical tube a, at the same time shutting off the connection
between the rubber bag f and the tube g, but when the cock e is turned it will
open the connection between the bag f and the tube g and shut the connection
between the tube g and the vertical tube a; and while the slide is lowered the
carbonic acid gas will leave the bag f and fill the tube g and be in readiness for the
following testing. By this arrangement if eighteen inches or thereabouts of water
be introduced into the flexible tube g, and the lower end of the tube g with the
slide be raised to the top of the apparatus, and the cock e be then closed to the
vertical tube a, then by drawing down the slide h any gas in the gas bag f will be
drawn from it into and fill the tube g; and when the cock e is opened to the tube a
and closed to the bag of the gaseous contents of the tube g will, by raising the
slide h, be forced into the vertical tube a, the index or scale c always indicating
The slide h, shewn in full size
the quantity of gas sent into the vertical tube a.
sectional elevation and plan at Figures 4 and 5, is attached to the end of the flexible
tube g, and when the slide is at the bottom of the apparatus a few drops of water
will pass into the water space i in the slide. The slide h moves over the tube c,
and an india rubber packing k adjusted by a stuffing box holds the slide in any
position in which it may be placed on the tube c, but allows of the slide being
moved on the tube by the hand.
upper
Near the top of the vertical tube a for containing the gases to be tested, and
also on the air pipe b, and ordinary stop cock m, n, is placed to close the ends
of the said tubes while they are being filled respectively with gases and common
air;
there are also insertion cocks o, p, just below the last mentioned cocks for the
purpose of filling each tube with its respective air and gases; q is the head of the
instrument formed with two recesses r and s, shewn in the sectional view at
Figure 2, for containing respectively woollen cloth soaked in ammonia and hydro-
chloric acid, such recesses being enclosed from the air by a band x of india rubber
tightly embracing the head and kept in its place by suitable button heads below
One of these chambers receives
the chimney t into which the chamber 8 opens.

page_text: the open end of the tube a. The tube b enters the bell glass without entering into
these chambers.
Io using this apparatus I shut the stop cock m at the top of the vertical gas-
containing tube a, and I introduce by a rubber bag at least eight cubic inches, of
mine gas using more than will fill the tube a, the surplus escaping through the
bottom of the tube which always remains open, after which I open the stop cock
m and a visible stream of the gas will be seen to issue from the small chimney t over
which the bell glass u is placed, and such stream will continue for about thirty'
minutes gradually becoming weaker. If however carbonic acid gas be introduced
by means of the slide and flexible tube g in the manner hereinbefore described,
this current will cease instantly the requisite quantity of carbonic acid gas has
been introduced. 'The direction of the current of mine gas through the chambers
r and s is indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.
It is known that carbonic acid gas disperses even when confined in an air tight
rubber bag, it is therefore necessary to generate this gas frequently and in small
quantities. For this purpose I provide the rubber bag f with two inlets, one v for
attaching it to the apparatus, the other w serving as a ready means for introducing
bi-carbonate of soda, several ounces of which I keep in the bag, and when gas is
required I press any remaining gas out of the bag and introduce about a drachm
of strong acid which at once produces the gas, allowing only time to plug up the
tube w.
I have found in practice that it is only necessary to use carbonic acid gas when
the inflammable gas is in large proportions to the air, as the varied impulse imparted
to the escaping gases by more or less gas indicates the proportions, so that an
experienced workman can judge of the quantity of gas without proving it by
carbonic acid.
If
This apparatus as described will indicate the quantity of mine gas on the floor
of the mine compared with the spot from where the gases were collected.
however a bag of fresh air containing no inflammable gas be introduced into the
other vertical tube b the instrument will indicate the real quantity in that part of
the mine.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the best means with
which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein laid down and shewn in
the accompanying Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing froin the
peculiar character of my Invention, but what I do claim is,-
Firstly. The use of ammonia and bydrochloric acid or other smoky looking
matter in contact with a current of gases produced by the lightness of inflammable
gas compared with air whereby such currents may be clearly seen, as and for the
purposes described.
Secondly. The general arrangement and construction of the apparatus for
detecting the presence and ascertaining the proportion of inflammable gas in mines,
ships, and elsewhere, operating substantially in the manner herein before described
and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
لم
In witness whereof, I, the said William Young, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
WILLIAM YOUNG. (L.S.)