An Improved Method of Damping Dust in Collieries, Mines, and other Places, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 21st Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
An Improved Method of Damping Dust in Collieries, Mines, and
other Places, and Apparatus therefor.
We, HENRY WILLIAM MARTIN, mining engineer, and JAMES TURNBULL,
mechanical engineer, both of Dowlais, in the County of Glamorgan, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention the agents employed for the purpose of damping and
laying dust in coal and other mines are air in a compressed state, and water which
are conducted as required in separate main pipes or conduits and are drawn off
therefrom at will through branch pipes situated at or near the place or places of
application and are ultimately discharged together at such place or places through a
terminal nozzle or instrument which is so shaped, constructed or designed as to cause
the water issuing thereat to assume the character of a fine spray or cloud of moisture.
This spray is diffused by the air currents and damps, saturates or moistens the air and
dust with which it comes into contact, the temperature of the air being at the same
time reduced thereby.
The pressure of the water is in excess of that of the air and the supply is controlled
by cocks situated in the branch pipes, both the air and water issuing together through
the terminal nozzle or spray producing instrument.
The branch air pipe is furnished with a conical nozzle or injector which is extended
into the delivery pipe beyond the junction of the said branch air pipe with the branch
water pipe.
Should the air supply cease, water is prevented from entering or passing into the
main air pipe by a suitable ball or other valve placed in the branch air pipe.
For the purpose of obtaining the requisite spray, the terminal nozzle or instrument
through which the air and water issue may be made to produce it by flattening the
end of a pipe so as to make a fine opening at the exit or orifice thereby causing
to assume the form of a narrow slit or series of small holes.
it
A convenient instrument for producing the spray consists of a hollow chamber
composed of two cup-shaped members of which the upper is inverted over the lower.
The upper and inverted cup of the instrument is screwed or otherwise con-
veniently connected to the pipe into which the air and water are received from the

page_text: respective branch pipes as hereinbefore described, the air and water being admitted
through a suitable orifice or orifices into the cavity or chamber formed by the
two cups.
Extending downwards from the upper and inverted cup is a spindle the lower end
of which is furnished with screw threads. The lower cup loosely fits over the lower
part of the spindle and, by a nut working on the screw threads aforesaid, it is
capable of adjustment on the spindle.
The degree of fineness of the issuing spray depends upon the space between the faces
or rims of the two cups It is capable of the nicest regulation, and by screwing the
lower cup towards the upper until the rims are sufficiently firmly pressed together the
issue of spray is made to cease. With this form of spray-producer a fine spray may
be obtained when water only is being supplied to the pipe to which it is connected.
Various other forms of nozzles or instruments for producing spray may be adopted
and supplied in like manner from the main air and water pipes carried into the
airways, roads and workings of a mine or to any other place or places as required.
AL
A
1 1007
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn-Fields,-London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: An Improved Method of Damping Dust in Collieries, Mines, and
other Places, and Apparatus therefor.
We, HENRY WILLIAM MARTIN, mining engineer, and JAMES TURNBULL,
mechanical engineer, both of Dowlais in the county of Glamorgan, do hereby
declare the nature of this 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 consists in the employment, for damping dust and cooling the air in
collieries and other mines and places, of compressed air and water which are conducted
in separate main pipes into the airways, roads and workings or to any other place or
places in the mine or other place of application as require The air and water are
drawn off from the main pipes at will through branch pipe situated at or near the
place or places of discharge and are ultimately delivered and discharged together at
such place or places through a terminai nozzle or instrument so shaped constructed or
designed as to cause the issuing water to assume the character of a fine spray or cloud
of moisture. This spray is diffused by the air currents to which it is exposed as it
issues, and air and dust are damped, saturated or moistened by it. The temperature
of the air is at the same time reduced by the spray.
The pressure of the water is in excess of that of the compressed air, and the supply
of each is controlled by cocks situated in the branch pipes aforesaid, both the com-
pressed air and water issuing together through the terminal nozzle or spray-producing
instrument.
The branch compressed air pipe is fitted with a conical nozzle or injector which is
extended into the delivery pipe beyond the junction of the said branch compressed-air
pipe with the branch water pipe.
In event of cessation of the supply of compressed air, water is prevented from
passing into the main air pipe by a suitable ball or other valve placed in the branch
air pipe. Similarly, compressed air is prevented from passing into the main
water pipe.
For the issue of the required spray or cloud of moisture a terminal nozzle or
instrument is used. This instrument may consist of a pipe flattened at the end so as
to present a narrow slit for the issue of the compressed air and water.
Other forms of terminal nozzles or instruments may be adopted. A convenient
instrument for the purpose consists of a hollow chamber composed of two cup-shaped
members of which the upper is inverted over the lower. The upper and inverted cup
of the instrument is screwed or otherwise conveniently connected to the pipe into
which the compressed air and water are received from the respective brauch pipes, as
liereinbefore described. The compressed air and water pass into the cavity or
chamber formned by the two cups through orifices provided therefor. Extending
downwards from the upper and inverted cup is a spindle the lower end of which is
furnished with screw threads. The lower cup fits loosely over the spindle and, by a

page_text: nut, or other contrivance, working on the screw threads aforesaid, the said lower cup
is capable of adjustment on the spindle, and the degree of fineness of the issuing spray
or cloud of moisture is regulated by the distance apart of the cups. The adjustment
for this purpose is capable of the nicest regulation, and by screwing the lower cup
sufficiently firmly against the upper the issue of the spray may be made to cease.
With this form of spray producer a fine spray may be obtained when water alone is
being supplied to the instrument.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1 thereon
-represents in elevation a system of air and water pipes arranged as in a mine for
damping dust in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 represents a plan, and
Fig. 3 an end elevation. The compressed air main pipe A and the water main pipe B
are laid parallel with one another on the roadway, preferably at one side thereof. At
any desired intervals in these mains, branch pipes a and b are carried up towards
the roof. By these pipes a and the compressed air and water are delivered into
the delivery pipe into which the air pipe a extends in the form of a nozzle
terminating beyond the point of junction of the water pipe & with the coupling d, as
seen at Fig. 2. The air and water are discharged into the mine through a terminal
instrument or nozzle so shaped, constructed or designed as to cause the issuing
compressed air and water to assuine the character of a fine spray or cloud of moisture.
This spray is diffused by the air currents in the mine and damps, saturates or
-moistens the air and dust with which it comes in contact. The air is cooled, and
-coal dust is rendered uninflammable and inexplosive.-
A convenient form of instrument for producing the spray is that with which the
delivery pipe is represented in the drawing as fitted. It is shown in section at
Fig. 4.
It is composed of two cup-shaped members e and e¹ of which e is inverted
one. The cup e is connected by screw threads to the end of the delivery pipe c
into which, as aforesaid, the compressed air and water are received from the
pipes a and b.
The air and water pass by the orifices into the the cavity g formed by the cups e
and e. Extending downwards from the cupe and preferably formed in one there-
with is a spindle the lower end of which is furnished with screw threads. The
cup el fits loosely over the lower end of the spindle h, and a filament or washer i of
fibrous or other suitable substance is interposed between the cup e¹ and a shoulder
formed on the spindle h.
By the nut working on the screwed part of the spindle the cup e is held
towards the cup e, and the degree of fineness of the spray is governed by the extent
to which the lower cup e' is screwed up towards or against the cup e. The degree of
fineness of the spray escaping between the rims of the cups is capable of the nicest
adjustment, and, when required, the issue of the spray may be made to cease by
forcing the lower cup sufficiently tightly against the upper. With this form of
spray-producing instrument a sufficiently fine spray may be obtained when water
only is flowing to the instrument.
At Figs. 5 and 6 is illustrated a spray-producer consisting of a pipe the end of
which is flattened so as to present a narrow slit or mouth for the issue of the com-
pressed air and water. Other forms of spray-producing nozzles or instruments may
be adopted.
The pressure of the water is in excess of that of the compressed air, and the
supply of each is controlled by cocks situated in the branch pipes a and b.
In event of cessation of the supply of compressed air, the water is prevented by a
valve m from passing into the main air pipe A, and, similarly, should an accident
happen to the water main, the compressed air is prevented by a valve n from passing
into it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. The use, for damping dust and cooling the air in coal and other mines and
places, of compressed air and water conducted in separate main pipes into the air

page_text: ways, roadways and workings, or other place of application and drawn off by branch
pipes at any required place or places, and discharged together in the form of a spray
or cloud of moisture through a suitable nozzle or terminal instrument, substantially as
herein before described.
2. The use, for damping dust and cooling the air in coal and other mines and places,
of compressed air and water conducted in main pipes such as A and B respectively
into the airways, roadways or workings or other place of application and drawn off
through branch pipes such as a and b connected to the mines at any desired intervals,
and discharged together in the form of a spray or cloud of moisture through a
suitable nozzle or terminal instrument, substantially as herein before described with
reference to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.
3. In a combination with the branch air and water pipes a and b, the valves m
and n, or their equivalents, to prevent, in case of accident or interruption, air from
entering the water main and water from passing into the air main, as hereinbefore
described.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Applicants' Agent.