IMPROVED MEANS FOR USE IN TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE IN MINES AND OTHER PLACES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MEANS
FOR USE IN TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE IN MINES AND OTHER PLACES." A
communication from abroad by Elie Amouroux, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 23rd March 1880, and dated the 29th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th September 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVED MEANS FOR USE IN TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE IN
MINES AND OTHER PLACES." [A. communication from abroad by Elie Amouroux,
of Paris, France.]
This Invention has for its object to provide means for ascertaining the nature
of the atmosphere in the different galleries of mines, in wells, and other subter-
ranean excavations, the indications being furnished at any desired distance from
the mine, as, for instance, in the office of the manager, engineer, or other person, in
order that he may take whatever precautions are necessary to avoid danger of
explosion, or suffocation of the miners. To this end each gallery of the mine is
by means of a separate tube put into communication with a receiver or chamber in
which a partial vacuum is formed, as hereafter described, so that the gaseous mixture
which fills the tubes is drawn into the receiver, and in its passage thereto passes
through a sample tube in which a portion of the gas is retained for analysis. From
this the state of the atmosphere in the gallery is ascertained, that is to say, the
nature and the quantity of the different gases of which it is composed. In order
that the Invention may be better understood I have illustrated an example in the
accompanying Drawings. a, a', a², a³, aª, a³, aº, are the sample tubes placed in the
engineer's office, or other convenient position, and communicating by means of the
tubes b, b¹, b², 63, 64, 6º, 6º, with the different galleries of the mine; c, c', c²³, c²³, c², c³, c³,
are stop cocks for opening and closing communication with the tubes b; and
d, d², d², d³, d², d³, de, are stop cocks to open or close communication between
tubes b and a pipe e which leads into the upper part of the receiver or chamber f, and
is furnished with a stop cock g; i is a water pipe furnished with a stop cock j, and
.

page_text: leading into the top of the chamber f from a source of supply; k is an escape pipe
leading from the top of said chamber, and provided with a stop cock 1; m is a tap
for emptying the chamber, and n is a water gauge provided with cocks o, p.
Opposite each sample tube a is a label r, r, etc., to indicate the number of the
gallery with which the gauge tube is in connection. The apparatus is used as
follows: Suppose that it is desired to ascertain the state of the atmosphere in
gallery No. 1. The chamber f being full of water, and cocks j, l, g, m, o, and p, as
well as the two cocks of each sample tube c, c', &c., d, d³, &c., shut, the upper cock p
of the water gauge n is opened and also the tap m to allow a quantity of water
indicated on the gauge n and corresponding precisely to the cubical capacity of
the pipe b to flow out of the chamber. The tap m is then closed, and cocks g, c,
and d opened; a partial vacuum having been formed in the chamber the gaseous
mixture contained in the pipe b is drawn through a into box f. The cocks & and c
are then closed, and the gaseous mixture, which is a specimen of the atmosphere in
gallery No. 1, may then be analysed. If it is then desired to ascertain the state of
the atmosphere in another gallery (No. 7, for example), the gauge n is emptied, the
cocks o, p, and g closed, and j and being opened, water is run in until the
chamber is completely filled, the whole of the gaseous mixture which it contained
being driven out by tube k, after which cocks and j are closed, and p and m
opened. The water in the chamber is then run off as before until the water level
falls to the gauge mark indicating that the capacity of the space above the level of
the liquid is equal to that of the pipe 6º; m is then closed, and g, dº, and c³ opened,
all the other cocks d and c remaining closed. The gaseous mixture in pipe be is
then exhausted into the chamber as before. It will be evident that the Invention is
equally applicable to test the gas in drains, cesspools, wells, &c.
The apparatus
would then consist of an exhaust chamber of a certain size, a tube communicating
with the chamber and with the atmosphere of the well or other place, and of a lamp
contained within an enlargement or chamber on the pipe, the said lamp being
within view and taking the place of the sample tubes above described. If the
gaseous mixture drawn from the well or other place extinguishes the lamp it will
be evident that the atmosphere is irrespirable, so that such precautions as are
necessary may be taken before the workmen descend.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th March 1880.
$
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. IMPROVED MEANS FOR USE IN TESTING THE ATMOSPHERE IN
MINES AND OTHER PLACES." A communication from abroad by Elie Amouroux,
of Paris, France.
This Invention has for its object to provide means of ascertaining the nature of
the atmosphore in the different galleries of mines, in wells, and other subterranean
excavations, the indications being afforded at any desired distance from the mine,
as, for instance, in the office of the manager, engineer, or other person, in order that
he may take whatever precautions are necessary to avoid danger of explosion or of
suffocation of the miners. To accomplish this object each gallery of the mine is
by means of a separate tube put into communication with a receiver or chamber in
which a partial vacuum is formed, as hereafter described, so that the gaseous
mixture which fills the tubes shall be drawn into the receiver, and in its passage
thereto shall be caused to pass through a sample tube in which a portion of the
gas is retained for analysis. From this the state of the atmosphere in the gallery
is ascertained, that is to say, the nature and the proportions of the different gases
of which it is composed.
In order that the Invention may be better understood I have illustrated an
example in the accompanying Drawings. a, a, a³, a³, a, a, a, are the sample
tubes placed in the engineer's office, or other convenient position, and communi-
cating by means of the tubes b, b¹, b², 63, 64, 65, 66, with the atmosphere in the
different galleries of the mine; c, c¹, c², c³, c², c³, co, are stop cocks for opening and
closing communication with the tubes 6 to 66, and d, d², d², d³, d³, d³, de, are stop
cocks to open or close communication between tubes b, b', &c., and a pipe e which
leads into the upper part of the receiver or chamber f, and is furnished with a stop
cock g; i is a water pipe furnished with a stop cock j, and leading into the top of
the chamber f from a source of supply; k is a pipe for the escape of the gaseous
mixture drawn into the chamber f, as hereafter described. It leads from the top
of said chamber, and is provided with a stop cock 7; m is a tap for emptying the
chamber of water, and n is a water gauge provided with cocks o, p. Opposite
each sample tube a, a¹, &c., is a label r, r¹, &c., to indicate the number of the
gallery with which the said tube is in connection.
The
The apparatus is used as follows:-Suppose that it is desired to ascertain the state
of the atmosphere in gallery No. 1, and that the chamber fis full of water, and the
cocks j, l, g, m, o, and 2, as well as the two cocks of each sample tube c, c², &c.,
d, d, &c., are shut. The upper cock p of the water gauge n is opened, and also
the tap m, to allow a quantity of water indicated on the gauge n and corresponding
precisely to the cubical capacity of the pipe 6 to flow out of the chamber.
tap m is then closed, and cocks g, c, and d opened; a partial vacuum having been
formed in the chamber f the gaseous mixture contained in the pipe b is therefore
drawn through a into f. The cocks d and c are then closed, and the gaseous
mixture contained in the sample tube a, and which is a specimen of the atmosphere
in gallery No. 1, may then be analysed. If it is then desired to ascertain the state
of the atmosphere in another gallery (No. 7, for example), the gage n is emptied,
the cocks o, p, and g closed, and ; and being opened water is run in until the
chamber is completely filled, the whole of the gaseous mixture which it contained
being driven out through tube k, after which cocks and j are closed and p and m
opened. The water in the chamber is then run off as before until the water level
falls to the gauge mark indicating that the capacity of the space above the level of
the liquid is equal to that of the whole length of pipe 6º; m is then closed, and g, dº,

page_text: and opened, all the other cocks d, d, &c., and c, c¹, &c., remaining closed. The
The
gaseous mixture in pipe be is then exhausted into the chamber f as before.
apparatus composed of the above mentioned parts may be otherwise arranged than
as represented.
It will be evident that the Invention is equally applicable to test the gaseous
ntinosphere in drains, cesspools, wells, &c. The apparatus would then consist of
an exhaust chamber of a certain size a tube communicating with the chamber and
with the atmosphere of the well or other place, and of a lamp contained within an
enlargement or chamber on the pipe, the said lamp being within view and taking
the place of the sample tubes above described. If the gaseous mixture drawn from
the well or other place extinguishes the lamp it will be evident that the atmosphere
is irrespirable, so that such precautions as are necessary may be taken before
workmen descend.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing the
same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. An apparatus for use in testing the atmosphere of mines and other sub-
terranean excavations, consisting of a number of sample tubes communicating at
one end by pipes with the different atmospheres to be tested, and at the other end
with an exhausting receiver or chamber, substantially as described.
2nd. In an apparatus for use in testing the atmosphere of mines, &c., the arrange-
ment of exhausting chamber provided with an inlet and outlet pipe for the gases,
a water inlet pipo discharge cock, a suction pipe for connection with the sample
tubes, and a water gauge graduated to correspond to the different capacities of the
pipes communicating with the different parts of the mine, substantially as herein-
shown and described.
3rd. In an apparatus for use in testing the atmosphere of mines, &c., the combi-
nation with an exhausting chamber and its adjuncts, as specified, of a series of
sample tubes a, a¹, &c., provided with stop cocks d, d, &c., branched on to the same
suction pipe c, and with cocks c, c', &c., for controlling the communication of the
sample tubes with the pipes b, b', &c., as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.