Improvements Applicable to Coal Getting Machinery for the Purpose of Extinguishing Sparks Caused by the Action of the Cutters.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
Improvements Applicable to Coal Getting Machinery for the Purpose
of Extinguishing Sparks Caused by the Action of the Cutters.
We, SAMUEL STACY SKIPTON, of 21 Leopold Street, New Leeds, in the Borough
of Leeds, Deputy Surgeon General, and OSMOND YEADON RHODES, of the same
place, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to coal getting machinery employed in coal mines, or
to machinery used for cutting rock, stone, metallic ore, and other like minerals, the
object of our invention being to extinguish the sparks which are given off by the
cutting instruments when in action, consequently lessening the chances of or
absolutely preventing the firing of gases in coal mines.
In order to carry out our invention, we force or throw a continuous or intermittent
stream or spray of water upon the cutting tools, or upon the mineral being cut, or
both; or instead of water we may throw or force a continuous stream of carbonic
or other gas so as to extinguish or put out the sparks ignited by the cutting tools; and
in cases where the cutting instruments are composed of a rotary shaft, we make such
shafts hollow, with lateral perforations, so that by forcing a liquid through the hollow
shaft and out of the perforations the said liquid is injected onto the parts, and this may
be done by electric or other motor.
In addition to extinguishing sparks, the injection of water keeps the cutting instru-
ments cool, and also prevents the coal dust flying about.
The injection of water to the cutting tools will apply to all descriptions of coal
getting machinery, whether on the principle of rotary shafts or discs, and also
whether the coal getting machines are actuated by electro motors or otherwise.
Dated this 14th day of January 1888.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: Improvements Applicable to Coal Getting Machinery for the Purpose
of Extinguishing Sparks Caused by the Action of the Cutters.
We, SAMUEL STACY SKIPTON, of 21 Leopold Street, New Leeds, in the Borough of
Leeds, Yorkshire, Deputy Surgeon General, and OSMOND YEADON RHODES, of the
same place, Electrician, 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 :-
Our invention has reference to coal getting machinery employed in coal mines, or
to machinery used for cutting rock, stone, metallic ore, and other like minerals, the
object of our invention being to extinguish the sparks which are given off by the
cutting instruments when in action, consequently lessening the chances of or absolutely
preventing the firing of gases in coal mines, also keeping down the dust caused by
the cutting machine.
In order to carry out our invention, we force or throw a continuous or intermittent
stream or spray of water upon the cutting tools, or upon the mineral being cut, or
both; or instead of water we may throw or force a continuous stream of carbonic
acid or other gas so as to extinguish or put out the sparks ignited by the cutting
tools; and in cases where the cutting instruments are composed of a rotary shaft, we
make such shafts hollow, with lateral perforations, so that by forcing a liquid through
the hollow shaft and out of the perforations the said liquid is injected onto the parts,
and this may be done by electric or other motor.
In addition to extinguishing sparks, the injection of water keeps the cutting
instruments cool, and also prevents the coal or other dust flying about.
In order that our invention may be better understood, we will now proceed to
describe the same more fully, and for that purpose make reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is an elevation of apparatus we propose to employ
in carrying out our invention, where A is the cutting tool, attached by any suitable
means to a hollow perforated shaft or pipe B attached by coupling (to the feed
pipe D. Fig. 2 is section of Fig. 1 where it will be observed that the water, or
mixture of water and gas, will pass from the pipe B through perforations a and
make its escape from a small annular space b in such a manner as to spread and
impinge upon the mineral for the purpose of extinguishing sparks created by the
cutter. The size of the annular space b, and therefore the amount of water delivered,
can be regulated by the adjusting thimble or collar E, which is tapped like a nut
fitting onto the screwed part F of the perforated shaft or pipe B, so that such
thimble can be screwed against the collar c so as to entirely shut off the supply of
water.
Instead of the water being thrown onto the mineral as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, the
thimble E and boss c may be so shaped as to direct the water nearer to the cutting
tool, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and in order to supply water direct onto the cutting

page_text: tool and to the hole such cutting tool is forming, the said cutting tool may be per-
forated as shewn in Fig. 4, so that if desirable water may be injected into the hole
being formed by the cutter. The water may be thrown onto the mineral by means
of a pump driven by any suitable motive power; or such water may be forced onto
the mineral by means of rifling the bore of the shaft as shewn in Fig. 5, or by means of
an Archimedean or other form of screw caused to revolve within the water conducting
shaft or pipes; but preference is given to a pump.
Instead of forcing water for extinguishing sparks generated by the revolving
cutter, carbonic acid gas or other suitable gas may be injected upon the said sparks, the
gas employed being compressed in a suitable chamber near to, and either attached to
or separate from, the machinery.
In some cases we may provide a vessel charged with carbonic acid gas under
pressure, and by having water in another but separate closed vessel connected to the
one containing the gases by a pipe or other means, the pressure of the gas will force
the water out, whereby such water becomes charged with the gas.
The injection of water to the cutting tools will not only extinguish sparks, but
keep down the coal or other dust which is always caused in large quantities by coal
getting machinery; consequently it will prevent the possibility of explosions being
caused by the ignition of such dust, and will be safer and more pleasant for the
workman.
The use of water, or carbonic acid or other gas, can be applied to all descriptions of
machinery for cutting coal or other minerals, whether on the principle of rotary
shafts or discs, and also whether the machines are actuated by electromotors or
otherwise.
By preventing sparks in coal mines, or extinguishing them instantaneously with
their ignition, the firing of inflammable gases will be greatly diminished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and shewn in what manner the same is to be put into operation, we would
observe that we do not limit ourselves to any particular form of apparatus for
supplying water or carbonic acid or other gas for extinguishing sparks formed by coal
getting machinery, but what we claim is :-
Firstly. The application of water forced by pressure onto a mineral or onto the
cutting tools of coal or other mineral getting machinery, for the purpose of
extinguishing sparks.
Secondly. The application of water in combination with carbonic acid or other gas,
for extinguishing sparks created by coal getting machinery.
Thirdly. The application of carbonic acid gas or other suitable gases, injected onto
minerals or the cutting tools for the purpose of extinguishing sparks created by such
cutting tools.
Dated this 8th day of October 1888.