IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE VENTILATION OF MINES, AND IN REMOVING NOXIOUS GASES OR VAPORS FROM PLACES IN WHICH THEY ACCUMULATE, OR ARE GENERATED, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO AND TO BE USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Wadsworth, of Hazelgrove, near Stockport,
in the County of Chester, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE VENTILATION OF MINES, AND IN REMOVING NOXIOUS GASES
OR VAPORS FROM PLACES IN WHICH THEY ACCUMULATE, OR ARE GENERATED,
AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO AND TO BE USED FOR SUCH
PURPOSES."
Sealed the 28th November 1856, and dated the 23rd August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Wadsworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Pétition, on the
23rd August 1856.
I, JAMES WADSWORTH, of Hazelgrove, near Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE VENTILATION OF MINES, AND IN REMOVING NOXIOUS
GASES OR VAPORS FROM PLACES IN WHICH THEY ACCUMULATE OR ARE GENERATED, AND
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO AND TO BE USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
The said Invention consists in removing gases, vitiated air, or vapors from
the cavities of mines in which they accumulate or are generated, and con-

page_text: ducting them into some adjacent air course by the use of a fan, bellows, or
pump, placed by means of pipes in communication with the reservoir of gas
on the one hand, and with the air course on the other; and in the arrange-
ment and combination of parts of a portable machine or apparatus for effecting
the removal of such gases, and which machine consists principally of a fan,
bellows, or pump, mounted on a carriage, and provided with conveniences for
the stowage and transport of the necessary pipes or tubes, with stands or
suspenders for supporting the same when in use, the whole being easily
removable from place to place. Also in withdrawing gases or vitiated air
from the cavities of mines through pipes or tubes, by means of a current
maintained in such pipes or tubes by rarefied air or gas directed into them,
and in the arrangement and combination of parts of apparatus adapted for
this purpose, such apparatus consisting principally of two vessels or chambers
(the one contained within the other), and the pipes or tubes through which
the gas passes. The inner of the two vessels or chambers contains the fire for
creating the draught; the outer vessel is in communication with the conduct-
ing pipes, and is traversed by the gas or air, the temperature of which is raised
by the heat of the inner vessel and its contents. Also in. withdrawing gases
or vitiated air from the cavities of mines through pipes or tubes, by means of
a current maintained in such pipes by air or gas, rarefied by heat obtained by
the combustion of a portion of the gas or air to be removed, or partly obtained
by the combustion of such gas, and partly by that of other inflammable
matter; and in a method of separating by their levity the more inflammable
portions of the noxious gases usually present in mines for the purpose of such
combustion, and in the arrangement and combination of parts of apparatus
for these purposes, such apparatus consisting principally of pipes or tubes and
of a vessel or chamber in which the process of combustion is to be carried on,
contained within a larger vessel or chamber through which the gas or air to be
removed is conducted, such larger vessel or chamber being in communication
with the pipes or tubes before mentioned. Also in addition to such vessels and
pipes of a gasholder or receiver, divided by a horizontal perforated partition
for the purpose of separating the more inflammable portions of the gas, and
of pipes or passages for conveying such gas when separated into contact with
a due supply of air for the combustion thereof. Also in rarefying the column
of air, and thereby creating an ascending draught in the upcast shaft of a
mine by the combustion of a portion of the noxious gases which it is desired
to remove from the inine, and in apparatus to be used for that purpose. The
apparatus consists principally of a chamber for separating the more inflam-

page_text: mable portions of the gases or vitiated air, of pipes to conduct the inflammable
gas to the burners, and in a suitable number of enclosed burners within the
upcast shaft duly supplied with air for supporting the combustion of the gas.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Wadsworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WADSWORTH, of Hazelgrove, near Stockport, in the County of Chester,
Machine Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said James Wadsworth, IIer special license that I, the said James
Wadsworth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Wadsworth, my 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE VENTILATION OF MINES, AND IN REMOVING NOXIOUS GASES OR VAPORS
FROM PLACES IN WHICH THEY ACCUMULATE OR ARE GENERATED, AND IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO AND TO BE USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said James Wadsworth, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Wadsworth, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, with the aid of the Drawings annexed hereto.
These Drawing are contained on one Sheet, and the parts of the several
Figures are referred to by means of the numerical characters marked thereon,

page_text: such of the said characters as are repeated always indicating the same or
similar parts.
The light carburetted hydrogen gas, fire damp, or inflammable air of coal
mines, being of a specifice gravity less than that of the atmosphere, usually
accumulates in. the highest cavities of the workings, out of the line of the
levels or main air courses.
The usual mode of ventilation is to induce an atmospheric current through
the levels of the mine, diverting that current into the workings at places
abounding in fire damp, so as to dilute the latter by admixture, and to cause
the removal of it into the levels along with the returning currents. of air;
this remedy is, however, partial and inadequate.
My Invention has reference, firstly, to the withdrawal of the gas from the
points of the workings at which it accumulates into the levels or air courses;
and, secondly, to the improvement of the general ventilation of the mine, by
creating an ascending drauglit in the upcast shaft.
The said Invention consists in conveying gas or fire damp from the cavities
in which it accumulates into some adjacent air course, by means of pipes or
tubes leading from the former into the latter, and through which the gas is
drawn or forced by means of a fan, bellows, or pump worked by manual or
other power.
In the arrangement and combination of parts of a certain portable machine
or apparatus for effecting the transfer of gases or vapours from place to place
by. mechanical means, and in the use and application of such machine in
removing gas or fire-damp from the workings of mines into the levels or general
air courses, in order that such gas may be mixed with and carried off by the
atmospheric current maintained in the latter.
In withdrawing gas or fire-damp from the cavities or workings in which it
is present through pipes or tubes communicating between the reservoir of gas
and the air course, by creating and maintaining a current in such pipes or
tubes by means of rarefaction, produced by the heat of a furnace or. lamp
applied at some point in the line of communication.
In the arrangement and combination of the parts of an apparatus for re-
moving gases from place to place through pipes, by applying the heat of a
furnace or lamp to raise the temperature of the gas in its transit, and by the
consequent rarefaction thereof to create and maintain a current in the pipes, so
as to exhaust or convey away the gas from its place of accumulation or deposit.
In..removing gas or fire-damp from the workings of mines by the com
bustion, of a portion of such. gas along with other inflammable matter in

page_text: suitably constructed furnaces or chambers, in such manner that the heat
produced by the said combustion may create and maintain a current through
pipes or tubes leading from the reservoir or accumulation of gas to the air.
course, and in a method of separating "in transitu the more inflammable
portions of the fire-damp for the purpose of such combustion.
In the arrangement and combination of the parts of an apparatus appli-
cable to the last-mentioned purpose. In employing heat, obtained by the
combustion of part of the inflammable gases withdrawn from the cavities of
mines, for the purpose of rarefying the column of air in the upcast shaft, and
producing an ascending draught therein; and in the arrangement and com-
bination of the parts of an apparatus for the last before-mentioned purpose.
I shall first describe the machine for transferring gases from place to place
by mechanical means, and which I apply for the removal of fire-damp from
the cavities or workings of mines, referring to Fig. 1 of the Drawings, which
represents a longitudinal vertical section through the middle of such a machine,
except as to one of the hollow drums by which it is surmounted, which is given
in profile.
This machine is composed of pipes connected with an ordinary double-
chambered bellows, the whole being mounted upon wheels 1, 1, adapted to run
upon the tramways of the mine; 2 is the top plate, and 3 the bottom plate of
the bellows, which are connected by four upright external pillars, two of which
are partly seen at 4, 4. The interior is divided into two compartments by a
diaphragm 5, moveable up and down by means of the handle 6, so as to enlarge
and contract both compartments alternately. The diaphragm is connected to
the handle 6 by side levers, one of which is seen at 7, and which latter act upon
pins or studs projecting from side rods attached to the diaphragm, and working
in brackets. One of these side rods is shewn in dotted lines. The compartments
of the bellows are enclosed by flexible or folding sides and ends of leather, in
the same manner as the sides of ordinary bellows. 8, 9, are trunks passing
vertically through the machine, each trunk having two valves, the one com-
municating with the upper, the other with the lower compartment of the bellows;
but those of the trunk 8 opening from the interior of the trunk into the com-
partments, those of the trunk 9 in a reverse direction, or from the compartments
towards the interior of the trunk. 10, 11, are the valves of the trunk 8, and
12, 13, those of the trunk 9. The heads of the trunks 8, 9, are cylindrical,
and rise above the top plate of the bellows, as shewn in section in the case of
the trunk 8. These cylindrical heads are perforated with holes 14, 14, 14,
opening into the interior of hollow drums 15, 16, which are mounted upon the

page_text: trunk heads with liberty to revolve. The hollow drum 15 has an external
opening at 17, into which is inserted one end of an india-rubber tube or pipe,
supported internally a coil of wire to prevent collapse. The construction of
such tubes is well known and understood, so that it requires no explanation
here. The tube 18 terminates in the other direction in a rose 19, which has
a ring attached to it at 20 for the purpose of suspending it from a hook carried
by a stand or by a spike, suitable for being driven into the walls of the mine.
The tube 18 may be supported at intervals by similar rings and hooks if re-
quired. The other drum 16 is similar in its internal structure, and is provided
with a similar pipe or tube 28. Both drums may be turned by the handles 21,
22, round the cylindrical beads of the trunks 8, 9, and are intended to have the
pipes 18, 23, wound around them in coils when the machine is out of use or
being removed from place to place. The tube 23 is shewn partly coiled on the
drum 16.
The machine, when required to operate, is placed at some suitable point
between the deposit of gas and the air course. The-rose-of-the-induction pipe
18 is to be placed as high as practicable amidst the gas to be removed, sup-
ported by its ring on a stand or other suspender, as before mentioned. The
delivery pipe 23 is led into the air course, the bellows is then worked. The
alternate filling and emptying of the air chambers of the latter, and the corre
sponding opening and closing of the valves, being similar to the operations of
well-known machines of the same kind in common use, need not to be detailed.
It will be readily understood that the action of the bellows will draw in a current
of gas through the pipe 18, and expel the same into the air course through the
pipe 28, so long as the working of the bellows is continued, and the supply of
gas remains unexhausted.
The machine last mentioned admits of considerable modification in form. A
fan may be substituted for the bellows, and instead of the india-rubber tubes
sheet-iron pipes may be used, of the kind to be herein-after described, arrange-
ments being made for their stowage either upon the same carriage with the fan
or bellows or in a separate vehicle. This part of my Invention is to be understood
to consist in the combination of a mechanically acting exhausting apparatus, with
pipes or tubes in a portable form, adapted for easy removal from place to place.
The operation of the machine last described sufficiently exemplifies the mode
of carrying into effect my Invention, so far as the same relates to conveying
fire-damp from the cavities of mines into the air courses, by a fan, bellows, or
pump in connection with pipes.
I shall now describe my apparatus for removing gases through pipes, by

page_text: applying the heat of a furnace or lamp to rarefy the gas, so as to create and
maintain a current in the pipes, referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of this apparatus, which consists of an outer vessel
or chamber 24 enclosing an inner vessel or chamber 25. These vessels may be
of sheet iron, brass, or copper, copper being however preferable for the inner
vessel, as being a good recipient and conductor of heat. A lamp 26, having
any convenient number of burners or wicks 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, 27, is placed
within a box 28, which forms the bottom of the inner vessel. The space
in the said box surrounding the lamp is divided by partitions into as many com-
partments 29, 29, 29, 29, 29, 29, as there are burners, each compartment being
closed by a cover at the top, leaving only a small annular opening round each
burner for the purpose of admitting air thereto.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper part of the box at the line A, B, Fig. 2.
The air to support combustion in each burner is supplied through its proper
compartment in the box, and is admitted into such compartment through a
slide valve 30 in the bottom thereof, so that the supply of air to each burner
can be separately cut off by closing the corresponding valve.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the bottom of the box, shewing the valve openings
30, 30, 30, 30, 30, 30. By this arrangement it is practicable to use one or
any other number of the burners without admitting a surplus of cold air to cool
down the contents of the inner chamber. To prevent the possibility of danger
accruing from the access of inflammable air to the lamp, the valve openings 30
may have wire gauze drawn over them, and a second sheet of wire gauze may
be placed across the air boxes at 31. The products of combustion issuing from
the lamp, after rising to the top of the inner or furnace chamber are conveyed
away by the pipe 32, which, after passing for some distance in a downward
direction through the outer chamber, issues from the side of the same at 33.
The inner or furnace chamber has therefore no communication with the outer
chamber. To facilitate the inspection of the interior of the furnace chamber a
tube or tubes 34, 34, are carried through the outer vessel and closed externally
with thick glass, to which the eye may be applied when it is desired to obtain
a view of the interior, and more especially to observe the state of the lamp.
For the purpose of raising the wicks of the latter, a spindle 35 passes through
a closely fitting tube in the middle of the burners, having at its top, a curved
arm terminated by a small hook. The foot of the spindle 35 is accessible from
the under side of the lamp, and by turning the spindle round in its tube or
socket the hook can be applied to raise the wick of any of the burners at
pleasure. A side view of this spindle about the full size is given at Fig. 5.

page_text: The outer vessel or chamber 24 is closed at bottom, so that it is cut off from
any access of the external air; its upper part contracts gradually into a pipe 36,
projecting horizontally a short distance, and terminating in a bulb or cap. of
wire gauze 37. The lower part of the said outer vessel has a pipe inserted at
38, such pipe being the first of a continuous series of sheet-iron pipes, of length
and number sufficient to reach from the place at which the apparatus is
stationed to the deposit of gas, .the last pipe of the series being furnished with
a rose similar to that attached to the induction pipe of the machine represented
in Figure 1. 39 is a casing of thin metal, lining the outer vessel at a little
distance from its shell; the object of it is to prevent the shell of the outer vessel
from becoming too much heated by radiation from the external surface of the
inner vessel.
This apparatus when used is stationed at or near the place at which the gato
or brow of the infested working branches off from the level; the induction pipe
is prolonged by the annexation of additional lengths of pipe until the deposit.
of gas is reached, and the extreme pipe is suspended with its rose at the highest
accessible part of the space occupied by the gas. The outlet pipe 36 is turned
into the level, and as many of the burners of the lamp ignited as may be con-
sidered requisite. The products of. combustion issuing from the lamp heat the
case or shell of the inner chamber, which again radiates heat into the gas
passing between it and the shell of the outer vessel or chamber. The rarefaction
of the gas. which ensues creates an upward current in the space between the
two vessels, which exhausts the induction pipe, and thus creates a current from
the gas deposit to the air course. I would here observe that the contents of
the inner chamber 25 are not necessarily. to be evacuated into the external
atmosphere through a separate pipe 33, as before shewn. The pipe 88 may
bo carried upward, and made to open into the outlet pipe 36, as shewn by
dotted lines in the Drawing; or the top of the inner chamber may be closed at
or about the dotted line 40 by wire gauze, through which the contents of the
inner chamber may pass into and mix with the passing current of gas, the
temperature of which they will thus considerably raise, and consequently
augment the draught. As fire damp is not ignited by a low heat, no danger
need to be apprehended from this arrangement.
For the purpose of rendering the joints of the sheet-iron induction pipes
air-tight, I have recourse to the following means:-I make the end of each
pipe to fit into the end of the next pipe as a socket; I take a ring or hoop of
sheet india-rubber, smaller in circumference than the pipes, and by stretching,
pass it over the receiving end of. the pipe. When the end of the adjoining

page_text: pipo has been inserted, I draw the india-rubber hoop over the joint, which it
effectually closes by shrinking upon the pipes. In Figs. 6 and 7, 41 is the
entering end of one of the pipes inserted into the receiving end of another
pipe 42; 43 is the india-rubber hoop broken to shew the joint at 44. Fig. 7
is the section of the same.
The working of the last-mentioned apparatus, as before described, exempli-
fies my method of carrying into effect that part of my improvements which
consists in withdrawing fire-damp from the workings wherein it is present, by
creating and maintaining a current in the pipes of communication by means
of rarefaction produced by the heat of a furnace or lamp. It is scarcely neces-
sary to point out that any fuel or combustible producing sufficient heat may be
substituted for the lamp, or that furnaces for the same object may be arranged
in a variety of forms.
My apparatus for removing gas or fire-damp by the combustion of a portion
of such gas along with other inflammable matter, and for separating the more
inflammable portions of the gas, for the purpose of such combustion, is repre-
sented in section at Fig. 8. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the box and lamp which
occupy the bottom of the furnace chamber. The construction of this apparatus
is in many respects similar to that of the apparatus lastly herein-before de-
scribed, and the same description will apply to each, so far as the same numbers
serve the purpose of reference in both cases, the parts which are common being
indicated by the same numbers in the respective Figures. In the present
apparatus the lamp has only two compartments or passages 45, 45, (Figure 9,)
provided for the supply of air, which is admitted into them by sliding valves
46, 46, guarded by double tissues of wire gauzė.
Between the air passages is
a third passage or compartment 47, for the admission of the gas which is to be
burnt, and which enters it through the pipe 48 and valve 49, the opening of
the valve being guarded by a double tissue of wire gauze, shewn by dotted
lines at 50, 50, (Fig. 9). The passage or compartment 47 is divided by a
horizontal brass plate 51, perforated with small holes,. through which the gas
passes into the higher division of the compartment, and is directed towards
the flame of the lamp, the passage or compartment being open on that side
only. The perforated brass plate 51, is for the purpose of preventing the fire
in the furnace chamber from being communicated to the gas below the plate.
The lamp in this apparatus is furnished with a cupola or lantern of wire gauze
52, so that the lamp may be removable from the furnace chamber without the
risk of firing any inflammable air which may be in the vicinity.. The rim of
the lantern fits closely to the rim of the lamp, and is hinged thereto at one

page_text: side. From the hinge joint of the lantern a spur 53 projects backwards, from
which a small rod 54 descends through an oblong opening in the body of the
lamp. By this rod the lantern can be thrown over the lights when the lamp is
to be removed or drawn back into the position shewn in the Drawing when
the apparatus is at work.
55 is a gasholder or chamber through which the fire-damp is made to pass,
entering by the induction pipe 56 on the one hand, and departing to the outer
vessel or chamber 24 on the other by the pipe 57. The chamber 55 is divided.
by a horizontal plate 58 perforated with small holes. The current of fire-
damp being retarded in its progress through the chamber 55, the more inflam-
mable portions of it ascend by reason of their levity into the upper section of
the chamber above the plate 58, from which they are drawn off by the pipe 48
to the air passage 47 to be burnt in the furnace chamber.
This apparatus acts in a manner similar to the one previously described,
with the addition that a portion of the inflammable air or gas is separated-and-
consumed for the purpose of imparting heat to raise the temperature of the
remaining part in its transit through the apparatus.
The operation of the last-described apparatus is an example of the mode of
carrying into effect that part of my Invention which consists in removing gas
or fire-damp from the workings of mines by the combustion of a portion of
such gas along with other inflammable matter, so that the heat produced by
the said combustion may create and maintain a current through the pipes of
communication, and in a method of separating the more inflammable portions
of the fire-damp for the purpose of such combustion.
The manner in which I employ heat obtained by the combustion of inflam-
mable. gas s drawn from the cavities of mines to rarefy the column of air in the
upcast shaft, and produce an ascending draught therein, and the apparatus
which I use for that purpose, are as follows:-I provide a largo closed
cavity or chamber near the bottom of the shaft to serve as a gasholder, and
separate the upper from the lower part thereof by a horizontal perforated
partition. The lower division I place in communication by pipes with
the reservoir of gas from which the supply is to be drawn, and I also carry
a course of pipes out of the same division of the gasholder to the bottom
of the upcast shaft. The gas being conveyed into the gasholder by the first-
mentioned pipes, with the aid of one of the apparatus for transferring
gases, herein-before described, the more inflammable portions separate and pass
through the perforated partition into the upper division, the other portions
being carried off through the outlet pipes into the upcast shaft. From the

page_text: upper division of the gasholder I carry a pipe or pipes into the upcast shaft,
and connect the same with a horizontal tubular ring or rings, of a diameter
somewhat less than that of the shaft, and suspended therein. The ring (or
rings) has numerous holes perforated in its upper side, through which the gas
passes by small pipes to burners enclosed in upright copper tubes open at top
and bottom. The combustion of the gas heats these tubes, and the latter
throw out the heat so acquired into the atmosphere of the shaft, thereby warm-
ing the same and causing it to ascend in the shaft. This mode of improving
the general ventilation of a mine is, however, only applicable in rare and special
cases, where large and constant deposits of fire-damp exist, as is sometimes the
case in old adjacent workings.
I would here remark, that although I prefer and recommend the various
apparatus herein-before described for the purposes stated, I do not restrict
myself thereto, as my Invention may be carried out by the use of various other
forms and combinations of pipes with furnaces, fires, or mechanical exhausting
apparatus, still retaining the distinctive features of those which I have par-
ticularly described, to shew how my said Invention may be performed; and I
declare that what I claim as new and of'my Invention, is,―
The removal of gas, fire-damp, or inflammable air in mines by means of a
bellows, fan, or other similar mechanical instrument of exhaustion in com-
bination with a pipe or pipes.
The arrangement and combination of the parts of the portable machine or
apparatus described in connection with Fig. 1, or of any similar combination of
pipes with exhausting apparatus in a portable form for the same use.
The removal of such gas or air as aforesaid in mines by means of the heat
of a furnace or lamp applied to rarefy the gas, and so produce a current
through pipes of communication.
The arrangement and combination of the parts of the apparatus for the
last-mentioned purpose, described in connection with Fig. 2, or any modi-
fication thereof.
The removal of such gases as aforesaid by the combustion of a portion of
such gas along with other fuel applied as described, and also the method of
separating the more inflammable gas for the purpose of such combustion.
The arrangement and combination of the parts of the apparatus described
for the purpose last mentioned in connection with Fig. 8, or any modification
thereof.
The employment of heat obtained by the combustion of part of the inflam-
mable gases for the purpose of rarefying the air and producing an ascending

page_text: draught in the upcast shaft of a mine, and the apparatus described for that
-purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Wadsworth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JAMES WADSWORTH. (L.S:)
Signed and sealed by the said James Wadsworth,
in the presence of
J. TAYLER, Patent Agent,
Manchester.