NEIMME Transactions
Volume 16
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE OF MINING ENGINEERS.
TRANSACTIONS.
VOL. XVI.
1 8 6 6-7.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE : A. REID, PRINTING COURT BUILDLNGS, AKENSIDE HILL.
1607.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE : A. REID, PRINTING COURT BUILDLNGS, AKENSIDE HILL.
CONTENTS OF VOL. XVI.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Re poet of Council ..................v Honorary
Members...............xiv
Finance Report .....................ix Members and Graduates
......xvi
Patrons .................. .........xiii Subscribing
Collieries......xxviii
Officers, 1867-8 .....................xv Errata
...........................xxviii
GENERAL MEETINGS.
1866.
PAGE.
Sept. 1.—Discussion of Mr. Ansell's Paper on a New Method of indicating
the presence of Fire- and Choke-damp in Coal Mines ... 1—3
Oct. 4.—Discussions of Chronicles of Coal Trade, and of Paper read by
Mr. A. L. 8teavenson on Experiments with Guibal'sVentilator 5—10 "
On some Experiments with the Covered Ventilator of M.
Guibal—Translation by Mr. A. L. Steavenson " ...... 11 — 21
Nov. 3.—Discussion of Mr. Maiiey's Paper on Calow's Safety-cage and
Lemielle's Ventilator; Mr. Cochrane read a Paper on 'Harrison's Cast-iron
Boilers ;' Mr. Daglish read a Paper on
' Broadbent's Safety-cage' ............... 23—32
"On Broadbent's Patent Safety-cage, by Mr. J. Daglish" ... 33:—34
" On Harrison's Cast-iron Boilers, by Mr. W. Cochrane " ... 35—40
Dec. 6.—Mr. Lishman's Paper on a System of Working Coal on the Long-wall
Plan was read; Postponement of discussions on Guibal's Fan Ventilator
and Broadbent's Safety-cage;
Harrison's Cast-iron Boilers, discussion on ... ... ...
41—43
" On a System of Working Coal by the Long-wall Plan, by Mr.
W. Lishman" ..................... 45—48
18G7. Feb. 2.—Mr. Daglish read a Paper on Conveyance of Coal Underground;
Mr. Cochrane read a Paper on a Comparison of the Guibal
and Lemielle Systems of Mechanical Ventilation ...... 49—52
" On Conveyance of .Coal Underground, by Mr. J. Daglish" ... 53—56 " A
Comparison of the Guibal and Lemielle Systems of
Mechanical Ventilators, by Mr. W. Cochrane " ...... 57—85
Mar. 7.—Discussions on Broadbent's Patent Safety-cage, and on the Conveyance
of Coal Underground; Safety-lamp Committee's Report was read; Mr. Wm.
Cockburn read a Paper on "Underground Conveyance in the Cleveland District"
... 87—94 " On Underground Conveyance in the Cleveland District, by Mr. Wm.
Cockburn" .................. 95—100
April G.—Mr. D. P. Morison read a Paper on Underground Conveyance at Pel ton
Colliery, discussion and remarks and illustrations by Mr. A. L. Steavenson
followed; The Tail-rope Committee read their first Report; Mr. Harper read a
Paper on Harper's Improved Safety-cage ..................101—106
May 2.—Discussion of Mr. Lishman's Paper on the Long-wall System ;
Remarks on Bastier's Patent Pump ............ 107—112
" On Harper's Improved Safety-cage Apparatus for ordinary
Wire-rope Conductors ".................. 113—116
"On Underground Haulage at Pelton Colliery, by Mr. D. P.
Morison and Mr. James Nelson " ............ 117—124
June 1.—Discussion on Mr. Cockburn's Paper on Underground Conveyance in
Cleveland, etc. ; and on Underground Haulage at Pelton ; and on Accidents in
Mines; and appointment of Committee to report on Safety-cages; Mr. T. W.
Bunning appointed Secretary ..................125—128
x\ug. 1.—Annual Meeting, Reports, Election of Officers, and Alteration
of Rule XL; Mr. Waller read a Paper on Pumping ... 129—133 "On
Pumping, by Sir. Waller" ...............135—140
ILLUSTRATIONS TO YOL. XVI.
Plates I.-III................Diagrams to illustrate Experiments with the
Guibal
Ventilator ..................16
IV...................Sketch of an Apparatus to test the effect of rapid
descent produced on Calow's Safety-cage ... 32
V...................Plans of Broadbent's Patent Safety-cage ......
33
VI.-VIII..........Plans to illustrate the mode of arrangement
of
Harrison's Cast-iron Steam Boilers, by Mr. W.
Cochrane ..................35
IX.-XI.............Plans showing the Method of Working Coal by the
Long-wall and by Board-and-pillar System, by
Mr. W. Lishman ...............4°
XII.-XIII..........Plans to illustrate Mr. Daglish's Paper on the Conveyance
of Coals Underground .........54
XIV................Diagram of the Lemielle Ventilator .........57
XV.-XXIII.......Diagrams to illustrate Mr. Cockburn's Paper on the
Clip-pulley and Underground Conveyance in the
Cleveland District ...............10G
XXIV.............Diagram to illustrate Mr. A. L. Steavenson's Experiments
and Remarks, p. 103............106
XXV-XXIX. ...Diagrams to illustrate Mr. Harper's Paper on Improved
Safety-cages for Iron-wire Conductors ......114
XXX.-XXXIV...Diagrams to illustrate Messrs. Morison and Nelson's
Paper on Underground Haulage at Pelton Colliery 120-4 XXXV.-XXXVL.Diagrams
to illustrate Mr. Waller's Paper on Pumping ICG
f\tpxi
In drawing up and presenting- to the members of the Institute their Report
for the year just coming to a close, the Council have little else to do than
to repeat the observations of the preceding- year.
They have, as on that occasion, to report a large increase of members, and a
generally prosperous and encouraging position of the Institution, with the
difference, however, that this increase cannot exactly be attributed to the
same causes. Much of it must be attributed to the junction of many and
important members of the profession of Mechanical Engineers, which, whilst
it adds to the numbers at the same time is largely augmenting the utility
and importance of the Institution.
With the profession of Mechanical Engineers, that of Mining Engineers is of
necessity partially connected; and by the junction of the two it is to be
anticipated that an impetus will be given to that branch of mechanical
science, without which mining, and more especially coal-mining, cannot now
be successfully pursued. In saying this, the Council cannot conceal from
themselves that this so desirable union has been, in part, caused by the
prosperous state and growing influence of this Society, and the attention
attracted to it by the information conveyed in its more voluminous
Transactions.
The precise position of the Institution, as to increase of membership during
the current year, now at its close, may be briefly summed up as
follows:—gross increase of members, 70; deduct by death and other causes,
15j net increase, for 1806-7, 55.
Amongst the losses by death it would be unpardonable were the Council to
omit to refer particularly to the death of the late Parker Jeffcock,
Esquire, of Derby, for many years a member of this Society, and a partner of
one of its Vice-Presidents, Mr. J. T. Woodhouse.
The appalling catastrophe at the Oaks Colliery, near Barnsley, is
(vi)
still too fresh in tlie memory, not only of those present, but of the public
generally. Amongst those who perished on that melancholy occasion there are
none whose loss will be more lamented than that of Mr. Jeffcock. Nobly
exposing- himself with his brave companions in the cause of humanity, and
for the rescue of others from dangers hardly to be escaped, he fell a victim
to a sense of duty of the highest order, and on which no euloguim can be
passed which can be deemed extravagant.
The Council trust they may.be excused in cherishing the hope that this
respectful and affectionate momento of a good and brave man may help to keep
his memory green, and prove, in some small degree, a consolation to those
surviving relations and friends who admire his heroism whilst they continue
to lament his loss.
From some of the striking incidents of the unfortunate catastrophe at
Barnsley, it is yet possible to draw considerations of a consoling-nature.
It is impossible for a reflecting mind not to deduce, from the instances of
daring courage and strong devotion there exhibited, this conclusion,—that no
amount of risk can have deterred such men from the full performance of the
dangerous duties of mine ventilation, or from any possible exertion of skill
by which those clangers may have probably been diminished if not avoided.
This conclusion is as sound as it is inevitable.
That coal-mining, especially in deep collieries, must long continue to he an
insecure pursuit is only too evident. In this it is not singular, the same
insecurity being shared in common with many other processes from which to
all appearance it would be easier to exclude risk of life. The rate of
mortality amongst those who follow the trade of saw-grinding is a striking
proof of this. The Council, however, express their earnest hope and
expectation that the continuous application of mechanical science will
gradually diminish both the labour and the risk of the coal-mine. B}r the
triumph of mechanical skill alone our deeper collieries have been made
available. By the progress of mechanical science the toil and risks of
reaching and extracting coal at great depths will, past a doubt, be
gradually ameliorated, and possibly to a large extent avoided.
Adverting to the Volume of Transactions for the past year, the Council need
not hesitate to say, that it will be found to embody the average quantity of
papers of interest, as affording useful information and examples of well
directed enquiry.
They may be allowed perhaps to particularise Mr. Lishman's paper
(vii)
on the Long-Wall System of Working, and that by Mr. Cochrane, comparing the
Guibal and Lemielle's Systems of Mechanical Ventilation. There are also some
important practical observations on the Conveyance of Coals Underground by
Mr. J. Daglish and others, which ought not to be passed over without notice.
In making their Eeport for the preceding year, the Council briefly
adverted to the Commission then recently appointed, for the purpose of
ascertaining and estimating the supplies of coals applicable to future use
in the United Kingdom. That Commission has not yet, as a matter of
course, issued any report with respect to any portion of a subject at once
so extended and so difficult as must necessarily be an enquiry of this
nature. The Council advert to it a second time principally for the
purpose of urging the members of the Institution generally to aid. this
investigation as far as it may be in their power so to do. That the
President, and one of the most experienced members of this Societv, are
placed upon the Commission is a matter for gratulation, but as far as
relates to these counties, the whole labour ought not to be pei-mitted
to rest upon the Commissioners but every aid should be accorded
that local members can give. That an approximately correct estimate
of the available amount of coal remaining in known seams will be
achieved the Council do not in the least doubt. They would, however,
caution those who may be inclined to draw rash conclusions from such
statements of the danger of doing so. It is premature in the extreme
at this time to attempt to anticipate the march of adventure, the progress
of mining- science, and the geological discoveries still in store for the
future. Had the steam-engine not being perfected the finest seams of
this vicinity might have remained untouched; and the discovery of new
forces, and new methods of overcoming mining difficulties may be
destined in the far and distant future to unfold sources of supply as vet
undreamed of.
Before concluding-, the Council must be permitted to congratulate the
Members on the general position of the Institution. The prosperous state, of
which this Eeport has attempted an outline, will, they believe, be found to
he borne out and corroborated by the Report of the Treasurer and Finance
Committee, to which they would respectfullv draw the attention of those
present, as well as of the body of members.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Institution is not, as a body, responsible for the facts and opinions
advanced in the papers read, and in the Abstracts of the Conversations which
occurred at the Meetings during the Session.
Your Committee are glad to have to report the healthy state of the Finances
of your Institute during- the past year.
There has been a very large increase of Members and Graduates. The arrears
of subscribers paid up during- the year contrasts favourably with the
previous year, viz., £84 against £23. This favourable state is entirely due
to the energetic exertions of your Treasurer, Mr. Boyd; and your Committee
cannot allow this opportunity to pass without alluding' to the great
services received by your Institute from so valuable a Treasurer• but the
arrears for the current year amount to a very large sum• this, however,
arises from their having only recently been elected, and we have to draw the
attention of the Council to the matter. The arrears amount this year to
£95 against £92 last year.
A large number of members lose their membership this year in consequence of
their being two years in arrears. As these gentlemen have received copies
for two years of your valuable transactions, your Committee draw attention
to this. The amount of these arrears is £58 against £27 of the previous
year. It would greatly relieve your Treasurer, and secure the regular
payment of the Subscription, if your members would, as in other similar
Societies, give a general order on their Bankers to pay their Subscription
when due.
The expense incurred by printing and publishing the Transactions is very
similar to last year, viz., £450.
A new source of expenditure has been introduced during the past year, viz.,
grants to Committees appointed to investigate special and important
questions. The amount granted to the Tail-Rope Committee during the past
year has been £126. Your Committee feel sure that when the Report from this
Committee is completed that it will fully repay this expenditure.
The total amount received and expended during* the past year is very much
the same as for the previous year, both slightly in excess, so that the
balance for the year carried over is also very similar, viz., £323 against
£252, making the entire capital £3308 against £2984.
b
Dr. THE TREASURER IN ACCOUNT WITH THE NORTH
For the Year ending
18G6. 39r.
£ s. d.
July 1.—To Balance in hands of Treasurer
from Fourteenth Year ...£965 18 5 „ Deposited in Messrs.
Lambton's
Bank ............700 0 0
------------- £265 18 5
„ Balance in hands of Liquidators of District
Bank.................. 18 10 10
„ Bequest of the late B. Stephenson, Esq., invested on Mortgage of
Northumberland Dock Bates...............2000 0 0
„ Deposited in Messrs. Lambton's Bank, Newcastle...... ,...........
700 0 0
-------------- 2984 9 3
1867. July 1.—To Interest on B. Stephenson, Esq.'s bequest, from June 30,
1866, to and with June 30, 1867.................. 95 0 0
Less Income Tax......... 1 11 8
-----------93 8 4
„ Interest on £300 deposited in Messrs. ^ Lambton's Bank, from June
30, 1866,
to June 30, 1867 ......... ^ ]r
„ Ditto on £400 deposited in Messrs. \ Lambton's Bank, from
September 5,
1866, to June 30, 1867 ...... J
„ Arrears of 1866, Subscriptions collected since balancing for
that year...................... 56 14 0
„ Subscriptions received for this year from 337 Members... 707 14 0
„ Ditto ditto from 19 Graduates......... 19 19
0
,, Ditto ditto from Colliery Owners, viz.:—
Black Boy ...............£4 4 0
Leasingthorne.............. 2 2 0
Westerton ............... 2 2 0
Hetton.................. 10 10 0
North Hetton............... 6 6 0
Kepier Grange ............ 2 2 0
Lambton ............... 10 10 0
Londonderry ............... 10 10 0
Haswell ............... 4 4 0
Byhope.................. 4 4 0
Whitworth ............... 2 2 0
South Hctton and Murton......... 8 8 0
Stella.................. 2 2 0
-----------69 6 0
To Sales of Publication, per A. Beid :—
From June 30, 1866, to June 30, 1867 ... 44 4 6
Less 10 per cent. Commission ...... 4 8 6
----------- 39 16 0
£3986 15 11
OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE OF MINING ENGINEERS. Cr.
July 1st, 1867.
1867. dr.
£ s. d.
July 1.—By paid A. Beid for Printing, Advertising, and Publishing Account—
FromJune30,1866,to Jan. 4,1867 £168 8 6 „ Feb. 4,1867, to June
30,1867 168 6 6
336 15 0 Less by error in 1866 Account 4 17 6
--------------- £331 17 6
„ Ditto Covers for Parts, Circulars, &c. ... 30 17 6
„ Ditto Binding and Sewing Vols....... 31 7 0
,, Ditto Postage Stamps............ 30 1 7
------------ 424 3 7
„ Secretary's Postage Stamps ... 12 3 0 „ Ditto
ditto ...... 9 18 0
------------ 22 1 0
,, Assistant Secretary's ditto ... 0 10 0
„ Ditto ditto ...... 0 10 0
------------ 10 0
„ Treasurer, ditto, etc............. 7 40
------------30 5 0
„ Secretary's Salary for year ending June 30, 1867 ... 25
0 0
„ Assistant's ditto ditto ditto ......
35 0 0
,, B. Curtice Beporting for ditto ......... 12 12
0
„ Natural History Society's Subscriptions for year ending
Oct. 2, 1866..................... 20 0 0
„ Insurance on Property at Institute Booms... 0 12 0
„ Ditto ditto called Stock, per A. Eeid 1 16 0
------------ 2 8 0
„ William Cochrane, Expenses connected with
the Tail- Eope Enquiry ......... 75 0 0
„ Henry Watson, for Instruments 8 7 4
„ Ditto ditto 2 10
------------ 10 8 4
„ Messrs. Elliott Brothers, ditto 11 9 6
„ Ditto ditto ditto 30 0 0
----------- 41 9 6
------------ 126 17 10
,, Messrs. Carter and Co., for engrossing Vote of Sympathy
with the Family of the late Nicholas Wood, Esq. ... 15 6
„ B. Bobinson, for 1 gross of steel pens ......... 016
,, W. Heppell, for assistance in drawing this Balance Sheet 110 „
Balance in hands of Treasurer at this date 589 10 8 „ Ditto
Liquidators of District Bank, being
proportion of deposit yet unpaid ... 18 10 10 ,, B.
Stephenson, Esq.'s Bequest invested on
Mortgage of Northumberland Dock Bates 2000 0 0 „ Invested in
Messrs. Lambton's Bank, Newcastle.................. 700 0 0
------------- 3308 1 6
£3986 15 11
fattens-
His Grace the DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.
The Right Honourable the EARL OP LONSDALE.
The Right Honourable the EARL GREY.
The Right Honourable the EARL OF DURHAM.
The Right Honourable the EARL VANE.
The Right Honourable LORD WHARNCLIFFE.
The Right Honourable LORD RAVENSWORTH.
The Right Reverend the LORD BISHOP OF DURHAM.
The Very Reverend the DEAN AND CHAPTER OF DURHAM.
WENTWORTH B. BEAUMONT, Esq., M.P.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER, Esq., Inspector of Mines, Glasgow. JOHN J. ATKINSON,
Esq., Inspector of Mines, Chilton Moor, Fence Houses. LIONEL BROUGH, Esq.,
Inspector of Mines, Clifton, Bristol. JOSEPH DICKINSON, Esq., Inspector of
Mines, Manchester. THOMAS EVANS, Esq., Inspector of Mines, Field Head House,
Belper. PETER HIGSON, Esq., Inspector of Mines, 94, Cross Street,
Manchester. THOMAS WYNNE, Esq., Inspector of Mines, Longton, North
Staffordshire. T. RUTHERFORD, Inspector of Mines, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
* JAMES P. BAKER, Esq., Inspector or Mines, Wolverhampton.
* ALFRED S. PALMER, Esq., Inspector of Mines, Port Mulgrave, Redcar,
Yorkshire.
* THOMAS E. WALES, Esq., Inspector of Mines, Swansea.
* RALPH MOORE, Esq., Inspector of Mines, Glasgow.
* G. W. SOUTHERN, Esq., Inspector of Mines, Yorkshire.
MATTHIAS DUNN, Esq., Ex-Inspector of Mines.
JOHN HEDLEY, Esq., Ex-Inspector of Mines.
CHARLES MORTON, Esq., Ex-Inspector of Mines.
GOLDSWORTHY GURNEY, Esq., Bude Castle, Cornwall.
M. DE BOUREUILLE, Commander de la Legion d'Honneur, Conseiller d'6tat
Inspector General of Mines, Paris.
DR. H. VON DECHEN, Berghauptmann, Bitter, etc., Bonn on the Rhine, Prussia.
HERR R. VON CARNALL, Berghauptmann, Rittcr, etc., Breslau, Silesia,
Prussia.
M. DE VAUX, Inspector General of Mines, Brussels, Belgium.
M. GONOT, Mining Engineer, Mons, Belgium.
H. J. MORTON, Esq., Garforth House, Leeds, Yorkshire. ?Honorary Members
during term of office only; elected under Rule 5 as altered.
OFFICERS, 1867-8. §t$8t(tyttt
THOS. E. FORSTER, 7, Ellison Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
JOHN TAYLOR, Earsdon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
GEORGE ELLIOT, Betley Hall, Crewe.
EDWARD POTTER, Cramlington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Sir W. G. ARMSTRONG, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
ISAAC LOWTHIAN BELL, Washington, Washington Station,
N.E. Railway. J. T. WOODHOUSE, Midland Road, Derby.
LINDSAY WOOD, Hetton Hall, Fence Houses.
JOHN DAGLISH, F.G.S., Belmont Hall, Durham.
T. DOUGLAS, Peases' West Collieries, Darlington.
G. B. FORSTER, Backworth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
J. B. SIMPSON, Hedgefield House, Blaydon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Wm. COCHRANE, Seghill House, near Cramlington.
S. C. CRONE, Killingworth Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
C. BERKLEY, Marley Hill Collieries, Gateshead.
\
JOHN MARLEY, Mining Offices, Darlington.
T. G. HURST, Backworth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
J. T. RAMSAY, Walbottle Colliery.
A. L. STEAVENSON, Crossgate, Durham.
J. F. SPENCER, North Eastern Engine Works, Sunderland.
J. F. TONE, C.E., Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
R. S. NEWALL, Feme Dene, Gateshead.
H. T. MORTON, Lambton, Fence Houses.
T. E. HARRISON, C.E., Central Station, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
JAMES MORRISON, 34, Grey Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
HUGH TAYLOR, Earsdon. 1 ^^
WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, Wingate Grange, Ferry Hill. »
EDWARD F. BOYD, Moor House, Durham.
THEO. WOOD BUNNING, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
IKst of 3£tanfa?8,
AUGUST, 1867.
1 Ackroyd, Thomas, Berkenshaw, Leeds.
2 Adams, W., Severn House, Roath Road, Cardiff, Glamorganshire,
3 Aitken, Henry, Falkirk, North Britain.
4 Anderson, C. W., St. Hilda's Colliery, South Shields.
5 Anderson, Joseph. Solicitor, Neville Hall, Newcastle.
6 Anderson, William, Rainton Colliery, Fence Houses.
7 Appleby, Charles Edward, Reinshaw Iron Works, near Chesterfield.
8 Armstrong-, W., Wing-ate Grange, Ferry Hill, County of Durham.
9 Armstrong', C.B., Sir W. G., Jesmond, Newcastle.
10 Ashwell, Hatfield, Anchor Colliery, Long-ton, North Staffordshire.
11 Asquith, Thomas, Harton Colliery, South Shields.
12 Attwood, Charles, Holywood House, Wolsingham, Darling-ton.
13 Aytoun, Robert, 3, Fettes Row, Edinburgh.
14 Bag-nail, jun., Thomas, Whitby, Yorkshire.
15 Bailes, jun., Thos., 3, Queen's Terrace, Gateshead.
16 Bailey, W. W., Kilburn, near Derby.
17 Bailey, Samuel, The Pleck, Wallsall, Staffordshire.
18 Barkus, jun., Wm., Tynemouth.
19 Barklay, A., Engineer, Kilmarnock, North Britain.
20 Bartholomew, C, Doncaster, Yorkshire.
21 Bassett, A., Tredeg-ar Mineral Estate Office, Cardiff, Glamorganshire.
22 Beacher, E., Thorncliffe and Chapeltown Collieries, Sheffield.
23 Beanlands, Arthur, University College, Durham.
24 Bell, John, Normanby Mines, Middlesbro'-on-Tees.
25 Bell, Isaac Lowthian,Washington,Washington Station, N.E. Railway.
26 Bell, T., South Moor Colliery, Chester-le-Street, Durham.
27 Bell, jun., Thomas, Usworth Hall, Gateshead.
28 Benson, T. W., Cowpen Colliery, Blyth.
29 Berkley, C, Marley Hill Colliery, Gateshead, County of Durham.
30 Bewick, Thomas J., Neville Chambers, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
31 Bidder, B. P., Powell, Duffryn Collieries, Aberdare.
(xvii)
32 Bigland, J., Bedford Lodge, Bishop Auckland, County of Durham.
33 Binns, C, Claycross, Derbyshire.
34 Biram, Benjamin, Peasely Cross Collieries, St. Helen's, Lancashire.
35 Blackwell, J. Howard.
36 Bolckow, H. W. F., Middlesbro'-on-Tees, Yorkshire.
37 Bourne, P., Whitehaven, Cumberland.
38 Bourne, S., West Cumberland Hematite Iron Works, Workington.
39 Bourne, Thos. R., Rawcliff, Garstang, Lancashire.
40 Bowie, Alexander, Canonbie Colliery, Canonbie, Carlisle.
41 Boyd, Edward F., Moor House, Durham.
42 Boyd, M.E., Nelson, Belfast Foundry, Donegal Street, Belfast.
43 Boyd, William, Spring Gardens Engine Works, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne.
44 Breckon, J. R., Darlington.
45 Brettle, Thomas, Mine Agent, Dudley, Worcestershire.
46 Broadbent, Jubal C, Drake Street, Rochdale, Lancashire.
47 Brogden, James, Tondii Iron and Coal Works, Bridgend, Glamor-
ganshire.
48 Brown, J., Harbro' House, Barnsley, Yorkshire.
49 Brown, John N., 56, Union Passage, New Street, Birmingham.
50 Brown, Thos. Forster, Guildhall Chambers, Cardiff.
51 Brown, Ralph, Ryhope Colliery, Sunderland.
52 Bryden, John F., Hematite Iron Works, Whitehaven.
53 Bryham, William, Rose Bridge, &c, Collieries, Wigan, Lancashire.
54 Bryham, jun., Wm., Ince Hall, Wigan.
55 Burn, James, Rainton Colliery, Fence Houses.
56 Burrows, James, Douglas Bank, Wigan, Lancashire.
57 Buxton, William, Snibstone Collieries, near Leicester.
58 Cadwaladr, R., Broughton Colliery, Wrexham, Denbighshire.
59 Campbell, James, Staveley Works, Chesterfield.
60 Carr, Charles, Cramlington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
61 Carr, William Cochrane, Blaydon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
62 Carrington, jun., Thomas, Holywell House, Chesterfield.
63 Catron, Joseph, Wylam Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
64 Chadborn, Beckit T., Pinxton Collieries, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
65 Childe, Rowland, Wakefield, Yorkshire.
66 Clark, William, Shotton and Haswell Collieries, Fence Houses.
67 Clark, Christopher Fisher, Garswood, Newton-le-Willows.
68 Clarke, Edmund, Colliery Guardian Office, Wigan.
c
(xviii)
69 Cochrane, W., Seghill House, Dudley, Northumberland.
70 Cochrane, C, The Ellowes, near Dudley.
71 Cochrane, B., Alden Grange, Durham.
72 Cockburn, William, Hutton Low Cross Mines, Guishro', Yorkshire.
73 Cockburn, George, 8, Summerhill Grove, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
74 Coke, Richard George, Tapton Grove, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
75 Cole, W. R., Bebside Colliery, Morpeth.
7Q Collis, "William Blow, Amblecote, Stourbridge, Worcestershire.
77 Cook, Richard, East Holywell Colliery, Earsdon, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne.
78 Cooke, John, 4, Mulberry Street, Darlington.
79 Cookson, Norman, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
80 Cooksey, Joseph, West Bromwich, Staffordshire.
81 Cooksey, J. H., West Bromwich, Staffordshire.
82 Cooper, Philip, Rotherham Colliery, Rotherham, Yorkshire.
83 Cooper, Thomas, Park Gate Colliery, Rotherham, Yorkshire.
84 Cope, J., Pensnett, Dudley, Worcester.
85 Cope, M.E., W. S., North Staffordshire.
86 Cossham, H., Hill House, Bristol, Somersetshire.
87 Coulson, W., Crossgate Foundry, Durham.
88 Cowen, jun., Joseph, Blaydon Burn, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
89 Coxon, S. B., Usworth Colliery, Washington Station, Durham.
90 Coxon, Alfred, Bedlington Colliery, Morpeth.
91 Craig, W. Y., Harncastle Colliery, Stoke-upon-Trent.
92 Crawford, T., Little Town Colliery, Durham.
93 Crawhall, G. E., St. Ann's Rope Works, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
94 Croften, J. G., Thornley Colliery Office, Ferry Hill.
95 Crone, S. C, Killingworth Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
96 Crow, George, 2, Park Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
97 Crudace, S. D., Willington, Durham.
98 Crudace, Thomas, Waratah, Australia.
99 Curry, James, Turston, Pontefract.
100 Daglish, F.G.S., J., Dene House, Seaham Harbour.
101 Dakers, jun., Thomas, Willington Colliery, Durham.
102 Dakers, W., Seaham Collieries, Sunderland.
103 Darlington, James, Springfield House, near Chorley, Lancashire.
104 Darlington, John, Moorgate Street Chambers, London, E.C.
105 D avison, A., Hastings Cottage, Seaton Delaval, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne.
(xix)
106 Davidson, James, Newbattle Colliery, Dalkeith.
107 Dawson, Thomas, Garmondsway Moor, Ferryhill.
108 Dees, J. Whitehaven, Cumberland.
109 Dennis, Henry, Brynyr Owen, Ruabon, Denbighshire.
110 Dickinson,W. R., South Derwent Colliery, Annfield Plain,Gateshead.
111 Dixon, George, Lowther Street, Whitehaven, Cumberland.
112 Dobson, S., Halswell Cottage, Cardiff, Glamorganshire.
113 Doming, Elias, 41, John Dalton Street, Manchester.
114 Douglas, T., Peases' West Collieries, Darlington.
115 Dunn, C.E., Thomas, Windsor Bridge Iron Works, Manchester.
116 Dunne, D. G., Greenfield Colliery, Hamilton, North Britain.
117 Dyson, George, Britannia Iron Works, Fence Houses.
118 Easton, J., Nest House, Gateshead.
119 Elliot, G., Betley Hall, Crewe.
120 Elliott, W., Weardale Iron Works, Towlaw, Darlington.
121 Embleton, T. W., The Cedars, Methley, Leeds.
122 Evans, William, Ruabon Iron Works, Ruabon.
123 Feare, G., Camerton Coal Works, Bath.
124 Fenwick, Barnabas, Broomhill Colliery, Acklington.
125 Fidler, Edward, Piatt Lane Colliery, Wigan, Lancashire.
126 Firth, William, Birley Wood, Leeds.
127 Firth, S., 5, Port Street, Manchester.
128 Fletcher, C.E., Jos., 69, Lowther street, Whitehaven.
129 Fletcher, Isaac, Clifton Colliery, Workington.
130 Fletcher, Herbert, Ladyshire Colliery, Little Lever, Bolton, Lan-
cashire.
131 Foord, J. B., General Mining Association Secretary, 52, Broad
Street, London.
132 Forster, A.M., G. B., Backworth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
133 Forster, Thomas E., 7, Ellison Place, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
134 Fothergill, Joseph, Cowpen and North Seaton Office, Quayside,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
135 Fowler, Geo., Donisthorpe, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.
136 Frazer, Benjamin, 28, Broad Chare, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
137 Frazer, William, Rewcastle Chare, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
138 Francis, W., Cliff Terrace, Marske, near Redcar.
139 Fryer, Mark, Team Colliery, Gateshead.
(XX)
140 Gainsford, William Dunn, Darnall Hall, Sheffield.
141 Gainsford, Thos. R., Stafford Club, Burlington Gardens, London, W.
142 Gardner, M. B., Tondu Iron and Coal Works, Bridgend, Glamor-
ganshire.
143 Garforth, W. G., Lord's Field Colliery, Ashton-under-Lyne.
144 Gillett, F. C, 5, Wardwick, Derby.
145 Gilroy, G., Ince Hall Colliery, Wigan, Lancashire.
146 Glover, B. B., Mining Engineer, Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire.
147 Goddard, C.E., William, Golden Hill Colliery, Longton, North
Staffordshire.
148 Gooch, G. H. Lintz Colliery, Gateshead.
149 Gott, Wm. L., Shincliffe Collieries, Durham.
150 Greeves, J. 0., Roundwood Colliery, Horbury, Wakefield, Yorkshire.
151 Green, jun., Wm, 6, St. Mary's Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
152 Greener, Thos., Etherley Colliery, Darlington.
153 Greenwell, F.G.S., G. C. Poynton and Worth Collieries, Stockport,
Cheshire.
154 Greenway, Edward, Brierly Hill, Dudley, Worcestershire.
155 Greig, D., Leeds.
156 Haggie, P., Gateshead.
157 Hales, Onas, Oakpits Colliery, Mold, Flintshire.
158 Hall, T. Y., 11, Eldon square, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
159 Hall, William F., Shotton Colliery, Castle Eden, Ferryhill.
160 Hall, Henry, Haswell Colliery, Fence Houses.
161 Hanon, Jules, 91, Rue Herenthal, Antwerp.
162 Harden, J. W., Folshill Colliery, Coventry, Warwickshire.
163 Harper, Matthew, Whitehaven, Cumberland.
164 Harrison, C.E., T. E., Central Station, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
165 Harrison, Robert, Eastwood Collieries, Nottingham.
166 Harrison, W. B., Norton Hall, Cannock, Staffordshire.
167 Harper, J. P., Regent Terrace, London Road, Derby.
168 Hawthorn, C.E., W., Engineer, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
169 Hawthorn, Thomas, Engineer, 12, Elswick Villas, Newcastle-upon-
Tyne.
170 Herdman, John, Park Crescent, Bridgend, Glamorganshire.
171 Heckels, R., Wearmouth Colliery, Sunderland.
172 Hedley, Edward, Osmaston Street, Derby.
173 Hedley, W. H., Consett Collieries, Medomsley, by Gateshead.
(xxi)
174 Heppell, Thomas, Pelaw Main Colliery, Birtley, Fence Houses.
175 Heslop, James, Peases' West Collieries, Darlington.
176 Hetherington, David, Netherton, Morpeth.
177 Hewlett, Alfred, Haigh Colliery, Wigan, Lancashire.
178 Hindhaugh, Thos. S., Moreton Hall Colliery, near Chirk, Denbigh-
shire.
179 Higson, Jacob, 94, Cross Street, Manchester.
180 Higson, P., jun., Brookland, Swinton, Manchester.
181 Hill, Arthur.
182 Hilton, T. W., Haigh, Wigan.
183 Hodgson, R., Engineer, Whitburn, Sunderland.
184 Homer, Charles S., Chatterley Hall, Tunstall.
185 Hood, Archibald, Whitehill Colliery, Lasswade, Edinburgh.
186 Hopper, John, Britannia Iron Works, Houghton-le-Spring.
187 Horsley, W., Whitehill Point, Percy Main.
188 Horsfall, J. J., Fanbottom Colliery, Ashton-under-Lyne.
189 Horton, T. E. Prior's Lee Hall, Shiffnal, Shropshire.
190 Howard, Wm Frederick, Rosemount, Taunton, Somersetshire.
191 Hudson, James, Albion Mines, Pictou, Nova Scotia.
192 Humble, jun., Joseph, Garesfield, Blaydon-on-Tyne.
193 Humble, W. J., Forth Banks West Factory, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
194 Hunt, J. P., Corngreaves, Birmingham.
195 Hunt, A, H., Pelaw Main Office, Quayside, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
196 Hunter, Wm., Moor Lodge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
197 Hunter, William, Morriston, Swansea, Glamorganshire.
198 Hunting, Charles, Fence Houses.
199 Huntsman, Benjamin, West Retford Hall, Retford.
200 Hurst, T. G., Backworth Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
201 Jackson, Henry, Astley and Tyldesley Collieries, Tyldesley, Man-
chester.
202 Jackson, John, Clay Cross, Chesterfield.
203 Jenkins, M.E., William, 3, Brighton Terrace, Roath, Cardiff.
204 Jobling, T. W., Point Pleasant, Wallsend, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
205 Johnson, John, Chilton Hall, Ferry Hill.
206 Johnson, R. S , Haswell, Fence Houses.
207 Joicey, John, Urpeth Hall, Fence Houses.
208 Jones, E., Granville Lodge, Wellington, Salop.
209 Kenrick, Wm. Wynn, Wynn Hall, near Ruabon, Denbighshire.
(xxii)
210 Kendall, W., Blyth and Tyne Railway, Percy Main.
211 Kimpster, W., Quay, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
212 Knowles, A., High Bank, Pendlebury, Manchester.
213 Knowles, John, Pendlebury Colliery, Manchester.
214 Knowles, Thomas, Ince Hall, Wigan.
215 Knowles, jun., Andrew, Eagley Bank Colliery, Bolton, Lancashire. 210
Knowles, Kaye, Little Lever Colliery, near Bolton.
217 Knowles, R. M., Eagley Bank, Bolton.
218 Lamb, Robert, Cleator Moor Colliery, near Whitehaven.
219 Lamb, R. 0., Axwell Park, Gateshead.
220 Lancaster, John, Ashfield, Wigan.
221 Lancaster, jun., John, Hun wick and Newfield Collieries, Perry Hill.
222 Lancaster, Joshua, Kirkless, near Wigan.
223 Lancaster, Samuel, Kirkless Hall Colliery, Wigan.
224 Landale, Andrew, Lochgelly Iron Works, Fifeshire, North Britain.
225 Laverick, George Wm., Zion House, Chesterton, near Newcastle-
under-Lyne.
226 Laws, J., Blyth, Northumberland.
227 Lees, Samuel, Barrowshaw Colliery, Greenacres Moor, near Oldham.
228 Lever, Ellis, West Gorton Works, Manchester.
229 Levick, jun., P., Cwm Celyn and Blaina Iron Works, Newport,
Monmouthshire.
230 Lewis, Henry, Swannington Colliery, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch,
Leicestershire.
231 Lewis, T. Wm., Mardy, Aberdare, Glamorganshire.
232 Lewis, G. Coleorton Colliery, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.
233 Lewis, Wm. Thos., Mardy, Aberdare, Wales.
234 Liddell, J. R., Nedderton, Northumberland.
235 Liddell, M., Tynemouth.
236 Lindop, James, Bloxwich, Walsall, Staffordshire.
237 Lishman, Wm., Etherley Colliery, Darlington.
238 Lishman, Wm., Bunker Hill, Fence Houses.
239 Lishman, John, Ridsdale Iron Works, Bellingham.
240 Livesey, Thomas, Chamber Hall, Hollinwood, Manchester.
241 Livesey, Clegg, Bradford Colliery, Manchester.
242 Llewellin, David, Glanwern Offices, Pontypool, Monmouthshire.
243 Longridge, J., 3, Poet's Corner, Westminster, London, S.W.
244 Love, Joseph, Brancepeth Colliery, Durham.
245 Low, Wm , Vron Colliery, Wrexham, Denbighshire.
(xxiii)
246 Low, jun., Wm., Wrexham, Denbighshire.
247 Lloyd, Thomas, Brierly Hill, Worcestershire.
248 Maddison, W. P., Thornhill Colliery, Dewsbury, Wakefield.
249 Maddison, J., Alexander Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
250 Maddison, W., Coxlodge Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
251 Mallett, C.E., F.R.S., Robert, 7,Westminster Chambers,Westminster,
London, S.W.
252 Mammatt, C.E., John E., Barnsley, Yorkshire.
253 Manners, G. T., Birtley Iron Works, Gateshead.
254 Marley, John, Mining Offices, Darlington.
255 Marshall, Robert, 10, Three Indian Kings Court, Quayside, New-
castle-upon-Tyne.
256 Marshall, John, Smithfold Colliery, Little Halton, near Bolton.
257 Marshall, F. C, Jarrow, South Shields.
258 Matthews, Richd. P., South Hetton Colliery, Fence Houses.
259 Maurice, Arthur H., Vron Colliery, Wrexham, Denbighshire.
260 Maurice, Mortimer B., Haswell Colliery, Fence Houses.
261 May, George, North Hetton Colliery, Fence Houses.
262 Maynard, Charles, America.
263 McCulloch, H. J., East Mount, York.
264 McDonald, Hugh, Kirkless Hall Coal and Iron Works, Wigan.
265 McGhie, Thos., Cannock Chase Colliery, Walsall, Staffordshire.
266 McGill, Robert, St. Helen's Colliery, St. Helen's, Lancashire.
267 McMurtrie, J., Radstock Colliery, Bath.
268 Middleton, J., Davison's Hartley Office, Quay, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
269 Miller, Robt., Strafford Collieries, near Barnsley.
270 Mitchinson, jun., Robt., Kibblesworth Colliery, Gateshead.
271 Monkhouse, Joseph, Gilcrux Colliery, Cockermouth.
272 Moore, J. H., Smeaton Park, Musselburgh, Edinburgh.
273 Morison, David P., Pelton Colliery, Chester-le-Street.
274 Morris, William, Waldridge Colliery, Chester-le-Street.
275 Morrison, James, 34, Grey Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
276 Morrison, H. M., Rainton Colliery, Durham.
277 Morton, H., Lambton, Fence Houses.
278 Morton, H. T., Lambton, Fence Houses.
279 Muckle, John, Monk Bretton, Barnsley.
280 Mulcaster, H., Colliery Office, Whitehaven.
281 Mulcaster, Joshua, Crosby Colliery, Maryport.
(xxiv)
282 Mulvany, Wm, Thos., 1335, Carls Thor, Dusseldorf on the Rhine,
Prussia.
283 Murray, B.
284 Murray, T. H., Chester-le-Street, Fence Houses.
285 Napier, Colin, Westminister Colliery, Wrexham, Denbighshire.
286 Naylor, Joshua T., 10, West Clayton Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
287 Nelson, C.E., James, Bonner's Field, Sunderland.
288 Newall, Robert Stirling, Fern Dene, Gateshead.
289 Nicholson, William, Seghill Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
290 Nicholson, Marshall, Middleton Hall, Leeds.
291 Noble, Captain, Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
292 North, Frederick, Arleston House, Smithwick, Birmingham.
293 Ogden, John M., Solicitor, Sunderland.
294 Oliver, Wm., Stanhope Burn Offices, Stanhope, Darling-ton.
295 Oliver, John, Victoria Colliery, Coventry.
296 Oliver, Geo., Peases' West Collieries, Darling-ton.
297 Palmer, C. M., Quay, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
298 Pearce, F. H., Bowling- Iron Works, Bradford, Yorkshire.
299 Pease, J. W., Woodlands, Darling-ton.
300 Peel, John, Spring-well Colliery, Gateshead.
301 Perrot, Sam. W., Hibernia and Shamrock Collieries, Gelsenkirchen,
Dusseldorf.
302 Pig-gford, Jonathan, Haswell Colliery, Fence Houses.
303 Pilking-ton, jun., Wm., St. Helen's Lancashire.
304 Potter, E., Cramling-ton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
305 Potter, W. A., Monk Bretton, Barnsley, Yorkshire.
306 Powell, T., Coldea, Newport, Monmouthshire.
307 Ramsay, J. T., Walbottle Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
308 Reed, Robert, Felling- Colliery, Gateshead.
309 Rees, Daniel, Lletty Shenkin Colliery, Aberdare, Glamorganshire.
310 Reskerne, J.
311 Richardson, Henry, Backworth Colliery, Newcastle.
312 Robson, J. S., Butterknowle Colliery, Staindrop, Darling-ton.
313 Robson, Neil, 127, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.
314 Robson, Thomas, Lumley Colliery, Fence Houses.
(xxv)
315 Rockwell, Alfd. P., M.A., Norwich, Connecticut, United States,
America.
316 Ronaldson, James, Clough Hall Coal and Iron Works, Stoke-upon-
Trent.
317 Rosecamp, J., Acomb Colliery, Hexham.
318 Rose, Thomas, Millfield Iron Works, Bilston, Wolverhampton,
Staffordshire.
319 Ross, A., Shipcote Colliery, Gateshead.
320 Rosser, Wm., Mineral Surveyor, Llanelly, Carmarthenshire.
321 Routledge, William (J. B. Foord), 52, Old Broad
Street,
London, E.C.
322 Russell, Robert, Gosforth Colliery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
323 Sanderson, R. B., West Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
324 Sanderson, Thomas, Seaton Delaval, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
325 Seddon, Wm., Lower Moor Collieries, Oldham, Lancashire.
326 Shield, Hugh, Woodifield and Whitelee Collieries, Crook, Darlington.
327 Shortreed, Thos., Park House, Winstanley, Wigan.
328 Simpson, L., South America, per E. Simpson, Dipton, Gateshead.
329 Simpson, R., R}-ton Moor House, Blaydon, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
330 Simpson, John Bell, Hedgefield House, Blaydon.
331 Smith, F., Bridgewater Offices, Manchester.
332 Smith, jun., J., Mining Engineer, Thornley Colliery, Sunderland.
333 Smith, Edmund J., 14, Whitehall Place, Westminster, London, S.W.
334 Smith, Thomas Taylor, Oxhill, Chester-le-Street.
335 Smith, H. Nelson, Albert Chambers, Corporation Street, Man-
chester.
336 Snowball, James, Stourbridge Fire Clay Works, Gateshead.
337 Sopwith, F.G.S., etc., T., 103, Victoria Street,
Westminster,
London, S.W.
338 Southern, Robert, Cassop Colliery, Ferryhill.
339 Spark, H. K., Darlington, County of Durham.
340 Spencer, T., Ryton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
341 Spencer, J. F., North-Eastern Engine Works, Sunderland.
342 Spencer, W., West Staveley Colliery, Chesterfield.
343 Steavenson, A. L,, Crossgate, Durham.
344 Stephenson, W. H., Summerhill Grove, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
345 Stephenson, George R, 24, Great George Street, Westminster,
London, S.W.
346 Steel, Charles R., Ellenborough Colliery, Mary port, Cumberland.
d
(xxvi)
347 Stenson, W. T., Whitwick Colliery, Coalville, near Leicester.
348 Stobart, H. S., Witton-le-W ear, Darling-ton.
349 Stott, James, Basford Hall, Stoke-on-Trent.
350 Straker, John, West House, Tynemouth.
351 Sutcliffe, John C, North Gawber Colliery, Barnsley.
352 Swallow, R. T., Pontop Colliery, Gateshead.
353 Swallow, John, Harton Colliery, South Shields.
354 Taylor, H., Earsdon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
355 Taylor, H., Tynemouth.
356 Taylor, J., Earsdon, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
357 Telford, W., Cramlington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
358 Thomas, William, Towlaw Iron Works, Darling-ton.
359 Thompson, John, Norley Colliery, Wigan, Lancashire.
360 Thompson, Joseph, Seaham Colliery, Sunderland.
361 Thompson, John, Marley Hill Colliery, Gateshead.
362 Thompson, John, Field House, Hoole, Chester.
363 Thompson, T. C, Milton Hall, Carlisle, Cumberland.
364 Thompson, Astley, Kedwelly, Carmarthenshire.
365 Thompson, James, Bishop Auckland.
366 Thorman, John, Ripley, Derbyshire.
367 Tone, C.E., John F., Westgate Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
368 Trotter, J., Newnham, Gloucestershire.
369 Truran, Matthew, Dowlais Iron Works, Merthyr Tydvil, Glamor-
ganshire.
370 Vaughan, John, Middlesbro'-on-Tees.
371 Vaughan, Thomas, Middlesbro'-on-Tees.
372 Varley, James, Waterloo Foundry, St. Helen's, Lancashire.
373 Waddington, C. L. Burnley, Lancashire.
374 Waller, William, 82, Northgate, Darlington.
375 Ward, Henry, Priestfield Iron Works, Oaklands, Wolverhampton.
376 Wardell, Frank N., Plashetts Colliery, Falstone, Hexham.
377 Warrington, John, Kippax, near Leeds.
378 Watkin, Wm. J. L., Pemberton Colliery, Wigan.
379 Watson, W., High Bridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
380 Webster, R. C, Ruabon Collieries, Ruabon, Denbighshire.
381 Weeks, John G., Ryton, near Blaydon-on-Tyne.
382 Westmacott, Percy G. B., Elswick Iron Works, Newcastle.
(xxvii)
383 Whalley, Thomas, Orrell Mount, Wigan.
384 White, Jos., T. 68, Westgate, Wakefield.
385 Williams, E. (Bolckow, Vaughan, and Co., Middlesbro'.)
386 Willis, James, Washington Colliery, Washington Station, County
of Durham.
387 Wilmer, F. B., Duffryn Collieries, Aberdare, Wales.
388 Wilson, J. B., Haydock, near St. Helen's, Lancashire.
389 Wilson, R., Flimby Colliery, Maryport, Cumberland.
390 Wilson, J. Straker, Tynemouth.
891 Wood, C. L., Black Boy Colliery, Bishop Auckland.
392 Wood, Lindsay, Hetton Colliery, Fence Houses.
393 Wood, W. H., West Hetton, Ferry Hill.
394 Wood, John, Flockton Collieries, Wakefield, Yorkshire.
395 Wood, William O., Brancepeth Colliery, Durham.
396 Woodhouse, J. T., Midland Road, Derby.
397 Wright, C, Tylden, Shireoak Colliery, Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
398 Yardley, John, Burnttree, Tipton.
1 Armstrong, L., Cowpen Colliery, Blyth, Northumberland.
2 Armstrong, jun., William, Seaham Colliery, Sunderland.
3 Auberey, jun., William.
4 Bainbridge, Emerson, Londonderry Collieries, Durham.
5 Booth, R. L., Medomsley, by Gateshead.
6 Coates, C. N., Skelton Mines, Guisbro'.
7 Cowlishaw, John, 74, Osmaston Street, Derby.
8 Crawford, Thos., Howlish Offices, Bishop Auckland.
9 Dodd, Benj., Seaton Delaval Colliery, Newcastle.
10 Embleton, jun., T. W., The Cedars, Methley, Leeds.
11 Gilchrist, Thos., Newbottle Colliery, Fence Houses.
12 Griffith, N. G., Cowpen Collieries, Blyth.
13 Harrison, John G.
14 Maughan, James A., Benwell Colliery, Newcastle.
15 Parrington, Matthew, Normanby Mines, Middlesbro'-on-Tees.
16 Peile, William, Corkickle Forge, Whitehaven, Cumberland.
17 Ramsay, Thomas Dunlop, Trimdon Colliery, Ferry Hill.
18 Ridley, George, Cowpen Colliery, Blyth, Northumberland.
(xxviii)
19 Simpson, J., TWneley Colliery, Blaydon-on-Tyne.
20 Siddon, Frederick, Wigan, Lancashire.
21 Sopwitli, Arthur, 103, Victoria Street, Westminster, London, S.W.
22 Taylor, W. N., Ryhope Colliery, Sunderland.
23 Wardell, Stuart C, Towneley Colliery, Blaydon, Newcastle.
24 White, H., Moorhouse, Durham.
25 Wright, George H., Rainton Colliery, Fence Houses.
26 Verner, Frederick, Cowpen Colliery, Blyth.
3Kat of Jkfeqilmtij d|Allii»i|i£L
Owners of Stella Colliery, Ryton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
„ Kepier Grange Colliery, hy Durham.
„ Leasingthorne Colliery, Ferry Hill.
„ Westerton Colliery, Ferry Hill.
„ Black Boy Colliery, Bishop Auckland.
„ North Hetton Colliery, Fence Houses.
„ Haswell Colliery, Fence Houses.
„ South Hetton and Murton Collieries, Fence Houses.
,, Earl Durham, Lambton Collieries, Fence Houses.
„ Hetton Collieries, Fence Houses.
„ Whitworth Colliery, Ferry Hill.
„ Ryhope Colliery.
„ Rainton Collieries. (Earl Vane.)
E RE ATA.
Page 24, 14th line from bottom. For March 10th, 1866, read March 10th, 1862.
Page 24, 10th line from bottom. For my safety-cages, read many safety-cages.
Page 26, 7th line from bottom. For over the pulleys, read up to the
pulleys.
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1866, IN THE ROOMS
OF THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, WESTGATE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
T. E. FORSTER, Esq., President op the Institute, in the Chair.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Institute:— Edward
Fidler, Piatt Lane Colliery, Wigan; Arthur Hill Maurice, Vron Collieries,
Wrexham, Denbighshire; Mortimer B. Maurice, Haswell Colliery Office, Fence
Houses; W. Kendall, Blyth and Tyne Railway, Percy Main ; J. Humble, Forth
Banks West Factory, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The Secretary read the minutes of the council meetings ; after which it was
agreed that the sum of £50 each, as recommended by the Council, should be
granted to the Tail-rope and Endless-chain Committee, and also to the
committee appointed to investigate the subject of Coal-cutting Machines, in
order to defray any necessary expense those committees might incur.
Mr. J. J. Atkinson requested permission for the papers that had been read by
him on the Ventilation of Mines to be translated into French. After some
conversation on the subject, the motion that this request be granted was
acceded to.
Mr. A. L. Steavenson said, that Mr. Atkinson's request induced him to ask
whether, in case a member of the Institute met with information or a paper
in another language which seemed likely to be useful to the Vol. XVI.—1866,
±
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4, 18(56, IN THE ROOMS
OP THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, WESTGATE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
T. E. FORSTER, Esq., President of the Institute, in the Chair.
The following1 new Members were elected, viz. : Mr. James Nelson, Bonner's
Field, Sunderland; Mr. Benjamin Frazer, 28, Broad Chare; and Mr. William
Frazer, Rewcastle Chare, Newcastle.
A letter was read from Mr. Daglish, calling- attention to a new form of
safety-lamp, a specimen of which was shown, the object of which was the
extinction of the light either by a fall or any attempt at opening* it.
A recommendation by the Council, that a Steam-indicator and Dynamometer
should be purchased for the use of the Institute, both instruments being-
required immediately to carry out some experiments, was put to the meeting
and carried unanimously.
CHRONICLES OF THE COAL-TRADE.
Mr. Green's paper on this subject came on for discussion.
Mr. Boyd enquired if Mr. Green had entered on the subject of the
registration of colliery plans as well as of colliery documents ?
Mr. Green said, he had nothing' to mention further than what was contained
in Mr. Thomas' pamphlet.
Mr. Boyd said, the object of having1 a registration of colliery plans was to
prevent accidents through entering seams which had been drowned
6
out. The difficulty was, that proprietors of mines might possibly object to
their private plans being- published. It would very much enlarge the scope
of Mr. Green's paper if plans as well as memoranda were registered. It
seemed to him that the Institute was the very place where such a record
should be kept.
Mr. Green said, that members might be solicited to give papers, books, or
plans for that purpose.
Mr. Boyd said, the Council should propose a measure, if agreed to by all
parties, by which application should be made to proprietors of collieries
for any plans they might be willing to contribute.
Mr. Green said, that some time ago it was proposed that there jhould be a
record of borings.
Mr. G. B. Forster—Alluvial borings. ¦»
The President said, Mr. Thomas was very strongly in favour of it, and Mr.
Buddie also; but there was a jealousy on the part of the coalowners. He did
not think, however, that in these enlightened times coalowners could feel so
much objection as they did at that time.
A Member remarked that there would be a difficulty in keeping the plans up.
The President did not think there would be any difficulty. They might send
their graduates to copy the plans recorded.
Mr. Green said, he thought Mr. Buddie's idea was to have the plans of
exhausted seams, not working plans, recorded.
Mr. A. L. Steavenson said, if it was only the plans of seams worked out
there would be no objection, and those were the most important.
M. GUIBAL'S VENTILATOK.
Mr. A. L. Steavenson read a paper " On some Experiments with the Covered
Ventilator of M. Guibal, at the Colliery of Crachet and Picquery, at
Frameries." The paper was illustrated with a diagram and plans.
Mr. Tone said, there was a remarkable circumstance connected with the
diagram which he had noticed along with Mr. Wood and Mr. Simpson.
Immediately on the admission of steam there was an immense increase of
pressure in the cylinder, followed immediately by great exhaustion. There
was first an increase, and then a decrease. Mr. Wood and Mr. Simpson
suggested that this might be due to some dynamical question. As far as his
experience went, that opinion seemed correct. He had found the same thing
in the construction of hydraulic
7
rams. It will be found in accordance with what is expected. You let in the
first opening a large quantity of steam. This passes through a long channel
with the ordinary pressure on the innermost circle. There is great speed,
and the pressure is not statical, but dynamical. There is an impact on the
cylinder which drives it suddenly, and it goes faster than the steam would
drive it statically; but there is not sufficient to follow it up. This
agreed with what his experience had shown him in the action of water. Other
gentlemen would givre him their experience with regard to other fluids.
Mr. Easton said, the lead of the slide would have something to do with it.
Mr. Tone—Still the dynamical question remains.
Mr. Easton—The lead of the slide would have a great deal to do with the form
of the diagram.
Mr. J. B. Simpson said, he had noticed the same curious diagram in a
fan-engine; but, in his case, the slow velocities gave a better diagram than
quick ones. When the revolutions were great, the steam being admitted at a
great pressure, gave the piston such a velocity that the steam could not
follow it fast enough, and hence the irregularity of the diagram; in other
words, the steam was mire-drawn.
Mr. A. L. Steavenson said, he should attribute it to the steam being applied
too quick before it got over the centre.
Mr. Daglish said, that might be so in the first rise. After that it was due
to the spring of the indicator.
Mr. Tone said, the faster the steam was passing along the cylinder there was
less pressure. He had had some experience of water pipes, and had known them
burst by the opening or shutting of a valve. For a length of four or five
miles it would burst the pipe in severa! places.
Mr. Easton said, the same effect was produced in shutting off the steam in
engines, and especially in one attached to these ventilating machines.
Mr. Wm. Wood remarked that, in all the experiments he had heard of in
England made with Guibal's ventilator, the effect of the shutter had not
been carried out the same as in Belgium.
Mr. Cochrane said^ if the shutter is badly regulated, and at the top of the
chimney, where the air is discharged from the mine, there is let fall
eider-down or small bits of paper, you can observe currents going down the
chimney though 100,000 cubic feet of air per minute is
8
being" discharged from it; but if the shutter is properly regulated no such
thing* occurs. The currents are steady up the whole area. This shows that
there is some effect in the shutter. M. Guibal urges that this is a detail
which cannot, except by experiment, be regulated. There is no mathematical
formula which will fix the proper area of the discharge. It requires
experiment. The shutter affords you the means of regulation, and, once
regulated, you never vary the shutter unless you vary the conditions.
Mr. Boyd inquired if there was sufficient weight laid on the question of
exhaustion ? If these large segments were to be filled with air from the
mine, there should be some means of making a vacuum previously. They must
fill with external air in the first instance, unless they are made
air-tight.
Mr. Cochrane said, that the casing was perfectly air-tight, except from the
outlet.
Mr. Daglish said, the fan was not air-tight to the cover.
Mr. Cochrane said, no ; there is a clearance of about one inch between the
circumference of the fan and the inside of the casing; and this clearance is
increased towards the chimney.
Mr. Tone said, as soon as you set the fan in motion it clears itself. There
is a centrifugal motion established.
Mr. Cochrane said, the fan was filled from the centre. As fast as the
discharged air was removed fresh air rushed in from the centre to supply its
place.
Mr. Morison said, he would give the meeting one or two experiments which he
had made the day before at Pelton Colliery. The first experiment was made
with the shutter fully open, the water-gauge being 1*85, and the discharge
of air from the mine 59,911 cubic feet per minute. At three-quarters open
the discharge was 61,064 cubic feet per minute. At half-open both
water-gauge and air decreased sensibly. When the shutter was put down as
close as the chimney would allow, the water-gauge, instead of being 1*85,
was only 1*43, and the discharged air was only 54,074 cubic feet. It was
suggested to him that there was not so good an effect obtained as M. Guibal
expected, the shutter not coming down to the full extent. A board was then
inserted at the bottom of the shutter, and the shutter placed in each of its
positions • but, instead of a better result, a much worse result was
obtained. In the first experiment, with the shutter open, they got 51,463
cubic feet instead of 59,911; at three-quarters they got only
9
50,311; at half open, 49,542; and at a quarter open only 36,809. The
following is a tabular view of the experiments :—
EXPERIMENTS ON SLIDING- SHUTTER (VANNE REGULATRICE) OF GUIBAL'S
VENTILATOR.—Pelton Colliery, 3rd Oct., I860.
"3 Position Steam in Water-
Bevolu- Quantity of
*SS of Shutter. Boilers. Heroin- Water- Range at turns of
Air. Pimensi-v-s of Aperture
• .a ----- ----- tionsof gage at Bottom
Anemo- ---- of ! 'ischarge ¦ I
% % l=open. lbs. per Fan per "Ouie" of meter per
Cubic feet Sliding Shutter.
* 0 = close, sq. in. Minute. inches. Chimney Minute,
per minute
H___________________________________________________________________________
________________
ft. in. ft. in.
11 41 50 1-85 0-1 750 59,911
9 10* X 4 8
2 I- 41 50 I 1-95 0-1 j 770
61,064 9 10J X 3 10
3 i 38 491 I 1*77 ... I 745
59,528 9 10* X 2 9
j I
4 \ 37 49 ! 1-6 ... j 725 58,145 9 10J- X 1 10
5 0 38 49 ! 1-43 ... ! 670 54,074
9 10| X 0 10
6 1 36 51 1-23 ... 635
51,463 .........
7 I 36 51 1-22 ... 620
50,311
8 i 36 55 1-12 ... 610
49,542 .........
9 * 37 55* 0-72 ... 435
36,869 .........
Mr. Cochrane said, these experiments were conclusive as to the proper
adjustment of the shutter. A point between three-quarters and full open gave
the best results. They were also conclusive on the shape of the chimney. A
mere ten-inch board placed in the chimney as described interfered with the
ventilation to the extent of 10,000 feet per minute. At Elswick he found the
most effective opening was three-quarters, above and below that there was
less volume and less water gauge.
Mr. Morison said, it might be interesting to hear one or two figures as to
the comparative power of the furnace and fan at Pelton Colliery. With the
furnace—'the average temperature of the upcast being 235 degrees—the utmost
quantity of air obtained was 48,860 cubic feet per minute. On October 18th,
1865, they set the furnace to work for both seams, and the result was 31,800
cubic feet in the upper seam, and 17,000 in the lower seam, giving a total
of 48,800 cubic feet. On
* In experiments Nos. 6 to 9 the ten inches of aperture with the shutter at
0 were boarded up. The board, however, being a direct impediment to the
exhaust of the air, the useful effect greatly decreased; and at experiment
No. 9, where the shutter was lowered to quarter open, or within twelve
inches of the board, the water-gauge fell immediately, and the speed of the
fan increased to such an extent that nearly one-half of the steam had to be
shut off to keep the revolutions down to about 55.
Vol. XVI.—1866.
b
10
October 23rd, they set the fan to work in both seams. The water-gauge,
which, by the furnace alone was 0'9, rose to 2*15, and the quantity of air
was 82,377 cubic feet. This, he believed, was with one-quarter or one-third
the coal consumed in the furnace. They got the water-gauge to 3-35 inches,
and the total quantity of air was 142,362 cubic feet. This was at the
greatest speed they had tried so far, seventy strokes per minute.
The President—What was the depth ?
Mr. Morison—320 and 540 feet in depth.
Mr. J. B. Simpson said, he could speak of the efficiency of Guibal's
ventilator for shallow depths. He had recently put up one, the engine
cylinder of which was eight inches diameter. The fan was sixteen feet
diameter, and, with the water-gauge at -6, with fifty revolutions per
minute, they got 30,000 cubic feet of air per minute. At seventy-four
strokes they got 45,000 feet with the water-gauge 1*0. He could also speak
of the great economy of the ventilator. They required, in this case, no
extra labour, and no more coals. The waste steam of the boilers drives the
fan. The pit was only forty-four fathoms in depth, with two seams working
each 600 yards from the shaft, and the workings extending on each side.
Mr. A. L. Steavenson said, that as some gentlemen had referred to other
fans, he hoped they would bring the quantity of coals used in comparison
with the coals used in the furnace.
Mr. J. Daglish said, they could not work the fan where they had underground
boilers. These would destroy the fan.
Mr. A. L. Steavenson thought they might protect the fan by putting it in
galvanised iron.
Mr. J. Daglish thought this would be only a temporary protection.
The President said, hitherto they had heard only one side. At shallow depths
it did well; but when they came to 250 or 260 fathoms, the question was,
whether the furnace or the ventilator would be best ?
Mr. Easton said, he thought the furnace at great depths was decidedly more
economical.
Mr. A. L. Steavenson said, he had given, from Mr. Atkinson's paper, the
depths at which the furnace was equal to the ventilating machine.
The President said, they were very much indebted to Mr. Steavenson for his
paper, and he would propose that they give him a vote of thanks, and that
the paper be printed. It would be further discussed at the next monthly
meeting.
The motion was carried unanimously.
ON SOME EXPERIMENTS
WITH THE
COVERED VENTILATOR OF M. GUIBAL,
AT THE
C0LLIEKY OF CRACHET & PICQUERY, AT FRAMERIES.
Br MM. GILLE et FRANEAU, Mining Engineers.
TRANSLATED, AND READ OCTOBER 4th, 1866,
By A. L. STEAVENSON.
INTRODUCTION.
So long as I bring under your notice any new facts connected with a subject
of such great importance as that of ventilation, I offer no apology for
their not having been obtained by my own experiments.
The entire theory of ventilation has been supplied to us by Mr. Atkinson, in
his paper contained in the third volume of our " Transactions;" and he has
further elucidated the subject which we have especially before us to-day, in
the paper contained in the sixth volume, " On the Comparative Consumption of
Fuel by Furnaces and Machines," so that it only remains for us to examine
any new system, and to make its merits thoroughly apparent, and, with this
view, I have the pleasure of calling your attention to a large number of
experiments made with a ventilating machine, which has already been
described by Mr. W. Cochrane, in the fourteenth volume of " Transactions of
the Mining Institute." I have been promised that, in the discussion of this
paper, further facts will be brought forward, and, I believe, they will all
tend to lead to the entire discontinuance of the furnace as a ventilating
agent. There are, of course, extreme depths at which a furnace can do
effective work, but the objections peculiar to itself will serve to turn the
scale against it under all circumstances. I will briefly call your
attention to
12
a table, given at page 142, Vol. VI., by Mr. Atkinson, showing- the depths
at which furnaces become equal to ventilating machines under an average
state of circumstances, viz.:—
Consumption of Coal by Average Temperature of Upcast Columns.
Engine in lbs. per Hour,
_________________________________________________
per HoTsp-power
Expended. 100 deg. Fan. 150 deg. Fan.
200 deg. Fab.
8 479 522 565
10 383 417 452
12 319 348 370
Depth in Fathoms.
And if there is taken an average loss of heat from furnaces before reaching
the average prevailing temperature of the upcast of forty per cent., and
which is shown to be a fair allowance, then the above depths will answer to
the conditions afforded by a ventilating machine, utilising-sixty per cent,
of the engine-power and to those of the machine at present before us.
I originally prepared this translation for my own use, but finding-the
subject so thoroughly treated, it appeared to be very desirable that the
information contained in it should be made readily and generally available,
at a time like the present when mechanical ventilation is becoming commonly
applied. I have endeavoured, as far as possible, to give the literal meaning
of the text, and with little if any curtailment.
TKANSLATION.
Several members of this Association have requested, at different times, that
I should make known the results of the experiments which have been made,
recently, with my ventilator (Plate I.), at the Colliery of Crachet and
Picquery, at Frameries (Belgium). Not having been able to answer directly
many of these requests, I think it best to reply generally, by communicating
the results of these experiments to you.
I shall state hereafter with what object, and under what conditions, these
experiments have been made. There is not, as you know, a machine, the laws
of which are still more obscure than the fan-ventilator, working by the
effects of centrifugal force. Also, the results of the apparatus, based on
this principle, which I have applied to the ventilation of mines, appeax
inexplicable to engineers who have proved it, and altogether inadmissible to
those who have not seen it to realise with their own eyes. But there should
be nothing surprising in the presence of theories, the insufficiency of
which is generally admitted. These theories demonstrate in fact, that
without treating the resistances in the same
13
manner, the centrifugal-force ventilators working by suction, cannot utilise
more than a fraction of the work transmitted to their axis. However, I
believe from this time, that a machine of the same kind can reach, and
itself draw out, a result practically of sixty per cent, of the work of the
steam on the piston of the machine employed to move it.
Since there cannot be a false theory (because that has not truth which is
not true), we shall comprehend that there exists between the old machine and
the new some differences of condition of action, which, in themselves, were
due to the apparent contradiction between the indications of science and the
facts furnished by practice. But these differences were so visible, that one
could perceive them without effort, since the old ventilator was designed to
throw off the air at all points of its circumference (an arrangement
specially patented in each design every time by the inventors), whilst the
new machine, in a covering, throws out the air by a tangential opening-, in
which the size regulates itself practically according to the volume which it
exhausts under the depression produced, and discharges into the atmosphere
by a chimney, of a section progressively increasing, by which means the air
is given off with the most feeble speed possible.
But in these arrangements, apparently more adapted to constitute a
ventilator for blowing than exhausting, the blowing machines are found in
effect very advantageous. Some have seen in the covering a cause of
resistance, in the shutter which regulates the outlet only an obstacle to
the exhaustion of the air, and in the chimney a superfluity. In consequence,
some have denied any advantage.
However, all mechanics know well that force itself is not lost; that a
machine of the theoretical power of twenty horses, which does not produce
more than five usefully, gives off fifteen to produce no effect. They can
then comprehend that there is something to gain in a machine which renders
in labour 25 per cent, of the work consumed.
But erroneous principles are difficult to detect when they have had free
course for a long time, so that many of those who themselves admit the
results furnished by the new ventilator, cannot explain the effects of the
arrangements which are special to it, suspecting its superiority, and
attributing it to the greatness of the diameter which it presents in very
many of its applications, or to conditions (which they think exceptional) of
some mines in which it is established; whilst others, more logical, admit
that the new results are due to modifications in the appliance, yet they
impute it most frequently, some to the covering-, some to the shutter, and
others to the chimney.
14
In the meantime, I am able to publish the theory (much more simple than some
had thought) of the new ventilator, and give the measure of the effect of
the covering, of the chimney, and of the slide, which have been furnished
me. It appears that these experiments have furnished complete warrants and
safe guides, and will be better assistance than the stated opinion of the
greatest number. These experiments, to be entirely convincing, should be
made on the same machine. First without the envelope, then they should be
arranged according to the old system of ventilators at our mines, afterwards
with a cover without the slide, then with the cover and slide, and at length
with cover, slide, and chimney.
To MM. Gille and Franeau, engineers of the Mining Association, being in the
habit of judging of the currents of air, and of measuring the work of
machinery, thanks are due, having been kind enough to take charge of the
carrying out of this programme. And I have also to give, without name, the
thanks of the society to the managers of the collieries of Crachet and
Picquery, having been the means of realising the results during the
construction of the apparatus which I have furnished to them.
In all the experiments which have been made, there has been kept—
1st. The measure of the depression obtained, by measurements of the column
of water, simple or multiplied, tried in many different places in the
chamber, so as to control the indications one by the other.
2nd. The currents of air have been measured by the anemometrical system of
Combes, and by the English system, carefully examining beforehand, during
the observation, all points in the section of the gallery.
3rd. The work of the engine has been measured with one of Watt's indicators
(which we had tested on many occasions), placed alternately on the top and
bottom of the cylinder.
We measured the time by means of a second-pointer.
I lay before you the result of fifty-three experiments which we have made,
and in which you will find all the indications which have been got. The
diagrams are with them, so that you can test the accuracy of the
calculations.
It is not necessary for me to give you an account of the numerous figures
which compose their tables; it would be useless. I find it more important to
give a resume of the results which proceed from them, at least to save you
the trouble of the research. All that remains is to assure you of their
accuracy, when these documents are placed in your hands.
15
Although it has not been considered necessary, in the course of these
experiments, to measure the work given off by the machine to overcome its
own resistance—that is to say, in making it work the ventilator without the
vanes—the results furnished by the machine, under these conditions, should
be examined.
Four experiments (Nos. 15 to 18) have been made on the ventilator without
vanes and without covering', and we have made eight (Nos. 19 to 26) also
without vanes, but the envelope was constructed, altogether twelve
experiments, in which the speed varied from 18"75 to 84*50 revolutions per
minute. The object proposed to be reached was to know the force disposable
on the axis of the ventilator in the latter experiments, a knowledge of
extreme importance in studying the theory of the machine.
Observe the speeds of the machine, and their separation into two columns,
according as they have been obtained without the cover and with the cover;
the quantities of work yielded by the machine, of which care had been taken
to have it well oiled.
16
It is easy to see, on an inspection of the numbers, that the work of the
machine increases very rapidly with the speed, nearly as the square of it.
And, indeed, if we compare the experiment No. 20 with that of No. 18, for
example, we find that the first has absorbed 3-52 horsepower ; the second
should have absorbed (according1 to the law of the square of the speed) 22
horse-power, and it has required 24-80.
In tracing- a curve, with the number of revolutions for abscissae, and the
force in horse-power for the ordinates, we obtain obviously a parabola; and
the curve so obtained can afford the work absorbed at other speeds than
those at which the observations had been recorded. (See Plate II.).
These results are very surprising in themselves, so that they struck my
attention forcibly. In the actual study of them there is nothing- I need
note, but I think I ought to add that they are found to be confirmed by the
experiments of the same kind made on another machine, constructed in a
different manufactory.
In the two cases the machines were working for the first time.
If we find the work occasionally less at the same speed, when the machine is
not covered than when it is provided with a cover, I think that that gives
reason to believe in some special cause, for evidently the cover cannot be
the cause. It will be sufficient if some bolt is more tight one day than
another, or less properly oiled, may occasion the difference.
The fan, provided with vanes, has been tried without the cover, and with
it—first, in hindering the air of the mine from coming in; second, in
allowing it access.
When the machine was not acting on the air of the mine, it had not to
overcome anything but the passive resistance, so that it could not produce
any useful effect.
Here I append a table of the results of thirteen experiments made in
preventing the air of the mine from communicating with the fan.
There are here two comparisons to be made; the one relative to depressions,
the other concerning- the work absorbed.
From the depressions, we determine easily that they increase sensibly as the
square of the velocity (which is conformable to theory), whether the machine
is or is not covered; only they are generally a little higher when the
machine is covered. In the two cases, the depressions are higher than the
centrifugal force should afford. The curves drawn on these conditions and
compared with the theoretic parabola of depressions, furnishes a means of
comparison very significant. (See Plate II.)
Relative to the work available, the figures in the table determine a
difference very considerably in favour of the machine when covered. Thus, at
the speed of seventy-two revolutions, the force absorbed by the fan without
the cover has been 31 "06 H.P., whilst, at the same speed and with the
cover, it has not required more than 21 ^I H.P.; the difference 9*72 is
doubtless employed in moving' the surrounding air, to create the eddies
which are, under these circumstances, great, it is true, but which they
produce always around the fans without a cover, and the same Vol. XVI.—1860.
c
18
round those which are not suitably covered. To compare the result of the two
arrangements at other speeds, it is necessary to have recourse to the line
of curve, similar to those which I have shown; we then see the differences
in a manner very clear and decided. I should have remarked that the
ventilator when covered had absorbed still less work in those experiments
when we made use of the slide to close totally the orifice of outlet, for
then the resistance had been reduced to the friction of the machinery and to
that of the air in the fan, in the absence of the slide permitting the
extreme air which has access by the fourth of the circumference to form
eddies.
The trial of the fan working- from the mine has been recorded without the
cover, with the cover, with cover and chimney (but without the slide), and
at last with cover, chimney, and slide regulated.
Unfortunately, as we found great difficulty in reproducing exactly the same
speed, the elements for direct comparison fail. The curve line is,
therefore, here an absolute necessity. However, in bringing together the
experiments made at extreme speeds, we are able to draw up the following
table:—
19
The influence of the slide on the useful effect would have been better seen
if the requirement of the mine had been less near to that for which the
ventilator had been proportioned (63,558 c. f. of air per min. under the
depression of 3*14 inches). The results consequent on this arrangement are
as follows:—1st. The cover is useless below a certain speed -(fifty-two
revolutions for the machine which we have in hands as well as that, the
results of which are traced in the curve), and becomes so much the more
advantageous as the speed is increased up to a certain limit, about
seventy-five revolutions, where the benefit appears to remain
constant.
2nd. The action of the chimney makes itself felt at all speeds, but its
effects are so much the more decided as the speed increases.
3rd. The slide, suitably regulated, increases the useful effect of the fan.
The experiments Nos. 43 and 44, which have been arranged at the same speed
(68 revolutions), prove that the useful effect is raised in the proportion
of 1*064 to 1, since it has reduced the work done, for the same result
obtained, from 21*38 horse-power to 20*10 horse-power.
The general conclusion, resulting from all these facts, is, that the fan
uncovered is a very bad machine. That the cover badly arranged can be more
useless than useful. That the chimney affords incontestably the greater part
of the benefit obtained in the new arrangements. And that the sliding
shutter, which completes the arrangement in allowing of the adjusting of the
machine according to the requirements of the mine upon which it is
established, furnishes the means for obtaining, under all these
circumstances, the highest useful effect.
In what precedes I have shown, at different occasions, the line of curves as
a means by which all the results which the experiments afford are rendered
intelligible. I conclude by placing before you a table of these curves, the
one relative to the depressions, the other to the work. (See Plate II.) I
think the accompanying explanation will enable you completely to understand
the indications. You will find easily, for any speed whatever, according to
the depressions, what would be the corresponding work of the fan without the
cover, covered with the chimney, and lastly, covered with chimney and slide
regulated. Take, for example, the speed of 75 revolutions. The perpendicular
to the scale of speeds shows the point on this scale which corresponds to
this speed (on the curves of depression) in cutting the curve A at the point
a, shows that at this speed the depression produced, by the machine
complete, would be 2*40 inches. The meeting of curve B at b shows that the
fan without the cover does not give more than 1*90 inches. We see, in the
same way,
20
that the machine covered without a slide, and without a chimney, would not
give more than 1*70 inches of depression.
In the same manner, the perpendicular to the scale of speeds on the curves
of work raised to point 75, indicates, by its intersection with the
different curves, the work required to be done by the machine, which
corresponds to that working- in the mine of Picquery. Thus, the machine,
without the cover, absorbs 42 horse-power; provided with the cover, but
without the chimney and slide, it does not require more than 37; with cover
and chimney, it does not require more than 31; and complete, that is to say,
with the cover, the chimney, and the slide, from 26 to 27 horse-power is
sufficient to move it.
If you remark, that the least force spent corresponds exactly with the
greatest depression obtained, and, in consequence, the overflow of the
greater volume of air, you understand how the useful effect of the new
ventilator is superior to that which was furnished by the old one, applied
to produce the same current in the same mine.
Although the hour at which we g-enerally break up our seances has already
passed, permit me, before we separate, to call your attention to two orders
of facts, very interesting, and inseparable from those which precede.
It is, in the first place, the manifestation of the action of the chimney,
rendered visible by the vacuum which is produced at its base.
This vacuum has been measured by MM. Gille and Franeau, by placing-a
water-gauge in the partition of the chimney, opposite to the slide at three
different heights. Six observations were taken while the fan was making 72
revolutions, and producing a depression in the air measured by a water
column of 2*28 inches. The result which they have furnished are recorded in
the Nos. 48 to 53 of the general tables.
The circumstances in which the current of air is placed in the chimney
authorises us to take, for the effective depression, the least depression
which there has been on the face of the opening of the slide, from 1*35
inches at 11*81 inches higher, of T04 inches; and at 19*68 inches higher
ag-ain of 0*70 inches.
The rapid decrease of vacuum in the middle of the chimney, measured at the
increased section, is the confirmation of the principle which has prompted
the adoption of this important addition; and the greatest value of this
vacuum, which in the experiment is 1*35 inches, proves how much the machine
is found advantageous when, without the chimney, there was to overcome a
pressure of 1*85 inches greater to force . into the atmosphere the air which
it drew from the mine. In other
21
terms, it is evident that, if the chimney did not exist, the depression or
vacuum in the air-chamber would be reduced from 2*28 inches to 092 inches,
an abstraction to be added to the resistances of the air in the ventilator.
The principal character of the machine is proved when placed in the same
light by the experiments on the vacuum produced at the base of the chimney.
And it appears to me impossible that any person can be mistaken hereafter.
The last result of observations made on the ventilator of Crachet and
Picquery which I have to communicate to you is relating to the considerable
volume of air which this kind of machine can displace. In the preceding
experiments we operated at the mine in such a manner that the volume of air,
displaced at the different depressions obtained, depends on the conditions
of the work which it was obliged to perform, not having surpassed in these
conditions 50,328 cubic feet per minute (experiments 39 and 47). By opening-
a small trap-door to the day the volumes of 44,100 cubic feet and 62,432
cubic feet were obtained; but these volumes were very far from representing-
that which one would have obtained if the access had been made easier. In
order to come to a definite result on this subject an experiment was made,
on the 6th August, by MM. Raux and Frauquet, in the presence of M. Stoesser
and other persons, in which as many communications as possible were opened
between the down-cast pit and that of extraction (up-cast shaft), and also
between the surface and the air-chamber. The ventilator, when the slide had
been entirely raised, was going- at the speed of 87 revolutions. The
depression in the air-chamber was 1-99 inches, and the volume of the current
was found 175,620 cubic feet per minute. The experimenters had great
difficulty in remaining- in the current when the speed of the air coming
from the mine was 24*92 feet, and 139-95 feet for the air taken directly at
the surface. When the ventilator was g'oing-at this speed it was found
impossible to pass the trap-door of communication with the interior. A man
would most certainly have been knocked down.
In this experiment no measure was taken of the work given off. With respect
to the work taken in moving- the air, it was seen that it was raised to
1,860,540 pounds per minute, or 56*38 horse-power.
Plate I. is a Plan and Section of the Ventilator. „ II. is a Diagram
giving Eesults at different Speeds. „ III. is the Indicator Diagrams.
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 186G, IN THE ROOMS
OF THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, WESTGATE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
JOHN TAYLOR, Esq., Vice-President op the Institute, in the Chair.
The Secretary read the minutes of the Council meeting's, after which the
following- new members were elected, viz.:—Mr. James Turn-bull, Gateshead;
Mr. Jos. Catran, Wylam Colliery; Mr. J. M. Ogden, Sunderland j Mr. John
Yardley, Burnt Tree, Tipton; Mr. W. Y. Craig, Harecastle Colliery,
Stoke-upon-Trent; Mr. Thomas Brettell, Mine Agent, Dudley; Mr. John J.
Bryden, Hematite Iron Works, Whitehaven.
A letter was read from Mr. W. Cochrane on the duties of the Secretary, and a
committee was appointed to take the subject into consideration.
CALOW'S SAFETY-CAGE.
Mr. Marley's paper on Calow's Safety-cage came on for discussion.
Mr. Marley said, that by permission of the Council, Mr. Calow was in the
room, and he would be glad to illustrate the paper further than he (Mr. M.)
was able to do at the Manchester meeting, by exhibiting a model of his
safety-cage. He would only now bring forward the points which might require
fuller consideration with regard to safety-cages generally, and to this one
in particular. He would touch on a few par-
24
ticulars, which might be said to be prominent points, and more especially as
they would hear another paper read to day on another patentee's safety-cage.
He might premise that he had no interest whatever in connection with this
or any other safety-cage, beyond what he had already stated at Manchester,
and that was to lessen the danger to which their own and their workmen's
lives were exposed whenever they went up or down a coal or other mine.
The object of his paper would be lost, unless Mr. Dickinson, or some other
gentleman, would give statistics as to how long the various apparatuses had
been used. Calow's was the best safety-cage he (Mr. M.) had seen, and he
wished to have the matter fully discussed. Mr. Calow wrote him a long
letter on the subject, a few days ago, in connection with this paper.
Although he had not much that was new to add since he read the paper in
July, 1865, there was this additional advantage, that since that time he had
had the cage constantly at work at Shildon Lodge Colliery, and at Eston
Mines, in Cleveland; also, for a few weeks, at Byers Green Colliery; and
during that time these cages had continued to give satisfaction, requiring
no repairs, or next to none, and showing, by their continued use, that they
were equal to the general objects proposed by the use of safety-cages.
When the cage was applied to wood guides, its constant use caused no great
expense for repairs, and it had not yet been practically tried on wire or
iron rods. One advantage of Calow's cage was the simplicity of the machinery
connected with it. They were all aware that it was not connected with the
rope, and hence it did not come into play when the cage came to bank, nor at
the bottom, but only when required, with actually broken or dissevered
ropes, following the natural law of gravitation. The present patent is
dated March 10th, 1866. Another point to which Mr. Calow wished to have
their attention specially called was one of the objections about g-reat
speed. He would read a short part of Mr. Calow's letter:—
"The one chief objection to my safety-cages now is, if I mistake not, the
great speed some of the winding-engines travel at in modern collieries. I
beg to say that this has been an item whereon I have spent much time and
thought. I do know that from the construction of certain safety-cages, they
are, as it were, hung in springs, so that, at the time when the engineman
cuts off or reverses his engine, it has a very great tendency to bring the
grips into play, thereby doing serious mischief ; and I know parties who
will not run the risk of trying them on that account. Well, but in my case,
I have a method whereby I can test the effect of the cutting off of the
steam or reversing the engine would have upon the apparatus, without the
apparatus being on, so that the risk is done away."
25
Mr. Calow has a method by which he tries the effect of cutting off the
steam, and to meet the greater speed at which the engine was likely to run.
Thus—
" I simply fix in a box a spring of a given length and strength, such a one
as would be suitable for the cage tried on. I would subject the spring to a
certain pressure—say fifty per cent, more than necessary to shut it. Above
the spring I would place, say a bit of straw, or anything that the spring
through the action (if any) of the cutting off the steam, etc., would easily
displace ; therefore, it would at once show the effect of the speed being
checked, etc. This would be proved without the grips being attached to the
spring, thereby no risk whatever would arise as in other cases ; but to
obviate this effect, I could overcome that by putting on extra weight and
fixing the grips further from the guides. This I have ascertained by actual
experiments, extending over four years, and it is a fact I shall wish the
meeting to be specially acquainted with."
The principal thing which Mr. Calow claims as an advantage for this
invention is the apparatus not being connected with the rope as in other
cages :—
" There is, amongst others, another thing in its favour. The old system
being connected to the rope, thereby getting the motion from the rope, has a
great difficulty to overcome, and one which has not been lost sight of
before now, viz.:— When a cage is some 300 or 400 yards down a shaft, and
the rope breaks near the drum, and the drum is a considerable distance from
the pulley, those springs have actually to drag all tliat rope quicker than
the cage falls, in order for the grips to get hold of the guides. Cases have
been known where the great amount of rope has prevented them from acting;
besides, they must have only one strength of spring to effect it, for if the
spring be too strong, the cage could not shut it sufficiently when the rope
got the weight, so that the grips would not be clear of the slides; but, in
mine, the spring is immediately at liberty to act on the instant of the
breakage, without being trammelled by the tail or broken rope above.
Besides, I am not confined to the strength of spring, it is only increasing
the pressure upon it, which pressure is as nothing in time of accident.
Again, some have made objections that if the apparatus were required to be
brought into play in case of rapid descent, or if the rope broke when the
engine was at full descending speed (a case of very great rarity), it would
do as much damage as letting it go to the bottom. This I can deny with
regard to my mode of grips, they being so constructed (curved wedges) that
if they are required to act as stated, they will not stop the cage
instantly, but arrest its downward tendency gradually or by degrees
according to the speed at which the cage was travelling at the time of
accident, but in case of ascending it would arrest the cage on the instant.
This has been proved practically. Since the discussion on my safety-cages,
which took place at Manchester last year, I have been very much interested
in reading a copy or report of the discussion, from which I gather how
little is known of the nature of it, which is a source of encouragement to
me, believing, as I do, that when it becomes more Vol. XVI.—1866.
D
26
known, it will be more appreciated. I hope the models will be easily
understood. I have made them myself, and have been anxious that they should
show the principle of my invention, because no one will have faith in a
thing they know nothing of ; and although I have shown two ways of applying
it, I do not confine myself to them, but to the principle of action, viz.,
gravitation. At the Manchester meeting, a question was asked whether it
would act on wire guides 1 Since then I have made a model to act, not on
wire guides (which are twisted, therefore producing an uneven surface to the
advantage of the apparatus), but to act on a smooth iron rod, and without
even serrating the surface of the grips employed. What more may be required
I know not. I am not aware, and my experience has extended over a series of
years, that any other objection has been raised, but I am prepared to meet
it if any should arise. I have it upon the best authority that the principle
cannot be beaten, and as regards the machinery employed for wood guides,
there is none so simple, and none that has run half the time without
requiring expensive repairs."
In Calow's cage you will see the spring* is in a condition to act without
being- trammelled by the tail or broken rope. Again, some had made
objections that if brought into play in case of rapid descent, it would do
as much damage as letting" it go to the bottom. This had been found by
experience not to be the case. They would have an opportunity of putting-
any questions they pleased to Mr. Calow, and, by leave of the Chairman, he
would be allowed to answer them.
Mr. Calow said, this was the most simple method that he knew of applying"
safety apparatus. The first time he took out a patent (in 1859) it had its
motion from the rope; and all other safety-cag"es had, he believed, except
the present one. Indeed, if there was another like this in that respect, it
was unknown to him. In this cag-e the motion was g-ot by the law of
gravitation, and he had never known it to fail. The great defect in other
safety-cag"es was, that the instant they were let down to the bottom, the
apparatus was set at liberty, and there was unnecessary wear and tear of the
machinery employed. In this case it never worked unless it became a falling
body.
The Chairman (to Mr. Marley)—Have you ever had a broken rope ?
Mr. Marley said, the engineman, in two cases, had drawn the cage over the
pulleys. Thus there were two cases in which the apparatus was brought into
play through the detaching hook; one was with a full tub, and another with
an empty tub. They were not testing for amusement, and the apparatus acted
perfectly in both
Mr. Calow—The instant the rope breaks it is perfectly at liberty to act.
Mr. J. B. Simpson—How far would the cage fall in the event of the rope
breaking ?
27
Mr. Calow—Ten inches.
Mr. Marley said, it varied from seven to fourteen inches. You can set the
apparatus and adjust it so as to give it a certain time to fall. The actual
fall, in one of the cases mentioned, measured off ten inches. Mr. Watkin,
who was in charge of the colliery, stated that the guides were very little
damaged, and the work was resumed thirty minutes after the accident. Mr.
Higson, at the Manchester meeting, asked if it could be used with round wire
ropes (see Keport of Manchester meeting, Vol. XV., page 111). He (Mr.
Marley) used the ordinary wooden slides, but the models now show it can be
used with wire-rope.
Mr. Calow—In other cages you must get hold of the rope to set the grips at
liberty.
Mr. Marley—Mr. Dickinson said one of the good things of a safety-cage was,
that it was connected with the rope, and so came into play at top and bottom
of the shaft. Mr. Dickinson and myself joined issue upon that point. The
advantage of this safety-cage is, that it is not connected with the rope.
I have not tried it with wire-rope slides.
Mr. Calow, in answer to questions asked, said, the grips are so arranged
that no damage is done to the slide. There are no serrated edges. It is
merely a chain or chains acting on the eccentric. There is no connection
between the rope and the mechanism.
Mr. Simpson inquired if there was no danger of the cage catching with a
great velocity ? Suppose a case where the usual velocity of the cage was at
the rate of ten feet per second, would there be any fear oi the cage being
stopped should the engineman inadvertently increase this velocity ?
Mr. Marley explained that by properly adjusting the weight they might
maintain any rate of speed that might be required.
Mr. Easton—You will have to calculate the exact weig'ht due to your
momentum. If you make it a little too light it will not act. Make it a
little too heavy and if the engineman suddenly increases the speed it will
be sure to stop.
Mr. Calow—The first principle is simply this, namely, no matter what the
momentum may be when the weight required is fixed on the spring, action can
only take place when the cage gravitates.
Mr. Steavenson said, the only limit was, they must have a surplus of weight.
If they could run to the speed of a falling* weight then it must stop.
All that they had to see was that they had more weight than
28
they wanted. In the Exhibition of 1862, Mr. Calow's safety-cage was the only
one he (Mr. S.) thought worthy of attention.
Mr. Coxon inquired what was the weight of the whole machinery at Shildon
Lodge ?
Mr. Marley said, the large tubs of coals, cage, and apparatus weighed one
ton nineteen cwts.
The Chairman asked if there had ever been an instance where it acted
improperly, or acted when they did not wish it to act ?
Mr. Marley said, for the first six months from their putting it down at
Shildon, there were several instances where it acted improperly, but they
found they had not got the proper weight upon it. This was also the case at
Byers' Green. They put the necessary additional weight on, and since that
time, not by any checks whatever, had they the slightest motion.
Mr. Calow said, the weight of the machinery was about 112 lbs.
Mr. Easton asked if it bore any ratio to the whole weight of the coals ?
Mr. Marley said, he could not give the weight of the apparatus separately
without reference. They had had it three years in use and it had not cost
them 5s. for repairs.
Mr. Easton said, that a cage moving five or six feet per second, every part
was more or less shaken on striking the bottom of the pit-shaft; and the
more weight they added to the cage, the more complicated it was, and the
greater the difficulty of keeping it in working condition.
Mr. Marley—This is just the advantage. It does not grip every time it comes
to the top and bottom.
Mr. Easton—From the constant beating of the cage at the bottom of the pit
there must be a difficulty of keeping it in working condition.
Mr. Marley said, in answer, that he had only to repeat what he had just now
said, that they had had it in use three years; and they were drawing two
tubs, with eleven cwts. of coals in each tub. At Eston Mines, in Cleveland,
they were drawing a ton and a-half of ironstone each time.
Mr. Daglish said, the large and long cages, now in use carrying four tubs,
get very much damaged themselves, without reference to any particular mode
of mechanism.
Mr. G. B. Forster—The working load in some of our shafts is six tons without
the rope.
i
29
Mr. Marley said, at Shildon Lodge they were drawing two tubs weighing from
six to six and a-half cwts., with ten to eleven cwts. of coal in each tub,
with a cag'e in proportion. These large cages had been in use twelve months,
and they had not found any difficulty. In Cleveland they drew ironstone in
large wagons, each containing one and a-half tons of ironstone. The wagons
were made of iron, and weighed from fifteen to eighteen cwts.
Mr. Easton said, if they had a velocity of five or six feet per second, when
they arrived at the bottom there was a blow given which would be heavier in
proportion to the weight of the cage. He did not see how they could obviate
this, and if they added to the parts they increased the liability to
derangement.
Mr. Marley—On the same principle a double cage would require double the
amount of repair ?
Mr. Daglish—A much greater proportion than that.
The Chairman—Can your principle be applied to iron slides 1
Mr. Calow said yes, this is an iron slide (referring to the model). There
are no teeth whatever, so that it can do no possible injury. Mr. Calow
exhibited a spring and said, that was the spring which had been at work at
Shildon Lodge two and a-half years. There was a great deal of elasticity in
it yet, and it would wear much longer.
Mr. Calow said, he had drawn up a rough paper to show how it could be
applied at quick winding collieries without the grips.
" Staveley, November 2nd, 1866.
" Gentlemen,—I beg to forward a rough sketch (Plate IV.), of an apparatus
for trying the effect of rapid descent, or any sudden reverse of the engine,
etc., produced upon Calow's system of safety-cage. The apparatus is arranged
so as to be experimented upon at any colliery, regardless of speed, without
running the least risk, as the gripping machinery is removed and a weight
used as an equivalent. Explanation: a a is a box with front removed,
containing the simple apparatus employed; b is a foundation fixed in the box
and made secure to the sides a a. Upon the foundation is fixed a spring such
as might be employed for the cage tried upon ; the spring is weighted
according to a fixed rule established by the patentee. The weight may be
fixed on the top of, or suspended underneath, the spring, as shown at c c ;
if the former, the weight at the top would require to work in a slide or
slides as shown at d d. If the engine proves to have too much power over the
spring, it will be shown by the removal of the straw or any similar
material, as shown at the top of the weight (see straw e). This being the
case, an extra weight must be used until the proper weight required be
ascertained. To prove this, I would recommend that the box be fixed on the
top of the cage, and made secure thereto, and the door of the box locked up,
and allow it to remain in that
30
position for one month. The utility of this arrangement will be clear to
all. It does away with all risk as to whether the apparatus, if applied,
would grip through any sudden reverse of the engine, a doubt which so many
entertain. .
" I remain, gentlemen,
" Yours respectfully,
"J. T. CALOW."
LEMIELLE'S VENTILATOR.
The model of a Ventilating- Fan, by M. Lemielle, was exhibited, and its
working explained by Mr. Marshall and Mr. Ellis Lever, of Manchester.
Mr. Cochrane remarked, that there was a paper on M. Lemielle's ventilating*
fan in the Transactions of the Institute (Vol. VI., p. 130), and it seemed
to him that this was exactly the same machine.
Mr. Lever said, two or three improvements had been made in it since it was
introduced six or seven years ago.
Mr. Steavenson said, it gave eight inches of water-gauge, whilst Guibal's
gave only four or five inches at the outside.
The Chairman suggested that Mr. Lever or Mr. Marshall should read a paper
upon it.
Mr. Lever said, he thought Mr. Higson, of Manchester, would write a paper on
this machine.
HARRISON'S CAST-IRON BOILER.
Mr. Cochrane read a paper on " Harrison's Cast-iron Boiler."
Mr. Willis inquired if there were any tables as to the time spent in getting
steam, the coals used, and water evaporated. He had had some experiments
with cast-iron boilers, and he would be glad to put them together, and
compare them with Mr. Cochrane's. There was a remark in one of the papers
that these boilers leaked considerably.
Mr. Cochrane understood they were successful as regarded leakages.
Mr. Willis said, notwithstanding the success that was said to have attended
them in America, a statement had appeared in a work entitled " Engineering "
that the Editor had received a letter from that country in which it was
reported that " they leaked considerably."
Mr. Cochrane said, he had broken his up, and put them into the cupola. He
had given them a fair trial.
Mr. Marley sug-gested that Mr. Willis should favour the Institute with his
experiments at the adjourned discussion.
31
BROADBENT'S SAFETY-CAGE.
Mr. Daglish read a paper on " Broadbent's Patent Safety-Cage." He said, the
gentleman was present to whom the invention belonged, and, perhaps, they
would allow him to exhibit it to the members. There are no spring's attached
to the apparatus. It is similar to others in being attached to the rope, but
dissimilar, inasmuch as the weight of the catches themselves throws it into
gear.
Mr. Nelson Smith, the exhibitor, produced a model of the invention. He said,
the first action was not dependent on a spring, but they attached spring-s
as accelerators. There was no fall whatever; but even without the springs it
would stop. The eccentrics were chained back behind it. It would run as fast
as they pleased, and when the rope snapped it would stop.
Mr. Marley—What is the difference between yours and Owen's ?
Mr. Smith—In Owen's the first action is dependent on the spring*, but our
first action is not dependent on a spring. We put springs in as
accelerators, and there is no necessity for heavy weights.
Mr. Marley said, suppose the engine should give jerks, or suppose it went at
extraordinary speed, what provision was there to prevent its coming- into
play when it should not ?
Mr. Smith said, it was working very satisfactorily at Kirkless Pit.
The Chairman inquired if any accident had occurred with it in use ?
Mr. Smith said, it had not caused any accident; no accident had been r<
ported.
Mr. Daglish—Has it ever been in use when a rope has been broken ?
Mr. Smith—No; except as an experiment.
Mr. G. B. Forster—If there was a weight of six tons, do you not think it
would cut the g-uide in two ?
Mr. Smith—We assume it would not, because of the broad surface.
Mr. Marley—What is the weight of the apparatus alone ?
Mr. Smith—A plan such as this would be one cwt.
Mr. Willis—You say on account of the width of the slide, but in most pits
you have not a slide of great width.
Mr. Smith—We only require two and a quarter inches ; and in the slides where
the experiments have been tried, the mark is hardly perceptible.
Mr. G. B. Forster—You have not tried it with very great weights ?
Mr. Smith —It was shown to Mr. Lancaster. At some of the Wigan collieries
they have great weig-hts.
32
Mr. Marlby said; the objection he had in connection with this was, the
constant coming" into play, and knocking" the slides to pieces at the top
and bottom, and being* connected with the rope.
Mr. Smith said, if thej consulted the Wig*an Colliery owners, they would
find the wear and tear was less than with Owen's, or White and Grant's.
Mr. Smith also exhibited machines for calculating" workmen's wagfes.
At the close of the discussion, votes of thanks were accorded to the
gentlemen who had exhibited the various machines, and the Secretary was
instructed to communicate these votes to the parties concerned.
ON
BKOADBENT'S PATENT SAFETY-CAGE.
By JOHN DAGLISH, F.G.S.
I have been requested to draw your attention to an invention recently
patented by Mr. Jubal C. Broadbent, of Rochdale, Lancashire, which was
recently brought under my notice by his agent, Mr. Nelson Smith, of the firm
of Ashwood, Smith, and Co., Manchester. It is stated to have stood,
successfully, several tests on both wood and wire rope conductors at several
large collieries.
I understand that the Wigan Coal and Iron Company were the first to adopt
it, on the wire rope conductors and then on wood, at the California Pits,
where, previously, an accident had occurred in September last year, when
seven men were killed by the breakage of a nearly new wire-rope. It is not
my intention to commend or recommend the use of this or any other apparatus,
or do more than draw your attention to it.
Plate V., fig. 1, represents a cage of ordinary construction, with safety
apparatus attached immediately under the rim or top, and held out of action
by the tension of the winding rope, as when the cage is at work ascending or
descending.
At A are represented the weighted eccentrics or tumblers, supported and
working on studs or fulcra rivetted to plates B, and held up by the small
chains C, which are attached to the ordinary winding chains of the cage. D
is a spiral or vulcanised rubber spring tie, which (though not essential to
the working of the apparatus), may, at discretion, be fixed at the back of
the eccentrics so as to quicken their action, thereby preventing the cage
attaining the least possible momentum in case of accident. E is the
conductor, which may be of wood or wire-rope.
Plate V., fig. 2, represents the position the "apparatus" would assume in
case of accident by the breaking of the winding rope. The Vol. XVI.—1866.
E
34
actions being unsupported fall on their fulcra, the serrated surface of the
eccentrics being- thus brought in contact with the conductors have their
larger radii run in until the cage is gently but inevitably arrested. This
is accomplished without occasioning- the slightest damage to the conductors
by reason of the large surface brought to bear the resistance,
ON HARRISON'S
CAST-IKON STEAM BOILEE.
By WILLIAM COCHRANE.
In May, 1864, a paper on this subject was read before the Society of
Mechanical Engineers, at Birmingham. The results were stated to be entirely
satisfactory, and the system was in operation at Messrs. Hetherington's of
Manchester, and elsewhere, so that, after a careful examination of the
boilers at Messrs. Hetherington's, and the fullest inquiry that could be
made, there seemed every inducement for its adoption in preference to the
ordinary wrought-iron boiler. A plant was, therefore, erected at the Elswick
Colliery to thoroughly test the system with the view of extending- its use.
It has proved, in my opinion, a failure; but with some variations may
probably still be made useful; and it is with this object that I bring- the
subject before this Society, so that the difficulties so far as experienced
may be known, and perhaps remedies applied j for the adoption of cast-iron,
in some such form as this system, promises very great advantages. The
description of the plant at Elswick is as follows :—
Two boilers were fixed along-side of each other, each composed of six slabs,
enclosed and covered in with brickwork, as shown on the accompanying-
drawing- (Plate VI.), built up of cast-iron spheres fitted tog-ether
accurately with faced joints, these spheres being- threaded on wroug-ht-iron
bolts, one inch-and-a-quarter diameter, which are furnished with screw nuts
at each end, so that the joints of each string of g-lobes can be well
tightened; suitable caps close the top and bottom of each line of spheres,
and the joint is formed as shown at A, B, metal to metal. The whole slab is
composed of castings similar to those detailed on the plan, which shows
sufficiently the mode of fixing them together. The spheres have an external
diameter of eight inches and are three-eighths thick, being connected by
passages of three inches and one-eighth internal diameter; each sphere
weighs about twenty-two-and-a-half pounds, so there are about 100 to the ton
: its contents are about seven pints; the external surface about
one-and-a-quarter square feet, and internal about one-and-one-eighth square
feet. Experiments had shown that each ton of slabs represented about three
36
horse-power, so that in the comparison of weight to power it was about on a
par with the ordinary internal-flued Lancashire wrought-iron boiler.
The strength of these spheres had been carefully tested, and as might be
expected from their spherical shape, afforded most satisfactory results;
indeed this was one of the chief recommendations of the system that under
enormous pressure there would be no bursting of the spheres. The metal was
selected, and the manufacture was very carefully carried out, so as to
secure uniform thickness and accurately similar castings. The spheres did
not burst at a pressure of 1200 lbs. to the square inch : the bursting
pressure, indeed, could not be exactly ascertained in consequence, at these
high pressures, of imperfect gauges, but it was considered to be about 1500
lbs. per square inch. In these experiments a sphere was closed with the caps
and a bolt nine inches long. In the case of a slab where the bolt is nine
feet long, the expansion of this length at a much lower pressure than
above-mentioned would cause all the joints of the spheres to open, and thus
avoid violent explosion. The risk of injury from violent explosion is
therefore entirely removed.
The drawing (Plate VII.) shows the manner in which each slab is built up.
One, two, and four globes being cast in one piece in order to get cross
joints and thus build the slab firmly; the top and bottom of one of each
pair of slabs, when fixed in place, consisting of a single sphere, S and W.
On each terminal sphere a cap is accurately fitted as a washer plate,
against which the nut is screwed (a sample one is shown), and to each
alternate top and bottom single sphere a wrought-iron quarter bend is fixed
for steam and water connection respectively; such quarter bend is connected
with the straight steam-pipe at the top, and the water feed at the bottom,
as shown in the drawing at S and W: these bends provide for expansion.
The system of water supply was a GifTard's Injector. Six slabs placed side
by side, in the form of three pairs, formed a boiler; a cast-iron chair C,
built in the fire-brick bridge, supporting each slab along one of the lower
lines of spheres; the upper line of spheres at F resting on a suitable
fire-brick arch over the fire-door; the general angle of the slabs being
about forty-five degrees, which is provided for the emptying of the spheres
when the water is blown off.
A T-shaped casting is run horizontally in the line T from front to back
between the slabs to prevent the flame playing on the steam space, which
consists of about one-third the number of spheres in each slab, and
therefore two-thirds would be water space. The steam-filled slabs are thus
in a highly heated chamber, and the steam should be, consequently, well
dried.
37
The cost of each boiler, iron work and all fittings complete, as shown on
the drawing-, was £135, including- patent right; the total weight about six
and a-half tons; the cost of fixing and of masonry, including proportion of
chimney, was £67; the area of ground covered by each boiler, with flues, is
about 280 square feet.
The two boilers were set to work 24th May, 1865, and were used to drive an
underground engine.
The raising of steam was very rapid; in half-an-hour from commencing to
light the fires on a Monday morning, with cold water in the boiler, steam
was raised to thirty pounds pressure; and when the boilers were new, each
yielded as much steam as a thirty-feet by five-feet-diameter ordinary
wrought-iron boiler; the working pressure being about forty pounds; the
consumption of coal was less for the production of the same amount of steam
in twelve hours; for the egg-ended boilers as then fired consumed 1*45 tons
of coals in twelve hours, the cast-iron boiler only T25 tons. The Harrison
boiler, though stated to be smoke-consuming in its arrangement, was very far
from it, and this was very objectionable in its steam-producing power in
consequence of priming-; it would almost appear on examination of the
passages between the spheres that their small sectional areas are peculiarly
favourable to this evil, and constitute a difficulty to overcome. To the
same cause as that of the priming, namely, the small horizontal areas of
water surface, may also, I think, be attributed the violent fluctuations of
the water-gauge, which took place. A very long gauge was used, and it was
connected as shown at G. The level oscillated when the engine was at work as
far as six inches, and very rapidly, from which fact may be probably deduced
the cause of the next serious defect which was experienced, and which led to
the rejection of the boilers, namely, the splitting of the spheres. When the
before-mentioned paper was read at Birmingham, it was stated that " no
instance of a fracture has occurred in the cast-iron boilers with the
present setting (the writer refers to a previous system of setting having
brought an injurious strain on the joints), and all the boilers of this kind
yet erected are quite free from leaks at the joints." This writer's
experience extends over " several years in America, and for upwards of two
years in London and Manchester."
When Messrs. Hetherington were consulted for the Elswick plant, this
statement no longer held true; for split spheres had occurred in some of the
boilers at work in England. It is quite conceivable that by some wiredrawn
action through the narrow passages, the sudden with-
38
drawal of steam may exhaust one slab more largely than another, and thus
lift the water entirely away from spheres at a level below the line T, thus
exposing a sphere deprived of water to the fire. Messrs. Hetherington
considered the split globes they had seen were the result of overheating ;
the same remark does not apply to the cases which will be referred to
directly, although in breaking the spheres some front ones on which the fire
impinged were found burnt, and among the pieces on the table will be found
such a section. At their suggestion, therefore, as each pair of slabs had
only one steam connection, as seen on the drawing, three-and-one-eighth
inches diameter, the upper caps of aline of spheres at P were replaced by
caps with joints for one-and-a-half inch wrought-iron pipe, and a connection
made across the steam space of the six slabs, with the object of equalising
the pressure and supply of steam in each slab.
On the 25th September, 1865, there was a split globe on the third row above
the bridge and fronting.the fire; it occurred at 12'40 p.m., while the
engine was running; the fire was put out by the large body of water
discharged; the fireman only heard a slight crack when it happened. The
boiler had to be stripped of its brickwork, the slab disconnected and lifted
out, and a new casting of two globes (which was the one broken) put in. No
leakage took place at the new joints nor at any of the old ones.
On the 17th November, 1865, another globe split in the second row above the
fire, and similar work as in the first instance was necessary. On the 1st
February, 1866, a joint leaked, and was readily tightened up by the screw
bolts. On the 8th and 9th February, 1866, there were split globes in each
boiler, and both were laid off. During this time there had often been
occasion to screw up some particular line of bolts, to take off leaking
joints, and in one case a bolt so tightened broke; but practically this was
not a very serious objection, the boiler being laid off every night gave
facility for this work.
In the first case, on examination of the globe, the internal surface was
found coated with an incrustation about one-sixteenth of an inch thick. This
should not have been; for the patentee claims, as one of the advantages of
his system that, if the boiler be blown out at the end of each week the
scales of incrustation become detached in the process of cooling, and are
discharged with the water. Though the instructions for sludging and blowing
out were strictly attended to, the desired result was not obtained, as can
be perceived by examination of the spheres in the room, of which No. 1 was
in the row similarly marked in the drawing
39
(Plate VII.), that is, three of its globes were in the steam space, and the
fourth one in the water space. [No. 1 is a four-ball casting, having a
uniformly thick and hard deposit over all the interior surface of about
one-sixteenth of an inch, and shows no signs of the action of splitting it
off; the water sphere has a thicker deposit than the three steam spaces.]
No. 2, also situated as shown in the drawing, was fully exposed to the fire,
and in the locality where the split globes occurred. [No. 2 is a two-ball,
having* on the side exposed to the fire a deposit filling up half the
cubical contents of the sphere, which appears to have been formed by the
breaking off of pieces of incrustation from other spheres, which have
settled here and become solidified. The remainder of the interior surface
has a deposit of about one-eighth of an inch thick.]
No. 3 situated below the bridge. [No. 3, is a two-ball, and the particular
casting which connects a pair of slabs for the water-feed, having a deposit
on the interior surface of one-sixteenth of an inch thick, and in the front
part of the globe which first receives the water a very abundant though soft
deposit nearly half filling the sphere; the deposit in the other sphere is
very hard and of the average thickness, and shows no signs of any removing
action.
All have been in use from May, 1865, to February, 1866.
These globes are fair average samples of the condition of the boiler, as a
careful examination was made when the boiler was taken to pieces. An
incrustation, therefore, over all the interior, even in the steam space
spheres, of about one-eighth of an inch, can be fairly stated as an average,
while in the globes, immediately above the bridge, it is as far as three
inches thick, in some cases filling almost half the space of the sphere, and
offering, therefore, sufficient explanation of the splitting of such globes
as well as of the loss of power in the boiler.
Many spheres have been broken after taking the boiler to pieces in order to
examine the condition of the metal, which is of a clear grey colour
throughout, and shows no signs of burning, except in two cases; those burnt
were in the front row immediately exposed to the fire, and have already been
referred to. The upper sphere of all, marked S, was found to contain a soft
light brown deposit of uniform thickness of three sixteenths of an inch,
evidently carried there by the priming of the water.
The water used yields with the ordinar}?- wrought-iron boiler a similar
scale of about one-thirty-second of an inch in thickness in a month, which
is removed on each occasion of cleaning. There is also exhibited a split
sphere, No. 4. The examination of the first split sphere showed
40
no signs of deterioration in the metal, either by corrosion or burning-; the
average incrustation of one-eighth is seen in this case also, and does not
appear sufficient to account for the globe splitting.
The expense in labour alone of replacing a split sphere in such a part of
the boiler is very great (and each one occurred just above the bridge in the
set fronting the fire), without saying anything of the serious inconvenience
of having a boiler suddenly laid off. It was felt to be so serious that it
was deemed advisable not to continue the experiment, but to substitute the
ordinary wrought-iron boilers, worked with Juckes' firebars, which was done.
Other reasons weighed, namely, the quantity of steam raised had at this time
considerably diminished, and the consumption of coals increased. This was, I
think, subsequently fully accounted for, if not already explained by the
incrustation; as on removing the masonry all the open spaces, 0, between the
spheres were found to retain a large deposit of soot and dust, which
increased as the spaces receded from the fire, and behind the bridge, where
there was a kind of baffler plate to keep the current of flame in the middle
of the boiler, the spheres were quite buried in dust. Some of these spaces
about the line of the T-casting were completely filled, and a semi-fusion of
the accumulated mass had taken place. Large accumulations had been often
removed from the main back flues, but it would not be easy to remove the
deposits above-mentioned, and no doubt they would interfere greatly with the
regularity of heating and with the economy of fuel.
The trial of the system was thorough, for its advantages if realized are
very great, and it is to be hoped that some modification will be adopted to
secure them; but I think it cannot be disputed that, as at present
constructed, it does not yield the results promised by the inventor, and it
is open to very serious objections.
This is not the only case in this country where the system has been proved
unsatisfactory, but it is only fair to add the testimony of Mr.
Hetherington, who writing on the 22nd of August, 1866, says, that he has
just returned from the United States where he had seen a number of these
boilers working with considerable success.
The inventor has, however, discontinued the manufacture in this country, and
asks £25 per ton for the boiler castings, exclusive of fittings, supplied
from America, a price which, under the circumstances, offers certainly no
inducement to make further experiments with them.
In Plate VII. the outline of a slab of spheres is shown, and only sufficient
of the sphere castings as to explain the mode of building up the slab.
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1866, IN THE ROOMS
OP THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, WESTGATE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
ISAAC LOWTHIAN BELL, Esq., Vice-President of the Institute, in the Chair.
The minutes of the Council having been read, it was resolved that Mr. T. E.
Forster, Mr. Potter, Mr. Marley, Mr. Boyd, and Mr. Cochrane represent the
Mining Institute, at the general meetings of the Societies, to consider the
question of building a Hall, etc., for the general purposes of all the
Societies.
On the motion of Mr. Cochrane, seconded by Mr. G. B. Forster, it was
resolved that instruments proper for making experiments with tail-ropes be
obtained at the charge of the Institute, and not of the special fund granted
for experiments.
The following new members were elected, viz. :—Mr. T. Spencer, Ryton; Mr. A.
Barclay, engineer, Kilmarnock; Mr. William Walker, Tonbridge Villas, Leeds;
Mr. B. Cochrane, Alden Grange, Durham; Mr. Alfred Coxon, Bedlington
Colliery; Mr. Charles Hunting, Fence Houses; Mr. Joshua T. Naylor, West
Clayton Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; Mr. T. Hawthorn, Gateshead; Mr. George
Cockburn, Summer-hill Grove, Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and Mr. J. Reskern. Mr. J.
Simpson, Blaydon, was elected a graduate.
Vol. XVI.—186G.
v
42
Mr. W. Lishman's paper " On a System of Working Coal on the Long--wall
Plan/' was then read, Mr. Kirkby. attending on his behalf.
Mr. W. Green inquired what was the height of the seam and the nature of the
strata immediately above and below it ?
Mr. Kirkby—Four feet six inches. There is a very strong metal about four
feet above the seam.
Mr. Crone—What is the nature of the covering or roof overlying the
coal-seam?
Mr. Kirkby—Strong metal and post.
Mr. Crone—Four feet six inches of metal, and what thickness of post ?
Mr. Kirkby—I cannot tell exactly how much post, but more than twenty feet.
Mr. Crone—Does it fall equally immediately the chocks are removed ?
Mr. Kirkby—Yes, equally, and in a large frame.
Mr. W. Green—Do the frames break short and squarely off?
Mr. Kirkby—Yes, generally; and accordingly we do not lose one set of chocks
in the fall.
Mr. Steavenson—Does the back wall prevent your getting a good fall?
Mr. Kirkby—No, the falls break sharp off.
Mr. Steavenson—The wall will be a hindrance to the succeeding fall. It
will prevent your getting a free fall next time.
Mr. Kirkby—No, there is a space between of four feet.
Mr. Steavenson—You do not say that the back wall is ever taken out. It will
be in the way of the succeeding fall, and throw the weight on the coal.
Mr. Boyd—Do you use candles or lamps ?
Mr. Kirkby—We use candles throughout. We have no gas.
M. GUIBAL'S FAN VENTILATOR.
On the motion of Mr. Cochrane, it was resolved that the discussion on Mr.
Steavenson's paper " On Certain Experiments with M. Guibal's Ventilator," be
postponed.
Mr. Daglish not being present, the discussion on " Broadbent's Safety Cage "
was postponed.
The Chairman remarked that it was very desirable when a paper was announced
for discussion, that the discussion of it should be pro-
43
ceeded with. Many gentlemen have doubtlessly come here to-day expecting to
hear it and only find that nothing can be done. He also remarked that it was
necessary in order to secure an early issue of the Parts of the
Transactions, that gentlemen who have proofs sent for correction should
return them to the Secretary with as little delay as possible.
HARRISON'S CAST-IRON BOILERS.
Mr. Cochrane said, he had only to add to his paper that his conclusions had
been confirmed by a gentleman in Staffordshire who adopted the boiler, and
who wrote to him a fortnight ago stating that he had been compelled for the
same reason to do away with it entirely. He had broken it up.
Mr. Willis said, he had promised to bring some experiments on cast-iron
boilers to the discussion; but, on looking at them he found that they would
assume a different shape from what appeared in Mr. Cochrane's paper, which
seemed more a description of the boiler. These were experiments as to the
raising of steam and the coal consumed. If he did anything with them it
would assume the shape of another paper.
The Chairman—Is it in favour of cast-iron boilers?
Mr. Willis—I would not say that; but I could not introduce them in a
discussion on this paper.
The meeting then broke up.
ON A SYSTEM OF
WORKING COAL BY THE LONG-WALL PLAN.
By WILLIAM LISHMAN.
Feeling it incumbent on me as a member of this Institute to contribute to
its Transactions in proportion to my humble capabilities, I beg- to offer
the following- remarks on what I consider to be an improved method of
working- coal. There may not perhaps be anything- extraordinary in these
remarks, but the facts will be stated so as to open a discussion on the
question as to whether we cannot improve on the bord-and-pillar mode of
working- coal, which is now almost the only method used in the counties of
Durham and Northumberland.
Mr. H. Vivian, M.P., in the concluding- paragraph of his motion for the
appointment of a government commission of inquiry on the probable duration
of Coal in Great Britain, alludes to this subject by enquiring-"whether
there is reason to believe that coal is lost either by bad working- or by
carelessness or neg-lect." Many letters have also been written and published
on this subject.
I, therefore, lay before you a short description of a modified plan of
working- long--wall, as introduced into the working- of the Brock well Seam,
at Newton Cap Colliery, near Bishop Auckland.
The annexed plan marked No. 1 (Plate IX.), shows eig-ht acres of coal won
out for future working- by modified long--wall. Three headways are driven
out from the main rolley-way for a distance of 300 yards. At A and B two
pairs of narrow bords are driven to the boundary or fault, and headways are
driven out of the narrow bord marked B. Headways are also driven across to
the air-way or boundary bords driven for ventilation, twenty-five yards
apart.
46
There are three headway courses in working-, with one bay or working"
place going- in each headway.
The portion marked goaf has been worked off, and shows a pack-wall standing-
thus > >>» which is eight feet wide and capable of resisting- the pressure
from the goaf, and which thus leaves an open space between the pack-wall and
the coal.
The bays are driven about fifteen yards in width, and from three to four
rows of chocks are kept between the g-oaf and the face where the men are
working-. A pillar or pack-wall is built with stone taken from the goaf,
eight feet wide, and filled in the middle with rubbish. This wall is built
about four feet from the coal, leaving- sufficient open space for a tramway.
It is built up at nigiit and the back-chocks are drawn out at the same time.
Three men work in each bay, and as there are two shifts of men, eig-hteen
are employed in getting coals. The dead-work is done at nig-ht by shifters
who are employed for that purpose.
The pack-wall answers for two purposes :—1st. For keeping a safe way from
the face for the workmen and for the conveyance of the coals out. 2nd. When
the bay is finished it still remains standing-, and thus keeps an open space
of nearly four feet between the pack-wall and the future bay, thereby
saving* the risk of losing- any coal.
Upon due consideration I have arrived at the conclusion that of the two
systems the long--wall is incomparably the better. It possesses many
advantages, some of which I will enumerate. 1st. The whole of the mine may
be obtained. 2nd. The coals are produced much larger.
3rd. Less small coal is made in "kirving" and cutting-up the side. 4th. Less
pit timber is required. 5th. Less shift or dead work. 6th. The creep or
thrust cannot take place. 7th. Less strait work. Perhaps it is only fair to
state that there are disadvantages as well. 1st. Less out-put until the
exploring- places are driven out to the
boundary. 2nd. Additional cost of materials during- the first working-. 3rd.
The strait work having- to be driven out at once, will entail a much greater
cost for working the first few years. It will be seen that the method I have
adopted is a combination of the pillar-and-stall system and the long-wall so
far as driving to the
47
extremity of the boundary or to the fault is concerned, and then bringing"
back the coal by long*-wall or semi-long--wall.
In working* coal we frequently hear of 10 per cent, of the whole produce
being- lost. Mr. Spencer states that 7 per cent, is lost at Woodifield
(Transactions of Mining- Institute, Vol. VIII., 1859, p. 89).
In 1861 Mr. A. Basset read a paper before the members of the South Wales
Institution of Engineers " On the large Proportion of Coal lost in
"Working," and there stated as the result of several investigations that the
loss of coals in working had in three instances exceeded 30 per cent, of the
actual contents of the mine, and that even a larger per centage was lost in
some of the mines.
In 1864 the late Mr. Joseph Goodwin read a paper entitled " Long-Wall versus
Pillar-and-Stall System of getting Coals." To show the change that has come
over the Lancashire coalawners, I will emote a paragraph from the above
paper, with an extract from the discussion thereon:—" That the long-wall
possesses advantages over the pillar-and-stall system under some
circumstances is indisputably true, while, on the other hand, it is simply
impossible to work some mines to advantage upon the long-wall plan, however
skilfully the workings may be directed. Perhaps the most important advantage
in the long-wall system is that all the coal may be worked out without the
slightest waste • this cannot be said of any other system."
Mr. Binney remarked "I think we are much obliged to Mr. Goodwin for bringing
a novelty before us, for evidently the long-wall working seems to be a
novelty in Lancashire."
Last year, an invitation having been given to the members of this society to
hold a special meeting in Manchester, which having been accepted,
arrangements were made for several excursions. One of these I attended, in
company with a large party, and, by the kind permission of Messrs. A.
Knowles and Sons, was allowed to examine the workings of the five-quarter
seam at Clifton Hall Colliery, where what is called a modified system of
long-wall is now being tried. On that plan the loss or waste was under 5 per
cent., and there was a fair per centage of large coal.
The plan marked No. 2 (Plate X.), shows the mode of working as pursued at
Clifton Hall Colliery, where the inclination of the seam is about 1 in 6. It
will be seen from this plan that three places are driven out from the
down-cast pit for a distance of 800 yards to the old workings, and then a
pair of bords are driven up the full rise to a large dip
48
fault about 150 yards from the mainway and headways, which are driven 25
yards apart as shown in the plan.
The plan No. 3 (Plate XI.) shows, perhaps, the best mode of .working the
broken on the bord-and-pillar mode. The stripes coloured black in the
portions of the pillars worked off indicate the proportion of the mine
usually lost. This proportion ranges, I believe, from 7 to 10 per cent.
EXPLANATION OF PLATES.
Plate IX. represents eight acres of coal won out for working by modified
long-wall system.
Plate X. shows the plan of working by modified long-wall at Clifton Hall
Colliery.
Plate XI. shows the mode of working the "broken" on the bord-and-pillar
mode.
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1867, IN THE ROOMS
OF THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, WESTGATE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
T. E. FORSTER, Esq., President op the Institute, in the Chair.
Mr. Doubleday having- read the minutes of Council, the following" new
members were elected, viz.:—Mr. J. Roscamp, Acomb Colliery; Mr. Asquith,
Harton, South Shields; Mr. George Crow, Messrs. R. Stephenson and Co.'s
Engine Works; Mr. Joseph Thompson, Seaham Colliery; Mr. -William Boyd,
Spring Garden Iron Works; Mr. J. H. Moore, Smeaton Park; Mr. William Thomas,
Tow Law Iron Works j and Mr. John P. Harper, Derby.
CONVEYANCE OF COAL UNDERGROUND.
Mr. Daglish read a paper on the Conveyance of Coal Underground.
Mr. Berkley said, in the experiments made by Mr. Greenwell and himself, Mr.
Greenwell specially wished to have no particulars taken of the actual
pressure on the pistons of the engine, but merely to give the practical
results of the working. No doubt there was less power exerted than the steam
indicated near the engine; but they thought it was better to leave that out
of the experiment, so that it might be easier tested by other people.
Mr. Daglish said, he had been led to write this paper from what had been
advanced in the paper previously before them. The experiments Vol.
XVI.—1807.
a
50
which he had made tended to show that the friction of the tail-rope was
double that given hy the information before them. And now, when underground
operations had extended to such great distances, it was important to know
which was really correct. They would very soon get to the end of their power
when such an enormous force was required to move the ropes alone. The
Committee were now making experiments in Lancashire, which would no doubt
throw light on the subject.
The President—These experiments will test the merit of the endless-chain.
Mr. Daglish said, he believed Mr. Greenwell would be here himself next month
at the discussion on the paper.
The President said, if the Government should bring a Bill before Parliament
to make them sink more pits, which was not at all unlikely, the engine
planes would not be required quite so long.
FAN VENTILATION.
Mr. Cochrane read a paper entitled "A Comparison of the Guibal and Lemielle
Systems of Mechanical Ventilation;" in connection with which Mr.
Steavenson's translation of a statement of experiments with M. Guibal's
Ventilating Fan, was open for discussion.
Mr. Cochrane said, he was sorry that the paper was not complete. This arose
from the severe illness of M. Guibal, who had supplied him with the
information. In fact he (Mr. Cochrane) merely conveyed M. Guibal's
arguments, though he endorsed what he said. M. Guibal was really the
gentleman to whom the paper was due. The portion read to-day thoroughly
discusses the merits of M. Lemielle's pamphlet, copies of which M. Lemielle
had been requested to forward to the Institute. The paper gave important
information, and refuted many great errors which had been put forward in
respect to mechanical ventilation generally, and this mode of ventilation in
particular.
Mr. Steavenson said, they must give M. Lemielle fair play. Though Mr.
Cochrane had gone fully into the theory of mechanical ventilation, still, he
had not given the Institute any data as to the actual work utilised by each
machine. A mining gentleman in France was speaking to him lately, in
reference to Lemielle's machine, and he stated that a better machine he had
not met with. The pupils in the College of Mines there study for so many
months and then travel. One of them, writing* to him, said—" I must
congratulate you on the choice of M. Lemielle's machine. It seems to me the
best machine I have seen, both in Belgium and France, and it obtains'the
preference above all others. He did not
51
say it was perfect; but it gave good results in mines with long air-ways.
The expense at first was more than M. Guibal's." It required great expense
in the construction, but it was important to adopt that which was the best.
He hoped, if Mr. Cochrane found himself in error, he would come forward and
admit it, as he had done on a former occasion. For his part, in examining-
M. Guibal's fan—and he had the pleasure of spending a day in experimenting
with it—he did not reach the results stated in M. Guibal's paper. He did not
reach fifty per cent, of power utilised, and they applied the speed as far
as they dared to go. Mr. Cochrane had instanced an occasion in which M.
Lemielle's fan broke down. He believed it was a fact that, in the
experiments made with M. Guibal's machine, there was an eccentric broken. He
did not say that this showed any defect of principle. It might be a defect
simply in the fitting up. Therefore, he thought they should not judge of M.
Lemielle's fan simply because it had broken down during an experiment, which
might be owing to negligence in adjusting it or oiling it. Neither M.
Lemielle, nor any of his agents, were here, and he hoped they would wait to
hear what he had to say; and, above all, that they would wait until the
machine was put up at Page Bank, when there would be an opportunity given of
judging from facts.
Mr. Daglish remarked, that without in any way wishing to detract from the
merits of mechanical ventilation, he would only just state that at the
Seaham Colliery, which is ventilated by furnace power, last week 320,000
cubic feet per minute were measured in the upcast shaft.
Mr. Cochrane said, Mr. Steavenson had read a letter recommending Lemielle's
system. He (Mr. C.) could have read a dozen in favour of the Guibal; but the
Council ruled that they should not be introduced into this discussion. He
wished to know in what respect he had acknowledged any error ?
Mr. Steavenson said, he referred to the cast-iron boilers.
Mr. Cochrane said, he had not heard the word "boilers." He did not, at
present, see any probability of his being forced to the abandonment of the
Guibal ventilator, as he had been in the case of cast-iron boilers, but he
would not hesitate to give up any apparatus which should be proved less
efficient, all circumstances considered, than another. Mr. Steavenson was
incorrect in giving the impression that any part of the Guibal ventilator
broke. The Government Inspector (Mr. Atkinson), who is present, would
confirm him in stating* that the eccentric rod that was broken had nothing
to do with the ventilator. It was the
52
eccentric rod of the engine, and that was owing- to the negligence of the
person in charge who had not eased the bolts of the eccentric strap. In the
case of the breakages of the Lemielle ventilators it is the ventilator
itself which fails.
The discussion was then adjourned till the next meeting.
ON CONVEYANCE OF COAL UNDEEGBOUND.
By JOHN DAGLISH, F.G.S.
The subject of the Conveyance of Coal Underground, by ropes worked by engine
power, has, on several occasions, been treated of in papers presented to the
Institute, by the late President, Mr. Nicholas Wood, and by other members;
in all these papers, however, the work actually done has been treated as a
matter of calculation rather than as the result of direct experiments, and
in many of the cases given as illustrations, the ultimate power of the
engines has borne little or no proportion to the work actually performed.
It occurred to the writer that a carefully arrang-ed series of experiments,
made on engine planes where the maximum effect was being obtained from the
engines, tabulated so as to allow comparison one with the other, and
accompanied by indicator diagrams showing the actual power given out at each
of the points, when the gradients of the engine plane (and, consequently,
also the power given out by the engines) varied, would be of service, not
only to the younger members of the profession, but also as a reference to
those who are entrusted with the management of collieries, and to whom it
might be of value to know readily the amount of work capable of being*
performed by any given engine over a line of road of a known length and
gradients.
To illustrate the necessity of actual experiments to determine the work done
by the engines, the writer wishes to refer to some points in a paper
recently read on this subject to the Institute, by Messrs. Greenwell and
Berkley.
At page 86, Vol. XV., of the Transactions, the writers say— "During this
experiment the pressure of steam, as indicated at the" "engine, was
twenty-nine lbs. per square inch, the diameter of the" "piston twenty
inches, and the space travelled by each 210 feet per" "minute. We have,
therefore, the power represented by 3,826,408 lbs."
54
"moved one foot in one minute." This is equal to 116 horse-power actual, and
this power the writers estimate to be exerted continually throughout the
entire route.
Again, Messrs. Greenwell and Berkley calculate the resistance due to the
haulage of the rope itself from friction of rollers, etc., to be 114373
lbs., at the rate of 630 feet per minute, or 720,562 lbs. moved one foot in
one minute, or equivalent to 21-8 horse-power actual. This is little more
than one-sixth of the calculated power given out by the engines.
The writer does not mean to assert that the engine in question is not
capable of giving the 116 horse-power actual; on the contrary, there can be
no doubt but that with a greater pressure per square inch, or a greater
velocity, it is quite capable of being worked up to higher power; but he
believes that, under the given circumstances, if an indicator had been
applied, it would have exhibited the actual pressure on the piston not to
have reached twenty-nine lbs. per square inch as the maximum, and that even
this would vary g'reatly according to the load and gradient over which it
had to be carried. Practically the engineman is continually varying the
pressure in the cylinder, by means of the throttle-valve at various portions
of the route, and it is comparatively seldom that the full pressure of steam
is applied. In addition, an allowance must be made for back-pressure, etc.,
which would certainly amount to several pounds loss.
The accompanying section (Plate XII.) represents the North Way Engine Plane
in the East Minor Pit at Hetton Colliery:—
Ft. in.
The engine is a double horizontal high-pressure engine—
Diameter of cylinders ... ........ 012
Length of stroke ............... 2 0
Diameter of spur-wheels ............ 5 0
Diameter of pinion............... 2 6
Two boilers, plain cylindrical, diameter...... 5 4
„ length............... 24 0
Area of fire-grate ... 5 ft. X 5 ft. 4 in. = 2G-G6 sq. ft.
Circumference of ropes ... ... ... ... 2^
in.
Length of plane ............ 1900 yds.
Above the line of section are placed the diagrams, as given by an indicator,
of the actual pressure on the piston at various points on the route, where
the gradient varies, whilst the empty tubs are drawn inbye, and below the
line of section are diagrams showing the amount of power
55
expended at the various points in drawing* the full tubs outbye. At
different points on the line, which traverses all round the section, and
indicates the direction in which the wagons are travelling-, are placed
figures, denoting- the time (in minutes) occupied in passing- over various
portions of the route.
The g-reatest power exerted by this engine is in drawing- thirty full tubs,
or 20-08 tons up an incline of 1 in 166, the power exerted here by the
engine is 52-2 horse-power actual, the indicated pressure being- 28 lbs. per
square inch (with a pressure in the receiver of 36 lbs. per square inch),
the number of revolutions being- sixty-eight per minute.
With the same pressure of steam in the boilers, the actual horsepower
indicated by the engine, when running empty at the rate of seventy-two
revolutions per minute, was five horse-power; and the power expended by
dragging the rope along, at the rate of sixty revolutions per minute, as
shown by the indicator, was 25*5 horse-power (and this reduced to the common
term of sixty-eight revolutions gives 26"7 horsepower, or fully one-half of
the power expended in drawing the load for friction of ropes and engine).
The result of the experiments with this engine may be tabulated thus :—
The maximum power to drag the load ... 52-2 H.P.
The average ditto ............ 40 „
The constant power to drag the ropes along was 25-5 „
The friction of engine alone......... 5 „
The length of rope moving being ...... 3800 yards.
The average rise inclination......... 1 in 174.
Load being ............ 30 tubs of 8 cwts.
This plane is 2500 yards long, with an average dip of 1 in 50, the rope paid
out being 5000 yards.
On Plate XIII. are given the results of experiments recently made with the
engine plane at Seaham No. 1 Pit, being indicator diagrams of the pressure
in the cylinder of the underground hauling engine.
Fio-. 1 is a diagram, taken when the full tubs are being drawn up the
heaviest part of the plane (1 in 387). The horse-power exerted •amounts to
94 H.P. actual.
Fig. 3 is a diagram, taken when the ends of the ropes are coupled together
and the engines running without any tubs attached to them, showing the
friction of the ropes and engine alone. The power exerted in dragging the
ropes being 43 H.P. actual.
56
Fig-. 2 is the diagram of the indicated pressure, when the engine is running
alone with the drums out of gear, showing the absorption of power by
friction on the engine alone, which amounts to 11 H.P. actual.
The result may be tabulated thus:—
Power required to drag the load............ 94 H.P.
Power required to drag the ropes and engine ...... 43 „
Power required to overcome the friction of engine only 11 „
Length of plane ..................2500yards.
Length of rope moving ...............5000jrards.
Average dip inclination ............... 1 in 50.
Load being ..................60 tubs of 8 cwts.
Circumference of main rope ............ 2f '¦•-.
„ „ tail tope............... 2J in.
Diagram Fig. 4 was taken when the engine ran the empty tubs in-bye down a
gradient of 1 in 387, and the Fig. 5 when the engine ran with the ropes
alone, the ends being' coupled together, down the same gradient. The power
exerted in dragging the ropes alone is actually larger than the power
expended in taking the tubs inbye. This is often the case on inclinations
where the engineman actually has to put the brake on in order to prevent the
tail rope from getting slack by the tub over-running; the gradient being
heavier than required to overcome the friction of the ropes.
Now, comparing this with the Marley Hill engine plane, which is SOOO yards,
and a heavier rope (circumference of rope, 2f in.), the horsepower required
to drag the ropes alone along should be much greater than 21 H.P., as given
by Messrs. Greenwell and Berkley, as previously mentioned.
It was originally the intention of the writer to have given a series of
results of experiments on various planes similar to .that now given; but a
Committee of the Institute having recently been appointed specially to
consider and report on the subject of underground haulage by ropes and
chains, he feels that the subject will now be better left in their hands.
Plate XII. represents a section of the North Way Engine Plane in the East
Minor Pit, Hetton Colliery.
»
Plate XIII. Diagrams showing the results of experiments made on the Engine
Plane at Seaham No. 1 Pit.
A COMPARISON OF
THE GUIBAL AND LEMIELLE
S Y S ,T E MS OF
MECHANICAL VENTILATORS.
Communicated by Wm. COCHRANE.
In the notice which I present to you I shall adhere as closely as possible
to the line of argument adopted hy M. Guibal, who, residing- in the
immediate district where mechanical ventilators have heen more fully tested
than in any other locality, has the facility of ascertaining' facts and of
forming- a judgment upon the merits of each system which it is difficult
otherwise to ohtain. M. Guihal directs his attention chiefly to the
comparison of his own ventilator (of which a description is already in your
Transactions, with the record of experiments upon it), and that of M.
Lemielle, which represent two systems quite distinct in theory and practice.
The latter has recently heen broug-ht prominently before this Institute,
though not for the first time, as will be seen by a reference to Vol. VI.,
p. 130 of the Transactions. It is stated to be the most perfect system of
ventilation for mines, and it is this claim which, I think, M. Guibal
satisfactorily refutes, at the same time affording-valuable information on
the subject of mechanical ventilation.
In order to attain the object in view, true scientific theories and actual
facts will be brought in opposition to the false ideas and incorrect
assertions which have been recently advanced in a pamphlet to which I shall
make frequent reference.* The questions at issue shall be thoroughly
examined, and I trust you will give careful attention to them, for they are
of public interest. I need not, I am sure, instance
* Notice on the Ventilation of Mines by means of Lemielle's Ventilator. Vol.
XVI.-1866.
H
58
the recent appalling- colliery accidents in England as an incentive to the
deeper study of the ventilation of mines in order to protect lives and
property from such terrible catastrophes. To this end it is important that
the laws of ventilation be more g-enerally known than they are, and
erroneous ideas among miners dispelled. Of these errors so many occur in the
pamphlet upon Lemielle's ventilator, to which I refer, that it becomes a
duty to combat them, for when once exposed, the propagation of them, with
its attendant danger, will be hindered.
In the first part of this discussion I shall follow successively the
arguments of the pamphlet above-mentioned, which I understand contains the
grounds of the recommendation of the Lemielle system; and thus easy
reference for comparison can be made.
In the second part I will discuss the general theories of the Guibal and of
the Lemielle ventilators, or rather of the two types to which these two
ventilators are referable, and I shall show by a full comparison, the
superiority of the former to the latter.
In conclusion, to make this discussion of the general interest and good
which are my main object in undertaking it, I will point out the means by
which, with really efficient mechanical ventilators, accidents arising from
the explosive mixtures found in coal-mines may be rendered less frequent and
less serious.
PARAGRAPH I.—PRESENT CONDITION OF THE VENTILATION
OF MINES.
It is here asserted that the immense development given in our days to
coal-mining has made all former methods of ventilation insufficient, and the
abandonment is predicted of these methods, and the replacing of all by the
Lemielle apparatus. No person, I think, will contradict the first statement,
for it is this consideration which has directed the attention of
mining-engineers to design a ventilator equal to the new requirements. As to
the abandonment of all methods known hitherto, it can only mean, that the
dimensions which mechanical ventilators have attained being-proved
insufficient, or their arrangement defective, they will no longer be
persevered in, for the principles on which they have been constructed are
the only ones on which a ventilating apparatus can be based, and therefore
cannot be abandoned; and M. Lemielle, though his words give a contrary
impression, is evidently of this opinion, for he simply enlarges the
proportions of his old ventilator to bring' it out as new. The point on
which we differ is the true merit of the principle of his system. lie
thinks the principle involved in his ventilator is the
59
best, and that he has practically carried it out in the most effective
manner. I think that it is a principle the least adapted to an apparatus
intended to produce large volumes of air and to overcome great resistances,
and of all applications of the principle that could have been devised, that
of M. Lemielle is the least calculated to bear the increased proportions to
which it is to be carried.
There are only two fundamental principles, first, that of the action of a
pump, or as it is generally styled the principle of "varying capacities;"
second, that of " impulsion." The little importance I attach to the first,
for reasons hereafter to be explained, led to the adoption of the second,
and the difficulty presented itself to remove from its practice certain
defects which for a long time were considered inherent to it. That this
difficulty has been overcome, and that the Guibal ventilator is equal to the
requirements of the most extensive mines, of which M. Lemielle seems not to
be aware, I can refer to the ventilators working in England and Wales, which
produce 110,000 cubic feet per minute, with a water-gauge of three inches,
as at Staveley, Pelton, and Middle Duffryn, and others of various power. In
Belgium the ventilator is worked to produce a water-gauge as high as
eight-and.-a-half inches, as at the mines of Monceau Fontaine.
RESULTS OF STAVELEY VENTILATOR.
Diameter of ventilator ..................... 30 feet.
Width................................ 10 »
Diameter of cylinder ..................... 25 inches.
Stroke................................. 25 „
Two horizontal engines are arranged opposite each other, so that either can
be applied to the same crank.
This ventilator is the best arranged of any which have hitherto been erected
in
England.
60
PAEAGEAPH II.-COMPAETSON OF THE VAEIOUS MECHANICAL VENTILATOES.
i» „ . g « .
1^1 |j | | II ||| | |
NAMES OF THE VENTILATOES. .9 P g p, g
¦3.3 T1 '[J g I", 2 g.S T1
j cub. yd.
cub. yd.
With curved wings (Combes) 6-08 0*826' 1-27 P495*
3-70 1*44
^STrST.^r.?*!!]} 9'24 1,9G8" 4-61 2'282" 1,3°4 °-76
With screw (Motte) ............| 8-61 0-826" 1-80 0-983"
5-640 1*40
With spiral (Paquet)............\ 13-83 1-101* 3-87 1-770"
8-000 3-60
With mill wings (Lesoinnc) ... 12-16 0-511" 1-98 0-511"
12-160 P98
With wheel (Fabry) ............' 16-84 1-613" 6"96 3-385"
5-600 4-82
This table is extracted from M. Ponson's work, upon which M. Lemielle bases
the relative values of ventilators most g-enerally in use; condemning- all
previous systems, excepting- his own, which does not figure in this list,
although it ought to have appeared in it, seeing that the date of its
invention is 1852. This table g'ives in one column the maximum volumes and
corresponding- depressions, in another the maximum depressions and the
corresponding- volumes from experiments which were made twenty or
twenty-five years since on ventilating apparatus then in use in Belgium.
Without reference to the progress made since that date, the insufficiency of
these tabulated results is brought into glaring- contrast with the modern
requirements of mines, and especial stress is laid on the fact that all
these ancient systems yielded volumes of air proportionately less as the
depression under which the air was extracted was greater; hence the
deduction that such ventilators cannot answer the desired conditions.
Persuaded that a new system is, therefore, necessary, he finds that his own
is the only solution of the problem, because it is free from this serious
defect which attaches to other systems. Nothing- is easier than to show the
error of M. Lemielle in this conclusion, but to do this, the true
interpretation of the tabulated results must be given, and I invite your
attention to theory and actual facts to establish this point.
Theoretically, a mine, considered for the purpose of ventilation, is a
passage consisting- of a succession of shafts and galleries, in which air
61
circulates in greater or less quantity, as the force which produces its
motion preponderates over the resistances it encounters, therefore the
results obtained depend on the intensity of this force, and not on the
nature of the means of producing- it. For instance, it could not happen that
a depression of 4" produced by the Lemielle ventilator should have more
power than the same depression produced by a ventilator with flat vanes, or
by the pneumatic wheel system of Fabry.
Therefore, in such passag-e the g-eneral laws of air in motion must apply,
among- which, under similar conditions in other respects, the volumes
passing- are in the proportion of the square roots of the forces applied to
produce the motion ; that is, if v and h express the volume and depression
in one case, and v' and h' in another, for the same mine and in the same
condition,
v : v' = v/h : ^h!
Or JL = Jl
' h h'
That is, for the same mine, the relation of the square of volume of air to
the depression producing- the volume remains constant, no matter what
variation in intensity of current there may be; and experiment confirms this
law. Hence, if in two successive experiments the same mine furnishes not the
constant, but
__ = k, and -«-. = k'
h lr
it is evident that the conditions of the mine have varied for the two
experiments.
Now the value of k depends on the leng-th of run of the air, the areas of
the sections of drifts, and the perimeter of these sections, and any
modification of these varies the value of k.
The conclusions drawn by M. Lemielle differ widely from the laws thus
enunciated. For instance, a ventilator produces in a mine a current of 10ms,
with a depression of 50m/m; and, in a subsequent experiment, 5m8; with a
depression of 100in/m. He does not suspect that in the conditions of the
mine itself an explanation of this irregularity is to be found, but he at
once blames the ventilator, without perceiving that he must attribute to the
arrangement or to the principle of the apparatus the singular property of
producing at one time a small depression which is very effective, and at
another a large depression, which is not effective at all.
62
The values of k and of k', resulting- from the table above mentioned, are as
follow :—
NAMES OF THE VENTILATORS. MAXIMUM VOLUME. MAXIMUM
DEPRESSION.
k = — k' = -~T
h h
6'08a 3'72
With curved wings (Combes)......... —;— = 44-8 __—
= 9-15
•826 l-49o
9-'M22 1-3042
With flat wings (or centrifugal force) - _ = 43-4 ———=
0-74
& v & ' 1-968
2-282
With screw (Motte) ..................... 8'61* = 90-
—'— — 32-8
v -826
-983
With spiral (Paquet)..................... 13-3- = 190- ^°-
= 361
1 v L J 1-0101
1-77
With mill wings (Lesoinne)............ 12^16f = 268-4
12'J;|-L = 283-4
•511 'oil
With wheel (Fabry)..................... 16'84' = 177-4
5*^1= 9-2
v Jy 1-613
3-385
To produce such great differences in the values of k and k', the condition
of the mine must have been greatly altered from one experiment to the other.
In fact, this did take place, not by chance but purposely, and by closing
the mouth of the shafts. The proofs of this are recorded in M. Ponson's
work, in the second volume, page 155, from which the experiments on " flat
wings" in the above table are taken, but with this difference in recording,
viz.: they are distinguished in M. Ponson's work under two classes of
experiments. M. Lemielle gives them as if under the same conditions. In
fact, the first experiments, as M. Ponson remarks, were not only upon the
open mine, but at a time when the arrangement of the workings was exercising
an advantageous influence on the ventilation, to such an extent that the
ventilator, making the same number of revolutions per minute and with the
same depression, yielded l-83m8 more air than the ordinary quantity of
5-092m3, whilst he points out that the second experiment was conducted to
ascertain the useful effect under the influence of a high depression,
obtained by almost completely closing the orifice of the intake shaft.
Similar explanations are found in M. Ponson's work on the "screw" of Motte,
at page 175; and on the Fabry "wheels," at page 197. For
63
the Combes' Ventilator, the original notice of M. Glepin must be consulted,
in Vol. III. of the " Bulletin du Musee de l'lndustrie Beige," p. 298, where
it is mentioned that the distribution of air in the mine was changed when
the larger volume with smaller depression was obtained.
Thus, the indications of theory are confirmed in respect of all the
apparatus in the very results upon which they are condemned by M. Lemielle;
and it cannot be doubted that he is wrong in attributing to these apparatus,
as a defect, the property of displacing a volume of air smaller in
proportion as depression produced becomes greater. I doubt if any engineer
would advance such an opinion; but the argument against it is incontestible.
Notwithstanding, it will, perhaps, be urged by the supporters of the
Lemielle system, that there is no obstruction of the air-current which can
diminish the volume of air drawn into his ventilator as the depression
produced increases. To anticipate this false argument, I shall refer to
experiments made by M. Jochams, in 1855, on a Lemielle ventilator,
established at the mine of Bayemont, the details of which are recorded in
Vol. XV., p. 25, of the " Annales des Travaux Publics de Belgicpie," and
from which it appears that this apparatus, which yielded 6-989m8 of air per
second, under a depression of 50m/m, when the mine was quite open, only
yielded 6-409m3 when the opening of the shaft was almost closed, although
the depression had increased to 75 m/m, and in this instance, the values of
k and k' did not remain the same, they are respectively -977 and -548, so
that it is clearly seen from these experiments, that the Lemielle is no more
exempt than the other ventilators from a decrease of volume under an
increase of depression; and no wonder, for is it not self-evident that
whatever apparatus is employed to ventilate a mine, it can only discharge
the air which enters it 1
Finally, the table in which M. Lemielle thinks he finds so powerful an
argument in favour of his apparatus, means absolutely nothing, if not this,
and common sense would indicate it to everybody—viz., that when the opening-
of a shaft is contracted, the air no longer enters the mine with the same
facility. It is a subject of regret that the above-mentioned table was not
completed by the experiments of M. Jochams, at the mine of Bayemont, for it
would then have been evident that if the conclusions drawn therefrom are
true for other apparatus, they are also true for the Lemielle, and thus this
error would have been avoided. However, it is a happy circumstance that such
a principle is not true,
lm3 per second is about 2120 cubic feet per minute. I retain the French
measures throughout, as offering great advantages for calculation.
64
otherwise mining- industry must have despaired of ever satisfying- the
growing wants of ventilation.
PARAGRAPH III.—VENTILATION WITH PNEUMATIC WINGS ON LEMIELLE'S SYSTEM.
The Lemielle system is stated to have been employed for a long* time in
Belgium and France at many mines, and an example is instanced by M. Lemielle
as showing- the power of his first ventilator • it is that ol Creuzot, where
one of his apparatus produced a depression of 300 m/m (11-81 inches). The
impression is also given that the new ventilator is different from the first
one, of which a description is found in the Transactions of the Institute
(Vol. VI.). A careful comparison, however, with the ventilator at Douchy,
which was erected in 1803, shows that the system is the same, the dimensions
only being- varied, and a few unimportant details of construction attended
to.
The first Lemielle apparatus has certainly enjoyed but little favour
among mining engineers in France and Belgium, as can be learnt by
reference to the mines where it has been in use. It remains to be seen
how much better success will attend the so-called second; but really the
first revived.
At the end of M. Laurent's paper (Vol. VI.), a list of mines is given where
the first ventilator was in use. Among these forty-five cases, there are
several small machines used for blowing forge-fires, for instance, those
used by the Anzin Company, who, however, had two, not three as stated. I
also remark that four apparatus are stated to be at work with the " Societe
des Produits •" these, I know, never existed. Again, the " Societe de
Braquegnies" never had more than one, instead of two, as figuring in the
list; so that little reliance can be placed on this list, which takes credit
for ventilators which have not been established. I believe there is not
one-fourth of these ventilators enumerated at work now ,• they have been
done away with and replaced by the Fabry and by the Guibal. I instance,
among the latter, the ventilators of the mines of " Bonne Esperance," "
Fosse du Verger d'Anzin," of " Strepy Braquegnies," and of " Ronchamp."
And now I propose to examine the Creuzot ventilator, to which M. Lemielle
calls especial attention as a model of his system.
Let me remark, first, that not the ventilation of a large mine, but of some
particular portion of workings, is the instance he gives ; for he mentions
the air-current as passing along a passage of 104 square inches section
(-0076m2) and 318 yards long -(286..i), therefore, the volume
65
of air circulating- could not be large, notwithstanding the evidence of M.
Schneider, the mine owner, that the workings were sufficiently ventilated.
The exact information of the extent of these workings is as follows:— The
air descended by a shaft 370m diameter, 315m deep, and along a gallery 272m2
area x 270m long, then along a gallery of 360m2 x 150m long. The current
then returned, along a gallery of L60m2 area x 130m long, and a bricked
archway of -26m2 area x 270m long to the bottom of the shaft, where a
sheet-iron tube, of the dimensions named by M. Lemielle, conveyed it up the
shaft to the inlet of the ventilator.
The extent of workings being sufficient to employ twelve or fifteen men, an
opinion may be formed of the importance of the Creuzot ventilation.
To have a fair appreciation of the wrork done, the volume and the dimensions
of the ventilator, as well as its speed, should have been stated, but this
information is withheld. I am, therefore, induced to make a calculation from
such data as are communicated, to ascertain these details.
CALCULATIONS UPON THE CREUZOT VENTILATOR. Depression 11-81" = 300m/m of
water.
Theoretical velocity of air v = ^2 g h = 2 g x '300 x 1oo
¦\ _L" r^jt)
.-. v = 67-40m. And, supposing one-third the velocity lost by contraction of
the passage and the resistances, the actual velocity would be about 40m per
second. The section of the passage is 101"= -0076m2. Volume extracted, 40
x •0676 = 2704m3 per second.
Now, the Bayemont ventilator proves a reentry of air of 2-744m8 under 50m/m
depression, therefore, under 300m/m, the reentry of air will
be 2-744 ~ = 6-585m3. ¦si oO
2-704m8 The yield of air will be, therefore, p.*QK ¦ 0.704. = '^> anc^
^ie
engine having- a coefficient of -65, the total useful effect will be -29 +
•65 = -19.
The volume, per revolution, of the Bayemonfc ventilator, is 36-500m3, the
total volume generated being 6-585 + 2704 = 9-289m8; hence,
O.QQQ 3
the apparatus would be working at —___ = -25 revolutions per second,
36-(>00m3
or -25 x 60 = 15 revolutions per minute.
Vol. XVI.—1807.
1
66
The depression being- 300m/m, the theoretical velocity of the air is 6?-40m
per second. The contraction at the entrance of the passage, and the
resistances along- it, lead to the opinion that the real velocity could not
exceed 40m • and in such case the volume of air in one second would not
exceed 2*7m8. The apparatus is probably similar to the Lemielles which were
made at that time;* for instance, that of Bayemont referred to. The
experiments by M. Jochams, on this apparatus, afford the means of
ascertaining- the volume that the Lemielle ventilator must have generated,
to create the above-mentioned current in the passage. This volume, so
calculated, is 9*289m3, corresponding to fifteen revolutions of the
apparatus per minute. Therefore, to draw 2*7m8 of air, a volume of 9-289m3
has been generated in the ventilator, representing' a useful effect, in air
extracted, of only 29 %. If we admit that the engine which drives the
ventilator transmits to the axis #65 of the steam power applied to the
piston (which is a fair result from experiments to be given hereafter), the
useful effect of the Creuzot ventilator is reduced to 19 °/0. And this is,
in practice, the cost at which the large depressions, so much insisted upon
under the Lemielle system, are attained.
PARAGRAPH IV.—INFERIORITY (AS ALLEGED BY LEMIELLE) OF
VENTILATORS WITH FLAT WINGS MORE OR LESS IMPROVED. M. Lemielle again appeals
to his imaginary objections against all ventilators except his own, and
states that, with his ventilator, winch acts like a pump, the depressions,
however great, have only a very slight influence on the volume of air
displaced. As he adds no proof of this assertion, I presume that he
relies on appearances, as he did in the case of the decrease of the volume
of air corresponding, as he stated, with an increase of depression in all
ventilators except his own. True, that in all the experiments reported as
made at Aniche, and at Nord du Bois de Boussu, the volume of air extracted
from the mine at each revolution of the apparatus remains nearly constant,
notwithstanding' considerable difference in the depressions produced;
therefore, there is clearly foundation for the statement; and, indeed, how
can it be otherwise, since theory indicates that, under the circumstances of
a mine offering the same conditions of resistance, which is the case in
point, such result must follow. But, I must add that this is equally true
for ventilating apparatus of any kind, and that M. Lemielle errs in
attempting to attribute it to his only. Another error is also apparent,
and springs from the same source as the first, for I shall show
that, if the volume
67
extracted by each revolution of his apparatus remains constant, it is not
because it acts like a pump, but simply because the shafts where the
experiments were conducted remained fully open during' the experiment. And I
will further show that, if the shafts had been more or less closed, as was
the case with the other ventilators previously mentioned, the volume
extracted would have decreased in the same manner.
The Lemielle ventilator acts by forming a succession of increasing-and
decreasing capacities, which alternately draw air in and force it out, like
the pnuematic wheels of Fabry, piston machines, bell plungers, and all the
apparatus on the pump principle, which, from this action, are called
machines of "varying capacities." These capacities being known, and the
number of times they are filled and emptied in a unit of time, the volume
generated by the apparatus is at once calculable.
The volume of air extracted from the mine would be equal to the volume
generated, if passages of varying number and dimensions did not allow the
air exterior to the apparatus to enter it, and only in the event of
preventing such reentry could it be said that the volume displaced is
independent of the depression produced. But if there are sources of leakage
in the apparatus, the volume of exterior air which is thus let in will
increase as the depression increases, and therefore the air drawn from the
mine will proportionately diminish.
This simple enunciation of what takes place in all ventilators of " varying
capacities," but especially in Lemielle's, will form a basis for the
following demonstration :— Let it be assumed that
Vu be the volume per second of air-current produced by a Lemielle
ventilator; in other words, its " useful or effective volume," Vr the volume
per second which reenters the apparatus through
the open spaces, or the " ineffective volume," Ve the volume per second
generated (engendre), or the " theoretical volume." For every ventilator in
action upon a mine, Vu is known by means of measurements, and Ve by the
actual dimensions of the apparatus. Vr is found, therefore, from Vu and
Ve, for the theoretical volume is equal to the sum of the useful volume and
the reentering volume :
Ve = Vu + V, Now, let the number of revolutions in a second be observed and
represented by n (ordinarily this number is taken per minute, and
68
then n = — \—the useful volume corresponding- to each revolution, and which
we will represent by Q, will be equal to —-.
Now, the volume of air Q, extracted from a mine by one revolution
of the apparatus under a depression h, is the same as the volume Q'
under another depression h' obtained by an increase or decrease of speed
of the apparatus, so long- as the mine remains free—that is, if no chang'e
has been made in the length of the air-course, or in the area of shaft or
galleries, or in their perimeter. The values of Q and Q' being-
respectively
V V
—2. and —£, it remains to be proved that, at whatever depression they
are observed (the mine remaining* under the same conditions), these
values are equal, i.e., that —— = -r^.
n n
Now, any cause by which the depression produced by an air-current
in a mine varies from h to h', varies also the volume Vu in such a
manner, that
m....................v = v —
LJ u uJh
Every modification in the depression influences in a like manner the volume
which flows throug-h existing- orifices, such as the joints of the
apparatus, hence, for the volume re-entering- in the second case,
PJ..................V''=v-J?
The volumes g-enerated being- proportional to the number of revolutions
of the apparatus
Ve : V'e = n : n'
Or, Vu + Vr : V'u + V'r = n : n'
V' + V from which n' = n x vu vr-
V u i ' r
by substitution of above values n' == n ( " ? ) - = n .-
but Q' = V -—jp = Is = /. Q;
11 njE n
so that the volume displaced by each revolution of the apparatus remains
constant, whatever be the depression produced j and this is true, for every
ventilating apparatus so long- as the conditions of the mine
69
remain unchanged. And it is important to observe that this is true,
independent of the greater or less volume of reentering air. The Lemielle
ventilator is subject to this universal principle, but it is an erroneous
conclusion to draw therefrom that no reentries of air arise in the Lemielle.
The above demonstration exposes very clearly the unsound reasonings upon the
Lemielle system, which may advantageously be further elucidated by a
comparison.
Suppose water is being drawn from a well by two vessels alternately, each
capable of containing one hundred pints, andnt is found that the one only
contains eighty pints when brought to the surface, the time occupied in
transit being one minute, and the other which has been raised in half a
minute, also contains eighty pints, can it be inferred that the two vessels
having brought the same volume of water at each ascent, have neither of them
lost any in their course ? On the contrary, it must be at once admitted that
each vessel has lost twenty pints, and that the second vessel presents
sources of leakage of double the extent of the first, since it has lost an
equal volume in half the time.
The same conclusions are drawn from the experiments made on all ventilators
of " varying capacities." They present sources of leakage— for the useful
volume is never equal to that which they generate, and, inasmuch as they
yield an equal useful volume per revolution at various speeds on the same
mine, the only conclusion is, that more air enters these apparatus when they
work quickly than when they work slowly, otherwise their effect ought to
increase with their speed.
The error in this case arises from neglecting the consideration of the
increase of the reentering volume proportionate, as is well known, to the
higher depressions due to the increased speed, and it is forgotten that the
increase of the reentering volume is concealed by the increased "useful
volume" which follows the same law in the case of a free mine, and that it
is necessary, in order to make evident the reentries of air, to experiment
on different mines, or on the same mine, under various conditions of
resistance, such as will yield depressions independent of the speed of the
ventilator.
The following demonstration will make this clear; for, what is the useful
volume corresponding to a revolution of the apparatus in the case of the
speed of the apparatus remaining constant ? It is found that a variation in
the depression arises on opening or shutting the orifice of the shaft, in
other words, in varying the conditions of resistance of the current.
)
70
Adopting- the same notations as in the first demonstration, we shall have
the value for the useful volume per revolution,
Q = f under the depression h ) ^ ^ remainin„,
¦ V'„ , , ( constant:
Q' = —= .................. h
^ n
but Vu = Ve - Vr and V'u = V'e - V'r
.-. Q = Yc ~ Vr and Q' = Y'° ~ V-r n n
and V = Vr J- and V'e = Ve since velocity is the same in the two cases, >|
h
h'
.". Q' = —---------— a value evidently smaller than Q = —-------r
and diminishing* as h' becomes greater than h. The useful volume,
corresponding to each revolution, is, therefore, no longer constant under
these new circumstances.
The experiments of M. Jochams, at the Colliery of Bayemont, already quoted,
will serve me to prove that theory is here again in conformity with
practice.
In the first experiment on the free mine he found, at sixteen revolutions of
the apparatus, 6'989m8 (Vu) under a depression of 50™/m (h), .-. Q = I?= ^ x
60- = 6-989 x GO = 26.2080m. per revolntion.
60
In the second experiment on the mine partly closed, he found a
volume of 6-409m8 under a depression of 75m/m (h'),
. o' - V'» - V'- x 60 - 6'409 x 60 = 24-030m3 per revolution. "y ~T>T"
N 16 F
60" M. Jochams having- calculated the volume generated per revolution
of this apparatus, found it to he 36-500m8. Therefore, when it made
sixteen revolutions per minute, the volume generated in a second, or V„
36-500 x 16 Q ~qq 8 was------------------= y vodm°.
hence Vr = Va - Vu = 9733m3 - 6-989^= 2744-F,
and Q' = Ve~V^E = 9.788-2744 <] 50 = 03.904,^.
60 The practical result was 24-030ms
, . ,24-030 -23-904 _ >n05 .*. the error is to the extent 01
------94-030-------- ~~
71
2fi-208
In the first experiment the useful effect in air was ----- = 71,
36-5
24-030 and in the second, with the mine partly closed, - ^ . ' . = -65.
1 J ' 36-0
Now, as the formula in this case agrees so nearly with the experimental
results, it will be readily admitted that in any other cases the deductions
drawn from it will represent very accurately the actual facts, so that
we may deduce from this same formula what would have been the result
at Bayemont if the shaft had been more nearly closed, so as to increase
the depression to 300m/m (which M. Lemielle states was obtained at
Creuzot) the speed of the ventilator remaining- the same. Under these
I 300 •
., , ,n'- 9733m8 - 2744m8 *J 50 circumstances the
value of Q is =--------------=-5-------------- = ll'80m8
60" the useful volume per revolution; and as the apparatus generated
36-50m3 the useful effect in air would be —-----= -33 or onlv \.
Can it be said, in the face of such results, that the depression produced
has only a very slight influence on the volume of air extracted by the
Lemielle ventilator 1
The volume reentering- per second would be in this case
V'r = Vr \1' = 2-744 x §22 = 6-585m3. Nil *J
50
And as the volume generated per second, at sixteen revolutions per minute,
is 9733m3, it follows that the useful effect in air will only be
V'u = V'e - V, = 9-733 - 6-585 = 3T48m3, which gives the same result as
above,
3-148 .QQ iA 9733= 33ot^-
It is easy to see, as the useful effect decreases from -71 to -33, when the
depression increases from 50ra/m to 300in/m, that there will be a depression
at which there will be no air drawn from the mine. Such will be the case
when the volume re-entering is 9733m3, that is when
2-744 %- = 9733m3
N 00
fiQ.OQf*
Or, Vh7 = ^i3 = 25-3 i.e., h' = 629m/m, .*. if at sixteen revolutions per
minute the depression were 629m/m, the
72
ventilator would not discharge any air. Indeed, if this value of h' be
substituted in the formula for Q', the result is zero,
9733 - 2744 ®® Q,= ------------^^ = 0
The conclusion, therefore, cannot be disputed that the Lemielle ventilator
does not possess the peculiar properties which are claimed for it alone, nor
are the other ventilators open to the objections which are made to them.
Should any doubts still remain on the points discussed, nothing- but a
practical test can set them at rest. This, however, cannot be other than
confirmatory of true theory.
PARAGRAPH V.—FIRST IMPROVED LEMIELLE VENTILATOR, ERECTED AT THE MINE DOUGHY,
AT ANICHE.
M. Lemielle gives an account of his first improved ventilator, erected in
1863, at a mine of the Aniche Company, to extract twenty cubic yards of air
per second, u under any amount of depression whatsoever ;" and he gives a
table of experiments, conducted on this apparatus, showing- that the
promised results were exceeded. Such excess was in
the proportion of -——-—— = -075 ; not a very important excess, and
by no means indicating- that the ventilator is g-ood; for if a machine
capable of producing* 100 horse-power be applied to produce twenty
horse-power, it is not astonishing* that a result of twenty-one horsepower
should be attained. Still, M. Lemielle must congratulate himself on the
result, having undertaken the extraction of twenty cubic yards of air, "
under any depression whatsoever;" for it might have happened that the
conditions were not possible of fulfilment, owing to the resistances of the
mine over which M. Lemielle had no control; and if these had been such as to
require a depression of eight or ten inches of water to admit of twenty
cubic yards of air circulating in the workings, it is quite probable that
the ventilator would have failed to do the work. The consideration of the
motive power required, which M. Lemielle seems entirely to negiect, is a
point which must not escape notice, for it is absurd to expect the
fulfilment of impossible conditions.
The guarantee that M. Lemielle offers is, in fact, such a case, when he
undertakes in any particular mine to furnish a given volume of air at a
depression which is not fixed. M. Lemielle leads some who do not carefully
study the question to believe that his ventilator in one revolution must
displace a volume of air equal to its capacity; and he argues, " how can the
depression to be produced interfere with this result ?
73
The motive force must be greater as the depression increases, but do I not
apply a force in excess of all possible requirements ?—and it is simply a
question of power applied."
But this question of power applied is a serious one. First, inasmuch as it
is important not to apply engines of greater power than required, and
second, it is necessary to know that the power applied is sufficient for all
requirements, which, according* to M. Lemielle, there are no means of
fixing; and then it is quite a mistake to take for granted that his
ventilator extracts a volume of air from the mine equal to its capacity at
each revolution. So contrary is this to the actual result, that it will be
shortly proved that this volume varies for each different mine, or for the
same mine if the current is more or less obstructed. And though an engine a
hundred times above the power required were used, on the supposition that
the volume of air displaced is equal to the capacity of the ventilator, or
even a certain fraction of its capacity, it will only be by chance that the
results guaranteed will be obtained.
Enough has now been said upon the question of unreasonable guarantees. As to
the merit which M. Lemielle attributes to himself of leading the way in
mechanical ventilation, I can point to the establishment of the Guibal
ventilator since 1860, and the production by it of large volumes and
depressions; and therefore, in deciding* to increase the dimensions of his
ventilator in 1863, he was only following the steps of others, with the
object of removing the discredit into which his ventilator had fallen.
PARAGRAPH VI—VENTILATOR ERECTED AT THE MINE OF THE NORD DU BOIS DE BOUSSU.
M. Lemielle records the fact of the ventilation of the Alliance Pit being
insufficient, and the Public Administration of Mines requiring a quantity of
forty cubic yards per secondunder a depression of'3*142"', the engineer of
the mine did not know how to attain such a result, as no apparatus of such
power mas in use. He applied to If. Gonot, the head, engineer of the Public
Administration, to indicate the system which should be adopted, and this
gentleman, after minute enquiry and experiments on the ventilators in use,
came to the conclusion that the Lemielle was the only one which could fulfil
the desired conditions, and he advised its adoption.
This may be in the main correct, and no doubt M. Gonot may have decided to
give the preference to Lemielle''s ventilator for the ventilation of the
Alliance Pit, but it is not true that such preference was given Vol.
XVI.-1807.
K
74
after minute enquiry and experiments on all the apparatus in tise. Indeed,
had he taken the trouble to make enquiry and experiments, he would easily
have learnt that several Guihal ventilators were in use which exceeded the
power required for the Alliance Pit. For instance, at the mines of Crachet
and Picquery in the same district as the Nord du Bois de Boussu, and placed
under the direction of the same financial company, where a current of 83ms
per second had been obtained by using- the full power of the ventilator• and
again at the mine of Monceau Fontajne, where a working depression of 215 m/m
had been regularly maintained.
M. Gonot was led to the recommendation of the Lemielle ventilator by the
preconceived idea that ventilators, acting on the centrifugal force
principle, were incapable of producing large depressions, an opinion held at
that time by many engineers, who drew their conclusions from the unimportant
results of ancient apparatus of this kind, and from a misconception of the
mechanical principles involved in this system of action. Having recorded
these facts, M. Lemielle gives two series of experiments upon the Alliance
Pit ventilator, indicating only the depressions and volume of air obtained
at different speeds.
An omission occurs here again, which, from its repetition, seems
intentional. No details are given from which the useful mechanical effect
can be estimated• in other words, the relation of power applied and
economised is not mentioned. But if it was an unimportant matter to utilise
only 20 or 25 per cent, of the motive power when the ventilation of mines
only required a few horse-power, it is no longer so now, when machinery of
more than 100 horse-power is required.
Fortunately, the Commission, whose report on this Lemielle ventilator is
quoted by M. Lemielle, mentions its dimensions, and as another Commission,
experimenting on the same apparatus, has measured the motive power applied,
the calculations of its useful effect can be made, and the discussion of the
merits of this ventilator can be conducted on precise facts.
The first step is to find the capacity of the Alliance ventilator, and from
it the volume generated per revolution. The chamber of this apparatus is
7-10m diameter by 5m high. Its interior drum is a hexagon of 5m outside
diameter, and the vanes are 2-50m broad. The centre of this drum is "835m
distant from the centre of the chamber.
The accompanying sketch (Plate XVI.), to J^th scale, shows by a dark shade
the space in which the air from the mine is confined between two vanes, and
is conveyed to the exterior¦. also, by a light shade the space
75
which is filled with air from the exterior and re-enters the mine behind
each vane. To ascertain the volume of air in these spaces, the cubical
contents might be mathematically calculated, but it would be a complicated
process. A simpler mode is to use a good " planimetre," which I have done.
This instrument gives, for the dark surface 35050m/ma, and for the light
surface 8014m/m3. As the sketch is to ^th scale, these surfaces must be
multiplied by 202 = 400, yielding- 14-0200m2 and 3-2056m2 respectively. Each
of these surfaces being the base of a solid 5m high, it follows that the
capacities are 70T00ms and 16*028m8 respectively. Now, as the apparatus
makes one revolution, these capacities are reproduced three times, .*, the
volume of air discharged = 210'300mn, and the volume of air re-entering =
48-081m3, and .*. the volume actually displaced or the theoretical volume =
162,216m8.
This result will enable me to complete the table furnished by M. Lemielle,
by contrasting with each result the volume generated by the apparatus.
In the first experiment the apparatus made five revolutions per
minute. The volume generated per second, or Ve of the formula, was
162-216 x 5
— nr.------= 13-528m3. The actual volume tested by gauges was
11466m3, hence a re-entry into the apparatus of 13-528 — 11*460 =
2'062m8 per second. The ventilator operates .*. in this experiment on
13-528 to yield only 11466, and a yield of air is obtained of*
11-466
^o,K0n = 84 °/0. Similar calculations for the other experiments give
the following results :—
Bevolutions of Volume generated Useful
Volume, or Actual Per Contage of Air
Apparatus per Minute. per Second. Volume
extracted per Second. yielded.
5 13-528 m« 11-466 m3
84°/0
10 27*036 m» 25-202>3
93%
145 39-231 m» 32-546 m"
83%
18 48-701 m3 45-217 m3
92%
The yield of air varies, therefore, from 83 % to 93 % in these experiments,
whereas theory indicates that it should be constant for the same apparatus
on the same mine. This requires explanation, and it is thus. The
measurement of the air-current at the Alliance Pit was
76
conducted in a passage 6m x 8m section, which connects the pit and the
ventilator; that is, in a position where the current is suddenly bent at a
right angle, and is, therefore, subject to very varying- velocities at
various points. Now the Commission referred to mentions that they only
placed the anemometer at three points of this passage, and in the last
experiment at only two. Under such conditions accuracy is impossible,
especially with high velocities.
Another Commission conducted experiments much more complete and accurate on
this same ventilator, especially as regards the measure- • ment of the
air-current, for the anemometer was placed by them at ten different points,
and several observations taken at each. The results obtained on the 10th
June, 1866, were:—
Ventilator at 10*125 revolutions per minute;
Volume of air, 20-640m3;
Average depression, 4075m/m.
Therefore, the volume generated in a second was 16S'216 * 10'125 =
60
27*597ms, and the air-current produced only 20'646m3.
The volume re-entering is thus 6-951m3 and the yield of air is 20-646 _
„r 0/ 27-597 lo'
This result must be more accurate than the preceding one, for it
was found that at the lower part of the passage there were layers of air
not only stagnant but at some points having an inward velocity, a
circumstance which could not be noted by the first commission because
they only operated at three points of the gallery. And the proof that
the first experiments were not carefully conducted is found in the dif-
v3 ferent values of -j- which ought to be the same. The following table
shows these values :—
At 5 revolutions -J- =11'46— = 13-14. h 10
10 „ = 25'2021 = 12-70.
ou
14-5 „ = 3295g463 = 11-15.
18 „ - ^L = 11-87.
According to the report of the second Commission, this value was 20-6463
l075~= 1(HG-
77
The results of the second Commission are clearly much more reliable than
those of the first, especially as the second Commission took diagrams to
test the power applied in the steam cylinder. I shall, therefore, adopt
their figures, the more so, as M. Lemielle was present on the occasion of
the second experiments.
The before-mentioned yield of air enables the calculation of the useful
effect of the apparatus; for to obtain in kilogrammetres the work
represented by a volume of air at a given depression, this volume, expressed
in cubic metres, is multiplied by the height of the column of water in
millimetres, measuring the depression; and as the depression is the same,
the relation between the actual air-current and the volume of air generated
expresses the result.
At five revolutions, for instance, the- useful effect would be
11'4^'"3 x |^r = 84"8 %> tllat is< if tlle ventilator had 100 horse-13"528m3
x 10m/m
power applied to it, only 84-8 are utilized. But the force produced in the
cylinder is not entirely transmitted to the ventilator, a portion is
absorbed. If the power transmitted to the ventilator be known, as we know
what per centage of it the ventilator utilizes, the product of these two
quantities would show the power utilized, or as it is called the coefficient
of useful effect of the steam introduced into the cylinder. The second
Commission proved this to be 48-3 °/0, when the yield of air-current was, as
above shown, 75 %. Therefore, if x represents the fraction of the power of
the engine transmitted to the ventilator 75 x x =
-483 *483 .'. x = -7~-— = *65, so that in this experiment out of 100
horsepower of steam applied in the cylinder, only 65 were transmitted to the
ventilator; and this loss of 35 °/0 is not the result of the imperfection of
the steam engine, but of the construction of the ventilator, which is very
complicated, and entails a serious absorption of power even when the oiling
of the bearings is attended to most carefully, the neglect of which is still
more serious. The Alliance ventilator .\ has 65 °/0 of the power applied to
it to utilize, and as it only utilizes 75 %, its useful effect is reduced to
48'3 %, as before stated. This useful effect remains constant at all
velocities of the apparatus; for, the yield of air, as has been seen,
remains the same, and the coefficient of the engine may be considered as
invariable. But if the yield of air were varied, and instead of being 75 %
it was only 50 %, the useful effect would fall from 48'3 % to '75 X '50 =
37-5 °/0. Now, in order to diminish the yield of air it is only necessary to
increase the resistances of the current as was done
78
in the case of the Bayemont ventilator, and if Messrs. Plumat and Canelle
had tested the current when, at seventeen revolutions per minute, they
obtained 220 m/m depression, their experiment would have confirmed this
statement. But no experiments are required to corroborate such simple
matters. Suppose a Lemielle ventilator acting' upon a closed mine, it is
clear that it can extract no air from it—still, a certain speed can be given
to the ventilator which will absorb a large amount of power ; it is evident,
under such circumstances, that the yield of air will be nil, and that the
product of this result zero, with the coefficient of the engine, which is
always *65, will be also nil, so that much power might be recpiired to drive
the apparatus and no useful effect be produced by it; the conclusion from
which is that the Lemielle apparatus will work less advantageously on a mine
as the depression increases, for I have shown that the yield of air
decreases as the depression increases—the contrary is affirmed by M.
Lemielle. One more remark of M. Lemielle's requires attention, viz., his
protest against experiments on ventilators in which air has been taken at
the surface instead of being drawn through the mine. The experiments to
which he alludes are those of two engineers, MM. Gille and Franeau (which
are recorded in the Transactions of this Institute*), on the Guibal
ventilator at Crachet and Picquery, and which were published with the object
of explaining the system of the Guibal ventilator, and of proving- its
efficiency in each detail of its arrangement, also to show its points of
difference from previous ventilators which were more or less anala^ous.
The mine of Picquery being very unfavourably circumstanced in the matter of
ventilation, only yielding 23751m3 per second under 85m/m depression, it was
necessary, in order to act upon large volumes without increasing- the
depression, to facilitate the access of air by opening- more direct
communications to the mine, and this was done at the surface; but these
communications by no means destroyed the depression, as M. Lemielle states,
for when the volume reached 82-900ms, the depression in the chamber through
which the air passed into the apparatus was still 51m/m, which is duly
recorded with the volume in the original notice of these experiments.
It is to be regretted that M. Lemielle should observe with so much
prejudice, for, as in the same page of M. Ponson s work from which he
quotes, he does not notice that the orifices of the pits have been
contracted in the cases where the reduction of the volumes of air seems to
him
* Vol. XVI.
79
so startling, so in the same phrase of this pamphlet, he does not see the
depression under which the large volume of 88m3 was obtained. Whatever may
be the object in refusing to see facts as they are, it will be prudent not
to conduct a similar experiment on the ventilator of the Nord du Bois de
Boussu as this on the Guibal ventilator at Picquery, which is criticised so
strongly, for the result will be that under the depression of «31m/m, the
volume re-entering the apparatus per second will be
V'r = 6-951m3 J^ = 6-951m3 x 1-12 = 7788m3 ^4075
Therefore, to extract 83m3, 83m3 + 7788 = 90788m3 per second
must be generated, and as the capacity of the ventilator of the Alliance
Pit is lG2*336m3 per revolution, it would have to make —-,,„- = '56
revolutions per second, or *56 x 00 = 33'6 revolutions per minute; and, as
will be seen hereafter, there is every reason for believing that, at such a
speed, the apparatus would not work an hour without breaking-itself to
pieces.
PARAGRAPH VII.—VENTILATOR OF THE PIT TURENNE AT DENAIN, COMPANY OP THE
ANZIN MINES.
This ventilator supplied to the Anzin Company is expected to produce at
twenty revolutions per minute a current of sixty cubic yards per second,
whatever may be the depression. This peculiarity of guaranteeing a given
volume of air, independently of the depression, is again conspicuous. M.
Lemielle knows, nevertheless, that the force required to produce a current
varies with the depression under which this current is produced, for in the
preceding paragraph, he shows that 53'32 cubic yards at a depression -039"
only require two-thirds of a horse-power, whilst 53-32 at a depression 5-90"
require eighty horse-power. To be logical, therefore, if an apparatus is
wanted equal to the extraction of 53-32 cubic yards at a depression of
0'39", he should supply an engine of eighty horse-power, since the
depression being unlimited, it may be quite necessary to have 5'90", and
thus this force would be required. Indeed, there is no reason for stopping
at 5'90", and at eighty horse-power, but any greater power might be
demanded.
The neglect of the consideration of the force required to drive the
ventilator leads M. Lemielle into great errors; so, for this Turenne
Ventilator, he says he will extract even 93'32m8 by a little increase of the
speed.
This little increase must certainly be one-half more, for clearly it
80
must be at least proportional to the volume extracted j and not looking at
the additional power required, he speaks as of a small item of the increase
from sixty cubic yards to ninety-three. To produce a small increase of a
ventilating current, however, as is well known, involves a considerable
additional power. And this increase from sixty to ninety-three cubic yards,
will require a power applied of 3-724 times the power expended to produce
sixty, viz., 933: GO3.
And if the expectations of M. Lemielle in this respect are not realised, no
doubt some fault in construction will be blamed for the non-performance of
work, which it was impossible to realise. I regret to have to call attention
so often to similar false ideas, but as they constantly recur, and may
mislead others, they must be exposed.
M. Lemielle, in one of his deductions, remarks, that because the Anzin
Company have already three Guibal ventilators, and have adopted a Lemielle
for the Turenne Pit, instead of putting up a fourth Guibal, the Company have
no great confidence in the Guibal system. In this case, the Guibal
ventilator was offered to the Anzin Company to be fixed alongside of the
Lemielle, at the Turenne Pit; and it was proposed that the one which should
be declared inferior, should be at the disposal of the Anzin Company gratis.
I regret that private details compel me to be silent on the reasons why this
company had recourse to Lemielle's apparatus for the Turenne Pit, after
having replaced most successfully the only Lemielle they had, by a Guibal,
at the Verger Pit. But I may remark that it is one thing' to give a
preference to one of two apparatus in competition, and it is another to do
away with a ventilator in operation, especially when the wisdom of the
substitution has been confirmed by several years of regular and satisfactory
working; whilst the preference, of which M. Lemielle boasts, has still to
earn its justification. It is certainly not a step towards this
justification that a serious breakage should occur about two months ago,
which has entailed a stoppage of this ventilator for about six weeks; but
this is one of the many confirmations of the liability to derangement which
has already been commented upon.
PARAGRAPH VIII.—ADVANTAGES OBTAINED FROM A MECHANICAL POINT OF VIEW.
I have had occasion already to state that the new ventilator of M. Lemielle
is only the original one established upon a larger scale, and if I have not
hitherto called attention to the important bearings of this increased size
of the apparatus, it is because I contemplated the discus-
81
sion of this paragraph. The following is an extract:—"It might be
apprehended that my ventilator, when constructed of large dimensions, is
less strong than formerly, but it is precisely the contrary that takes
•place; a fact easily perceptible, because its parts working more slowly,
offer the best requirements for duration.''''
M. Lemielle foresees the objection which common sense must make to the
increased dimensions of his ventilator, and he is right in doing so, for the
original apparatus possessed so little strength of structure, or safety in
working-, that whoever has seen it at work could not but anticipate an
increased number of accidents from the same system on a larger scale. This
natural fear had to be dissipated, and the only argument advanced by M.
Lemielle in favour of the strength of his larger apparatus is the slower
speed of working. Not only is there no value in this argument, but in
stipulating a less speed for the longer duration of his ventilator, M.
Lemielle virtually admits the inference, that the greater the speed of the
ventilator, the more liability to breakage, which is, indeed, the case; but
it would scarcely have been admitted if the exigency of his position had not
disclosed it.
It is useless for M. Lemielle to try to urge that, the vanes of his
apparatus having their surface doubled, and being subject to double the
force, the pressure of air remaining constant, the force will not remain
double when the speed of the apparatus is only one-half as great. To raise a
weight of 200 kilos., at a speed of lm per second, involves no more work
than to raise 100 kilos, at a speed of 2m per second. Does the conclusion,
however, hold, that the cord which carries the first weight has no more load
upon it than that which carries the second ? It is so palpable an error,
that it needs no further comment, and the objection which it is attempted to
meet remains in all its force.
As to the example of the Alliance ventilator, quoted as not needing any
repairs since the 10th June, 1865,1 refer to the report of the Director of
this mine, M. Plumat, for the true facts.
This apparatus broke down the 6th May, 1866, during an experiment conducted
by the second Commission, to which I have already referred. And I think I
can explain, from the circumstances of the case, the reason of the accident
which M. Plumat says he cannot understand, but the repetition of which he
must consider as not unlikely, having made provision of the working parts in
reserve which were in this instance damaged. The Alliance ventilator was
supplied to extract 30m3 of air per second, at a depression of 80m/m, with a
speed of fifteen revolutions per minute. The trial, therefore, had to take
place at this Vol. XVI.—1867.
l
82
speed. But at 14-5 revolutions the depression was 86ra/m, and at 15-5
revolutions it was 100m/m; the ventilator was worked at a speed between
these two limits, as the precise fifteen revolutions could not be
maintained. The testing- operations requiring- special arrangements, and at
various points of the ventilator, occupied four or five hours, when suddenly
a crack was heard, and the apparatus came to a standstill; it was broken.
Several rods, connecting the vanes to the central shaft, were bent or
broken, and one of the vanes was shattered. As this apparatus had made
seventeen revolutions, under a depression of 220m/m, in previous
experiments, it is evident that its working parts should not have yielded at
a speed and depression so much less, except some unusual circumstance had
occurred This circumstance was no other than the continuous working on the
day of the accident. The apparatus having worked four or five hours, and
being subjected to a thorough trial, the collars round the cranked shaft
became heated, and by their resistance to the motion gave rise to the
bending of the rods which guide the vanes, and one of them so bent struck
the side of the chamber and broke. Whether this be the precise explanation
or not, it is clear that the apparatus is liable to breakage, even when it
is working at a lower speed and producing a less depression than it had
attained before, which proves that the breakage does not depend simply on
the excessive work put upon it, but denotes a total absence of safety. I may
cite in addition to the accident at the Nord de Bois de Boussu, that at the
Turenne Pit of Anzin, the circumstances of which are well known in Belgium,
and which have hitherto prevented the regular working of this ventilator
upon the mine.
If my information is correct, a third Lemielle, recently erected at the Mine
des Produits, has met the same fate. Pacts, therefore, combine to show, that
this system of ventilation loses stability of structure in proportion as its
dimensions are increased; and a study of its mechanical details cannot lead
to any other expectation.
Among the mechanical advantages of the system, M. Lemielle instances the use
of expansion of the steam, facilitated by the slow speed at which the
ventilator works. The result of using expansion in an engine is to make the
work variable. Now to meet a uniform resistance, like that arising from a
ventilating current, it is indispensable to make the machinery
self-regulating; and, as the action of regulating masses varies as the
square of their velocity, I do not see how the Lemielle ventilators, the
different parts of which are intended to regulate the power of the engine,
should be more fitted to the use of expansion of
83
the steam at a slow than at a high speed. It is, however, another
peculiar Lemielle theory, to which I merely draw attention.
Finally, the last, but not the least, mechanical advantage attributed to the
ventilator, is that: " As the useful effect of the old apparatus was proved
to be 80 °/0 to 90 °/0, it is yet superior in the apparatus of large
dimensions." I need not recall the facts and calculations which I have
brought forward to show the radical exaggeration of this statement, while
the assumption that a machine which yields 90 °/0 of useful effect can be
improved is rather too far a-head of even modern progress, and would require
mechanical science in a state of nearly absolute perfection.
The useful effect of 80 to 90 °/0, of which M. Lemielle speaks, and which I
have called the "yield of air," may actually reach this value in special
cases; but it is very inferior to it when the depression increases— contrary
to the theory of M. Lemielle. If, therefore, the new apparatus are intended
for great depressions, they will not furnish a larger but a smaller yield of
air. Indeed, instead of their large dimensions tending to increase the yield
of air they only tend to decrease it, for it is dependent on the sources of
leakage, and these increase proportionally to the square of the diameter of
the ventilator. Further, the useful effect of a machine is not a matter of
assertion but of proof, either by demonstration upon mechanical principles
or by actual experiments. Only in this way can the value of M. Lemielle's
statements be appreciated.
PARAGRAPH IX.—RESULTS. Like much of the matter already discussed, there is
in the recapitulation of the merits of the Lemielle system, assertion only,
not proof. But the assertions are slightly modified, for instance,
though it is asserted, that this ventilator answers all the requirements of
modern ventilation, it is no longer to the exclusion of every other system.
It is further stated that apparatus can be supplied capable of extracting
from forty to one hundred and thirty-three cubic yards of air per second,
under the depression requisite for such ventilation. This is at last a
reasonable proposal, and only requires the adoption of suitable proportions
in a machine to carry out; but it is not sufficient simply for a thing- to
be possible, it must for practical working be advantageous; and so M.
Lemielle concludes his pamphlet by offering the owners of mines a guarantee
double of that which has ever been offered before, both as to quantity of
air and duration of the ventilator. Upon the facts which are submitted to
you, the value of such guarantee can be
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1867, IN THE ROOMS
OF THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, WESTGATE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
EDW. POTTER, Esq., Vice-President of the Institute, in the Chair.
After the reading- of the minutes of the Council the following- new members
were elected, viz.:—Mr. Joshua Cowlishaw, 74, Osmaston Street, Derby; Mr.
Arthur Beanlands, Durham University; Mr. H. Nelson Smith, Manchester; Mr. J.
C. Broadbent, Eochdale; M. Jules Henau, Valenciennes; Mr. E. L. Wadding-ton,
Burnley; Mr. Thomas Ackroyd, Birkinshaw, near Leeds; Mr. W. H. Stephenson,
Summerhill Grove, Newcastle; Mr. S. D. Croudace, Willington, Durham; and Mr.
Thos. Bell, jun., Usworth Hall. Mr. Fred. Verner, Cowpen Colliery, Blyth;
Mr. Henry White, Harton Colliery; and Mr. Wm. Aubery, jun., were elected
graduates.
BROADBENT'S PATENT SAFETY-CAGE. Mr. Daglish said, when he read his paper on
Broadbent's safety-cage it was simply with the view of bringing the matter
before the Institute. The patentee was now himself a member, and being
present, he could make any remarks he thought necessary.
Mr. Broadbent said, he came there to listen to any statements that might be
made by g-entlemen to whom his apparatus had been supplied. They might speak
either in testimony of its value or the contrary. He was prepared to answer
any questions. He had submitted a model, and his agent was here and would be
glad to submit it to them again.
Vol. XVI.—18G7.
M
88
Mr. Daglish said, there were several gentlemen who were making arrangements
to apply the apparatus, and they would he ahle to say more ahout it when
they had fitted it up. He did not know of any pit in the neighbourhood that
had got it in operation yet.
The discussion, at the suggestion of Mr. Broadbent, was accordingly
postponed.
ON THE CONVEYANCE OF COAL UNDERGROUND. Mr. Daglish's paper on this subject
next came on for discussion. Mr. Berkley said, he wished to make some
remarks in reference to what Mr. Daglish had said, in alluding to the paper
written by Mr. Green-well and himself. Mr. Daglish said, that at page 86,
Vol. XV. of the Transactions, the writers had shown a pressure of steam "
equal to 116 horse-power." He thought that Mr. Daglish was wrong.
It was unfair to read part of a paper without reading the context. If he
might go on to read the next paragraph, after the writers account for
forty per cent, of the power, they say, no deduction being made for the
friction of the engine and resistance of the atmosphere; if, however, they
make the usual deduction of one-third from the estimated power, they reduce
it from 3,826,468 lbs. to 2,550,979 lbs., moved one foot per minute, or from
116 horse-power to 77 horse-power effective. He took it that the meaning
of that deduction, on account of friction, included the friction of the
steam passing into the cylinder. Then, Mr. Daglish said, the power was
exerted throughout the whole route. He (Mr. B.) could not find anything
in the paper that warranted such an assertion. The experiment on which the
amount of resistance was calculated was over a run of 420 yards. In one
part of the route the brake had to be applied to prevent the tubs
over-running the hauling rope. The object of the writers, in giving the
statement in the manner they had done, was to enable any person to try a
similar experiment on any engine plane without going to extra cost for
indicating instruments, or spending any length of time in making it. The
best reason the writers could give for going into the subject in this
practical way would be by Mr. Daglish describing the instruments he used,
and the modus operandi in taking the pressure on the pistons of the engine.
Of course, they were required, in calculating the power of an engine for a
plane of this kind, to take the heaviest gradient it was expected to have to
overcome. Then, Mr. Daglish noticed the power required to drag the
ropes. He made it out to be twenty-four or twenty-five horse-power. A
very great deal ol that power was due to the brake, put on the tail-drum, to
prevent
89
any over-running of the rope. That power, applied to the tail-rope drum,
might be considered a constant power. It was very seldom they required more;
and the greater the distance, the less resistance was required to keep the
tail steady. The power required to turn the ropes and drums could only be
ascertained by putting both drums into gear. He would like to have tried
this experiment himself, but he had not had time. That would give more
accurately, he thought, the power the engine had to exert in turning the
drums and the rope. The simple idea of Mr. Greenwell and himself, in making
these experiments, was that any person might try the same on any other
engine, and ascertain how they agreed with theirs, without going to any
extra expense to test the accuracy of pressure on the pistons, as Mr.
Daglish had given it.
Mr. Daglish said, as Mr. Berkley's observations would probably be printed,
he would wait till the adjourned discussion before he replied; but he could
not say he agreed with these observations.
Mr. Steavenson said, if Mr. Daglish would take into consideration the late
Mr. Wood's experiments, given in Vol. III. of the Transactions, at page 286,
he would find that Mr. Wood arrived at the conclusion that a moving power of
-fa was sufficient to draw the rope. He says, "taking the aggregate result
of these experiments, we find the total moving power of the four experiments
to be 1376 lbs., the total weight of the rope 18,806 lbs., making the moving
power equal to y^.-g- part of the weight of the rope; and the weight of the
sheaves being 19,911 lbs., the moving power is equal to the TL.¥ part of
their weight; and the weight of the rope and sheaves together being 38,707
lbs., and the moving power 1376 lbs., equal -£-$. It appears, therefore,
that when the moving power is equal to ^ part of the weight, it will drag
the rope over sheaves and rollers, similar to those used in the experiments,
at an average speed of about five miles an hour." These were experiments
which happen to have been conducted very carefully, and he did not see any
reason why they should not be correct.
Mr. Daglish said, Mr. Steavenson referred to that very valuable paper which
was read by their late President, Mr. Wood, which embodied almost all they
knew on the subject. His were simply continuations of these experiments,
applying the indicator as a special arrangement. Suppose an engine plane 500
yards long; the same inclination would not take a rope out if you extended
it to 2000 yards. What was true of 500 yards would not be true for 2000.
Mr. Steavenson-—Suppose the inclination is one in twenty-eight,
90
with thirty-five tubs a plane may be worked nearly 2000 yards in
length.
Mr. Daglish, he must refer Mr. Steavenson to the work he had quoted from,
and he would rather Mr. Steavenson would illustrate his views by some
experiments of his own.
Mr. Berkley said, the deductions given by Mr. Greenwell and himself in their
experiments were taken from Mr. Wood's paper.
Mr. Morrison wished to ask Mr. Daglish, in reference to the power of the
engine applied to the indicator, whether it was by levers or
pulleys ?•
Mr. Daglish said, it was taken by levers. It was not by pulleys j
he had not used pulleys in these experiments.
Mr. Berkley said, he had asked Mr. Dagiish the description oi
instruments he used.
Mr. Daglish said, he used three indicators—Eichards', McNaugt's,
and Hopkinson's.
Mr. Berkley—State how you applied them—with two or three engines—whether on
the cylinder itself or on the pipe adjoining the cylinder, and with a
throttle valve ?
Mr. Daglish—Fixed on pipes connected with the top and bottom
of the cylinder.
Mr. Berkley—You did not take the amount of the back pressure ?
Mr. Daglish—Yes, of course, the diagrams show this.
Mr. Steavenson said, if these diagrams were the exact size it would be well
to state the scale.
Mr. Daglish—That was perhaps an omission. It was advisable to give the
scale; but having the figures they could always deduce their own scale. His
object was to make the large diagram as simple as possible.
Mr. James Nelson said, he had frequently obtained as much as ten pounds
variation of pressure to the square inch.
Mr. Daglish said, he never saw it so much, but, no doubt, if they ran the
engine hard enough they might have that amount. He used a short pipe. In the
various experiments made with the indicator he did not find much difference.
Mr. Nelson said, he once tried two indicators, one on the cylinder cover and
the other on the pipe. Both were Richards' indicators. It was a three-eighth
inch pipe, not a long one.
Mr. Lindsay Wood—At what distance was the indicator from the
cylinder ?
91
Mr. Nelson—Direct on the cylinder end; in one instance on the centre of the
cylinder cover, and in the other on the pipe coming out of the steam passage
close to the cylinders, about six inches long.
Mr. Daglish—It was on the opposite side of the ports ?
Mr. Nelson said, yes, on the same side; one was placed in the passage.
Mr. Daglish—Still the connection was on the opposite side of the ports and
subject to the friction of the passage of the steam through them before it
got into the cylinder. In the instances given in this paper, if a pipe is
employed, it is fastened on the cylinder top itself; the only difference is
that on the cylinder cover there is a small piece of pipe intervening. He
had never found it more than a pound or a pound and a half variation between
the diagram given by an indicator so placed, and one placed direct on the
cylinder cover.
Mr. G. B. Forster said, the first report of the Tail-rope Committee was
expected to be ready next month, and the discussion of both subjects might
go on simultaneously. This discussion was, therefore, postponed.
MECHANICAL VENTILATION". Owing to the absence of Mr. Cochrane, the
discussion upon his paper, being " A Comparison of the Guibal and Lemielle
Systems of Mechanical Ventilation," was also postponed.
SAFETY-LAMP COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Mr. Daglish said, as a portion of this report was read at the Manchester
meeting, he need not, therefore, read that part of it. It referred to the
supposed action of the oil in the gauze of a safety-lamp, which became
volatilized when heated to a high temperature. The Committee were convinced
that no accident could arise from that cause. They then proceeded to test
the safety-lamps in a box made for the purpose, which was represented in a
diagram at the farther end of the room. He would read the text of these
experiments without reading the table of experiments. Mr. Dagiish produced a
safety-lamp which he said had stood the test and would not pass the flame,
but whether it afforded ligiit sufficient for working by was another
question.
The report was then read.
After some conversation on the subject, an invitation was given to the
members by Mr. Lindsay Wood, to witness the experiments which were being
made at Eppleton Pit, which invitation was cordially accepted.
92
UNDERGROUND CONVEYANCE IN THE CLEVELAND DISTRICT.
Mr. Cockburn read a paper on " Underground Conveyance in the Cleveland
District," with especial reference to the use of Fowler's Portable-Engine
and Clip-Pulley.
Mr. G. B. Forster said, he had one of these clip-pulleys, but it had been
only a short time in operation. It was used for a drop-staple, of thirty
fathoms, sending down one tub containing nine cwts. of coals; the weight of
tub six cwts. It could stop the tub at any position in the
staple.
Mr. Steavenson said, he had had one of these sheaves pumping at Page-Bank
Colliery for the last two or three years. The pumps are 1000 yards from the
engine, and the lift is 40 feet. During the period named it had worked
satisfactorily. The rope was put in in September, 1865, and it was only
taken off in January or February of this year. It had been going night and
day, so that the wear and tear was not very
great.
Mr. Boyd asked Mr. Cockburn what was the largest diameter of
pulley he used 1
Mr. Cockburn—Eight feet. He had two of eight feet; one was working
regularly, the other was not under way yet.
Mr. T. Douglas inquired what was the expense of these large-sized pulleys 1
He had used a pair of clip-pulleys about fifty-two inches in diameter, and
believed they cost about £40 each.
Mr. Cockburn said, he believed each pulley cost £90.
Mr. G. B. Forster—The cost of the eight feet one is £85, and the
four feet £35.
Mr. Steavenson suggested that the small wheel, as shown in one of the
diagrams, was not desirable, as it gave a double bend to the rope.
Mr. Cockburn said, he thought the same thing, and he had worked the pump a
certain time without it. He found the rope was working-satisfactorily; but
he had not worked it a sufficient length of time to decide whether it was
better with or without the small wheels.
Mr. G. B. Forster said, the object of the double bend was to keep the rope
in more clips at one time.
Mr. T. Douglas said, he had been much surprised to find so little wear and
tear in ropes. In his case a pair of five-inch pumps, placed 500 yards inbye
from the engine, forced water a height of about forty feet. The rope was
an old rope to begin with, and lasted a year and a
93
half, pumping night and day during that time, and had been taken off simply
because the pumping was laid off. The engine had other work to do, but the
rope was kept continually attached, there being no necessity for putting the
clip in or out of gear, as would have been the case had drums for pumping
been attached instead.
Mr. Cockburn said, he found the portable pumps were a very great advantage.
He could stop at four o'clock in the afternoon, and run them down at the
face, and then put them on again within eight hours. He had done so
frequently.
In reply to a question as to the expense of working-,
Mr. Cockburn said, that previous to the introduction of the clip-pulleys he
did not keep an account of the actual cost of the ropes. It varied from *38
to '52. He now found it was from -22 up to *38. This was the highest he ever
found.
The Chairman—That is in pence per ton?
Mr. Lindsay Wood—Did that cost include firing- the boilers ?
Mr. Cockburn—Everything-.
Mr. Berkley—Did not you say so much per ton on the distance ?
Mr. Cockburn—On the distance travelled.
Mr. Marley—The first experiment you gave was without the clip-pulley.
Mr. Cockburn—I find the coals used by our stationary engine to be three tons
per day, at 5s. per ton; tallow, oil, and hemp, 8d.; engine-plane-man, 6s.
lOd.; enginemen and fireman, 6s. 8d.; wire-ropes and repairs, 7s. lOd. On
the portable engine the coke used was five and a half cwts. per day; wire
rope, 5s. 8d.; engineman, etc., 4s.; wear and tear of sheaves, and men
attending the plane, 8s. 7d. or *38. When in full operation, equal to *22 on
the cost.
Mr. G. B. Forster—I suppose it is quite a different boiler ?
Mr. Cockburn—-The portable engine is similar to the one I have shown. It
is fourteen horse-power, and on the same principle.
Mr. Steavenson said, he had one employed in raising the stone from the
shaft. The lift was eighteen fathoms. It was very easily packed up, and
taken away the same day. It gave off what was equal to forty horse-power,
the weight sixty cwts., cage included. The hind wheels were made into drums.
Mr. G. B. Forster—With respect to the wear and tear of the ropes, it is to
be observed on an ordinary drum, in working with a tail-rope, it is wound
tight on to the drum, and it remains so till it is unwound
94
again ; but with the clip-pulley, as soon as the rope reaches the pulley,
all the strain is taken off it, except what is due to its own weight.
Mr. L. Wood said, it was liable to some objection. If you shut the clips too
close you jam your rope, and if not sufficiently close the rope is apt to
slide. It was worse to have the rope sliding on a clip-pulley than on the
ordinary sheave.
The Chairman—You can adjust your machinery to avoid that. Mr. Cockbtjrn
said, he had never known it to happen. Mr. L. Wood said, he had one working
a pump with a lift of thirty fathoms with 1600 yards of delivery pipes.
One rope worked well, but he could not get any other to do so, and he had to
do away with it. It was a heavy lift, and had to run at great speed.
In reply to a question, Mr. Wood said he was sure the heavy clip was lying
at the bottom, and it was horizontal.
Mr. Morrison—At a high speed it does not clip. Mr. Gr. B. Forster—Our tubs
go down nearly at the rate of a falling body. With great speed at thirty
fathoms it does not fail.
Mr. Marley suggested that it would be very useful if Mr. Wood would give his
observations as to the employment of clip-pulleys for pumping at a great
depth. He might state that in one of the clip-pulleys which he first
adopted, he had the same difficulty as Mr. Wood had experienced; and he was
advised by all the agents to take it out. Before doing so he sent for one of
Mr. Fowler's men, who in a quarter of an hour adjusted it, and it had never
needed adjusting since. It was still answering beautifully on a self-acting
inclined plane. He accounted for the difficulty from the fact that the
machinery was new to the men, and they had never had the adjusting screws
explained to them.
Mr. Lindsay Wood said, they had two pulleys; and when he found the clips
breaking he sent to Mr. Fowler, who sent another wheel to try, but with that
they could not get the ropes to last.
Mr. Marley said, his was an ordinary sheave. It had been working nearly
twelve months, and the adjusting screws had never been realtered. The
Chairman said, they were all much indebted to Mr. Cockburn for his paper.
The meeting then broke up
ON
UNDEKGROUND CONVEYANCE
in the
CLEVELAND DISTRICT,
WITH REMARKS ON THE ACTION OF THE CLIP-PULLEY, ETC.
By WILLIAM COCKBURN.
The subject of the present paper is one of great importance in connection
with the mining operations carried on in this country. It is at all times
essentially necessary that the underground conveyance should be as
economically conducted as the scientific principles can be arrived at which
are called into requisition in general mining operations. In no case are
those principles of cheap conveyance more needed than in the conveyance of
ironstone in the Cleveland district.
I intend to lay before you a few facts and estimates in connection with the
underground conveyance of the minerals in the district of Cleveland, and
also the adaptation of a patent clip-pulley and portable-engine, as applied
both to haulage and pumping- operations now in use at the mines of Messrs.
J. and J. W. Pease at Upleatham and Lofthouse. I also give plans and section
of clip-pulley, portable-engine, portable-pump, self-acting inclines,
engine-planes, and stationary-engine used for pumping.
The performances of horses underground have been so ably treated upon by the
late Nicholas Wood, Esq., that it is unnecessary for me to make any remarks
thereon. I will, therefore, at once proceed to show the cost of
stationary-engines now working at Upleatham mines, after which I will also
show the cost of hauling stone by Fowler's portable-engine, with patent
clip-pulley attached, and, lastly, point out the advantages of the
clip-pulley for pumping operations, self-acting inclines, and hauling
underground; and also the conveyance of power to underground working's.
Vol. XVI.—1867.
n
96
The main winning at the Upleatham Mines is worked by a stationary-engine,
with two cylinders placed horizontally, twenty inches diameter and three
feet stroke, with two drums six feet diameter, both drums being* fixed to
the shaft, and driven by a spur-wheel. The drums are put in and out of
gear alternately. This engine is only working with one drum at present,
the length of the engine-plane being nearly 700 yards, with a gradient upon
the average of 1 in 14"3. The engine is placed upon the surface. There
are three boilers five feet diameter, thirty-five feet long, two of which
are used at present; the pressure is 351bs. per square inch upon the boiler.
The distance from the boiler to the cylinder is about sixteen feet.
The exhaust steam is emitted by a pipe direct out of the house-top; the
length of the exhaust-pipe is about eighteen feet. This engine hauls a
train of thirteen tubs, each containing thirty-two cwts. of ironstone,
besides the weight of the tub, which is nine cwts. The average speed of
the tubs travelling on the engine-plane is about seven-and-a-half miles per
hour.
The quantity of work performed between November 4th, 1865, and July 12th,
1866, was 183,983 tons 4 cwts. on an average of 860 tons per day when at
work, the cost of which, per ton, was *38d., including wire-ropes, coal,
engine- and fire-man's wages, repairs and men attending
engine-plane.
Plate XV. shows the engine-plane. This engine is employed hauling
the ironstone up the incline.
The east-end of the Upleatham Mines is worked by a stationary-engine, with
two sixteen-inch cylinders, three-feet stroke, with two loose drums, each
seven feet diameter; one only working at the present time. There are three
boilers connected with this engine, two of which only are worked at one
time. This engine, like the other, is placed upon the surface, and is
hauling ironstone up an engine-plane, having an average distance of 1,100
yards, on a gradient of one in sixteen. The load is thirteen tubs, each
containing thirty-two cwts. of ironstone, and travelling at the rate of
seven-and-a-half miles per hour. The quantity worked between March 28th,
1865, and January, 1866, was 279,349 tons eight cwts., on an average of
1,170 tons per day, when at work. The cost of which per ton, was *37d.,
including wire-ropes, coals, engine- and fire-man's wages, repairs, stores,
and engine-plane men's
wages, etc., etc.
The western portion of the Upleatham Mines was worked by a Fowler's portable
double-cylinder engine, with patent clip-pulley attached, as shown on Plate
XIX., from June 9th, 1863, up to the year 1866;
97
the engine has since been employed pumping water. The distance this engine
worked was 1,550 yards. The average quantity of ironstone hauled per-day, as
specified, was 750 tons, in small wagons, thirteen to the train, carrying
nearly thirty-two cwts. each, and travelling at the rate of six miles an
hour, at a cost of *38d. per ton. This could have been reduced to *22d. per
ton, had another train of wagons being attached to the engine, which would
not have incurred any extra cost, and would have increased the quantity to
1,300 tons per-day, after allowing for incidental stoppages.
In proof of this, a Fowler's portable-engine, with clip-pulley attached, as
before mentioned, is now at work at Lofthouse Mines. The actual cost of
working per-ton of twenty cwtsv is *2d., including all expenses in
connection with it.
With these statements respecting the portable-engine, I come next to the
patent clip-pulley, the description of which, given before the Institute of
Mechanical Engineers, at Birmingham, on the 4th of May, 1865, I cannot
improve upon.
" The clip-pulley consists of a series of pairs of jaws or clips, A and B as
shown on Plate XVII., hinged round the circumference of the pulley, close
together in a continuous line, forming a complete groove, in which the rope
C works. Each pair of clips in succession, as it passes round to the point
where the pressure of the rope upon the pulley commences, seizes hold of the
rope as shown on Plate XVII., and continues to grip the rope throughout the
half revolution, until reaching the point where the rope begins to leave the
pulley, the clips fall open, being relieved from the pressure of the rope.
The amount of grip is in all cases proportionate to the pull upon the rope,
so as effectually to prevent any slipping. The only provision requisite to
suit the clip-pulley for working with any size of rope, is to adjust the
width of opening of the clips to the particular diameter of the rope to be
driven, by widening or contracting the distance between the centres of
motion of each row of clips. This adjustment is effected in a very simple
and complete manner, by having the lower row of clips B centred upon a ring
D which forms the circumference of one-half the depth of the pulley, and
this ring is screwed upon the body of the pulley by a thread chased round
its entire circumference, so that by turning the ring round in either
direction the distance between the centres of the upper and lower clips is
simultaneously increased or diminished in every pair to exactly the same
extent; all of them being kept in perfect parallel positions. The ring D is
held in the desired position by the bolt E which prevents it from turning."
98
a The lower clip B of each pair having a heavy overhanging lip F on the
outside, is enabled to lift the upper clip A by means of a small finger G
projecting from its inner end, and pressing upon the tail of the upper clip
so that the clips always remain open, until receiving the pressure of the
rope, and they fall open again and release the rope the moment the pressure
is withdrawn. The stop H on the upper clip coming in contact with the body
of the pulley prevents the clips from falling open too far. The action of
the clip is thus just similar to the closing of a hand upon a rope, laying
hold at once so firmly that the rope cannot slip, and retaining this hold
uniformly until the rope is released altogether by the opening of the clips,
so that all friction or surging from an imperfect hold is avoided, as well
as any shifting of the rope at the beginning and end of its contact with the
pulley, such as is inevitably the case in round or angular grooves."
" At the same time, by means of the ring D on which the lower row of clips
are centred, the hold upon the rope can be adjusted to any desired amount,
according- to the power required to be transmitted, and it can be absolutely
depended upon, when once adjusted, to continue working uniformly with the
same amount of hold."
An important practical advantage found to result from the working of this
clip-pulley, is that the rope is subjected to a continual pressure upon its
sides whilst passing round the driving pulley, thus avoiding all tendency to
the rope being flattened by the pull, as in an ordinary round bottomed
groove, where the pressure of the rope is upon the bottom of the groove
only. Also the groove in the clips being so curved as to fit the rope
closely round a considerable portion of its circumference, the pressure
preserves the form of the rope, and serves to consolidate it, by continually
closing down all protruding wires, and preventing the deterioration of the
rope by such parts passing the subsequent guiding-pulley. It may be remarked
here, that these advantages of the clip-pulley, render it especially adapted
for use in other positions where the rope is the medium of conveying power.
It is believed that the action of the clip-pulley is mechanically correct,
and that it will be found highly advantageous in transmitting power by means
of ropes.
The clip-pulleys are working at various places in England, Scotland, and
Wales. I will confine myself to those which are working immediately under my
own inspection at Upleatham Mines. As before stated in the description of
the portable-engine, a clip-pulley has been used satisfactorily in every
point, in hauling ironstone on the level with a tail-rope part of the way,
and up a gradient of one in twelve on to an incline-head, after
99
which it was, and is used for pumping water a distance of 363 yards, by a
double portable five-inch pump with a clip-pulley attached vertically, the
pump-rods being connected by cranks direct from the axle of the pulley. The
distance between the clip-pulley on the engine which is placed horizontally,
and the clip-pulley on the pumps which is placed vertically is 363 yards.
The gradient being 1 in 15-66, and the engine standing seventy feet above
the level of the suction-pipe; and the perpendicular height between the
suction-pipe, and delivery-pipe being seventeen-and-a-half feet according to
Plate XVIII.
Plate XV. shows a section of the engine-plane at the main winning, also
ropes working from a clip-pulley attached to a stationary engine. (Plate
XVI.)—The engine is a common high-pressure with a twelve-inch cylinder, a
small pinion-wheel is attached to the fly-wheel shaft, which is connected
with a large wheel attached to the shaft of a five-feet clip-pulley, placed
vertically, from which the rope is taken nearly 700 yards to a portable
nine-inch pump, to which is attached a five-feet pulley. The pump-rods are
connected to the shaft by means of cranks direct from the axle of the
pulley; the distance between the two clip-pulleys is nearly 700 yards, and
the perpendicular height between the engine and the pump is 125 feet. The
gradient is 1 in 14-3, the delivery-pipe is nearly 400 yards above the pump,
and the perpendicular height the water is raised eighty-three feet. Only one
of the nine-inch pumps is working at present. The cost per day and night for
labour consists of the wages of two enginemen and two men attending to the
rope, sheaves, and pump. The quantity of stone laid dry by this engine is
equal to 1,200 tons per day, which makes the cost -25d. per ton for all
expenses connected with engine, pump, labour, and ropes.
Plate XX. is the plan and elevation of a portable double force-pump driven
by clip-pulley in the main winning.
A clip-pulley, six-feet diameter, working inside Upleatham mines, down an
incline with a gradient of 1 in 12, lowers down with ease and safety
thirteen tubs at one time, each containing above thirty-two cwts. of
ironstone, independent of the weight of the tubs (weighing about nine cwts.
each). This clip-pulley is managed by a boy fourteen years of age, who has
perfect control over the load, and can stop it in any part of the incline
desired without in the least injuring the rope, he having frequently lowered
the loaded set of thirteen tubs to the bottom of the incline without the
compensating balance of the empty set, which proves the assertion formerly
stated that it can be absolutely depended upon when once adjusted.
100
A clip-pulley eight feet diameter is also used at these mines in lowering-
trucks down an incline of 1 in 11; the weight of each truck is on an average
when loaded fifteen tons. Three of these trucks compose the quantity lowered
down at one time. This clip-pulley has heen recently placed to supersede a
pair of twelve-feet drums, which have heen used at these mines nearly nine
years. The advantage to he derived from this is, that only one rope is
required instead of two, therehy diminishing the original cost of ropes, and
securing a greater uniformity in the wearing of the ropes, also a greater
security in case of a hreak of the rope, the clips holding uniformly which
is not so on a roll or drum.
From my experience in the working of clip-pulleys, I think that they are
considerably more economical than the ordinary method of drums, and are
capable of being applied to any place where a drum is or has to work. Also
for pumping purposes, where the pumps have to be carried forward as the
places progress, they cannot be superseded. The despatch with which the
portable-pump, with the clip-pulley attached, can be removed is to be highly
commended for mining operations.
Plate XXI. is a plan and elevation of a clip-pulley, applicable for
conveying power to underground workings from engines placed upon the
surface, the application of which the writer has not seen in operation, but
from the experience already acquired he is perfectly satisfied that it is
suitable for the purpose, and he intends putting it into operation the first
opportunity that presents itself.
Plate XXII. is a drawing of a thirty-horse portable-engine with clip-drum
attached vertically.
Plate XXIII. is a drawing of a five-inch double-acting* pump, driven by the
portable-engine Plate XIX. at the inclination shown on Plate XVIII.
Messrs. Bell Brothers have several of these pulleys pumping, etc., etc.,
also Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan.
A clip-pulley four feet diameter has recently been erected, and is now
working with perfect success at Cowpen Colliery, under G. B. Forster, Esq.
Plates XV. to XXIII. illustrate Mr. Cockburn's paper on Underground
Conveyance in the Cleveland District, and on the Clip-pulley.
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1867, IN THE ROOMS
OP THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, WESTGATE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
T. E. FORSTER, Esq., President op the Institute, in the Chair.
The minutes of the Council were read, and a second sum of £50 was, on the
recommendation of the Council, voted for the use of the Tail-rope Special
Committee, to enable them to prosecute their investigation and experiments
further.
A report was also read by the Special Committee, appointed November 3rd,
1866, to revise the duties of Secretary. The report was adopted by the
general meeting; and the sum of £25 per-annum was voted unanimously to Mr.
Doubleday on his resignment of the duties of Secretary.
The following new members were elected:—Mr. John Thompson, Norley Colliery;
Mr. D. G. Dunn, Greenfield Colliery, Hamilton, N.B.; Mr. W. France,
Upleatham; Mr. Wm. B. Harrison, Norton Hall, Cannoch, Staffordshire; Mr.
Thos. Dawson, Garmondsway Moor, near Ferryhill. Mr. Wm. Armstrong, jun.,
Londonderry Collieries, Seaham Harbour, Avas elected a graduate.
Mr. D. P. Morison read a paper on Underground Conveyance at Pelton
Colliery.-
Mr. Daglish said, this paper seemed to corroborate his own.
Mr. Morison said, one thing ought to be borne in mind. The engine had been
reduced to a common velocity; but to arrive accurately
102
at results in horse-power, the diameter of the coils on the drums ought to
be taken into consideration.
Mr. Daglish said, he did not think the horse-power was the measure of
resistance so much as the diagram. Horse-power was to a great extent
boiler-power.
Mr. Morison said, the size of the diagram was increased in proportion to the
speed at which the engine was working-. Consequently, you have an increase
of the diagrams, and, on account of the speed, in case the engine has more
work to do, more steam would have to be introduced. In both cases the
diagrams are increased.
Mr. Daglish—By letting* the steam in faster, you would have much the same
diagram, but an increased number of strokes.
Mr. Morison—The reason you have a higher power is that the diameter of your
drum is increased so much; and with this additional power, instead of
seventy-six horse-power absorbed by the ropes, it only comes to something-
like forty-eigiit.
Mr. Daglish said, this was even higiier than he made it out to be in the
special instance he had given in his paper. He thought it something- under
fifty per-cent. He made forty-three horse-power out of ninety-four.
Mr. Morison—What is the leng-th of your rope ?
Mr. Daglish—2500 yards.
Mr. Morison said, as he had mentioned in his paper, no doubt the increased
friction at the curves did make a difference. On a straight line a man with
a winch at 5 to 1 could move the rope along-, the power must be lost at
these curves.
Mr. Daglish said, a member, who, he hoped, would have been here, was
possessed of a g-ood deal of valuable information on the subject. He had had
occasion to g-o into experiments, not in the same form, but bearing- upon
it—the friction of belts for turning- machinery. He believed Mr. Eamsbottom
had made extensive experiments, and found that in belts for travelling-
cranes seventy-five per cent, of the power was absorbed.
Mr. G. B. Forster said, that was rather a different question. It showed the
great loss caused by using- belts.
Mr. Daglish said, he believed that curves caused a great loss of power with
tail-ropes.
Mr. Morison said, it was on this account that in the west way, which was 600
yards shorter, the power required to move the ropes was almost the same.
103
Mr. Steavenson stated, in confirmation of the results obtained by Mr.
Dagiish, as to the large per-centage of power absorbed by the machinery and
ropes when hauling tubs upon engine-planes, that he had made experiments
upon an engine with two cylinders of twenty-inches diameter and three-feet
stroke, the plane being 1,700 yards long, with two curves in it, the one
three chains and the other four chains
radius.
The diagrams were taken at a speed of forty-six revolutions per
minute; their scale being -^.
No. I., Plate XXIV.—The ends of the main- and tail-ropes were coupled
together without any tubs attached. It shows that forty-two H.P. was
required, simply to move the engine and ropes.
No. II., Plate XXIV.—This diagram was taken when hauling forty-five tubs up
a gradient of one in thirty-one, and gives the gross force applied, namely,
ninety-one H.P.
These experiments, therefore, afford as a result 53*85 per-cent. of the
power applied as effective, and 46T5 lost in friction, etc.
This agrees very closely with the figures of Mr. Dagiish (see p. 56, Vol.
XVI.); the difference in amount utilised being -5 per cent.
BY ME. DAGLISH.
ET MB. A. L. STEAVENSON.
To drag load.........94 H.P....... 91 H.P.
Ditto ropes and engine ...43 H.P....... 42 H.P.
Per-centage of force effective 54*26 ...... 53*85
Practically these results may be considered as proving the accuracy of each
other, but they are not strictly correct as to the power utilised, because
the friction of machinery running without its load is very different when
the machine has its load on, and the results are, therefore, better than
they should be, and I hope to be able, at an early date, to show what the
work done in hauling the tubs really is, taking into account their weight,
ascertained friction, and the height and speed; also, by application of a
dynamometer, to find the force passing through the rope, the remainder being
the loss in the engine.
It is also necessary to reconcile these results with the extensive
experiments conducted by the late Mr. Nicholas Wood (and referred to by me
at our last meeting-, see p. 286, Vol. III.), upon the moving power required
to drag out the rope on a plane where the inclination is sufficient to avoid
the necessity for applying a tail-rope, and by which it is proved that a
power equal to one-twenty-eighth of the weight is sufficient to drag the
rope, over sheaves and rollers, nearly 2,000 yards. There can Vol.
XVI.—1867.
o
104
be no doubt as to the accuracy of these figures; and I believe the great
loss of power will be found in properties of the tail-rope, peculiar to
itself, and in curves. Then, if we look further on in the same paper, at
page 294, we find the average performance of the Springwell engine to be
53*4 per-cent. of the pressure upon the piston; and in Mr. Nicholas Wood's
general results, page 313, he gives the efficient performance of engines on
an average, with tail-rope, 40 per-cent., and without, 50 percent. The
conclusion to be arrived at from all these experiments and results is that
there is great room for improvement, but whether by endless-chain, the
atmospheric railway, locomotive, or some principle yet to be evolved, I do
not at the present time wish to enter upon.
Mr. Greig said, he would give some information on the haulage of ropes in
steam ploughing at a future day. He had not got his experiments completed
yet.
Mr. G. B. Forster inquired if there was any increase of friction allowed for
when they put the load on to the engine.
Mr. Dagl ish said, Mr. Morison suggested five per-cent. That was not much.
There was a greater strain on the drum when it was loaded; but the rope
itself formed the great portion of the load.
The President said, they were very much indebted to Mr. Morison for his
paper. He would now call on the Tail-rope Committee to read their report.
Mr. Cochrane, as secretary of the Committee, read the following report:—
TO THE NOETH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE OP MINING ENGINEERS.
Gentlemen,—The Committee appointed on the 14th July, 1865, to report upon
the various systems of the underground haulage of coals have now the
pleasure of presenting their first Eeport.
The grant of £50, which was made to them in September, 1866, and the
purchase, by your Council, of instruments required for the investigation,
have enabled them to carry on the experiments necessary for attaining the
objects which the Institute had in view when appointing this Committee.
Of the five systems which the Committee have to report upon, they have
examined the endless-chain, and they are now engaged with the tail-rope.
They think it advisable to present their report on the endless-chain at
once, as the results are very interesting. They also present a report on one
mode of using the endless-rope.
The endless-chain system has been tested at Burnley, in Lancashire,
principally at the collieries under the direction of Mr. Waddington, where
it is carried out more largely and more perfectly than at any other
collieries ; and the Committee consider that they have among these reports
the most effective work of which this
105
system is capable. It is highly satisfactory, and to many members of the
Institute will be surprising. It is a system which, in the opinion of the
Committee, answers remarkably well in conditions similar to those which
prevail in the Burnley district, and it can and no doubt will be largely
used in other coal-fields, when its merits are known.
The following appear to be some of the chief advantages of this system. The
first construction is very simple and cheap. The way need not be levelled ;
faults may be surmounted at almost any gradient. The direction can be varied
as required by the angle of the mitred or other gearing at any station. The
rails need not be so good, or so expensively laid as for high speeds. There
are no sheaves to support the chain ; hence a great saving in wear and tear.
The length of chains is only twice the length of road instead of three
times, as required for tail-ropes. The chains last twelve years, and then
work lighter " ginneys." The working of the ginneys is very simple ; there
is no waiting for sets on the main or branch roads ; tubs may be run on or
off the main line without stopping, and with no sidings. There is no waste
of power by drum-brakes, and the tubs descending help those ascending. No
idleness is possible when the ginney is going.
The line of rails and chain is so easily and quickly extended in any
direction, that putting distances are very short; in the Burnley district,
about thirty yards on an average.
The Fowler's Clip-pulley has been tested at Shireoaks: it is at present of
limited use, and at this colliery is not extensively applied. A trial on a
larger scale and of different arrangement, in the North of England, is being
made, and the Committee purpose to make further experiments. The difficulty
of adaptation to branches and curves, also to varying gradients, is an
objection to this system.
A clip-pulley for endless-chains may prove to be a desirable arrangement,
reducing friction and preventing much of the noise which occurs at each
"ginney." It has received the attention of the inventor of the clip-pulley,
and the Committee hope to give a description of it in a later report.
Your Committee regret that hitherto they have been unable to obtain
permission to test the endless-rope, as employed at Cinderhill, where a slow
speed and a double line of way are adopted, and several sets are running
simultaneously on the full and empty sides. It seems desirable that the slow
and regular delivery should be adopted in this system in preference to that
used at Shireoaks; there is much, however, to be done to accommodate this
system to an extensive underground plane, and probably it will be found that
gearing similar to that of the endless-chain, as already described, will be
required at branches to make it practically useful.
The Committee have expended up to the present time the sum of £38 9s.,
leaving a balance in hand of £11 lis. They consider that the information
which is being obtained will satisfy you as to the expediency of making a
further grant which will be necessary in order to complete the experiments.
The Committee beg to remind you that it is in consequence of the gratuitous
services of the engineer, and the facilities afforded to them at the various
collieries, that the expense falls so lightly on the Institute, and they
take the earliest opportunity of thanking Mr. G. H. Wright, who acted in
that capacity for the first
106
two months, and Mr. E. Bainbridge who succeeded him, and is still working
for them. These gentlemen volunteered to carry out the experiments wherever
the Committee wished, and the Committee have only borne the actual expenses.
The attention and skill which have been devoted to the work are sufficiently
evidenced by the results which the Committee now lay before you. The
Committee also beg to record their thanks to the owners and managers of the
collieries where they have been allowed to conduct experiments. Expense and
inconvenience have no doubt been incurred by them, but every facility has
been gladly afforded, and information given in such detail as deserves the
warmest thanks of the Institute.
(Signed) WM. COCHBANE,
Hon. Sec.
Mr. G. B. Forster, assisted by Mr. E. Bainbridg-e, gave a detailed account
of the experiments., which were illustrated by diag'rams. After a brief
conversation on the subject, the President.called on Mr. J. P. Harper to
read a paper "On Harper's Improved Safety-cage Apparatus."
After reading- the paper, Mr. Harper said the invention was in course of
being patented. It was designed for ordinary iron-wire conductors, and the
principle was that of compression. It pressed not only the side, but the
whole circumference of the conductor. The effect of this was that the
conductors were preserved uninjured.
Mr. Nelson Smith produced his model of Broadbent's Patent Safety-cag-e, and
again pointed out the merits of that invention. Wherever it was used the
ropes had been found uninjured.
The President said, they were indebted to Mr. Harper, who was a member of
the Institute, for his paper. He believed that he (the President) was one of
the first that tried Fourdrinier's Safety-cage. Previous to that time it had
been the custom to examine the ropes, and now it became necessary to watch
the safety-cage. For his part he preferred looking- after the ropes. These
cages might be better than Fourdrinier's. He saw some safety-cages working-
at Lord Fitzwilliam's collieries last week. They were said to answer very
well; but they never had been called into use, and, therefore, one could not
say whether they would hold or not.
Mr. Smith said, at Titus Salts' both ropes broke, and the cage fell full
twelve inches. It was the means of saving- the lives of the men in the cage.
The meeting- then broke up.
Plate XXIV.—Diagrams to illustrate Mr. Steavenson's experiments and remarks,
p. 103.
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1867, IN THE ROOMS
OF THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, WESTGATE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
T. E. FORSTER, Esq., President of the Institute, in the Chair.
A letter was read from Mr. Ansell, requesting- that copies of his paper
should be furnished to him, which was agreed to.
Mr. Doubleday read the Report of the Committee appointed to select a site,
etc., for the proposed Memorial Hall.
After some discussion Mr. Marley proposed that the Committee he empowered to
open a negotiation for the purchase of a suitable site, subject to
confirmation by a general meeting of members.
Mr. Lishman seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.
The following1 new members were elected :—Mr. John Straker, West House,
Tynemouth; Mr. James Burrows, Doug-las Bank, Wig-an, Lancashire; Mr. B. P.
Bidder, Powell, Duffryn Collieries, Aberdare; Mr. W. S. Cope, mining-
eng-ineer, North Staffordshire.
THE LONG-WALL SYSTEM. A discussion then took place on Mr. Lishman's paper "
On the Long-Wall System."
The President asked Mr. Lishman if he had tried the system in workings
having- both bad and good roofs ?
Mr. Lishman said, he had only tried it in this particular locality. It had
been tried in Lancashire in very bad roofs, and it had been found to answer.
Vol. XVI.—1807.
p
108
The President said, in his opinion they could work far more effectually by
long-wall, under a bad roof, than with a good one, because the bad roof
would fall so freely behind.
Mr. W. 0. Wood said, that in case of a bad roof, they were just as liable to
be obliged to leave small pieces of coal between the packed wall and the
coal left for the next working, as they were in ordinary pillar working.
Mr. Lishman said, yes, in rotten roofs; but, in this case, it was blue
metal, six feet thick, with overlying sandstone strata, which kept it quite
free and open. Since this paper was read he had had the percentage taken of
four days' work of 2580 tons, which produced 900 tons of best merchantable
coal, equal to thirty-four-and-a-half per-cent. of best. He had -the
long-wall system tried four nights, out of which he got a few scores. During
the four nights there were 470 tons, which produced 190 tons of best
merchantable coal, or equal to 40*4 per-cent. of best, showing an increase
of the produce of best or merchantable coal equal to 5'9 per-cent.
Mr. Marley inquired if there was any distance between the two places where
it was tried, and any difference between the strength of the coal ?
Mr. Lishman said, the four days' work was from the ordinary working, and in
the long-wall district it was pretty uniform.
The President inquired what was the length of the wall face ?
Mr. Lishman said, it was fifteen yards in width, and twenty-five yards in
length.
The President said, this was only partial long-wall. It was in a measure the
Yorkshire plan, and it was identical with the system which he had seen
pursued in Lancashire last year.
Mr. Lishman said, the cost of this plan of working came to about one-fifth
more per ton. He tried the expense of working out a pillar of coal nineteen
yards in width by thirty-three in length, to try the comparative
expenditure, and he found that the cost was one-fifth more per ton by
long-wall working than by ordinary working under the old system. To make up
for this, however, they got 420 tons more of merchantable coal out of an
acre; and, in addition to this, they would lose, on the other plan,
something like four or five per-cent. in the pillar, or 220 tons to the
acre. By the modified plan of long-wall they got it very nearly all off. On
the gross area the loss was rather more than three per-cent. on the ordinary
working. There was comparatively no loss on the long-wall system.
109
The President said, he was afraid Mr. Lishman would have a loss.
Mr. Morison inquired how far the work of deputies was affected by the system
1
Mr. Lishman said, there was the ordinary deputy work. Two men managed to
keep fourteen men in the broken.
Mr. J. Bigland said, he thought that Mr. Lishman had hardly given them all
the information he might have given. First, as to the distance from the goaf
to the coal in the " bay." Next, how often he changed the chocks, and how
long the chocks stood ? Standing one day they did not get much weight; but
when they stood four or five days they got a crush. Then as to the produce,
he said the whole of the mine might be obtained, but he would like him to
say how much was obtained? In his list of advantages he said—"less shift or
dead work." He (Mr. B.) could not agree with that, and thought that when the
area of the goaf became enlarged, the labour would be increased. Mr. Lishman
should have given them some figures, to show how his results were arrived
at.
The President said, as the coals were taken away the chocks must
be moved.
Mr. Lishman said, they were moved nightly. In long-wall the money had to be
laid out earlier than under the other s}^stem for narrow work. You might
have a larger quantity, but it cost more for dead work. They heard of creeps
coming on; he did not know how Mr. Bigland found it.
Mr. Bigland—We have none.
The President—How did you take out the pillar ?
Mr. Lishman—By driving a jenkin up the side. The pillar was thirty-three
yards in length, and nineteen in width.
Mr. Cockburn inquired if Mr. Lishman's plan had been sufficiently tried ?
He thought that was the drift of Mr. Bigland's remarks.
Mr. Bigland said, the long-wall system had been tried long enough in other
collieries ; but at Newton Cap they had hardly had time to get
a crush.
The President said, he thought the trial had been too short.
Mr. Bigland said, on such an important subject they wanted a little more
information.
The President said, he had visited a colliery about twelve months ago in the
neighbourhood of Sheffield. The Barnsley bed was only four feet eight inches
in thickness. They had gateways at every eighty or one hundred yards.
They took down in these gateways six feet of stone
110
and packed it on each side, and they never had any shift-work afterwards,
and they got the coals out well. Taking- the stone down cost twelve
shillings per yard at first, but not another penny after that.
Mr. Bigland said, that at Adelaide Colliery, where they worked a large
quantity of broken, they removed the whole of the pillar at once by means of
chocks. The labour of changing the chocks was considerably more than under
the ordinary system, and they lost a quantity of them. There was not only
the loss but they were destroyed in the mine. At first they thought they got
all the coal, like Mr. Lishman, but they now found they were not getting it
all. They got wide boards every twenty-two yards in the first working.
Mr. Lishman said, they had already got a surface fall, but it was not
perceptible. The farther portion (shown on the diagram) was all worked off.
They were busy with the other between the first and second boards. This was
at a depth of fifty-five fathoms, and the seam was four feet eight inches
thick. He was laying out more pit room on the same principle.
The President said, it was a subject which required great consideration, and
it was most important to the district at large. If they could get four or
five per-cent. more merchantable coal than by the old system it was a very
important thing. If they could save two hundred tons to the acre it was a
very important thing to the country.
Mr. Cockburn said, if it could be done at the same expense it was very
important.
Mr. Lishman said, he asked Mr. Dickinson last year, at Manchester, which
system was, in his opinion, the best. He replied, " If you go and see this
particular place (Clifton Hall), you will say it is the best system in the
kingdom."
The President said, Mr. Dickinson drives exploring drifts to the far side of
the royalty. At Seaton Del aval they had two miles to go, and it would not
suit to drive two miles before working coal.
Mr. Lishman said, you might lay out a district within that district.
The President remarked that three or four months hence perhaps
Mr. Lishman would enlighten them a little more on the subject, and
that he would then tell them what quantity of coals per acre and square
yard he had got.
Mr. Marley said, great credit was due to Mr. Lishman for giving them his
paper even in its present unfinished state. He hoped Mr. Big-land would
follow it up and give them the results as to his twenty-two yards pillars.
If he would go and see Mr. Lishman at the workings
111
and talk with him there, as well as in the railway carriage, it might help
them to arrive at sound conclusions.
Mr. Bigland—I shall be glad to go.
Mr. Marley continued—Perhaps the crush was partly attributable to these
boards which he had got at every twenty-two yards. In answer to Mr. W. 0.
Wood's remark that there was no distinction between them and the ordinary
pillar workings, to some extent he was under a mistake. In long-wall, if
they did get it carried out, they got relieved of the pressure behind the
chocks; therefore, they did not get that pressure on the coal which they had
in the broken or pillar workings. In South Staffordshire, in 1849, he
remembered seeing the worst roof he ever saw worked in long-wall. They used
a portion of their broken timber for putting in between the chocks, so as to
keep up the same and save any portion of coal being left, as was done in the
board-and-pillar system in the jenking, so that that loss of coal was not
necessary.
Mr. Lishman said, relative to the crush, Mr. Bigland would find that the
last pack-wall had a tendency to keep the crush off the chocks. The roof
settled down upon it, and there was nothing like the crush that they
expected, because the two packed-walls operated as pillars and kept the
crush off.
Mr. Bigland said, he was not speaking without experience. He found that with
the pack-walls the chocks were crushed to some extent. He had tried them
three yards thick in a wide board.
The President said, he had seen coal worked in the ordinary way at
Brancepeth, where they did not lose more than five per-cent. Mr. Wood would
bear him out in that statement.
Mr. W. 0. Wood said, when the roof was anything like good, a very small
per-centage was lost. There might be a little "stook" left at the end of the
pillar. He observed in the plan here, that a good deal was supposed to be
lost at the end of the pillar, and also between the lifts. There was none of
that loss at Brancepeth.
Mr. Cockburn inquired if they were working in Brancepeth on the old regular
system 1
Mr. W. 0. W^ood said, yes, but it had been varied a great deal. In fourteen-
or fifteen-yard pillars they put a jenkin in the middle.
The President—That does very well where it does not matter whether the coals
are round or small.
Mr. Lishman said, he had a little experience in that district. It was a
strong post roof.
Mr. W. 0. Wood said, there was a good deal of blue metal. He had
112
had pillars forty yards square, and removed them on a similar principle to
that advocated by Mr. Lishman. When they had pit room to spare that they
could work on this plan, instead of the ordinary pillars, they did so. It
was a great saving- of timber.
The President inquired if the hewers got less or more 1
Mr. Lishman said, the score prices were the same in long-wall as in pillar
working- • but the men make considerably more wages. The broken was sixpence
less than the whole.
The discussion was then adjourned.
The discussion on Mr. Cockburn's paper, " On Underground Conveyance and the
Clip-pulley," was postponed, some delay having occurred in printing the
paper. It was observed that Mr. Spencer had given notice of a motion that
papers should be printed before being read.
Mr. Marley said, as this would put more responsibility on the Council, and
involved to some extent a departure from the rule, the proposal had better
be made at the June meeting, and discussed at the annual meeting.
The President suggested that it might be well to have all their general
meetings on a Saturday, and the suggestion appeared to meet with general
approval.
BASTIER'S PATENT.
Mr. Bigland said, that some time ago Mr. Greener read a paper on Bastier's
patent chain-pump. At that time there was no pumping apparatus in the
district to which he could refer. About a month ago they had commenced one
at St. Helen's Auckland. It was raising water forty-five fathoms from the
yard-seam, and was working every day, and giving satisfaction. It was a
small one, the diameter of the pipes was three-and-a-half inches. The
cylinder was nine-inches diameter, with eighteen-inches stroke. They were
raising a hundred gallons per minute. Though small it showed the principle.
They had no engineman, and no extra fireman. The same staff kept it
going.
The President said, he had recently put a new engine at the bottom of the
pit at Seaton Delaval, to force the water to the surface, and it was pumping
at the rate of six hundred gallons a minute. It was at the depth of 112
fathoms, and they thus avoided the use of spears. The length of stroke was
four feet, and it could go forty strokes a minute. There were other engines
of the same description in use; Lord Durham had two or three working
regularly.
The meeting then broke up.
ON
HARPER'S IMPROVED SAFETY-CAGE APPARATUS
FOR THE
OBDINABF WIBE-EOPE CONDUCTOBS.
By JOHN P. HARPER.
As there have been very recently both papers and discussions on safety-cages
before the members of the Institute, I will not encroach on your time in
adverting to the different descriptions of apparatus from time to time
brought under your notice; the main features of which are well known and
understood by all connected with mining operations.
There has been, and is still, great diversity of opinion in this matter,
for, while some earnestly advocate the general adoption of safety-cages,
others are equally prejudiced against them.
Generally we are all agreed so far, that if the apparatus be not a reliable
one, in any way easily deranged, or of complicated mechanical construction,
the evil sought to be remedied is increased rather than diminished. My
safety-cage differs both in principle and detail from any that have preceded
it, and certainly stands alone in this respect, that it is specially
designed, constructed, and adapted for the ordinary wire-rope conductors.
Safety-cages have hitherto been brought out more particularly for adaption
to the wooden guides, but, as these are fast becoming superseded by the
iron-wire ones on account of their durability and cheapness —if safety-cages
are to be universally adopted, they must be made applicable to the wire-rope
conductors.
I think, indeed, that safety-cages can be used to greater advantage in
connection with the iron-wire than with the wooden guides, for, with the
wooden ones sharp-pointed or toothed instruments are usually
114
brought to clutch or dig' into the conductor, and if it so happens that the
length of guide rods 0*1 which the apparatus is brought to play be rotten,
unsound, infirmly fixed, or in any way defective, the safety apparatus is of
no avail; indeed sometimes, be the rods ever so sound and in good repair, we
hear of accidents occurring-, owing- to the guide rods being- split and
ripped down by the apparatus broug-ht to bear on them.
Accidents of this description are less liable to occur with the iron-wire
guides. I have latterly devoted a considerable time in experimenting- upon
them, and have found that it would not do to employ an instrument with a
sharp point, a toothed or uneven surface, to bear on the conductors, for, as
the circumference of a wire-rope is uneven, they would cut and injure the
more prominent parts.
The safety-cag-e, which I now desire to call your attention to, answers
beyond my most sang-uine expectations, acting- effectually without damaging-
or depreciating- in the least the wire conductors, of whatever description
they may be. The apparatus is extremely simple, substantial, inexpensive in
its construction, is not easily derang-ed, and can be applied to cag-es and
hoists, of whatever description or size, whether conducted at the ends,
corners, or sides, and carrying- any weight. The principle by which the
apparatus, on the severance of the winding--rope from the cage, is brought
to bear on the conductors is by compression j and its operation is (of its
own accord) to bring the cage to an immediate stand by means of catches or
compressors which fasten on, encircle, and compress not only the sides but
the whole circumference of the conductor. When the winding-rope is
re-adjusted by the tension of the rope, the compressors spontaneously
release their grasp of the conductors, and the whole is ag-ain in working-
order.
The general features of the cage will be readily seen by referring to the
working models, which will also admit of being experimented upon (see
annexed drawing of model No. 2, Plate XXV.). As the catches, or more
properly the compressors, are of very peculiar shape, I have wooden models
to show their general construction, [a model was handed round for
inspection] and also detailed drawing-s of them (Plates XXVL, % XXVII., and
XXVIII.), showing their positions when out of play, and held from the guides
by the tension of the rope, the position they assume when first brought into
play, and the iron wire-guide in extreme compression. This will, of course,
vary in proportion to the weight on the cage at the time they are brought
into requisition.
Model Xo. 1, the smaller of the two, is one-fourth the full size of a
115
description of cage used at small collieries, ironstone and lead mines,
where one wag-on at a time only is drawn, and conducted on each side with
the ordinary wire-rope guides. No. 2 model, the larger one, is a design
one-sixth the full size, for douhle cages in a thirteen-feet shaft, fitted
with wire-rope conductors, each cage having two, three, or four guides as
may he required, and single or double tiered to carry either two or four
wagons. I have chosen these two forms of cages to show that the apparatus
can he applied successfully to cages of any description, and carrying any
weight.
Both cages, although varying slightly in detail, are precisely similar in
principle (for this reason a drawing of No. 2 model, Plate XXV., only is
annexed). On the small cage, model No. 1> the apparatus is attached to the
sides of the cage, and is brought to bear simultaneously on both conductors.
On the large rectangular cage (model No. 2, see Plate XXV.), though
conducted by four guides, the apparatus is brought to bear on two only, that
is, across the corners. The compressors, which are made of malleable iron
and case-hardened (lettered A on Plate XXVITI.), are of peculiar
construction (see detailed drawing, Plate XXVII.), made in plan, in a
fork-like shape, and of any proportionate elevational depth. They work on
each side of the conductors on axles, B, attached to the cage, and when not
in play are held by the tension of the winding-rope at an acute angle; and,
when brought into play, as presently explained, slide into each other, and
encircle the conductor, assuming a nearly horizontal position, and forming,
both in plan and elevation, a circular hole the full depth of the
compressors, but less in diameter than the conductor, so that as the angle
is made to increase in proportion to the weight on the cage, so will the
compression also increase on the conductors.
The compressors A are constructed with lever ends, and when the cage hangs
freely on the winding rope they are held away from the conductors by side
rods D, attached on each side of the cage, to main vertical and shouldered
rods E working through guide boxes F, in which are inserted spiral springs
(merely to give impetus to the compressors) bearing on the inside shoulders
of the main vertical rods E, which are connected on each side of the cage by
a cross bar G, working over the top or cover of the cage H, and attached to
the winding rope. To prevent the compressors A wrenching apart, they are
connected by a front tie-plate C. K represents ordinary cast-iron guide
boxes through which the conductors slide.
By the above description, and with reference to the working models Vol.
XVI.—1867.
Q
116
(see drawing- of model No. 2, Plate XXV.), it will be seen that when the
cage hang's freely on the rope the shoulders on the main vertical rods E are
brought up by means of the cross bar G to the undersides of the grade boxes
F, and the compressors, now being- held away from the conductors, are
allowed to pass freely between the forks of the catches, but immediately on
the rope becoming- disconnected from the cross bar G- the concealed spiral
spring-s, hitherto held in subjection, are released, give impetus to, and
assist in bringing the compressors A into instantaneous play, which, then
sliding into one another so close round, and compress the conductor into a
circular hole, less in diameter than the conductor itself, through which it
is impossible for it to pass, so that the cage is brought to an immediate
stand.
In the arrangements by which the compressors are connected to the winding
rope, it will be perceived that both sets must work simultaneously on the
guides, and are such as cannot be easily deranged.
I may add, in conclusion, that the apparatus and arrangements are in course
of being patented, provisional protection having been already allowed.
Plates XXV. to XXIX. illustrate Mr. Harper's paper " On Improved Safety-cage
Apparatus, etc."
ON
UNDERGROUND HAULAGE AT PELTON COLLIER!
By D. P. MORISON and JAMES NELSON.
The means of conveying coal underground being of such great importance to
the efficient working of collieries, as regards the speed and economy of
producing large quantities of coal, and there having already been some
papers read on the subject, and published in the Transactions of the North
of England Institute of Mining Engineers, it occurred tc the writers to lay
a summary of the results of some recent experiments, made by them, before
the members of the Institute.
These experiments were made, and this paper was compiled, before the writers
were aware that the investigations, now being carried on by the recently
appointed Tail-rope Committee, would bear upon the subjecl in a much more
detailed and interesting form. It will, however, not be out of place to set
before you the following data, as they may be of some use to the Committee
in elucidating the same subject, from, perhaps, a different point of view;
and, also, as they have a special bearing* on the papers read on previous
occasions by several members.
The experiments were made at Pelton Colliery, on two of the principal
branch-lines in the engine-plane of the Hutton-seam, termed respectively the
" South-Side-New- West Way" and the " Far-Off Way," the length of the former
being 2354 yards, and of the latter 2995 yards, both measurements being
taken from the drums of the engine to the return sheaves.
The way on these two branches is in remarkably good condition, a
considerable portion having been lately relaid with heavy-edge rails,
chaired and fished at the joints, and carefully cross-levelled and ballasted
over the whole length. The weights of these rails, with the numbers and
weights of sheaves, rollers, and drums, are given in Appendix No. III.
118
The engines, of which a plan on a small scale is annexed, Plate XXX., are
two horizontal cylinders, twenty-four inches diameter, with three feet
stroke, geared two to three into two drums, five feet two inches diameter on
barrel. The main-rope is three inches in circumference, and the tail-rope
two-and-three-quarters inches, the weight of the Far-Off Way ropes being
five tons six cwts. and nine tons two cwts. respectively• and of the
New-West Way ropes three tons eighteen cwts., and seven tons two cwts. The
sheaves and rollers, for carrying the ropes, are set ten yards apart, of
good construction, and may he considered a fair sample of those generally in
use in this neighbourhood.
The engines were indicated with two of Richards's indicators, of the best
make, and the taps were placed on the ends of the cylinders (without the
intervention of any pipes, which are so liable to give erroneous results),
diagrams being taken from each end of the cylinder at the same stroke, the
revolutions of the engine and the pressure of steam in the receiver being at
the same time carefully noted. The motion was transferred to the indicators
from the cross-head by iron levers, very accurately adjusted over each
cylinder.
The first experiment was made on the engine running empty, and the indicated
effective horse-power was 18-362 (as per Appendices Nos. I. and II.). On the
ropes coupled in the Far-Off Way the indicated horse-power was 77*742• and
on the ropes coupled in the New-West Way 72-99. The Far-Off ropes were then
attached to a loaded set of ninety tubs, and in drawing these up an incline
of 1 in 74 (at the point marked A on plan and section, Plates XXXI. and
XXXIL), the indicated horse-power was 166-535, the diameter, including coils
of rope of the main drum, being at that point five-feet-six-and-a-half
inches• and the engine, therefore, making one revolution for 11-63 feet
travelled by the rope. On the same loaded set, when on the level (at the
point marked B on plan and sections), the diameter of the drum being then
six feet seven inches, and the feet travelled by the ropes for one
revolution being 13*78, the indicated horse-power was 134-982.
On a full set of eighty tubs (coming along the point marked G on plan and
section), from the New-West Way, the diameter being then five feet ten
inches, and the feet travelled 12-21, the indicated horsepower was 120-556.
On the same set, at the point B, the indicated horse-power wras 126-218, the
diameter of drum being six feet one-and-a-half inches, and feet travelled
12-82.
For the experiments on the empty sets, as well as the data upon which the
calculations are based, the writers would refer you to the
119
tabulated statements (Appendices Nos. I. and II.) • and in order not to take
up time by going into them at present, they will merely lay before you the
following general deductions from the results of their experiments, which
appear to them to be supported by the data given.
First.—That in the New-West Way the power requisite to move the ropes, at
the rate of sixty-eight revolutions, or 883 feet per minute, is fifty-seven
per-cent. of the total power indicated on the engines when drawing along the
level a full set weighing about fifty-eight tons at the same number of
revolutions.
Second.—That in the Far-Off Way the power required to move the ropes, at the
above speed, was forty-seven per-cent. of the total power indicated when
drawing a set weighing sixty-five tons up a gradient of 1 in 74, and 57-6
per-cent. of that when drawing' the same set along the level, both at the
same speed of sixty-eight revolutions.
Third.—Inasmuch as the New-West Way ropes are only 6910 yards, and that the
Far-Off Way ropes are 8810 yards long, or, in other words, that one is to
the other as 1 is to 1*28* and, as the power requisite to work either is
nearly the same, it follows that a large per-centage of the power required
to move the shorter rope is absorbed by the greater number of sharp curves
in the shorter way, and by being bound round a sheave attached to the pumps
* and, hence, the tail-rope system, or the haulage of ropes of any
description, may be considered to work at a serious disadvantage, where
there are any sharp curves • and it is evident that before any fixed and
constant per-centage of power lost by ropes or tail-ropes can be laid down,
the friction at the curves must be arrived at.
Fourth.—The apparent anomaly of the great loss of power per-cent. in drawing
the ropes is explained by the following facts :—
1.—That the weight of the ropes is actually eighteen per-cent. of the total
weight to be moved in the Far-Off Way, and nineteen per-cent. of that in the
New-West Way.
2.—That a certain amount of friction must be applied to the tail-drum, to
prevent the tail-rope over-running or becoming slack.
3.—That the large amount of friction caused by the rigidity of the rope
passing round the return sheave, and over the drums and sheaves at all the
curves, must be taken into account.
4.—That in the transmission of the total effective power of the engine
through the spur-gearing to the drums, a loss takes place of at least five
per-cent., in addition to the power absorbed by the friction of the drums.
120
The comparisons of the New-West Way and the Far-Off ropes, when hauling-,
were taken at the same point B; so that the results are in no degree
affected by the difference in the state of way—the rails or the gradients in
their respective branches.
It may, in conclusion, be remarked, that the writers have arranged a series
of experiments by which they hope to be enabled to lay before the Institute
an actual rule and formula for calculating the loss of power occasioned by
the passing of a rope in a state of tension over a return sheave, or a drum
at a curve of any given angle, there being at present no ascertained rules
for arriving at these conclusions, as the formula of General Morin for the
rigidity of ropes cannot well be applied in these instances.
123
APPENDIX No. III.
DETAILS OP ENGINE, E NGIN E - PL ANE, Etc.
1.—Engine.
Diameter of cylinder ............... 24 inches.
Length of stroke.................. 3 feet.
Diameter of piston-rod, fore end ......... 3J inches.
Do. "Do. back end ......... 2f „
Area of steam-ports ............... 20 „
Do. exhaust-ports ............... 35 „
Length of main-pipe ... ............ 400 feet.
Do. exhaust-pipe............... 300 „
Diameter of main-pipe............... 8 inches.
Do. exhaust-pipe ... ... ... ...
9 „
Do. driving-pinion ............ 4 feet.
Do. spur-wheel............... 6 „
Do. fly-wheel ............... 10 „
Weight of fly-wheel ............... 5 tons.
Diameter of drums ............... 5 feet 2 inches.
Do. do. including Flanges ...... 8 feet 2
inches.
Width of Drums between Flanges ......... 3 feet.
Receiver, length 15 feet by 3 feet 6 inches diameter.
2.—Ropes.
Yards. Yards.
MAIN. TAIL.
Far Off ......... 2990 ......... 5820
New West Way ...... 2200 ......... 4710
Circumference......... 3 inches ......... 21 inches.
Weights—Far-Off ... 5 tons 6 cwts..........9 tons 2 cwts.
New-West Way 3 tons 18 cwts..........7 tons 2 cwts.
3.—Sheaves, per detailed statement.
Distance apart, 10 yards.
4.—Rails.
28 lbs. per yard and 24 lbs. per yard. Gauge of way, 22^ inches.
5.—Tubs.
Cwts. Qrs. Lbs.
Average weight empty............... 5 2 14
Coals ..................... 9 0 7
DETAILED STATEMENT OF ROLLERS AND SHEAVES, ENGINE-PLANE,
BZUTTON-SEAM. Engine to Far Off Station—
5 in. 8 in. 14 in. H by 10. 2 ft. 4 ft. 6 ft. 7
ft. Total.
Main-sheaves ...... 264 ...... 26 ............ 290
Tail do....... 9 170 110 ... 7 2 2
... 300
Total............ 273 170 110 26 7 2 2 ...
590
Engine to South Station—
Main-sheaves ...... 207 ...... 32 ............ 239
Tail do....... 33 71 112 ... 18 2
2 1 239
Total............ 240 71 112 32 18 2 2 1
478
Vol. XVI.—1867.
R
124
APPENDIX No. IV.
Plates XXXIII. and XXXIV.
EESULTS OP EXPERIMENTS ON COMPARATIVE DIAGRAMS TAKEN FROM INDICATOR ON
CYLINDER AND IN PIPES.
As a statement affecting the accuracy of diagrams, when taken off indicators
connected with an engine cylinder by means of pipes, was made by one of the
writers at the last meeting of the Institute, he thought it might be
satisfactory to make direct experiments with the view of laying before the
Institute a proof of the great discrepancy which invariably arises from the
use of pipes when indicating engines.
¦ The experiments were made on the top side of the cylinder of the engine
driving the ventilating fan at Pelton Colliery. This cylinder is 23f inches
diameter, 23§ inches stroke, and works at a speed varying from 56 to 64
strokes per minute. The indications were made at the former speed, at nearly
the same stroke, and the results were :—
Effective Pressure of Back
Effective
Steam on Piston. Pressure.
Horse-Power.
Cylinder cover ... 19-886 ... 1-995
... 58-24
Pipes ...... 15-570 ... 4-73
... 45-6
The pipes were half an inch inside diameter, and the length, from cylinder
to indicator, was two feet ten and a-half inches, as shown on sketch
annexed.
Plates XXX. to XXXIV. illustrate Messrs. Morison and Nelson's paper on
Underground Haulage at Pelton Colliery.
APPENDIX N?4
Com p ara Li ve I) i adr anis Cylinder (tf Fan En^awfPeJtari (htfthy.
1 From/ Indicator otv i inch pipe -from fop of Cylinder
2 Ftxnn/ lrutieei/or on top of Cylinder
Scale/ 24nTbs.Co an JncTi Jtzcharcls' TiidictiJor
Strokes of Engine____5C
Steam; ire Boilers____32
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEERS.
GENERAL MEETING, SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1867, IN THE ROOMS
OF THE INSTITUTE, NEVILLE HALL, NEVILLE STREET,
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
T. E. FORSTER, Esq., President of the Institute, in the Chaib.
The minutes of the Council were read, after which the following- new members
were elected:—Mr. Benjamin Huntsman, West Retford Hall, Retford; Mr. Edward
Greenway, Brierlj Hill; and Mr. Thomas Lloyd, Brierly Hill. Mr. Frederick
Siddon, of Wigan, was elected a graduate.
UNDERGROUND CONVEYANCE AND THE CLIP-PULLEY.
Mr. Cockburn said, since reading- his paper he had made a few experiments on
a double-acting pump. It was a nine-inch pump which he had now working at
Upleatham Mines. He found that taking the last nine months' working, it had
pumped on an average at the rate of 146 gallons per-minute on single-action,
and 293 gallons on double-action. Taking the two pumps together, he found
they had pumped 352,200 gallons in twenty hours. It was a two-feet stroke,
and it gave twenty strokes per-minute. The distance was 450 yards, and the
water was forced up an incline and raised vertically eighty-three feet. He
estimated the actual weight of water in eighty-three feet of nine-inch pipe
to be 6 tons 8 cwts. 2 qrs. 4 lbs. When he calculated the work of the ropes
which had been working for nine months, he found they had travelled during
that time 18,200 miles; the cost per-mile on the rope being T85d. He meant
this calculation to be taken in connection with Vol. XVI.—18G7.
s
126
the pumping of the water. In working- out the data he found that the actual
cost for every thousand gallons of water on the sixteen-inch stroke was
l-19d.; and on the twenty-four-inch stroke the cost per thousand gallons was
*79d., or a little over three-farthings for a thousand
gallons.
The eight-feet pulley to which he had referred in his paper, he found
working from two to three thousand tons per day. The gradient was one in
eleven, and the "brake held considerably. He also found that the brake had
not sufficient power in running from the wheel, as it was technically
termed. There was another difficulty; the brakesman sometimes laid his lever
too strongly on the wheel, and he once broke the rope. He held one side on
the incline, and the other went amain. To obviate this he put two screw
brakes on the wheel, so that every time the wheel was running into the
brake. He found it working in every respect in as satisfactory a manner as
he could wish.
Mr. Boyd called Mr. Cockburn's attention to a remark made by Mr. Lindsay
Wood at the last meeting, namely, that he had found the wear and tear of
ropes heavier on the clip-pulley than it was on the
ordinary system.
Mr. Cockburn said, he could not speak as to a comparison between the
plain-pulley and the clip-pulley, as he had not the plain-pulley working at
the present time. At the Loftus Mines the cost had been *22d. per-ton for
the last four months. It was an inclined-plane of one in fourteen, and it
was 3G0 yards long. This estimate of cost included everything except the
capital sunk.
Mr. Boyd—You estimate the entire cost including wear and tear, and still it
does not amount to more than that 1
Mr. Cockburn said, his experience was that the wear and tear was not so much
as that. He had it running round three curves, almost at right angles to
each other. He might just state for the information of the meeting*, that
last Thursday morning on his eight-feet pulley on the incline, the socket
caught the point-end and held it there till the rope broke. There were three
trucks weighing- ten tons each, and they were kept quite still by the man
holding the brake.
Mr. Steavenson suggested that there ought to be a standard of comparison for
experiments agreed upon. Some of the members who read papers gave the cost
per-ton, and others gave the cpiantity of water raised. Mr. Cockburn, in his
paper, gave a certain cost per-ton, but he had not given the cost' per-ton
per-mile. It would be well to give the cost per-mile also. There* was a
want of uniformity, and it would be
127
well if the Council or the Members generally could agree on some uniform
standard.
The President said, the Tail-rope Committee were drawing up their paper so
as to show the cost per-ton per-mile.
Mr. Steavenson said, the gradients must also be taken into account.
The President—Certainly.
Mr. Morison said, in connection with his and Mr. Nelson's paper, the cost
had been gone roughly into as well as they could, the ropes doing both the
pumping and hauling. After allowing for the pumping, they estimated the cost
at l'7d. per-ton per-mile.
The President—That is very moderate. I should think that would be the
cheapest. You do not take interest of capital 1
Mr. Morison—No.
Mr. Douglas—How do you estimate the wear and tear ?
Mr. Morison—We can only take the number of miles travelled by the rope.
Mr. Southern—Do you take the entire working cost ?
Mr. Morison—Yes- tubs, ropes, upholding of the way, and repairs to engine,
rollers, etc.; everything but interest of capital.
UNDERGROUND HAULAGE AT PELTON COLLIERY.
Mr. Morison said, they had been waiting-, before making any further
experiments, to see the report of the Tail-rope Committee. It might give
them some help and save them a great deal of labour.
The President said, the Tail-rope Committee were very much engaged. They
were progressing; but he feared their report would not be ready before the
annual meeting.
Mr. Daglish said, the more their labours continued the more they saw they
had to do.
NOTICE OP MOTION.
Mr. Douglas gave notice of motion for the annual meeting, that in in future
the general meetings should be held, not alternately on Thursday and
Saturday, but always on a Saturday.
SAFETY-CAGES.
Mr. Harper's paper u On Harper's Improved Safety-Cage Apparatus, for
ordinary Wire-Rope Conductors," was set down for discussion. The President
read a letter from Mr. Harper apologizing for his absence.
Mr. Southern said, in reference to the accident which had occurred yesterday
at Washington, that it would be a useful thing to have a com-
128
mittee on safecy-cages, and have the question thoroughly gone into, with a
view to prevent such accidents as far as possible.
The President approved of the suggestion, and the following* gentlemen were
appointed a committee :—Messrs. E. F. Boyd, C.Berkley, S. Crone, T. Douglas,
A. L. Steavenson, J. F. Spencer, and Jas. Nelson.
Mr. Daglish said, Mr. Broadbent's agent was present, but he suggested that
the discussion should be taken at the next meeting*. A model was on the
table, and the apparatus itself was at work in one of the West-Rainton Pits.
He would be glad to show it to any gentleman who might visit the Alexandra
Pit where it was working.
The President—Do you use round ropes or flat 1
Mr. Daglish—We use round ropes.
The discussion was then postponed.
The President announced that Mr. G. B. Forster had presented to the
Institute a model, which was then on the table, of a malleable iron-beam,
which had been put up at Cambois Colliery.
Mr. S. Crone moved a vote of thanks to Mr. G. B. Porster, and said that it
was a good beginning to their collection of models, and he hoped other
gentlemen would follow the example.
Mr. Cockburn seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation.
After some remarks had been made with respect to an intended visit to Eyhope
Colliery,
The President submitted a resolution which had been already agreed to by the
Coal-Trade, namely, that Mr. T. W. Bunning be appointed Secretary to the two
Societies.
The motion was carried unanimously, and the meeting shortly after broke up.
NORTH OF ENGLAND INSTITUTE
OF
MINING ENGINEEES.
ANNUAL MEETING, THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 1867, IN THE EOOMS OF THE INSTITUTE,
NEVILLE STEEET, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.
JOHN MARLEY, Esq., in the Chair,
Mr. Bunning, the newly-appointecl Secretary, read the proceedings of the
Council, and last general meeting.
The voting papers for the election of the officers for the ensuing* year
were, by the direction of the Chairman, placed in the hands of the
scrutineers, Mr. C. Berkley and Mr. G. B. Forster.
The Chairman said, that some little mistake had arisen relative to the
election of President. Most of them were aware, that prior to the election
of Mr. T. E. Forster, the rule was altered as to fixing the term of
office—that it should be vacated in the same way as that of Vice-president,
after a period of so many years. Mr. I. L. Bell, in January, 1866, proposed
that the term of office should be for three years. The question was not
settled till the month of March, 1866. Some members were for two years and
others for three years. About twelve months ago it was discovered that the
late Secretary had omitted to make any minute as to what rule was arrived
at. Then, in consequence of that discovery being made, he had entered in the
book that it was not more than two years. Supposing this entry to have been
correct, Mr. T. E. Forster ought to have been starred as ineligible in the
voting papers just issued. The Council after weighing the matter over, had
come to a resolution this morning, which they submitted to the meeting to
get out of this difficulty. To decide that two years was what was agreed
130
upon, would be to cancel all the votes which had been given by all the
absent members, and to decide that three years was so, would leave the
matter in such a way that Mr. T. E. Forster would be eligible. The
recommendation of the Council was that three years should be declared to be
the term, so as to be consonant with the rule as to Vice-presidents.
The resolution on being submitted was carried unanimously.
A resolution requesting the Building Committee to continue their
negotiations was also adopted.
Mr. G. T. Manners, of Birtley Iron Works, was elected a member, and Mr.
Griffith, of Cowpen Colliery, Blyth, a graduate.
The Secretary read a recommendation of the Council to the effect that,
inasmuch as they had appointed a Safety-cage Committee, it would be
advisable that the discussion on Mr. Daglish's paper and Mr. Harper's paper,
on the subject of Safety-cages, should be postponed until after the
Committee had made their report, which was agreed to.
The next subject was a resolution submitted by the Council, viz.:— That the
next monthly meeting be considered special to consider Rule 5, in order that
the words " Mining Inspectors during* the term of their office, and " be
inserted after the words " Honorary Members shall be."
On the motion of Mr. Cochrane, permission was given to Mr. Greener, to
translate his paper on " Bastier's Chain Pump " into French.
Mr. Cochrane having- raised a question as to the position of Mr. Howse, it
was resolved, on the suggestion of the Chairman, that the subject be left to
the Council.
The Secretary then read the Annual Eeport of the Council.
Mr. L. Wood read the Report of the Finance Committee, and presented the
Treasurer's Statement.
The Chairman, in adverting to the Report, said, however highly it spoke of
the late Mr. Jeffcock, it was not more than he deserved. As an individual
member of the Institute he would add one remark, namely, that the Accidental
Insurance Company, in the most unhandsome and unwise manner, had repudiated
the payment of the insurance on the life of Mr. Jeffcock. The Council had
made no comment upon this, but it had been well discussed in the public
prints. He (the Chairman) happened to be the holder of a policy in that
Company; when it expired, which it would do in November, he should not renew
it, and he had told them the reason why. Not only that, but he should
recommend every mining engineer and other gentlemen to do the same, and he
should be quite willing at any time to contribute his mite towards
compelling the Company to pay, which he believed they could
131
be made to do. With regard to the papers read at the meetings, he hoped the
young members would not wait till the whole of their experiments were
completed before they gave the Institute the benefit of their experience.
The Royal Commission had been alluded to. A difference of opinion had been
expressed as to the advantage of that Commission. He hoped the result of
their inquiries, when it came before the public, would inform them, not only
what coal they had left, but also that some ideas would be brought out, and
facts brought together, such as would assist the mining engineers of the
district to find out whether coal exists where it had not been considered to
exist hitherto, otherwise the Commission would fall short of its object.
They would all join in the eulogium pronounced on their treasurer, Mr. Boyd;
but for his services they would not have been in such a good financial
position.
The confirmation of the Reports, etc., was carried by show of hands.
Mr. Waller, in the absence of Mr. J. F. Spencei-, moved,—"That all papers
proposed to be read at the meetings of the Institute, shall be printed
before they are read, and that copies shall be given to the members present
at such meeting, absent members being supplied as usual." He (Mr. Waller)
thought the members would be better able to follow the paper as read, if
they had it before them.
Mr. Newall seconded the motion.
Mr. L. Wood said, if the copies were only given to the members at the
meeting very little good would arise, as they would have very little time to
read the paper after they came to the meeting-. It would be better if the
copies were posted to members two or three days before the meeting, that
they might have time fully to understand the paper.
Mr. Cochrane said, it would throw the entire responsibility upon the Council
to decide on what papers should be printed. He thought it better to read all
papers to the general meeting; the Council having-as usual approved of them
generally, and that the sense of the meeting should be taken as to their
worth. He was decidedly of opinion that it would be better to continue as
they were. He should vote against the alteration.
The Chairman begged to call attention to Rule 17, which was " That the
Council shall have power to decide on the propriety of communicating to the
Institute any papers which may be received, and they shall be at liberty,
when they think it desirable, to direct that any paper read before the
Institute shall be printed and transmitted to the members."
Mr. Newall said, probably the resolution would be taken with a
132
little amendment. The time was too short if merely delivered at the
meeting-. If it were decided that the papers were to be printed before
being- read, thej had better be sent to the members a few days beforehand,
so as to enable them to discuss the subject fully.
Mr. Cochrane said, it was a pity Mr. Spencer was not here himself; he
understood that such an amendment was quite contrary to Mr. Spencer's
wishes. That g-entleman did not wish to send the papers to members
beforehand, because then the subject would have lost its novelty, and
members would not care to attend the meeting'. It was a pity Mr. Spencer was
not here to state on what grounds he proposed this motion.
The Chairman said, the Council was expected, according- to Rule 17, to have
read and considered every paper that came before it before it was read to
the meeting-. Perhaps it was only proper to confess that the Council had not
always done that duty. It had relied on the standing- of the writers as
showing- prima facie that it was a proper paper to be read; and they also
had relied, on the other hand, that the paper as actually read would be
eliminated and considerably improved before it g-ot into the printer's
hands, partly by the remarks at the meeting-, and partly by themselves. It
was too great a responsibility to place on the Council that they should have
to decide whether a paper should be printed or not. There had been instances
where a g-eneral meeting- had given instructions to the Council that a paper
had better not be printed. Althoug-h the object which Mr. Spencer had in
view was g*ood, his own view was that they should hesitate in adopting- this
motion, and see if the Council could contrive something' to meet the
difficulty.
Mr. Lishman moved as an amendment that the Rule remain as it is, which
being- seconded by Mr. Greener, was carried by a larg-e majority.
Mr. Dougias's motion " That Rule 13 be altered, and the General Meeting's be
held on the Saturdays instead of as at present," was proposed by Mr.
Cochrane, seconded by Mr. W. Lishman, of Bunker Hill, and carried by a
larg*e majority.
Mr. A. L. Steavenson's paper "On Experiments with Bastier's Patent
Chain-Pump" stood for discussion. That g-entleman was not present, but a
letter from him was read, in which he sug-g-ested that further experiments
were desirable.
The Chairman said, that he had sug-g-ested to Mr. A. L. Steavenson that,
inasmuch as the experiments at St. Helen's Auckland had been
133
made on a pump driven with a second motion, lifting* the water after it had
been g-ot to the surface higiier so that it migiit be applied to coke oven
purposes, there might be considerable difference if those experiments were
made with the same pump and engines with the delivery immediately when it
arrived at the surface. He would sug'g-est to Mr. Greener, who represented
Bastier's pump in this district, that he should forthwith make a delivery
pipe at the surface and provide the necessary means at St. Helen's Auckland
for working- the pump by direct-action, instead of by a second motion.
Mr. Greener said, that in a month's time they would be in a better position
at St. Helen's Auckland pump. They had g-ot some crooked pipes there from
the parties that enamelled them.
The Chairman pointed to a model showing- the working- of the clip-pulley,
which had been presented to the Institute by the President.
On the motion of Mr. Willis, seconded by Mr. Bailes, the thanks of the
meeting- were voted to Mr. T. E. Forster for his present.
Mr. Waller then read a paper on Pumping- Water, which was illustrated by
diagrams.
Mr. Cochrane inquired whether any of the pumps of which examples had been
given, were worked at both ends of the beam ?
Mr. Waller said, in one of the examples, Windsor, there was a balance-beam
below the surface, but in no case were they worked at both ends.
Mr. Smith's paper " On Fasteners for Safety-Lamps," was withdrawn; and after
a vote of thanks to the Chairman the meeting* separated.
ON PUMPING WAT BE.
By WILLIAM WALLER.
What should be the cost of raising 1,000 gallons of water 100 feet is a
question of vital importance to all parties interested in raising1 coal. My
experience is offered, with the following- observations, to supply some
answer to this question.
It was stated at the Birmingham Meeting of the British Association that the
quantity of water raised over the 125 square miles constituting the South
Staffordshire Coal-field, was 50,000,000 gallons per 24 hours (representing
ten times the weight of coal raised), at a yearly cost of £125,000, or,
deducting five per cent, on the stated capital employed, £500,000, at a cost
of £100,000. In endeavouring to ascertain the depth this quantity was
lifted, I have been informed that 128 yards or 381 feet may be taken as the
average depth of the pits of the whole field. Assuming this depth to be the
average of the lifts, and the quantities raised by each to be equal, pumping
on the South Staffordshire Coal-field costs "343 pence per 1,000 gallons
raised 100 feet, or, in other words, per million foot pounds. In
endeavouring to establish a comparison between this and the Northumberland
and Durham District, I have not at command the same details to guide me that
I have quoted for South Staffordshire, and, therefore, cannot come to any
conclusion on the matter, except, that from observation I should think it
would not be below the *343 pence per million foot pounds above given. But
as it was stated, at the aforesaid Birmingham Meeting, that fifteen times
more water was lifted than coal in this district, and as the coal lifted in
1865 was 25,000,000 tons, there are something like 84,000,000,000 gallons to
raise, say the same height, viz., 384 feet, which, at the same rate, would
cost £459,200. This sufficiently shows the importance of the matter.
I propose to place beside these data the results obtained under my own
observation in waterworks for the supply of towns, where generally the
136
work is more economically executed. Should any object that these are not
parallel cases, I submit that the mining- engine, works under more
advantageous circumstances, for this reason, that, being- necessarily in the
first instance sufficient to reduce the water, in keeping- it at the reduced
level it is working well within its power, and under very economical
conditions; whereas, the waterworks engine having to contend with ever
varying- demands, with extra and intermittent exertion, with increased
friction and resistance in restricted pipe area, is under every
disadvantage. For the purposes of comparison, however, they may be
considered as working* under similar circumstances.
The Wolverhampton Waterworks raise water from two wells, and the work done
in 1849 was equal to raising 420,000,000 gallons 100 feet hig-h, and the
cost (coal 7s. 6d. per ton) £750 per annum, being about •422 pence per
million foot pounds.
There are two pumping- stations, one at Tettenhall, and one at Gold-thorn,
the former 140 feet deep, the latter 300 feet deep. The stand-pipe of the
Tettenhall engine is 180 feet high, making- a lift of 320 feet. The pumps
have plung-ers 13 inches diameter and 10 feet stroke.
The South Staffordshire Water works, in 1859, raised 1,250,000 g-allons 450
feet high, at a cost of "22 pence per million foot pounds.
The East London Waterworks Company, in 1849, with 2121 \ tons of coal, at
10s. Gd. per ton, raised 2,889,000,000 gallons 100 feet high ; and Mr.
Wickstead states the total cost of lifting a million foot pounds, taken on
the average of several years, with the different engines, to be asunder:—
Single-acting Engine, Bolton and Watt......... -543 pence.
Two do. do. .........
-358 „
Two do. do. .........
-333 „
Single-acting Cornish Engine, Harvey & Co....... -150 „
We see here, from high authority, what a very important difference there is
in the duty of the several engines in the same undertaking-.
The Southwark and Vauxhall Company, in 1849, with 2920 tons of coal, at 10s.
per ton, raised 4,061,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, or -084 pence for coal
for lifting a million foot pounds, making- the very liberal addition of
five-sevenths for labour, repairs, wear and tear, etc. This gives -144 pence
per million foot pounds.
The Grand Junction Company, in 1849, with 3170 tons of coal, at 14s. Od. per
ton, raised 2,810,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, or -192 pence for coal
alone, for lifting a million foot pounds- adding labour, etc., as before,
this gives -276 pence per million foot pounds.
137
The Liverpool Corporation Waterworks present a comparison more nearly
approaching- the general pumping- arrangements of a colliery; engines both
of the ordinary crank-engine and Cornish type are used, and the cost of
pumping- is given with g*reat detail and accuracy.
I now proceed to describe these Engines separately, with such remarks as may
appear necessary to explain discrepancies, which might otherwise be taken
for errors.
At the Bootle Station there were three engines each with beam and crank, and
with a sing-le-acting- bucket-pump (see Plate No. XXXV.), and worked direct
from the beam of each engine. Only two of these engines were worked
together, and they delivered through an air-vessel. In 1849, with 1809 tons
of coal, at 7s. 3d. per ton, 329,486,250 gallons were raised 170 feet high,
or 561,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, giving •281 pence for coal alone per
million foot pounds, or, including all expenses, taken from the actual
returns, *619 pence per million foot pounds.
At the Bevington Bush Station there was only one engine working a
bucket-lift at the outer end of the beam, the cylinder was thirty-eight
inches, with a stroke of five-and-a-half to six-and-a-half feet. During one
quarter of this year very little work was done, and the expense thereby very
much increased. The engine was altered from a bucket-lift to a plunger (see
Plate No. I.), and considerable repairs effected. The depth of the well is
150 feet, the total lift being 228 feet. In 1849, with 575 tons of coal, at
8s. 3d. per ton, 95,433,850 gallons were raised 228 feet high, or
217,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, giving -263 pence for coal alone, per
million foot pounds, or, including all expenses taken from the actual
returns, "789 pence per million foot pounds. Whilst alluding to this engine,
I may add that the saving effected by the alteration was, in after years,
found, to be -201 pence per million foot pounds.
The Soho Station had one beam and crank engine with two pumps, the main pump
being- a bucket-lift delivering 19T6 gallons, the outer a plunger throwing
15 gallons per stroke with a lift of 247 feet, the well being 140 feet deep.
In 1849, with 983 tons of coal, at 8s. 4d. per ton, 168,812,589 gallons were
raised 247 feet high, or 417,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, giving -236
pence for coal alone per million foot pounds, or, including all expenses,
taken from the actual returns, -480 pence per million foot pounds.
The Water Street or Park Engine was like that at #ie Soho Station, but both
pumps were bucket-lifts like the main pump, delivering about 197 gallons,
and the outer 1737 gallons per stroke. The lift was
138
257 feet, the well being 157 feet deep. In 1849, with 1225 tons of coal at
8s. 6d. per ton, 150,038,675 gallons were raised 257 feet high, or
385,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, giving -309 pence for coal alone per
million foot pounds, or, including all expenses, taken from the actual
returns, -544 pence per million foot pounds.
The Hotham Street Station had an old engine of the beam and crank class,
with a double-acting piston pump (see Plate No. XXXV.), delivering about 14|
gallons per stroke, under a load of 205 feet, the depth of well being 110
feet. In 1849, with 682 tons of coal, at 8s. 6d. per ton, 80,783,430 gallons
were raised 205 feet high, or 106,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, giving -419
pence for coal alone per million foot pounds, or, including all expenses,
taken from the actual returns, '874 pence per million foot pounds.
The Windsor Station had one engine with about 50-inch cylinder, on the
Cornish principle, making about 8| feet stroke, and throwing about 77
gallons per stroke 287 feet, the well being 212 feet deep (see Plate No.
XXXVI.). In 1849, with 1090 tons of coal, at 7s. 7d. per ton, 252,922,050
gallons were raised 287 feet high, or 726,000,000 gallons 100 feet high,
giving -135 pence for coal alone per million foot pounds, or, including all
expenses, -341 pence per million foot pounds.
The Green Lane engine is of a similar class to that referred to by Mr.
Wickstead, and made by Harvey and Company, being a Cornish engine with
50-inch cylinder and 9 feet stroke (See Plate XXXVI.). There were two
plunger lifts of 18-inch diameter, delivering 834 gallons per stroke 270
feet high, the well being 196 feet below the engine-house floor. In 1849,
with 916 tons of coal, at 6s. lOd. per ton, 307,378,629 gallons were raised
270 feet high, or 992,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, giving •075 pence for
coal alone per million foot pounds, or, including all expenses, taken from
the actual returns,-222 pence per million foot pounds. Recapitulating the
above results, we get the whole comparative cost at a glance.
We may fairly conclude that the cost of coal for lifting 1000 gallons 100
feet high, or a million foot pounds, need never exceed one-eighth of a penny
where Cornish engines of the best make are employed ; and that the total
expense, exclusive of interest of capital, for doing this amount of work,
might be within one farthing instead of the halfpenny and three farthings we
very often find it.
It will be also seen that the larger the amount of duty performed the less
cost there is in doing that duty, which clearly shows that Associations
formed for draining large districts should, on this account alone, be able
to work more economically than the smaller efforts of each colliery
proprietary.
Again, when the Bevington engine was altered from a lift to a plunger-pump
(see Plate XXXV.), the cost fell from "789 pence to -588 pence; the
difference may be explained by the fact that with the bucket-pump the whole
weight of the rods had to be lifted with the water, while after the
alteration the water was lifted by the weight of the rods, no steam being
used except to lift the rods and the small column of water that was below
the clack.
The reduction in cost at some of the stations of the Liverpool Waterworks
may be attributed, some to improved machinery, and at others to the
increased quantities of water lifted; and I would conclude by
* The Liverpool engines, during 1849, were burning two kinds of coal; the
price given is the average price of the mixture.
140
observing- that the best system of raising- water seems to be a
high-pressure condensing- engine of larg-e power, working- at variable
speeds by cataract or other known appliance, and that as a rule the
plung-er-pump gives the most certain results.
The writer has to acknowledge the assistance and information given by Thomas
Duncan, Esq., C.E., of the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks, and Edward B.
Marten, Esq., of the Stourbridge Waterworks, formerly of the South
Staffordshire Waterworks.
It is not wished to raise an invidious comparison between different modes of
raising water, but to give the practical result of pumping; and the writer
would wish to disclaim any opposition to plans that have been previously
brought before this Association, and to explain, that with a desire to
assist in the economical drainage of the district he has responded to the
invitation of some of the members, and given in this paper the result of his
own experience, confirmed, as it seems to him to be, by the reports of
others engaged in a similar enquiry, and though the dates may be different
the results seem to bear out the conclusions arrived at.
INDEX TO VOL. XVI.
Ansell's, Q-. F., New Method of Indicating the Presence of Fire- and
Choke-damp in Mines, Discussion on, 2.
Bastier'S Patent Chain-pump, reference to, 113.
Broadbent's Patent Safety-cage, Mr. J. Daglish on, 33; Discussion on, 31,
87.
Bunning, Mr. Theo. W., appointed Secretary to Institute, 128.
Calow's Safety-cage, Discussion on 23.
Chain Pump, Bastier's, 112.
Chronicles of Coal-Trade, Discussion on, 5.
Clip-pulley, Description of, 97.
Coal, On Working by Long-wall, etc., by W. Lishman, 42, 45; Discussion on,
107.
Coal, Conveyance of, Underground, by J. Daglish, 53 ; Discussion on, 88.
Coal-cutting Committee, Grant to, 1.
Coal, Specimens of, from Nova Scotia, etc., presented by Mr. W. Green, 3.
Cochrane, Mr. W., On Harrison's Cast-iron Boiler, 30-35 ; a Comparison of
the Guibal and Lemielle Systems of Mechanical Ventilation, 57-85 ; First
Keport of Tail-Bope Committee read, 104.
Cockburn, W., On Underground Conveyance in the Cleveland District, and the
Clip-Pulley, 92, 95-180.
Daglish, J., On Broadbent's Safety-cage,
31,33,87; On Conveyanceof Coal Underground, 51, 53-56; Discussion on, 87.
Discussions : On Mr. Ansell's New Method of Indicating the Presence of Fire
and Choke-damp, 2; On Chronicles of Coal-Trade, 5; On Mr. Steavenson's
Paper, Experiments with Guibal's Ventilator, 6, 42 ; On Calow's Safety-cage,
23; On Lemielle Ventilator, 30, 50; On Harrison's Cast-iron Boilers, 30, 43;
On Broadbent's Patent Safety-cage, 31, 87; On Conveyance of Coal
Underground, 88 ; On System of Working Coals by Long-wall Plan, 107; On Mr.
Cockburn's Paper on Underground Conveyance in Cleveland, 92, 125; On
Underground Haulage at Pelton, 127 ; On Safety-cages, 127.
Douglas, T., Motion to alter Rule XIIL, 132.
Errata, xxviii.
Fan Ventilator: On some Experiments with M. Guibal's Ventilator, translated
by A. L. Steavenson, 6; Experiments on, at Pelton, 9; Discussions on, at,
6-10, 42; Lemielle Ventilator Exhibited, 30; A Comparison of the Guibal and
Lemielle Systems of Mechanical Ventilation, by W. Cochrane, 50, 57-85.
Forster, G. B., Presentation of Model of Malleable-iron Beam, 128 ; and of a
Model to show Working of Clip-pulley, 133.
U
142
General Meetings, 1866 : September, 1 ; October, 5 ; November, 23 ;
December, 41 ;—1867 : February, 49 ; March, 87 ; April, 101 ; May, 107 ;
June, 125 ; August, 129.
Grants to Tail-rope Committee, 1, 101 ; Endless-chain Do., 1 ; Coal-cutting
Do., 1.
Green, W., Chronicles of Coal-trade, Discussion on, 5 ; Presentation of
Coal, etc., 3.
Guibal, M., Ventilator ; on some Experiments with, translated by A. L.
Stea-venson, 6, 11-21; Experiments on, at Pelton Colliery, 9; Discussions
on, 6-10, 42.
Harrison's Cast-iron Boiler, W. Cochrane on, 30, 35 ; Discussion on, 43.
Harper, J. P., On Harper's Improved Safety-cage Apparatus, 106, 113-116 ;
Discussion on, 127.
Honorary Members, List of, xiv.
Lemielle's Ventilator ; Model of, exhibited, 30; Comparison of, with
Guibal's, 57, 85 ; Discussions on, 30, 50.
Lishman, W., On System of Working Coal on the Long-wall Plan, 45 ;
Discussion on, 107.
Long-wall System of Working Coal, on, 45 ; Discussion on, 107.
Maeley, J., Paper on Calow's Safety-cage, Discassion on, 23.
Model of a Malleable Iron-beam put up at Camboise, presented by Mr. G. B.
Forster, 128.
Model to show Working of Clip-pulley,
presented by G. B. Forster, 133. ' Members and Graduates, List of, xvi.
Members, Honorary, xiv.
Members, New, Elected, September 1, 1; October 4, 5 ; November 3, 23 ;
December 6, 41; February 2, 49 ; March 7,87;
April 6, 101 ; May 2, 107 ; June 1, 125; August 1, 129. Morison, D. P., and
Jas. Nelson, On Underground Conveyance at Pelton Colliery, 117-124 ;
Discussion on, 127.
NELSON, JAS., and D. P. Morison, On Underground Conveyance at Pelton
Colliery, 117-124 ; Discussion on, 127.
New Method of Indicating Presence of Fire- and Choke-damp in Mines,
Discussion on, 2.
Officers, 1867-8, xv.
Patrons, xiii.
Pumping Water, Mr. Waller on, 135.
Report op Council, v.
Beport of Finance Committee, ix.
Report of Safety-Lamp Committee read,
91. Report of Tail-rope Committee read,
April 6, 1867, 104. Report of Memorial-Hall Committee read,
May 2, 1867, 107. Rule XIII., Alteration of, 132.
Safety-cage Committee Appointed, 127.
Safety-cage, Calow's, Discussion on, 23; Broadbent's Paper on, 33 ;
Discussion on, 31, 127 ; Harper's Improved Safety-cage Apparatus, 113.
Safety-lamp, New Form of, shown by J. Daglish, 5; Safety-lamp Committee's
Report read, 91.
Secretary, Mr. Theo. W. Bunning, appointed, 128.
Specimens of Coal and Bituminous Shale presented by W. Green, 3.
Spencer, J. F., Motion to Alter the Mode of Issuing Transactions, 112, 131.
Steam-Indicator and Dynamometer purchased for Institute, 5.
143
Steavenson, A. L., Translation of some Experiments with the Covered
Ventilator of M. Guibal, 11—21.
Subscribing Collieries, xviii.
Tail-rope Committee, Grants to, 1,101. Tail-rope Committee, First Report
read, April 6th, 1867, 104.
Underground Conveyance in the Clc land District, 95-100; at Pelton C liery,
101, 117-124.
Waller, Mr. On Pumping Water, 135 Water, On Pumping, 135.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE: A. REID, PRINTING COURT BUILDINGS, AKEXSIDE
HILL.