PENETRATING
DANGEROUS GASES.
BY T. Y. HALL,
ELDON SQUARE, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, 1853.
From Transactions of the Institute of Mining Engineers, Volume II, 1853-4.
ILLUSTRATED WITH DIAGRAMS.
The annexed diagrams represent and illustrate a simple, practical, and commodious plan for enabling a man to penetrate, without delay, to great distances, to abide there some time, to obtain a knowledge of the circumstances, and act freely in Under-ground excavations filled with dangerous gases, and was submitted in competition for the prize of 2,000 Francs offered by the Belgian Government, and the Gold Medal of the Royal Academy of Belgium, for a good, simple, and safe mode of effecting these objects.
The plan so described consists of safety pipes of metal, glass, earthenware, gutta percha, or any solid material laid down permanently in the thill of the main galleries of the mine, in the direction taken by the air, from the top of the down-cast shaft into the workings, and back through the" return," to the “upcast " There may either be two pipes laid parallel to each other throughout the whole course, with a junction at a certain point, or a single continuous pipe, may be used both for the fresh air and the return.
These are represented in Plate 1., where D is the downcast, A the upcast, P the permanent pipes, the course of the air in which is indicated by arrows; B the boxes, at which the air is stopped or trapped. The shaded surfaces represent solid coal, and the white spaces, boards, or openings.
The circulation of air through these permanent pipes is constantly maintained by means of a steam jet, air pump, furnace, or other means for accomplishing ventilation of the mine for working purposes.
These permanent safety pipes are provided with boxes, or joints, at intervals of between forty and fifty yards, for the purpose of stopping or trapping the air; so as to guide it through portable tubes into an airtight dress, or into safety chambers, where the workmen may take refuge, or into other safety pipes traversing the boards or galleries.
These boxes or traps are of a cubical form, and have slides and apertures on the top inserted into grooves, so as to admit of their being withdrawn for the purpose of introducing into the same grooves the end of a double portable tube made of Gutta Percha, India Rubber, or any other flexible material, such end being adapted to slide into these grooves in such manner that the apertures of the flexible tubes shall exactly correspond with the apertures in the permanent pipes.
Between these apertures in the boxes or traps of the permanent pipes, a stopper is or may be inserted, so as either partially or altogether to interrupt the course of the air, and direct it into one of the apertures, (A) or of the flexible tubes, whence it will be carried forward into an air-tight chamber, dress, or casing, in which the person penetrating the mine is to be enveloped, returning thence by the other portion of the tube and through the other aperture (A) into the permanent pipe.
The portable tubes are used for the purpose of penetrating the mine by first fixing one end to a trap or stopper, and the other to an airtight dress, or casing, in which the party penetrating the vitiated air is enveloped.
This party proceeds forward to the next trap or stopper, where he is furnished with the means of detaching the end of the tube from the first stopper, and affixing it to the one at which he has arrived. The contrivance for effecting this is very simple, and may be easily applied; but if two individuals go in at the same time, which is recommended, they can do so by means of the same tube, and thus they will inspire mutual confidence, while they render mutual assistance, and are enabled to penetrate the galleries more quickly than could otherwise be done.
In case any of the boxes or traps should get out of working order, which
would be very improbable, and it should become necessary to extend the portable tubes, that may be easily done by placing their flat or slide ends together, and fastening them by means of nut and screws.
The air-tight dress, or casing, may cover the whole body, or only a portion of it, as may be thought proper. In either case there would be a belt of brass, or other metal, to go round the waist, having an overlap for the purpose of uniting the upper and lower portions of the dress; such belt being constructed with apertures and slides, similar to those in the permanent pipes, for the purpose of attaching one extremity of the flexible tube thereto when necessary, and carrying the air into the body and head dress, in order to supply a sufficiency of pure air to, and remove deteriorated air from the individual penetrating the mine.
The feet will have an additional protection of sole leather, or gutta percha, to prevent the dress being cut in that part while passing through the galleries of the mine. A pipe, having a self-acting valve within it, might be placed in communication with the brass belt, so as to admit of air being forced through it by means of a pair of bellows from the inside of the dress when necessary, to supply pure air and other restoratives to any of the persons who had been injured by the explosion, and who were still in the mine, but unable to move without assistance.
The upper part of the air-tight dress may be made sufficiently wide to admit of the arms being withdrawn from the sleeves, and the hands applied to any useful purpose inside the dress.
The metal belt will be kept in its proper place by means of leather straps attached to the body, and will be provided with suitable crooks on which to suspend, when necessary, one or more reserve coils of flexible tubes, a capacious pouch, and a Safety Lamp. There will also be pockets inside the dress, for putting anything into that might be desirable to take into the mine.
In every case of an explosion, it would be advisable to put on the airtight dress at the top or bottom of the shaft, although the shaft and even the main galleries may be penetrated for a considerable distance, without danger, in consequence of the air in those parts not being contaminated. Generally, however, the deteriorated or foul air is met with before reaching the district where the explosion took place.
On arriving at such places, it will be necessary to apply the flexible tubes.
In order to test the quality of the air in the mine after an explosion, and its capability of sustaining life, it would be advisable for the parties as they advanced along the galleries of the mine, to observe the effect of the air outside the dress, on some living animal, such as a dog, cat, or other animal of less value. By making such observations, a pretty correct judgement might be formed as to the probability of any of the miners surviving amongst the contaminated air or gases.
The Safety Lamp will be enclosed in a proper covering of metal, or glass, or partially of both, the air being supplied to it by means of a tube attached to the metal belt. The heated air may be, made to escape at the top, through a small portion of double wire-gauze, with 10,000 holes per square inch, protected by self-acting valve over it; or the heated air may be carried off by means of a return tube connected with the return tube inside of the dress, and thus assisting ventilation without danger or inconvenience. In either case, the Safety Lamp, invented by Mr. T. Y. Hall, of Newcastle, is recommended, as it is constructed upon a principal to burn without smoke, and combine great luminosity with perfect safety from explosion.
At each junction of the main pipes, where provision is made for the purpose of attaching branch pipes thereto, so as to form a communication for admitting the air into a glass case, to be placed against the wall in the gallery for the purpose of containing a Safety Lamp, to remain stationary, and be kept constantly lighted, if necessary. This would assist ventilation in the main tubes, and so illuminate the galleries as to admit of their being traversed at all times without carrying a lamp. Where air pipes are laid in the mine for working machines, for the cutting of coal, &c., the same pipes might answer this purpose also.
It is proposed that a sufficient number of air-tight dresses, or casings, be kept constantly in readiness at top or bottom of the shaft, together with a sufficient number of flexible tubes, so as to be available at all times. Tubes and dresses may also be kept at the principal flats or stations in boxes provided for the purpose.
As an additional means of safety for workmen in fiery mines, it is proposed to form Safety Chambers, or what may be termed Refuge Stalls, in such of the boards or openings in the galleries as may be thought advisable and convenient (See Fig. 1.) Such safety chambers should be air-tight, or nearly so, and ventilated by means of fixed tubes in connection with the permanent pipes, the entrance to be by two trap-doors, which can be opened only from the outside. A means of communication between the parties in these chambers, and those at the top or bottom of the shaft might easily be established.
It is respectfully submitted that the method above described is not only practicable, but commodious and safe, for enabling a person to penetrate, without delay, to great distances, to abide there some time, to obtain a knowledge of the circumstances, and act freely in underground excavations filled with dangerous gases. The plan has been described as applicable to Coal Mines; but it equally is so to all places where
noxious gases or impure air exists. It is simple in principle, and infallible in its operation, at least so far as infallibility can be predicated of human means.
It is recommended that the workmen be frequently practised in the use of this apparatus so as to become competent to apply it when necessary, with as little delay as possible, as such can be practised at no cost.
The advantages to be derived from the introduction of the apparatus and system, herein described, into mines, would be very considerable, while the expense of doing so would be exceedingly small, particularly when done as the workings of the mine are in progress.
A pit that may have a capital of £50,000 employed in conducting it ought to pay for interest and redemption at least 8 per cent., or £4,000 per Annum. The extra sum required in order to have the apparatus and its appendages always in readiness, would form a very small addition to such capital, and would not be a sacrifice of interest to more than £20 a year; whereas, when an accident did occur, by enabling the works to be resumed at a much shorter period than could otherwise be done, the saving of interest thereby upon the large capital embarked in the undertaking, would far more than counterbalance the small cost of the apparatus.
In short, so obvious are the advantages to be derived from the use of such apparatus in cases of accident, by enabling the lives of the men to be saved, and the works to be speedily resumed, that the Government ought to make it imperative upon all Colliery Owners to construct such apparatus on the opening out of every mine
From: The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers Transactions, Vol. II (1853-54), p87-91