768

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

April 11, 1913.

Parsons, all of Heaton Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northum-
berland.—This invention consists in valve-controlling
devices for plant using elastic working fluid from a plurality
of sources, such devices comprising, in respect of each valve
to permit the opening or closing thereof, means acting
responsively to the speed-regulating gear of the plant and
additional means acting responsively to pressure variations
on the supply side of one valve, said additional means being
entirely separate from the speed-responsive means. The
accompanying drawing shows a suitable valve arrange-
ment and controlling device for a turbine supplied
with steam from two sources at different pressures—namely,
a high-pressure supply and a low-pressure supply from a
reservoir, accumulator or the like, the valve arrangements
and controlling devices being similar to that shown in fig. 5
of Patent No. 6180/08. According to the invention there is
provided in respect of each valve means responsive to the
speed-regulating gear and additional, but entirely separate
means responsive to pressure variations on the supply side
of the low-pressure valve, both of said means acting to
permit the opening and closing of the respective valve. As
shown, the speed-responsive means and pressure-responsive
means consist in relay plungers or slides, controlling in
parallel the exhaust of a pressure fluid from the underside

of the piston attached to the valve stem. The operation of
the arrangement is as follows:—Assuming that there is a
sufficient supply of low-pressure steam, the pressure of this
steam in front of the low-pressure valve g will move the
piston m connected to the slide p, controlling the low-
pressure valve, into the position at which the slide itself
closes the exhaust for the low-pressure fluid from the under-
side of the valve b on the stem c of this low-pressure valve g.
Under these conditions the low-pressure valve is then under
the control only of the slide a, moved by the speed-regu-
lating governor e. At the same time, the pressure in front
of the low-pressure valve moves the piston m, and the slide
p controlling the high-pressure valve into the position in
which the exhaust from the underside of the piston b,
attached to the stem c, and the high-pressure valve j, is
maintained open. In this way the high-pressure valve
remains closed. Should the supply of low-pressure steam
become insufficient so that the pressure in front of the low-
pressure valve falls, then the piston m and slide p, attached
to each valve, move so that the low-pressure valve g begins
to close while the high-pressure valve is put under the
control of the speed-regulating gear of the plant and begins
to open. Should the supply of low-pressure steam cease
altogether, the piston m, slide p, attached to each valve,
move so that the low-pressure valve g is maintained in its
closed position, while the high-pressure valve is opened and
under the control of the speed-regulating gear of the plant.
(Two claims.)

13373 (1912). Improvements in Explosives. S. Adde, of
Grangesberg, Sweden.—This invention relates to improve-
ments in explosives whose basic material consists of a liquid
nitro-compound of an aromatic hydrocarbon gelatinised by
means of nitrocellulose, this basic material being mixed
with oxygen-yielding substances and combustibles. It has
been discovered that a better explosive is obtained when
using, instead of nitrotoluenes, one of the following liquid
nitro-compounds, viz., the liquid by-products or mother lyes
resulting from the manufacture of mono- di- or tri-
nitroxylol, mono- di- or tri- nitrocumol or di- or tri-nitro-
benzol, or a mixture of such liquid constituents. The
gelatine produced is mixed in the known manner with
suitable oxygen yielding or containing substances, such as
chlorates, perchlorates, or nitrates, and in some cases with
combustibles (carbonaceous substances) until a doughy
mass of about the same consistency as gelatinised dynamite
is obtained. For raising the temperature of explosion, and
thus the expansion of gas, finely pulverised ferro-silicon
may be added. As an example of a suitable composition of
an explosive according to the invention the following may
be mentioned : 20 per cent, by weight of nitroxylol (liquid
di- or trinitroxylol) ; 5 per cent, by weight of nitroglycerine;
1 per cent, by weight of guncotton ; 40 per cent, by weight
of perchloride of ammonia; 32 per cent, by weight of
nitrate of ammonia; 2 per cent, by weight of ferro-silicon j
The explosive thus produced may be pressed into long
plastic strings which may be cut into cartridges of desired
length in the same way as gelatinised dynamite. (One
claim.)

17313 (1912). Improvements in Axle-guar ds, or Horn-
plates, for Railway Rolling Stock and the like. T. F.
Craddock, of 7, East India-avenue, Leadenhall-street,
London (communicated by Archibald Shaw, of 30, Strand-

road, Howrah,{Bengal, British India).—This invention relates
to weldless axle-guards, or horn-plates, for railway rolling
stock and the like, the said axle-guards, or horn-plates,
being of the kind in which the guide-bars and wing pieces,
or struts are produced by bending a single bar of metal and
has for its objects to make the guide-bars and wing-pieces,
or struts, from one bar of metal, which is preferably flat, or
each guide-bar with its wing-piece or strut from such a bar

by bending the bar in a manner such that distortion of the
grain or fibre of the metal and the consequent weakening of
the bar is reduced to a minimum to more securely stay the
lower ends of the guide-bars, and to provide the said guide-
bars with parts to take the wear, which parts are readily
renewable when they become worn. The accompanying
drawing illustrates an axle-guard or horn-plate in accord-
ance with this invention. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, fig. 2
a plan partly in section, and fig. 3 a section on the line A B,
fig. 1. (Four claims.)	s

18736 (1912). Improvements in or relating to the Manu-
facture of Fuel Briquettes, Ovoids and the like from Waste
Products. A. D. Furse, of The Gables, St. James’-avenue,
Beckenham, Kent.—This invention relates to the manufac-
ture of fuel briquettes ovoids and the like from waste
products. The invention contemplates the employment of
a mechanical selecting device in the form of a rotary screen
within which are pivoted gravity-actuated beaters or

vibrators in combination with striking plates serving to
protect the screen and transmit the vibrations thereto.
The vibration of the mechanical selecting device, according
to the invention, is distinguished from the shaking move-
ment of ordinary sieves by the fact that in addition to the
ordinary rotary motion of the selecting device the screen
portion of same is independently vibrated. Fig. 1 is a side
elevation of a rotary screen, and fig. 2 is a vertical section
therethrough on an enlarged scale. (Five claims.)

20835 (1912). Improvements in and relating to Turbines.
Bergmann Elektricitats - Werke Aktiengesellschaft, of
Oudenarderstrasse, 23/32, Berlin N., Germany.—It is impor-
tant that the steam admission of the first rotor of a turbine
should be automatically adjusted to the existing load on
the machine, so that the steam pressure in front of the
high-pressure nozzles may remain at the same degree, also
at small load, and that the whole drop of pressure may be
used for output of energy. The invention relates to a
steam controller consisting of double-seated valves moving
with sufficient play in a cylinder in such a manner that
only the lower seats of the valves effect the control, while
the upper seats maintain throughout the whole length of
the stroke, a uniform passage between themselves and the
wall of the cylinder. The upper part of the valve body,
therefore, operates to a certain extent as a piston, upon
which, in consequence of the difference of dimensions
between the upper and the lower valve seats, there is an
excess of steam pressure in the direction for closing the
valve. Each of the valves controls the admission of steam
to a nozzle or to a group of nozzles, the diameters of the
several seats, as shown in the accompanying drawing, which
is an axial section through the controller, increasing from
valve Vi to valve V4 successively, so that all the valves
Vi—V4 can be raised together with the valve spindle from

the cylindrical casing. Between the spindle and the body
of the valve there is sufficient play to avoid contact with
each other. The valve is lifted by a collar on the spindle^,
and the valve is securely closed by joint action of its weight*
and the excess of steam pressure in the direction for closing.

v3-

Va-

V4'

A-

BMH

Vh
Z

The excess of steam pressure increases continuously as the-
valve approaches the closing position, which is of great
importance for obtaining] a satisfactory tightness. (Three
claims.)

21215 (1912). Improvements in Movable Sleeve Devices to
Facilitate Inspection of Wires in Electric Cables. J. A.
Williams, 35, Handcroft-road, West Croydon, Surrey.—The
movable sleeve in two sections, each to move one way, is a
metal tube with a ground joint union in centre with a
thread and nut on each end, with a stuffing-box attachment
made in brasp or gunmetal, or made up as shown in the
drawing, with lead sections and brass or gunmetal fittings.
The sleeve sections move one way, left or right, and have
the ground joint union one end of tube, the other end being
fitted with thread and nut, with stuffing-box attachments

j0

it

du...J

All threads are right handed. Where necessary for the *
intake of branch cables the end or ends of sleeve will be
fitted with a lead end slightly larger than cable, so that the
branch cables or wires can be worked into the movable
sleeve, so that by moving sleeve all wires will be exposed.
The sleeve will be soldered on cable ends. To move double
sleeve undo nut I, slacken nut C, turn section (1) till clear
of thread on B, slide back over A, section (2) ditto over K.
If the sleeve is made of one section to go one way left or
right it will consist of section (1) with fitting J, soldered on
K, and when undone will all move over A. (Two claims.)

29696 (1912). A New or Improved Explosive and Method
of Manufacturing the same. Dr. F. Raschig, Chemical Works,
Ludwigshafen-am-Bhine, Germany.—This invention is an
improvement in or modification of the invention described
in the specification of an application for letters patent
No. 11568 of 1912, wherein a description is given of
ammonium nitrate explosives, containing, as the com-
bustible substance, the dry residue of the lyes obtained in
the manufacture of cellulose by the sulphite process.
Experiments that have been carried out since the above
application was filed go to show that potassium nitrate and
sodium nitrate are equally suitable for the same purpose.
If these nitrates be intimately mixed with the dry residue
of the lye obtained in the manufacture of cellulose by the
sulphite process, or dissolved in suitable amounts of the
waste lye and then evaporated to dryness therewith,
explosives capable of being exploded by a spark are