-

May 23, 1913.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1063

of the engine. The intermediate heaters were housed
inside the frame.

The first trial showed a saving of 18 per cent, of
compressed air in comparison with the compound
locomotive ; and by increasing the intermediate beaters,
a further saving of 8 per cent., or 26 per cent, in all,
was achieved. In the trials, the temperature of the
external air was 18 degs. Cent., which is below the
average temperature of pit air. On issuing from
the high-pressure cylinder, the temperature of the
working air was —12 degs. Cent., this being raised to
+ 16 degs. Cent, in the first intermediate heater. At
the exhaust of the intermediate cylinder the temperature
was —13 degs. Cent., this being increased in the second
heater to + 15 degs. Cent. This triple-expansion loco-
motive is illustrated in fig. 12, showing the auxiliary
heaters mounted above the air-tank ; whereas in prac-
tical construction they will be arranged inside the
frame, or so as not to increase the external dimensions
of the engine.

The great saving of 26 per cent, in air consumption
is made up of the following items: (1) The throttling
losses in reducing the tank pressure to the admission
pressure are naturally less when the reduction is only
down to 25 atmospheres instead of to 14 atmospheres ;
(2) the volume of air admitted to the high-pressure
cylinder is maintained approximately constant by the
two intermediate heatings; (3) the work done by
expansion is considerably greater; (4) the subdivision
of the expansion into three stages, each of small
dimensions, enables complete expansion of the com-
pressed air to be obtained, as can be seen from the
diagram of the low-pressure cylinder (fig. 13), without

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Fig. 12.—Triple-expansion Locomoiive.

Fig. 13.—Diagram from Low-pressure Cylinder of Triple-expansion Locomotive.
(Atmospherische Linie = Atmospheric Line.)

any danger of congelation. It being theoretically the
most advantageous method of operating to admit the
air into the high-pressure cylinder without any previous
reduction, experiments are in progress with a quadruple-
expansion locomotive fitted with three intermediate
heaters, and working with admission pressures of 20,
30, 40 atmospheres and over. There is some doubt as
to how far this will be practicable, because of the
difficulty of finding room for more heaters without
increasing the dimensions of the locomotive, and also
of the prospect of lessening the radius of action of the
locomotive, because, unless the charging pressure can
be increased, the air in the tanks will not perform any
work as soon as the tank pressure falls to the level of
the admission pressure. However this may be, it is
evident that compound compressed-air locomotives
should be employed, with intermediate heating, much
more extensively than has hitherto been the case, and
that it is advisable, when rebuilding all two-cylinder
engines, to adopt the triple-expansion type.

This, one of the most important points involved as affecting
the cost of working, will probably have to go to the Referee,
Wednesday’s meeting was presided over by Mr. F. J.

Jones, of Yorkshire, with Mr. R. Smillie, Scotland, in the
vice-chair, with the joint secretaries, Sir Tsos. Ratcliffe-
Ellis and Mr. Thos. Ashton. At the morning sitting the
consideration of the coalowners’ amendments was com-
pleted, and in the afternoon the amendments submitted by
the Miners’ Federation were discussed. Some further
progress towards agreement was made by the parties, the
men accepting several of the amendments proposed by the
coalowners, while the latter agreed to some of the amend-
ments submitted by the Federation. As already indicated,
these relate rather to matters of detail, the larger ques-
tions involving costs remaining unsettled. The Conference
adjourned until to-day (both parties having separate
meetings on Thursday) when it is hoped that the negotia.
tions will be completed. It was agreed, at the request of
the Home Office, that both parties should meet the Under-
secretary the week after next in order to report to him as
to how far they are agreed regarding the new regulations.

Hull Coal Imports.—During April, according to the
returns of the Hull Corporation’s coal inspector, Mr. W. H.
Truman, the quantity of coal imported into Hull was
760,899 tons, of which 713,383 tons were by rail, and 47,516
tons by river. The corresponding figures in 1912 were
367,635 tons. During the four completed months of the
present year 2,563,419 tons were imported, as against
1,711,859 tons in the corresponding period of 1912.

At the inquest on an accident at Sil verwood Colliery, held
at Rotherham, a juror suggested that timber should be set
on the night shift when the colliers were not at work, and
also that there should be a systematic setting of bars.
Mr. J. Elce, the manager, said they had made extensive
trials of setting props at night, and he did not think it would
be safer.

THE DRAFT GENERAL REGULATIONS.

A joint conference of the Mining Association of Great
Britain and of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain was
held on Wednesday, the 21st inst., at the Westminster
Palace Hotel, for the purpose of further considering the
amendments to the draft regulations made by the Home
Office for the administration of the Coal Mines Act of
1911.

The conferences have been arranged for the purpose of
agreeing, wherever possible, on the proposed amendments,
and thus lessening the number of disputed points which
will have to be determined by the Referee appointed—
section 117 of the Act. The previous conferences have
been entirely occupied with the consideration of the
numerous amendments, exceeding 100, proposed by the
Mining Association of Great Britain, and the discussions
have been fruitful in considerably reducing the number of
points which will have to be referred to the Referee for his
decision. In the matter of signalling agreement has
generally been reached, and on many minor matters a
settlement has also been possible, so that where amendments
are asked for they will go before the Referee with the
consent of both parties. On the important regulation (79),
framed to carry out the provision of section 42 of the Act,
as to the exemptions from the requirement for two main
intake airways agreement does not appear to be within the
bounds of possibility. The men are asking that the whole
of the exemption provided for in the regulation be deleted,
or, failing that, that the rule be entirely redrafted, while the
coalowners are asking for the exemptions to be widened.
For instance, they ask that the exemption in cases where
the cost of maintaining the two main intake airways in the
seam “ might be so great as to prevent the mine being
worked at a profi," shall be altered to apply to mines where
the “ cost of making or maintaining would be exeessiv e.’



THE FORTHCOMING MINING MACHINERY
EXHIBITION.

A number of distinguished guests have accepted Mr. H.
Greville Montgomery’s invitation to the inaugural luncheon
at the Royal Agricultural Hall on Thursday next, the
29th inst., on the occasion of the opening of the Mining
Machinery Exhibition by the Right Hon. the Earl of
Ellesmere. Amongst these may be mentioned Sir Ralph
Ashton, past president of the Mining and Geological Insti-
tute of India; Mr. J. H. Cordner-James, V.P.Inst.M.M.;
Prof. S. Herbert Cox, Paet Pres.Inst.M M.; Mr. A. G.
Charleton, Past Pres.Inst.M.M.; Sir John Courtis, J.P.;
Prof. William Gowland, Past Pres Inst.M.M.; Sir Thomas
Holland, K.C I.E., F.R.S. ; Capt. H. V. Hart-Davis,
M.Inst M E. ; Col. G. H. Hollingworth, M.Inst.M.E.;
Dr. F. H. Hatch, V.P.Inst.M.M., M.Inst.C E ; Sir
Robert Hadfield, M.Inst.M.E. ; Mr. Alfred James,
Past Pres.Inst.M.M. ; Mr. G. R. Jebb, V.P Inst.C.E. ;
Mr. A. M. Lamb, M Inst M.E.; the Right Hon. Lord
Merthyr, K.C.V O , Past Pres.Inst M.E., M Inst.C.E.; Mr.
Edward T. McCarthy, V.P.Inst.M.M.; Mr. Hugh F.
Marriott, V.P.Inst.M.M. ; Mr. W. C. Mountain, President of
the Association of Mining Electrical Engineers, M Inst.M.M..
Mr. H. C. P.-ake, Past Pres. Inst.M.E ; Mr. Hugh f’
K. Picard, M.Inst.M M. ; Mr. R. A. S. Redmayne, C.B.,
H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines; Mr. Arthur Sopwith,
Past Pres.Inst.M E.; Mr. H. L. Sulman, Past Pres.
Inst.M.M.; Mr. Geo. H. Winstanley, M Inst.M.E., President
of the National Association of Colliery Managers, &c.

In connection with the Exhibition, the names of the
following exhibitors are to be added to the list published
in our issue of the 9th inst.:—

Messrs. Alley and MacLellan Limited (Polmadie
Glasgow).

Messrs. Butterworth Brothers Limited (Manchester).

Messrs. G. M. Callender and Co. Limited (London, S.W )
Messrs.!'. A. Carter (L mdon, W ).

Messrs. John Davis and Son (Dei by) Limited.

Messrs. Fastnut Limited (London, EC.).
Messrs John Gillottand Son (Barnsley).
Messrs. Gwynnes Limited (Hammersmith.
Messrs. Keith and Blaikman Company (London. E.C.).
Messrs. W. T. Nicholson and Clipper Company Limited.
Messrs. Henry Pels and Co. (London, W.C.).

Messrs. W. and J. Richardson.

Miss Saunders.

Messrs, the Telia Camera Company.

Messrs. Union Cable Company Limited (Dagenham).
Messrs. Joseph Wright and Co. Limited (Tipton).
Messrs. Carl Z-iiss (London) Limited.

Wilfley Mining Machinery Company Limited (London,
E C ).

Aqueous Works and Diamond Rock-boring Company,
(Lambeth).

A. Hanley (Bristol).

Halsby and Co. (London. E.C.).

W. J. Fletcher (Wrexham).

Maxa Limited (London E.C.).

Northumberland and Durham Miners’ Permanent Relief
Fund.—The report of the Northumberland and Durham
Miners’ Permanent Relief Fund, to be submitted to the
annual meeting in Newcastle, on Saturday, June 7, states
that the membership is 206 834, a decrease of 33 on the
previous year, the first recorded reduction in the member-
ship since 1895. Members’ contributions amounted to
£189,681 17s. 3d., a decrease of £14,780 17s. on the previous
I year. Interest on investments amounted to £17,175 15s. 3d.,
as against £17,475 Is. 4d. for the year 1911. Honorary
subscriptions and donations reached the sum of £81 16s. 7d.
The total income for 1912 was £206,939 9s. Id.; and
the total expenditure for benefits and management was
£213,994 6s. 2d., showing a deficiency on the year’s business
of £7,054 17s. Id. The capital of the society on December 31,
1912, was £504 106 16s. Id. The numbers of permanent
I recipients on the fund are as follow:—Widows, 1,520.
I guardians, 38; children, 1,654; permanently disabled,
2,379; superannuation, 5,691; total, 11,282 persons, a net
' increase on the year of 399. To widows and guardians
£28,768 has been paid; to the permanently disabled,
£40,434; for minor accidents, £50,859; and superannua-
tion, £74.974. Dealing with the position of the depart-
ments of the fund, the report states:—“ It is many
years since your committee had the unpleasant
experience of reporting a deficiency in the general
financial statement. There is an increase in the expenditure
over the previous year amounting to £6,717 17s. 2d., but the
deficit is largely accounted for by the fact that the income
from contributions for 1912 is £14,780 less than that of
1911. This was, of course, due to the strike, which lasted
about six weeks in the beginning of the year, and which
affecting all the collieries in the society’s area, completely
out off the income from that source for the time stated.
“On receiving the actuary’s report,” continues the report,
“ we called a special delegate meeting, according to Rule 55,
and we regret that you did not take advantage of the
opportunity to place the accident department on a sounder
footing, but although it may not be feasible to increase
contributions, we do trust that you will take some steps at
the annual meeting to reduce the liability.”