June 6, 1913, ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 119 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. lead, with a special bitumen covering both sides ; a wall showing the application of “ Protex ”; “ Bitusol ” paint, for iron and steel work of all descriptions; genuine natural rock mastic asphalte, and asphaltic limestone paving; “Veribest” natural asphalte roofing; and a model showing the application of t( Bitubond ” to cavity wall. KENNICOTT WATER SOFTENER COMPANY. Kennicott Water Softener Company, of Wolver- hampton, have a most interesting exhibit. This well- known firm, who specialise in plants for the filtration and purification of water supplies, show one of their latest type “ K ” plants for the softening and purifica- tion of water. The plant shown is of 1,250 gallons per hour capacity, and is in actual operation. Some particulars of the working of this new softener may be of interest. A calculated quantity of lime is put into the lime slaking tank A, and slaked with sufficient water to make it thin enough to flow. Then the lime is allowed to flow through a valve into the Water Softener. mbm J (Kennicott Water Softener Company). chemical tank B. A calculated quantity of soda is put into the chemical tank B with the slaked lime and enough water added to fill the chemical tank B to a definite point. The agitator C, propelled by the water wheel D, keeps the contents of the chemical tank B thoroughly mixed. The water to be treated enters by way of the hard water inlet pipe E into the hard water box F, where it is divided. The greater part of the water flows through an opening in the bottom of the hard water box F, over the water wheel D, and through the chute G into the top of the downtake H. The lesser part of the water from the*hard water box F flows through a pipe into the dividing box I, where it is divided by a proportioning slide J, one part flowing into the regulating tank K, and the other part into the top of the downtake H through a pipe. The propor- tioning slide J may be set according to graduations on the side of the dividing box I, so that the regulating tank K will fill in a definite number of hours, the machine running at full capacity. The head of the lift pipe L in the chemical tank B is connected by a chain to a float M in the regulating tank K. As the regu- lating tank K very slowly fills with water from the dividing box I, the float M rises, the head of the lift pipe L lowers, and the contents of the chemical tank B flows out through the lift pipe into the top of the downtake H, where they are thoroughly agitated with the water to be treated,, which comes in ovei’ the water wheel. The method of sedimentation is then as follows:— The purifying materials and the water to be purified, which enter the downtake H as described in the fore- going paragraph, are intimately mixed by the agitator so that precipitation of the scale-forming matter at once takes place. The water, together with the precipitated lime and magnesia, travels slowly downward through the downtake H, and the precipitate falls away from the water in the main settling tank, whence it is, at regular intervals, removed by means of the Kennicott patent revolving sludge pipes. The few remaining particles of precipitate, if any, have another opportunity to settle as the water, after passing downward through the downtake H, turns and passes up in the space between the downtake H and the shell of the main tank. As a final purification, the rising water moving at its lowest rate passes through a wood fibre filter near the top of the apparatus (shown in the illustration just below the mouth of the down-take H, whence it emerges soft, clear, and ready for use. As the main tank always stands full of water, the clear, soft treated water discharges from the overflow on the side of the main tank at a point above the filter as fast as the water to be treated enters the top of the downtake H. When the regulating tank K becomes full, it is emptied, another charge of lime and soda is put into the chemical tank B, and as the regulating tank K again very slowly fills, the charge of lime and soda flows out through the lift pipe. It will be seen, therefore, that the machine is con- tinuous and wholly automatic in its operation, the flow of water furnishing all the power necessary for mixing the chemical reagents with the water and for operating the mechanism. The company also exhibit one of their well-known tray heaters, which is used in conjunction with their water-softening plant for utilising the exhaust steam, for heating the water before it enters the softener. In the softener all the oil contained in the exhaust steam, and which is transferred to the water, is entirely removed, and the water issuing from the softener is perfectly bright and soft. HENRY PELS AND CO. Messrs. Henry Pels and Co., 3 and 4, Portsmouth- street, London, W.C., are exhibiting two machines which specially appeal to mines and collieries, as well as firms producing pithead gear, conveyors and structural work generally. The machines are Pels’ well-known design, in which the frames are built up of heavy Siemens-Martin steel plates. John’s splitting shears, combined with universal punching machine and bar, angle and tee cropper, is made in seven sizes, for dealing with plates from f in. to in. thickness, with corresponding capacity for punch and cropper. The machine on view is No. 16, with 20 in. gap for the punching end, and will perform the following work:— Will shear— Will shear— Angles and tees on the square up to 5 in. by 5 in. by | in. „ „ on the bevel „ 4 in. by 4in. by | in. Will crop— Rounds.................. „ 2fin. Squai h>-.................. 2 in. Flats.................... „ Sin. by l|in., or 6 in. by f in. By means of interchangeable blades, joists, channels or zeds can be dealt with. Approximate power required to drive = 4|-horse power. All materials are sheared at a very high rate of speed, ensuring a large output, the cuts produced being equal to the highest class sawing work, while the cost of production, taking power con- sumption and cost of saw blades into consideration, is from 30 per cent, to 50 per cent, lower. Finally, we may draw attention to the fine exhibit of hand machines. These tools are useful everywhere where repair work has to be dealt with, or where no power is available. JAMES KEITH AND BLACKMAN CO. LIMITED. Messrs. James Keith and Blackman Company Limited (27, Faringdon-avenue, London, E.C.) show a model of a complete Keith patent mine-ventilating fan of the double inlet type, showing the arrangement of reversing dampers, &c. They also show a large double inlet fan runner, eyes 70 in. diameter, with a capacity at 6 in. w.g. of 240,000 cubic feet per minute. Other exhibits include a 40 in. Keith patent induced draught fan, with water-jacketed bearing, suitable for serving four Lanca- shire boilers 30 ft. long and 8 ft. diameter; a 17J in. Keith patent blowing and exhausting fan, direct driven by electric motor, used for ventilation, forced draught, &c.; Blackman volume fans, suitable for ventilating power houses; a blacksmith’s hearth, with self-contained water bosh and electric blast fan; a portable forge for rivet heating and light work, complete with electrically- driven blast fan, and another with patent hand-driven Plates of any size____ Up to f in. thick. Flats _____________ „ „ 3 in. by f in. Will punch— Holes _____________ „ „ 1 in. diam. through. Material___________ „ „ Ain. Will crop— Rounds ___________ „ „ l^in. Squares ___________ „ Angles_____________ „ „ 4 in. by 4 in. by | in. Tees_______________ „ „ 4 in. by 4 in. by f in. Angles on the bevel... „ „ 2f in. by 2f in. by £ in. Approximate, power required to drive = 5-horse power. The shears have blades arranged in parallel with the frame, so that besides shearing plates of any size they will also cut wide flitch plates, which in the ordinary type of machine with an open gap is not practicable. The punching end is of special design with so-called architectural jaw, making the tool suitable for punching Notching Apparatus. (Henry Pels and Co.) (933) through the flanges of joists and channels, a feature which is not met with in the majority of punching machines. This arrangement furthermore permits the fitting of a notching apparatus, shown herewith, an appliance for cutting away flanges and webs of girders, cutting triangles into angles for bending purposes or notching work generally on plates and other materials. The centrally arranged cropper is especially interesting. From the illustration it will be seen that a number of openings are milled into the blades, and it is thus possible to shear angles, tees, rounds and squares with- out having to change the cropper blades. The material is simply inserted from the downholder side, the handle is thrown over, and the material is then cropped at a high rate of speed and with utmost accuracy. Suitable stops are provided for, so that angles can also be sheared to any bevel right or left hand. These blades can be easily taken out, and others inserted for shearing joists, channels or special sections. There is also on view John’s patent bar, angle and tee bevel cropper, type R.G.E.F. 26. Particulars of this machine are as follow :— Small Portable Fan. (Keith, and Blackman Co.) blower attached; a high - pressure blast fan, direct driven by electric motor, suitable for serving cupolas, forges, &c.; a special narrow pattern high-pressure blast fan, for supplying blast at high pressure when i running at moderate speeds (these latter can be supplied | direct coupled to A.C. or D.C. motors to suit any voltage or frequency and for any blast pressure up to 1^ lb. per square inch) ; electrically - driven forge blowers; a portable electrically-driven blower, mounted on trolley, suitable for forced local ventilation in mines, mine sinking, cooling, &c.; an electrically-driven port- able blast fan, complete with flexible hose pipe and nozzle, suitable for blowing dust out of dynamo and motor windings, &c.; and the Keith light (high-pressure gas), an electrically-driven compressor supplying gas under pressure to Keith patent inverted lamps. ACKROYD AND BEST LIMITED. The most striking feature of the exhibit made by Messrs. Ackroyd and Best is several hundred of Hailwood’s patent lamps exactly similar to the 20 which were the first to pass the Government tests. These lamps are lit by electricity and locked automatically, and opened only by means of an electro-magnet. The candle-power is double that of the Government requirements. These lamps are so well known—about 200,000 having been supplied to collieries in this country—that detailed descriptions would be supererogatory. Attention may be particularly drawn to the fact that all the lock parts are inserted from the upper face of the lamp vessel, so that if at any time it is desired to take out and renew the lock parts, this operation may be performed in a moment, as there are no pins to drill out and unsolder and to resolder. A further most important point is that if dirt should wash down into the lock it will not inter- fere with the opening of the lock in the lamphouse because the nose of the magnet presses the guard plug up and squeezes out any dirt and thus gets a strong magnetic grip of the lock bolt. A patent snuffer and removable wick tube are supplied with these lamps. A quantity of Hailwood’s patent benzene lamps, fitted with Hailwood’s patent rapid wick adjuster, are also on view. This lamp will be fitted with the new powerful glass supplied by the firm to meet the Government requirements, which will withstand drenching with cold water after the glass has been heated up to point far above boiling point.