372 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 13, 1914. progressing reaction has the effect that all the fuel lying below the gasification zone remains at rest. No channels are able to form in the charge, through which the gas might escape more quickly than through the more closely lying portions. Consequently the fire advances regularly in all parts of the same cross-section. This is further facilitated by the small dimensions of the individual pieces of fuel, which in consequence quickly volatilise or gasify in a thin zme. The different speed of advance of the volatilisation and gasification zones is also further explained by the differing heat capacity of the gas formed by the gasifica- tion, and of the fuel gasified to produce it. It is also possible further to improve the gas obtained during the volatilisa- tion period, aud to make its value more profitable, by conducting away, in that case also, the portion first given off separately from the later portion. For in the cooler layers the gases condense the tar, and any other condensable constituents driven off from the superincumbent layers. Such condensation is all the more complete, because the matter condensed can only, owing to its own weight and to the gas pressure, get into cooler layers, and so cannot again be decomposed. With the advance of the heat the condensed matter once deposited is again evaporated, again condensed in the cooler and deeper layers, and so on until the tar arrives at the bottom of the charge and finally passes out through the bottom, and then may be collected in a simple way. The fragmentary charge with its larger superfices during the condensation and re-evaporisation holds the tar firmly in the condensation zone for the time being, like a filter, so that for a very long time it is not carried along even mechanically by the gases. Gasification products, therefore, together with non-condensable products of volatilisation, may first be obtained—that is to say, a gas of comparatively high value and at the same time poor in tar. And even this gas may sometimes be advantageously con- ducted away in two separate consecutive sections, if, for example, the recovery of ammonia is especially aimed at. For the gas first given off only contains a little ammonia, because this will have been absorbed in the damp and cold lower layers, so that treatment for its recovery is not worth while. A special case is that in which the gasification is finally interrupted after most of the volatile constituents have been driven off, the remaining coke not being further gasified. By removal of the superincumbent ash the remaining contents of the receptacle may then be obtained as cheaply-produced coke and employed for other purposes. In the drawing is illustrated, by way of example, an apparatus suitable for carrying out the process described. (Four claims ) 7936 (1913). Improvements in or relating to Valve Gear for Pumps. D. Cockburn, of Cockburns Limited, Cardonald, near Glasgow, and D. MacNicoll, of Cockburns Limited, Cardonald, near Glasgow.—Relates to an improved valve gear primarily for direct-acting pumps, and has for its object to provide improved means which at the end of each stroke of the pump will put the valve proper in such a position that it will be moved through the rest of its travel a v— directly by the action of the fluid pressure—i.e., without involving the use of mechanical devices for completing the movement of the valve. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of part of a direct-acting pump equipped with valve gear embodying the invention ; fig. 2 is a detail plan view of part of the operating mechanism. Referring to the drawings, 1 is a slide valve and 2 a cylindrical member which is held in position by means of pins 2a and sliding relatively to which is a second member 3 partially enclosing the first member 2 and serving as a piston, the enclosed space 4 between the back of the slide valve 1 and said member 3 communicating with the exhaust port 5 of the pump steam cylinder 6 through ducts 7 cut in the slide valve 1. Mounted on a pin 8 working in a slot 9 formed in the valve spindle 10, which latter is operatively connected by means of link work or the like to the piston rod 10a, are a pair of rocking arms 11 pivoted at 12 on arms 13 secured to a fixed part of the pump and adapted on the recipro- cating movement of said spindle 10 to be moved to one side and to the other side of the centre line 14 perpendicular to the axis of said spindle 10, said centre line passing through the pivotal centres of the rocking arms 11. With this construction, when said rocking arms 11 are brought beyond centre line 14 by the movement of the valve spindle 10, the pressure of fluid passing through a clearance space between the member 3 and the casing and acting on the rear face 3a of the member 3 imparts a rocking movement to the link 15, secured at one end to the piston rod 16, pivoted at 17, and connected at the other end to the pin 8, by the links 18, thereby effecting a further shifting movement of the slide valve 1 in the desired direction. The operation on the return stroke of the spindle is the same as that on the initial stroke. (One claim.) 9790 (1913). Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Producing Artificial Respiration H. Simonis, of Pretoria Works, Walthamstow, London, N.E.—Comprises improve- ments in or relating to apparatus for producing artificial respiration, and, broadly stated, consists in the combination with means for mechanically producing artificial respiration by promoting gymnastic movements of the patient of means for administering oxygen to said patient controlled by the same mechanical means. In the specification of Letters Patent No. 17210 a.d. 1911, there is disclosed an apparatus for producing artificial respiration. In the present invention there is combined with such apparatus as of the class above cited means for producing a self-regulating supply of oxygen. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and fig. 2 a plan view from below with the source of oxygen omitted. The bellows g are connected, as by means of yoke i and cords i1 passing over pulleys i2 carried by brackets i3 fixed to the board a, with the movable levers b in such a manner that when said levers are brought forward for inhaling purposes, as shown in full lines in the drawings, the bellows are compressed and the oxygen delivered to the mask to be administered in the inhaling process. When the levers are turned inward for exhaling purposes, as shown in broken lines, the bellows are released and kept open by a spring arrangement (not shown) so that said bellows (the valves g1 g2 being non-return or automatic valves) form a receptacle for the oxygen flowing from the storage cylinder e during this period of exhalation. The size of the bellows is in suitable proportion to that of the lungs of a patient so that sufficient supply of oxygen is assured for each inhaling operation. The flow or discharge of oxygen from the cylinder e may be placed at normal, but can be adjusted for supply of higher or larger quantities by manipulating the reducing valve e1, the gauge e2 showing the quantity of oxygen discharged per unit of time. The regulating valve h2 on the face mask h allows of administering air and oxygen mixed in any proportion desired. (Four claims.) 10128 (1913). Arrangement for Automatically Stopping Pneumatic Tools. Ateliers Leonard R jcour Societe Anonyme, of Ans, Belgium.—Relates to pneumatic tools having means whereby the admission of the compressed air and the reciprocation of the piston is automatically arrested when the point of the tool is not pressed up to its work, said means being of that type in which a passage conveying the compressed air is placed in communication with the front of the piston, when the tool is pressed up to its work, by means of a port or passage in a reciprocating part WM I III Is which, on the tool ceasing to be pressed up to its work, moves forward to cut off the supply of air to the front of the piston, so that the latter is arrested. By the invention the use of a spring is dispensed with, the displaceable cut- off passage or passages being formed in a part which is moved forward by the compressed air admitted to the front of the piston. Figs. 1 and 2 show one arrangement in the two positions which the parts occupy when the tool is at work and at rest respectively. (One claim.) 13086 (1913). Improvements in and Relating to the Manufacture of Explosive Charges for Mining and Military Purposes. Dr. 0. Claessen, of Dorotheenstrasse 36, Berlin N.W. 7, Germany.—Consists in providing a charge of an appropriate nitro-compound with a charge of trinitride of lead and superposing over the latter a charge of fulminate of mercury alone or mixed with potassium chlorate. The advantage of the invention resides in the fact that the primers are more readily ignited by jet flames even after storage in damp places. The manufacture is cheapened and simplified as compared with ordinary safety primers, inasmuch as the cap or cover for the priming charge is not essential. In carrying out the invention the explosive charges, consisting of an appropropriate nitro-compound, are provided with about 0’2 grain of trinitride of lead, a charge of fulminate of mercury or a mixture of the latter and potassium chlorate being subsequently superposed over the trinitride of lead. The latter charge may or may not be provided with a cap which may be of perforated copper for covering the uppermost charge. (Two claims.) 15439 (1913). Process for Briquetting Fuel by Adding Dry Paper Pulp Flakes. F. Reinold, of 10, Konigiu Luise- strasse, Charlottenburg, Germany.—The invention is based upon the use of paper waste as binding material, but said material, contrarily to the known process, is added to the coke or coal slack only after the latter has been moistened. It results from this process that the binding material has no opportunity for drawing too much moisture, that is to say for becoming saturated with moisture, but the necessary moisture for generating the binding properties of same is drawn from the briquetting material previously exactly moistened to the required amount. The dry paper mass being mixed with the previously moistened slack of coal or coke, or with slack having the necessary degree of moisture, the amount of moisture of said slack required for manu- facturing briquettes is determined experimentally. Gene- rally when the slack itself does not contain the required amount of moisture, it is only necessary to provide moisture in order to prevent formation of dust during the manu- facture. Consequently according to the invention, the finely divided binding material is not brought into contact with moisture until it has been added to the briquetting material previously provided with the required moisture. The binding material is waste paper of any kind, for example, waste paper from the sweepings of the streets, fully disintegrated, and is added to the moist mass of coal or coke. The paper is fully disintegrated to the form of flakes of size varying, say, from | to 1| centimetres, by means of known disintegrating devices. When the paper so prepared is mixed in dry state with the slightly moistened slack, the resulting mixture is much more uniform and the requisite amount of binding material is lessened. The little moisture of the slack will just do for promoting the binding power of the binding material which has been thoroughly mixed with the slack. The property of paper, consisting in that it does not absorb the moisture immedi- ately during the mixing, but only progressively, is very favourable in the described process. The percentage of binding material varies according to the nature of the fuel to be agglomerated. Highly bituminous (cannel) coal requires a small amount—say 1 to 2 per cent. When treating non-bituminous coal, and especially slack coke, the percentage of binding material should be increased to 9 per cent. (One claim.) 15638 (1913). Improvements in Hydraulic Packing. Vulcan-Werke Hamburg und Stettin Aktiengesellschaft, of Hamburg 9, Germany.—In rotary engines or turbines such as are used in hydraulic transmission gear, particularly those of the type covered by Patent No. 13864 of 1906, parallel rib or edge packings of bronze which run with slight play relatively to smooth bronze surfaces are frequently employed. With such packings, in case contact should occur in the cycle free from water, provision must be made for preventing excessive heating of or strain upon the 7001. ^iff.2. -2 bronze edges or their counter surfaces, as most kinds of bronze are exceedingly sensitive to high temperatures. According to the invention the counter-face or surface opposed to the bronze edges is made of a readily fusible alloy, such as white metal, so that when contact takes place and the heat increases this alloy melts without producing excessive heating of or strain upon the said edges. The invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the accom- panying drawings, in which figs. 1 and 2 show sections of two modifications of the packing. (Three claims.) rew pmra comecteo with the TOIL IRM TOMES. Applications for Patents. • 2642. Means for securing certain kinds of brake shoes to brake blocks. Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon and Finance Company Limited and E. Squires. 2648. Valve for pneumatic elevators or conveyors. C. P. Kininmonth and Henry Simon Limited. 2649. Gas producers. Q. Moore and Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Company Limited. 2650. Process and arrangement of plant for treatment and recovery of tar and ammonia liquor from producer or other gas. Q. Moore and Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Company Limited. 2651. Evaporative heat exchanger for use in connection with gas producers, retorts and the like. Q. Moore and Dowson and Mason Gas Plant Company Limited. ' 2654. Haulage clip. J. W. Rollin. 2677. Wagon tipping. Spencer and Co. Limited and F. E. Sawyer. 2692. Boring tools and the like. T. G. Stanley. 2706. Grinding, crushing, or pulverising machinery. A. Downie. (Continued on page 374.)