1208

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 29 1914.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

617 (1914). Improvements in Valve Apparatus for Per-
cussive Rock Drills and the like. G. Rayner, of Grange
Farm House, Carterknowle-road, Abbeydale, Sheffield, York-
shire.—The object is the improvement of that class of rock
drill valves in which a central collar controls the admission
of compressed air or steam to each end of the main working-
cylinder alternately, and in which two end collars are pro-
vided to open and close the exhaust ports, one collar
controlling the exhaust from one end of the cylinder and the
other collar controlling the exhaust from the other end. The

Fig. 2.__________.

collar at the left hand end of the valve controls
the exhaust from the left hand end of the
cylinder, and the right hand collar controls the exhaust
from the right hand end of the cylinder. The present
improvements consist in so arranging the various ports and
passages that a high valve speed may be obtained, with
freedom from fluttering or chattering even allowing for
reasonable wear, whilst at the same time the construction is
simple and the valve chest is easily assembled by unskilled
labour. Fig 1 is a plan view of the ports and passages of the
cylinder of a percussive rock drill; fig. 2 is a longitudinal
section of the. cylinder and valve chest; and fig. 3 is a section
showing the renewable cylinder made reversible. (Four
claims.)

2012 (1914). Improvements in Bearings for Rope Pulleys
and the like. H. Rowney, 82, Frederick-street, Darnall,
Sheffield.—Consists of a single, double or triple seated
pedestal, with flat, rivet-hinged cover, for rope pulleys and
the like. In the above pedestal, the seat, or seats, is, or are
formed near the centre of the rectangular piece of iron or
other metal, 1 fig. 1. The bottom half of the seat, 2 fig. 2,
is semicircular in shape. The upper half is formed by two
quadrants, 3 and 4, fig. 2, branching upwards from the semi-
circular portion of seat, and outwards from the vertical axis
of the seat. The whole of the seat is thus formed in the
pedestal, the depth from the surface of the horizontal portion
of the pedestal to the bottom of the seat being slightly greater
than the diameter of the pulley spindle, 5, fig. 2, intended for
use. A hole, 6, fig. 1, is provided near each end of the pedestal,
through which are passed screws, 7, fig. 4, for fixing to the
wooden frame, 8, fig. 4. The cover, 9, fig. 1, is of the
same material and width, but somewhat shorter in length
than the pedestal. A hole, 10, fig. 1, is provided near each
end of the cover plate, corresponding to similar holes provided
in the pedestal, 11, fig. 1. One .end of the cover is riveted
to the pedestal, but sufficient play is allowed so that the

cover can pivot on the rivet, 12, fig. 1. The riveted end of
cover is either semicircular, or half hexagonal in shape,
the distance from the centre of rivet hole to the end of the
cover being equal to half the width of cover. At the other
end of cover, the inner corner, 13, fig. 4, is cut away. The
opposite corner is thinned out and turned down, 14, fig. 2,
until it projects below the surface of the pedestal. The
object of this projection ,is to prevent the cover, from being
moved too far inwards and catching the rotating pulley, 15,
fig. 4. The cover is held in position by the rivet, 12, fig. 2,
at one end, and a stud, 16, fig. 2, at the opposite end, the
hole in the pedestal being tapped for this purpose. An
alternative method is to drop a bolt pin, 17, fig. 3, through
the holes in the cover and pedestal into a hole provided in
the wood frame. This method obviates the tapping of the
hole in the pedestal. The portion of the pedestal forming
the seat or seats, is sunk into a wood frame until the
horizontal portion of the pedestal lies flat on the frame.
The screws, 7, fig. 4, are then inserted and screwed home.
The operation is repeated at the other side of wood frame.
The covers are then swung outwards, and the pulley placed
in the seatings, the cover being then closed and the studs
or bolt pins inserted. When it is required to take out, or
lubricate the pulley, the covers are opened, and the required
operation performed. (Three claims.)

9988 (1913). Improvements in or relating to the Carboni-
sation of Coal. V. B. Lewes, of 30, Crooms-hill, Greenwich,
Kent.—An object is so to carbonise coal, or shale, both
hereinafter included in the term coal, by such a use of
radiant instead of conducted heat that the distillation pro-
ducts shall comprise a minimum of heavy tar and a large
proportion of light hydrocarbon vapours, a further object
being to obtain from coal, a uniformly carbonised residue
still containing sufficient volatile matter to render it capable
of being easily ignited and burnt with a cheerful and practic-
ally smokeless flame. For accomplishing the first of such
objects the finely divided coal is caused to traverse a highly
heated space in the uppermost region of the retort wherein
the temperature decreases as the residue collecting zone is
approached, distillation beyond the needed degree being pre-
vented by the coal particles entering into a lower temperature
region. In effecting the second of the said objects the
partially carbonised residue is submitted to a slowfly decreas-
ing temperature initially somewhat below that needed for
distillation so as to cause the remaining volatile matter to
thoroughly and uniformly permeate the mass which latter is
removed in such condition from the retort. The light
condensible hydrocarbons in the distillation products can be
separated from the more permanent gas by washing the
mixed gas and vapours with heavy oils which, on subsequent
distillation, then yield volatile spirit very suitable for use as
motor spirit and for other purposes. In carrying out the
invention there can be employed a vertical retort by pre-
ference shorter in height than the retort ordinarily employed

in continuous processes, the heating chambers and flues being
so arranged that producer gas and secondary air are delivered
to the retort at its highest portion and caused to burn down-
wardly. By this means combustion is completely in the
flues or passages surrounding the upper portion of the retort
which is thus at the maximum temperature. Its lower limit
is determined by a position where, on account of the distance
from the inlet of the combustible mixture the temperature,
although still relatively high, has fallen sufficiently to prevent
further distillation taking place. This selected limit coincides
with the upper level of the residual mass of partialy car-
bonised coal particles in the lower portion of the retort which
latter is surrounded by flues or passages through which the
cooling products of combustion of the producer gas and
secondary air are caused to pass and subject the residue to
a soaking heat gradually decreasing in intensity whereby
the remaining volatile matter usually from 5 to 10 per cent,
or thereabouts is caused to thoroughly and uniformly per-
meate the solid residue and yield a homogeneous fuel of a
character not obtainable with more rapid cooling. The total
distance from the top of the retort to the level of the partially
carbonised particles can conveniently be from seven to eight
feet, the uppermost four feet or thereabouts being at a tem-
perature of from 1,000 degs. Cent, to 1,200 degs. Cent., and
constituting the most active zone of the radiant heat chamber,
and the lowermost portion, the top of which conincides with
the upper level of partially carbonised particles, being at a
temperature of approximately 400 degs. Cent., and less than
that necessary for further destructive distillation. The
accompanying drawing shows in vertical section one con-
struction of apparatus. (Six claims.)

10566 (1913). Improvements in and relating to Percus-
sive Rock Drills, Bits and like Appliances. W. H.
Wakfer, of 67, Whitworth-road, South Norwood, Surrey,
and S. Peck, of “ Calbourne,” Wallington, Surrey.—Accord-
ing to this invention the bar or steel of a percussive drill is
formed or provided with a cutting or boring head comprising
a body portion which is of larger cross-sectional dimensions
than the bar and which is prismatic and this body is formed
at one end with three or more cutting edges which meet at
the point of the tool, three or more triangular faces being
bounded by the said edges. These faces may be flat, or
concave or otherwise suitably formed and are preferably con-

F!G. 6.

FIG 3.

>”9

r °

<S FIG. 5

F!G- 8

tinuations of the sides of the prismatic head which may be
flat or hollow or fluted. The cutting or boring heads thus
fashioned may be formed as separate heads or bits adapted
to be connected to the body or bar of the percussive drill in
known manner as for example by means of a sleeve coupling
or of a socket in one with the body of the drill bar or in one
with the bit, as hereinafter described, or the heads or bits
instead of being formed on the end of the bar of the drill
may be welded thereon. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a
simple form of the improved drilling or boring tool when
made three-sided; fig. 2 is a plan of fig. 1; fig. 3 is a

side elevation, and fig. 4 is a plan of a four sided tool or
bit; fig. 5 is partly a cross section and partly a rear end
elevation of a tool, the head of which may be similar to that
shown in figs. 3 and 4 but the body or bar of which is formed
with helical ribs ; fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a head or
bit coupled by means of a sleeve to the drill bar or body;
fig. 7 is a view similar to fig. 6, the plane of the section
being at right angles to the plane of the section fig. 6 ; in
fig. 7, however, the cutting head is shown in a slightly
different position on its shank; fig. 8 is a plan of fig. 6.
(Seven claims.)

11085 (1913). Process and Apparatus for Sinking Bore-
holes. C. R. D. von Stein, of Boryslaw (Galicia), Austria.—
Relates to a process for sinking boreholes and to an apparatus
for the purpose of carrying out the said process. In the
drawing one form of construction is shown as an example,
in section, of the apparatus, for carrying out the boring
operation. To carry this invention into effect a number of
balls a are placed in the bottom of an already commenced
borehole corresponding to the desired sectional dimensions of
the borehole, said balls being of hard material, preferably
steel, and with rough surfaces. The process is carried into
effect and the device is operated in the following manner :—
The connecting rod e whose piston f lies on the plunger, is
raised until the piston f carries with it the sleeve d thereby
also raising said plunger. On the boring rod falling, the
sleeve together with the plunger will also fall, the lower end
of the plunger will be forced in between the balls and these
will be rotated and forced sideways in opposite directions
in such a manner that they will loosen the material of the
walls of the borehole and pulverise same. Should the
plunger jam during operation it can easily be loosened by
striking its upper end with the piston f. Instead of the
boring rod a rope may also be used. It is not necessary
continually to rotate the borer which is simply reciprocated in
a vertical direction nor to sharpen or replace same. By
increasing the number of the balls, which may be inserted
into the borehole during the boring operation, the diameter
of the borehole can at any time be increased so that an
after-boring is not necessary. (Seven claims.)

11085 (1913).

iFe

'3

11712 (1913).

11712 (1913). Improvements in or relating to Gas Pro-
ducers, Coal Distillation Retorts and the like. W. Anderson,
of Inistore, Helensburgh, J. Meikle, of 14, Garrioch-drive,
Maryhill, Glasgow, and C. W. Fulton, of The Glen, Paisley.
—Relates to gas producers, coal distillation retorts and the
like, equipped with screw conveyors or the like whereby the
fuel or material such as coal or the like is delivered con-
tinuously at the upper end of a container or magazine and
the residue, e.g., ash or coke, is withdrawn continuously at
the lower end. The invention has for its primary object to
provide an improved arrangement of screw conveyors of the
type described in the Specification of Letters Patent’ No.
12521 of 1913, in the case of a producer without interference
with the air supply, and in the case of a retort or the like in
such wise that undesired admission of air shall be effectually
prevented. To this end, for delivering the coal or the like
continuously at the upper end of the combustion or distilla-
tion chamber there is or are provided a helical feeding-in
conveyor or conveyors extending from a point or points
outside one vertical wall of the chamber and disposed horizon-
tally in a tubular pocket or pockets formed in the vertical
wall with a gap opening into the interior of the chamber at
or about the upper level of the material maintained within
the chamber. The conveyor or each conveyor delivers coal
or the like from a hopper outside the chamber into the
interior of the chamber, the passage being closed against
admission of air, e.g., the hopper entrance may be normally
maintained closed and opened at intervals only as by means
of a revolving shutter or the like; the coal or the like being
uniformly distributed over the bed of fuel. The lower end
of the chamber is preferably of V-section the sides of the V
merging into the sides of a trough open on top and closed
at the bottom. Within said trough is disposed a helical
conveyor for removing ash or coke as the case may be, the
non-threaded sections being preferably fitted with spikes for
breaking up clinker, etc. In the case of a gas producer air
may be admitted beneath the sides of the V (which latter
may be constituted by grate bars), and a regulated quantity
of air, or no air, may be admitted at the upper end of the
chamber, the gas outlet being located at a suitable point
intermediate the upper and lower ends of the chamber. Or
the entire volume of air may be drawn or impelled down-
wards through the chamber, the gas outlet being located at
or about the bottom of the chamber. In any of these cases
the producer may be worked on the pressure or suction
system. Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical cross section of a
gas producer equipped with apparatus embodying the inven-
tion ; fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the feeding-in conveyors;
fig. 3 is a detail view of the conveyor for removing clinker.
(Four claims.)

(Continued on page 1210.)