August 14, 1914.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

383

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

8834 (1914). Improvements in or relating to Steam
Regenerative Accumulators. W. J. Mellersh-Jackson, of
the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Company, 28, South-
ampton Buildings, London (Communication from Louis
Schwarz and Company Aktiengesellschaft, of Dortmund,
Germany).—Relates to steam regenerative accumulators of
the kind in which intermittently supplied volumes of steam
are made to pass through an inclined vessel containing
water, the level of which is above the level of the steam
inlet, so that the steam is forced to drive the water before
it in passing beneath the roof or cover of the vessel from
the steam inlet at the lower or admission end of the vessel
to a vapour outlet at the higher or discharge end. The chief
object is to provide simple and reliable means for enabling
4he height of the water level above the level of the steam
inlet to be regulated to suit the supply pressure of the
steam. The invention is particularly directed to the exhaust
steam from reciprocating steam engines and its utilisation



in turbines. According to it the water vessel is so mounted
as to be capable of angular adjustment about an axis
transverse to its length, and means are provided for enabling
the vessel to be mechanically or automatically adjusted
about the said axis so as to incline the vessel to any desired
-extent. A convenient and effective position for the axis
is the mid-position relatively to the length of the vessel,
owing to the advantageous distribution of the weight and
the consequent small amount of power required to tilt the
vessel. The tilting movement may be effected mechanically
in any convenient way, or it may be obtained automatically
by providing two interconnected water ballast compart-
ments, one at each end of the vessel, and utilising some of
the steam to drive the water from one compartment to the
■other, and thereby cause the vessel to become out of balance,
and consequently inclined, to an extent proportional to the
steam pressure. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and fig. 2 is
a plan. (Eight claims.)

8929 (1914). Improvements in the Method of, and Means
for, Supporting the Roofs of Mine Galleries. W. Reinhard,
of 38, Bismarckplatz, Gref eld, Germany.—According to the
invention each prop employed is adapted to support two
or more roof supporting members. To this end the head
of the prop is in the form of a yoke, which is capable of
being adjusted at different heights and the ends of which
serve as the carriers for the roof members. In order to
enable each roof member to adapt itself as far as possible
to the inequalities of the mine roof the yoke is arranged
so that it can rock in a vertical plane, and for this purpose
<is provided with a curved surface where it rests on its
support. The prop is also provided with a spring foot,
which affords a rigid support when the load thereon exceeds



its limit of elasticity, a screw spindle used for regulating
the height is guided centrally, both by the nut which it
engages and by a guide piece at its lower end working in
the tubular lower end of the prop. The improved prop
enables a method of underpinning to be adopted with a
staggered or zig-zag arrangement of the series of props
across the gallery, instead of the ordinary arrangement in.
line, so that the whole load is better distributed over all
the props. The miner is compelled, with this arrangement,
to arrange the props at right angles to the longitudinal axis
of the roof members in a position determined by the length
-of the yokes. Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the prop, fig. 2
a side elevation, fig. 3 a plan of the same, and fig. 4 is
a view of a detail. (Four claims.)

8975 (1914). Improvements in Electric Signalling
Devices for use with Winding Engines of Collieries. J. A.
Adlington, of Scott Spring Villas, Stainton, near Rother-
ham, Yorkshire.—Relates to signalling devices for use with
winding engines of collieries and the like of the type in
which the signals are shown on a dial by means of a pointer

operated through the medium of an electro magnet, and in
which the signals are recorded on a paper chart. The
accompanying drawings are diagrammatic illustrations of the
general arrangement and combination of the several parts
and appliances employed. Fig. 1 relates more particularly
to the signalling appliances, fig. 2 to the dial and pointer
mechanism, and fig. 3 to the recording appliances. The
invention consists in an improved arrangement and combina-
tion of parts and appliances employed in the construction
of such devices, whereby when a signal has been given it
is automatically recorded, and remains visibly indicated
until the next signal is given, when the pointer moves to the
number on the dial corresponding to the signal being given,
or if no other signal is being given the pointer may be
returned to zero by means of a switch, which will in no
way affect the signal being indicated and recorded, but will
only allow the pointer to return to its zero position after
the signal has been recorded. The action of the apparatus
is as follows. When a signal is given six of the above
mentioned electro-magnets are excited, viz. :—One 7 con-
trolling the pawl actuating the snail, one 14 holding the
pointer to the last signal given, one 17 or 18 indicating
whether men or material are in the cage, one 38 operating
the time lag arrangement, one 28 operating the ratchet
wheel on the screwed spindle, and one 35 which withdraws
the pencil arm away from the paper on the drum, with
the result that the signal is shown by the pointers moving
round to the requisite number on the dial, the recording
drum is rotated a distance corresponding with the signal

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received, and the pencil arm is drawn clear of the drum
and the piston 41, in the dash pot 40, is lifted to its
uppermost position, the pencil arm being drawn clear of
the drum is held in that position by the falling of the
pivoted armature of the companion magnet 36, which abuts
against a projection on the pencil arm. The snail and
pencil arm remain in this position until the piston in the
dash pot has allowed the armature of its electro-magnet 38,
to close the circuit with its spring contact 46, and so
energises the magnet 13, which affects the release of the
snail and the electro-magnet 36 which permits of the return
of the pencil arm. The effect of this is that as the snail 6
is released it is returned to its zero position by means of a
weight 48 and cord taken round the snail spindle, as soon
as the snail reaches its zero position it breaks the circuit
made by the time lag arrangement, thus releasing the
armatures of the electro-magnets 13 and 36. The effect on
the electro-magnet 36 in the circuit is that its pivoted
armature is drawn out of contact with the pencil arm,
which is thereupon pulled by the spring attached to its
lower end, causing the pencil to strike the paper on the
drum, thus recording the last signal received. The pointer
indicating the signal given remains in that position until
another signal is given, when it is released and takes up
a position corresponding to the new signal, or if desired, it
may be returned to zero at a time when no signal is being
given, but this will in no way affect a signal being given,
indicated and. recorded. (Two claims.)

10981 (1913). Improvements in and relating to the
Working of By-product Recovery Gas Producers. T. Rigby
and G. W. Andrew, both of 61, Loreburn-street, Dumfries,
Scotland, and Wetcarbonizing Limited, of 3, Dean Farrar-
street, Westminster, London, S.W.—Relates to the
recovery of volatile by-products such as methyl alcohol by
cooling in appropriate surface condensers the gases evolved
in the gasification of peat. The invention consists in
facilitating recovery of the volatile by-products by effecting
their condensation by indirect cooling of the gases in a stage
subsequent to and separate from the condensation of
by-products having a boiling point higher than that of
water. In one method the cooling of the gas to effect conden-
sation of the required by-products is carried out in one or
more surface condensers subsequently to and separately
from the condensation of products of higher boiling point
than water, the temperature being lowered to such an extent
that the steam in the gas is condensed, while any tar or
methyl alcohol condensed with the steam collects in the
water of condensation, from which the methyl alcohol or
other by-products soluble in water, can subsequently be
separated. The cooling of the gas in the surface condenser
may be carried to such a temperature as usually exists at
the outlet of the gas cooling apparatus in a Mond gas
producer plant, and if cooling to atmospheric temperature
is desired to recover further quantities of by-products this
is preferably affected in separate air. cooled condensers.
According to another method of carrying this invention into
effect, the gas issuing from the producers is maintained in
direct contact with the cooling water or other liquid as
hitherto, but with this variation, that the temperature of
the gas at the exit of such a cooling apparatus is main-
tained sufficiently high to ensure that substantially none of
the soluble volatile by-products desired is condensed in the
cooling liquid, but leaves the gas cooling apparatus with
the producer gas to be afterwards recovered in surface
condensers. (Four claims.)

13191 (1913).—An Improved Process and Apparatus for
Hydraulic Jigging, Ore Separating and the like. K.
Kleinberg, of Libuschin, near Kladno, Bohemia.—According
to this invention the conditions of the air pressure in
chambers distributed over the entire jig sieve and also in
a separate discharging air chamber are altered . and
regulatable not only for the water shock (uplift), but also
for the settling period (descent). Two separate and
independently adjustable regulating members are therefore
provided in each air chamber, which can be brought into
a given alternate relationship adapted to the material to
be separated. Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section, fig. 2

is a side view, fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a valve box,
and fig. 4 is a corresponding outside side elevation. The
material is fed to the apparatus through pipe A (fig. 2)
and the light material leaves through the pipe B, whilst the
heavy and the like passes away through the pipe C. This
pipe is regulated by an automatic flat valve R. Bottomless
air containers L submerged in the separating water, are
arranged on the sides and at the heavy material discharge
places of the jigging boxes, and are closed against the
external air by flap valve boxes V. The latter are provided
with suction flaps K1 and pressure flaps K2 or the like. The
effective opening of the pressure flaps K2 and those of the
suction flaps K1 may be regulated by screw down devices a,
which limit the lift, and by slides b or the like, the
regulation of one being completely independent of the
regulation or adjustment of the other. Air is compressed in
the closed chambers L on the upstroke by the pulsating
movement of the water, which air in turn reacts on the
water level in the chambers and by intermediary of the
mass of water acts on the separating bed. The reduction
of the air pressure caused by the descent of the water level
in the chambers L acts similarly. The flaps K1, K2, are
set in operation by the pulsations of the water level in the
chambers in precisely the same manner as the valves of

B

an air pump having a plunger movement. By regulating
the stroke and the opening of the flaps K1, K2, the degree
of the air compression or degree of vacuum can be adjusted.
In order to enable the air compression and rarefaction to
have a stronger action upon the incrustation or settling
walls of the jig boxes on the jig bed, walls W2, W1, are
provided parallel with the covers of the jig boxes, which
have the effect of lengthening the operating water column.
The non-return valve R will, of course, freely follow the
movement of the water when the chamber L is open. The
alteration of the amount of compression in the uplift and
the alteration of the amount of the rarefaction on the lower-
ing of the water level (according to the section of passage
of the valves K1, K2) then regulates the movement of the
valve R, for example, the greater or smaller the compres-
sion in the uplift, the less or more is the aperture of
passage R closed. Thus the alternate relationship between
the compression and depression produced and the movement
of the valve R may be seen. A mercury manometer with a
scale M may be arranged on the air containers L in order
to enable the amount of the air compression and degree of
vacuum, produced during the pulsating water movement, to
be ascertained at any time. The operation can thereby be
observed, especially at the discharged places, and accord-
ingly the operation of the jigging process regulated, not by
a guess or estimation, but by means of a direct indicator.
The extent of the alternate air compression and rarefaction
must be empirically determined according to the composition
of the material under treatment. (Five claims.)

15399 (1913). Improvements in Hinges and Means for
Securing the Doors or Hinged Sides or Ends of Railway
Wagons and other Vehicles. N. H. Morris, of Oceanic
House, No. 1a, Cockspur-street, Westminster (a communi-
cation by W. G. Mackern, of No. 349, Bartolom£ Mitre,
Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic).—This invention relates



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to improvements in hinges and stanchions or struts for
securing the fall-down doors in hinged sides or ends of
railway wagons and other vehicles. The strut, which is
hinged at its lower end to the frame or other suitable part
of the wagon, and preferably to a bracket fixed to the sole
plate or sole bar, is connected at its other or upper end to
the door or to the door hinge (which is also suitably pivoted