684

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

September 25, 1914.

3996 (1914). Improvements in Rotary Drills. W. J.
Mellersh-Jackson, 28, Southampton-buildings, London. (A
communication from Ingersoll-Rand Company, 11, Broad-
way, New York, U.S.A.)—According to this invention,
which relates tn drills of the kind having a spindle rotated
by oscillating ratchet arms, the driving mechanism com-
prises a reciprocating rack, by means of which pinions are
oppositely oscillated while arcuate racks on the ratchet arms
intermesh with said pinions.- Fig. 1 shows a vertical

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longitudinal section through the drill casing, and fig. 2 shows
a longitudinal section on the line 2—2 of fig. 1. The rack
16 will give the pinions 12 and 13 an oscillating motion in
opposite directions, which, by means of the racks 10 and 11,
will transmit an alternate oscillating motion to the ratchet
arms 6 and 7 which, by means of the pawls 8 and 9, will
cause the drill spindle 3 to have a practically continuous
rotation. (Two claims.)

5593 (1914). Improvements in or Relating to the Lubri-
cation of the Axles of Pit Tubs. W. Samuel, of Gwilym-
road, Cwmllynfell, Swansea Valley, Glamorgan.—Relates
to improvements in or in connection with pit tubs, trams,
corves, or the like, the object being to provide improved
means for enabling their axles to be kept efficiently lubri-
cated. The invention consists essentially in the provision of
oil or grease cups, with or without covering caps, to contain
the lubricating medium, together with means for allowing
the lubricant to be distributed to the axles within the bearing
brackets of the tubs. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of so much
of a colliery tub as is necessary to show the application of

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the invention thereto; fig. 2, transverse section of same;
and fig. 3, inverted plan. This invention consists in form-
ing in one with or securing to the bracket b an oil or grease
cup or reservoir e, provided at its lower side with one or
more passages /, in communication with distribution grooves
g, formed in the surface of the bracket. Each grease cup
may be covered by a hinged cap or cover h, or by any other
suitable cap which will prevent coal dust getting into the
cup. The cap may be inclined, as shown in fig. 2, so that
dust will readily slide off it. On the other hand, the cover
may be dispensed with. (Two claims.)

18439 (1913). Improvements in Internal Combustion
Pumps or Compressors. A. P. Steckel, of 193, Anderson-
place, Buffalo, Erie County, New York, U.S.A.—Relates
to internal combustion compressors or pumps of the liquid
piston type. The invention is particularly applicable to

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compressors or pumps of the two-stroke cycle type, in which
the charge is drawn in during the latter part of the working
stroke. One object is to provide means within the combus-
tion chamber for taking in a charge irrespective of whether

or not the expansion on the working stroke is carried to
or' below atmospheric pressure. Another object is to pro-
vide means for positively measuring and retaining within
the working chamber a definite charge, irrespective of the
length of the previous working stroke and of the final pres-
sure reached thereon. Another object is positively to
separate the burnt from the unburnt gases during the time
that both are in the cylinder. Another object is to keep the
liquid of the piston from becoming mingled with the charge
and to prevent splashing of the liquid of the piston. Another
. object is to provide simple and. effective means for correctly
timing the ignition of the charge.. Another object is to
provide simple and reliable means for actuating the charg-
ing mechanism. The accompanying drawing is a diagram-
matic section view of one form of the improved motor as
applied to a low lift pump. (Thirteen claims.)

18806 (1913). Improvements in and Relating to the
Treatment of Slag for the Manufacture of Bricks. W. E.
Evans, of 27, Chancery-lane, London, W.C. (A communi-
cation from abroad by E. R. Sutcliffe, Hotel des Boule-
vards, Brussels, Belgium.)—According to the invention the
particles of granulated slag are coated with lime by treat-
ment in a thick mixture of lime and water, to which
powdered slag may be added to form a slip. After drain-
ing and standing, to be brought into condition for use, the
slag may be readily formed into bricks by compression, no
grinding being needed. Similarly, the granulation of the
slag may be effected in the mixture of lime and water, in
which ground or pow’dered slag has been introduced to form
a slip. The slag thus may be introduced into the mixture
in the granulated form, or it may be run in as mclten slag,
so that the granulation and coating may be simultaneously
effected. The accompanying drawing illustrates diagram-
matically a plant or apparatus suitable for carrying out the
process of the invention. In the drawing, b represents a
tube mill which is fed through the hopper a, and in which
a portion of the slag may be ground with the lime into a
slip. A centrifugal pump c is provided, by means of which
the lime slip is pumped into the steel trough e. The



molten or heated slag may pass into the trough e from
the hopper d, where it is washed and granulated by the
lime slip that is discharged into the trough through the
pipe k. The lime slip and granulated slag pass into a sump
or reservoir /, in which the heavy particles of the slag fall
to the bottom, whence they are lifted by means of an
inclined elevator g. By this means the heavy slag is lifted
into position beyond the sump or reservoir /, and is dis-
charged, for example, into a trough I, arranged in front of
the sump, from which trough it falls into a wagon m pro-
vided with perforated sides. The liquid slip and the
lighter particles of slag pass through the overflow x into
wagons m provided with perforated sides arranged on the
opposite side of the sump. Sets of rails o, o, may be
arranged alongside the sump or reservoir, and may extend
beyond for the purpose of carrying the slag to the tips or
heaps. A return set of rails may be provided to permit
of the wagons being conveniently returned into position
for further supplies. In a position beside the sump where
the wagons m and n are loaded with heavy and light slag
respectively, a drain may be provided beneath the rails,
into which the greater part of the water may drain, and
drains may extend over the whole area on which the slag is
dumped, so that the water may be quickly removed, and
the heaps quickly and effectively drained of the surplus
water. A drain may advantageously extend centrally the
whole length of the area where the slag is dumped, and
branch drains may discharge into the main drain. Over
this area a roof or shed may advantageously be erected.
(Seven claims.)

18920 (1913). Improvements in and Relating to the
Treatment of Lignite. T. Rigby, of 61, Loreburn-street,
Dumfries, Scotland, and N. Tes.trup, of 3, Dean Farrar-
street, Westminster, London, S.W.—Relates to the drying
of lignite, and especially in connection with processes such

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as are described in Patents Nos. 14624 of 1911, 24748 of
1911, and 969 of 1912. In drying such material by sus-
pending it in a current of hot gases, it has been observed
that variability in the temperature of the gases, of the
water content, of the raw material, etc., are so liable to
upset the balance in any predetermined set of drying con-

ditions, and to result, on the one hand, in irregularly dried
material, or, bn the other hand, in unnecessary loss of heat,
and,’ generally speaking, inefficiency, that despite the
various proposals for attaining a predetermined result by
choice of appropriate length of the drying duct and use of
heat storage elements, or to control the drying by regula-
tion of the gas speed or temperature (including addition
of hot gases from an auxiliary source or addition of cooled
exite gases) and of the feed of moist material, such vari-
ability still markedly influences the results. It has been
ascertained that the harmful variations above referred to
are most markedly reflected in variation of temperature of
the gases at the end of the drying operation, and that if the
latter temperature be maintained between the limits of
75 degs. Cent, and 150 degs. Cent, imperfect and unecono-
mical working is avoided. The present invention consists,
therefore, in the first place in maintaining the temperature
of the outflowing gases between these limits, and the control
is most conveniently effected by varying the rate of intro-
duction of the moist material into the gas current, or by
by-passing some of the gas, or adding to the gas stream
cooled gases which have already done their work. Again,
it has been observed that owing to various local circum-
stances, such as occasional deposit of small quantities of
the power on the bottom of the drying duct, and consequent
overheating, small quantities of the material may become
ignited; and in order to avoid all likelihood of such ignition
having any serious consequences, the drying duct and its
auxiliaries are, according to this invention, constructed of
such strength as easily to withstand the full explosion pres-
sure which this material is likely to attain (5 to 6 atmo-
spheres at most), so that in the event of explosion, the
pressure would be dissipated through the outlet or outlets
of the duct, and no ill-effects be felt within the factory.
Figs. 1 and 2 indicate diagrammatically a lignite fuel
briquetting plant, constructed according to the present inven-
tion. The regulation of the drying is in the form illustrated,
effected by varying the rate .of revolution of the feed wheel
c to maintain the temperature at o (at the cyclone outlet)
within the limits desired. (Four claims.)

18932 (1913). Improvements in the Treatment of Peat
or Bog Material for Industrial Purposes. A. Dickson, of
15, Parliament-street, S. Geoghegan, of 17, Westland-row,
and A. Smythe, of 112, James’s-street, all in the city of
Dublin.—Relates to improvements in the treatment of peat
or bog material for industrial purposes, such, for instance,
as the preparation of the material for fuel, or other pur-
poses. According to the invention yeast is added to the peat
or bog material to be treated wThilst in its liquid state. The
material is preferably arranged in tanks, in which it is
heated to a temperature of about 90 degs. Fahr., when fer-
mentation takes place, which results in the separation of
the solid matter from the liquid. The superfluous water is
then drawn off by means of a tap or a siphon, and the resul-
tant solid product may be subsequently removed, and be
passed through rollers or squeezers, or otherwise treated, to
remove or express the moisture according to the purpose for
which it is intended. The peat or bog material thus treated
provides a valuable artificial manure. Further, the material
is more easily freed from water after fermentation, which
latter increases its value for fuel or distillation. (Four
claims.)

19223 (1913). Improvements in Colliery Picking Belts.
The Norton Harty Engineering Company, Tipton, Staffs,
and G. Norton, Castledale, Dudley.—Relates to colliery pick-
ing belts, and, to enable the return side of such a belt to
efficiently act as a self-discharging conveyor for the disposal
of the refuse picked from the coal, it is proposed to fix
sloping blades to the edges of the belt plates for the purpose
of discharging the refuse at the rear end of the belt. In
the picking belts hitherto proposed or constructed, in which
the return side is to act as a conveyor, the refuse has, in
one type, been thrown on to the bare plates, and then
removed by means of fixed ploughs or scrapers at a point
near the rear end, and in another type a kind of bucket or
tray is formed at the ends of each belt plate. These contain
the refuse, and, acting in a manner somewhat similar to an
elevator bucket, lift the refuse when commencing to turn
round the drum shaft, and, in turning over, discharge the
contents into side shoots. To obviate the difficulty of wear

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and consequently leakage in the one type, and to save the
complication and expense of the buckets and shoots in the
other, it is proposed to fix near the outer edges of the picking
belt, on the reverse side of the plates, a series of blades
which will act in the manner made clear from the accom-
panying drawing. Fig. 1 shows in side elevation the rear
end of a picking belt with the supporting frame work and
driving gear removed ; fig. 2 shows a cross section of the
belt; while a sectional plan is shown at fig. 3. As each
plate reaches the rear end of the belt and commences to
turn round the drum, the refuse lying on the plate will, at
a certain point, either slide or roll backward, and ultimately
come into contact with the throw-off blades, the action of
which, when sufficiently steep, is to push the refuse out
of the sides of the picking belt. A separate conveyor is
shown at D. This can be common to any number of picking
belts, and is for the purpose of removing the refuse to any
desired point. (One claim.)

19915 (1913). Improved Driving Means for Conveyors,
Belts, Hoisting Ropes, and the like. W. L. Spence, 31,
St. Vincent-place, Glasgow. — Relates to colliery under-
ground belt conveyors, but it is- not confined thereto, being
applicable to conveyors in 'general and to other purposes.