740 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. October 2, 1914. sectional elevation of the improved controlling device fitted to a well-known make of feed check valve, as applied to a Lancashire boiler; fig. 2 is a similar view to fig. 1, showing the controlling device as applied to a water tube boiler check a i a Flc 3 SSSS valve; and fig. 3 is a section of a thermostat which may be employed instead of the float as shown in fig. 1. (Three claims.) 23061 (1913). Improvement Relating to Picks, Pickaxes, Miners' Picks, and all similar Tools. E. J. R. Gardiner, Messrs. Martin and Company, 6 and 7, Cliye-street, Cal- cutta, India.—Consists of a special lug or projection on the upper or top side of a pick, pickaxe, miner’s pick, or similar tool. This special lug or projection may be made by either pressing up the metal of which the tool is made or by fixing on same by means of a ring, screw, or any other method. The idea of such a lug or projection is to act as a fulcrum on which to lever, when the pick, pickaxe, or similar tool is driven into whatever substance is to be broken up. The accompanying drawing shows the pick in elevation. (One claim.) 23786 (1913). Improvements in Compound Fluid Pres- sure Engines. F. 0. L. Chorlton, of Hope Bank, Walmers- ley-road, Bury, Lancashire.—Relates to improvements in that type of steam, compressed air, or like expanding gas or vapour compound engine in which the steam or the like exhausts through ports which are uncovered by the pistons at or near to the end of their power strokes. Such engines are known as “ uniflow.” Such compound engines as before known have had all their cylinders either of the double acting type or of the single acting type. In carrying this invention into effect a double acting high-pressure cylinder MMMI |||H is combined with two single acting low-pressure cylinders, or multiples of two single acting low-pressure cylinders. The low-pressure cylinders may exhaust into a condenser. The timing of the opening of the ports leading from the high- pressure cylinder to the low-pressure cylinders, and the rela- tive areas of the high and low-pressure cylinders, are pre- ferably such that the expansion of the steam is continuous, regular, and uninterrupted from the time of cut off of the inlet valve of the high-pressure cylinder to its escape through the exhaust ports of the low-pressure cylinders. The accompanying drawing shows it in vertical section. (Two claims.) 25322 (1913). An Automatic Mining Signals Indicator. J. Skipsey, Railway House, Scotswood-on-Tyne, Northum- berland, and R. Urwin, Ivy Cottage, Scotswood-on-Tyne, Northumberland.—This is an automatic appliance such as is required by the General Regulations, dated July 10, 1913, made by the Secretary of State, under section 86 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, for automatically indicating in a visible manner to the winding engineman the nature of the signal, until such signal is complied with, Regulations 92 to 95. The appliance has a rapper attached, such as is in ordinary use, not necessarily so heavy, to the stem or handle of which two levers are attached, which latter being actuated by the rapper, engage in notches in a vertical moving bar, ascending in accordance with the number of raps given. The bar carries with it a pointer, indicating on the face of the appliance the number and meaning of each signal. On moving the handle to turn on the steam to commence the “ wind,” a traveller (which is connected to the said handle by rods and quadrant) is made to descend, thereby revolving a cam, by means of which the’ levers attached to the rapper stem are withdrawn from the notches in the upright bar, thereby causing the bar and pointer to fall to zero, ready for further signals. The same result is accomplished on shutting the steam off, in case a signal should have been given to stop the engine when in motion. To cancel any signal given in error, or which it is desired to change, before the engine has been put in motion : on giving additional raps to make, with the signal already given, a total of seven (or more, as may be arranged), the top of the upright moving bar comes in con- tact with a rod, to which a wedge-shaped piece is fixed, which wedge being forced up between the levers, disengages them from the notches in the bar, causing the bar and pointer to fall to zero, ready for the next signal. Fig. 1 is a front elevation; fig. 2 is a side view looking to the right of fig. 1; figs. 3 and 4 are front and side sectional views respectively, showing the rapper arm, with side levers, intermediate levers, cam-releasing and wedge- releasing arrangements; fig. 6 is a detailed view of notched bar, with side levers, showing the action of the same at half-stroke; fig. 7 is a detailed view of notched bar, side levers, and intermediate levers, showing how the cam operates in releasing the notched bar; fig. 11 is an eleva- tion illustrating the means for actuating the supplementary indicators. (Three claims.) 29040 (1913). Improvements in Means for Lubricating Conveyor Belt Idlers, Haulage Rope Supporting Rollers, and the like. E. H. Woodman and J. E. Stone, both residing on the property of the Modderfontein “ B ” Gold Mines Limited, Brakpan, Transvaal, South Africa.—The principal object is to provide means whereby a roller or idler can be efficiently and automatically lubricated whether the roller is mounted horizontally or vertically, or obliquely to the horizontal, and said object is attained by a particular arrangement of vanes and slots. Another object is to pro- vide improved means whereby the bearings of the rollers, idlers, or the like are rendered practically dustproof and oil- retaining, with the result that wear and tear on both the ?<