940

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

October 30, 1914

devices H, and gradually abandons to the solution it
encounters in the sections E its water vapour and such
gaseous products of dissociation wfliich it is desirable to
retain in the dissociated solution. The temperature of the
gases escaping to the atmosphere, gas holders, or other
apparatus is regulated by the amount of cold undissociated
solution admitted through the connection I into the top
section E1 of the dephlegmator A, in such a way that only
such gases and vapours which it is desired to dissociate
from the chemical solutions escape by the outlet J. The
thermometer 10, showing the excess of temperature of the
dissociated solution over the undissociated solution, is an
indicator of the total efficiency of the whole apparatus,
efficiency which should preferably be maintained as high as
practical by providing against heat losses through radiation
by a good lagging of non-conducting material. (Two
claims.)

3681 (1914). An Improved Automatic Coupling for Col-
liery Tubs or Corves and Similar Vehicles. G. J. Coles, of
5, Lavender-gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, Durham.—An
automatic coupling in accordance with this invention com-
prises a plate or bracket provided at its rear end with a
projection or projections adapted to engage beneath the usual
crossbeam or undercarriage of a colliery tub or in a suitable
socket or sockets provided therein, an aperture adapted to
receive the usual hooked and T-shaped or other end of the
drawbar or the like of the tub, a hook, catch, or the like on
its front end or face, and an aperture adapted to receive the
hook, catch, or the like of a similar coupling member on
another vehicle. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are respectively a plan,
a side elevation, and an end elevation of one construction
of colliery-tub coupling in accordance therewith; and figs.
4 and 5 are similar views to figs. 2 and 3 respectively of a
slightly modified construction. Referring to figs. 1,2, and 3,
in operation, when two tubs fitted with the improved coup-
ling come together, the front end or face j of one of the
plates a, which is suitably rounded and shaped, will engage
with the front end or face of the other plate, or with the
inclined back f of the hook e thereon, and one plate will ride
over the hook on the other plate, w’hich hook enters the front
aperture g in the upper plate, and the two tubs will thus be
coupled together. The tubs can be readily uncoupled by
disengaging the aperture g in one plate from the hook e



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on the other. A suitably arranged chain or the like may
be connected to each plate for this purpose. The plates can
be readily removed from the vehicles when desired by disen-
gaging the rearwardly-extending projections b b from the
crossbeam or undercarriage of the tub and slipping the plate
off the end of the drawbar. In the modified construction
illustrated in figs. 4 and 5, instead of employing a fixed hook
or the like, such as e, a hook or catch k is employed, pivoted
on a bolt m, supported by lugs n n, provided on the upper
face of the plate a, the arrangement being such that, when
two tubs come together, the nose o of the pivoted hook k on
the plate a on one tub is engaged, and the hook raised by
the front end j of the plate on the other tub to allow the
plate to pass beneath said hook, which falls again and
engages the front aperture g in the plate. In this construc-
tion a chain or the like will be connected to the lug p on
the pivoted hook k so that the hook can be raised when
desired to uncouple the tubs. A suitable stop, such as q
(fig. 4), will be provided to limit the upward movement of
the hook k, and preferably a recess or aperture r will be
provided as shown in the plate a to receive the nose o of the
hook k, or a projection thereon to prevent lateral strain on
the hook. (Two claims.)

4294 (1914). Improvements in and Relating to Electric
Hoists, Cranes, Winches, and the like. D. Wilson, of 69,
Drury-buildings, 21, Water-street, Liverpool. — Relates to
improvements in electric hoists, cranes, winches, and the
like, of the type in which an electric motor drives the drum
through reducing gearing, an intermediate brake being
employed which is applied when the speed of the drum when
lowering exceeds the speed of the motor. According to the
invention the electric motor, the shaft which is driven by
said electric motor through planetary reducing gear, and the
arrangement whereby brakes are applied during the lowering
when the speed of the shaft exceeds the speed of the motor,
are embodied in a single unit which is applicable for a
number of purposes. Further, in addition, this unit may
comprise any known type of electromagnetic brake normally
applied to the motor shaft and adapted to be released on
current flowing through the motor, a single controlling handle
being employed to control both the brake and the motor.
This unit is useful in connection with chain transmission, in
which a sprocket wheel is connected to the shaft driven
through reducing gear by the motor, a second sprocket wheel
serving for driving the winding drum from the first sprocket
wheel by means of a chain. By this means the breaking
of teeth may be done away with, and the cost of repairs con-
siderably reduced. This chain transmission also has the
advantage of reducing friction and working silently under
all conditions. This unit may also have applied to it the
electric brake as previously described, and forms a very
convenient unit, and a most efficient drive for the winch.
Fig. 1 represents partly in section the motor electromagnetic
brake, the automatic brake, reducing gear, and winding
drum mounted concentrically on the same shaft; fig. 2
represents a section on the line 1—1 of fig. 1; fig. 3 repre-
sents a section on the line 2—2 of fig. 1; fig. 4 represents

a section on the line 3—3. As long as the load is being
lowered at a speed corresponding to that of the motor shaft,
then the brake not acting is allowed to slip, but as soon as
the speed of the load exceeds the speed of the motor shaft,
then the brake is brought into play, and thus tends to
maintain the speed of the lowering equal to that of the motor



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shaft, and thus the speed of the drum may be automatically
secured, as then none of the forces applied with the load hook
can act upon or affect the speed of the motor in lowering,
while every variation of the motor speed instantly reacts
upon the load. (Eight claims.)

7377 (1914). Tram to Prevent Coal Dust in Mines. J.
Goodenough, 14, Graig View, Ynysddu, Mon.—Hinged flaps
A of suitable thickness, and strengthened by riveted iron
bands B, are fitted to the straight top edges of any tram.
(See figs. 1 and 2.) Each flap is of such convenient height
as not to reach as low as the wheels when turned down.
Each flap tapers towards the top, and this causes the two
long flaps to form inclined planes when raised up in position.
The two long flaps have the strengthening bands
at each end turned at a convenient- angle C to fit over
the short flaps, thus securing the edges from letting coal

G

dust fall through. (See fig. 1.) The hinges D are of suit-
able size and strength, and are securely riveted. The long
and short flaps are fastened in position by slip catches E.
four in number. (See figs. 3 and 4.) Each slip catch is
fastened to the flap by a rivet K, along which the catch can
be moved forwards or backwards the length of the groove I.
This enables a weighted metal tongue F to be pushed
through the receiving holes G when turning on a pivot H,
the tongue will fall at right angles to the body of the catch.
The flaps can be lowered when required, and hang quite
clear of the wheels. (Two claims.)

28191 (1913). The Extraction or Recovery of Valuable
Products from Clay, and the Employment of such Products
in the Manufacture of Bricks and the like. G. P. Crowden,
of 70, London-road, Peterborough, Northamptonshire.—It
has been found that a fair average sample of clay such as is
found between the levels of 10 and 86 ft. below the surface
in the Peterborough district yields between 3 and 5 galls, of
crude oil per ton when distilled. From the analogy of the
oil-bearing shale it appears at first sight that this clay will
not, therefore, repay the cost of distillation unless its oils
have some very valuable properties for specific purposes.
If, however, the distillation could be carried out so as to
utilise the heat of the brick kiln, while the distillate might
be useful for many purposes, including the provision of fuel
for starting the combustion in the kiln, and the residual
baked clay from the retort might be useful for mixing with
other clay in brickmaking, and so forth, then a valuable
process might result which would enable economies to be
introduced in brickmaking, and might give also valuable
by-products. Such a process forms the subject of the inven-
tion. A convenient construction of the retorts for carrying
out this invention is illustrated in the accompanying draw-
ings, in which fig. 1 shows a section of a retort in the wall
of a kiln, and fig. 2 shows a front of one of the kiln chambers
indicating the position of the retorts therein. The clay or
shale or a mixture thereof is charged into the retorts from
the top, and the ash is raked out periodically through the
doorway h. The distillation may be substantially continuous
as the charges are put in at frequent intervals, and gradually
move down the retort to the bottom, where the ash is raked
out. The retorts may be made of any suitable materials,
either of iron enclosed in fireclay, or even of firebricks alone.
The highest temperature in a brick kiln is generally about
1000 degs. to 1100 degs. Cent., but experiments have shown
that the greater part of the valuable oil and gas is distilled
from the clay at temperatures between black and dull red

heat, so that probably the distillation will be largely com-
pleted in the upper part of each retort. Moreover, the retorts
will never be permitted to reach the temperature of the
highest part of the kiln, as by the frequently repeated charg-
ing from the top and discharging from the bottom, fresh
portions will be constantly becoming exposed to the heatr
and the temperature will be prevented from rising above
what is suitable for the distillation. In experiments with
samples of the resulting crude oil, it has been found that it
boils at temperatures between 56 degs. and 280 degs. Cent.r
and that it has a density a little less than 1’0. In other
experiments made under different temperature conditions r
the actual temperature of distillation being lowTer, an oil
was obtained having a density (specific gravity) greater than
1’0. The oil can, of course, be fractionally distilled, giving
many different oils and gaseous bodies. Uncombined water
may be largely eliminated by permitting the clay to be dried
as far as possible before distilling, or it may be fractionally
separated from the oil after collection thereof. In experi-
ments it was found that the oil, w’hen left to stand, largely
separated in a layer above the ammoniacal liquor. The oil
is highly carbonised, comparatively heavy, easily inflam-
mable, burning with a luminous flame. The oil distilled,
or the gas, or both, may be used in starting the combustion
in the kiln, so that no imported fuel may be required. The

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oil can be sprayed or poured over the bricks at the starting
end of the kiln and then ignited. The gas which is col-
lected is of good quality, and can be used, for example, for
driving a gas engine for supplying power in connection with
the brickworks, for supplying heat for use in the refining
of the oil and the recovery of ammonia, or for any other
suitable purpose. Apart from its use for heating the kilns
by burning therein at their starting, the oil can be used for
many other purposes. Considerable variation will be found
in the amount of oil and gas obtained from clays or brick-
making shales from different districts or from different strata
in the same pit. The clay nearer the surface generally gives
off more gas and less oil, w’hile the lower layers contain a
much larger proportion of oil, and certain of the layers near
the same depth may contain much more oil than others.
Usually the clay from such layers might be selected for dis-
tillation. It may be desirable in some .cases, in order to*
obtain better or different products, to mix with the clay
which is charged into the retorts other materials, such as
small coal, peat, wood, or shales, for example, from the
bands of oil-bearing shales in the Kimmeridge clay, and
these can be mixed with the clay in the retorts, whereby
their products are efficiently utilised. (Four claims.)

27255 (1913). Improvements in Centrifugal Pumps. E.
N. Mackley, of 55, Wingrove-road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
—Relates to centrifugal pumps of the kind having a fixed
outer casing, usually of cast iron, fitted with a liner which
constitutes the volute-shaped guide passage surrounding the
impeller or wheel. The invention has for its object to pro-
vide an improved construction of liner, which can be readily
removed from the outer casing through the usual door or
end cover. According to the invention, the liner is made



in one piece, and provided with a projecting ring, projec-
tions or the like on each side which engages or engage
corresponding rings, turned spigots, flanges, grooves,
recesses, or the like on or in the interior of the outer casing
of the pump, and the usual door of end cover thereof, the
arrangement being such that, when said door or end cover
is removed, the liner can be lifted bodily out from the outer
casing as one integral part in an axial direction relatively
to the axis of the impeller. Fig. 1 is a section of a centri-
fugal pump embodying the invention; and figs. 2 and 3 are
sections at right angles to each other of a liner in accordance
therewith. (Five claims.)

29402 (1913). Improvements in and Relating to Centri-
fugal Compressors. The British Thomson-Houston Company
Limited, of 83, Cannon-street. London, E.C. (A communi-
cation from the General Electric Company, of Schenectady,
New York, U.S.A.)—Relates to centrifugal air compressors
of that type in which a rapidly rotating impeller throws the
air through curved or tangential passages in a stationary dif-
fusing ring surrounding said impeller. The action of these
passages is to convert the velocity of the air into pressure,
and when properly designed such machines may. as in the
present case, operate on what is known as a rising charac-
teristic. This means that the pressure does not remain con-