46

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

January 1, 1915.

to enable the signalling to be carried out in the manner
indicated. By the means referred to, a visible signal is
given to the engineman on the voltmeter before the pit
bottom man or onsetter actually gives the signal by pressing
the push button. In this way the engineman is aware of
what signal to expect, and can count the number as he
receives it, and if it agrees with the number on the dial of
the indicator, he carries out the instructions which the
signal indicates. As a further feature of the invention, one
or more lamps may be arranged to be lit to draw the engine-
man’s attention more quickly to the fact that a signal is
about to be transmitted, than is the case when the volt-
meter signal only is employed. To provide for such a
lighted signal in addition to the voltmeter indicator, a relay
may be arranged in circuit with the latter. This relay
would cause a lamp or lamps to light, and so draw the
engineman’s attention more quickly than by the voltmeter
indicator alone. When the radial arm previously referred to
is returned to zero, the relay armature would return to
“ off ” position, and the lamp or lamps would go out until
another signal was required to be transmitted. The relay
would be fitted near to the bell indicator hereinbefore
referred to, either in series or parallel, and the local lamp
current would be taken from the bell or lighting mains. In
a modified form of the device, a “ right away ” and “ light ”
signal is provided, which comprises another push button
device j, arranged in close proximity to the first one. This
is adapted to excite the magnets k, and pull a pivoted arma-
ture m towards them. The free end of the armature is held
against the magnets by its lower end passing behind a
pivoted catch n, and closes a local circuit worked by an
accumulator o, a lamp p in the circuit being thereby lighted.
This lamp is arranged behind a green or other coloured
glass painted “ right away.” (Four claims.)

CAPTURING ENEMY PATENTS.

The following list of British Patents which have been
granted in favour of residents of Germany, Austria, or
Hungary, is furnished in view of the new Patents Acts,
which empower the Board of Trade to confer upon British
subjects the right to manufacture under enemy patents, and
is specially compiled for the Colliery Guardian by Lewis Wm.
Goold, Chartered Patent Agent, 5, Corporation-street,
Birmingham. It is desirable in the first instance to obtain
the latest particulars upon the Register of Patents. If any
patent listed has been assigned to a non-enemy proprietor,
the law does not apply.

23894/11. Loading, etc.; apparatus for loading and unload-
ing ships. E. Grossmann and S. Neumann,
Berlin.

24015/11. Purifying smoke, etc. C. Flechtner, Germany.
24018/11., Ventilating and cooling. H. Sievers, Germany.
24553/11. Percussive drills. A support for a percussive
drill comprises a lever, one end of which
forms a handle, while the other end acts as a
fulcrum. J. Kubat, Bohemia (dated Feb. 17,
1911).

24806/11. Coke ovens. In a horizontal coke oven, having
vertical heating flues opening at their upper
ends into a common horizontal waste gas flue,
a second horizontal flue is provided, the inlets
to which vary in size according to their dis-
tance from the outlet of the said second
horizontal flue, so that the suction in all the
vertical flues is equalised. The effective size
of each inlet may be fixed, or it may be varied
by a damper. The flame current is reversible.
C. Still, Prussia.

24924/11. Transporting coal carrying skips. Relates to
trolley apparatus for carrying skips between
the supply wagons and the suspension hook ,of
an inclined blastfurnace hoist, and consists, in
providing for this purpose a two-armed jib,
capable of rotation about a vertical axis,.and
of a vertical motion along that axis. J.
Pohlig Akt.-Ges., Germany (dated March 22,
1911).

24928/11. Discharging retorts. Relates to rakes for drawing
coke from gas retorts, of the type in which a
blade is pivotally attached to the bar, the
blade lying parallel to the rod on inserting
the apparatus, and opening on removal, and
consists in providing one or more spurs
attached to the blade. On insertion, the spur
yields upwards, and on withdrawal it pene-
trates the coke, and ensures the opening of
the blade. A. Beuthner, Germany (dated
July 10, 1911).

25960/11. Coke ovens. In a coke oven structure comprising
vertical coking chambers heated by superposed
horizontal flues in the partitions between the
chambers, vertical regenerators are formed in
the walls of the structure adjacent the ends
of the coking chambers. A. Gohmann, Ger-
many.

25976/11. Steam generators; waste tube boilers. F. Krupp
Akt.-Ges., Germaniawerft, Germany.

26678/11. Sifting and conveying ores, coal, etc. Apparatus
for simultaneously conveying and. grading or
screening ores, coal, etc., comprising a longi-
tudinally reciprocated trough. H. Marcus,
Germany.

27093/11. Chimneys. Smoke stack for a locomotive shed,
engine house, etc. H. Clasen, Germany.

27139/11. Furnaces; charging. The charging bucket for a
blastfurnace is supported during filling on
rollers, and is rotated so that the charge is
distributed evenly. J. Pohlig Akt.-Ges.,
Germany.

*** Copies of any of the above specifications can be
supplied at the price of Is. post free.

BELGIAN REFUGEES AND MINING.

The first report of the Committee on the Reception and
Employment of Belgian Refugees contains the following
observations with regard to the mining industry :—

Aid. William House, the vice-president of the Miners’
Federation, stated that there was strong objection to the
employment of Belgian refugees in mines underground,
because their presence would be a source of the greatest
danger. Their view was strongly supported in writing by
Mr. Thomas Ashton, the secretary of the Federation. There
were, however, at least 6,000 vacancies available for surface-
men, and there would be no objection to the employment of
Belgians to fill these vacancies if trade union rates of wages
and conditions were observed, and men who were only accus-
tomed to working underground could readily be made efficient
surface-men.

The committee considered that on a question of such
importance as that of the employment of refugees under-
ground, additional information was desirable, and Sir
Richard Redmayne, H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines, attended
to give evidence on the subject. An official announcement
from the Home Office was subsequently obtained.

Sir Richard Redmayne expressed the view that it would
be highly dangerous to employ underground any workers
who were unable to understand the instructions given by
the officials and the Regulations in force. The employment
of foreigners, unless they possessed adequate knowledge of
the English language, would be dangerous in all mines, and
particularly so in the mines which generate a considerable
quantity of firedamp, or in mines which are dry and dusty.
He further considered that refugees should not be placed in
employment in any coal mine until they had been carefully
scrutinised, and their bona-fides established.

An official intimation of the views of the Home Office was
subsequently conveyed to the committee to the following
effect :—

(1)	That having regard to the general safety, and the
safety of the refugees themselves, it was undesirable‘ that
any Belgians should be employed underground unless they
can understand English, or can be employed under the
direction of officials knowing their language as well as
English.

(2)	That it would be equally undesirable that they should
be employed in certain occupations on the surface, particu-
larly those of engine winders and banksmen, but that in
some occupations, as, for instance, at the screens, in the
workshops, and in stoking, they could be employed without
danger.

(3)	That the mines inspector in charge of the division
should be consulted in regard to any application for the
employment of Belgians at any mine in his division.

(4)	That steps should be taken to prevent any person
being sent for employment at a mine who might be an enemy
alien, or be employed by an enemy alien.

' After consultation with the Labour Exchange Department
and the Home Office, the committee consider that the
following procedure should be adopted :—

(1)	That no steps should be taken by the Labour Exchange
to place Belgians in employment in coal mines, whether
above or below ground, until they have been informed that
the employer has first consulted the divisional inspector and
given an undertaking to comply with the conditions laid
down by the Home Office.

(2)	That instructions should be given to the divisional
inspector to inform all employers who have engaged, or
intend to engage, Belgian miners, that such employment
should not be continued or offered unless the conditions laid
down by the Home Office are complied with.

(3)	That the divisional inspectors should also notify. to
employers who have engaged, or wish to engage, Belgian
miners that in no case should such employment be given
except under special authority to unmarried Belgians of
military age who are physically fit.

Grimsby Coal Exports. —’Returns for the week ending
December 24, 1914, show that the coal exported from
Grimsby totalled 6,981 tons foreign and 780 tons coastwise,
against'11,994 tons foreign for the corresponding period last*
year. Shipments were as follow :—Foreign : To Aalborg,
270; Aarhus, 611; Dieppe, 918; Esbjerg, 669; Gefle, 2,088;
Landscrona, 1,919; and Rotterdam, 506 tons. Coastwise:
To Hayle, 780 tons.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Leeds, January 16.—The Corporation invite tenders for
the supply of the whole or any portion of the steam coal
(small slack, smudge, or similar material) required for the
Electric Lighting Department during the year ending
March 31, 1916. Conditions of contract and forms of
tender may be had on application to Mr. C. Nelson Hefford,
manager, electric lighting department, 1, Whitehall-road,
Leeds. Tenders, in sealed envelopes, endorsed “ Electric
Lighting—Tender for Coal,” must be delivered to me at
Pearl Buildings, Leeds, on or before Saturday, January 16,
1915, at 10 a.m. The Corporation do not bind themselves
to accept the lowest or any of the tenders sent in. Robert
E. Fox, town clerk.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Aldershot, January 5.—About 1,000 tons of pea coal for
the Urban District Council. Forms from the Electrical
Engineer, Electricity Works, Laburnum-road, Aidershot.

Grimsby, January 4.—Steam coal for the Corporation.
Particulars from H. Gilbert Whyatt, borough engineer and
surveyor, 170, Victoria-street, Grimsby.

Selby, January 11.—About 400 tons of best washed nuts
for the Urban District Council. Tenders to Mr. Bruce McG.
Gray, waterworks engineer, Council Offices, Selby.

Teddington, January 4.—For the Urban District Council :
About 800 tons of rough slack. G. H. Salmons^ clerk,
Council Offices, Teddington.

Warrington, January 11. — Good firing slack for the
Sanitary Works Committee. Tenders to Chairman of
Committee, Town Hall, Warrington.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be
received.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, &c.

Christiania (Norway), January 9.—Steel Bars.—About
320 round bars of rolled steel (fluss steel) for the Norwegian
Lighthouse Authorities. Conditions from Fyrvaesenets
Kontor, Christiania.

Leeds, January 22.—Coal Conveying Plant, etc.—For the
Corporation : An electric overhead travelling crane, also coal
and ash conveying plant. Specifications from C. N.
Pefford, 1, Whitehall-road, Leeds, on deposit of two guineas
(returnable).

Llantwit Fardre., January 20.—Mains.—About 4,000
lineal yds. of 3 in. cast iron pipes for the Llantrisant and
Llantwit Fardre Rural District Council. Specification from
G. S. Morgan, 23, Gellswastad-road, Pontypridd, on pay-
ment of two guineas (returnable).

Soham, January 11.—Well.—Sinking a well and borehole,
and also test pumping for water supply, for the Newmarket
Rural District Council. Specification from Messrs. Sands
and Walker, Milton Chambers, Nottingham, on payment of
two guineas (returnable).

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS.

Any of the following publications may be obtained
on application to this office at the price named post free.

Consular and Trade Reports, 1913 : Chile, Iquique, 3d.;
Hong Kong, 3Jd.; Northern Nigeria, 4|d.

Foreign Trade and Commerce, up to December 19, 1914,
4d.

Dominions Royal Commission : Part 2, Evidence Taken
in the Union of South Africa, 2s.; Part 1, ditto, 3s. 5d.

Census Returns, 1911 : County of Warwick, 11 Jd.; York,
3s. 8d.

MINES AND QUARRIES FORMS : Nos. 29 and 31, Id.
each, or 25 for lid.

Boiler Explosion Reports : (No. 2333), At the Cornholme
Bobbin Works, Garston, 4Jd.; (No. 2334), At Witton Brine
Shaft, Northwich, 2Jd.; (No. 2322), At Thorpe Quarry,
Robin Hood, near Wakefield, 5|d.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Surveying and Levelling Instruments. By W. Ford
Stanley. Fourth Edition. London : E. and F. N. Spon
Limited. Price, 7s. 6d.

Commission of Conservation, Canada: Fifth .Annual.
Report, 1914. Toronto : The Bryant Press Limited.

“ Bulletin of the British Chamber of Commerce for Italy,”
December (Vol. 4, No. 4); “Transactions of the.North-
East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders ”
(Vol. 30, Part 6), December, price 5s.; “ The Journal of
the Institute of Metals ” (Vol. 12, No. 2), 1914, price 21s.;
“ Monthly Bulletin of the Canadian Mining Institute ”
(No. 32), December; “ The Prevention of Accidents from
Explosives in Metal Mining,” by E. Higgins (U.S.
Bureau of Mines, Miners’ Circular 19).

The “PROTO” ("“) Rescue Apparatus.

THE ALL-BRITISH APPARATUS

---- IS ----

THE SAFEST APPARATUS IN THE WORLD.

No Injector employed. Always under positive pressure, therefore
no danger of drawing poisonous air into breathing circuit.

Our “BULLETIN” of actual work done in serious cases will be sent free on request
For further testimony as to the efficiency of the “ Proto,” please see Mr. J. R. ALLOTT’S paper
read before the Institution of Mining Engineers on Sth June, 1913—copy sent free on request.

SIEBE, GORMAN & CO. LTD.,

• Telegrams—" Siebe, Lamb, London.”	Telephone No.—251 Hop.

Agent for North America and Mexico-H. N. ELMER, 1140, Monadnoch Block, Chicago.

AGENTS WANTED.

HAMON” PATENT

Cooling Towers

Hamon Bros.,
Belgian Engineers,
94, Rue St. Lazare,
PARIS.