798 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. October 15, 1915. pressure to temperatures which, according to circumstances, vary between 160 and 300 degs. Cent. For instance, in experiments with a crude peat with 17 per cent, dry sub- stance and 1-27 per cent, nitrogen in the dry substance, the following quantities (in per cent.) of the total nitrogen were obtained as ammonia :— At 200° At 220° At 240° At 260° Cent. Cent. Cent. Cent. Per c. Per c. Per c. Per c. Without addition of acid 9’1 ... 7’8 ... 19’5 ... 17’8 Without addition of HC1 to the extent of 0'93 per cent, of the weight of wet peat............... 30’5 ... 53’8 ... 51’9 ... 56’7 With 16-4 per cent, sulphurous acid, added as 2-55 normal solution, on heating to 260 degs. Cent., 80-7 per cent, of the whole quantity of nitrogen were converted into ammonia. With 2-5 per cent. “ kainite ” at 240degs. Cent., 50-3 per cent, were converted into ammonia. The heating can be carried out in pressure vessels or in tubular systems, like in the Ekenberg process. The ammonia liquid formed is pressed off from the peat, which is then washed, and can be treated alone for fuel. The liquid pressed off is distilled with lime (or some other base) in column apparatus, and the ammonia distilled off is collected as ammonia water or in acids (such as sulphuric acid or nitric acid). In some cases it may also be preferable to use slightly dried peat and a large quantity of acid, which is then repeatedly utilised for the treatment of fresh quantities of peat, only a portion of water being then evaporated between successive operations. (Two claims.) 19882 (1914). An Improved Electric Cable. C. J. Beaver, of Rangemoor, Crescent-road, Hale, Cheshire; and E. A. Claremont, of Broom Cottage, High Leigh, Cheshire. —The invention is applicable to electric cables containing one or more insulated conductors where the insulation adjoining the conductor or conductors consists of tapes or strips of paper or woven fabric impregnated with insulating compound. The object is to minimise the effect of spaces or crevices between the dielectric and the main conductors or any other metallic conductor. The first layer of the paper or fabric forming the insulating material which is to be adjacent to the main con- ductor or conductors on the surface in contact with the con- ductors and preferably also that which is to be adjacent to any other metallic conductor (such as the outside sheathing) is coated with a conducting substance, such as metal powder, foil, or the like. This obviates the effects referred to due to any imperfect or irregular contact of the main conductor or any other metal conductor with the dielectric, by ensuring that all points of the inner surfaces of the dielectric shall be of the same potential as the main conductor, and that all points of any surface of the insulation which may be so treated in contact with any other metal conductor are of the same potential as such other metal conductor. (One claim.) NEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Applications for Patents. 14016. Signalling mechanism for mines. W. Mack. 14021 and 14022. Process of and apparatus for washing and treating coal. C. Burnett. 14025. Railway wagon couplings, specially applicable to colliery wagons. S. C. H. Blandford. 14026. Electro-magnetically operated clutches,’ particularly applicable to reversing gear for reciprocating machines. Lancashire Dynamo and Motor Com- pany Limited, and W. Hargreaves. 14045. Bearings in rolling mills. W. H. Lott. 14051 and 14052. Blades or vanes for steam turbines. K. Baumann. 14053. Steam turbines. K. Baumann. 14055. Manufacture of ammonia. A. Classen. 14142. Process of and manufacture of coal gas. A. Waddell. 14143. Gas retorts. A. Waddell. 14147. Process of hardening metals. B. Hocken. 14152. Elimination of sulphur compounds from benzole. J. A. Wilson. 14166. Nozzle of oblique cross section for steam turbines. Vereinigte Dampfturbinen G. m.b. H. 14181. Safety appliances for hoists and the like. R. Wilson, K. Lonsdale, and J. C. Winslade. 14191. Receptacle for containing coal, corn, and the like. W. Belling and R. Belling. 14193. Signalling appliances for collieries and the like. J. Neil. 14205. Cupolas and other shaft furnaces. J. A. Parsons. 14215. Melting iron, steel, and other substances not easily reduced to the molten condition. F. G. C. Rincker. 14221. Friction tubes for use in firing explosives and the like. J. F. Buckingham. 14231. Process of separating and removing all the tin from tinned iron scrap. P. Marino. 14249. Mechanical appliances for loading and unloading coal, stone, sand, or the like. T. Thomas. 14268. Pneumatic power hammers, rock-drills, or other per- cussive tools of like kind. C. G. Fletcher and A. McDougall. 14273. Process for the electrolysis and treatment of sulphate liquors. E. J. Hunt and W. T. Gidden. 14305. Autographic recording testing machines. Sami. Denison and Son Limited, G. H. Denison, and S. C. Brown. 14317. Mining or boring appliances for military and indus- trial purposes. J. F. Balfour. 14318. Nitrated aromatic hydrocarbons. R. A. Craig, R. Robertson, and W. H. Gibson. 14322. Steam turbines. K. Baumann. Complete Specifications Accepted. (To be published on October 28.) 1914. 5876. Re-heating furnaces. Eick worth und Sturm Ges. 15892. Low temperature distillation of coal and apparatus therefor. Lamplough. 20353. Apparatus for distilling derivatives of petroleum, tar, and the like under vacuum. Neumann. 20457. Destructive distillation of coal and other carbonaceous substances. Wellington. 20644. Apparatus or boiler for the generation of steam. Scarlett, Bell, and British Still Tube Company. 20676. Steam superheaters for marine and other fire tube boilers. Robinson. 20977. Process for the manufacture of condensation products. Pollak, 21671. Apparatus for use in straightening or bending rails, girders or the like. Karnet. 21771. Drilling and boring apparatus. Bambridge. 23105. Mine signalling apparatus. Chambers. 23132. Breathing bags. Davis. 1915.- 990. Method and apparatus for superheating compressed air for driving a gas turbine. Marks. (Maschi- nenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg Akt.-Ges.) 1331. Rotary disintegrating, pulverising, or mixing appa- ratus. Spensley. 1484. Rock drilling machines. Stephens. (Carthew.) 1921. Cutter bars and operating gear of cutting machines, particularly adapted for use in mining coal and the like. Mavor and Coulson Limited, and Moore. 2209. Automatic weighing machinery for use in unloading and loading of ships. Gudgeon. 2469. Grading or screening materials. Duckham. 3902. Struts or columns for bogies for railway and like vehicles. Leeds Forge Company, and Sharp. 4820. Dielectric composition. Sharp. 8183. Carbonising fuels. Duckham. Complete Specifications Open to Public Inspection Before Acceptance. 1915. 12810. Controllers for electric motors. Dey. 13546. Method of disintegrating and loading hard pitch or the like material. Carl Still (firm of.) GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. *** Any of the following publications may be obtained on application at this office at the price named post free. Consular and Trade Reports, 1914 : China, Hangchow, 2d.; Shasi, 2d.; Shanghai, 2d.; Dominican Republic Trade, 3d.; Chile, Antofagasta and Atacama, ljd.; Bechuanaland Pro- tectorate, 1914-15, l|d. Great Eastern Railway Act, 3s. lid. Trade and Navigation Accounts for September, 1915, Is. lOd. Boiler Explosion Report : (No. 2357) Two Cylinder Sizing Machine at Bradford, 2|d. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries Regulations for Grants in Aid of Agricultural Education and Research, 1916-17, 2d. Finance Bill, No. 3, 1915, 5d. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. The Elements of Surveying and Geodesy. By W. C. Popplewell. London : Longmans, Green and Company. Price 7s. 6d. net. A Primer on Explosives for Metal Miners and Quarry- men. By C. E. Munroe and 0. Hall. (Bulletin 80 of the United States Bureau of Mines). The Pleistocene of Indiana and Michigan, and the History of the Great Lakes (U.S. Geological Survey Monographs, No. 53). By F. Leverett and F. B. Taylor. Washington : Government Printing Office. 1 Permissible Explosion-Proof Electric Motors for Mines : Conditions and Requirements for Test and Approval (Technical Paper 101, U.S. Bureau of Mines). By H. H. Clark. “ Annual Report of the Department of Public Works of the Province of Alberta, 1914 ”; “ The Condensation of Gaso- line from Natural Gas,” by G. A. Burrell, F. M. Seibert, and C. G. Oberfell (Bulletin 88, U.S. Bureau of Mines); ‘‘ United States Geological Survey Publications ” :— (Bulletin 587), “ Geology and Mineral Resources of Kenai Peninsula, Alaska,” by G. C. Martin, B. L. Johnson, and U. S. Grant; (Bulletin 544), “ Fauna of the Wewoka For- mation of Oklahoma,” by G. H. Girty; (Bulletin 566), ‘‘ Results of Spirit Levelling in Utah, 1897 to 1914,” by R. B. Marshall; (Bulletin 569), ‘‘Ditto in Iowa, 1896 to 1913,” by R. B. Marshall; (Bulletin 601), “ Geology and Mineral Deposits of the National Mining District, Nevada,” by W. Lindgreen; (Bulletin 612), ‘‘Guidebook of the Western United States : Part B — The Overland Route, with a Side Trip to Yellowstone Park,” by W. T. Lee, R. W. Stone, Hoyt S. Gale, and others; ‘‘Mineral Resources of the United States, 1914—(Part 1, No. 1) : The Production of Chromic Iron Ore in 1914,” by J. S. Diller; “ Ditto (Part 1, No. 2) : The Recovery of Secondary Metals in 1914,” by J. P. Dunlop; “ Ditto (Part 2, No. 2) : Potash Salts, 1914,” by W. C. Phalen; ‘‘Ditto (Part 2, No. 3) : The Production of Fullers’ Earth in 1914,” by J. Middleton; ‘‘Ditto (Part 2, No. 4): The Production of Phosphate Rock in 1914,” by W. C. Phalen; ‘‘Ditto (Part 2, No. 5) : Fuel Briquetting in 1914,” by E. W. Parker; ‘‘Ditto (Part 2, No. 6): The Production of Barytes in 1914, with a Note on Strontium Ore and Salts,” by j. M. Hill; “ Ditto (Part 2, No. 7) : The Production of Mica in 1914,” by D. B. Sterritt; “ Monthly Statement of Coal Mine Fatalities in the United States, March 1915,” by A. H. Fay (U.S. Bureau of Mines); ‘‘The Vapour Pres- sure of Arsenic Trioxide,” by H. V. Welsh and L. H. Duschak (Technical Paper 81, U.S. Bureau of Mines); “ The Radium Uranium Ratio in Carnotites,” by S. C. Lind and C. F. Whittemore (Technical Paper 88); ‘‘ Metallurgical Treatment of the Low-Grade and Complex Ores of Utah,” by D. A. Lyon, R. H. Bradford, S. S. Arenty, O. C. Ralston, and C. L. Larson (Technical Paper 90); ‘‘Eocene Glacial Deposits in South-Western Colorado,” by W. W. Atwood (Professional Paper 95—B); “ Relation of the Cretaceous Formations of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and New Mexico,” by W. T. Lee (Professional Paper 95—C); ‘‘Revision of the Tertiary Molluscs of New Zealand Based on Type Material— Part 2,” by H. Suter (Palasontological Bulletin 3 of the New Zealand Geological Survey, Department of Mines); “ Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engi- neers,” October; ‘‘Journal of the Western Society of Engineers” (Vol. 20, No. 4), April, price 50c.; ‘‘The Engineering Magazine,” October, price Is.; “ Annual Report, 1912, with Accompanying Papers of the Iowa Geological Survey ” (Vol. 23), by G. F. Kay and J. H. Lees: ‘‘The Journal of the South African Institution of Engineers ” (Vol. 14, No. 2), September, price 2s.: “ The American Mining Congress Journal ” (Vol. 1, No. 9), September, price 20c.: ‘‘Cassier’s Magazine” (Vol. 48, No. 4), October, price Is.; ‘‘ The Beama Journal ” (Vol. 1, No. 4), October, price Is. CATALOGUES AND PRICE LISTS RECEIVED. The Sullivan Machinery Company (Chicago) forward Bulletin No. 72, illustrating a new drill sharpener for making drill bits and shanks by hammering, thus embodying an effort to duplicate mechanically the processes employed in making drill bits by hand. The sharpener consists of a compact frame, on which are mounted (1) a vise or clamp, holding dies in which the steel is gripped while the bit or shank is being upset; (2) an upsetting hammer cylinder, placed horizontally; and (3) a swaging or forming hammer, set vertically. The upsetting hammer does its work by blows upon dollies of suitable form, which give the steel proper shape and gauge, while the swaging hammer operates the upper of a pair of steel dies, the lower being keyed to the anvil or base. The Sullivan sharpener, which may be used to form cutter bits, picks, coupling pins, bolt heads, etc., is operated by com- pressed air. Messrs. Donovan and Company (47, Corn wall-street, Birmingham) forward a pamphlet dealing with their system of patent “ Safuses.” In these fuses, not only are all live parts protected when the fuse bridge is in position, but all live parts are equally protected if all fuse bridges are out. This is secured by the blades attached to the bridge being made to pass through narrow slots into the base; the fuse wire passes through a stout asbestos tube, which can be easily and rapidly replaced if burnt owing to repeated blowing of the fuse wire. An excellent method is adopted to ensure a good connection between the base clip and the terminal block. The main lugs and busbars are covered with a shield, the former being placed at the side so as to enable them to be removed without disturbing the interior of the switchboards. The fuses are made in five different sizes. The same firm send us a new price list of various electrical accessories for use in mines and factories. A handsome booklet dealing with the heating and venti- lating of factories has been issued by Messrs. Davidson and Company Limited (Sirocco Engineering Works, Belfast). The general principles governing the choice of system are briefly referred to, and a description given of “ Sirocco ” apparatus used for this purpose in factories, machine shops, workrooms, and buildings of a similar character. For this purpose Messrs. Davidson supply various heaters — of the high- and low-pressure steam and direct-fired air types—each being used in conjunction with a centrifugal fan of the well- known “ Sirocco ” type. A description is also given of the “ Sirocco ” air washer, already illustrated in our columns, and some independent steam heating arrangements are described. In conclusion, some typical installations are fully dealt with. Employers of labour can profitably scan this interesting little brochure, for the subject of which it treats is of vital impor- tance in these times of stress. The Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company send us their Bulletin No. 216, covering their ‘‘Hummer” self-rotating type hammer drills, which are made in three sizes, suitable for drilling 6, 8, and 12 ft. holes respectively. Among the important features which the manufacturers have incorporated in their drill is that of the rotation of the steel being entirely independent of the hammer piston, eliminating the use of ratchet or pawl parts, which is the common means used in other drills. Another feature is the valve, which consists of a standard commercial hardened steel ball, ordinarily used for ball bearings. It is f in. in diameter, and weighs a trifle over 1 oz. The same firm have issued a booklet describing their new Simplate flat disc valve. Its chief advantages are that it is simple; that its plates are independent in action, one of another; that the tension of the springs on the inlet and discharge valves differs according to the density of the air handled; and, lastly, that it is applicable to all positions and conditions. The Mobilisation of French Miners.—An instruction has been issued to military authorities, to prefects, and mine managers, with regard to the application of Article 6 of the Law of August 17, 1915, to coal mines. It is therein laid down that men who are eligible for military service who can prove that they have carried on their occupation of miners for not less than six months may be passed over. Men now engaged in mines, even if they do not satisfy these require- ments, may continue to work in mines with the approval of a commission appointed for each colliery, representative of the employers and workmen, and presided over by a Government official. One of the two representatives of the workmen will be the miners’ delegate, and the other will be selected by the prefect. With regard to miners formerly engaged at collieries now in the occupation of the enemy, the decision will rest with the Minister of Public Works. The results will be communicated to the general commanding the district. Exports and Imports of Mining Machinery.—Imports and exports of mining machinery during September were as follow :— September. Jan.-Sept. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915? Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Imports Ill . 107 . .. 1,230 .. 872 Exports 1,989 . .. 1,368 . .. 17,115 .. .. 12,958 The value of the imported mining machinery in September was £10,042, as compared with £8,530, and, in the nine months, £68,248, as compared with £82,782. These figures are not inclusive of prime movers or electrical machinery. According to destination, the value of exports was as under :— September. Jan.-Sept. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. To- £ £ £ £ Countries in Europe 4,614... 5,797.. . 854,070... 98,398 United States of America 31 921... 39 Countries in S. America 3,500... 2,546.” . 42,365... 23,970 British South Africa 3,175... 4,266.. . 34,627... 34,153 ,, East Indies 2,575... 1,302.. . 32,547 22,285 Australia 1,101... 1,536.. . 27,940... 18,298 New Zealand 1,151... 486.. 8,259... 4,935 Other countries 1,714... 2,275.. 84,781... 30,213 Total 17,861... 18,208.. .1,085,510...232,291 The following shows the values of prime movers other than electrical :— September. Jan.-Sept. 1914. 1915. 1914. 1915. £ £ £ £ Rail locomotives .........287,918...290,900 ..2,929,502...2,079,121 Pumping ................. 42,602... 48,059 377,900 .. 366,313 Winding .................. 2,110... 256... 25,654 .. 12,292