282

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

February 11, 1916.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

1188 (1915). A Method for Removing Pit Props or Sup-
ports in Mines and Apparatus therefor. F. Sommer, of
Viehoferstrasse 69, Essen-Buhr, Germany. — Belates to
improved means for easily and safely removing pit props or
pit supports at a distance. Said pit props or support, instead
of being removed by breaking loose, /digging out, or cutting
off, are loosened by turning them by means of a lever secured
or affixed to the support, with or without a special auxiliary
device for pulling. Fig. 1 is a plan of one form of the
arrangement for removing a pit prop; fig. 2 is a side eleva-
tion of a pit prop as shown in fig. 1; and fig. 3 is a side
elevation of a pit prop with another form of the invention.
The prop a (figs. 1 and 2) has secured to its upper part a
clamping band c of two sections, connected by means of
bolts d and e, one section being integral with .a lever b. The
free end of lever, b may be hook-shaped, and connected with
the free end of the chain of a self-stopping chain tackle block
device g, i.e., one embodying a ratchet and pawl mechanism
in connection with one of the pulleys, so that said pulley can
only rotate in one direction. The tackle block device may be
secured to another pit prop f, and, if desired, the necessary
pull may be applied to the chain by a lever h pivoted to, or in
any other suitable manner, mounted upon, one of the blocks



e
wn’



c

of the device g, in order to increase the tensive force. By
drawing together the pulley blocks the pit prop a is turned
by means of the lever b, the prop not being revolved on its
own axis, but on its outer edge i lying opposite to the lever b,
whereby the prop is wrenched off under its point of support
and released without shaking or otherwise influencing the
end of the transverse -beam .being set free. In the form shown
in fig. 3, a chain k, secured at its lower end to the ground,
or other fixture, is wound round about said prop, and fastened
at its upper end to the end of the lever I. The chain tackle
block g may engage the free end of the lever I in a similar
manner to that shown in fig. 1. When the pit prop is not
holding too firmly, the lever I may be omitted, and the prop
loosened by turning only by means of the chain. In this
case the diameter of the prop from its outer edge i to the point
at which the chain, or rope, acts, is acting as a natural fixed
lever arm, which, if desired, may be increased by placing a
wooden block or the like under the chain at the said point, so
that it is held between the chain and the prop, and enables a
greater leverage to be obtained. The loosened pit prop may
be employed again. (Four claims.)

4158 (1915). Improvements in Water Tube Boilers. M.
Gorfinkel, 24, Gooliarn ala-street, Petrograd, Russia.—
Belates to boilers of the water tube type with boiling tubes
inclined as in marine water tube boilers, and consists of the
following principal parts :—(a) Two lower water and one
upper steam water cylindrical collectors; (5) iron partitions
dividing the collectors into two compartments, i.e., front and
rear ones; (c) a system of boiling tubes of special shape

cTi-Oj %

and arrangement, surrounded by gases;- (d) several wider
water tubes of reverse circulation, set in brickwork; (e) a
steam superheater; (/) a feed water heater of special con-
struction, placed in the last smoke flue of the boiler. Fig. 1
represents a vertical longitudinal section of the boiler with
its brick masonry, the section being taken along the line
A—B in fig. 2; fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the boiler,
the right half of the figure being taken along the line C—D,
and the left half along the line E—F in fig. 1. The
peculiarities of the construction of the boiler are as follows :
(a) The boiler is divided by a cross-section brick wall 1 into
two compartments 2 and 3. ‘The development of the process
of combustion and the formation of the gases takes place in
the front compartment 2, containing the fire box; while the

rear compartment contains a feed water heater 18 at the end
of the travel of the exhaust gases, said heater being con-
nected with the aid of an exterior pipe line, with a feed
valve 4. The whole heater is arranged inside the boiler
before the exit of the gases into the flue within the limits
of the same brickwork, without loss of room outside or inside
the boiler, and the gases escaping from the boiler enter into
the heater without loss of heat. The wall 1 has openings
5 and 6 (fig. 2), serving for the passage of the gases from the
front compartment into the rear one. The openings 5 lead the
gases through the superheater, if the smoke dampers 7 are
adjusted normally, as shown in fig. 2 in ordinary lines, but
the openings 6 lead the gas past the superheater when the
damper 7 is moved into the position shown in dotted lines.
Partial superheating of steam, regulated in the degree
desired, is attained by intermediate positions of the damper.
(5) For forming the smoke flues and directing the smoke, and
also for convenience in withdrawing, inserting, and expand-
ing the boiling tubes the latter are suitably shaped, being
classified into the following categories :—The first category
are the end rows of tubes of peculiar bottle-shape form,
characterised by the fact that a part of the tube has an
increased diameter, and the other part and end of the first
have a normal diameter; the ends of the tubes are
slightly bent out for normal expansion in the walls
of the collector. The sections of these tubes of normal
diameter form the usual openings for the passage
of the gases, while the widened sections of the tubes, owing
to their coming in direct contact with one another form a
solid water partition. In the front compartment of the
boiler, the tubes of the first category are turned from the
side of the centre of the boiler (fire box space) with the
widened sections downwards and the normal ones upwards
and on the side of the superheaters—with the normal sections
downwards and the widened ones upwards. In the rear
compartment of the boiler, the order of arrangement of
these tubes is reversed. Owing to the described arrangement
of the tubes of the first category, the gases both in the front
and rear compartments obtain a descending direction, i.e.,
reverse in relation to the circulation of the water, which on
heating in the boiling tubes naturally travels upwards.
(Four claims.)

10354 (1915). Improvements in the Ignition Apparatus
of Gas Engines.—W. Climie, Jun., care of Millar, Glenone,
Port-Glenone, near Belfast; and W. Lees, of 35, McAlpine-
street, Glasgow.—Has reference to improvements in the igni-
tion apparatus of gas engines, and comprises fittings adapted
to suit various forms of sparking plugs, and can either be
arranged as a low-tension or as a high-tension sparking plug.
It consists in the construction and arrangement of the insu-
lators of the insulated electrode of ignition apparatus so that
the installation will not short circuit with damp, and the plug
can be either used as a low-tension or as a high-tension
sparking plug by simply changing the return or uninsulated
electrode from one* form to another. The ventilation of the
space surrounding the electrode is obtained by forming grooves
or passages in the outer insulator, while the internal diameter
of the insulators, which are of sleeve formation, is substan-
tially greater than the diameter of the electrode, which passes
through same, so that a small clearance space is left between
the insulator and the electrode. The insulated and the return
uninsulated electrodes are both formed with flat or broad ends
dr “ heads,” so that in low-tension sparking plugs the face
of contact is a comparatively broad surface. In high-tension
sparking plugs the return electrode is curved backwards in a
“ hook ” or U ” shape, so that the broad ends are in axial

line with each other. The ends of the heads of the electrodes
are formed with a recess so as to prevent the collection of
moisture. Fig. 1 is an end or face view of a low-tension
sparking plug; fig. 2 is a part sectional elevation on the line
2—2 of fig. 1; fig. 3 is a- similar view, but illustrates a high-
tension sparking plug; fig. 4 is a sectional view of one of the
washers which take up the expansion of the insulators ; fig. 5
is a sectional view on the line 5—5 of fig. 4. Two insulators,
1, la, and 2, 2a, of porcelain, etc., on the insulated electrode

3,	on the plug body 4, are formed with a step 6, so that the
portions la and 2a are of smaller diameter than the other
portions 2 and 2a. The internal diameter of the insulators 1
and 2 is greater than that of the electrode 3, so that a clear-
ance 24 is left between 1 and 2 and the electrode 3. The
external diameter of la is.smaller than that of the passage 25
of the plug body 4, in which it is placed. The insulators are
arranged on the electrode 3 so that la and 2a project into the
passage 25; while 1 and 2 are on each side of the plug body

4,	i.e., 2 is inside the cylinder, while the other 1 is outside
same. Washers 5 are arranged between the shoulder 6 of the
insulators 1 and 2 and the faces of the plug body 4, and a
washer 7 is also arranged between the end of the insulator 2
and a shoulder 8 on the electrode 3. The washers 5 and 7
(figs. 4 and 5) preferably consist of a channel-shaped ring 9,
having asbestos 10 placed in the channel, and allow for the
expansion of the porcelain insulators 1 and 2. A spring
washer 11 is arranged on the electrode 3 between the end of
the insulator 1, and jam nuts 12 screwing on the end of the
electrode 3, so as to firmly secure the electrode in position. A
terminal connection for induction current from magneto is
arranged at the end 13 of the electrode 3. Ventilating

blower. The

grooves or passages 14 are formed in the insulator 1 so as to
allow of expansion of air and dampness in the interior 25
of the plug 4. The return electrode 15 and the electrode 3
are both formed with flat or broad ends or “ heads ” 16, so
that the point of contact of the electrodes is a broad surface.
The striker lever 17 and the spring plunger 18 are arranged
on the return electrode 15 much in the usual manner. In
high-tension sparking plugs (fig. 3) the return electrode 15,
which is curved backwards as a hook or “ U,” is fitted with a
screwed sleeve 19, so that the gap 20 between the ends of the
electrodes 3 and 15, which are in axial line, may be regu-
lated to suit currents of different strength. A spring washer
21 and jam nuts 22 are arranged on the end of the electrode 15.
The ends of the electrodes are formed with a recess 23 so as
to prevent the collection of moisture. The sparking plug can
be changed from low tension to high tension by simply
removing the electrode 15 (fig. 2), and substituting the elec-
trode 15 (fig. 3). (Five claims.)

15231 (1915). Improvements in Rotary Blowers or Pumps.
Siemens-Schuckertwerke, G.m.b.H., Siemensstadt, near
Berlin.—Befers to rotary blowers or pumps of the kind in
which a vane wheel, mounted eccentrically in a drum or
casing, co-operates with a rotary ring of liquid forming a
fluid layer or liner around the interior of such drum, and
is chiefly intended to provide improved means for replenish-
ing the losses of water or other liquid which occur in the
working of such pumps, chiefly through such liquid being
carried away in the discharge or exhaust from the pump or
blower. The replenishing water or liquid
is caused to enter by an auxiliary port
or opening which is situated sufficiently
in advance of the main opening that at
least one vane will always be interposed
between them. In this way less agitation
is set up than when the supply water
meets or mingles with the rush of incom-
ing air or gas, and a more efficient action
is obtained with a smaller supply of such
replenishing water. Fig. 1 is a transverse
section of a blower; fig. 2 is an internal
view of the cover of a modified arrange-
ment. In the examples, a and b are
respectively the main exhaust and dis-
charge pipe; c and d are respectively the
ordinary inlet pipe and suction opening;
whilst i i represent the radial vanes of the

auxiliary .inlet for the replenishing water is indicated at m.
This water is introduced through a pipe k, which opens at
m into the compression or bucket space h. The opening m
is in proximity to the fluid ring e. The replenishing fluid
has usually been taken from the sealing liquid of the axle
stuffing box by means, for example, of the passage f
(dotted lines in fig. 1). If it be desired to use the packing
fluid of the axle stuffing box in the present case, as replen-
ishing liquid, this liquid can be led to the auxiliary opening
m through a separate pipe or passage f1 (fig. 2). The
auxiliary opening h is sufficiently far from the main inlet
or suction opening d to permit of at least one of the vanes
i being always interposed between them. (Three claims.)

22871 (1914). Improvements in Regulating Devices for
Mixed-Pressure Turbo-compressors. The Warwick Machinery
Company (1908) Limited, of 83, Cannon-street, London, E.C.
(A communication from the General Electric Company, of
Schenectady, New York, U.S.A.) — Belates to regulating
mechanism for mixed-pressure turbine-driven air compressors
of the kind in which both the high- and low-pressure valves
of the turbine are operated in accordance with the pressure or
delivery of the compressor, and are also subjected to a speed
governor to prevent abnormal speeds under emergency condi-
tions. The regulating mechanism is provided with means
for maintaining constant pressure at an intermediate stage of
the turbine. When a turbine is being run as an extraction
turbine, it is desirable for constant pressure to be maintained
at this stage, and a sylphon diaphragm or other device respon-
sive to the pressure is therefore provided in the intermediate
stage acting upon the low-pressure valve operating means. To
enable change from operation on high-pressure steam to opera-
tion on low-pressure steam, or to an intermediate condition of
mixed-pressure operation, there is a hand device for adjusting
the relative positions of the high-pressure and low-pressure
valves, so as to vary the ratio of the areas of their respective
nozzle openings, and thus permit the steam to flow in such
a manner as to maintain a constant pressure in the stage to
be regulated. This gives a greater range of regulation, and
by moving the hand lever to its extreme positions the turbine
can be changed from purely high-pressure to purely low-
pressure conditions. The intermediate positions of the lever
cause the machine to operate under mixed-pressure conditions.
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the regulating device; and
fig. 2 is a side elevation of the turbo-compressor set. The set
comprises a steam turbine 1, and a centrifugal air compressor
2, the rotating elements being mounted on a common shaft 3,
to which is suitably geared a speed responsive device 4. The
compressor has an intake 5 and a delivery pipe 6. The intake

So
ft /a

ip 37

has an enlarged frusto-conical portion 7, in which is located
a volume governor 8, floating on the inflowing column of air.
The movement of this disc governs the admission of steam
to the turbine, and so varies its speed that a constant volume
of air will be delivered by the compressor under varying con-
ditions of service. The speed governor 4 also controls the
turbine, which is of the multi-stage type, comprising a high-
pressure wheel 9 receiving steam from nozzles 10, controlled
by a valve 11, and a low-pressure wheel 12 receiving steam
from nozzles 13, controlled by a valve 14. The valves 11 and
14 are preferably actuated by hydraulic motors, comprising