THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. ________________________________________________________________________________ 530 March 17, 1916. Chicago, County of Cook, Illinois, U.S.A.—Has reference to certain improvements in fuel piping arrangements for the burners of coke ovens and the like. In accordance with the invention, the manifolds for supplying gas and air are sup- ported by rollers carried by brackets, which are supported by the oven walls. Another feature has reference to a simplified arrangement of piping, whereby gas and air may be delivered from headers to all of the burners of a bench of ovens with a minimum amount of piping, and with a minimum number of pipes and connections. According to the invention, air and gas headers are provided, which extend along, and are adja- cent to, one side of the bench, and also air and gas manifolds, which are connected with said headers, and extend across the bench in pairs above the space between adjacent walls of consecutive ovens. In accordance with a further feature, the connections between the manifolds and headers include a valve connection extending between the air header and each air manifold, and a valve T-connection extending from the gas header to both of the gas manifolds for each oven. Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the upper portions of three adjacent ovens, showing the piping connection for the supply of both air and gas from overhead bench headers to the burners of the various heating walls; fig. 2 is a cross section on enlarged scale taken on the line 2—2 or fig. 3, looking' in the direction of the arrows, the lower portion of the section being shifted slightly so as to bring the burners into section; fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the top of a bench of ovens, showing the arrangement of piping, certain portions of the piping being broken away so as to better show the piping arrange- ment; fig. 4 is a detail elevation of one of the brackets for supporting the manifolds; and fig. 5 is a detail section taken on the line 5—5 of fig.’ 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. (Four claims.) 10520 (1915). Improvements connected with Elevators. Suisted’s Patent Coal Elevator Limited, and C. Robinson, both-of 40, Billiter-buildings, London, E.C. — Relates to floating elevators of the kind in which a pontoon or two pon- toons placed apart carry a superstructure or framework, upon which is mounted a movable chain of buckets or scoops. It has been proposed to swing the chain of buckets from side to side of the barge and through the arc of a circle in the fore and aft direction, and thus to obviate, or to a large extent reduce, the necessity of sidewardly moving the barge or trimming the coal therein to the buckets. In carrying out the invention, this sideward movement is attained by pivot- ing the frame carrying the chain of buckets, and obtain the movement from stem to stern of the barge by mounting the said bucket frame on a pivot, thus increasing the reach of the buckets, and also permitting adjustment of them in rela- tion to the height of the coal or Other material in the barge. The bucket carrying frame preferably terminates in a down- wardly extending nozzle or shoot, about the lower end of which the pivot for the lengthwise movement of the said frame is positioned. The positioning of this pivot at about the outlet of the said nozzle results in the said outlet being substantially stationary, and thus its relation to the conveyor will vary but little, and will be so placed that the coal or other material falls from the nozzle on to the conveyor such distance as will not be injurious to, or result in the unneces- sary breaking of the coal, or possible jamming of the con- veyor. Fig. 1 is an end view of an elevator, and shows the chain of buckets hanging vertically, and the side conveyor at about the limit of its upward reach; fig. 2 shows a bifur- cated delivery shoot suitable for attachment to the end of the side conveyor. (Seven claims.) 20679 (1914). Improvements in or relating to the Manu- facture of Coal Briquettes. E. R. Sutcliffe, of Guest-street, Leigh, Lancashire; H. J. Phillips, of Royal Colonial Insti- tute, Northumberland-a venue, London; and D. A. Thomas, coal owner, of Llanwern, Monmouth.—Is especially applicable to coal that according to its character is more or less difficult to form into briquettes by compression without a binder. The invention is based upon the discovery that the consolidation These conditions of com- of coal may be effectively accomplished where no binder is used, and where the raw material is not necessarily first heated, if the raw* materal be first reduced to the condition of extreme fineness, or of fine flour, and in that condition sub- jected. to compression to such a high degree that not only is the air removed, and the raw material compacted, but the compacted block is compressed to a volume substantially less than that it occupies when the pressure under which it is produced is reduced or withdrawn. Thus great stresses are imposed upon the block in its production, which render neces- sary that the conditions of compression and discharge shall not involve undue strain of the block or briquette' as other- wise it would be imperfectly consolidated, or cracks or lamina- tions would be formed within it. The compression is there- fore effected under such conditions that the block, on or after compression, may expand, pression may be produced . in various ways, many of which are well known. For example, they may be pro- duced in the employment of a tapered mould, between which and the briquette there may be relative motion, e.g., the block or briquette may be moved in the mould after or during compression, or in the interval between successive compressions, to permit of its lateral expansion in a. larger part of the mould and its dis- charge therefrom, or they may be produced in the use of a divided mould capable on being opened of permitting of the lateral expansion of the block on or after its com- pression, and its release from the mould. A stone-like block or briquette is thus produced that is dense, hard and homo- geneous, and that breaks with a freestone. Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of the mould and plungers of an hydraulic press, in which the process of the invention can be carried out; fig. 2 is a dia- grammatic sectional elevation of the mould and plunger of a press of the hopper and plunger type adapted to carry out the process of the invention; fig. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of the mould and plungers of a press of the hopper and plunger type, in which a number of blocks remain in the mould, so that thus each block is subjected to a number of compressions in its course through the mould; and figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic sectional elevation and plan respec- tively of the mould and plungers of an hydraulic machine, in which the mould is adapted to be opened or released to permit of the lateral expansion of the block according to the process of the invention. (Two claims.) fracture similar to that of ______________________________ HEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE COAL AHD IRON TRADES. Applications for Patents. [Note.—Applications arranged alphabetically under the names of the applicants (communicators given in italics). A new number will be given on acceptance, which will replace the application number.] Baumann, K. (3502). Condensing steam turbine installa- tions. Butterworth, L. (3268). Means for controlling pit boxes when in the cage. Cowin, I. (3623). Hoisting apparatus. Forster, R. P. (3670). Loading and discharging apparatus for coal, ore, etc. Gordon, J. (3393).' Steam superheaters. .Harger, J. (3571). Retort, still, or oven. Kleinschmidt, E. (3558). Introducing and mixing the bind- ing medium in making briquettes of coal, coke, peat, ores, etc. McAndrew,- P. J. and Walker, Hr (3496). Utilisation of peat in connection with fertilisers, explosives, motor spirits, or pulp, or for production of nitrogen or nitrates by manufacture of absorption from the atmosphere. Masters, R. (3423). Gas producers, and furnaces, muffles, etc., connected therewith. Mayes, T. R. (3309). Method or means of tunnelling. Neil, J. (3363 and 3490). Signalling appliances for collieries, etc. Oldham, O. (3410). Miners’ electric safety lamps. Otis Elevator Company (3321). Inclined endless conveyors or elevators. Rickets, .W. J. (3460). Means for the electrical repetition, determination, or distant control of movements, specially applicable to order signalling system, etc. Risk, A. (3541). Hand-operated apparatus for rotating drills, etc. Scanes, A. E. L. (3537). Pumps or compressors. Taylor, J. W. (3670). Loading and discharging apparatus for coal, ore, etc.. Complete Specifications Accepted. (To be published on March 30.) 1914. 24080. Independent vertical double-acting air pumps. Nishioka. 1915. 3523. Electric signalling systems, particularly adaptable to telephony. International Electric Company, Roose, and Le Noir. 3639. Turbines, turbo-compressors, and the like. Emily Owen Willis, legal representative of James Bonelie Willis, deceased. 3642. Apparatus for the automatic withdrawal of condensed steam from steam pipes and the like. Gibson. 3675. Fuel feeding apparatus for furnaces. Niedergesaess. 5450. Explosion pumps. Giailever. 5587. Gas engine. Rogers (Simpson and Simpson). 6228. Circulators for steam boilers. McNab. 8761. Apparatus for effecting the breathing air circulation in breathing devices operating on the regenerative principle. Hanseatische Apparatebau-Ges. vorm. L. von Bremen and Company. 8766. Gas scrubbers. Miles, and Newton, Chambers and Company. 10235. Apparatus for use in fire grates to diminish the con- sumption of coal and for the combustion of coke or slack inside a fire without mixing with coal. Chown. 10370. Centrifugal compressors. British Thomson-Houston Company (General Electric Company). 12037. Superheaters especially applicable to fire tube boilers. Schmidt’sche Heissdampf Ges. 14493. Annular distribution valves for hydraulic motors and pumps. C. Prott Maschinenbauges. ____________________________ GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. *•** Any of the following publications may be obtained on application at this office at the price named post free. Merchant Shipping : Exercise of Consular Powers in British Protectorates, IJd. Statutory Rules and Orders, 1916 : (No. 108) Munitions of War Tribunals, l|d. ; (No. 119) Import Duties Order, February 24, 1916, ljd. War Risks : Insurance by Trustees Bill, Id. Boiler Explosion Reports : (No. 2405) Water Tube Boiler at the New Retorts, Albyn Works, Broxburn, 4|d. ; (No. 2388) At the Bury Ground Works, Bury, Lancashire,- Is. Id. Consular .and Trade Reports, 1914-15 : Trinidad and Tobago, 9d. ; Leeward Islands, 2d.; British Guiana, 3Jd. ________________________ PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. Wiring Rules for Factories and Workshops, with Extracts from the Board of Trade and Home Office Regulations. 7th edition. London : E. and F. N. Spun Limited, for the Institution of Electrical Engineers. Price 6d. “ Proceedings of the Engineers’ Society of • Western Pennsylvania ” (Vol. 3, Nos. 1-8), February-November 1915 ; “ The Journal of State Medicine ”■ (Vol. 24, No. 3), March, price 2s. net.; “The Naturalist’’ (No. 710), March. _____________________________ Peat y. Coal in Finland.—In the Russian Empire at present 'attention is seriously directed to the application of peat for fuel. Special courses of lessons in the use of peat, and the development of the production of peat for fuel have been opened. In Finland the peat question is now being actively - canvassed. The Senate has proposed to establish a special committee for investigating how the peat to be found in the Treasury marsh- lands can be turned to account. At the same time, tests are being continued on the use of ground peat on the railways. These tests have led to very satis- factory results, since the railway management has applied to the Senate, proposing that a specially experienced engineer should be placed at the disposal of the’railway, to continue experimental work more comprehensively than before. One-fifth part of the whole area of Finland is peat land; and in some parts of Niuland, Tavastland, and particularly in Kareli, there are great expanses of marsh land containing peat suitable for fuel. If this peat can be used to a large extent in such a way, the effect will be to reduce the importation of foreign coal, which amounted in 1913 to a value of some 15,000,000 mk. Exports and Imports of Coal Tar Products. — During February there were no imports into the United Kingdom of alizarine and anthracene dyestuffs, or synthetic indigo or other coal tar dyestuffs. The values of the coal products exported in February and the first two months of the year were as under :— February. Jan.-Feb. < * ( K 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. Coalproducts, not dyes— £ £ £ £ Aniline oil & toluidine ... 6,457... 20,733... 11,589... 21,613 Anthracene ............. ... 150 — ... 150 Benzol and toluol________ 41,096... 61,875... 49,339... 141,832 Carbolic acid............ 17,680... 14,299... 33,750... 23,560 Coal tar, crude .......... 272... 10... 428... 269 ,, refined & varnish 5,029... 6,116... 9,368... 10,276 Naphtha................ 1,677... 2,404... 3,127... 4,483 Naphthalene............ 3,013... 9,360... 6,960... 19.497 Pitch.................... 27,703... 38,340... 59,494. 63,685 Tar oil, creosote, &c. ....... 37,741... 37,286... 57,025... 109,463 Other sorts.............. 29,592... 39,356... 54,369... 110,741 Total..................170,260... 229,929... 285,449... 505,569 Coal tar dye stuffs ......... 10,116... 52,990... 15,693... 87,657 The following quantities of the above-named products were exported in February :—Coal products, not dyes : Aniline oil and toluidine, 223,956 lb. ; benzol and toluol, 997,963 gals.; carbolic acid, 10,864 cwt.; coal tar, crude, 100 cwt.; ditto, refined and yarnish, 213,276 gals.; naphtha, 31,156 cwt.; naphthalene, 7,839 cwt.; pitch, 720,977 cwt.; tar oil, creosote, etc., 2,155,746 gals.; other sorts, 35,257 cwt.; coal tar dyestuffs, 4,358 cwt. The values of sulphate of ammonia exports were as follows :— February. Jan -Feb. 1915. 1916. 1915. 1916. To— £ £ £ £ France 4,469... 61,536.. 5,941.. . 97,319 Spain and Canaries 103,168... , 87,972.. . 161,181.. . 235,492 Italy .... 22,048... 22,976.. . 35,891 . . 26,395 Dutch East Indies .... 29,851... . 44,683.. . 137,726.. . 199,202 Japan .... 22,015 3,890.. . 27,180.. . 3,890 United States .... 55,396... 13,619.. . 89,756.. . 88,521 British W. India Islands (including Bahamas) and British Guiana Other countries 3,464... 7,953... 16,782.. 157,419... 76,797... 264,985.. . 27,270 . 130,709 Total 397,830...319,426... 739,442.. . 808,798 The following were the quantities exported in February :— France, 3,844 tons; Spain and Canaries, 5,371 tons; Italy, 1,459 tons; Dutch East Indies, 2,762 tons; Japan, 300 tons; United States, 839 tons; British West Indies, 552 tons; other countries, 4,768 tons—making a total of 19,895 tons, as against 31,984 tons in February 1915.