972 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. November 17, 1916. ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED.’ 14143 (1915). Improvements in the Supply of Air for Combustion in the Heating of Gas Retorts. A. Waddell, of Dunfermline Corporation Gas Works, Dunfermline, Fife- shire.—Delates to improvements in the supply of air for combustion in the heating of gas retorts, and consists in an improved construction of regenerator of the type comprising individually removable upright tubes disposed in staggered relationship, and removably fitted into upper and lower tube sheets formed with slip and stop sockets respectively. Fig. 1 is a vertical section; and fig. 2 a sectional plan. The regenerator comprises vertical tubes 1 of polygonal section (for example, square or diamond) inserted in tube sheets 2 and 3, fitted in a flue 4 adja- cent to the upper end of the retort structure, and constitutes a heat exchanger for transfer- ence to the combustion supporting air of part of the heat, which would otherwise be conducted by the flue gases to the chimney. In order that the tubes 1 may be readily accessible and capable of convenient inser- tion, replacement, or renewal, they are of small size, and are held in the tube sheets 2 and 3 without any permanent joint. A cover 5 is fitted above the upper tube sheet 2, a sufficient] free space being left for inspec- tion, etc., of tubes or for the repair of the sheets. The outside walls of the regener- ator may be jacketed, and the air passed through the jacket on its way to the regenerator. The air to be heated may be passed through the tubes, the direction of flow being indicated by arrows in full lines, the flue gases being led around the exterior of the tubes, as indicated by dotted arrows; but the converse arrangement may be adopted. To prevent formation of lanes, the tubes are staggered. Columns 6 serve as supports for the tube sheets and as baffles for diverting the flow of the flue gases. Before insertion, plastic jointing may be applied to the lower end of each tube, which is then passed through a slip socket in the upper tube sheet 2, and entered in a stop socket in the lower sheet 3, the plastic jointing being pressed between the lower end of the tube and the stop end of the socket, sand or other dry jointing material being then run through perforations in the bottom of the upper socket to fill up the vacant space, and form a. joint in the lower socket. The upper joint may be formed by asbestos rope or the like covering the perforations in the bottom of the upper socket, the residual space being filled with dry jointing material. (Three claims.) 14193 (1915). Improvements in Signalling Appliances for Collieries and the like. J. Neil, of 93, Hope-street, Glasgow. —Comprises improvements in signalling appliances, for collieries and the like, designed for transmitting signals from the pithead or other locality to the engine house, and visibly and audibly indicating the number and nature of such signals at each time of signalling. Figs. 1 and 2 are an elevation of the indicator mechanism with the dial removed, and an elevation at right angles thereto. A casing 1 is arranged behind the indicator dial 2. The pointer 3 is secured on the end of the indicator spindle 4, which passes through the casing 1, and carries the two ratchet wheels 5 and 6, one of which, 5, is fixed to the spindle 4, while the other, 6, is loose. These wheels-, 5 and 6, are each fitted with a pulley or drum 7, round which a chain -or the like 8, having a weight 9, is passed, so that the wheels always have a tendency to rotate backwards, a stop, consisting of a pin 10 adapted to engage a projection 11, being provided to limit the amount of back- ward rotation of the loose wheel 6. The loose wheel 6 is fitted with a projecting arm 12 adapted to engage with a similar arm 13 on the fixed wheel 5. Two counter-weighted or spring-actuated levers 14 and 15 are loosely mounted on a transverse spindle 16, arranged below the indicator spindle 4, and are each fitted with a pawl or like projection 17 and 18. The counter-weight 19 on the one lever 14 normally holds the pawl 17 in engagement with the teeth of the fixed wheel 5. The free end of this lever is connected to the cancelling gear by means of chain or like connection 20. The pawl 18 on the counter-weighted lever 15 is held out of engagement with the teeth of the loose wheel 6 by a weight 21, adapted to rest on the free end of said lever 15. A set screw or the like 22 is preferably arranged at the free end of said lever 15 to adjust the position of the pawl 18 relative to the ratchet wheel 5 so as to disengage same. wheel 6. A lever 23 connected by its one end by suitably arranged rods 24, links, chains, or like mechanism, to the place from which the signals are to be transmitted, is loosely mounted at or near its centre part on the indicator pointer spindle 4. The other end of this lever is connected to the weight 21 by a chain or the like 25, which passes over a sprocket wheel 26 fitted with clockwork mechanism. This lever carries a counter-weight or spring-actuated pawl 27, which, when the signal is made, rotates the loose wheel 6 one tooth. A stop 28 is provided to normally hold the pawl 27 out of engagement with the loose wheel 6, while a stop 29 is also provided to limit the downward movement of the end of the lever 23. A projecting arm or counter-balance weight 30, also fitted to the lever 23, strikes a bell 31 to give an audible alarm when the lever 23 is raised as a signal is made, and ensures the lever returning to its normal position. The arm 30 is prefer- ably hinged so that its outer end can swing up- wards to strike the bell. The end of this lever 23 is also fitted with a pin or projecting arm 32, wfliich, when the end of the lever moves down- wards, strikes against the end of the lever 14 carrying the pawl 17, engaging with the fixed The clockwork mechanism preferably consists of a~sprocket wheel 26, formed with side flanges '33, and having ratchet teeth 34 round one of said flanges loosely mounted on a spindle 35, carried by a suitable frame 36. A large toothed wheel 37, secured on the spindle 35 adjacent to the ratchet teeth 34, carries a spring pawl adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth, so that the sprocket wheel 26 can freely rotate (while the chain 25 is lifting the weight 21), but when >.ne weight is failing the toothed wheel 37 is carried round with the sprocket wheel 26. A spindle 38 fitted with a flier 39 is rotated from the large toothed wheel 37 by means of a train of wheels 40, so that the weight 21, which is quickly lifted from the lever 15, having the pawl 18 adapted to engage with the loose wheel 6, falls slowly or at a predetermined speed. (Five claims.) 14976 (1915). Improvements in Feed Water Heating Apparatus and Boiler Water Circulating Apparatus, for Fire Tube Boilers. G. H. Willans and E. S. Luard, both of 41, Mcorfields, London, E.C., and J. P. O’Donnell, of Palace- chambers, Westminster, S.W.—Delates to feed water heat- ing apparatus or to combined feed water heating and bo-iler water circulating apparatus, for locomotive and other fire tube boilers. Fig. 1 is a front elevation; fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in fig. 1; and fig. 3 is a sectional Fig.1. r^.4. 000.0.0 t:»/| S3—| ng. a. » SB 50 m44" Hs OOOOOwM OQOOGW/ . LiOZ & I m 31 elevation of the combination valve device used. 1 is the smokebox tube plate of a boiler, 2 being the smokebox w7all, and 3 the smoke tubes of the boiler. 4 are enlarged smoke tubes (usually about 5 in. in diameter) forming a group to which the U-loop pipes or elements of a smoke tube super- heater extend. 5 indicates the header or steam distributor and collector of the superheater. Into the two enlarged smoke tubes 4a near the right-hand side of the boiler, the U-loop pipes 5a and 5bof the feed water heater are inserted in place of the usual superheating elements. 6 is the inlet end portion of the U-loop 5a, and is bent laterally, and con- nected to the pipe 7, which extends downwardly close to the wall of the smokebox, and transversely of the lower 'portion of the smokebox, the inlet end of this pipe 7 being connected by a flange 7a to a corresponding flange 8 on the upper or inner portion of the casing of the combination valve device hereafter described. The otulet end 9 of the U-loop pipe 5 b is also bent laterally, and connected with a short pipe 10, which is also connected with the casing of the valve device 11, communicating with the inlet pipe 12. 13 is the boiler water circulating and direct fe£fl pipe, the inlet end of which is connected by means of a flange 13a with a flange 14 on the upper or inner portion of the casing of the combination valve device. The pipe 13 is bent laterally and connected by means of a pipe 15 and union 16 (fig. 2) with the pipe 17, which extends a suitable distance into the lower pant of the boiler, the inner end portion of the pipe 17 being provided with suitable holes or perforations. As shown in fig. 2, a top feed arrangement is provided, consisting' of the pipe 12 with its outlet end adapted to deliver the heated feed water on to a spray plate 18 -suitably mounted in the upper part of the steam space of the boiler. 19 indicates screwed plugs in the smokebox ends of the U-loop pipes 5a, 5b, and 20 a similar screwed plug in the outer end of the pipe 15, these plugs being provided to enable the U-loop pipes and the circulation and direct feed pipe 17 to be cleaned out in the usual manner. 21 is the casing of the combination valve device, which is secured to the outside of the bottom of the smokebox wall. 22 (fig. 3) is a port in the valve casing 21, with which port the pipe 13 is in communication, and 23 is another port in the valve casing, and communicates with the pipe 7 leading to the U-loop pipes 5a, 5b. The port 22 is normally in com- munication with a port 22a which leads into the chamber in which the non-return valve 24 works. 25 is a branch port leading from the port 22a into a chamber 26, which is in communication, through ports or slots 27 in a sleeve or bush 28, with the port or passage 23. Normally, when feed water is to be forced through the passage 23 and pipe 7, and through the U-loop pipes 5a, 5b of the heater, the port 25 is closed by means of the shut-off and by-pass valve 29, the screwed portion of the stem of the valve 29 working in a correspond- ingly screwed portion of the sleeve 28. The sleeve 28 is screwed at 28a into the valve casing 21, 30 being a gland screwed on to the outer reduced diameter portion of the sleeve 28. 31 is a sleeve screwed, at 31a, into the valve casing, and provided at 32 with a seat for the ball valve 24, another seat for the ball valve -being provided at 33 at the end of the port or passage 22a. 34 are slotted ports in the bush or sleeve 31, and form communication between the annular chamber 35 in the valve casing and the interior of the sleeve 31. The slotted ports 27 in the sleeve 28 form communication between an annular chamber 36 in the valve casing and the interior of the sleeve 28. 37 is the feed water inlet port in the valve casing 21, to which the feed water supply pipe is connected. 38 is a blow-off cock communicating with the interior of the valve casing 21 through a channel 39 in the valve casing. 40 is a screw down stop valve which, when screwed down on to the seat 41 in the valve casing, shuts off communication between the boiler water circulating and direct feed pipe 13 and the ports 22 ft and 25 in the valve casing. 42 is a valve seat on the inner end of the bush or sleeve 28, the valve 29, when -screwed fully out, seating on this seat 42, the valve 29 being put in this position when it is desired to force feed water direct into the boiler through the pipe 13, at which time the valve 40 should be in the position shown. 43 are slots or ports through the inner end portion of the sleeve 31, in which the ball valve 24 works, a suitable number of these slots 43 being provided. (Three claims.) 17091 (1915). Improvements Relating to Wire Engaging and Releasing Devices, Particularly Adapted for Use with Carriers Applied to Conveyors with Travelling Wires or Cables. V. W. Sinton, of 37, Palmerston-road, Belfast.— Delates to attachment and releasing devices for carriers, particularly adapted for use with portable conveyors wherein a wire, cable, or the like is wound by means of drums from one station to another, and carries the goods in a suitable receptacle attached by a clip to the wires. The carriers are provided with slips or grips for engaging with the wire, and a releasing device is provided for detaching the clips of the carriers automatically at the place where they are to be received. Fig. 1 is a carrier and slip in side elevation; fig. 2 is a plan; fig. 3 is the rear end of the carrier drawn to a large scale; and fig. 4 is a supporting device at the rear end thereof, as seen from above. The carriers 1 may be made with rounded or pointed front ends, and connected by links 2 to clips 3, whereby -they are secured to the conveyor wire 4. Each carrier 1 has a clip 5 attached to the top at its rear end, and formed with a diagonal slot at 6, through which the wire 4 can pass when the carrier is set at an angle to the wire, but wherein the wire must hold so long as the axis of the carrier is in the same vertical plane as the wire. A projection 7, with an inclined face at the back of the clip 5 helps to hold the wire securely under running conditions, as seen in fig. 3. When the forward clip 3 is released, how- ever, and the carrier falls at its front end, the rear end can set itself diagonally across the wire, so that the wire at once escapes from the slot at 6, and the carrier is thus completely released. The rear end of the carrier can be closed in any convenient manner; for instance, by a cap fitting by a bayonet joint, or as shown by means of plate 8 pressed inwards against a seating 9 by a screw 11 passing through a crossbar 10, which engages behind lugs 12, but can be turned to release itself therefrom when the screw 11 is slackened. A releasing device is also described. (Five claims.) 18205 (1915). Improvements in Gas Furnaces. South Metropolitan Gas Company and D. Chandler, of 709, Old Kent-road, London, S.E. — Consists of an annular atmo- spheric burner with a tangential mixing tube admitting air and gas preferably at high pressure, and radial nozzles, so that the flames will approximately meet at the centre. Fig. 1 is a plan or front view; fig. 2 is a cross sec- tion. a is an annular burner v