450 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. Makoh 2, 1917. Old Multon, Yorkshire.—Relates to an improved safety con- trol device applicable to pit cages, hoists, and the like, and designed to automatically arrest the motion, of the cage in case of breakage of the winding rope, and to thereby pre- vent damage and loss of life. The drawing is a side eleva- tion. Two or'more of the guide ropes A are each fitted with a clip device carried by the cage B. This clip device com- prises a fixed clip bar C having an outer jaw C1, a clip lever D having a grooved inner jaw Dl pivoted eccentrically at D2 within said outer jaw, and a spring E connected to said cl\p lever. The series of clip levers D are coupled by chains F to a suspension frame G, which in turn is coupled by chains H to the winding rope I. The suspension frame G is freely slidable on the guide ropes A, and also engages slidably with a series of fixed guide rods J on the cage. The clips remain normally out of action, so as to slide freely along the guide ropes A, the pull of the winding rope I on the clip levers D being so limited (by stops K or by other convenient means) as to retain the clips in this disengaged position during the normal working of the cage. But in case of accident to the winding rope I, the clip levers D -at once fall under the action of their springs E, so as to put the D series of clips into instantaneous engagement with their respective guide ropes A, thus effectively braking and auto- matically stopping the cage. (One claim.) 103391. Safety and Quick Operating Shackle for Trains, Trams, and, Trolleys and the like. D. D. Jones, 6, Pant- road, Dowlais, South Wales.—Relates to improvements of the coupling pin and D-shackle used in coupling colliery trams, trolleys, wagons, and the like. Eigs. 1, 2, and 3 show in part sectional side elevation., end elevation, and plan respectively the pin A locked in the shackle. The pin A has a collar B on one end; at this end there is.a hole 0 in which a, spring handle D is inserted, the feet of its prongs projecting through slots E, E at sides of pin into an annular Fig. I. Fig.SL g /// / / /B W Fig. 3 groove E in the shackle. The pin is released and lifted from its locking position by gripping the spring handle —firmly pressing the nrongs against each side of peg G— enabling the feet of the prongs to be clear of the pinhole in •shackle, so that the pin can be withdrawn freely. The «peg G also prevents the spring handle D coming out of. hole C in the pin A. To lock the pin in the -shackle, grip the handle again, push the pin forward until the collar B is against the face of the -shackle at H (as shown in fig. 1); then let go the handle, and the feet of its prongs will engage the annular groove E in the shackle. (One claim.) 10352-5. Improvements in Suction Draught Apparatus for Furnaces and the like. H. Toussaint, 6, Lbwenburg Strasse, Wilhelmshdhe, Germany.—Relates to -suction draught appar- atus of the Type in which the draught is set up by means of a screw propeller working in the lower part of the chimney or uptake, such propeller being mounted on a free portion of the shaft extending beyond the bearing thereof. The draw- ing illustrates the invention as adapted for use in stationary boiler installations, b is the combustion gas screw propeller working in the lower part of the chimney, it being fixed on the shaft c. This shaft is carried by a bearing bracket d, which comprises the combination of a thrust bearing with a collar bearing. The bearing bracket d rests on girders g, g, and is provided at one of its feet with a downward extension f, which carries an electric motor e, the shaft of which is coupled at n to the shaft c. All the parts of the mounting are situated in a chamber provided in the lower portion of the brickwork of the chimney. This chamber is -shut -off by a plate i from the lateral chimney flue, and it can be closed e h by means of a door h. The door h is so -arranged as to allow access of cooling air when in the closed position. The plate i has an aperture k through which the upper portion of the bearing bracket d projects. Mounted upon the plate i, and extending above the aperture k is an air conducting casing I, which surrounds the upper collar bearing and the screw propeller ’shaft, and extends near to the boss m of the propeller. This air conducting casing, through which there is a permanent flow of cooling -air, serves also to keep the combustion gases away from the collar bearing and pro- peller shaft. The shaft c is also effectively cooled, so that no appreciable transmission of heat to the collar bearing and thrust bearing can take place by conduction. The current of cooling air may, if desired, be generated -solely by.suction of chimney; but it may also be considerably increased by the screw propeller b or other means. (Three claims.) 103506. Improvements in Protective Devices for Boiler Smoke Tubes and the like. H. W. Johnson, of Rainford Works, Rainford, Lancashire; and R. E. B. Trevor, of 7, Alexander-drive, Princes Park, Liverpool. — Relates to improvements in means for protecting the ends of smoke tubes of tubular or locomotive type boilers and the like where they are secured to the boiler ends of the type in which a ferrule is inserted in the end of the tube, and lias a curved lip overlapping the end of the tube to shroud it from the corrosive action of the furnace gases. The ferrule 3 has a bevel 6 on its inner edge where it meets the tube end 1. The tube is simply pushed through the opening in the boiler side. The ferrule 3 is forced into the tube end 1 without this latter previously having been lapped or riveted over. The inner tapering portion of the protective lip 4 of the ferrule 3 meet- ing the inner edge of the end of the tube 1, w7ill turn this so that it will be evenly expanded to form a lap 2, and consequently will tighten the joint between a tube and boiler side 5, and also allow the tube to be used as a stay. (Two claims.) 103534. Improvements in Feed Water Heating Apparatus for Boilers. G. H. Willans and E. S. Luard, both of 41, Moorfields, London, E.C.—Relates to improvements in feed water heating 'apparatus for boilers, or combined feed water heating and boiler water circulating -apparatus of the kind described in Patent 4085/1915. The drawing shows a side elevation, partly in section, of the smoke box end of a loco- motive boiler provided with a feed water heater and water circulator according to Patent 4085/1915. 1 is the boiler shell, and 2 is the smoke box -shell of a locomotive boiler. 6 is the casing of the combination valve device wThich contains clack valves controlling the passages for the water of circu- lation which enters the valve casing 6 from the lower part of the boiler through pipe 16, fitting 13, and pipe 10, and the cold feed water which is supplied by suitable pipes to valve casing 6 entering by passage 5. Means are provided in con- nection with the top stop valve 31 so that should it be closed, with its valve head 36 on its seat 35, and the valve 48 in the combination valve device be closed on seat 47 'against the supply of feed water to the heater, a relief or escape outlet is provided at the top stop valve 31, through which any accu- mulated pressure of steam or water can escape to atmosphere. Further, should the valve 48 in the combination valve device be in position for passing feed water from the inlet to the heater, and the top stop valve 37 be at the same time in its closed position, consequently pressure would accumulate in the heater and pipe system which might cause damage thereto; under these conditions, the above-mentioned relief of pressure is also obtained by means of the construction of the valve 31. The valve casing has a neck or passage 32 in communication with the water delivery pipe 33 in the steam space of the boiler. The casing is secured to the tube plate by a flange 38 and studs and nuts. A second passage 39 connects the valve casing with the heater or pipe system, and has at its lower end a flange 40. Connection is made between the heater pipe system and the passage 39 by means of pipe 28, said pipe 28 having suitable flanges at its ends for bolting to the flange 40 on the valve casing -and to the header 24 respectively, to which header ends of the heater elements 25 and 26 are connected. The upper portion of neck 32 is so formed as to provide a valve seat 35, on which the lower face of valve 36 may be screwed down. The outer portion of the valve casing 31 is fitted with a screwed gland box 41, through which the valve stem 37 passes. The lower extremity of this screwed portion 41 is also formed into a seat 42, on which the upper face of the valve 36 seats when the valve is in its normal position, as shown, i.e., when the valve is open to the passage of water from the heater system to the boiler. The central portion of the part 41 is threaded to receive a similarly threaded portion of the valve spindle as at 43, while its upper extremity is so formed as to fit grooved portion 44 of the valve stem in a steam tight manner. The part 41 is provided with an annular chamber 45, from which chamber the escape or relief pipe 46 is taken, as here- inafter described. The valve spindle 37 has a passage 50 drilled axially in it for a predetermined distance ; this passage is plugged at its lower extremity, as at 51. From the passage or chamber 50 two series of ports 52, 53, break through to the outer side of the valve spindle, which is, as shown, slightly reduced in diameter where the ports break through. When the valve head 36 is in its normal position there is no communication between pipe 46 and the passages 32 and 39, owing to the seating of the valve head 36 on seat 42. If the valve is screwed down, so that head 36 seats on seat 35, the ports 52 will be open to passage 39, so that any accumulation of pressure in the heater and pipe system will be able to pass out through ports 52, chamber 50, ports 53, and pipe 46 to the atmosphere. The pipe 46 is screwed into <55 .50 -046 45\< 4k) Shi r_.... the casing 41, and is in communication with chamber 45 therein, with which chamber ports 53 communicate. The valve device 31 is passed through a hole 54 of suitable size in the smoke box shell, and the-closing of the hole completed by a cover plate 55 made to accurately fit the curve of the outer periphery of the smoke box shell. The plate 55 is secured in place by a lock nut 56 screwed on an externally threaded portion 57 of the valve casing 31. The flange 38 being secured in position, the screwing of the lock nut 56 into place effectively keeps the valve 31 and cover plate 55 in position on the smoke box shell. (Eour claims.) NEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Applications for Patents. [Note.—Applications arranged alphabetically under the names of the applicants (communicators in parentheses), A new number will be given on .acceptance, which will replace the application number.] Baguley, C. Steam raising plants and heat engines. (2585) Baines, W. Automatic mining and food production. (2619) Baines, W. Explosion engine. (2620) Barnby, E. M. Self-acting shut-off valves. (2572) British Thomson-Houston Company (General Electric Com- pany). Electric motor control systems. (2488) British Thomson-Houston Company (General Electric Com- pany). Controllers for electric circuits. (2691) Brown, R. Devices for transference of heat between liquids, vapours, or gases. ' (2492) Brown, W. Automatic stokers for steam boilers, etc. (2533) Clifton, A. Drew- Internal combustion engines. (2521) Davies, E. P. Internal combustion engines. (2614) Evetts, E. Internal combustion engines. (2671) Farley, J. Smoke consuming furnaces and water heaters. (2491) Gairing, E. Boring tools. (2751) Gale, R. Internal combustion engines. (2433) Girling, W. H. Firebrick linings, arches, etc., for fur- naces, etc. (2634) Goddard,. A. J. Internal combustion engines. (2671) Graham, E. A. Electric signalling or indicating apparatus for signalling orders or numerical data, etc. (2639) Groves, A. and G. H. Pedestals for pit tubs. (2537) Hall, I. Furnaces, heating apparatus, etc. (2483) Hall, I. Furnaces. (2484) Hall, I. Means for melting and casting metals, etc. (2673) Hamilton, W. Automatic mining and food production. (2619) Hamilton, W. Explosion engine. (2620) Heyl, G. E. Distillation of coal. (2630) Hoffmann, O. K. Internal combustion engines, etc. (2412) Holmes, P. System of signalling in coal mines, etc. (2707) (Continued on page 452.)