686 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. April 5, 1917. THE FREIGHT MARKET. Rather more activity was evident in the British out- ward freight market this week. Most of the tonnage taken up has been in the form of small steamers for near Allied destinations. At the Tyne, for example, the only other fixture reported is that of an 8,000-ton vessel for Santos at 95s., loading end April. At Cardiff, apart from char- tering for French Atlantic , ports, Spanish ports have monopolised attention, several fixtures being announced at about 75s. for Huelva, and from 80s. to 85s. for Bilbao. At Newport, several neutral vessels have been arranged for Seville discharge at undivulged rates. Baltic business is represented by the fixing of two small vessels for Hartle- pool loading and discharge at Haugesund and Christiania respectively. It is noteworthy that most of the vessels.at present offering for open charter are neutral-owned. There is a very active enquiry for collier vessels at all coal shipping centres in the kingdom. Homewards, the River Plate is unaltered at 135s. from up-river and 130s. from down-river ports to the United Kingdom. At the United States, the rate of freight for coals from Virginia to the River Plate remains at 100s. Net form business from Northern Range to Liverpool is steady, at about 160s., with Mediterranean discharge men- tioned at up to 200s. Wheat tonnage from Northern Range to United Kingdom or France is quoted at from 30s. to 31s. 3d., with 2s. extra for Gulf loading. At the Far East, Saigon-Haiphong to Marseilles or French Atlantic with rice has advanced by 20s., being now quoted at 320s. To the same discharging- ports, Madras Coast merchants steadily quote 400s. for kernel cargoes. Calcutta on jute basis to Genoa is unaltered at 280s. Bombay to United Kingdom is steady, at 240s., with 280s. stated for West Italy discharge. Kurrachee to United Kingdom has advanced by 15s., being now up to 235s. Tyne to Boulogne, 350, 45s., coke; Calais, 350, 45s., coke; Dunkirk, 200 and 350, 45s., coke; Dieppe, 900, 46s., coke; Havre, 450, 57s. 6d., pitch; Santos, 8,000, 95s., 750, end Apr.; Treport, 180, 50s. Cardiff to Brest, 1,500, 33s., neutral; Barcelona, 3,300, private terms, neutral; Bordeaux, 4,800, 1,600, 1,050, and 3,600, 34s.; Bilbao, 2,000, 85s.; 3,400, 80s., neutral; Cher- bourg, 1,050, 23s. 6d.; Caen, 1,000 and 1,300, 57s. 6d., coke, neutral; Dieppe, 900, 24s. 6d.Huelva, 2,200, 2,500, and 3,000, 75s.; Rouen, 600, 60s., coke, neutral; 550, 38s. 3d., neutral; 800, 1,000, 1,300, and 1,200, 57s. 6d., coke, neutral; 1,800, 36s. 9d., neutral., Swansea to Trouville, 700, 36s., neutral; St. Malo, 500, 33s., neutral; Rouen, 1,450, 24s. 6d.; Guernsey, 300, 31s. 6d. Newport to Caen, 800, 36s., neutral; Seville, several neutral boats, private terms; Gibraltar, 1,400, 77s. 6d., 500, neutral. Wales to Cherbourg, 1,150, 23s. 6d. Glasgow to Barcelona, 3,500, 80s., end Apr.; Gibraltar, 80s., end Apr. ... Hartlepool to Haugesund, 950, 120 kr.; Christiania, sail, 350, 90 kr. Hull to Rouen, 1,000, 27s. 6d. Llanelly to Havre, 700, 23s. 9d. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL ANO COKE. For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last White pages. Abstracts of Contracts Open. Barnard Castle, April 11.—Coal for the North-Eastern County School. Forms from the bursar. Gosport, April 9.—110 tons best quality house coal, double screened, and 180 tons Tredegar or equal steam coal, for the Al verstoke Guardians. Forms from the Guardians’ Offices, High-street, Gosport. Houston (Renfrew), April 10.—Coal and dross (three, six, or 12 months) for the Renfrewshire Combination Hos- pital. Forms from the Parish Council Offices, Houston. Manchester, April 11.—Burgie, kitchen coal, cobbles, or steam coal and smithy coal for the Cleansing Com- mittee. Particulars from the superintendent, Cleansing Department, Town Hall. Shrewsbury.—Slack in large quantities for the County Asylum, between April-September. Terms to the clerk. Warrington, April 11.—House coal and slack (three, six, or 12 months) for the Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington. Forms from the steward. The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be received. CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON AND STEEL WORK, Ac. Glasgow, April 9.—Stores.—Bolts, nuts, engineer’s furnishings, shovels, spades, files, wire cylinders, etc., for the Gas Department. Forms from the gas engineer, 45, John-street, Glasgow. London, N.W., April 12.—Carbons.—Arc lamp carbons for St. Pancras Borough Council. Forms from the Elec- tricity Department, 57, Pratt-street, Camden Town. Salford, April 9.—Steel Trays.—Mild steel trays for coal elevator. Particulars from the borough electrical engineer, Frederick-road, Salford. Wigan Mining College. — A representative meeting of past and present mining students of the Wigan and Dis- trict Mining and Technical College was held at the Mining and Technical College on Saturday week, when Mr. S. C. Laws, M.A., B.Sc., the principal of the college, presided. The report of the provisional committee appointed to draw up the constitution and frame rules to govern the new Past and Present Mining Students’ Association, which it had been decided at the inaugural meeting (already reported in our columns) to establish in connection with the college, was submitted by Mr. Thomas Pownall and adopted, office bearers being also appointed for the ensuing year. At the close of the business proceedings an illustrated lecture on “The Evolution of Coal, with Special Reference to the South Wales Coal Field,” was delivered by Mr. Henry F. Northcote, of West Kirby. £ ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. 100066. Improvements in Gas Analysis Apparatus. Aktiebolaget Ingeniorsfirma Fritz Egnell, of Norra Ban- torget 20, Stockholm, Sweden.—Has reference to improve- ments in automatically working apparatus for gas analysis purposes, and in which the percentage of one or more gases of a mixture of gases is determined. The drawing shows an example of apparatus for carrying out the invention, a is a conveying pipe so connected with a pump that in the first measuring receptacle b and a pipe c a liquid alternately rises and falls. The mixture of gases to be investigated is alternately sucked into the recep- tacle b through a pipe e, which dips into a liquid seal d, and forced out through a pipe f and a liquid seal g into a pipe i. The pipe i is parted in two branches, k and P, one k of which branches extends to the second measuring receptacle I, and the other i1 to the oven or absorbing vessel h. The oven or vessel h is connected by a pipe m with a pressure receptacle o, which again is connected with a rising pipe p. Through a pipe r the gas is allowed to escape from the apparatus upon completion of the analysis. When the liquid rises in b and c, the gas mix- ture in b is pressed in two streams through i and k into the receptacle I and through i, i1, h, and m into the pres- sure receptacle o. This mixture has been sucked into b "by the previous falling of the liquid in b. Then the liquid rises in the pipe p by the continuous increase of pressure in the piping system due to the continued rising of the liquid surface in b and c. When the pressure has reached a certain amount, the receptacle I begins to rise, and this rising is greater or less according to the quantity of gas which remains when the gas reaches the above- mentioned pressure. That is to say, the motion of I is ’inversely proportional to the volume of oxygen absorbed in the vessel h, which latter contains an easily oxidising metal, for example, finely-divided iron, and is heated. At the end of the analysis, all gases contained in the piping system escape as soon as the liquid in c sinks below the end of the pipe r. This continues until the pressure of the gases has diminished to the atmospheric pressure. The gasholder of the measuring apparatus I, and also the liquid surface in p are then in their original and normal posi- tions. For determining the total percentage of carbon dioxide, oxygen, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbon, an absorption receptacle containing a potash solution or_any other fluid which absorbs carbon dioxide is arranged behind the oven h. An easily oxidising metal, for example, finely- divided iron, is placed in the front end of the oven h, and an easily reducible oxide of a metal, for example, oxide of copper, in the rear end of same. In the oven h oxygen is absorbed whilst the carbon monoxide and the hydrogen are transformed into carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide in the gas mixture might also be reduced, but in this case an oxygenation again takes place in the rear part of the oven. This carbon dioxide is absorbed in the absorption recep- tacle, and the water thus arising is separated. (Five claims.) 100634. An Improved Gas Producer. The Hampden Cloncurry Copper Mines Limited, of 360, Collins-street, Melbourne, Australia.—Relates to the type of gas pro- ducer for generating gas from coal or other fuels, having a feed device at the top for the introduction of primary fuel, a constriction dividing the producer into two cham- bers, means for the introduction of air in the vicinity of the constriction, a grate at the bottom of the lower cham- ber of the producer, means for introducing air beneath the grate, and an exit for the gas at the upper part of the lower chamber. The drawing is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a producer, comprising a vertical cham- ber A constructed prefer- ably of sheet metal lined with firebrick or other fire- resisting material A1. A is furnished with a dome B at its top, having suitable feed doors or doors B1 for the supply of fuel. The main body of the producer is con- stricted at or about the centre A2 to form two dis- tinct chambers, the upper A-3 for the combustion of the primary fuel, and the lower A4 for the combus- tion of the fixed carbon and secondary fuel after having passed through the upper chamber. At the bottom of A3 are provided means for the introduction of air underneath the primary fuel, viz., a series of tuyeres C arranged in the walls of the said cham- I fill' ber immediately above the constriction A2, while a series of tuyeres C1 are also arranged around the same constriction. These tuyeres may be furnished with controlling valves to regulate the supply of air. In the bottom of A4 is a fire grate D, beneath which are arranged openings E for the admission of air under the incandescent fuel, and for removing the ashes (if any) from beneath the grate D. Above the grate D are arranged poking holes D1. Between the two zones of combustion is an outlet F for the gaseous fuel. Within A4 and opposite F is an inverted U-shaped bridge F1 of fire- brick, fireclay, or cast iron (water jacketed if necessary). The gas outlet F communicates with a chamber G, within which heating pipes are provided for the vaporisation, of steam, and from which the gas passes to the necessary scrubbers, etc. Steam pipes J are provided for supplying steam to the feed chamber B and through one or more of the air openings E beneath the grate D in such quantities as may be required. (One claim.) 100349. Multiple-stage Steam or Gas Turbine. Maschin- enfabrik Oerlikon, of Oerlikon, Switzerland.—Relates to the construction of multiple-stage steam or gas turbines. The drawing illustrates an arrangement for carrying out the invention. The live steam enters the turbine at a, and expands in the high-pressure member H as far as the annular duct b. From this point a portion of the steam continues to flow in its original direction, expands in the low-pressure member,N1, to condenser pressure, and flows through the ex- haust A1 to the condenser. The remainder of the steam is conducted to and works in a low-pressure mem- ber in a separate casing, the steam flowing thereto through the pipe L into the low-pres- a H K A' I \ A2 sure member N2 and to the condenser. The exhaust cham- bers A1 and A2 are built in direct juxtaposition, so that the whole of the steam passes through a common connection 8 to the condenser K. The shafts are mounted at the high- pressure end at 1 and at the exhaust chamber at 2 and at the low-pressure end at 3. By providing two separate conduits S1 and S2, the second casing N2 can be turned through an angle of 180 degs. to enable the rotor of the low-pressure member N2 to overhang the common shaft, thus dispensing with the end bearing 3. The machine to be driven is operated from the high-pressure side. (Three claims.) jt —UtO 45 •'*W: ft' 102486. Improvements in C entrif ugal Pumps. Giesserei und Maschinenfabrik Oggersheim, Paul Schutze and Com- pany, Akt.-Ges., Oggersheim, Germany. — Refers to a centrifugal pump of the type having a vertical shaft arranged within a liquid receptacle or basin, the bearing of the shaft being surrounded by a protecting hood. The drawing is a vertical section, showing the pump and the liquid receptacle or basin connected with it. 1 is the liquid receptacle, 2 is the inlet pipe for the liquid (e.g., an acid). The basin is closed at the bottom by the pump casing 3 provided with a cir- cular duct 4 and a feed branch 5 connected to the feed pipe (not shown). At the centre of the pump casing 3 the centrifugal wheel 6 is keyed to the shaft 7 so as to rotate with it. Shaft 7 is provided with a pulley 10, a step-bearing 8 resting on the girder 17, and a neck journal bearing 9 suspended from the girder by aid of the flange, and connected with the sleeve 19 surrounding the shaft. The lower end of shaft 7 is guided in a bearing 11. To protect this bearing against the liquid in 1, a hood 12 is fixed to shaft 7 above bear- ing 11. The hood rotates with the shaft, and dips into a cylindrical space 13 communicating with the interior of the liquid receptacle 1 by the casing of the centrifugal wheel, and with the suction chamber 14 of the said wheel at 15. combustion (Two claims.) 104253.. Improvements in Means Associated with Casings for Use in Mines and Localities where Gas may be Pre- sent to Prevent Explosions Due to Combustion Occurring Within the Casings. Mavor and Coulson Limited and W. Lawrence, both of 47, Broad-street, Mile End, Glasgow.— Relates to means for preventing explosions in mines and localities where gas may be present due to occurring within casings in which sparking is liable to occur. In the drawing, which is a sectional elevation, A designates a passage in the casing, having at its inner end a perforated base B, a perfor- ated cap C being provided, adapted to be fixed over the mouth of the passage A after the filling (shown) has been inserted. The cap C may have a seating formed above the series of its perforations, and be fitted with a valve D adapted to be held against the seating by spring pressure, and x o____ through the passage A while permitting egress, so that combustible substance may pass out under the influence of pressure generated within the casing. The valve D for this purpose is provided with a spindle, which passes axially through the passage and mass, and extends beyond the perforated base B, the spindle at its inner end being- acted upon by a spring E, arranged between a collar fixed at the outer end of the spindle and the interior side of the perforated base. The means are applied to a casing F, of which only a portion is indicated in the drawing. (Nine claims.) operate to prevent ingress 104303. Improvements in Rollers or Guide Pulleys for Rope or Cable Haulage Systems. F. Lane, Belmont, Bell- street ; and S. E. Williams, 3, Mill-street, both of Brierley Hill, Staffordshire.—Relates to rollers or guide pulleys for rope, or cable haulage systems, and has for its object to facilitate the traverse of a curve or bend, to provide improved means of lubrication, and to impart stability to the rollers or pulleys. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation*; fig. 2 is a plan, the roller or pulley being removed from the left- hand side, and a. horizontal section through the axle shown ; fig. 3 is a detail, showing the wick slot; and fig. 4 is a part section on line x—x of fig. 3. The base plate 1 has a stub axle 2, on which is pivoted an arm 3 through the hub 4, said arm being provided with vertical stub axles 5. The rollers 6 are rotatably mounted through the hubs 7 on the stub axles 5, which, together with the stub axje 2, are made hollow for holding lubricant. Wicks 8 are inserted in the hollow axles, and passed along slots 9 in the walls of the axles 2 and 5 to the bearing surfaces, preferably in a position where the greatest pressure occurs. A closure cap 10 is connected to the axles, and situated over the reser- voirs. The end bearings 11 and 12 of the axles are cupped for engagement of the hubs 4 and 5 of the arm and rollers respectively. These cupped bearings are a complementary