866	THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 4, 1917.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised iii this issue, received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Aberdeen, May 9. — Small steam coal for Electricity
Department. Forms from the city electrical engineer.

Brechin, May 8. — Coal (six months) for the Parish
Council. Tenders to the clerk, Parish Council Chambers.
. Doncaster, May 11.—30,000 tons best screened gas nuts
and 1,000 tons good cannel (12 months) for the Gas Com-\
mittee. Forms from the manager, Gas Works.

Drogheda.—3,300 tons gas coal (12 months) for the Gas
Committee. Forms from the secretary.

Gort (Ireland), May 12.—100 tons best Wigan house
coal, ex ship, for Guardians. Particulars from the clerk.
: Hemel Hempstead, May 26.—400 tons double-screened
nuts and 400 tons Jin. slack for the Council. Forms from
the borough surveyor, Town Hall.

Hull, May 8.—Steam coal (200 tons monthly) for Scul-
coates Guardians. Forms from the clerk, 12, Harley-
street, Hull.

: Letterkenny, May 14.—1,200 tons (or less) of best steam
coal, and 260 tons best English house coal (both double-
screened), for Donegal District Asylum, Letterkenny.
Forms from H. E. Russell, Asylum.

Manchester, May 11.—Coal conveying plant for Elec-
tricity Committee. Forms from the secretary, Electricity
Department, Town Hall.

New Monkland (Lanarkshire), May 9.—Coal and dross
(12 months) for the Poorhouse Committee. Forms from
the governor.

Richmond (Surrey), May 8.—Steam coal and house coal
for the Main Sewerage Board. Forms from the engineer
to the Board, West Hall-road, Kew Gardens.

Shipley, May 21.—15,000 tons best screened gas coal or
washed nuts for the Gas Committee. Forms from the engi-
neer, Gas Works.

Shipston-on-Stour, May 19.—140 tons house coal and
200 tons steam coal for Guardians. Forms from the clerk,
Shipston-on-Stour.

Sligo, May 7.—600 tons best Scotch steam coal. Forms
from the Sligo District Lunatic Asylum.

Swindon, May 15.—Coal (three months) for institutions.
Forms from the clerk, Union Offices, Swindon.

Tottenham, May 8.—Coal and gas coke (three, six, or
12 months) for the Council. Forms from the clerk, Town
Hall, Tottenham.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be
received.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

The spurt of activity in the outward freight market
which was so welcome last week has, unfortunately, not
been maintained, and business has been very slow during
the period under review. This is especially so on the
north-east coast, where only three fixtures from the Tyne
are announced. Gibraltar, done last week at 82s. 6d., has
been done this week at 85s.; London has been repeated at
20s. 6d.j and the very high rate of 200s. is said to. have
been secured for a 1,000-ton vessel to carry coke to West
Italy. The transport of coal, has, however, been very
brisk indeed, despite the paucity of free tonnage, for there
have been, further big arrivals and departures of requisi-'
tioned and time-chartered steamers, which greatly, helped
collieries to reduce their accumulations of coal. At South
Wales, business has been brisker than on the north-east
coast, but not so brisk as it was a week since. Very high
figures have been paid. Thus, from Cardiff to Barcelona,
Tarragona, or Valencia, the rate;ha,s been 160s., a figure
practically on a par with that ruling last week; to Rosario,
102 s, 6d. has been paid; and a good many vessels have
been chartered for French Atlantic ports at the maximum
prices. There is an active demand for tonnage at the
Bristol Channel — just as there is at the Tyne — but the
scarcity of vessels on offer renders transport arrangements
very difficult to make, for neutral owners are once more
holding off.	■

Homewards, the River Plate remains quiet, on the Com-
mittee basis of 135s. from up-river and 130s. from down-
river ports to the United Kingdom. At the United States,
the rate for the carriage of coal from Virginia to the River
Plate has advanced by 10s,, being now 117s. 6d. On net
form of charter, 200s. from Northern Range to France con-
tinues to be quoted. From the Range to the same destina-
tion, 40s. is quoted for heavy grain, whilst the Gulf indi-
cates 230s. on net form, and 42s. 6d. for wheat to the
same discharging district. The grain freights show a fall
of about 2s. 6d. on the week. At the Far East, Burmah
to French ports with rice is mentioned at 400s. Kurrachee
to United Kingdom is 5s. dearer, at 245s.; Bombay to the
same destination is 20s. increased, at 300s. From Madras
Coast to Marseilles with kernels, the rate is firmly main-
tained at 500s. Calcutta is steady, at 280s. on jute basis
for Genoa.

Tyne, to Gibraltar, 1,350, 82s. 6d.; 1,500, 85s., 500;
London, 1,100, 20s. 6d.; and West Italy, 1,000, 200s., coke,
reported.

Cardiff to Bordeaux, 1,600, 34s.; Brest, 1,200, 45s.,
neutral; Barcelona, 3,000, 160s., 500; Cadiz, 250, 100s.,
sail; Dakar, 1,500, 80s.; Havre, 2,100, 45s. 9d., neutral;
Lisbon, 2,200, 82s. 6d., 500; La Rochelle, 2,000, 61s. 6d.,
neutral; Rosario, 102s. 6d.; Rouen, 2,200 and 2,500,
24s. 6d.; St. Malo, 850 and 700, 45s., neutral; Tarragona,
3,000, 160s., 500; and Valencia, 3,000, 160s., 500.

Swansea to Warren Point, 480, 15s. 6d.; Guernsey, 350,
32s.; Havre, 600, 45s. 9d., neutral; 1,650, 47s. 3d., neutral;
Caen, 1,100, 46s. 6d., neutral; 900, 24s.; Dublin, 380, 15s.

Hull to North French Range, 900, limitation rate; Genoa,
4,000, 64s. 6d.

Glasgow to Bordeaux, 2,900, 37s.; Gibraltar, 82s. 6d.

Liverpool to Gibraltar, 1,300, 82s. 6d., 500.

Hull Freights.—Some remarkable freights are being paid
by shippers of coal at Hull — as much as 145 kr. per
ton to Christiania, and 150 kr. to Copenhagen or Bergen.
These are record rates, representing, at the present rate of
exchange, nearly <£9 per ton for coal which costs from 20s.
to 28s. per ton f.o.b. A cargo of 2,300 tons lately shipped
to Christiania cost something over <£3,000, but the freight,
in addition agreed upon with the owner of a neutral
vessel, was approximately <£20,000.

ABSTRACTS OF PATEHT SPECIFICATIONS

RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

12987 (1914). Improvements in the Manufacture of
Refractory Bricks. J. F. Leger, of No. 81, Rue Thiefry,
Schaerbeek-lez-Brussels, Belgium.—Relates to the manu-
facture of refractory bricks that are infusible at any tem-
perature attainable in a blast furnace. A solution of
chloride of magnesia is used to bind a mixture of granu-
lated and of powdered silex or flint, and calcined mag-
nesia. The proportions may vary within fairly wide
limits. Thus, with 1 part of calcined magnesia in powder
may be used from 1 to 20 parts of granulated silex or flint,
and from 1 to 10 parts of silex or flint in powder. The
mixture, after being crushed and ground, is agglutinated
with a solution of chloride of magnesia, and then pressed
into bricks, which are infusible at the highest tempera-
tures attainable in blast furnaces or with the blow pipe.
(One claim.)

104738. Coal Saving and Smoke Prevention Device for
Steam Boilers. A. E. Shill and J. Vallely, both of 20,
Caledonia-road, Islington, N.—An improved means is pro-
vided for conveying the mixture of smoke and superheated
steam directly—as inflammable gases—on to or through the
fire, said means consisting, in combination, of a baffle plate
located in the flue, a funnel carried by said baffle plate with
its open mouth in front of or behind same, a pipe and jet
nozzle for conveying and injecting superheated steam from
the boiler into said funnel to set up a sucking or collect-
ing action therein, drawing in the smoke and gases which
mix with the superheated steam, and a discharge pipe to
convey the mixture from the funnel to above or below the

fire. The baffle plate A and the funnel B (with its open
mouth behind the baffle facing towards the chimney) is
fixed in flue E in such a position as to secure the best
results. A superheated steam pipe D is provided with a
discharge nozzle D1, and is directed into the pipe C (which
conducts the gases to the fire), pro-
ducing a sucking action and a mixture
of the steam with the carbonaceous
gases of the fire, the mixture pass-
ing through the pipe C to the ignition
area. The discharge pipe C for gases
is provided with an open flared out-
let C2. Steam from the boiler is
superheated in the pipe D, which is
bent at D2, and dropped down the
tubes of a vertical boiler before
reaching the discharge nozzle D1, the
combined gases passing through the
pipe C and discharging through flare
C2 to the fire. Slight departures in

the position, details, or the relative dimensions of the
parts may be made without departing from the scope of
the invention, and it will be readily understood that the
additional consumption of carbon — a portion of which
under present methods must necessarily remain in flues—
obviates the need of frequent cleansing of flues or sweep-
ing of stack. Various devices have been proposed for
utilising the products of combustion in steam boilers, and
also for the prevention of smoke by the use of superheated
steam, hot air, or the like means, wherein has been

employed a funnel collector, and a conducting pipe for
conveying the products of combustion with jets of super-
heated steam, the mixture being delivered to the fire from
below or above, but no claim is made to any arrangements
per se, this invention being characterised by the use of a
baffle plate, as above set forth. (One claim.)

104828. Improvements in Means for the Control Elec-
trically of the Signal Indicators Used in Connection with
Mine Hauling Engines, Winding Engines, and the like.
J. P. Forster, Sandringham-terrace, Leeholme, Bishop
Auckland.—This invention relates to means for controlling,
cancelling, or re-setting electrically the signal indicators
used in connection with mine haulage engines, winding
engines, and the like. By this invention, the re-setting of
the signal is effected automatically and instantaneously by
the change in the motion of the engine or motor conse-
quent upon compliance with the signal given. The elec-
trical control, in accordance with this invention, is obtained
by means of an inductance, a re-setting magnet operated
by the current induced on breaking the circuit of said
inductance, and a signalling magnet and contacts, in com-
bination with a source of electric energy and a make and
break contact device of a convenient character, all arranged
and operating in the manner hereinafter described and
claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing,
which is a diagrammatic elevational view of the device.
A indicates the inductance, B the re-setting magnet
operated by the inductance A, C the signalling magnet,
and D a make and break contact. Any suitable make and
break contact, driven or operated by the engine, may be
used, the speed of such make and break contact. being
proportioned to the speed of the engine. In the drawing a
make and break contact device is shown, comprised of a
brass or other suitable wheel a, suitably dentated around
its periphery for the reception of the insulated segments a{

(preferably of vulcanised fibre or the like material). The
said wheel is mounted on, and in contact with, a spindle
b, supported in bearings c, and is rotated by the pulley d
and belt e driven from a convenient revolving part of the
engine; or the wheel a may be mounted directly on one of
the engine shafts, f is a contact blade or brush. On the
rotation of the disc a the current from a suitable battery g
is made and interrupted at a frequency depending on the
speed of rotation of the engine shaft. The relay C may be
connected directly in series with the main signalling bat-
tery circuit, or, if mechanical signals are used, they would
be arranged to operate a switch and close a local circuit
from an auxiliary battery through the magnet C. h is the

armature of the magnet C, controlled by the tension spring
i, and formed at its end with a catch k. When a signal
is received by the engineman, the magnet C is momentarily
energised, and draws the armature h, with its catch k, con-
trolled by the tension spring i, away from, and releases,
the free end of the armature 6 of the magnet B, allowing it,
under control of its tension spring m, to come into contact
with the fixed contact piece n, and so complete the series
circuit from the battery g through the inductance A, fixed
contact n, the contact blade or brush /, and contact disc a.
If the engine is standing and the brush f is making con-
tact with the metal of the disc periphery a, there is a cir-
cuit through the inductance A and through the magnet B,
which is connected in shunt across this inductance. The
battery voltage g, the inductance A, the resistance of the
magnet winding B, and the spring tension m are so pro-
portioned that the current passing through the magnet B
will not energise it sufficiently to attract the armature i.
Now, if the engine commences to move the contact blade
or brush f passes on to an insulated segment alf and the
circuit is broken. As a result, a potential is induced in
the induction winding A, which strongly energises the
magnet B connected in shunt across it, attracting tlie arma-
ture I, and for the period of induction (which may be
arranged for about half a second) closing a circuit through
the fixed contact o, the external battery p, and so operating
the re-setting circuit q of the visual indicators. The arma-
ture I is enabled to pass the catch k by reason of the
bevelled edge formed on the upper surface of its outer or
free end acting against a similar bevel formed on the catch
k on its lower edge, and thus pushing the catch aside as
the armature moves upwards. The armature I, being for
the moment drawn clear of the catch A:, the armature h,
under the action of the spring i, moves forward, and the
catch k prevents it making contact with the fixed contact
n, though the magnet B nas become de-energised on the
induced current dying out. As the circuit of inductance A
and magnet B is now broken, no further action takes place
until a signal is received by the engineman, when the
magnet C is again energised, the armature h is attracted,
and the catch k withdrawn from the free end of the arma-
ture I, allowing it to close contact n, and again completing
the circuit through the contact breaker D and the induct-
ance A. s is an adjustable stop, so arranged that while
allowing the catch k to control the position of the armature
I relative to the fixed contact n, it prevents the movement
of the armature h controlled by its spring i from causing
any frictional contact on the end of armature I which might
hinder it from being drawn clear by its spring tension m
from the fixed contact o after the magnet B is become
de-energised. Now, presuming the circuit of magnet B
and inductance A to be completed at contact n, and the
engine in motion, the contact breaking device is making
and breaking contact fairly quickly, with the result that
the intermittent electric current is insufficient to energise
the inductance A to any appreciable extent until practically
the moment the engine comes to a rest, when (the contact
breaker just moving) a sufficient time is given for the
current in the inductance A to build up, so that, as the
break contact is made, the induced current is sufficient to
energise the magnet B, and so close the tripping circuit.
Similarly, at the moment of starting from rest, the contact
breaker will be going dead slow for the first few contacts;
thus it is immaterial whether the contact blade or brush
when at rest is standing on the make or the break contact.
Thu device, constructed and arranged as above described,
requires but a minimum of attention, is extremely reliable
and sensitive, and is particularly adapted for the cancelling
of colliery winding engine signals. (Six claims.)

104930. Improvements in Water Supplying Attachments
for Rock Drills. C. Hansen, of Chiltern Chambers, 55,
Commissioner-street, Johannesburg, South Africa.—Apper-
tains to water supplying means or attachments for rock
drilling machines, and in particular to means of the kind
in which the water is supplied to the holes through the
drills, steels, or bits. The drawing is a sectional elevation
of those portions of the drill with which the invention is
more closely associated. 1 represents the main cylinder of
the drill, 2 the hammer piston, 3 the cylinder bushing and
anvil block guide, 4 the anvil block, 5 the front head, and
6 the drill, bit, or steel, which latter is provided with a

longitudinal hole 7, through whwich water flows to cutting
point 8. The cylinder and anvil block guide 3 is formed
or fashioned with a preferably rearwardly directed pro-
jection or projecting part 9. It is preferred to construct
this projection or part 9 integral with the guide, but it
may be made as a separate piece, and be screwed or other-
wise suitably fixed to the guide 3. In the wall of the
counterbore 10, in the front end of guide 3, there is formed
an annular recess 11, in which is placed a packing ring 12
of rubber, leather, or other suitable flexible material. The
packing ring 12, which fits the recess 11, is constructed
with an outer annular recess, an inner annular recess, and
a ring of holes, spaced apart, which places the annular
recesses in communication. An annular slot is formed in
the exterior of the ring which communicates with the recess
13. 17 is a passage formed through the projection or part
9, and communicating with the bottom of the recess 11, so
that water flowing along said passage 17 is free to enter
the annular recesses 14. In the outer end of the projec-
tion or part 9 there is formed a screw-threaded hole 18,
into which is screwed one end of a pipe 19, which serves
for leading the water to the machine. The pipe may be
connected by means of a hose or other suitable flexible
pipe with a source, of water supply. The water passes
from pipe 19 through passage 17. 20 is a strainer placed
between the bottom of the hole 18 and the inner end of
the pipe 19 for preventing the passage beyond it of any
particles of solid matter which might close the passage 17,
or impede the free flow of the water through said passage.
21, 22 are two rearwardly inclined holes formed in the
larger front part of the anvil block 4. These holes 21, 22
communicate with an axial hole 23 formed in said larger
part, and opening at the front end thereof. The holes 21,
22 permit the water to pass from the recess in the packing
ring to the axial hole 23, whence it passes along the longi-
tudinal hole 7 through the drill, steel, or bit to the cutting
point 8. 24, 25 are two annular grooves formed around
the larger front part of the anvil block, and 26 are grooves
which place the grooves 24, 25 in communication. The