660

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

March 28, 1918.

that portion exposed to the retort sides will distil more
rapidly than the coal not so fully exposed to heat, and
the tar vapours will pass off first from that portion of
the charge exposed to the heat, thus forming a porous
crust or rim, similar to a spongy coke, around the exposed
surface. The heat will subsequently be transmitted
through the cells thus formed in the semi-coke to the
interior of the charge. In other words, a gradual coking
of the charge toward the centre will take place. Under
such conditions the retort will contain an outside rim
or coating similar to spongy coke which has completely
lost its plasticity, while the core of the charge will be
found more or less plastic, and in some instances prac-
tically green. The resulting material will not, therefore,
be of uniform character, and only a portion of the charge
will be available for final compression, especially as the
material from which the tar has been completely driven
off will pulverise under compression. By charging the
coal at one end of the retort, as has been previously
described, and by continuously mixing and conveying
the coal forward into the high temperature zones, a
uniform distilled plastic mass can be obtained. The
distillation can also be carried on more rapidly and to
a further degree, and the product can be discharged
in the proper period of time from the opposite end of
the retort, sufficiently plastic for compression or formation
into briquettes after further treatment. After the
removal of the fused plastic mass from the retorts there
still remains within the fused mass a considerable quantity
of gases and vapours. These gases and vapours when
pressed within the mass will set up sufficient internal
strains within the briquette to make it brittle. They
cannot be removed satisfactorily while the material is
in the heat zone, as new gases or vapours are continually
forming. It is therefore necessary to withdraw the
material from the heat zone and treat properly prior to
final compression so as to permit the escape or the
removal as far as possible of these gases and vapours.
This can be accomplished in various ways, as by knead-
ing the material, by suitable preliminary compression,
or by absorbing the non-condensable gases by. other com-
bustible matter mixed with the heated coal, or by a
combination of two or more of the steps enumerated.
(Nine claims.)

112478. Improvements Relating to Pumps. T. C.
Puzey, 98, Holbein House, Sloane-square, London, S.W. 1.
—This invention relates to pumps especially for under-
ground service, i.e. mine shafts, but applicable also for
surface use. It consists in the combination of a single
acting vertically reciprocating pump located in the shaft
and above the water level, or on the surface a distance
from the power, a suction pipe to said pump, a weight
affixed to the protruding end of the piston rod of said
pump, a wire, rope or the like connected to said piston
rod, a pulley over which said wire, rope, or the like,
passes, said wire, rope, or the like, being connected to
a mechanism or machine which first effects a pull on the
wire, rope, or the like, and then a release of the same,
the release, i.e. the fall of the weight, effecting the delivery
stroke of the pump. The accompanying diagrammatic
drawing illustrates the manner of carrying out the inven-
tion. A pump a of ordinary construction so far as valves
and chambers are concerned is used and fixed above the
water level with a suction pipe dipping into the water,
and to the protruding end of the piston rod b is affixed,
in any suitable manner, a weight c, which weight c may
be made variable. To this weight c, or it may be the
extremity of the piston rod, is attached one end of a
wire, rope, or the like, d, which is carried up the shaft
e, over the pulley / on the head gear frame g, and
thence to any suitable mechanism or machine (not shown),
such, for instance, as that used for a jumper drill, located
on the surface, or simply to a hand-operated device.
With this arrangement of pump, the pull on the wire,
rope, or the like, d, effects the suction stroke, the delivery
stroke being effected by the fall of the combined weight
e, piston h and piston rod b on the release of said wire,
rope, or the like, d.

No. 112555.	No. 112478.

112555. Manufacture of Tin or other Metal Coated
Plates or Sheets. W. Gilbertson and Company Limited,
Pontardawe, R.S.O., Glam., E. Griffiths, Brynamlwg,
Graig Llanguicke, Pontardawe, Glam., and G. 'Webb,
Maelor View, Uplands, Pontardawe, Glam.—The inven-
tion relates to the grease pots of tinning or like metal
coating machines, and consists in an improved device for
carrying the wipers for the grease pot rolls in which
a two-armed lever is pivoted substantially at the level
of the axis of the roll to be wiped, the arm carrying
the wipers being inclined in known manner at an angle
of approximately 45 degs. to the horizontal plane
containing the axis of the roll, and the other arm being
connected to a vertical extension which is acted on by
an adjustable spring controlling the pressure applied to
the rubbing surface. The arrangement is particularly
adapted for use in a narrow pot in which there is little
space between the rolls and the side of the pot, though
it may also be employed with wider types of pots. In
the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a section, and Fig. 2
a part elevation Of a grease and tinning pot, showing an
example of a wiping device according to the invention.
A is a grease pot, of which the upper part contains the
grease pot rolls B* 1, B2 * * * * * * 9. Brackets C1, C2 are mounted
on either side of the rolls in the grease pot, and carry
lugs D1, D2, projecting upwards; screw-threaded bolts
E1, E2 pass through holes in the lugs D1, D2, and also
through holes in the upper ends of arms F1, F2 of two-
armed levers F1, G1 and F2, G2. These levers are pivoted
to the brackets C1. C2 on spindles H1, H2, preferably

arranged at approximately the same level as the axes
of the rolls B1, B2. The arms FJ, F2 are vertical, or
approximately vertical, and the arms G1, G2, which carry
wipers I1, I2, are inclined downwards, so that the wipers
engage with parts of the rolls which are below the
centres and towards the adjacent sides of the pots; the
wipers are set at an angle of 45 degs. (approx.) to the hori-
zontal plane containing the axis of the rolls, the form of
the levers adjacent to the rolls conforming substantially to
the contour of the latter. The arrangement enables the
pivot carrying the cranked levers to be brought nearer
to the rolls and consequently to be used in pots which
are too narrow to accommodate the known type of wipers
carried on horizontal arms. In order that the wipers may
engage with the rolls in known manner with a constant
but adjustable pressure, springs J1, J2 are provided on
the bolts E1, E2, and press the arms F1, F2 towards the
sides of the pot A under a tension which is adjusted
by the nuts K1, K2. The wipers may in known manner
be made of any suitable more or less refractory material.

112658. Improved Construction of Blast Furnace Bosh.
W. J. Foster, “ Greylands,” Darlaston Road, Walsall.—
According to the invention, the bosh is built of a mixture
of carbonaceous material, or materials, and clay, such
as Stourbridge or porcelain clay, or any other clay that
may be found to have similar chemical and physical
properties to either Stourbridge or porcelain clay. The
carbonaceous material is preferably plumbago only, but
where supplies of such are difficult, hard silvery coke may
be substituted ground down to the fineness of soot, although
preferably some plumbago is added to this powdered coke.
The essential feature of the invention is the clay added
to the carbonaceous material to form the blast furnace
bosh, inasmuch as the mixture will stand the high tem-
perature which prevails in the various zones of the bosh,
and will provide a durable and extremely smooth interior
surface, facilitating the movement and even distribution
of the mass being treated as it descends, which has the
effect of preserving the internal lines of the bosh, a
very important matter in blast furnace practice in view
of economy in fuel. The clay is the binding agent in
the mixture and makes the carbon slippy at the high
temperature, and without it the mixture would not be
durable, and the internal lines of the bosh would not
be preserved. The mixture is preferably moulded into
blocks or bricks which are then applied so that their
ends shape the bosh lines. In the practice of the inven-
tion the bosh walls are extremely enclosed by an inclining-
metal casing, between which and the outer ends* of the
blocks a mixture similar, or the same, as that of which
the blocks are formed is applied to form a seating for
the blocks on the ‘casing, a sealing layer between the
casing and the blocks, and also a key. (Two claims.)

112695. Improvements in Mechanical Stokers. W. F.
Goodrich and W. R. Harnlyn, 7, Arundel-street, Strand,
and Goodrich and Harnlyn Limited, 7, Arundel-street,
Strand.—This invention relates to mechanical stokers and
has for its object to provide an improved attachment for
use in connection with such stokers, by means of which
the fuel supplied to the mechanical stoker is graded by
separating the larger particles from the smaller and dusty
particles, the larger particles of fuel being fed on to
the travelling grate at a point or points ahead of the
point at which the smaller and dusty particles are fed
on to the grate. Fig. 1 is a side view, and fig. 2 a plan
view, of one form of the attachment. A riddle or screen-
ing device b, consisting of a slotted plate, or of a series
of plates, is pivotally supported at h below the hopper
a of a mechanical stoker so as to receive the fuel as it
passes from the hopper a to the travelling grate d. An
intermittent rising and falling movement is imparted to
the riddle or screen b by a toothed roller c located at
the outer end of the riddle b in such a position that
as the roller c is rotated in the direction shown by the
arrow, the teeth on the roller will cause the screen b to
be raised. After a row of teeth has passed the screen b,
the latter will fall, but to prevent the screen striking
the next row of teeth as it falls a stop or bar g is provided
(which may be spring supported if desired) on to which
the screen" falls, thus relieving the teeth of the roller
c from the shock of the descending screen. The larger

particles of fuel, that
is to say, the lumps or
nuts which are not
shaken through the
screen, are removed by
the toothed roller c
and deposited on the	Fjqj

moving grate d at a
point, as shown, ahead
of that at which the
smaller and dusty par-
ticles of fuel which

pass through the
screen are deposited on	h

the grate. In this way	, ,i=fiiHSh

the moving grate d as Fig.2	If •

it travels towards the 1
furnace receives first a	J ""

layer of the larger
pieces of fuel from the
toothed roller c and thereafter a further layer of smaller
particles of fuel and dust as the grate passes under the
riddle towards the furnace. In some cases when it is

desired to deposit the smaller particles of fuel passing
through the riddle at a point on the travelling grate nearer
the furnace, a baffle or guide plate f is employed, located
below the riddle or screen. Said baffle or guide plate
is sometimes provided with vertical corrugations for
causing the layer of dusty fuel to be delivered to the
grate in furrows. The necessary intermittent rotation
may be imparted to the toothed roller c by any suitable
means, such as the ratchet wheel j mounted on the shaft
k of the roller and pawl j1, the latter being actuated, for
example, by the mechanism used for causing the forward
travel of the grate. Preferably, the pawl y1 is provided
with suitable means whereby the speed of the roller c
may be varied in a well known way so as to enable the
delivery of the requisite quantity of graded fuel to be
regulated as may be required. If desired, an intermediate
grade o4 fuel may also be separated out by dividing the
roller c/transversely into sections and spacing such sec-
tions a greater distance apart than the width of the slots
between vthe bars of the riddle or screen b. With this

arrangement fuel which is too large to pass through the
riddle or screen will pass between the sections of the
roller c, still larger particles of fuel being removed and
carried over by the toothed roller and deposited on the
moving grate as described above. (Seven claims.)

112731. Electrical Furnace for Hardening Steel.
L. W. Wild, and E. P. Barfield, Westminster Electrical
Testing Laboratory, York Mansions, York-street, West-

minster.—This invention relates to an improved electrical
furnace for hardening steel and the like. Fig. 1 is an
elevation of a furnace constructed according to the inven-
tion. Fig. 2 is a sectional view at right angles to fig. 1, in
which a indi-

cates the silica
crucible or tube
which is open
at the upper
end and closed
at the lower
end, and b is
the coil or
winding of suit-
able material,
such as nickel-
chrome wire,
which is wound
around the out-
side of the said
crucible a, and
is connected at
its ends to the
metal bands c

1

c-

U7-
|T"H V H

clipped around
the crucible a. As will be observed, the winding b
extends from the bottom of the crucible to a point some-
what above the middle part thereof, thus leaving the
upper portion of the crucible without any winding, d is
the outer casing which encloses the crucible a, between
which and the casing is left a space filled with a heat and
electrical insulating material, such as quartz powder e,
the upper part of the space being advantageously closed
by an asbestos ring e1. f are the metal bands, which
are secured around the top and bottom of the outer
casing d, the said bands being in electrical connection
respectively, by the wires g and h, with the top and
bottom bands c to which the ends of the coil b are con-

nected. These bands f serve to supply current to the
said coil b from any convenient source. In using the
furnace, the crucible a is partially filled with a salt
mixture «, such as a mixture of potassium and sodium
chlorides, which mixture, when current is passed through
the coil 6, is fused, and in which the material to be
heated is immersed and by which it is rapidly heated.
As above described, the level of the molten salt i should
be considerably below the top of the crucible a, as clearly
indicated in fig. 2, to prevent any creeping of the salt
over the top of the crucible and into contact with the
winding b. (Two claims.)

112734. Improvements in Access Doors for Smoke
Flues. The Stirling Boiler Company Limited, 54,
Victoria-street, Westiminster, S.W. 1, and H. J. S.
Mackay, “Rosemount,” Bellevue Road, Ryde.—This
invention relates to access doors for use in apparatus such
as steam generators heated by the waste heat of Siemens-
Martin steel furnaces or the like, where the opening of
the door would affect the operation of the furnace or the
apparatus in series therewith. Fig. 1 is a transverse
section through the improved door. Fig. 2 is a front
elevation partly in section to show the inner plate. The
improved door comprises a frame 1 adapted to
be bolted at the appropriate position to the steam
generator, or the like, and formed between the
front face 2 and the rear face 3 with an inwardly
extending frame 4 strengthened by ribs 5. To the frame
4 is bolted air tight a plate 6 formed with a series of

-3

-9

-6

— 8

9

openings 7. Above
each of these openings
is pivoted by means of
a set screw 8, an
escutcheon or cover
plate 9, which nor-
mally hangs in posi-
tion " to cover the
opening 7. T o t h e
front face of the frame

1 is hinge dly con-

nected, by means of

hinge pins 10, an im-

perforate door 11

adapted to be secured

in closed position by
means of cam mem-
bers 12 operable by
means of handles 13 to

engage behind
inwardly extending

projections 14 formed on the frame 1 around the outer
face. To ensure that the door 11 shall form an air tight
joint with the frame 1 a packing 15 of asbestos rope,
or the like, is let into a dovetailed groove on the front
face of the frame 1. When it is desired to remove soot

or dust from around the tubes of the steam generator
the door 11 is opened. The escutcheon or cover plate

9 opposite the tube to be cleaned is swung aside and
a cleaning lance inserted. The only air then passing
into the steam generator is that which flows through
that opening 7 which is uncovered, and the quantity of
air so passing is insufficient to affect the draught. (Two
claims.)

A large number of miners employed at Graig Merthyr
Colliery, Pontardulais, near Swansea, went into Swansea
and voluntarily enlisted for service at the front, without
waiting for any comb-out.

The Miners’ Ballot—The executive committee of the
Miners’ Federation held a meeting in London on Friday
last to consider the position relative to the Prime Minister’s
declaration that men must be combed out of the mines,
regardless of the ballot. The committee resolved:—
“ That in view of the ballot not showing a two-thirds
majority, we recommend the Conference to advise the
men not to resist the taking of the 50,000 men from the
mines for the Army.” A two-thirds majority would have
required 314,582 adverse votes and a majority of 157,291.
The adverse majority was only 29,570 in a total ballot
of 471,874. These figures were submitted to the Prime
Minister on the previous day (Thursday), and Mr. Lloyd
George, in reply, pointed out the imperative necessity of
more men being obtained for the Army. He declared that
no section of the community could be allowed to say
whether it would obey the law or not. The miners of
Great Britain had made as brilliant a contribution to the
Army as any body in the whole Empire, and wherever
he went he heard but one story as to the way they had
faced their terrible duties. There was no more patriotic
body of men in the whole kingdom, and on behalf of
the Government he was prepared to take the chance of
the answer which the miners would give.