1012

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 17, 1918.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

105563. Maintaining Equilibrium of Pressure in Retorts,
etc. A. A. Macintosh, 15, Loch-street, St. Kilda, Victoria,
Australia, and W. H. Hunt, 340, Spencer-street,
Melbourne.—This invention has been devised to provide
a method and apparatus caluculated to maintain equi-
librium or any predetermined condition of pressure in
retorts or gas off-take pipes from horizontal, inclined,
or vertical gas making retorts, from coke ovens, chamber
ovens, or other apparatus of a like nature used in gas
making. The invention is also applicable for successful
employment to retorts or ovens wherein the volatilisation
of other suitable substances is to be conducted, and from
which gases or volatilised mineral matters are produced.
In the past, devices have been employed in the manufac-
ture of gas, for instance, and known as retort house
governors, and their like, having governing bells with
balance or counter-balance weights ; these have been aimed
at maintaining an equilibrium of pressure in the foul
gas mains, i.e., the mains in communication with the
retorts, but in practice it has been found that such
appliances do not satisfactorily fulfil the function of main-
taining an equilibrium or predetermined condition of
pressure in the retorts or gas offtake pipes from the retorts
or gas generators. The invention provides a maintenance
of an equilibrium or any predetermined condition of pres-
sure with regularity and reliability in any individual retort
or gas offtake, irrespective of the predetermined condition
of pressure in any other retort or gas offtake, even though
common members of the same installation. (Four claims.)

114264. Appliances for Making Briquettes. A. B.
Coleman, 261, Albert-road, Aston, Birmingham.—This
invention relates to hand tools or appliances such as are
used in households for the making of block fuel or
briquettes from fine coal slack, ashes and waste combus-
tible material, or mixtures of these, with a binding
agent such as portland cement, and the invention consists
of the improvements hereinafter described in the said
hand tools or appliances whereby the removal of the
briquettes from the moulds for drying purposes is facili-
tated. The hand tools to which the invention refers
ordinarily comprise a short tube or mould, usually slightly
tapering, and a rammer, and the removal of the briquettes
after the ramming operation from the mould is ordinarily
effected by the lifting of the mould off the briquette, the
latter being held down by the rammer, the mould being
carried over the upper end or handle of the rammer.
By this operation the briquette, which is in a moist state,
is frequently damaged or broken. According to this
invention the tubular mould is made capable of being
readily opened, or partially opened, so as to facilitate
the release of the briquette and the removal of the mould
therefrom without damage to the briquette. (Seven
claims.)

114272. Endless Rope Haulage Clip. J. G. Guy, Manor
House, Wardley, Newcastle-on-Tyne.—This invention
relates to improvements in endless rope haulage clips for
attaching coal tubs and the like singly, or in sets of any
desired number, to the endless rope, and more particularly
relates to the manner of operating the plates for gripping
the rope, and in addition a means of adapting this haulage
clip to either haul, draw or push the tubs or load, where
the haulage road is undulating, by an attachment by
which the clip is always kept in a practically rigid position
when the clip is attached to the tub and rope. The clip
is very readily and easily attached to both the tub and
the rope and as easily detached. This clip may be used
either for under-tub or over-tub haulage.

114322. Improved Rotary Pump. A. E. Shiner, 2,
Holborn Buildings, Holborn Bars, London.—This inven-
tion relates to an improved rotary pump of the known
kind having a pendulum rotor, in which the outlet channel
is formed within the stem of the pendulum, and in which
the said stem slides through an oscillating packing piece,
or is formed with a cylindrical enlargement that slides
between opposite walls of an extension of the pump
chamber. According to the invention, the outlet channel
for the fluid opens into the pump chamber at a point
in the stem adjacent to the pendulum bob. (Two claims.)

114366. Centrifugal, Turbine or Similar Pumps. R. E.
Hoffmann, 34, Eleanor-road, Ham Park-road, West Ham,
Essex.—This invention relates to means for improving
the working and efficiency of centrifugal, turbine or similar
pumps by the introduction within the pump suction or
supply chambers of a diffuser consisting of perforated or
slotted castings or plates fitted in such a manner and of
such a form as will ensure the water entering the eyes
of the impellers in a steady even flow. It is well known
that some loss of efficiency results through shock of water
entering the impellers of centrifugal pumps, or through
the formation of vortices, eddies and the like, caused by
bends and elbows in the suction pipe line, or tortuous
passages in the pump casing itself, or through, air mixing
with the water pumped. It is the object of this invention
to neutralise such vortices and eddies, and to ensure an
even flow of water to the impellers by applying a per-
forated or slotted diffuser so that all shock is eliminated
enabling the best possible results to be obtained from
any form of impeller or vaned rotor. An incidental
advantage that can be obtained by the use of this invention
is that the diffuser can be made to act as an efficient
strainer, thus preventing the possibility of solid matter
entering the impeller and choking the ports thereof, or
passing through same and causing damage to auxiliary
apparatus to which the pump may be connected, should
for any reason or oversight an efficient strainer be not
provided at or near the pump suction intake. (Eleven
claims.)

114384. Coal Saving Arrangement for Steam Boilers.
W. S. Glenn, 199, Great Brunswick-street, Dublin, and
P. McDonnell, Rutland Hall, Dolphins Barn, Dublin.—
This invention relates to the insertion of firebars, in
three or more sections, to the fireboxes of locomotive or
other type steam boilers, raised on an inclined plane
resting, at one end, against the front of the firebox under
fire door and against flat bar, bolted, or cast on, to
firebars of existing grates, at the other end. An improve-
ment in the method of using and saving coal in steam
boiler generators is effected by the introduction of specially
arranged firebars, so constructed as to be superimposed on
existing grate bars on inclined plane. These inclined bars,
preferably at an angle of 60 degs., invite the coal to
automatically feed to the centre of the grate, and thus
avoid the necessity of continually opening the firehole door,
in action, owing to the inrush of cold air, which has very
detrimental effects on the fireboxes and boiler tubes;
these inclined bars also prevent a mass of slacked coal
accumulating against rivets, plates, and fire door rings of
fronts of fireboxes, therefore prolonging the life of these
parts and greatly reducing the formation of clinkers; and,

moreover, these bars being in an inclined plane, preferably
at an angle of 60 degs., increase the grate area, and also
permit of the better infusion of oxygen, thus giving a
more efficient combustion of the coal gases. A gun barrel
tube, plugged at one end and connected to cock conduct-
ing dry steam, is placed underneath existing firebars,
near front of firebox, and having a number ot jet holes
on top to enable the dross or ash to be cleared from
existing bars and inclined bars. (Two claims.)

114397. Improvements in Gas Wash Boxes. F.
Thuman, 38, Victoria-street, Westminster (a communica-
tion from C. S. Chrisman, West Chester, Pennsylvania,
U.S.A.).—-The principal objects of the present invention
are to avoid vibratory action in the wash box and prevent
such leakage as is caused thereby, to reduce the back-
pressure on the gas machine connected with the wash
box and so permit of the reduction in weight of the
stack valves, to avoid agitation of water in the wash box
and consequently permit of the use of less water, and to
accomplish the above objects without increasing the size
of the wash box. According to the invention, the dip
element or pipe of a gas wash box comprises a hollow body,
having at its outlet end a depending wall or walls, the
lower edge or edges of which is or are horizontal, or
at one level, portions of which form re-entrant external
spaces, so as to provide an unusually extensive liquid
sealed rim under the whole of which gas can escape from
the dip element or pipe, which results in a reduction of
back pressure and of bubbles which cause vibratory or
pulsatory effect in the wash box. (Four claims.)

114485. Apparatus for the Softening and Purification
of Water. J. J. Lassen, and V. F. Hjort, Imperial House,
Kingsway, London, W.C.—According to this invention the
wash water from the settling tank, instead of being allowed
to run to waste, is passed into a tank where the matter
suspended in it is allowed to settle and the clear liquid
is then returned to some part of the filtering apparatus
so that it may be used again. This utilisation of the
flushing or wash water more than once is of particular
value in many chemical water-softening processes where
a considerable amount of the precipitate comes down very
quickly. It is found that in some cases about 80 per cent,
of the whole of the matter which is eventually precipitated
comes down in 10 or 15 minutes, and it is therefore an
advantage to get rid of this precipitated material or sludge
as quickly as possible, and to charge the settling tank
again with freshly treated water. This frequent flushing
of the settling tanks would necessitate the expenditure
of large quantities of water if that water was not, accord-
ing to this invention, returned and used again. In water-
softening plant of this description a further increase in
efficiency is obtained according to this invention by
arranging two or more settling or precipitation tanks or
vessels so that they work in parallel in connection with
a filter bed or mass of filtering material common to them
both. Thus one or more of these tanks may be put out
of action and emptied without interfering with or inter-
rupting the action of the others. When the invention is
applied to water-softening and filtering plant of the kind
in which the chemically treated water first enters a settling
tank and then passes upwards through a mass of filtering
material and away over a weir, the two or more settling
tanks are conveniently arranged side by side, and normally
the water from each of them passes into another vessel
or another chamber in the same vessel, and thence to
the filtering material. The auxiliary or wash water tank
is placed at some lower level than the bottom of the settling
tanks, and pipes lead into it from near the bottoms of the
settling tanks so that the sludge may be flushed out into
the lower tank. Another pipe may lead to this auxiliary
tank from above the level of the filtering material in order
to carry off the wash water when the filtering material
is cleaned. A pipe having its lower end dipping into the
water in the auxiliary tank is carried upwards so that its
other end is over some convenient part of the filtering
apparatus. This pipe is connected with a centrifugal or
other pump, and its lower end is controlled by a float,
as previously mentioned. Arrangements may also be made
whereby a sterilising agent, chlorine, for example, may be
added to the water in the auxiliary tank so that when it
is used again it is an active agent in sterilising the filtering
material or other parts of the apparatus with which it
may come into contact. (Five claims.)

114479. Screw Pumps. F. G. Cory, Granville Cottage,
Sway, Hampshire.—The object of this invention is to
provide a simple and efficient form of helical blade pump
and, in particular, a pump of this character which shall
be suitable for use as a fuel pump with an internal-
combustion rotary engine or turbine such as that described
in the complete specification of a prior patent No. 105384,
dated April 8, 1916. In a pump suitable for such use
it is desirable that it should be able to run at high speed
without the possibility of any of the parts getting out
of order, and without the complication which is entailed
by the employment of packing, and that it should comprise
a reservoir or pressure equalising chamber in view of
the intermittent or periodic delivery of fuel or mixture
to the engine. The type of pump to which this invention
appertains is that in which a continuous helix revolves
in a casing with the periphery of the helix in close
proximity to the interior of the casing, the helix and
casing being of frusto-conical form. In such pumps, any
free space at the small or delivery end will act as a
pressure equalising space or reservoir, the opposite or
large end having a suitable suction or inlet opening.
When such pumps are employed for supplying combustible
mixture to an internal-combustion engine or motor, the air
inlet at the large end is suitably provided with regulating
means. In this invention the helical or helicoidal blade is
made of diminishing pitch from the inlet end towards the
delivery end, so that, whilst a good suction, fuel atomisa-
tion and admixture take place at the large end, owing
to the action of the high speed surfaces of the blade with
which the air and fuel come into contact, a good pressure
is set up at the small end which is effective for delivering
the mixture through ducts to an internal-combustion
engine. A pressure equalising or compression chamber is
provided by stopping the blade short of the small end of
the casing so that the high pressure end of the blade
has a good cushioning space to work against. The fuel
inlet is arranged, preferably, so as to direct a jet of fuel
on to the high speed surface at the large end of the blade,
and this end of the blade may in .some cases be fitted
with a shutter part which will intermittently cover or
partially cover the inlet opening. The fuel inlet is
situated preferably near the bottom part of the large
end of the casing, and in order to prevent lubricant from
entering it from the casing and interfering with the jet,
the mouth of the inlet may be suitably flared, and the
upper part may be fitted with an overhanging flange which
prevents any falling lubricant from fouling the petrol
jet. (Six claims.)

114497. Mechanical Stokers for Boiler Furnaces, etc.
W. H. Holehouse, The Superheat Furnace Company, 70,

Harris-street, Bradford, York, and W. Holehouse, The
Davenport Engineering Company, Bradford.—This inven-
tion relates to improvements in mechanical stokers for
boiler furnaces and the like, the object being to arrange
and construct a fuel shovel which will during operation
move through a complete circle in lieu of the usual back-
ward and forward motion. The shovel will be arranged
in connection with a suitable hopper or feed box of
usual construction, but the feed ram, instead of delivering
the coal to the shovel towards the furnace, as hitherto,
will deliver the coal in the opposite direction, that is,
in a direction away from the furnace. It has been
previously proposed to employ circularly moving shovels
to which the fuel has been delivered to the face thereof,
and in a direction towards the furnace, and such shovels
have been spring mounted, but not in the manner provided
by this invention. The construction is simple and there
is no complication of cams, and burning out of the boxes
due to back firing consequent on poor draught is avoided.
The shovel may operate with either a “sprinkler” or
“coker” stoker. (Four claims.)

114515. Permanent Way Stops for Colliery Tubs.
A. A. Short, 46, Nottingham-road, Spondon, Derby,
W. G. Watkins, 158, Pear Tree-street, Derby, and G.
Fletcher and Company Limited, Masson Works, Derby.
—The present invention relates to improvements in stop
devices for controlling the passage of tubs, trams, wagons,
or other types of rolling stock, of the type in which
the arms of a star wheel are adapted alternately to come
into the path of, and engage the axle or other suitable
part of, the colliery tub, or the like, which star-wheel
is locked in one or more positions by a locking device.
The effective position of the locking device is displaced
or slightly out of phase with the position of the stop
as determined by a controlling spring in the direction
of rotation of the stop, so that when once the locking
device has been released the stop will automatically move
slightly in the forward direction, thereby displacing the
locking parts relatively to one another, and effectively
preventing any possible accidental relocking of the stop
by the locking device. In the preferred form of the
invention the spindle of the star wheel is polygonal or has
flats connected to it which are engaged by the surfaces
of flat leaf springs or spring plungers so that the star
wheel can be held with its arms in a number of pre-
determined positions. The axle also has one or more
catches or snugs adapted to engage with a stop lever,
preferably disengaged from the snug or catch by means
of a horizontal pull-off bolt. (Seven claims.)

114541. Steam-jet Ash Conveyors. H. A. Gill, 55 and
56, Chancery-lane, London, W.C. 2 (a communication from
American Steam Conveyor Corporation, 326, West
Madison-street, Chicago, U.S.A.).—This invention relates
to ash conveyor systems of the kind wherein steam under
pressure is employed as the medium for carrying the ashes
through the conveyor conduit, and the objects of the
invention are to provide a better, cheaper, and generally
more efficient system of this class. With the above objects
in view, according to one feature of the invention, steam
under pressure is used as the medium for carrying the
ashes through the conveyor conduit, and the portion of the
conveyor conduit farthest from the discharge end thereof
is of less diameter than the remainder of the conduit.
It has been found that by using a conduit, the horizontal
portion of which is composed of two different diameters
such as mentioned, the ashes can be conveyed by the
steam much more economically and the ashes at the extreme
end of the conveyor handled much more rapidly than if
the conveyor conduit were of uniform diameter. Accord-
ing to a further feature, the upper surface of the
conveyor conduit is provided with a number of inclined
baffles which are located at the part of the conduit of
greater diameter. This arrangement serves to agitate the
ashes in the large portion, as it has been found that
otherwise the fine ashes are apt to collect at the bottom
and obstruct/that part of the conveyor conduit. A further
feature consists in an improved J construction of elbow
essentially for connecting a horizontal conduit with a
vertical riser, which. elbow is such that those portions
thereof which are subject to excessive wear may be readily
removed. This is accomplished by the elbow comprising
a curved inner portion, a removable bottom and a
removable back, the said bottom and back being substan-
tially straight and preferably formed or provided with
inclined surfaces. (Seven claims.)

114556. Conveying and Separating or Sizing Plant.
A. F. Campbell, Muirmailing Farm, Denny, Stirlingshire,
Scotland.—This invention relates to improvements con-
nected with conveying and sizing plant applicable to
collieries and other places, and has for its object to
simplify the conveying and separating of the different
sizes of the coal or other material being conveyed, both
being effected at one operation, and at the same time
economising in power. A circular parallel revolving riddle
is used in conjunction with a scraper conveyor, which
latter runs through the riddle and by which the coal
or other material is conveyed into and out of the riddle.
A series of riddles may be provided of different meshes
so that the coal or other material which is left in the
one riddle is carried by the conveyor to the next. The
question of elevating the coal or other material to any
height would be eliminated. The conveyor could be made
to rise into the first riddle. (Two claims.)

114603. Wet Carbonising Apparatus and Process.
W. H. Boorne, M.A.I.M.E., Bush-lane House, Cannon-
street, London, E.C. 4.—This invention relates to the
wet carbonising of peat in apparatus of the kind in which
steam is employed as a substitute for the hot gases
hitherto most generally used. In a general way, but
subject to modifications, the carboniser comprises a main
tube in two sections joined together by a suitable coupling
such as a threaded collar or flange joint. One of these
sections is the main cooling and regenerating tube, and is
fitted as by screwing or expanding into an end plate,
say, of cast iron, which may be provided with a door.
The cooling tube is surrounded by a preheating jacket for
the purpose of regenerating heat from the hot carbonised
peat. Between, or adjacent to, the abutting ends of the
two sections of the tube and internal bracket is fitted,
and may be held in place by the coupling above mentioned.
The other or carbonising section of the tube is to a
large extent enclosed in a steam jacket, provided with
steam from a boiler, and having in it deflecting plates
of any suitable kind for the purpose of ensuring good
circulation before the escape of the steam through a
suitable outlet. Within the carboniser section of the tube
an inner steel casing of distinctly less diameter is provided,
and has one end centred in the bracket above mentioned,
whilst the other end extends outside the carbonising tube
and is fitted with a withdrawable bush, or the like, which
closes this end of the annular space between the carbonising
tube and the inner casing. The outer end of the inner
casing is provided with worm gear, by which it is rotated,
and steam is supplied to the inside of the casing by a