1160 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN June 7, 1918. ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. 112127. Softening Water. H. Reisert, G.m.b.H., Cologne-Braunsfeld, Germany.—This invention relates to a new process of softening water. The use of water softened by interchange of bases is, in many manufacturing processes, impossible on account of its high degree of alkalinity which becomes apparent on boiling such water. In order to remove this highly objectionable quality of water thus softened it has been proposed to remove the free as well as the half-bound carbonic acid from the water by adding to it caustic lime or other chemical agents previous to the admixture of base-exchanging agents. But it has been found that a still greater incon- venience is thereby occasioned, inasmuch as it converts the softening ingredients into slime, owing to secondary reactions. The particles of the softening mass, by such addition, are covered by a coating of calcium carbonate and of magnesium hydrate, whereby they cohere and gradually more or less lose their base-exchanging property. According to the present invention the free and the half- bound carbonic acid is removed from the water before the admixture of base-exchanging ingredients by the use of another means, which, though already known by itself, has the particular result that, by being employed in the process of softening water by base-exchanging agents, it not only fully avoids the conversion of such agents into a slime by secondary reaction, but also offers particular advantages, which greatly improve the quality of the water so treated. This special means consists in boiling the water before submitting the same to the softening process by base-exchanging agents,. By boiling the water, its contents of free carbonic acid are entirely released, whereas on employing caustic lime for such purpose, a considerable extra expense for chemical agents is incurred. By the removal of the free carbonic acid from the water that part of it is expelled which is able to separate and thereby destroy the alkali from the base-exchanging agent. rlhis advantage, together with the prevention against sliming before described secures to the softening agents greater efficiency. The hardness of the water having been much reduced by boiling before the admixture of the base- exchanging admixture, it will be evident that a consider- ably reduced amount of such agent and also a reduced amount of chloride of sodium is required for regenerating the same, and to this advantage may be added the reduced space required for the receptacles in carrying the invention into practice. Moreover, the preliminary boiling of the water will be considerably cheaper than the preliminary treatment with chemical agents, as the heat employed may be further utilised for the most part. (Three claims.) 113779. Horizontal Coking Ovens. Societe Franco- Beige de Fours a Coke, 42, rue de Namur, Brussels, Belgium, temporarily of 21, rue du Mont-Thabor, Paris.— The present invention relates to improvements in horizontal coking ovens having vertical channels or flues and means for the recuperation of the heat and by-products, and the primary object is to modify ovens of the type hitherto known for the purpose of rendering it possible to heat same with generator gas, this gas as well as the air necessary for combustion being previously heated by means of the heat carried by the combustion products, said heat being recu- perated from the combustion products discharged from the heating channels of the oven proper. The said recuperation of heat is effected by preheating both the air and gas in separate but identical recuperators provided in the founda- tions of the oven without the course of the gas, or of the air or combustion products being reversed or inverted. (Two claims.) 114926. Fans or Blowers. G. P. Varley, Haresfinch House, St. Helens, and P. Smith, 75, Corporation-street, St. Helens.—This invention has reference to centrifugal fans or blowers, and primarily the apparatus has been designed for use in connection with corrosive gases or acid-laden air, though it can be equally well used for other purposes. The fan or blower is of the type wherein the air or corrosive gas is admitted through an aperture in the casing, at or near the axis of the rotating fan, whence it is driven towards the periphery and discharged through an aperture in the casing. All the parts of the apparatus against which the corrosive gases come into contact, are made of a suitable metallic alloy which is contra- distinguished from cast iron or other metals in that it is capable of resisting the corroding action of an acid. According to the present, invention the rotor member of the fan or blower is so made as to give the highest efficiency and resist liability to crack and enable a sound casting to be produced, and a further object of the invention is to so arrange the parts that all surfaces against which the corrosive gases come into contact shall be of an acid resisting alloy, while the other parts may be of any ordinary metal. The impeller is composed of a single disc of concave or dished formation having blades or vanes projecting forwardly from the concave face towards the inlet aperture in the stationary case within which the impeller revolves in such manner as to leave a central space between the inner edges of such vanes, and in that the said inlet aperture is provided with a sleeve concentric with the axis of the impeller, one end of such sleeve entering the said central space and lying in close continuity to the inner edges of the vanes. The rotary impeller, the stationary case in which it revolves, and the sleeve which enters the central space between the inner edges of such vanes, are made of acid resisting alloy, while the rotary shaft to which the impeller is fixed is of non-acid-resisting metal, but is provided at the end which projects from the axial hole in the impeller with a cap of acid resisting alloy. (Four claims.) NEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Applications for Patents. May 27 to June 1 (inclusive). [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.] Alldays and Onions Pneumatic Engineering Company and Page, H. H. Appliances for use with oil fuel burners. (8843) Bishop, S. R. Internal combustion engines. (9013) Boyd ,E. A. Rotary engines. (9078) British Thomson-Houston Company. Alternating current dynamo-electric machines. (9075) British Thomson-Houston Company (General Electric Company). Electric transformers. (8870) British Thomson Houston Company (General Electric Company). Means for controlling electric circuits. (9074) Burleigh, J. W. Dynamo-electric machinery. (8941) Collyer, C. R. Internal combustion engines. (8776) Comley, J. W. Safety retaining device for cages of mines, lifts, etc. (8984) Davies, W. E. Preparation of fuel briquettes and utilisa- tion of same in carbonisation, combustion, gasification, etc. (8969) Davis, R. H. Breathing apparatus. (8748) Eades, S. H. Internal combustion engines. (9013) Flathers, A. V. Internal combustion engines. (8776) Godin, A. Hoisting and conveying goods. (8955) Fladfield, Sir R. A. Manufacture of sound ingots and billets of special steel. (8815) Hodge, G. H., and Watson, G. Clinometer. (8997) Joubert, L. Electrical installations. (9056) McGregor, D. G., and Mathers, G. S. A. Generator for gas turbines. (8897) Midgley, A. H. Self-regulating continuous current dynamos. (8953) Perry, W. P. Apparatus for distilling carbonaceous material. (9010) Phillips, S. Two-stroke petrol, oil or gas engine. (8999) Pilkington, J. Devices for lighting miners’ safety lamps. (8717) * Poppett, G. Mechanical coal-cutting machine. (9053) Robinson, F. H. Variable circuit electric motor. (8779) Sarron, P. F., and Simon, J. Electro converter furnaces, and process of treatment for manufacture of steels thereby. (8761) Schneider, C. Apparatus for consuming smoke in steam boiler furnaces, etc. (8855) Shear, F. R. Preventing clinker in furnaces. (8940) Skelton, E. D. Clinometers. (9035) Smith, E. C. Bowden-. Oil fuel burners. (8958) Taylor, H. W., and Whitcher, J. Alternating current dynamo-electric machines. (9075) Vandervell and Company, C. A. Self-regulating con- tinuous current dynamos. (8953) Willey, S. J. L. Steam generating. (8911) Wilson, J. C. Regulating arrangements for electric circuits, chiefly for controlling dynamo - electric machinery. (8998) Wilton, N. Manufacture of sulphate of ammonia. (8812) Wilton, T. O. Continuous dehydration and distillation of tar, etc. (8813) Wollaston, T. R. Steam turbines. (8786) Woodvine, G. Steam motor wagons. (8794) Complete Specifications Accepted. (To be published on June 20.) [Note.—The number following the application is that which the specification will finally bear.] 1916. 13151. Smulders and’ Company, L. Regulator for gas pumps and compressors and the like. (101486) 1917. 4289. Johnston, J., and Globe Pneumatic Engineering Company. Rotary compressors or exhausters. (11583) 5072. Greaves, H. A., and Etchells, H. Electrically- heated resistance furnaces. (115866) 5081. Heyl, G. E. Process for obtaining a distillate from shale, free from sulphur. (115867) 7320. Rowe, R. F. Two-stroke internal combustion engines. (115892) 7335. Gale, A. R. Steam engines. (115894) 7430. Hult, C. A., and Hult, O. W. Four-stroke cycle explosion or internal combustion motors. (115901) 7485. Brotherton and Company, Porteous, J., and White- lock, E. D. Apparatus for the extraction of naphthalene salts and similar substances from the distillates of coal tar distillation. (115906) 8230. Gosselin, B. J. X. Surveying and other reflecting instruments for the measurement of angles. (108668) 8549. Rived, F. Instrument for measuring angles of azimuth and inclination for use in mines. (115929) 10336. Jones, J. S. Pit prop. (115956) 10362. British Thomson-Houston Company (General Elec- tric Company). Centrifugal compressors. (115957) 10451. Thomson, J. Steam generators. (115958) 11640. Marillier, F. W., and Champeney, C. C. Multi- stage fans. (115989) 12434. Didier, J. L. Internal combustion engines. (110541) 12834. Goodall, Clayton and Company, and Settle, T. Manufacture of coal gas. (115997) 14125. Wilkinson, F. A. Internal combustion engines. (116012) 15080. Sutterlin, G. Hollow grates for boiler furnaces. (116019) 15744. Widner, G. H. Process for producing a water- softening material. (116023) 18281. British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. Liquid rheostats. (112434) 19292. Dudbridge Iron Works, and Smith, T. G. Appa- ratus for use in determining the horse-power of engines. (116045) 1918. 811. Hall, G. L. Internal combustion engines. (116051) 1114. Soc. d’Exploitation des Appareils Rateau. Appa- ratus for the production of water gas. 112942) 1489. Donald, P. G. Gravity and like runways. (116053) 3455. Snowdon, F. Repair of coke ovens and the like. (116059) . 4305. Pettit, C. J. Manufacture of fire lighters, and apparatus therefor. (116063) 6422. Dempster and Sons, R., and Brooke, R. M. Drains for hydraulic mains used in coal gas manufac- ture. (116068) Complete Specifications open to Public Inspection Before Acceptance. [Note.—The number following the application, is that which the specification will finally bear. J 1917. 17949. Akt.-Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie. Method and apparatus for preventing pulsation in centrifugal compressors. (116070) PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. “ Problems in Land and Mine Surveying—Four Hundred Questions and Answers,” by Daniel Davies, M.I.M.E. (London: Charles Griffin and Company Limited, Exeter - street, Strand, W.C. 2), price 7s. 6d. net; “ The Journal of State Medicine ” (Vol 26, No. 6), June, 1918 (The Royal Institute of Public Health, 37, Russell-square, London, W.C. 1), price 2s. net; “Industrial Manage- ment—the Engineering Magazine ” (Vol. 55, No. 5), May, 1918, price 25 cents; “ Salvage—The Official Organ of the Salvage Club ” (No. 2), May 1918 (Published by the Salvage Club, 15 and 17, Suffolk-street, Pall Mall, S.W. 1), price Is.; “Annales des Mines—Partie Adminis- trative ou Recueil de Lois, etc.” Onzieme Serie, Tome 6), Documents du 4e Trimestre 1917; “Transactions of the Institution of Mining Engineers (Vol. 55, Part 2), May 1918 (London : Published at the Offices of the Insti- tution, Albany Buildings, 39, Victoria-street, West- minster, S.W. 1), price 6s.; “The Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, Bulletin No. 164, May 30, 1918 ” (Pub- lished by the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy, 1, Finsbury Circus, London, E.C. 2); “The Man- chester Steam Users’ Association—Annual Report of the Committee of Management to the Members of the Association, 1917 ” (Manchester : Morris and Yeaman, Lloyd-street, Albert Square); The Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: (Paper No. 4171) “The Effect of Flood Embankments on the River Levels in the Irrawaddy Delta,” by Bernhard Martin Samuel- son; (Paper No. 4193) “Railway Water Supplies in Western Australia : Difficulties Caused by Salt in Soil,” by Robert Bleazby; (Paper No. 4194) “Experiments on Earth Pressures,” by P. M. Crosthwaite; (Paper No. 4195) “ On the Physical Features of ‘ Adam’s Bridge ’ and the Currents across it, considered as affect- ing the Proposed Construction of a Railway Connect- ing India with Ceylon,” by F. J. Waring; (Paper No. 4196) “Keadby Bridge,” by J. B. Ball; (Paper No. 4198) “ Recent Progress in Dredging Machinery,” by William Brown; (Paper No. 4199) “ Signalling and Interlocking of Keadby Deviation Railway and Bridge,” by J. B. Ball; (Paper No. 4205) “A New Method of Designing Masonry Dams,” by A. A. Stoddard; (Paper No. 4210) “ Failure of Short Tubular Struts of High Tensile Steel,” by W. C. Popplewell and H. Carrington; (Paper No. 4216) “ Deep Water Moorings in Valparaiso Bay,” by H. C. Anstey; (Paper No. 4226) “A New Device for Tacheometric Plane Table Surveying,” by H. Louis; (The “James Forrest” Lecture, 1917) “The Standardisation of Engineering Materials, and Its In- fluence on the Prosperity of the Country,” by Sir John Wolfe Barry; “Brief Notices of Papers in Scientific Transactions and Periodicals.” The mine workers of Nova Scotia are endeavouring to obtain an amendment to the Coal Mines Regulation Act that will make it illegal after October 1 for any corpora- tion, like the Dominion Coal Company, to stop the 'wages of their employees for the payment of store bills. ---------- HIGH-CLASS ----- Incline Haulage ROLLERS. IMMEDIATE DELIVERY FROM STOCK. Also “ BITSOL ” QUICK TAR BLACKS ALFRED STEEL & SONS LTD., MEADOW HALL ROAD, BRIGHTSIDE, SHEFFIELD. Telephone—2633 CENTRAL. W. W. Hill, Son & Wallace Ltd., Elton St., Broughton Bridge, MANCHESTER. ---- ESTABLISHED 1840. -