824

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

October 18, 1918.

a sudden generation of steam takes place which dis-
integrates the mass and detaches it from the filtering
material. (Three claims.)

118952. Aerial and other Ropeways.—Bullivants’ Aerial
Ropeways Limited, 72, Mark-lane, London, and B. Val-
lance.—This invention has for its principal object to pro-
vide improved means for manipulating supports, trestles,
or “ stations ” for aerial or other ropeways or runways
and the like requiring to be similarly supported, so that
they can be moved from position to position with great
facility and without necessity for dismantling them, or
, such as those which have been hitherto used for securing
any portion of their structure, or removing any fastenings
such as those which have been hitherto used for securing
such trestles to the ground or other place, this having
been done, for instance, by means of foundation bolts,
or by passing the legs of the trestles into the ground,
or by means of guy ropes. In accordance with this in-
vention the trestles are brought into and held in position
either by the ropes or the like (we will refer to them as
ropes), which they in their turn support, or by one, or
more than one, additional rope passed through the series
of trestles or attached in succession to the trestles of the
series. To bring the trestles into and support them in
position (as they are not inserted in the ground) tension
is given to the rope or ropes by force applied at the
terminals of the system (or at any suitable intervals in
the system) in any suitable manner, such, for instance,
'as by tension screws or pulley blocks and falls, or by
winches, counterweights or the like j (Four claims)

118962. Air Compression Pumps.—H. Williams and
R. H. Best, both of Cambray Works, Handsworth.—This
invention has for its object to construct an improved air
compression pump for the liquid fuel supply systems of
mechanically propelled vehicles, particularly air-craft, the
pump being of the type in which a cylinder with air
inlet and outlet apertures is provided with a reciprocatory
piston which also controls such apertures,, a plug in the
cylinder head serving to vary the size of the compression
space. The invention comprises a cylinder made imegraLy
with a closed crank case having a detachable cover on
one side, an eccentric or cam lor actuating the piston
through a connecting rod, and collars on the driving shaft
..and crank case respectively which serve to hold the con-
necting rod centrally on the periphery of* the eccentric
or cam and take the end thrust of the shaft. (Two
claims.)

118969. Pit Props. M. Fryar, Denby Colliery, Derby.
—This invention relates to pit props, and more particu-
larly to improved means of weakening the extreme, end
or ends thereof, more especially the lower ends, to make
them the weakest points of resistance and give way suffi-
ciently to the root pressure to prevent the breakage of
the body of the prop. Holes are bored in the ends either
longitudinally with or transversely across the grain
thereof. These holes may be either parallel-sided or
tapered, and of such size, diameter and position as is to
be found to be best for the consistency or degree of
hardness and size of the timber to be treated. (Six
claims.)

118979. Mechanical Staking Apparatus. E. W. L.
Nicol, Peak View, Canonbie-road, Forest Hill, S.E. 23,
and H. Schofield, 117 and 118, Leadenhall-street, E.C. 3.
—This invention has reference to mechanical stoking
apparatus, and relates more particularly to arrangements
in which travelling or chain grates are employed. The
main, object of the invention is to facilitate the use of
non-bituminous fuels—for instance, anthracite or coke—
with mechanical stokers by enabling the said fuels to be
efficiently burnt along with bituminous or flaming fuels,
so that the heat of the furnace arch is properly maintained
by the latter and ensures the ignition of the non-bituminous
fuel with ordinary natural draught. A feature of the
invention consists in feeding the anthracite, coke or the
like on to travelling or chain grates beneath a layer of
bituminous fuel. A further feature of the invention con-
sists in a combined, divided or double feed hopper, one
portion of which serves to deliver one kind of fuel to the
grate, whilst the other serves for a different kind, the
mouths of the two hoppers or of the two (or more) parts
/ of the divided or combined hopper being arranged parallel
with each other, and the one for the non-bituminous fuel
being in front, so that the grate takes the fuel from it
before taking it from the other part or parts. If, how-
ever, the hopper be divided into, say, three parts, the
middle part may be used for coke or anthracite, so that
the layer delivered therefrom lies between an upper and
< lower layer of bituminous fuel. This feature of the in-
vention provides simple and effective means wliereby the
ordinary existing feed hopper arrangements in use with
mechanical stokers can easily be utilised for burning
anthracite or coke. According to one arrangement, which
will serve as an example, the chain or travelling grate
is the same as designed for use simply with bituminous
fuel under natural draught. Its ordinary feed hopper,
however, is combined with or divided off to provide an
auxiliary feed hopper for the non-bituminous fuel, and
a regulating, plate is provided at the mouth of each to
control the thickness of the layer of fuel which the grate
carries away with it. The main or inner part of the
combined or divided hopper delivers a layer of bituminous
. or flame-producing fuel on to the top of the layer from
the auxiliary or outer hopper, and its slide or regulating
plate controls the thickness of the top layer, being set to
a height suitable for the joint thickness of the layers,
the bottom layer being made thicker according as the
draught is stronger. (Five claims.)

118993. Apparatus for Treating Peat. C. Bouillon,
7, Rue Boursault, Paris.—It is known that peat contains
an admixture of vegetable fibres which possess properties
having a great industrial and commercial value. On the
other hand, their presence in the peat does not affect the
properties of the peat, which are different from those of
the fibre. The proportion of fibre mixed with the peat
* varies with the position occupied by the peat in the layer
of peat. Usually, but not necessarily, the proportion of
fibre is largest in the top layer of peat. This invention
relates to a continuous process and to apparatus for
isolating the fibres, grading them and reducing the remain-
ing portion of the peat to a pure and anhydrous state.
The process allows any quantity of raw peat to be treated, -
the fibre and water being mechanically removed as well
as the foreign matters to which the fibres adhere. (Five
claims.)

119003. Aerial Wire Ropeways. J. W. White,
(R. White and Sons, Widnes).—The present invention re-
lates to improvements in aerial wire ropeways, and more
particularly to improvements in the carriage supporting
the load. If the gripper is placed directly on to the fixed
hanger, as is usual, the carrier bucket tends naturally to
assume a horizontal position, owing to the pull of gravity
on the load, whilst the pull of the hauling rope on the
gripper tends to make the carrier bucket assume a posi-

tion more or less parallel to the inclined line of the main
carrying rope. The result of these two forces is that the
bucket usually assumes a kind of mid-way position, with
the result that some of the contents of an overloaded
bucket may fall out, and at the same time the position
of the gripper puts a “ kink ” in the hauling rope, which,
of course, is bad for the. rope. The gripper mechanism,
therefore, is fixed on to a kind of false hanger, which
is fixed preferably rigidly (though not necessarily so) to
one of the sides of the carrier head and to pivot the neck
of the hanger, which carries the bucket either directly
to the sleeve of the gripper mechanism which slides on the
fixed hanger, or to suspend it from a bearing above this
sleeve, in such a manner as to allow the bucket to be free
to hang vertically like a pendulum, whilst the axis of the
gripper is free to take up a position parallel to gradient of
carrying rope. A tail-piece attached to the end of the heel
of the fixed gripper, or merely an extension piece of the
fixed hanger, can be added to work or slide in a slot
in a horizontal member of the movable hanger frame, so
as to limit the amount of travel between the two separate
hangers, and this horizontal member is preferably curved
to suit the radius of the hinger from its point of sus-
pension. (Four claims.)

119012. Shackles for Colliery Tram-Cars. J. Davies,
3, Kimberley-road, Cardiff, and Tuck and Company
Limited, 103, Bute Docks, Cardiff.—This invention re-
lates to an improved shackle which is specially adapted to
serve as the component of a Safety coupling for inter-
connecting the tram-cars employed in a colliery, and for
like purposes, and is of the oval or non-revolvable
type of coupling pin provided at its head, with
a shackle of loop handle adapted to control a slide
to engage with an upstanding overhanging projection
formed on the upper arm of the shackle, and at its lower
end with an enlargement, which latter can pass through
the lower limb, but not through the upper. According
to the present invention, the coupling pin, which is made
oval in cross-section, fits into correspondingly shaped holes
formed in the end branches of the U-shaped coupling
link, but with just sufficient play to allow of a slight
twist or turn of the oval-shaped coupling pin. Adjacent
to the hole formed in the upper branch of the coupling
link a recess is formed provided with an inclined side or
sides, and adjacent to this recess an. upwardly projecting
shug is provided, having an overhanging extremity cover-
ing the inclined side recess, the outside profile of the
upstanding snug being curved from a point at its apex
and broadening out at its foot. The coupling pin is
furnished with a snug which when the pin is in coupling
position the snug lies in the inclined side recess with
the before-mentioned overhanging extremity above it. The
top of the coupling pin is flattened out to receive a smaller
shackle having forged thereon a cheek or tongue. In
coupling, the pin is allowed to drop until the snug on
the pin res^ upon the surface of the upper branch of
the coupling link. The small shackle is then pressed down
so that the cheek or tongue engages the curved side of the
upwardly projecting snug, which gives a twist to the
coupling pin, forcing the snug thereon under the over-
hanging extremity to then drop into the inclined side
recess, the overhanging extremity above the recess prevent-
ing all possibility of the pin rising and uncoupling. The
small shackle is large enough when in the coupled position
to drop over the upwardly projecting snug and assist in
preventing any rotary movement of the pin. To uncouple
it is only necessary to raise the small shackle at the top
of the pin and give it a twist, when the snug thereon will
ride up the inclined side of its recess; the coupling pin
will be then free to be raised. The coupling pin is pro-
vided with an enlargement at its lower end, which is free
to pass through the hole in the lower branch of the
U-shaped coupling, but will preclude the passage through
the upper hole. (Three claims.,)

NEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE
COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Applications for Patents.

October 7 to 12 (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.]

Adamson and. Company, D., Allan A., and Bradley, T.

Steam superheaters. (16556)

Anderson, W. Device for utilising flow of rivers for
generating electric current, etc. (16420)

Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company. Electric
signalling systems for mines, etc. (16337)

Barbet et fils et Cie., E. Process for removing tar from
pyroligneous liquids. (16457)

Broxburn Oil Company and Findlater, R. H. Process of
utilising residues from bituminous shales, cannel coals,
etc. (16542)

Bruyn, W. H. A. de. Coal fuel. (16547)

Bryant, C. W. Pump. (16301, 16302)

Chetwood, E. Fire bridges for furnaces of steam boilers.
(16494)

Clark, E. Coal fuel. (16357)

Clegg, O. C., and Walker, A. C. C. Internal combustion,
etc., engines. (16574)

Davis, H. N., and Twigg, W. R. Gas-fired regenerative
furnaces. (16324)

Farman, E. W. Smokeless coal substitute. (16255)
Ferguson, J. M. Internal combustion engines. (16285)
Graham, A. S. and M. T., and Hawthorne, J. Internal
combustion engines. (16561)

Harvey, F. A., and Nutt, A. T. Construction of doors
for metallurgical, etc., furnaces. (16238)

Howden and Company, J., and Hume, J. H. Draught in-
stallations for boilers. (16496)

Howells, D., and Jones, J. V. Haulage of colliery trams.
(16559).

Knight, J. Four-stroke cycle internal combustion en-
gines. (16623)

Neighbour, A. G. L. and H. C. W. Two-cycle internal
combustion engines. (16279)

Palmer, C. S.- Making natural gas substitutes. (16304)

Palmer. J. F. Gas compressor, pump or blower. ’
(16663)

Peter Brotherhood Limited. Pumps. (16301, 16302)

Remington, C. Electric signalling systems for mines,
etc. (16337)

Robson, J., and Variable Speed Gear Limited. Pumps
and motors. (16615)

Smethurst, H. Lubrication of air compressors, etc.

(16452)

Smith. P. H. Internal combustion engines. (16285)
Taylor, J. E. Artificial fuel. (16503)

Tetlow, C. E. Boiler furnaces, etc. (16414).

Complete Specifications Accepted.

(To be published on October 31.)

[Note.—The number following the application is that
which the specification will finally bear.]

;	1916. .

4813. Davies, J. P. Water tube boilers. (119479)

1917.

9713.

1S798.

13817.

14023.

14044.

14105.

14155.

14273.

14555.

14577.

14598.

14923.

14963.

19232

19291.

Alexander A. E. (Adams, A. B.). Method of de-
composing hydrocarbon oils. (119485)

Bouhon, L. J. R. Apparatus for the recovery of
waste heat in engines. (119494)

August, J. R. C., and Hooson, H. V. Re-
generative furnaces. (119495)

Blast Furnaces and Equipment Limited and
Ritson, F. Charging apparatus for blast
furnaces. (119504)

Slack, J. E. Steam superheaters. (119506)

Millar, W., and Strachan, J. Mine signalling
apparatus. (119514)

Lindley, W. System of driving or excavating
tunnels, headings on drifts, and for sinking
shafts or pits. (119519)

Lewis, T. Means for the consumption of smoke.
(119526)

Lindley, W. Apparatus for sinking shafts.
(119543)

Wallis, E. F. Rotary pumps. (119544)

Wall, T. F. Alternating current generators.
(119546)

Challis, P. Internal combustion engines. (119552)

Yates, H. J., Brayshaw, S. N., and Brayshaw,
E. R. Gas-heated furnaces. (.119553)

Hunt, C. Lifting, hauling and lowering devices.
(119588)

Adams, H. Method of and apparatus for storing
and discharging coal or the like. (112453)

1918.

1188. Bernitz, E. Furnace walls. (119599)

1236. Milnes, G. Pedestals for colliery corves, tubs, and
the like vehicles. (119600)

3968. Barnard, J. W. Railway hopper wagons. (119612)

5470. Goodwin, A., and Huntingford, E. S. Tractors
for use with overhead runways. (119620)

6940.	Chopin, A. L. Pneumatic hammers. (119630)

6941.	Chopin, A. L. Pneumatic hammers. (119631)

10748. Birkedal-, H. A., and Nielsen, A. Regenerators,
and blocks for building the same. (119640)

Complete Specification open to Public Inspection before
Acceptance.

[Note.—The number following the application is that
which the specification will finally bear.]

1918.

8330. Reed, V. Z. Extraction of hydrocarbon products
from shales and coals. (119648)

8657. Fonderie Officine Frejus-Automobili Diatto. Pneu-
matic hammers, etc. (119649)

13-990. British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing
Company. Condensers of the jet type. (119653)

13992. British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing
Company. Condensers for steam or other con-
. densible fluids. (11965*3)

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

Mill and Cyanide Handbook, by *A. W. Allen, M.A.
(London: Charles Griffin and Company, Exeter-street,
Strand, W.C. 2), price 6s. net; Mensuration Made Easy:
or, The Decimal System for the Million, with its Appli-
cation to the Daily Employment of the Artisan and
Mechanic, by Charles Hoare (London: Effingham
Wilson, 54, Threadneedle-street, E.C. 2), price Is. net;
The Mining Congress Journal (Vol. 4, No. 9, September
1918, 29 cents per cojfy; A Memoir on British Resources
of Refractory Sands for Furnace and Foundry Purposes,
Part I., by P. S. H. Boswell, O'.B.E., D.Sc. .(published
at the instruction of the Ministry of Munitions and War
by the Imperial College of Science and Technology and
the University of Liverpool), price 8s. 6d. net; Busi-
ness—Methode—Plans—Opportunities (Vol 2, No. 6),
October 1918 (published by Messrs. Greenlys, 37-38,
Strand, W.C. 2); The Journal of the American Water-
works Association (Vol. 5, No. 3), with Supplement,
September 1918; The Journal of the Monmouthshire
Colliery Officials’ Associatioh (Vol 5, No. 2), October
1918; United States Bureau of Mines, Department of
the Interior : Technical Paper 170, The Duffusion of
Oxygen through Stored Coal, by S. H. Katz; Technical
Paper 187, Slag Viscosity Tables for Blast Furnace
Work, by A. L. Field and P. H. Royster; Monthly
Statement of Coal Mine Fatalities in the United States,
April 1918: List of Permissible Explosives, Lamps and
Motors tested prior to May 31, 1918, compiled by
A. H. Fay.

Economy in Power Production.—Mr. David Wilson,
technical adviser to the Coal Controller, addressed a
meeting of the Association of Engineers-in-Charge in St.
Bride’s Institute, London, E.C., on Saturday. He
observed that the total amount of coal used yearly for
industrial purposes, exclusive of railways, coasting
steamers, gas works, and domestic purposes, was
approximately 100 million tons, and of that 80,000,000
tons were used for power production. The want of
definite knowledge of the working of steam plant in many
industrial undertakings was deplorable. If engineers
devoted more time to the boiler house, and if steam coal
were burned on more scientific lines, many millions of
tons of coal would be saved per annum. While good coal
was desirable, some of the best power plants in the
country had .established high thermal efficiency when using
low-grade coal. A quantity of anthracite coal was avail-
able, and while there were limitations to its use he advo-
cated mixing a small percent-age with the more bituminous
fuel. There had been too much prejudice in the past
in regard to burning coke fuel, but it was surprising to
note the quantity of coke which was now being consumed
at works where the managers had hitherto claimed that it
was unsuitable. On the question of feeding boilers with
water, heat was being thrown away which could easily
be recovered for heating the water that fed the boiler.
He predicted that the whole question of exhaust steam
heating would receive consideration in the future in a way
which might completely revolutionise our previous ideas.
In the Coal Controller’s campaign it would be necessary
to investigate 36,000 cases, and from the works already
visited an estimated saving of 106,000 tons of coal per
annum had been established.