218

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

July 24, 1914.

to the body of the retort that the lumps of coal fed in
will roll to the outsides, thereby forming balanced
horizontal cross sections of the charge. The lumps, per-
mitting the heat to penetrate freely, will quickly be con-
verted to coke, and by excess shrinkage as compared with
slack coal will better free the charge from the retort on
both sides simultaneously in the early stages, thereby
facilitating uniform descent of the charge. In place of the
cross pipe 31, shown in a previous specification, however, it
is preferable to rely on the free space at the top of the
retort to give room for the gas to pass from end to end
of the elongated top of the retort. The level and diameter
of the inlet should be so arranged in relation to the major
cross sectional diameter of the retort that both the outer
edges of the surface of the charge are within the heated
portion of the retort, and thus the rising gases from the
charge, particularly from the portion outside the V of coal,
are encouraged to leave the charge in equal volumes on each
side; hence the unpreventable carbon deposit is more equally
distributed. Fig. 1 represents a retort in vertical section
on its major diameter, fig. 2 represents a pair of retorts in
vertical section on their minor diameters. (Two claims.)

19955 (1913). A Process of and Apparatus for Recovery
of Tar from Hot Distillation Gases. Dr. W. Strommenger,
of 6, Ohmstrasse, Cologne, Germany.—Relates to the
removal of tar from hot distillation gases for directly obtain-
ing ammonia sulphate, and further for the removal of
naphthaline, etc. According to the invention the tar is
removed from the said gases by passing the same through
separate washers containing only a viscid washing
medium such as tar, tar oil, or other heavy liquid, and
keeping steady the surfaces of the said medium in order
that the rising gas bubbles may be squashed flat by the
resistance of the surface tension to their escape. Before
passing through the washers, the gases should preferably
have been preliminarily freed from tar by the usual washing

in the hydraulic main, the purpose of the washing according
to the invention being to remove from the gases the last
vestiges of tar, as is required in the direct obtaining of
ammonia sulphate. The means used for carrying out the
process comprises the arrangement between the gas distri-
butor and the surface of the washing substance contained
in each tank or like receptacle, which surface is always
held at the same level by means of an overflow, of one
or more sieves of sufficient coarseness to allow the gas
bubbles to pass through without being compressed, thereby
shielding the surface of the liquid from agitation. The
invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing. (Three claims.)

20964 (1913). Improvements in or relating to the Treat-
ment of Hot Gases Produced by the Distillation of Coal.
W. J. B. Leech, of the firm of Leech, Goodall and Company,
of Pepper Road, Hunslet, Leeds, and A. Edwards, of The
Laboratory, Corporation Gas Department, 21, Dewsbury
Road, Leeds.—In the working of vertical retorts and coke
ovens for the distillation of coal, difficulty is experienced
in continuous working, due to the accumulation of pitchy
deposit in the gas take-off pipes and in the collecting or
hydraulic mains necessitating troublesome periodic cleaning
by hand. Three conditions determine such deposits :—
(firstly) the high temperature of the parts affected, con-
sequent upon the lesser degree of radiating surface com-
pared with similar parts of horizontal retort plants, whereby
the higher boiling constituents only of the tars are deposited,
and in a solid or plastic state; (secondly) the formation
of crystalline ammonium chloride upon the separating pitchy
particles rendering them less plastic; and (thirdly) the carry-
ing forward of coal dust consequent on the turbulence after
charging. The invention relates to improvements whereby
the temperature is reduced, the ammonium chloride
simultaneously taken into solution for subsequent recovery,

the precipitated tarry particles with coal dust rendered fluid,
and the crude gas delivered from the foul main to the retort
house governor (where used) free from suspended matter,
so that the process may work continuously without inter-
ruption involving the removal of solid deposits. To this
end there are applied .-—(first) a finely divided spray ot
water injected with the gas stream by means of a Korting
jet or like device at any convenient point situated between
the hydraulic or collecting main and the retort mouthpiece ;
and (second) a finely divided coal tar spray injected against
the gas stream at a point behind the hydraulic or collecting
main, preferably in a vertically rising portion of the foul
main. The accompanying drawing is a side elevation illus-
trating in diagrammatic form the application of the inven-
tion to a vertical retort installation. The invention consists
essentially in the simultaneous application of regulated
sprays of circulating water and coal tar, applied respectively
before and after the hydraulic or gas collecting main of
vertical or horizontal retorts, chambers, and ovens for car-
bonising coal, to reduce the temperature of the gaseous
products from the main to about 80 degs. C. to 90 degs. C.,
with the object of preventing the formation of or removing,
pitchy and other solid deposits, and the simultaneous
recovery of ammonium chloride in the crystalline form,
without prejudice to the quality of the gas. (One claim.)

29293 (1913). Apparatus for Opening and Closing, either
Automatically or by Lever, Collapsible Gates on a Shaft Cage
Opening, or a Lift Gage. D. H. Williams, Vole House,
Park-street, Lower Brynamman, Glamorganshire. — This
invention relates to a means for opening and closing, either
automatically or by lever, a pair of collapsible gates, fixed
in the front and back openings of a cage used for lowering
and raising men in the shafts of mines, or for lifts. It
consists of a vertical frame made of plate iron about ,3q in.
thick, or thereabouts. The two side vertical parts of the
frame are secured on the top by four horizonal bars of angle
iron, fixed transversely, two of the bars of angle iron fixed
one above the other on the top front, and the other two bars
of angle iron fixed directly on the back. The ends of the
front and back pairs of angle bars are so bolted and riveted,
as hereinafter specified, to the top parts of the two side
vertical parts of the frame as to allow a sufficient space
between the lower front and lower back bars of angle iron,
for the top parts of the collapsible gates to slide between
them. Two bars of iron are fixed transversely across the
bottom, one bar in front and one directly at the back. The
ends of the bars of iron are riveted to the front and back
of the bottom of the two side vertical parts of the frame, so
as to allow a sufficient space between each bar for the
bottom parts of the collapsible gates to slide between them.
The collapsible gates are fixed in the frames, and not to
the landings. The necessary apparatus for controlling the







R*

J

R2



-R3

W'

w

w

0

d-

C2'

P6-

Rl



opening and closing of the collapsible gates fixed in the frame
is, in part, fixed on the frame, and in part, fixed on the
landing at the top of the shaft on the right and left sides
of the shaft at the front and back of the shaft, and in part,
fixed at the bottom of the shaft on the right and left sides
of the shaft, at the front and back of the shaft as herein-
after specified. The frame is to be of slightly less dimen-
sions than the height and width of the cage opening. The
frame is hinged to the top of the cage, so that when the
gates are not required for use, the frame and the apparatus
attached thereto may be swung up horizontally to the top
of the cage, and securely fixed in a suitable manner. The
frame may be detachable if desired, and a suitable method
may be adopted to fasten the frame to the cage opening when
required. Two frames and gates are needed, one for each
of the front and back openings of the cage respectively. The
opening and closing of the gates are controlled by two i locks
of iron, with one bar of each gate fixed to each block. These
two iron blocks, with iron rollers fixed therein at the bottom

if desired, slide horizontally along the space between the
lower front and lower back bars of angle iron, and the upper
front and upper back bars of angle iron at the top of the
frame. Each iron block slides along half the width of the
frame and in opposite directions to each other. The sliding
motion of the aforementioned two iron blocks is controlled
by a weight situated on one side of the front of the frame,
and a vertical sliding block on the other side of the front of
the frame. The sliding block projects sideways from the
frame and cage, and the vertical sliding motion is retarded or
released by another weight fixed to a chain which passes over
a pulley fixed in a permanent vertical bar made of iron or a
vertical beam made of durable wood, fixed at the top front
and back sides of the shaft. These vertical bars of a similar
description are also fixed at the bottom front and back of
the shaft. The weight on the frame and the vertical sliding
block,on the frame are controlled by chains, which pass over
horizontal and vertical pulleys fixed near the top of the frame,
in the frame, and on the front and back of the frame near
the top respectively. The chains pass through the front top
and bottom, and the back top and bottom of the two
horizontal sliding blocks which are attached to the gates.
On the portion of these chains placed in the horizontal sliding
space are fixed clamps of iron of the form of a cross, which
grip the horizontal sliding blocks as hereinafter specified.
The permanent vertical bars fixed at the front and back of
the top and bottom of the shaft have a system of levers,
pulleys and chains fixed, as hereinafter specified for the
opening and closing of the gates by lever, if necessary, but
if the opening and closing of the gates are worked auto-
matically the lever need not be used, thereby keeping the
weight used to retard and release the vertical sliding block,
fixed in position. The lever must be used to remove the
pressure of the weight upon the vertical sliding block when
the gates are folded up, when not required, or are detached
In the accompanying drawings fig. 1 is a vertical front
section of the frame, and a pair of collapsible gates when
the gates are closed at the top of the shaft : also a vertical
front section of the permanent vertical bar fixed at the top
front side of the shaft and in close proximity with the cage
and frame. F1 is a front vertical side of the frame, made
of iron plate, about in. thick or thereabouts, and of a
height slightly less than the height of the cage opening.
F2 is the other side of the frame similar in description to F1.
F4 is a cross bar of iron (angle) with a sliding surface fixed
upwards (figs. 5, 5a) fixed horizontally under the sliding
space x, and the two ends riveted to the top front of the
frames F1, F2. Fig. 2 is similar in construction to fig. 1,
but shows the gates open at the top of the shaft on the
landing; fx shows the position of the lever. (Two claims.)

29714 (1912). Improvements relating to the Distillation of
Carbonaceous Substances. H. Clarke, 2, Austin Friars,
London, E.C.; and J. T. Carmichael, Creeksmouth, Barking,
Essex.—This invention relates to the distillation of carbon-
aceous substances, such as low grade coals, as, for example,
duff bastard cannel or coals, which owing to their con-
taining a high percentage of ash, or for other reasons are of
relatively low commercial value for ordinary fuel purposes,
or for manufacture into coke, the object of the invention
being to effect their distillation in such a way as to yield
a maximum of condensible oils and spirit from the volatile
matter in such materials, and to utilise the residue remain-
ing after such distillation in the most advantageous manner.
According to the invention, the conditions of distillation are
so regulated as to produce an oily distillate, having a specific
gravity approximately equivalent to that of water, which
distillate on rectification yields a high percentage of light
spirit of a specific gravity intermediate between that of
petrol and benzol, and a larger amount of oil of higher
specific gravity suitable for internal combustion engines of
the Diesel type, a large amount of tar acids, and, in addi-
tion, pitch containing only very small amounts of free
carbon, as well as other useful and saleable products. This
is accomplished by effecting the distillation in vertical retorts
partly by the external application of heat and partly by the
introduction at the bottom of the retorts of a current of
superheated steam or gas containing hydrogen, which passes
freely upward through the charge in the retorts, infusible
material, non-caking coals, or the residue from the distilla-
tion being mixed with the carbonaceous substances to be
distilled for the purpose of securing free passage through
the charge in the retort for the superheated steam or gas,
and the distillation being carried out at a low temperature
and continued until all the volatile oil contained in the
charge has been vaporised. (Two claims.)

NEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE
COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Applications for Patents.

16644. Safety railway wagon coupling (non-automatic). H.
J. Piper and A. Charter.

16648. Heating device for burning coal tar and other hydro-
carbons. D. G. Potocki.

16657. Signalling means with special reference to mines.
W. Cuthbert.

16668. Hydrocarbon miner’s lamp. J. Goulet.

16672. Coating metal plates with tin, terne, and other metals
or alloys. P. B. Taylor and S. Davies.

16681. Manufacture of explosives. I. B. T. von Tarnow.

16686. Manufacture of metal sheets. E. Norton.

16687. Manufacture of chrome-nickel steel for armour plates,
projectiles, and the like. Compagnie des Forges
et Acieries de la Marine et d’Homecourt.

16692. Explosives. W. Rintoul, N. Pic ton, D. H. Peacock,
and Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited.

16706. Regulating devices for jet turbines. Akt.-Ges. der
Maschinenfabrik von Theodor Bell and Company.

16713. Process and apparatus for distilling crude oil and
other hydrocarbons. A. F. G. C. P. J. von
Groeling, and Burmah Oil Company Limited.

16728. Device for use in connection with the securing of
railway wagon and like covers or tarpaulins in
place. J. Jackson.

16763. Jockeys or rope guides for mechanical haulages and
the like. J. W. B. Craggs and W. Campbell.

16764. Rotary drilling or boring apparatus for boring in the
earth’s strata. A. McNamara.

16768. Valve gear. Fraser and Chalmers Limited, and F.
L. Whitmore.

16769. Machines for cutting gear teeth. W. E. Sykes.

16799. Apparatus for detecting the presence, and finding
the position of. water or gas pipes, and other
concealed or buried conductors. A. W. Shannan.

(Continued on page 220.)