738

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

October 2, 1914.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

5303 (1914). Improvements in and Relating to Catch
Devices for Boring Rods. Nederlandsche Maatschappij tot
het Verrichten van Mijnbouwkundige Werken, of Heerlen,
Holland.—Relates to an improved catch device for boring
rods in connection with boring operations. The invention
consists in the improved catch device, which might also be
referred to as a “ catch or locking key,” which is described
more fully hereinafter, as well as in the constructive details
set out below. As will be seen from the drawings, the
improved catch device consists of a clamp made in two
halves, 1 and 2, which are pivotally inter-connected at 3;
further, they may be rigidly inter-connected by means of a
bolt 4. Two catching elements, 5 and 6, which are made
of steel, are arranged in the clamp, and may be opened by
means of the bent spindles 7 and 8. In the closed position
the aforesaid catching elements 5 and 6 rest at 9 and 10
on the halves 1 and 2 of the clamp, whereas cams 11 and
12 arranged in the centre also bear on the parts 1 and 2. It
will thus be seen that the spindles 7 and 8 of the catch-

2'

10 2

Qi

Hi

D *





ing elements are not exposed to the action of the force
exerted on the latter. In fig. 4 the apparatus is arranged
on a boring derrick. On pulling up the different boring rod
sections 14, inter-connected by coupling sleeves 13, the
catching elements 5 and 6 open automatically, so as to allow
the sleeves 13 to pass through between them, but they
immediately close as soon as a sleeve has passed there-
through. Should it happen that the steel cable breaks
during lowering or during the pulling up of the boring rod,
then the elements 5 and 6 will catch the boring rod by
engaging beneath one of the sleeves 13, so that the rod is
prevented from dropping down to the bottom of the bore-
hole. At the same time the apparatus closes the borehole
during boring, so that it is not necessary to employ ether
means for preventing tools or the like from dropping d'uvn
the borehole. (Two claims.)

18984 (1913). Improvements Relating to the Treatment
of Peat, Sawdust, Nutshells, and other Ligneous or Car-
bonaceous Materials. R. F. Strong, of Queen Anne’s-
chambers, Westminster.—Relates to the treatment of peat,
sawdust, nutshells, and other ligneous or carbonaceous
materials for the purpose of obtaining therefrom alcohol,
acetic acid, acetone, motor spirit, and other products. In
carrying out the invention, peat direct from the bog or
moor is delivered into a retort having several vertical shafts,
to which are fixed arms with cutting edges revolving
towards each other, so that as the peat passes slowly
towards the bottom, the fibres of the peat are thoroughly
masticated, thus opening the cells, the retort being heated

O

O

vt ~~j Hi

by the gases from other retorts in the plant. At the same
time hot air is driven in at the bottom of the masticating
retort from gas heated stoves of the Cowper or other suit-
able type. The heated gases from the peat pass out at the
top of the masticated retort through a pipe into a condenser
in a water tank for the recovery of the by-products and
separation of alcohol, nitrates, etc. The half-carbonised
peat passes from this first retort into a second retort by a
worm or other conveyor, delivering on to a shelf, and falls
thence slowly over other shelves to the bottom, a slowly
revolving vertical shaft being arranged in the centre fitted
with turning rakes, to move the mass over the shelves. The
gases evolved in this second retort pass out at the top
through a pipe to a second condenser in water for the

recovery of the pyroligneous tarry products and further
separation. The tar liquids in the second condenser,
separated or not from acetic acid and other products, may
pass direct from the second cooling condenser pipe to a
cracker, preferably consisting of a coil in a chamber
receiving the red hot carbonised peat from the bottom of.
the second retort, the coil thereby being kept at a red heat
and serving to crack the tarry liquid, the vapour from which
passes then through a third cooling condenser. The gases
are passed through the usual scrubbers to a gasometer for
use for heating the retorts, etc., and the liquid is passed to
tanks to separate the light and heavy oils, etc., the hot
carbonised peat being removed from time to time from a
shoot below the coil chamber. When treating materials
other than peat the hot carbonised material may fall from
the second into a third distillation retort heated like the
others, and discharging the spent material into a shoo*
below. The accompanying drawing shows a sectional
elevation of apparatus constructed in accordance with the
invention. (Two claims.)

19433 (1913). Improvements in and Relating to Valvesr
Akt.-Ges. Brown, Boveri et Cie., of Baden, Switzerland.—
Relates to valves, and more specifically to disc valves, which
are capable of working in liquids containing foreign bodies,
for instance, muddy water, and consists in a disc valve
having seating surfaces formed of spherical shape, in which

f

s

K

the valve head is capable of adjustment with relation to its
spindle or guide, so that the disc can take up a proper
' seating position without subjecting the spindle or guide to
bending ’ strain, even when foreign bodies become jammed
in the valve. The accompanying drawing represents one
manner of carrying the invention into effect. (Three claims.)

20182 (1913). Improvements in or relating to Apparatus
for Conveying and Loading Coals and similar Materials.—
S. Marshall, of Picktree, Chester-le-Street, Durham.—
Relates to apparatus for conveying and loading coal and
similar materials, of the type comprising the combination of
an inclined circular rotary plate or disc and a conveyor, said
rotary plate or disc being pivoted in bearings carried by the
conveyor and adapted to pick up and deliver coals on to said
conveyor, bevel gearing driven from the same source as the
conveyor being employed to rotate the plate or disc. The
invention has for its object to provide an improved construc-
tion of apparatus of this type especially adapted for use in
mines for loading into tubs or the like the coal “ won ” at
the “ face.” An inclined rotary plate is employed, the for-
ward edge of which is adapted to enter under a heap of
coal, and in combination therewith a horizontal conveyor,
provided with known means arranged at an intermediate
point in the length of the conveyor whereby the coal can be
discharged into tubs or the like, said rotary plate and con-
veyor being mounted on rollers or skids so that they can be
readily moved to follow the coal cutter or the like along the
“ face.” Figs. 1 and 2 are a side elevation and a plan

rtq.J.

a.

1/ tfS,

A

7*—

->41^

. ^kAx_

respectively of one end of the apparatus, the side boards of
the conveyor being removed for clearness; figs. 3 and 4 are
a longitudinal section and a transverse section respectively
of a portion of the conveyor illustrating one method of
driving same; fig. 5 is a plan of a portion of the conveyor
illustrating one method of delivering the coals or the like
into the tub or other receiver; and fig. 6 is an elevation of
the inclined guide plate. The operation of the apparatus
is as follows :—The apparatus is arranged so that the lower
edge of the rotary plate 5 at one end of the conveyor enters
under the heap of coals at the “ face,” and the rotary plate
is revolved in the direction indicated by the arrows 43, 43
(fig. 2). The coals are picked up by the plate and carried
around to the higher edge thereof, and thrown on to the
endless belt 3 of the conveyor by the action of the centri-
fugal force generated by the rapid rotation of the plate 5.
The speed of rotation of the rotary plate will be regulated
as required. The guides 13, 13, prevent the coals being
thrown off the plate except on to the belt 3. The endless
belt 3 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrows 44
(figs. 2 and 5), and carries the coals along until they meet
the inclined guide plate 37 provided across the conveyor,
when they are turned off the endless belt 3, and fall into the
tub 42 in the main way or road of the mine. When all the
coals at one end of the conveyor have been loaded into the
tubs, the rotation of the rotary plate at that end is stopped

by removing the pin 14® connecting the said plate 5 to the
pulley 14, and the rotary plate at the other end of the con-
veyor is put into operation to load the coal from that end,
the travel of the endless belt being at the same time
reversed, and the inclined guide plate 37 oppositely arranged
across the conveyor. Means will be provided for moving
the conveyor and rotary plate as required. Conveniently
rope and pulley gear may be employed, the ropes being suit-
ably anchored and wound in by a hand or power winch. In
some cases the conveyor may be provided with a rotary
plate at one end only. (Two claims.)

21098 (1913). Improvements Relating to Respiratory
Apparatus for Use in Rescue Operations. J. F. Scott, of
Caxton Cottage, and H. Davenport, of Fairmount, beth of
Cannock, Staffordshire.—The object of this invention is to
provide an improved respiratory apparatus which, whilst
effective in enabling the wearer to lenetrate i poisonous or
smoky atmospherq, is also so light and simple that a number
can conveniently be carried by the rescuer and easily applied
to discovered victims, whether the latter are c n-cious or
unconscious, said apparatus being of the type in uhicn a
carbon filter is arranged in conjunction with a covering for
the face of the wearer. The invention comprises the pro-
vision within a mask adapted to cover the face of the terror
of a small conduit, one end of which fits over the aouth of
the wearer, and is separate from the part of He nask
enclosing the eyes and nostrils, and the combination with
such a conduit of a carbon filter and outlet valve. Fig. 1 is
a front elevation; fig. 2 a side elevation; fig. 3 a rear eleva-
tion ; and fig. 4 a sectional side elevation of a mask con-
structed in accordance with the invention. The inlet fitting
comprises a cylindrical or other tube h, which is provided
at its ends with metal gauze covers i. At its upper end the
said fitting may also be provided with a covering of silk.
Within the fitting is placed a quantity of vegetable char-
coal j. The charcoal is preferably in small flaky or granular
pieces, but the state of division is always such that the
particles cannot clog together and interfere with the free
passage of air through the filter. It has been found that
charcoal obtained by the carbonising of soft white pine is
most suitable. Preferably a light inlet valve is arranged
over the filter. Such valve comprises a spring-controlled
disc k, arranged to rest on an annular seating I. The outlet
valve is similar in construction to the inlet valve, com-
prising a spring-controlled disc m and seating n. This
valve is arranged in, for example, the front of the mask
in communication with the breathing passage, and adapted

h

Fig.l

Hg.4





to permit the passage of air therethrough in an outward
direction only. If desired a direct opening to atmosphere
may be provided, this opening being controlled by a flap or
valve as o. When the wearer is in a pure atmosphere he
may obtain his air supply through the said opening. By
means of a filter, as above described, carbon monoxide and
other poisonous gases encountered in mine workings after
an explosion are absorbed, and relatively pure air is per-
mitted to pass to the lungs of the wearer, there being
usually sufficient air in the workings to support life if the
noxious gases are eliminated. By providing a compara-
tively small compartment between the mouth of the wearer
and the upper end of the inlet fitting, inhaling of air
through the filter can be carried on without inconvenience.
When no such provision is made, the expansive action of
the lungs is partly wasted in producing a vacuum in the
interior of the mask, and the act of inhaling through the
filter is made somewhat difficult. In addition to the
fittings referred to, a flexible fireproof covering may be
attached for protecting the head of the wearer when pass-
ing through flames. (Three claims.)

23050 (1913). Improvements in or Relating to Valve
Controlling Devices. W. Davy, of 28, Stanhope-gardens,
Highgate, London.—Relates to apparatus for the automatic
control and regulation of the feed water supply to steam
boilers. According to the invention controlling valves and
passages are provided whereby feed water is admitted to
one side of a controlling piston to close the check valve
against the opposed feed pressure when the water is at the
desired level in the boiler, and when it is necessary to admit
feed water to the boiler, the feed water pressure previously
acting to close the check valve is shut off by closing a valve,
another valve being opened to admit boiler pressure to the
piston. In one practical form of the invention a float by
its rise or fall is arranged to close or open alternately two
small regulating valves that control the flow of the feed
water pressure or the admittance of the boiler pressure to
the feed water controlling mechanism. The feed water
pressure closes the check valve by operating upon the closing
mechanism, and the boiler pressure is in turn admitted to
cause the release of or opening of the mechanism that closes
’the check valve. The float chamber is fixed external to the
boiler, but is in free communication with its steam and
water spaces by means of suitable piping. A thermal dia-
phragm chamber may be used instead of the float, and
operated by the difference in temperature between the steam
and water of the boiler being subjected to the action of one
or the other, according to the water level. Fig. 1 is a