December 31, 1915.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

1355

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

3350 (1915). Improvements in Steam Superheaters for
Locomotive and other Fire Tube Boilers. A. Spencer, of
77 and 79, Cannon-street, London, E.C.—Relates to improve-
ments in steam superheaters for locomotive and other fire
tube boilers, and more particularly to superheater elements
of the kind in which the portion within any given smoke
tube comprises ,a length of superheating pipe of one diameter,
and conducting steam in one direction, and a plurality of
lengths of superheating pipe of smaller diameter which con-
duct steam in the opposite direction, the several lengths of
pipe being inter-connected adjacent the fire box end of the
smoke tube in which they lie, such elements giving an
increase of superheating surface for a given number of
changes in direction of flow of the steam in the element as
compared with elements now generally employed in smoke
tube superheaters. The 'invention principally consists in an
improved construction of element of the above kind, and
such that there are only two ends to be connected 'to the
header or headers of the superheater, one end for the inlet
of saturated steam to the element, and the other for the
outlet of superheated steam from the element. In the super-
heater element according to this invention, comprising the
length of ordinary diameter superheating pipe and the two
lengths of superheating pipe of smaller diameter lying within
a smoke tube, the two lengths of smaller diameter pipe are
branched off from a portion of ordinary or normal diameter
pipe at the smoke box, the three lengths of pipe being so
connected at the fire box end that the two pipes of smaller
diameter communicate with one another and with the length
of pipe of normal diameter. At the fire box end the three
pipe ends are brought together, by suitably bending and
cutting the ends, and are welded together in a similar
manner to that in which two pipe ends are connected by
means of the well-known Howell’s “ torpedo ” end, the
three pipes inter-communicating at the “ torpedo ” end. At
the smoke box end the two smaller pipes are brought together
and joined, by welding, to the above-mentioned portion of
superheater pipe of normal diameter, so that the said portion
^nd the two smaller pipes inter-communicate at said
junction. The steam may be fed to the smaller pipes either
by the last-mentioned portion of pipe of normal diameter or
by the length of normal diameter pipe in the smoke tube,
the steam in either case dividing at the entrance to said
smaller pipes so that half flows along one pipe and the
other half along the other pipe, uniting again at the opposite
end of the pair of smaller pipes. Preferably, however, the
steam flows towards the fire box in the lengths of smaller

diameter pipe. In applying the invention to a superheater
of the kind employing intermediate size enlarged smoke
tubes, and having elements taking into at least two of the
smoke tubes, the portion of element lying within each smoke
tube is formed of one length of normal diameter pipe and
two lengths of smaller diameter pipe connected as above
described, and the portion of element in one smoke tube is
connected in series with the portion in at least one other smoke
tube by a portion of pipe of normal diameter. The drawing
shows superheater elements in side elevation, applied to a
steam superheater of the kind last above referred to; 1 is
a saturated steam header and 2 a .superheated steam header,
3 being smoke tubes of a diameter intermediate between that
of the ordinary boiler smoke tubes and that of the enlarged
smoke tubes usually employed in locomotive fire tube super-
heaters. A portion 4 of superheater pipe of normal diameter
leaves the saturated steam header 1, and opens at 5 at the
smoke box end of an enlarged smoke tube 3 into two lengths
6, 6 of smaller diameter pipe which connect near the fire
box end of the smoke tube 3 with one length 7 of pipe of
normal diameter, this latter length of pipe 7 at the smoke
box being bent and connected at 5* to the smoke box ends
of two lengths 6a 6a of smaller diameter pipe in another
enlarged flue tube 3, whose fire box ends are connected to
one length 7a of normal diameter pipe, the smoke box
end 8 of which is connected to the superheated steam header
2. Certain ialternative arrangements may be used. The
junction of the length 6, 6 of smaller diameter pipe, at the
fire box end of the smoke tube, with the length 7 of normal
diameter pipe is effected by welding, the ends of the portions
of pipe being bent and cut, and then brought together, a
“ torpedo end ” 9 being thus formed at which the metal may
be thickened in the same manner as in the well-known
“ Howell torpedo end.” It is preferred to so construct and
arrange the element that the steam always flows towards
the fire box in the lengths of superheating pipe of smaller
diameter, as the best results are obtained by increasing the
superheating surface for the direction of flow of steam in
which the most useful transference of heat takes place. It
is also preferred to construct and arrange the superheater
element so that the single length of normal diameter pipe
lies beneath the two lengths of smaller diameter pipe in the
smoke tubes, thereby minimising the liability of the space
between the three pipes becoming choked by the lodgment
therein of cinders or ashes. The header or headers in the
smoke box may be of any convenient form, and the super-
heater elements may be connected thereto in any known
manner. (Six claims.)

7809 (1915). Improvements in Cooling Towers. F. C.
Schmidt, of Broadway Court, Broadway, Westminster,
London, S.W.—This invention relates to cooling towers of
the enclosed type, working with natural or forced draught,
and designed for cooling heated liquids, such as water from
condensing and other plants, or for cooling or purifying
gases, such, for instance, as air, and relates more particu-
larly to towers wherein the cooling hurdles constitute

continuous vertical sheets made either from a system of
laths arranged one above the other iin close proximity, or
made from wire netting, sheet metal, and the like, and down
the surface of which the liquid trickles. In a cooling tower
constructed in accordance with this invention means are
provided above the spaces between adjacent cooling hurdles
for collecting the whole of the descending shower, and dis-
tributing the liquid to the cooling hurdles so that a stream
of liquid is fed to the top of each hurdle, thus preventing
any of the descending liquid from falling uninterruptedly
between adjacent cooling hurdles into the collecting tank
below. The drawing shows in sectional elevation a cooling
to this invention, a, a are the

tower constructed accordii
walls of the tower
between which are ar-
ranged a series of cooling
hurdles, or the like,
indicated diagrammatic-
ally at b. These cooling
hurdles may extend down
to and terminate at the
level of the top of the air
inlet c, as shown to the
left of the drawing, or
may extend down below
said level, and terminate
in a staggered or other
convenient manner, for
instance, as shown to the
right of the drawing, but
in either case water which
has trickled down said
hurdles is collected in a
tank d. The liquid enters
the cooler through a pipe
e, and is distributed by
a main trough f and sub-

V1 Fl I 'u I A I I < I I I I

sidiary troughs g, the latter having nozzles h adapted to
deliver jets of water on to splashplates ;, which break
up the jets of water into a fine rain. Immediately below
the splashplates and just above the cooling hurdles b, are
arranged collecting and distributing surfaces, each of which
leads and is adapted to deliver water to the top of a cooling
hurdle b. These collecting surfaces may be in the form of
inclined boards, >as shown at k, or they may each consist of a
plurality of inclined boards overlapping one another, as
shown at m, or they may each be constituted by a plurality
of inclined boards overlapping one another in stepped rela-
tionship, so that the air can pass between individual boards,
as shown at n. The surfaces k, m, and n may be made
of wood, iron, or other suitable material, and they are
arranged each with its lower edge in the same vertical plane
as a cooling hurdle b, so that each surface or set of surfaces
collects and delivers water to the top of one cooling hurdle.
(Four claims.)

20721 (1914). Improvements relating to Electric Heaters
for Mining and other purposes. J. R. Quain, of 17, Victoria-
street, London, S.W.—Relates to electric heaters, for use as
heating tools, such as soldering bits of the kind having an
annular electric resistance element disposed within a casing
around an inwardly protruding part of a shoe, provided at
the lower end of the casing, and has for its object to provide
an improved construction suitable for use under conditions
in which it is liable to shocks such that might injure the
resistance element, while at the same time effective trans-
mission of heat from the resistance element to the shoe
or active part of the heater is secured. The heater com-
prises a casing or tube, a shoe mounted at the lower
extremity of the said casing or tube, and an electric resist-
ance element resiliently mounted within the said tube, so
as to be capable of limited longitudinal movement relatively
to the casing or tube so that the said element is unaffected
by shocks to the tool, while being adapted readily to impart
heat to the lower extremity of the said casing or tube and
to the said shoe. The heater is specially suitable for mining
purposes, when, -as in certain mining districts of cold
countries such as Siberia, Alaska, and the Klondike district
of Canada, it is necessary to thaw the ground before mining
operations are possible, for which purpose metal tubes are
usually employed, which are forced into the ground where
it is to be worked, after steam has been applied, until the
ground is thawed. The heater does not depend for its
utility on the use of steam, since on being introduced into
a hole in the ground that is to be prepared for working, the
heat generated is transmitted to the adjacent ground.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section; fig. 2 is a detail side elevation
of the head of the heater; fig. 3 is a section plan on the line
x—x (fig. 1); fig. 4 is a sectional plan on the line y—y
(fig. 1); fig. 5 is a sectional plan on the line z—z (fig. 1),
to a larger scale; while fig. 6 is a detail elevation of the
resistance element within the socket fitting by which it is
carried. The heater is made in tubular sections a, a1, con-
nected together by screwing as at a2, or by other suitable
means; and a spiked or pointed shoe b is mounted or screwed
at the lower extremity of the tube a. This latter is pro-
vided with an upwardly protruding part b \ adapted to
pass into the central hole or cavity c in the electric resistance
element d, so that an annular space is formed in the lower
section a of the heater into which d fits. The upper part
b2 of the shoe b is of slightly larger diameter than the
lower section of the heater, so that the hole made in the
frozen ground is slightly larger than the main part of the
heater, and thus the latter
may readily be withdrawn.
The electric resistance ele-
ment d, as illustrated in
vertical section in fig. 1,
consists of an integral double
tube d1, d2 of fused silica, the
inner tube d1 having a
resistance filament e, such as
nickel chrome, wound upon
it, the ends of which are
secured to integral buttons
of silica d3, d3 secured upon
the inner tube. The outer
tube d2 is fused at its ends
to the inner tube d1, as illus-
trated, and thus the annular
space between the tubes is
completely enclosed, and may
be filled with an inert gas or
exhausted, while at the
upper end small tubes f of

silica are fused to the upper edge of the double tube d’, d2,
and are provided for a lead or mercury seal g. The con-
ductors h are secured to pieces of conducting wire hl fused
in the upper ends of the tubes /, while the lower ends of
the tubes f are nipped at fl to engage the conducting wire h1,

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the inwardly protruding extremities of which are suitably
secured to the ends of the filament e. At one side the con-
ducting wire hl may pass through a loose tube of silica j, so
as to avoid short circuiting the convolutions of the resistance
filament e across which it traverses. The inner tube dl is
preferably provided with a thread of fused silica e1, or is
otherwise formed to provide helical grooves within which the
resistance filament e may lie so that contact of adjacent
convolutions may be avoided. The element d is mounted
in a cylindical socket k sliding in the lower tubular section
a of the heater, and of any suitable metal, d being fitted
therein, for example, by causing the integral tubes f, f to
embed within a plaster of paris or cement filling I; while
k may extend downwardly, and be cut into a number of
longitudinal strips kl, corresponding to the length of d.
Each alternate strip k1 may be turned inwardly at its
extremity (figs. 1 and 6) to engage beneath the lower edge
of d. At its upper extremity k is contracted to form a
central boss m, into which the lower end of a central tube
n may pass, the end of n being brazed or otherwise
permanently secured to m. The conductors h pass through
holes in a non-conducting plug o in the lower extremity of
n. A threaded collar p is provided to connect the upper
end of n to the flexible metallic tube q, which passes
upwardly through the upper section a1, or sections of the
heater, for connection with a source of electric current
supply. The lower end of d rests upon a spiral spring r in
the recess in the portion b2 of the shoe b ; while the upper
end of k rests under a spiral spring rl whose upper end
bears against the plate or collar s, secured by means of
screw pins s1 at the upper end of a, so that d while being
firmly held, is not to be directly subject to shocks imparte 1
to the tool when in use. The upper end of the section a1
■is provided with a head u for the purpose of hammering, or
of applying pressure to the heater. The head u has .a hollow
boss u1, to receive the upper extremity of the part a1 of the
heater, and to facilitate removal, with a cam lever u2,
mounted upon a pin u3 between lugs u4, on the boss ul,
which is provided with a slot between the lugs u4. In the
use of the apparatus the heater may be placed in holes that
are already bored for its reception, or where the character
of the ground permits, the heater-may be forced into position
by applying pressure upon the handle u7, or pressure may be
applied by hammering upon the head u. Where the heater
is used in forming the hole the provision of threads or
blades upon the shoe or upon the lower end of the casing
may facilitate the operation. (Seven claims.)

23556 (1914). Signalling Apparatus for use in Mines.
J. Paton, of 22, Bute-street, Whifflet, Lanarkshire.—Relates
to signalling apparatus for use in mines, and consists of an
apertured plate movable to expose one of a series of spaced
numerical indications, of different values, and normally
covered by the plate, means operable on actuation of a signal-
ling wire for imparting step-by-step movement to said plate
so as to expose the numerals, and a time absorber adapted to
( control the retrograde movements of the plate. Fig. 1 is a
front elevation; and figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views. 1
denotes the plate, which' is guided to move vertically by
rollers 2, and is provided with a clutch face, presented, for
example, by a series of ratchet teeth 3, with which co-acts a
pawl lever 4, or clutch dog, actuated from the signalling wire
at 5, and serving to impart step-by-step movements to the
plate 1. Also co-acting with said clutch face is a dog 6, sup-
ported by a rod 7, connected at its lower end to a lever 8,
presenting a cam track co-operating with a contact member 9,
carried by an arm 10, pivoted to the fluid-containing cylinder
11 of a time absorber, such cylinder participating in the
vertical movements of the pawl lever 4, and serving to impart
rocking movement to the lever 8, and thus acting to control
the movements of the detent 6, and those of the plate 1. The
formation of the cam track is such that actuation of the pawl
during the period in which the cylinder 11 occupies an elevated
position is accompanied by progressive movement of the plate
1, while actuation of the pawl, when the cylinder is in the
lowered position, is accompanied firstly by retraction of the
detent 6, and zeroising of the plate, and secondly by pro-
gressive steps of the plate commencing from zero. In normal
operation, the pawl lever 4 is oscillated the same number of
times as the signalling wire is actuated, lifting the plate



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during each actuation a distance corresponding co the pitch
of the ratchet teeth, which in turn corresponds to the spacing
of the indications. The requisite movement is imparted to
the pawl lever through an elongated crank 12 and a link 13,
the former operated by one of a series of levers 14 engaging
the underside of the crank pin, so that actuation of any of
the levers 14 is accompanied by actuation of the pawl lever 4.
The said levers 14 are connected respectively to different stages
in the wind, and. means are provided for indicating the source
of actuation of any lever, preferably discs 15, connected by
slotted arms 16 to said levers 14, and presenting characters
adapted to register with an aperture in the front of the
apparatus. The discs 15 are inter-connected by a link 17,
and the slotted arms and co-operating mechanism are so
timed that only one character will be visible at a time. Sus-
pended as a pendulum from a pivot 20 on the face of the
apparatus is a plate 21 bearing the number 3 indication,
which shows that men are to enter the cage, such plate being
normally held, in a concealed position in register with a plate
22, by a latch 23, adapted, during completion by the plate
1 of the third step, to co-operate with a striker 24, such
co-operation being accompanied by a swinging movement of
the plate 21 into exposed position. The lower edge of the
plate 21 lies in the path of a cam 21a, which, when the plate
indicates a numeral exceeding 3, engages the plate 21, and
restores the same to concealed position. Pivoted adjacent to