238 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 4, 1916. of the inclined sides of the hopper a, but beyond the lower edges of those sides. Fig. 1 shows how the hopper sides a terminate to leave a central opening, and the plates c approach this opening to divide it into two side openings, between the upper edges of the plates and the lower edges of the sides a and a central opening between the two upper edges of the plates. In these three openings the segmental doors are arranged, comprising two side doors d, d, >and two central doors e, e. All the side doors d and central doors e are hinged by end supports f hinged at g and h respectively to the end plates or divisional plates b, as shown in fig. 2, so that there is no rod or shaft projecting across below the respective openings. To operate the side doors rock shafts i are provided below the hopper sides a of the wagon, and well away from the side openings, the shafts being con- nected with the doors by cranks j and adjustable coupling rods 2 k. The central doors are operated dependently from a common rock shaft, such as I also arranged below the hopper sides of the wagon and well to the side of one of the side openings. The shaft I has a pair of cranks m n shown at 180 degs. apart, to each of which is connected one end of a link o p, respectively connected at the other end to the door or to and I may be rocked by means of two side hand wheels u and a central hand wheel on inclined shafts at the end of the wagon. The side shafts i are operated by bevels on a short stud or axle operated by a worm drive from the shaft of the hand wheel. The rock shaft I for the centre doors is operated by a worm on a cross shaft, bevel driven from the shaft of the hand wheel, but any suitable gearing for this purpose may be substituted. (Three claims.) 23921 (1914). Improvements in Signalling Apparatus for use in Mines. S. Chalmers, of 29, Wat son-street, Motherwell, ‘Lanarkshire; G. Black, of Brae Cottage, Hamilton-road, Motherwell, Lanarkshire; and J. Black, of Kiincairnie, Shettleston, Glasgow.—Relates to signalling apparatus of the type described in Patent No. 21369 of 1914, and consists broadly in a construction including three pointers, a pointer serving to give active signals (the 'active signal pointer), a pointer serving to give cautionary signals (the cautionary signal pointer), and >a pointer serving to give signals intended to instruct the engineman as to the destination of the cage (the destination signal pointer), said pointers being adapted to receive actuation from an element participating in the impulses of the signalling system, and so arranged that they may occupy different positions of indication on the dial, means being provided for the restoration of the hands to zero subsequent to the last impulse of the signal system. Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional elevations ; and fig. 3 a front elevation. The apparatus comprises a pawl 1 mounted on a reciprocatory element 2, participating in the signalling impulses, said pawl 1 acting to transmit rotation step-by- step to a ratchet wheel 3 loosely mounted on a revoluble shaft 4, and co-operating with said shaft through the medium of a driver 5. Secured to the shaft 4 is the active signal pointer 6, which is provided with a tongue 7, engageable with the lateral edge of the cautionary signal pointer 8 and that, of the destination signal pointer 9, such last-mentioned pointers being mounted respectively on sleeves 10 and 11 surrounding loosely the shaft 4 ; and by virtue of the one-way clutch connection afforded by the tongue 7 and the said lateral edges, the said pointers 8 and 9 are adapted to participate in the clockwise movements of the active signal pointer 6. The ratchet wheel 3 is sustained temporarily against counter-clockwise rotation by a detent 13 co-operating with a procrastinating device 14 adapted on each actuation temporarily to maintain a rod 15 having a pin and slot connection with the detent in a state of flotation, the arrange- ment being such that, after the expiry of a predetermined -MEN Fig. 3. Fig. 1. Fig. 2. period, the ratchet wheel 3 is permitted to return to zero, the temporary detention of the wheel 3 permitting engage- ment of an engine-operated detent with a ratchet wheel 17 connected to the shaft 4 carrying the pointer 6. The forma- tion of the ratchet wheel 17 is such that the engine-operated detent is operative only when the pointer occupies a position opposite the No. 1 and No. 2 indications on the dial, the detent 13 coming into operation while the detent 16 is inoperative, as will be understood. The sleeve 10 carrying the cautionary signal pointer 8 is fitted with a ratchet wheel 18, engageable by an engine-operated detent controlling the counter-clockwise movements of the pointer 8, such ratchet wheel being so cut that only one notch is provided for engagement with the detent, said notch occupying a position corresponding to the No. 3 indication, which denotes that men are to enter the cage. The sleeve 11 carrying the destination signal pointer 9 is fitted with a ratchet wheel 21, engageable by an engine-operated detent controlling the counter-clockwise movements of the pointer 9, said wheel 21 being provided with teeth commencing at a point corre- sponding to the No. 3 indication, and terminating at the point of maximum travel of the wheel. All the ratchet wheels are loaded, so as, when the co-operating detents are retracted by the winding engine, to return to zero. The detents are straddled by the tines 16a, 20a, and 22a of a forked bell crank lever 23, fulcrumed at 24, and operated by a roller 25 engaging a cam track formed on its inner surface, such roller 25 being journalled on the lower end of the slotted rod 15, the arrangement being such that the bell crank lever is rocked on its fulcrum on descent of the rod 15 after each actuation. On each tine is a shoulder affording, on predetermined occasions, a support for the corresponding detent, whereby such detent is inoperative. Means are provided for elevating the detents, sufficiently to permit engagement of their lower edges with the shoulders, so as to render said detents inoperative. The means for imparting the supplementary movement to the rod 15 is constituted by a device for changing the fulcrum of a rocking lever 27, which connects the rod 15 with the element 2, such lever 27 being fulcrumed on a pin 29 accommodated in an elongated slot in a fixed post 30, and adapted, when the fulcrum is to be changed, to rest on a cambered arm 31a of a bell crank lever rocking on a pivot, and adapted to engage the underside of the lever 27, said lever 27 being adapted to be sustained in such position by cams formed on the ratchet wheel'18 and engaging an arm of said bell crank lever. The cams occupy positions such that the destination signal pointer will always be released on the execution of contradictory signals or on the next actuation subsequently to ,any signals other than those which involve operation of the winding engine. (One claim.) HEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Applications for Patents. [Note.—Applications arranged . alphabetically under the names of the applicants (communicators given in italics). A new number will be given on acceptance, which will replace the application number.] Bennett, A. J. and W. (1183). Apparatus for controlling electrical currents by rise and fall of temperature. Bradbury, H. W., and Jarvis, E. H. (1091). Air pump. British Thomson-Houston Company (1255). Dynamo electric machines. British Thomson-Houston Company {General Electric Com- pany) (1434). Multi-speed alternating current motors. Bullivant, F. A. (1360). Pulleys and rope or chain guiding devices for measuring and indicating, etc., length of rope, etc., paid out. Campbell, C. (1312). Power hammers. Green, R. M. (1213). Nitrating pots for trinitrotoluol manu- facture. Fftosken, R., and Stephens, W. C. (1188). Rock drilling machines. Howden and Company, J., and Hume, J. H. (1167). Fur- nace fronts. Hudson, T. (1066). Upright boiler. Hughes, H. R. (1232). Drilling machines. (United States, Dec. 27, 1915.) Humphrey, H. A. (1263). Method of ignition in internal combustion pumps, etc., and apparatus therefor. Mavor and Coulson and Moore, M. S. (1155). Cutting machines, particularly for mining coal, etc. Smirk, E. H. (1215). Composition fuel. Smith, V. (1170). Steam superheaters. Thomas, J. G. P. (1229). Power transmission. Thomas Transmission Limited. (1229). Power transmission. Complete Specifications Accepted. (To be published on February 17.) 1914. 22985. Means for promoting the circulation of fluids in steam generators and other tubular heating apparatus. Josling. 1915. 1349. Water tube boilers. Davies. 1570. Method of and apparatus for heating coke ovens or the like. Roberts. 2630. Igniters for use with safety fuses to explode blasting charges or the like. Bennett. 4369. Rotary pumps or motors. Carey and Waygood Otis Limited. 6316. Coal and like conveyors. Ward. 7702. Pneumatic fuel atomisers for internal combustion engines. Rundlof. 9763. Fuel piping arrangements for coke ovens. Roberts. 9764. Foundations for coke ovens. Roberts. 9765. Expansion control devices for coke ovens and the like. Roberts. Russian Coal : Proposed Monopoly.—The Council of the Congress of the Representatives of Trade and Agricultural Bourses has addressed the Minister of Trade and Industry with a detailed report on the question of the proposed special conference in respect to the establishment of a Government monopoly of coal. In this report, the authors of the memo- randum show that the objects aimed at in the proposed mono- polisation of coal cannot possibly be obtained by it, and that it would be much more expeditious and better to establish some other measure. The monopolisation by the Treasury of the sale of coal would not be successful, because there is not at present a real shortage of the article, since the stocks of coal at the mines on December 1 (14) amounted to at least 150,000,000 poods. It is pointed out, further, that to monopolise the sale of coal, which would probably mean a reduced price to the producer, would bring about, in all probability, a reduced production. It reminds the Govern- ment also that some 40 different kinds of fuel would have to be dealt with, which would be a very intricate operation, and it would hardly be worth the creation of a . special organisation for the duration of the war, which is said to be the limit of the proposed monopoly. Therefore,' the memo- randum concludes, the proposal is not a wise one. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. * Any of the following publications may be obtained on application at this office at the price named post free. Dominions Royal Commission : Memorandum and Tables as to the Trade and Trade Statistics of the Self-Governing Dominions, 2s. 6d. Finance Act (No. 2) Regulations, Id. Excess Profits Duty Regulations, 1916 (No. 1), IJd. Foreign Trade Accounts up to January 18, 5d. War Loan for Small Investors, Report of Committee, 2d. Railway Servants’ Hours of Labour, Report, Id. Development Fund Accounts, 1914-15, l|d. Bills : Trading with the Enemy (No. 2), 2d.; ditto, Amend- ment Bill (No. 2), 2d.; ditto, Lords’ Amendments, Id. Boiler Explosion Reports : (No. 2399), Water Tube Boiler at Newport Iron Works, Middlesbrough, 2Jd.; (No. 2398), Benzol Still at Ardol Works, Selby, Yorkshire, 2^d. Consular Reports, 1914 : France, Society Islands, l^d.; China, Hankow, 2Jd. PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. Excess Profits Duty and Excess Mineral Rights Duty Under Finance (No. 2) Act, 1915. By R. M. Montgomery and William Allen. London : Butterworth and Company, and Shaw and Sons. Price, 7s. 6d. net. “ The Fourth Annual Meeting of the Employers’ Parlia- mentary Association ” ; “ Annual Report of the City Coal Inspector of Kingston-upon-Hull, 1915 ” ; “ The Institute Journal ” (Official Organ of the Institute of Journalists), (Vol. 4, No. 1); “The Anglo-Swedish Trade Journal” (Vol. 8, No. 1); “ The Monthly Bulletin of the Canadian Mining Institute” (No. 45), January; “ Transactions of the North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Ship- builders ” (Vol. 32, Part 3), January, price 5s.; “ Journal of the Franklin Institute” (Vol. 181, No. 1), January; “ Monthly Magazine of the Incorporated Chamber of Com- merce of Liverpool” (Vol. 15, No. 1), January; “The I.C.S. Student ” (Vol. - 8, No. 2), February; “ Annales des Mines,” Partie Administrative ou Recueil de Lois, Decrets, Arretes et Autres Actes (Onzieme Serie, Tome 3) (Paris : H. Dunot et E. Pinat); “ Rassegna Mineraria Metallurgica e Chimica ” (Vol. 44, No. 1); “ The Anglo- Norwegian Trade Journal” (Vol. 2, No. 13), January; “ The American Mining Congress Journal ” (Vol. 2, No. 1), January; “ The Chamber of Commerce Journal ” (Vol. 45, No. 262), price 6d. Permitted Explosives for Mines in New South Wales.—In pursuance of the provisions of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1912, Section 3, as amended by the Coal Mines Regula- tion (Amending) Act, 1913, the use in mines in New South Wales of certain scheduled explosives is permitted, subject to conditions, for a period of