528

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

March 17,. 1916.

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ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

745 (1915). Improvements in Chequer Bricks as used in
the Chequering Chambers of Carburetted Water Gas Plants
or Coke Oven Chambers. E. J. Davison, of 3, Carlton
Mansions, Cricklewood, London; and C. P. Tooley, of 9,
Hamilton View, Leeds.—Relates to certain improvements
in the design <and construction of chequer bricks, more
especially of the type described in Specification No. 436/1906.
The chequer brick is constructed with the known alternate
square pedestals and double-
bevelled recesses, both on its upper
and lower surfaces, but the
pedestals and the recesses are each
equal in length to the unit width
of brick, and are thus equal and
uniform, whilst the double-
bevelled recesses are in all cases
formed with a fine edge in lieu of
the rounded or extended edges as
heretofore proposed. The pedestals
and recesses' are arranged in the
known staggered formation, that is
to say, each pedestal at the top is

opposite a recess at the bottom, and each recess
at the top is likewise opposite a pedestal at the
bottom.' Thus when the chequering chambers are
built up, with the bottom pedestals of each brick
bearing on the upper pedestals of the course of bricks
at right angles below it, a double-bevelled fire-edged recess
occurs at the top and bottom of each brick at all points where
the gases are in contact, .and the lodgment of dust or carbon
in the chequers is thereby prevented, and the passage of the
gases at the same time facilitated. The accompanying
drawing is a sectional elevation of part of chequering
chambers built up in accordance with the invention. (Two
claims.)

9765 (1915). Improvements in Expansion Control Devices
for Coke Ovens and the like. A. Roberts, of 608, South
Dearborn-street, Chicago, County of Cook, Illinois, U.S.A.—
The main object is to provide means for maintaining the
oven walls under a desired amount of compression or stress at
all times, so as to keep the oven walls as nearly gastight as
possible, even when the oven is comparatively cold, as well as
after it has reached working temperature. Another object in
this connection is to provide control devices whereby the
walls may be allowed to expand as their temperature is raised,
while nevertheless keeping them under the desired amount of
compression or stress at all times. In accordance with one
feature the walls of the ovens, or as many thereof as required,
are maintained under desired endwise compression at all times,
and the arrangement is such that the compression in the walls
of each oven may be controlled independently of the com-
pressions existing in the walls of the other ovens of a bench,
so that the compression existing in the walls of each oven
may be controlled independently of the other ovens, thereby
compensating for inequalities of temperature, and other con-
ditions in the various ovens of the bench. This feature of the
invention will also permit repairs to be made in the walls of
one or more ovens of the bench without disturbing the walls
of adjacent ovens. Such construction and arrangement also
is to be distinguished from proposed prior constructions of
benches of coke ovens of monolithic structure, that is to say,
having heating walls common to the adjacent coke ovens, in
which means are provided at the upper and lower parts of
the ovens for holding the walls together. As already

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explained, according to the present invention, the coke oven
units have independent heating walls, as a result of which
the compression of one wall may be controlled according to
conditions, without in any way affecting the compression in
the walls of the adjacent ovens, so that distortion or other
undesirable effect is entirely prevented. In accordance with
a further feature, struts are provided, which are in engage-
ment with the ends of a heating wall, and adapted to be
maintained under desired compression thereagainst, indepen-
dently of the other walls of the bench. For this purpose, and
in accordance with a further feature, the upper and lower
portions of the struts are maintained under compression by
means of an adjustable tension device connecting together
the upper portions of the struts for each wall, and also by
means of an adjustable take-up device, located on a stress
member arranged underneath each heating wall, for engaging
the lower portion of the corresponding strut. Fig. 1 (speci-
fication No. 1570/15, last issue) shows end elevation of three
adjacent ovens of a bench of ovens, the doors being removed
from the two outside ovens, which are illustrated in the
figure, and a portion of the walls of two adjacent ovens being
broken away, so as to reveal the interior construction; fig. 2
(herewith) is a vertical section taken through the central por-
tion of one of the ovens; fig. 3 is a horizontal plan view of
one oven, the central portion of the oven being broken away
to shorten up the figure; and fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of a
simple construction of device for controlling the movements
of the lower ends of the struts. (Five claims.)

2358 (1915). Improvements in or relating to Cylinders for
Operating Coal and like Conveyors of the Reciprocating Type.
S. A. Ward, of Wybourne (late of Broad Street Lane Works),
Sheffield.—Relates to cylinders for operating coal and like
reciprocating conveyors of the kind in which each cycle of
operations comprises a working stroke effected by fluid
pressure within the cylinder (in the forward direction), and a
return stroke made by the swing or fall of the conveyor after
exhaust takes place, admission for the working stroke taking
place during or after any compression which is effected by the
return stroke. The object of the present invention is to pro-
vide improvements in such cylinders, especially in the valve

gear. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a cylinder for
operating a reciprocating conveyor according to the inven-
tion; and fig. 2 is a plan of fig. 1. A slide valve 1 controls
the admission of air or other fluid pressure to the cylinder 2,
the ports 3 between the cylinder 2 and the pressure chest 4
being situated towards one end of the cylinder, and being
preferably V-shaped, with the narrow end towards the adja-
cent end of the cylinder. The valve spindle 5 is parallel to
the piston rod 6, and means are provided tending to close
the valve 1. An arm or projection 10 is fixed to the piston
rod 6, or to a rearward extension thereof ‘ outside the cylinder,
and is capable of engaging the valve spindle 5, and of being
freed from such engagement automatically, so that as the
piston 11 is moved by the air or other fluid pressure, the valve
1 is also moved to uncover the port 3 more and more, until
at a pre-determined part of the stroke the engagement
between the piston rod and the valve spindle is freed, and the
valve is closed by the fluid pressure in the chest 4 acting upon
the piston 7. In the construction illustrated, the valve
spindle 5 is suitably supported at 12, and carries a slotted
member 13. A latch 14 is slidably mounted in the slot in
the member 13, and is capable of engaging the atm 10. A
fixed guide 15 is provided, and the latch 14 engages there-
with by means of a pin or the like 16. For a portion of its
length the guide 15 is parallel to the piston rod 6 and the
valve spindle 5, but it is bent, or curves away from the

former at the point at which the latch 14 arrives when cut-off
is desired. Upon arrival at this point the latch 14 will be
caused to move relatively to the slotted member 13 (sliding
in the slot therein) in such manner as to be freed from engage-
ment with the arm 10, thus allowing the valve 1 to be
closed. The latch 14 and arm 10 are so formed that on the
return of the piston the arm over-rides the latch 14 to pass
beyond it, and re-establishes an operative connection there-
with. The guide 15 is preferably adjustable, so that the
point at which cut-off takes place may be varied as desired;
the arm 10 and the slotted member 13 may also be adjust-
able on the piston rod 6 and the valve spindle 5 respectively.
Exhaust is conveniently provided for through the piston 11.
(Four claims.)

951 (1915). Improvements in or relating to Devices for
Limiting Explosions in Mines. H. Wade, of 111 and 112,
Hatton Garden, London, E.C. (A communication from the
firm Frolich und Klupfel, machine manufacturers, of Unter-
Barmen, Germany.)—It has been proposed, for the purpose
of limiting explosions in mines, to extinguish the fire, by
means of water jets, which, owing to the shock of explosion^
automatically escape from a pipe and form a screen which
isolates the point of explosion, by connecting the supply pipe
to a system of sprayer pipes by means of a valve which is
opened by the pressure preceding the flames, said pressure
acting on a hinged flap or
vane, so that water can
enter the sprayer pipes
from which it issues in
jets. According to the
invention the valve is
arranged so that when it is
operated by the pressure
preceding the flames, the
supply pipes extending
from the valve to the point
of explosion are opened.
The accompanying draw-

ing shows one construction in side elevation, in plan and in
cross-section, whilst the pipes Z and Sp are separated from
the pipes ZT and Spx by a double valve V, operated by a
bell crank lever provided with a weight and a disc, and placed
in unstable equilibrium on an edge or the like. The disc
projects into the free cross section of the gallery, and the
valve V is arranged laterally of the gallery, at the bottom,
so that it normally closes the supply and sprayer pipes
arranged at the side of the valve V, and when an explosion
occurs, opens the supply and sprayer pipes, because the
explosion causes the equilibrium of the disc and weight to
be upset. (Three claims.)

1045 (1915). Improvements in and relating to Apparatus
for Purifying Gas. W. Climie, of 142, Roslea Drive,
Dennistoun, Glasgow. — Has reference to and comprises
improvements in and relating to apparatus for purifying gas,
and particularly relates to the “ scrubber ” for washing the
gas and extracting the tar, and consists of an improvement
in or modification of the invention described in prior patent
application, No. 11136, of May 6, 1914.
patent application, the washing medium
passes down through a series of per-
forated plates arranged in the scrubber,
which is also fitted with a shaft having
clade carrying arms or rotary discs.
According to the improvements of this
invention, brush devices, consisting of
blocks having fibre, wire, or other suit-
able material inserted into same, and
carried between discs secured to the cen-
tral shaft, are arranged in place of the
blade carrying arms or rotary discs in
the interior of the scrubber so as to act
as a gas forcing and mixing medium.
The diameter of the central hole in each

perforated plate of the series of plates arranged in the
apparatus is preferably not less than the over-all diameter
of the brush devices, so that the central shaft carrying the
brush devices can be raised up out of the scrubber for exami-
nation, cleaning, repair, and other purposes, without removing
the perforated plates. The accompanying drawing is a
sectional elevation of one of the brush devices fitted to the
shaft of the scrubber. (Two claims.)

In the said prior

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2630 (1915). Improvements in or relating to Igniters for
use with Safety Fuses to Explode Blasting Charges or the
like. W. F. Bennett, of Covale, Tuckingmill, Camborne,
Cornwall.—Relates to that type of fuse igniter which com-
prises a tube of brown paper or the like containing a length
of fuse to be ignited, in juxta-
position to the end of said fuse,
a hollow cap containing a suit-
able substance adapted to be
ignited by percussion or friction,
and a wire or the like extending
through the tube longitudinally,
and having a hooked or bent over
end, adapted to be moved into
contact with the said hollow cap, so
as to cause its contents to ignite,
and so fire the fuse. According
to the present invention, in fuse
igniters of the type described, a
longitudinally movable firing wire

is provided, with a hooked end, which wire lies against the
interior of the tube, and passes between the outer periphery
of the cap and the said interior wall. Fig. 1 is a view
in side elevation; fig. 2 is a view similar to fig. 1, but show-
ing a section on line x—x of fig. 3; fig. 3 is a sectional view
in plan upon an enlarged scale. (Four claims.)

5982 (1915). Improvements in Stands for Miners' Safety
Lamps. C. Henderson, of Harpenden House, Bly th,
Northumberland, and C. Hunter, of Fallowfield House, in
the town and county aforesaid.—Relates to that type of stand
for the temporary storage of miners’ lamps which consists of
a series of independently rotatable trays mounted on a
common axis. Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation (partly in
section) of the improved stand for miners’ safety lamps; and
fig. 2 is a view in plan thereof. On a vertically arranged
shaft a, fixed and supported in a suitable manner at each end,
are mounted (at a suitable distance apart) a series of bosses or
hubs b, which are free to rotate on said shaft, and are sup-
ported by means of collars c, detachably mounted on said
shaft, and preferably having ball bearings d interposed. On
each of the bosses or hubs b are fixed—by bolts b1 or the
like—a series of radially arranged arms e, each of which
carries either a duplex, or two independent radially arranged
trays f for carrying the lamps. These trays f are arranged
side by side on the radial arms e, and have upturned flanges

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f1 on their back and side edges, the width between the side
flanges being that required to receive the lamps, and the
length of the trays being proportional to the number of lamps
each is desired to carry. The trays / are fixed to the radial
arm e by bolts, rivets e1, or the like. The side flanges not
only operate to keep the lamps in position, but also provide
space for the numbering of the positions of the lamps. Means
may be provided for fixing any two or more of the sets of
arms together to facilitate manipulation of the stand. (Four
claims.)

6316 ( 1915). Improvements in or relating to Goal and like
Conveyors. S. A. Ward, of Wybourne, Sheffield.—Relates
to coal and like conveyors of the reciprocating trough type, its
object being to provide improved suspension means for the
conveyor trough, capable of enabling it to reciprocate in the
desired path, which is approximately horizontal at the begin-
ning, culminating in a more or less sudden lift, the return
stroke beginning with a corresponding fall’ and ending with

FIG )	no 2

a nearly level motion. When the conveyor was to be reci-
procated in a straight line, it has been proposed to suspend it
by links from rocking standards, and to guide it in the desired
path. According to the present invention, such suspension
means are employed, but the guides may be dispensed with,
and the desired movement is imparted to the conveyor when
reciprocated by limiting the rocking, of the standards by
lateral extensions near the bases of the standards coming into
contact with the sleepers, which carry them, or parts attached
thereto, such as the bases of the pedestals to which the stan-
dards are pivoted. The relative length of the links and
standards also governs the path of the conveyor. Fig. 1 is
an elevation; and fig. 2 is an end view, showing part of a
conveyor trough suspended according to the invention. (Three
claims.)

9763 (1915). Improvements in Fuel Piping Arrangements
for Coke Ovens. A. Roberts, 608, South Dearborn-street,