May 19, 1916.

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

963

adapted to be secured to a conical centre b, arranged vertically
with its smaller end uppermost, has its upper edge formed
with a series of inclined faces c tapering in opposite direc-
tions. Such edge might co-act with a companion edge formed
directly upon a nut adapted to be secured to the shaft d, which
carries the said centre b, but it is preferred to interpose a
self-adjusting ring or washer , provided with the companion
inclined surface so as to compensate for irregularities. Thus,
a ring or washer e may be employed having a concave part-
spherical surface f adapted to engage a companion-surface g
upon a locking nut h, and also with a convex part-spherical
surface i intended to engage a corresponding seating j upon
the inner conical centre b of the head. To prevent rotation
of the ring or washer e relatively to the said centre b, a
projection, or, as shown, several projections k may be pro-
vided upon the former adapted to fit into a recess or recesses
in in the latter, or vice versa. After the parts have been pro-
perly assembled, and the nut h screwed into position, leaving
a certain amount of clearance, such nut h can be prevented
from rotation in either direction by means of a locking pin n,
or equivalent device. The manner in which relative rotation
between the mantle a and centre b will cause the faces c to
co-operate with the companion faces c1 of the ring e will be
readily understood from fig. 2. (Three claims.)

9678 (1915). Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding
Pulverised or Finely Divided Fuel or other Material. W.
S. Quigley, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and 105, West
40th-street, New York, U.S.A.—Consists of. improvements
in air current or blast apparatus for feeding pulverised or
finely divided material of the type wherein the amount fed
is derived from a stream of larger amount which is delivered
from a source of supply to which the excess is returned.
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, partly in elevation;
fig. 2 is a cross section corresponding to the lines 2—2 of
fig. 1; fig. 3 is a detail cross section corresponding to the
line 3—3 of fig. 1, partly in elevation; and fig. 4 is a similar
cross section corresponding to the line 4—4 of fig. 1. In
the example shown, 1 is a hopper placed over a magazine 2,
which has an opening 11, from one side of which extends a
tubular conduit 12, which has a tapered end 13. A discharge
pipe 14 is connected to the outer end of the conduit 12 at the
end of the tapered portion 13, and is arranged concentrically
with the said conduit. In this conduit is mounted a conveyor
screw 6, having a core 7, with a central bore 8. This screw
is centred in the conduit, at one end by bearing wheels 10
carried by radial lugs 9, which extend inward from the maga-
zine walls, and at the other end by a gear wheel 15, having
spokes 16, 16. These spokes are preferably rhomboidal in
cross section, and so inclined as to have the same pitch as
the threads of the screw 6. The gear wheel 15 has a rim,
whose inner diameter is approximately equal to the inner
d: a meter of the tubular conduit 12, and is located in- an
annular groove 17, which is formed by the meeting flanges 18
and 19 of the conduit 12, and of the end piece 13 respectively.
These flanges are secured together by bolts 20, 20, or equiva-
lent fastening devices. The screw 6 may, because of its large
ddimeter, have a double thread, as shown. A conveyor screw
3, fitting in the bore of the screw 6, has a core 4, with a
longitudinal bore 5. It extends across the magazine 2, and
through the wall opposite the opening 11, and has a gear
wheel 21 on its projecting end. Preferably the outer end of
the core 7 of the outer screw is tapered to form a nozzle 30,
which is concentric with the end piece 13, and the outer
surface of the end of the core 4 may . also be slightly tapered
as shown in fig. 1. In operation, the inner or feed screw 3
is revolved in such a direction as will draw material from





the magazine 2, and force it through the bore 8 of the screw
6, and out of the tapered nozzle 30 on the end thereof. The
outer or return screw 6 is revolved in such a direction as to
feed back to the magazine 2 any surplus material which falls
down along the inclined surface of the tapered end 13 of the
conduit 12. As shown, these screws 3 and 6 are given oppo-
site pitches, so that these results are produced when they
both revolve in the same direction, i.e., a counter-clockwise
direction, as viewed from the right hand end of fig. 1, as
indicated by arrows in fig. 3. Other arrangements of parts to
produce the same result might be substituted. A suitable
mechanism for rotating these screws in this manner consists
of a countershaft 22, having a pinion 23, which meshes with
the gear wheel 21 on the screw 3, and a pinion 24, which is
adapted to rotate in a housing 46, formed by an extension of
the flanges 18 and 19, as shown in fig.-2, and which meshes
with the gear wheel 15. This countershaft may be driven by
a pulley 25, and a belt 26. An additional journal bearing
(not shown) for the countershaft 22 may be carried by a lug
47, a part of which "is shown in fig. 3, and which extends
from the wall of the magazine 2, which contains the opening
11. The air blast is supplied to the bore 5 of the feed screw
3 by a pipe or hose 27, connected to the core 4 by a rotatable
flanged coupling 28, and a union 29. In operation, a larger
quantity of powdered coal or other material than can be
taken up by the maximum air blast employed is forced from
the magazine 2 by the screw 3 through the bore 8 of the
screw 6, and through the nozzle 3-0. The blast discharged
from the end of bore 5 of the feed screw 3 takes up a certain
portion of the material which is being forced out through the
nozzle 30 (the amount varying according to the pressure and
carrying power of the jet), and conveys it through the dis-
charge pipe 14. The remainder falls down the inclined sur-
face of the tapered end 13 of the conduit 12, is delivered to
the return screw 6 by the inclined spokes 16, 16 of the gear
wheel 15, and is carried back to the magazine 2 by the said
return screw, to be used over again. (Five claims.)

10177 (1915). Improvements in Systems of Separation
Doors for the Pit Heads of Collieries. C. A. Carlow, of
Linnwood Hall, Lieven, Fife.—Relates to separation doors,
for the pit heads of collieries, which will effectively produce

an air lock at the pit head, and thus will act to prevent
leakage (from the pit) of the air used for ventilation purposes ;
and comprises an airtight chamber branching into the pit
shaft, and provided with inlet and outlet doorways for hutches
and men, such doorways being sealed by revolving doors pre-
senting vanes, which track the cylindrical walls of such door-
ways', and enclose pockets adapted to receive the hutches and
men. The number and dimensions and formation of the
vanes and doorways are such that the vanes will always act
as closures for the doorways, the spaces between the vanes
serving to house the hutches during the rotation of the doors,
and thus to permit passage of the hutches through the door-
ways. Fig. 1 is a plan view; and fig. 2 a detail view partly in
elevation, and partly in section. The substantially airtight
chamber 1, the Avails 2 of which may be composed of rein-

forced concrete, branches into the pit shaft 3, and is fitted at
the entrance and at the exit with revolving doors 4, 5,
co-operating with cylindrical segments 6, which are tracked
by adjustable vanes 7, fitted to wing plates 8, forming part
of the framing of the door. Vanes are also fitted to- the
wing plates, and track the upper Avail .10 of the doorway,
which wall may be lined with polished timber, etc. Rotary
movement is transmitted to the door by means of a revolving
shaft 11, to which the door framing is secured, such shaft
being journalled in -bearings 12, and driven through bevel
gearing 13. Each door affords two travelling pockets, per-
mitting passage of hutches through the doorway. The wing
plates may be fitted with buffers at 14, which facilitate passage
of the hutches through the doorway. At the pit head, the
entrance to the airtight chamber may be on a higher level
than the mouth of the pit, and the exit at a level below
that of the pit head, so that the hutches will gravitate
through the chamber, i.e., towards and away from the pit
mouth. (Two claims.)

10834 (1915). Improvements in Rotary Air and Gas Com-
pressors. H. W. M. Willett, of Sloane Square, London.—
Has reference to rotary liquid, sealed air, and gas com-
pressors comprising a number of compartments arranged
around a centre, and into each of which -in turn air or gas is
admitted at one part at one pressure, say ordinary atmo-
spheric pressure, then compressed by the sealing liquid
during rotation of the compartment, and afterwards dis-
charged at another part at a higher pressure. To produce a
compressor wherein the pressure of the air or gas in the
delivery chamber shall be maintained as nearly as possible
uniform so as to avoid any pulsating -action of the air or
gas in the pipe or apparatus with which the compressor is
used, each of the compartments is provided at the delivery
side or end with one or more comparatively small holes so
situated that, during rotation of the compartment and after
it has been filled with air or gas, -and the same partly com-
pressed by the closing of the air -or gas inlet by the sealing
liquid, -it "or each of them in succession will rise above the
surface of such liquid and place the compartment in com-
munication with the delivery chamber into which at this
time air or gas under pressure will be flowing. from the
preceding compartment, with the- result that air or gas
will pass from the delivery chamber into the first mentioned
compartment and equalise the pressure in such compartment
and delivery chamber. In this way the air or gas can be
compressed to the required pressure, and such pressure main-
tained before the main outlet passage of the compartment
opens, and up to the moment of opening, of such outlet
passage, when the ’air will be caused to flow into the delivery
chamber by the continued rotation of the compartment, so
that the air pressure in the delivery chamber will be main-
tained practically constant. Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation,
and fig. 2 a transverse section more or less diagrammatic.
The compressor comprises a drum a and a casing b, wherein
the drum is arranged horizontally, and which contains the
sealing liquid, for example water. The drum a is divided
internally into a number of similar longitudinally extending
compartments arranged around an axially disposed driving
shaft c, and constituted in part by a number of flat plates d
that are equally spaced around the
driving shaft and inclined to the axis
thereof. Each of these division plates
is connected at its ends to two trans-
versely extending end plates e, f that
are slightly inclined to a plane at right
angles to the 'axis of the driving shaft
c, the front plate e being arranged at
the inlet side of the drum and the rear
plate f is arranged towards the opposite
or delivery side of the drum, but at a
suitable distance from a centrally per-
forated rear end wall g of the drum.
Only one of these plates d, e, f is
shown in fig. 2. Each front plate e
overlaps to some extent the outer side
of the front plate e in advance of 'it,
and forms therewith an air inlet
passage to the compartment formed
between the two division plates d, to
which the two front plates e are con-

nected. The rear plate f connected to each division plate d
extends backwardly and overlaps to some extent the outer
side of the rear plate f of the next division plate d to the
rear, and forms therewith >an air delivery passage from the
corresponding compartment. The outer peripheral edges of
the division plates d and front and rear plates e and f are
united in a fluid-tight manner to the drum a. The inner
edge portions d1 of the division plates d are cut to a concave
semi-elliptical shape, such that they would lie upon

and extend partially around a cylindrical surface
inserted between them and .of such a diameter that
the division plates d will always be effectually
sealed by the liquid in the casing b. This leaves a
cylindrical passage through the centre of the drum, and
reduces the liquid friction of the entire drum to a small
amount. The driving shaft c is of much smaller diameter
than the said cylindrical passage, and is mounted in liquid-
tight bearings h, carried by the end walls of the casing b.
Conveniently there may be four compartments formed by
and between the division'plates d and front and rear plates
e, f. In this case the forward edge 1, 2 of each front plate
e is so arranged that the inlet passage formed by and
between it and the next forward front plate e is'just closed
when the corresponding compartment is in its uppermost and
mid position with the division plates d inclined at 45 degs. to
the horizontal, in which position the capacity of the com-
partment above the level of the sealing liquid is a maximum.
Each rear plate f extends backwardly to an extent greater
than is necessary for compressing the air in the correspond-
ing compartment to the required pressure, and is formed
with a number of small apertures i arranged so as to be
uncovered in succession as they rise above the surface of
the sealing liquid, for example one behind the other in a
segment of a circle having its centre at the axis of the drum,
or in a straight line, or otherwise, these apertures being
provided for equalising the pressure in the compartment to
which they belong, and that in the delivery chamber into
which the preceding compartment is then delivering air
under the required pressure. Or one continuous aperture or
slot may be used instead of ‘a series of apertures. The space
between the rear end wall g of the drum a and the per-
forated rear plates f forms the delivery chamber j into the
portion of which above the water level, the compressed air
is delivered from the several compartments in succession.
Through the central hole in the rear end Avail -and into the
air space of the delivery chamber j extends a stand pipe k
to lead away the compressed air. (Three claims.)

11406 (1915). Improvements in Artificial or Block Fuel.
H. Faraday, of 8, Acresfield-road, Irlams’-o’-th’-Height,
Lancashire.—Relates to artificial or block fuel of the kind
set forth in Specification No. 19495 a.d. 1914. The principal
constituent of artificial or block fuel, in which the binding
agent consists of maize and chloride of sodium, is ground,
pulverised, or granular coke, or coke dust or breeze, either
alone or mixed with bituminous coal and/or 'anthracite.
Thus the bituminous coal In the example first described in
the said specification may be replaced by ground, pulverised,
or granular coke, or coke dust or breeze, or a mixture thereof
and bituminous coal, preferably in about equal parts.
Similarly, the anthracite in the example secondly described
in the said specification, may be replaced by a mixture of
ground, pulverised or granular coke or coke dust or breeze,
and anthracite, ’also preferably in about equal proportions.
(Two claims.)

14830 (1915). Improvements in Producer Gas Plants
particularly applicable to Suction Gas Plants. Sir K. I.
Crossley, Bart., of Crossley Brothers Limited, Openshaw,
Manchester; and F. Fielden, of the same address.—Relates
to improvements in producer gas plants, particularly suction
gas plants, and consists essentially in an improved arrange-
ment and construction of gas outlet pipe having its open
mouth pointing directly upwards, and provided with scrapers
worked at any time for cleaning purposes in straight lines
along such pipe and its branches without interfering with
the working of the plant. The drawing is an elevation,
partly sectional, of a producer gas plant fitted with the inven-

tion. A designates the producer , gas generator of the up-
draught type; B, the gas outlet pipe; and C, B, E, F, its
four branches. The branches C and F form the gas passage
between the generator and the inlet pipe G to the scrubber.
The short branches D and E are continuations of the branches
C and F respectively, and terminate in caps H and I, whilst
the inlet pipe G to the scrubber terminates in a similar cap J.
The branches G and D form a continuous pipe in one straight
line, and the branches F and E form another continuous pipe
in one straight line. A hole, tapering inwards, is bored in
each of the caps, and forms a seating into which the taper
shank of a scraper K is fitted, the shank being continued
through and slotted to receive a cotter L, by means of which
the shank is made to fit airtight in the cap. The extremity
of the shank is screwed or otherwise prepared to receive the
end of a long handle indicated in dotted lines in three posi-
tions, so that by means of this handle each scraper K can be
moved up and down the straight pipe length G B, E F, or
G, to clean and remove any deposit in -the pipes. Normally
the red of the long handle is unscrewed and detached from
the scraper shank, and the scrapers are held in recesses
formed by the pipe branches by means of the cotters, and in
this position no obstruction is caused by them to the passage
of the gas from the generator to the scrubber. The branch C
of the gas outlet pipe being fixed at an angle to the generator
terminates in the producer at a suitable distance from the
top plate, say, for example, a distance approximately equal
to its bore. The suction, whether induced by a gas engine
or a fan or equivalent, will draw the gas from the generator
downward through the upwardly pointing mouth of the outlet
pipe 0. To assist in equalising the draught of the gas from