350 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. February 16, 1917. ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS RECENTLY ACCEPTED. 103097. Improvements in Furnaces Fed with Pulverulent Fuel. K. H. W. von Porat, of Stocksund, Sweden; and Motal-a. Verkstads nya, Aktiebolag, of Motala Verkstad, Sweden.—Relates to furnaces having a mixing chamber for pulverulent fuel and air or other gaseous media, in which there is provided an igniting device for igniting the mixture. Fig. 1 is a vertical section; fig. 2 is a section partially on the line f—f and partially on the line g—g of fig. 1; and fig. 3 is 'a section partially on the line h—h and partially on the line j—j of fig. 1. The mixing chamber 73 is limited at the front end by a palate-shaped vault 74. The powder is blown at a high speed through a tube 75 opening in the upper part of the mixing chamber, and the jet of powder is caused by the vault 74 to move downwards in the direction indicated by the arrow, whereafter the jet moves rearwardly, and divides laterally, and continues upwardly to the boiler tubes through the opening formed between the rear end of the vault 74 and the rear end wall of the chamber. For the purpose of facilitating the division of the powder jet, the middle part of the vault may be extended rearwardly to the said end wall, as shown in dotted lines. The branches of the 76 73 76 80 74 < 79 I J 3 Ficf.Z. 77 76 \w//s/m\ 73 divided powder jet then pass through the openings 77 respec- tively, which are formed on the sides of the extension 76. By the draught of the furnace, combustion air is sucked in through channels 79, which are located in the bottom of the mixing chamber, and extend transversely of the chamber. The air is caused by the whirls in the powder. jet to be’ intimately mixed with the powder. In an opening in the bottom of the chamber there are inserted a plurality of plates or ribs 78, which are arranged similarly to a louvred window. By this peculiar arrangement of channels, the powder is pre- vented from collecting in the, bottom of the chamber, and further, a more effective mixing of air, and powder is obtained. For igniting the mixture, there is arranged -a fire 80 for a solid or other fuel. A vault 81, arranged above the fire, land extending from the rear wall of the chamber, forms together with a bridge 82 a relatively small opening 83, through which the flames from the fire 80 at a. relatively great speed enter into the flow of mixture of powder and air, and ignite the same. (Thirteen claims.) 103137. Improvements in the Charging of Gas Retorts. A. E. White, of 88, 89, and 90, Chancery-lane, London, W.C. (Communication from Riter-Conley Manufacturing Company, of Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)—Relates to methods and apparatus for operating gas generators provided with a charging device or scoop for receiving -and depositing successive charges of coal in the retort. The drawing is a view of the charger, partly in elevation and partly in section. The (standardised charge, when in carbonising position, ha.s its centre line in correspondence with the centre line of the retort, and its ends of an easy slope extending to the desired point with respect to the. retort mouthpieces. The charge preferably extends to . within .a, short distance of the top of the retort, although this may be varied through the character of the distribution. The actual distance between the top of the retort and the top of the positioned charge is preferably such that sufficient space is provided to accommodate for swelling of the coal during carbonisation, and to permit the. gais to readily pass to the off-take through the space at the top of the charge. 20 is a frame mounted to move vertically relative to a, support 21, by means of a, series of threaded rods 22 operative within the support 21, and connected to provide uniform movements to the frame, said frame being positioned on the adjusting mechanism. This frame forms a track for 'a carriage framework 23, the latter having wheels adapted to travel on the frame 20.' Frame 20 is also pro- vided with stops 24, which serve to limit the travel of the carriage. The carriage 23 supports the charger mechanism, which is in the form of a, pair of scoops 25 of known kind, each of which is formed of two sections, the scoop members being operatively connected to move in unison by means of con- nected gears adapted to be driven from a suitable power device indicated as a, handle 27. The gears are mounted on sleeves connected to the outer scoop sections, the sleeves being mounted on members carried by the inner scoop sec- tions. The scoop sections of a scoop member are adapted to have independent movements for a portion of the scoop rotating travel, until contact, is made between two knockers, whereupon both sections of each member travel in unison, until one of the knockers comes in contact with a. stop. The scoop mechanism may be movable vertically, through the adjustment of the frame 20, relative to a chute 34, the lower end of which encloses the receiving portion of the scoop members, and having a configuration which gives the coal- within the scoops an approximate shape; this portion (35) has its’ sides inclined, thus giving the effect of wings to the passageway provided by the chute 34. When in this posi- tion, the scoop structure is adapted to receive the charge from a dumping bucket 36, which is rotated by a handle 37, and is located beneath, a source of supply. A rotation of the bucket 36 will cause the charge to be gradually dumped into the chute 34, through which it passes into, the scoop struc- ture. As the dumping bucket has -a length 'approximating the length of the main portion of the scoop structure, the charge will be distributed in the direction of length of the scoops in substantial correspondence with the distribution in the bucket, the gravity transfer from bucket to scoops aiding in producing uniform distribution. The charge will conform to the shape which the scoop members and the wing structure 35 may provide., the side wings being preferably arranged to provide a. slightly depressed portion at the top of the scoops. (Thirteen claims.) 103138. Improvements in Machines for Charging and Dis- charging Gas Retorts. Riter-Conley Manufacturing Com- pany, H. A. Carpenter, R. L. Hibbard, and A. W. Warner, all of Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.—Relates to charging and discharging apparatus of the type disclosed in British Patent No. 17855/1912, the chief objects being to increase the automatic cycle of operations of the apparatus, to provide for greater economies and safeguards in operation, and inci- dentally facilitate and enhance the functions to be performed by the apparatus in order thsat the charging and discharging of retorts may be made with greater rapidity. The drawing is an elevation of a charging and discharging apparatus, showing the relative positions of the parts and the several motors employed. 1 designates the frame of the apparatus mounted on wheels 2, and designed to travel on a- track 3 disposed in front of a stack of gas benches. The travel of the frame is effected by a. travel motor 5, connected with and receiving current from feed or line wires. The motor 5 has a brake 6 actuated by a solenoid 7. The travel motor con- troller is mounted on an operating platform suspended from the main frame 1 of the apparatus by screws 22. At the top of the apparatus is a. coal bin, from which coal is fed into a telescopic chute 10, and for the purpose of controlling the feed of coal or fuel from the bin to the chute, a. motor 11 and intermediate mechanism including gearing 12 and a crank 13 is provided, the latter being connected with a rod 14, said rod having its lower end connected with a gear sector 15. The sectors 15 and 16 are respectively mounted on shafts 17 and 18, and the latter are connected with gates, shown in dotted lines, of the feeder mechanism. The feeder gate mechanism, in addition to the parts enumerated above, includes a worm shaft 19 located in a casing, said worm shaft being provided with a. brake operated by a solenoid 20. The carriage carrying the scoops of the charger and dis- charger is mounted on wheels 25 designed to travel upon track 26, supported by girders 21. 27, 28, and 29 respec- tively designate the wing motor, the carriage motor, and the 3— /3 scoop motor. The vertical screws 22 aire in operative engage- ment with the hoist motor 23, and are connected by means of a. worm shaft 30, equipped with a brake, controlled by a solenoid 31, adapted to release the brake whenever hoist motor 23 operates, and apply ’the same when current to the motor is broken. Motors 27, 28, and 29 are also equipped with brake-operating solenoids 32, 33, and 34, which, together with solenoids 7 and 20 of motors 5 and 11, operate to apply and release their respective brake mechanisms in a. manner similar to that of solenoid 31. (Fifteen claims.) 103143. Improvements in Machines for Discharging and Charging Gas Retorts. A. A. Guest and Gibbons Brothers Limited, and J. Wigley, all of Dibdale Works, Lower Gornal, Staffordshire.—Has reference to machines for dis- charging coke from one end of a double-ended horizontal retort, and for charging in coal at the other end, these two operations being performed during one combined forward and backward movement of the discharging charger, so> as to fill the retort with coal right up to the crown if necessary. The. drawing is a. part sectional side elevation of the main portions of the discharging and charging machine. A is the combined, jointed, sectional conveyor trough and discharging ram, and B is the endless drag bar chain, which is adapted to travel along the bottom of the trough A, and passes round rollers 1, 2 in tftie ends of the trough, the upper or return part of the drag bar chain travelling over rollers 3 carried by the sides of the trough. C1, C2 are two channel section guides extending backwardlv from near the mouth of the retort H, and then rising and curving over in a circular form round a large sprocket wheel E, the teeth 4 of which gear with the drag bar chain B. Each section A has side rollers 10, pre- ferably two on each side, which engage in the channel guides C1, C2. F is the vertical feed spout conveying the coal from overhead hopper F1 to the trough A, and under which the trough A with the drag bar chain B passes. The coal from the feed spout passes through the upper or return part of the chain B, and falls into the trough A, so as to be carried at the proper times by the lower part of the drain B. G is the spur pinion mounted on the shaft 5, and gearing with the toothed racks 6 which are fixed to or formed on the bottom of the trough sections A for ‘ the purpose of moving the machine into the retort and withdrawing the same therefrom. The joints of the sides 7 of the ' trough sections A are arranged with their joint pins 8 near the tops of the sides and the ends 9 of the sides 7 below the joint pins 8 are made to abut like rule joints, so as to make, the trough rigid 'as the sections come in line with one another. The drag bar chain is composed of short alternate blocks and pairs of links forming a- comparatively narrow chain at the middle of the trough, every other block being furnished with two later- ally projecting bars arranged with their wider sides vertical, so as to form drags or carriers to move the coal along the bottom of the trough, and also to allow clear spaces through which the coal can fall through the upper or return part of the drag bar chain into the trough A, and down on to the forwardly moving part of the drag bar chain. The rollers 3 between the sides 7 of the trough and above and along which F E E E B -E n B- 19 18- B 1 the return part of the drag bar chain travels are preferably arranged at the centre line of the trough sections A under the chain part of the drag bar chain. The pins on which these rollers 3 revolve are carried by their bars 14 from the sides of the trough, which are bent or bridged upwardly, so as to give as much clearance as possible underneath them for the moving coal. The spaces between the ends of the adjacent blocks of the chain have to be the proper width and at the right pitch to suit the sprocket teeth 4 of the wheel E. The large sprocket wheel E round which the return part of the drag bar chain B passes, is driven by the spur wheel 27 and spur pinion 28, the latter being mounted on a driving shaft 29. The parts of the machine above desscribed are mounted on a carriage, and furnished with mechanism for raising, lowering, and for travelling along rails 30 in the retort house floor. (Eleven claims.) 103243. Improvements in Coke Ovens or the like and the Treatment of Gases therefrom. A. Roberts, of 608, South Dearborn-street, Chicago, U.S.A.—Has reference to improve- ments in coke ovens or the like and the treatment of gases therefrom, and provides means for subjecting the distillate gases to a preliminary treatment directly 'after they leave the carbonising chamber, and in preparation for their subsequent treatment as in a by-product recovery apparatus. The drawing shows a longitudinal section through an oven. The carbonising chiamber 7 has a roof 8, provided with ports 9 along the centre line. Each of the ports extends up through the roof and communicates directly with a tubular flange or the like 10. A cast iron collair 11 is seated down into the upper surface of the roof. The flanges 10 support the dome 1.2, which carries the distillate gases towards the desired point of delivery. The dome 12 communicates with either of the mains 13a and 14% in which the gases from a bench of ovens are collected and carried to the by-product apparatus, etc. The dome is preferably made up from a series of sec- tions 13, each having an enlarged longitudinal body portion, near the centre of which is a, throat which is secured to the flange 10. All tile body portions 14 'align and are connected up to provide a continuous enlarged flue or passage through which the gases are taken off, and in which they are sub- jected to preliminary treatment. Above each of the throats 15 is the upstanding flange 16, which provides in effect an extension of the corresponding throat 15. Liquid materials collecting in the bottom of the longitudinal passage are pre- vented. from running down through the throats and into the ports by flanges 16. At one end the dome is closed by a. head 22, and at its other end it communicates with a trap 23. The delivery pipe 24 connects the upper portion of the trap with both of the mains 13a and 14% and the gas may be directed into either of said mains by the valves 25 and 26. Along tine sides of the take-off extend the pipes 29 for the