500 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. . March 9, 1917. the plate 18 and each end plate 13 are grate bars made up of parts. The preferable construction is a bar 23 which extends across the space between the side bars 12, and is journalled at its ends in the side bars. Each of the bars 23 is pro- vided with a downward arm 24, and the arms are connected in sets by links 25, which extend through the front wall 10 of the. furnace, for oscillating the bars 23, and also for hold- ing them in position. The bars 23 are alike in form and construction, and each is provided with longitudinal'grooves on its vertical edges, and with perforations which extend laterally therethrough, terminating■ in the grooves. At the o o o o O O ' o o o o o o 0 O o o 'A o ° o o O o o o ........% top of each bar 23 is a longitudinal groove. On each bar 23 is mounted a plurality of grate fingers adapted to cover the entire upper and lateral sides of the bars. Each grate finger is provided with a notch at its lower edge adapted to fit a bar 23. The grate fingers are each provided with grooves in the sides of notches opposite the grooves of. the bar 23 on which it rests. The function of the grooves is to provide means whereby air may pass between the grate fingers and the bars 23 to prevent overheating of such parts. In order to direct the currents of air passing through the grooves more closely to the bars 23, deflecting plates are provided at the side grooves of the grate fingers. These plates extend a short distance toward the bars 23, and upon 'air passing over such plates, it is deflected toward the bars 23, thereby facili- tating the cooling of said bars. The grate fingers are further ,, provided with vertically extending grooves in the vertical sides of the notches which provide means for air entering the grooves from below the grate. Each grate finger is pro- vided with -a boss at one side, which is adapted- to space the grate fingers slightly apart in order to permit the passage of air between such grate fingers upwardly to the' fire thereon. At the ends of each of the bars 23 the last grate finger is provided with a lip which extends outwardly over the side rail 12 protecting the latter from the fire on the grate fingers. To prevent overheating of the lips/recesses are provided in the outer edge thereof so as to increase .the heat radiating surfaces of said lips. In the top edge of each grate finger is a groove adapted to hold a quantity of ashes and prevent the fuel from .adhering to and burning the tops of the grate . fingers. (Six claims.) 103540. Improvements Relating to Rotary . Feeding . Devices for Feeding Coal, Sand, and like materials into Conveyors, Chutes, or like Devices. Babcock and Wilcox Limited, of Oriel House, 30, Earringdon-tsreet,' London, E.C.—Relates to rotary devices for feeding coal, sand, and like materials into conveyors, chutes, or like-devices. The device includes a casing 1,-with inlet opening 2, and delivery opening 3, in one side of which casing is mounted a shaft 4 provided with radial vanes 5 forming a paddle wheel, afford- ing pockets for the material to be fed,.which vanes on rota- tion carry the material from the inlet 2 to the outlet 3. The part of the periphery of the casing- between ■ the inlet and outlet on one side of the casing, and a portion of the part of the periphery of the casing between the inlet and the outlet on the other side of the casing 6 lie on the surface of a’ cylinder having the same axis as the shaft, and of about the same diameter as the paddle wheel. The’vanes are prefer- '-.oV \ vu ably, though not necessarily, formed with sectoral side cheeks 7, which contact with the ends and with the lateral wall of the casing. The portions of the casing lying on the surface of a cylinder are so proportioned in relation to the vanes, that the vanes at all times form at the periphery of the wheel a seal between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3.on two lines parallel to the- axis of the shaft, the side cheeks 7 on the. vanes forming a seal at the ends of the casing at right angles to the shaft, the dimensions of the cheeks being such that, at all times a seal is provided between the inlet 2 and the'outlet 3. The material can thus be delivered quietly and calmly into conveyors or the like without loading the air with dust, even in the case where the material is delivered under air pressure to the inlet of the casing. The material is fed into the rotating feeding device through the periphery and also through the space between the side cheeks through openings in the side' cheeks. (Two claims.) 103561. Combined Gas Cooler and Washer. J. E. Christopher, Woodside, Hall-lane, Hindley.—Relates to the cooling and washing of gas in one apparatus. Eig. 1 is a part section and part elevation; fig. 2 is a half-plan and half-cross-sectional view of fig. 1; fig. 3 is a detail; and fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of certain details in fig. 1. a is the shell containing groups of tubes arranged in pairs of inner tubes b and outer tubes c, in concentric formation, d is the inlet admitting gas to the spaces around the tubes c. Com- municating means between the inner and outer parts of tubes c are provided at e, md formed by means of cap por- tions I connected to the pipes b by screw threads. The gas is thus allowed to pass within the . tubes, c, and thus come in contact with the outer surfaces of tubes b. The gas may pass down the tubes c until the same emerges at the open- ings c1 below, in communication with the gas outlet h. A chamber k is supplied with water or cooling liquid under pressure, through a - pipe k1 or the like. Such cooling medium is forced up the pipes b, the lower ends of which are open for the purpose, and emerges from the same to the exterior through apertures, such as b1 (fig. 4), a number of said apertures being provided, along the lengths of the pipes b at suitable intervals thereof. The upper portion of the cap I (fig. 3 and 4) takes the.form of.a nut, provided with an aperture m or suitable communication leading to. the exterior of the cap. Some portion of the cooling medium is forced through the aperture m into the space around the groups or units of tubes, and therefore eventually, and to some extent, down the sides externally of the tubes c. This is-facilitated by the provision of grooves c~ across the caps I and below the level of the nut portion-thereof. The cooling medium, from Hie apertures m, and the tubes .cooled thereby, wash and cool .the gases in contact therewith ; also, the sprays from ©©©©© ©©©©© TIG. 4_ ,cl EZZZZ±W FIG. 3 ©©©AN—< ©©©© . FIG. 1 £ the apertures b1 have the effect of keeping cool and washing the-gases passing between tubes b and c, as well as keeping cool the tubes themselves. After the gases emerge from the lower ends of the tubes c, and before leaving the apparatus by the outlet h, they are brought in contact with the tubes b, or their extensions. (Three claims.) - 103698. Improved Process of Softening. Water. Oelwerke Stern-Sonneborn A.G., of Klein' Grasbrook, Hamburg, and Cologne, Germany.—A modification of Patent No. 22362/14, which relates to a process for softening water, the water being mixed with biphosphate of- sodium; and brought to a higher temperature. ’ More favourable results may be obtained if the water is first brought to the boiling tempera- ture for .a short time (e.g., five minutes) without the admix- ture of phosphate of sodium, the latter being added later on, thus.removing first of all, by heating for about five minutes/, the temporary hardness of the water, while the permanent hardness of the water is removed by the treatment with hot phosphate of sodium. As an example, the hardness of the water of the city of Cologne (total hardness, 15-6; temporary hardness, 7-8)/when treated with a 7 per cent, of 1 per cent, solution of sodium, was reduced to 0-9 deg., as compared with 1-4 deg. by the older process. (One claim.) PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. The A^ear-Book of the Scientific and Learned Societies of Great Britain and Ireland, 1916. London : Charles Griffin and Company Limited. Price, 7s. 6d. net. “ Iowa Engineer ” (Vol. 17, No. 4), January; “ The Trac- tive Resistance on Curves of a 28-ton Electric Car,” by E. C. Schmidt and H. H. Dunn (Bulletin 92, University of Illinois). Disabled Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Pensions.—Last week a deputation from the executive of the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain waited upon Mr. Geo. Barnes at the Pensions Ministry, with reference to the inadequacy of pensions granted by the State to totally and partially dis- abled soldiers and sailors. Mr. Robt. Smillie, who stated the case, cited instances'of what the miners considered to be pensions of inadequate amount granted to miners who had been partially disabled in the service of their country. They asked the State to provide a pension of 30s. a week for men suffering from total disablement, and 20s. a week for partial disablement, with additional allowances for each child under working age.—Mr. Geo. Barnes, in reply, pre- sented to the deputation the terms of the new Royal Warrant for the pensions of soldiers disabled and of the families and dependants of soldiers which had been issued by the Government that morning. The terms of the new Order were generally regarded by the deputation as a great improvement on any pensions previously paid. MEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE COAL AND IRON TRADES. Applications for Patents. [Note.—Applications arranged alphabetically under the names of the applicants (communicators in parentheses).’ A new number will be given on acceptance, which will replace the application number.] Adams, W. S., and Cole, C. M. Devices for transmitting motion. (2831) Aero-Chemical Syndicate. ammonia. (2920) •Process for production of Alexander., H. Processes., for ..heating, melting,- and anneal- ing metals by electricity. (2878) Alston, C. H. T. Internal combustion engines. (3135) Ashcroft, E. A. Extraction and recovery of potassium sails from rocks, minerals, fumes, ashes, or residues con- taining potass. (2941) Augustine, B. E. Rotary gas engines. (2995) Boving, J. O. Electric furnaces: (2807) Brown, W. E. Internal combustion engines. (2826) Davidson, J. Internal combustion engines. (2938) Davis, R. H. Apparatus for use in testing breathing appli- 'ances. (3191) Dutt, E. E. and P. C. Process for synthetic production of hydrocarbons of the paraffin series. (3192) Dyer, C. M. Apparatus for carburation of hydrocarbon liquids. (2793) Falkirk Iron Company, and Nobbs, C. G. Electric heaters for use with internal combustion engines, etc. (2779) Fielding, H. W. D. Double-acting pistons for high-pres- sure cylinders of steam engines. (3156) Gill,-J. J. Engines. (2770) Glass, W. Internal combustion engines. (3038) Helps, G. Utilisation and combustion of fuel. (3042) ; High Speed Steel Alloys Limited. Preparation*of metallic compounds. (2988) Imbery, A. • Processes for heating, melting, and anneal- ing metals by electricity. (2878) Lane, G. L. Well drilling bits. (2974) Lawton, T. A. D. Extraction of metals from their oxides. (3110) Lippmann, H. (firm of). Method of tinning sheet metals. (3043) Mason, G. W. Prime movers or power engines. (2854) Morison, D. B. Steam condensing plant. (2839) Paetow, C. (firm of). Method' of tinning sheet metals. I (3043) Pagan, J. T. ' Double-acting pistons for high-pressure / cylinders of steam engines. (3156) Peckham,'E. Manufacture of wrought iron. (2873) Plowright, J. O. Liquid fuel for internal combustion engines, etc. (2840) Popper, E. Electrolytic process to recover metal from scraps. (2851) Radcliffe, C. R. Powrer transmitting apparatus. (2866) Rayner,. G. H. T. Percussive rock drills, etc. (2768) Robutti, A. Pv Water tube steam generators. (2815) Roe, J. P. Mono cable aerial ropeways. (2791) Rose, J. R. Process of manufacturing gaseous fuel. (2983) Shepherd, J. Electrical generators and motors. (3155) Stephens, R. Drum brakes with internal shoes. (2877) Vint, W. T. Processes for heating, melting, and anneal- ing metals by electricity. (2878) White, P. H. Coal saving device. (2997) Williams, W. M. Process for production of ammonia. (2920) Complete Specifications Accepted. (To be published on March 22.) [Note.—The number following the application is that which the specification will finally bear.] 1916. 1205. Aktiebolaget Ingeniorsfirma F. Egnell. Gas analy- sis apparatus. (1.00066) 2569. British Thomson-Houston Company (General Elec- tric Company). Dynamo electric machines. (104197) 2714. British Thomson-Houston Company (General Elec- tric Company). Elastic fluid turbines. (104208) 2790. Hampden Cloncurry Copper Alines Limited. Gas . v producer. (100634) 3305. Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. Multiple stage steam 1 or gas turbine. (100349) 4502. Azoung, W. J. Oil fuel burners. (104246) 5377. British Thomson-Houston Company (General Elec- tric Company). Dynamo electric machines. (104250) 5593. Mavor and Coulson, and Lawrence, W. Means associated with casings for use in mines and loca- lities where gas may be present to prevent explo- sions due to combustion occurring within the casings. (104253) 6812. National Safety Appliance Co. Valve mechanisms. (101078) 6854. Ganthony, R. Combustion chambers of interna] combustion engines. (104270) 7590. McAlpine, T. M. Tunnelling. (104278) 9815. Anderson, O. L. K. Production of means for pre- venting fur from depositing in boilers and. the like. (104294) 12771. Lane, F., and Williams, S. E. Rollers or guide pulleys for rope or cable haulage systems. (104303) 13558. Barr, A. A. ’ Boring tool. (104306) 152011 Soc. Lorraine des Anciens Etablissements de Die- trich et Cie. de Lmneville. Cylinders of internal combustion engines. (102051) 15575. Cooper, F. W. Valve mechanism for internal com- bustion engines. (104313) 15726. Giesserei und Maschinenfabrik Oggersheim P. Schutze and Company. Centrifugal pumps. (102486) ' 1917. 1016. Hailwood, E. A. Miners’ safety lamps. (104326) Complete Specifications Open to Public Inspection Before Acceptance. [Note.—The number following the application is that which the specification will finally bear.] 1916. 17250. Cherry, L. B. Synthetic production of hydrocarbon compounds. (104330) 1917. 2392. Kaempfe, H. Anschutz-. Boring tools. (104341)