1004

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

May 25, 1917.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

Although, at the time of writing, tier upon tier of collier
vessels can be seen in the river, awaiting turns for the car-
riage of coal and coke to Allied ports, little business has
been done in the Tyne chartering market, the bulk of the
arrivals of vessels over the week-end—the largest week-end
arrivals recorded in recent months—being on official
account, whilst, in a few other instances, steamers, which
will take return cargoes of fuel to Scandinavia, have been
chartered on “ the other side,” and are merely in the river
to load. Business done in the freight market has been
confined wholly to the fixing of small vessels for the car-
riage of coke to French Atlantic ports, and to the charter-
ing of vessels for the port of London. Rates remain
unaltered in these directions. A big enquiry is current for
shipping for Mediterranean directions, and Gibraltar is
quoted at 82s. 6d., Barcelona at 165s., and Port Said at
120s. Copenhagen is quoted at from 180 to 200 kr. Lisbon
is listed at about 85s. The local committee is prepared to
consider offers of coke tonnage for Rouen at 73s. 3d.—a
rate which marks an advance of 10s. on the previous highest
for neutral vessels. At South Wales, rather more business
has been done than was the case during the previous week.
Chartering for French Atlantic ports looms largest in the
list of fixtures, with up to 48s. 9d. paid for neutral vessels
trading to Rouen, whilst Allied ships are realising 24s. 6d.
for that port. The Mediterranean is represented by fix-
tures to Oran and Marseilles at the regulation figures, and
by the engagement of a 3,400-ton vessel for Barcelona at
165s. Orders for neutral ports are plentiful, but the scarcity
of tonnage restricts transactions, and rates are very firmly
maintained. At the Clyde, business is dull, with little
, done. There is a good enquiry at the Humber, but few
vessels are on offer.

Later,.— London from Tyne has just been done at the
lower rate of 19s. for a small vessel.

Homewards, the River Plate is very dull and quite
featureless, at 135s. from up-river and 130s. from down-
river ports to the United Kingdom. At the United States,
120s. continues to be the rate for coal tonnage from
Virginia to the Plate. Grain vessels are in demand at
40s. from the Northern Range to Marseilles or French
Atlantic, and' 45s. from the Gulf of Mexico to West Italy.
Net form business is workable at 200s. from the Range to
United Kingdom or France. Tonnage is scarce at the Far
East. Burmah with rice to French ports is firm, at 400s.
(for June-July loading, 450s. has been paid for Burmah to
Cette); and Madras Coast to Marseilles with kernels is
maintained at 500s. Calcutta to Genoa with jute is
unaltered, at 280s. Kurrachee to the United Kingdom is
upheld at 250s. Bombay to the United Kingdom is quoted
at 320s., with up to 380s. for West Italian discharge.
There is a brisk demand at high figures for tonnage to load
ore, phosphates, and salt at Mediterranean ports. Alex-
andria berth to London or Hull with cotton seed is men-
tioned at 130s.

Tyree to Boulogne, option Dunkirk or Calais, 350 and
1,500, 45s., coke; Calais, 450, 45s., coke; and London,
1,100 and 2,300, 20s.; 900, 19s.

Cardiff to Brest, 5,500, 22s.; Barcelona, 3,400, 165s.;
Caen, 700, 46s. 6d., neutral; Cherbourg, 1,700, 47s. 3d.,
neutral; 1,200, 23s. 6d.; Granville, 600 and 700, 24s.; La
Rochelle, 2,800, 43s. 6d., neutral; Marseilles, 5,000,
58s. 6d., neutral; Nantes, 1,200, 29s.; Oran, 3,000, 48s. 6d.,
neutral; Rouen, 1,950, 1,800, and 1,600, 48s. 9d., neutral;
1,000, 24s. 6d.; 600 and 900, 25s. 6d.; St. Malo, 1,300,
43s. 6d., neutral; and Tonnay Charente, l,2(T0 and 1,800,
29s.

Glasgow to Gibraltar, 85s., June.

Swansea to St. Malo, 600, 43s. 6d., neutral; 750, 45s.
coal, 45s. 9d. fuel, neutral; and Granville, 900, 24s.

Grimsby to Rouen, 1,600, limitation rate.

Hull to Rouen, 1,300, 53s. 3d.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.

“ Beama Journal ” (Spanish Edition), April 1917; “ Beama
Journal” (Russian Edition), March 1917; “Proceedings
of the Engineers’ Society of Western Pennsylvania ”
(Vol. 33, No. 3), April 1917; “Journal of the Royal
Statistical Society ” (Vol. 80, Part 2), March 1917, price
5s.; “Woman on the Land,” a descriptive article deal-
ing with the value of woman labour on the land, her
possibilities and limitations, methods of correct instruc-
tion, the present and the future; “Chamber of Com-
merce of the Orange Free State (incorporated), 33rd
Annual Report for the Year ending December 31,
1916 ”; “ Trade of the Union of South Africa, Southern
and Northern Rhodesia, and British ‘ South Africa ”
(month of February 1917), price 3s. 6d.; “ Annual
Reports of the Society of Chemical Industry on the Pro-
gress of Applied Chemistry ” (Vol. 1), 1916, price
5s. 6d.; “The Decimal System of Coinage, Weights
and Measures,” by Harry Allcock, M.I.E.E..
A.M.I.Mech.E.

CATALOGUES AND PRICE LISTS RECEIVED.

John Davis and Son (Derby) Limited.—In Leaflet No.
1117 B, attention is directed to the details of the Davis-
Furnton sparkless bell, a description of which appeared in
our issues of April 13 and May 11. This description is
reproduced, with illustrations of the system as actually
used in collieries. The Davis-Furnton bell, as already men-
tioned, is specially designed for use with relays, and is
absolutely sparkless.

Coke Supply in London.—The Gas Light and Coke Com-
pany have issued a notice with reference to the outlook for
next winter, urging all coke users to lay in a store of coke
as soon as possible. The Westminster City Council decided
to make arrangements for storing as large a quantity as
can be stored; and the London traders generally are also
buying freely from the local gas works, so as to obviate the
transport difficulty as much as possible, in preference to
bringing in the gas coke from provincial works. The
London County Council have issued a return of all the con-
tracts entered into for the year commencing July 1, 1917,
and for the most part the Coke Committee deem it advis-
able to arrange with the present contractors to continue
their supplies after June 30 next in the regular weekly
deliveries and at prices to be settled month by month, in
accordance with the Price of Coal (Limitation) Act.

ABSTRACTS OF PATENT SPECIFICATIONS
RECENTLY ACCEPTED.

100254. Improved Band Conveyor for Heaping
Materials. A. de Carsalade, 2, Boulevard Beaumarchais,
Paris.—The present invention relates to a conveyor which
will enable materials to be conveyed along a much steeper
incline owing tp the great speed of travel of the band,
which throws the materials upwardly and rearwardly of
the jnachine. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation
of the improved conveyor. The improved conveyor con-
sists substantially of a metal framework having mounted
m it at 1 and 2 two drums, over which an endless band 3
passes. The drum 2 is fixed on its shaft, and this shaft 4
carries also a pulley 5, over which passes a driving belt 6
operated from a motor 7. When the drum 2 is set in
motion it drives the endless band, whilst the drum 1
serves simply as a guide pulley. The shafts 4 and 9 of
the drums are mounted in ball bearings. For adjusting the
tightness of the band, the position of the bearings of the
shaft of the drum 1 is secured by means of screw tighten-
ing devices 8. These bearings are mounted in a slot 10
formed in the iron member 11 that constitutes the longi-
tudinal beam of the framework. The entire apparatus,
resting by means of wheels 17 and the end cross piece 20
on a track 21, may be caused, by shifting the cross piece
20 along the track 21 by means of a crowbar, to oscillate

3

'33
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about the vertical pin 18. This allows of altering the
direction of the longitudinal axis of the apparatus, and
thereby distributing or deflecting the stream or jet of the
materials over a certain distance right and left of the cen-
tral position, which is determined by the direction of the
track 21. In front of the drum 1 is a plate 22 bent or put
together so as to constitute a front guard plate and a
charging platform, in such a manner that the materials
shall reach the band only at a point 23 situated a certain
distance after the said band has moved away from the
drum 1. In order that the band shall retain’ its position
on the drums 1 and 2, the latter should be very slightly
domed, so as to impart to the belt a shape which is slightly
convex on top. In order, however, that the materials
shall remain in contact with, the band, and be carried along
by it, the band should, on the contrary, be concave on its
upper side. This shape is produced by means of inclined
rollers 24, suitably distributed along the length of the
apparatus. Two side guard plates 25 bearing upon the
front plate 22, form with the latter a sort of charging
hopper, into which, the materials are charged either in
shovelfuls or by a continuous or discontinuous discharge
from a conveyor or other charging apparatus. The
machine may be arranged obliquely to its rolling track,
and it may be shifted along said track to convey the spoil
so as to form a heap parallel to the latter. (Three claims.)

105275. Improvements in Steam Superheaters. G. D.
Peters and Company Limited, Mobrgate Works, Moor-
fields, London, E.C. ; and F. C. Hibberd, of Windsor
Works, Slough. — According to this invention, a return
bend or connector is made from a solid piece or bar of
iron, steel, or other suitable metal, by forging or stamp-
ing and cutting operations, the forging being made direct
from the solid bar by means of suitable dies, and the
finished bend or connector is welded to the ends of the
pipes. Fig. 1 illustrates upper and lower dies A and B for
operating upon the solid bar or piece of metal to be formed
into a return bend or connector. The solid piece of metal,
having been heated to the required temperature, is place!
between the dies, and the upper die is then actuated so as

to press with the required force upon the metal, the part
A1 of the die A pressing the metal within the recess B1 of
the die B to the shape shown in figs.’ 2 and 3, which show
the hollow forging produced by means of the dies A and B,
the recess B1 in the die B corresponding in dimensions and
shape to the exterior dimensions and shape of the forging
figs. 2 and 3 ; the part A1 of the die A corresponds in
dimensions and shape to the interior dimensions and shape
of the forging figs. 2 and 3, fig. 2 being a plan looking on
the open end of the forging shown in elevation in fig. 3.
The broken line in fig. 3 indicates the shape of the cavity
in the forging figs. 2 and 3, and also indicates the thick-
ness of the metal forming the wall of the forging, the
metal at the closed end C of the forging having the
required maximum thickness, which is gradually reduced
in thickness towards the open end D, at which the metal
preferably corresponds in thickness to that of the pipes to
which the return bend or connector is to be secured. The
return bend or connector produced as above described is

heated to the required temperature, and is then placed
between dies E and F, illustrated in figs. 4 and 5, and
subjected to the requisite pressure between these dies,
mandrels G of the required diameter having been previ-
ously inserted in the open end D of the hollow forgings
(figs. 2 and 3), such mandrels being suitabley spaced apart,
and extending the required distance into the hollow forg-
ing, G1 being collars on the mandrels determining the
distance to which the mandrels extend into the forging.
As shown, each of the dies E and F has a cavity or recess,
respectively E1, F1, in it these recesses' corresponding in
shape to one-half of the forging, figs. 2 and 3 (cut on the
line 2—2, fig. 2) except as to the parts E2, F2, at one side
or end of the dies E and F respectively, these parts E2, F2
being projections or ridges, of suitable form and dimen-
sions, in each die, recesses each forming the greater por-
tion of a semi-circle being formed in each die, one on either
side of each of the projections respectively E2, F2, the said
projections E2, F2 and the said semi-circular recesses
extending the required distance longitudinally of the dies
according to the required length of the web or division
pieces H (see figs. 4 to 9 inclusive) formed by means of the
projections E2, F2 on the dies, which, when the top die E
is moved down, press upon the central portion of each side
or wall, J, K, figs. 2 and 3, of the hollow forging, so that
these central portions are pressed inwardly until they meet
and thus form the division piece H. Fig. 6 shows a central
longitudinal section of the forging with the division piece
or web H formed by means of the dies E, F, the mandrels
G being shown in dotted lines. The mandrels G being
within the open end of the hollow forging during the oper-
ation of the dies E, F, the required tubular formation is
given to the open end portion of the forging on either side
of the web H. Fig. 7 is a side view of the same forging
with the mandrels G removed. A portion of the forging,
fig. 7, is now cut away up to the sides or edges of the web
or division piece H, a portion of which, H1, fig. 8, is thus
left projecting beyond the open end of the forging. This
cutting operation may be performed by a metal cutting-
saw or other suitable tool. The projection H1 is next
shaped by a grinding or other suitable operation, and the
ends of the forging and of the pipes L, L1 are chamfered
off as hereinbefore mentioned, and the forging is then
applied to the ends of the pipes L, L1, and welded thereto
as shown in the sectional view, fig. 9. The projecting por-
tion H1 of the division piece H fits nicely between the
pipes L, L1, and, being secured to the pipes by welding,
serves as an additional means of securing the return bend
oi’ connector to the ends of the pipes. Variations might
be made in the forms of the return bends or connections and
in the method of making same as hereinbefore described,
while retaining the main features of the invention. (Six
claims.)

105414. Improvements in Pillar Mountings for Rock
Drills and Coal Cutters. J. Fletcher, Newnes, New South
Wales, Australia.—This invention relates to drills of the
type used for rock and coal holing, nicking, drilling, or
wedging. The object of the invention is to improve the
mounting of the drill cradle on the supporting column or
pillar in order that the tool may be traversed not only in



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a horizontal plane, but also in an inclined plane, when
desired, so as thereby to permit drilling and other opera-
tions to be carried out in certain hereinafter specified
directions and positions which are not practicable with
known drill mountings of the type comprising a pillar
clamp and a traversing sector mounted thereon and adapted
for supporting the drill. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a
percussion drill mounted on the improved clamp bracket;
fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding with fig. 1, showing the
vertical supporting column or pillar in transverse action;
fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the drill cradle and its
mounting on the pillar; fig. 4 is a side elevation showing
the cradle carrier, the traversing sector, and the traversing
worm spindle, which are seen in plan and end elevation
in figs. 2 and 3 respectively ; fig. 5, sectional plan showing
the angle bracket on the pillar clamp, the angularly adjust-
able traversing sector, and the traversing worm ; fig. 6 is a
side elevational view of the angle bracket; fig. 7, an end
elevational view of same ; fig. 8 is an elevational view of
the pillar clamp, mounting bracket, traversing sector, and
cradle carrier spindle; fig. 9 is a broken side elevation,
showing the conical seating in the pillar clamp. 100 is
the tube or pillar upon which the drill is carried when in
use. This pillar is usually set upright, but may when
circumstances so require be fixed in horizontal or angular
position in a mine working or elsewhere. The pillar clamp
consists of two jaws 101 and 102 pivotally connected
through a pintle pin 103 and adapted to be clasped around
the pillar 100, and secured thereto by a bolt 104, which
passes through the lugs 105 and 106. The lug 105 is formed
with a conical socket, into which heretofore the conical
stem or spigot 108 of the sector 109 has been set, said
spigot being secured therein by the bolt 104, which then
serves the double purpose of securing the spigot and socket
mounting, and closing the clamp 101—102. 110 is the
bracket mount in which, according to the present invention,
the sector carrier is supported. The head of this bracket
mount is formed with a taper spigot stub, which sets into
the taper socket in the lug 105, and is secured in any
angular position therein by means of the bolt 104, which,
as in the previous case, serves also to secure the clamp
101—102. The foot 112 of this bracket is set over at right
angles to its body portion, and is formed with a taper
socket 113 corresponding with the socket 107, and adapted
to receive the spigot 108 of the sector carrier. Said sector
carrier is secured by this taper spigot and socket by means
of the bolt stud 114 and nut 115 thereon. A vertical post
116, integral with the sector 109 and its conical spigot 108,
and standing erect from the plane of the sector, supports a
collar carrier 117, which is secured by a cap bolt 118. The
collar carrier 117 is rotatable on the post 116, and a bracket