1214 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. June 14, 1918. types, as hitherto and at present ordinarily employed in gasworks, there are several important objections or defects which are briefly as follow :—(1) The coals to be carbonised have to be of a large size, consisting generally of (a) “large,” (b) “medium,” or (c) “large nuts.” These are necessary in order to facilitate the generation and free escape of the gases during the period of carbonisation. Small coal cannot be so serviceably used, or only in a small proportion, on account of its tendency to block or choke the free egress of the gases during carbonisation. In consequence of this, the coal ordinarily carbonised in the retorts has to be of a larger size, and consequently also the more expensive in price per ton. Another objection is that the coal, after being fed or charged into the retort, has to remain there for, say, six to ten hours before com- plete carbonisation can be effected and the coke with- drawn. Another great objection is that the gases produced are not of a uniform quality, the richer quality being generated at the commencement of the carbonisation, and the quality becoming gradually more reduced as the car- bonisation becomes complete. The present invention con- sists in an improved method or process of continuous carbonisation, wherein the coal (in which term is included lignite, cannel, shale, peat, and analogous carbonaceous materials), in the form of a very finely ground powder, is mechanically caused to fall freely, continuously and directly through the entire length of an approximately uniformly heated vertical retort or chamber so as to be continuously, completely and almost instantaneously carbonised during such fall, and in which the completely carbonised coke produced is mechanically and continuously discharged from the bottom of said retort or chamber. (Two claims.) 115070. Centrifugal Pumps and Fans. Gwynnes Limited, and J. F. Breeze, Hammersmith Iron Works, Hammersmith.—The object of this invention is to increase the efficiency of centrifugal pumps and fans in which the fluid enters between the blades of the impellers about their centres of rotation and travels through the passages between them to the peripheries of the impellers. In practice the pump or fan impeller has a high rotational speed, but the velocity of flow in the impeller passages is not high in comparison with the rotation of the blade ends, and it is recognised that with impeller blades of the usual shape, which form between them passages that curve rearwardly from inlet end to outlet end with regard to the direction of rotation, the fluid is caused to follow the rotation‘ of the impeller and whirl, in a greater or less degree, is set up in the impeller casing at the impeller entry, with the result that energy is dissipated and the efficiency and sucking power of the machine is reduced. According to the .present invention the impeller of a centrifugal pump or fan is formed with blades, the inlet portions of which are curved inward away from the direc- tion of rotation, the passages between the blades curving with regard to the direction of rotation forwardly near the inner ends of the blades and rearwardly towards their outer ends. The rotation of an impeller with blades of a form in accordance with this invention has a decreased effect on the fluid flowing into it, and results in a con- siderable increase in efficiency, especially in the case of large sizes and high speeds. It is believed that the explanation of this increased efficiency is that the inwardly and rearwardly turned or trailing inner ends of the blades get less grip on the water than blades having the usual forwardly directed inner ends, thus permitting greater relative slip and settling up less whirl in the impeller eye and adjacent part of the casing with the same lineal speed of the inner ends of the blades. Whilst, in the eye of impeller, whirl perhaps might not be detrimental, it is well recognised that the whirl set up extends to the water in the pump inlet beyond the area of the impeller and involves the dissipation of a considerable amount of energy. Probably some of this loss is due to the whirl constituting as it were a constantly renewed rotating barrier that causes water flowing into it and becoming part of it to change its velocity and direction, but not towards the eye of the impeller, to movement of the water in which direction the whirl barrier offers considerable resistance; this resistance and the disturbance arising from the continuing changes in velocity and direction of the oncoming water will doubt- less vary with the rotational speed of the whirl, and by the use of blades shaped as described it is concluded that this speed is considerably reduced. At the same time greater freedom is given for the entry of water from the eye to the passages between the blades, or, to say the least, no greater hindrance is offered to water passing from the eye to said passages than is offered by blades of the usual form. A greater number of blades of the improved form can be employed in an impeller than is desirable With blades of the usual form, and in some cases this may be found advantageous. (Two claims.) 115084. Switches for Miners'Electric Lamps. John Davis and Son (Derby) Limited, and W. H. Davis, All Saints Works, Derby.—The object of this invention is to simplify the construction of the switch part of miners’ electric lamps, and in carrying the same into effect a disc of insulating material, enclosed as to its periphery by a ring of metal milled externally and provided with an internally projecting annular flange upon which the lower side of the disc bears is fixed to the flanged base of the lamp holder; fitting up to the underside of said flange is another disc of insulating material, both discs being held down on the lid of the accumulator case by bolts and nuts, or the like. Projecting internally from or about said flange and between the insulating discs is a piece of metal, preferably of knife edge form, fitting into a space formed by the cutting away of portions of the inner faces of the discs to admit of the ring and knife-edged projection revolving within known limits. Contacts are provided in the discs, such as by utilising one of the screws securing the top disc to the base of the lamp holder being arranged opposite to one of the screws securing the lower disc to the accumulator case, so that when the metal ring is partially revolved in one direction the knife-edged projection thereon comes into contact with said screws and completes the circuit of one pole, and when partially revolved in the opposite direction said circuit is broken. (Two claims.) 115086. Chain Grate or like Travelling Stokers. F. C. Seilens, 35, Crieff-road, Wandsworth, London, S.W. 18.— With many forms of stokers and certain forms of fuel there is a considerable loss of the latter owing to what are known as riddlings or small coal that pass through the links and normally are deposited in the front of the ash pit, where they are from time to time removed, and necessarily before the removal of the ordinary ash or clinker from the back of the ash pit if the fuel is not to be lost. The object of the present invention is to collect such riddlings and deliver them at a point external to the ash pit, say, on the firing floor, from whence they can be easily removed as occasion demands, and refired. (Three claims.) HEW PATEHTS CORRECTED WITH THE COAL ARD IROH TRADES. Applications for Patents. June 3 to 8 (inclusive). [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.] Atkinson, J. S., Clark, B. F., and Powdered Fuel Plant Company. Preparation or treatment of fuel. (9335) Barrance., C., and Churnet Valley Engineering Company. Steam pumps. (9098) Bentham, C., and Simon Limited, H. Lifting and lower- ing apparatus. (9305) Bradley, T., and Parkyn, P. A. W. Manufacture of sec- tions for furnace flues, etc., of steam generators. (9093) British Thomson-Houston Company.’ Dynamo-electric machines. (9345) British Thomson-Houston Company (General Electric Company). Production of steel alloys and constituents thereof. (9267) British Thomson-Houston Company (General Electric Company. Manufacture of steel. (9268) British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Com- pany. Ejector or injector apparatus. (9223) Burt, S. J. Internal combustion engines. (9329) (Carborundum Company.) Manufacture of refractory articles. (9297) Champeney, C. C., and Marillier, F. W. Manufacture of weldless three-link coupling chains for railways, etc. (Chevrolet Motor Company.) Internal combustion engines. (9234) . Clerget, Blin, et Cie. Radial engines. (9431) Dinning, J. W., and Richards, J. H. Gas generators. (9153) (Edgar Zinc Company.) Retort-charging machines. (9233) Flint, F. P. Two-stroke internal combustion engines. (9357) Forsyth, A. Internal combustion engines. (9416) Francart, H. Gas generators or producers, and method of working same. (9473) Fuller Accumulator Company and Welch, A. P. Electric safety lamps. (9454) Gardner, C. R., Hargreaves, J., and Roburite and Am- monal Limited. Explosives. (9134) Harger, J. Consuming smoke. (9180) Harger, J., and Helps, G. Manufacturing fuel gases. lonides, A. C. Furnace temperature regulation. (9284) Jolley, W. M. Haulage clips for skips or trucks. (9206) Linder, S. E. Manufacture of sulphate of ammonia. (9128, 9129, 9130) Lloyd, G. E. Tipping bodies for vehicles. (9090) Martin, J. Dynamo-electric machines. (9345) Morison, D. B. Steam engine construction. (9404) Motala Verkstads Nya Aktiebolag. Feeding devices for pulverulent fuel. (9295) (Nall Separator and Elevator Company.) Pneumatic elevators. (9288) Pease, E. L. Manufacture of gas. (9353) Pitt, D. Electric furnaces. (9249) Plumb, F. E., and Trevor, R. E. B. Positive forced draught travelling chain grate furnaces. (9262) Pringle, E. G. Pumps. (9390) Rideal, E. K., and Taylor, H. S. Indicating and/or re- cording quantities of carbon monoxide. (9205) Sibleys Limited, and Watkins, R. C. Internal combustion motors. (9417) Smeeton-Wright Furnaces Limited and Wright, T. Re- cuperators for furnaces. (9145) Tisell, C. I. Explosive, and process for manufacturing it. (9137) Wallace, J. Pumps. (9390) West, C. H. Furnace fire bars. (9259) Windle, A. E. Combined atomisers and burners for liquid fuels. (9166) Complete Specifications Accepted. (To be published on June 27.) [Note.—The number following the application is that which the specification will finally bear.] 1916. 16806. Sage and Company, F., and Feary, N. A. T. N. Instruments for indicating inclination. (116108) 1917. 5905. Cairns, H. S. Pump for use in petroleum wells. ' (116117) 7079. Jenkins, U. S. Processes and apparatus for crack- ing heavy oils. (116119) 7551. Hooper, W. F., and Westlake, A. J. Internal combustion engines of the four-cycle type. (116124) 7578. Tugwood, R. J. (Jeffrey Manufacturing Company). Coal mining machines. (116128) 7784. Bland, W. Automatic couplings for railway and like vehicles. (116140) 10544. Bartlett, H. A. Construction of gas producers, cupola furnaces and the like. (116185) 13204. Marks, E. C. R. (Ashford, J.). Reciprocating pumps. (116202) 14614. Bloxam, A. G. (Wolf Akt.-Ges., R.). Feed water heaters. (116209) 14686. Anthony, A. H. Automatic regulators for boiler- feed apparatus. (116211) 19165. Gaz Pauvre Economique. Explosion engines. (112281) 19319. Tugwood, R. J. (Jeffrey Manufacturing Company). Coal mining machines. (116229) 19320. Tugwood, R. J. (Jeffrey Manufacturing Company). Coal mining machines. (116230) 19321. Tugwood, R. J. (Jeffrey Manufacturing Company). Coal mining machines. (116231) 1918. 580. Rowley, F., and Merton, A. M. M. Roasting furnaces. (116235) 6501. Davies, D., and Jones, D. Appliances used in the manufacture of tin plates, etc. (116250) 6925. Edmonds, J. W. Compounds for treating fuel. (116252) Complete Specifications open to Public Inspection before Acceptance. [Note.—The number following the application is that which the specification will finally bear.] 1917. 11917. Mascart, C. Band conveyors. (116254) 1918. 7558. Regaud, A. Internal combustion engines. (116275) 7648. Stabilimenti Biak—Ing. A. Pouchain. Process for melting metals. (116277) 8565. Vigano, C. Boring apparatus. (116284) Applications to Avoid or Suspend Patents. Application has been made by the Minister of Munitions and the General Electric Company Limited to avoid or suspend the following patents : 29933/10 and 894/13, R. Booking et Cie (cleaning furnace gases); 29823/11, 1214/12, 1215/12, and 8952/12, W. F. L. Beth (filtering gas and air). The hearing is fixed for June 19. Any person interested who desires to be heard in opposition to any of the applications must give notice in writing to the Comptroller-General of the Patent Office, 25, South- ampton Buildings, London, W.C. 2, before the date of the hearing. Lignites in Murcia.—The mining engineer of the Murcia district, Sr. Carbonell, regards the discovery of deposits of lignite on the borders of Alhama, Mula, etc., as of real importance, especially in view of the present scarcity of coal. Numerous claims embracing a large area have already been filed. These lignites, which are of eocene formation, were first discovered in a gallery in the San Vicente mine. The coal obtained from this seam is pure, has a heating value of 5,000 calories (Mahler), and is being used by the Alcantarilla-Lorcha Railway, etc. Colliery Deputies and the Miners’ Federation.—The summer conference of the National Federation of Depu- ties was concluded on Saturday at Edinburgh, Mr. W. Johnson (Hebburn), president of the Federation, in the chair. A resolution from Lancashire and Cheshire was unanimously agreed to, that all funds raised owing to explosions should be consolidated into one national fund and used for all cases where bread-winners had been killed by fatal accidents. A resolution that efforts be made for the adoption of a flat rate for deputies was carried, the matter to be relegated to the committee, whose findings are to be reported to the next conference. A reso- lution from Durham that the Federation seek to be linked up with the Miners’ Federation was defeated by a large majoiity. A proposal from Northumberland, that no county or district forming part of this Federation should become or remain part of any other national body of workers, but should only become linked up with any other national body as a federation, and not as a county, was withdrawn for six months. The ground of opposition to the Durham resolution was that members of the Federa- tion of Firemen being concerned with duties pertaining to safety occupied a position between colliery owners and colliery workers, and so must preserve their independence. A resolution from Yorkshire that shot firing be deleted from the duties of a deputy was withdrawn, on the under- standing that it should be considered at a later period. xjIH’wiiHiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin Engineering Requisites ILLUSTRATED LISTS WILL BE GLADLY SENT UPON RECEIPT OF APPLICATION. W. H. WILLCOX & Co. Ld 32-38, Southwark Street, LONDON, S.E. 1. in Beltings, Packings, Steam Fittings, Boiler Mountings, Pumps, Hose, Drainers, Tools,—in fact, all kinds of Requisites for the Colliery Engineer. Write, *phone, wire, or call personally.