1038

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

November 15, 1918.

consists in improvements in the distillation of carbonisable
materials, such as coal, lignite, oil shale and the like, and
it comprises more particularly improved methods and
apparatus for effecting the fractional distillation of such
materials in vertical retorts and the recovery of the maxi-
mum quantity and quality of by-products. It is well
known that coal, oil shale and like materials give off
different gases at different temperatures. When distilla-
tion is carried out continuously in vertical retorts, the
slowly descending charge is heated gradually, and it can
be said that if the composition of the charge, the rate
of feed and the supply of heat are kept substantially
uniform, certain definite fractional products will be given
off by the charge at predetermined points of its path.
The chief objects of this invention are to create and main-
tain in the retort the conditions most favourable to the
production and the extraction of the groups of substances
forming any one of the successive fractions evolved in
the distillation of coal or other carbonisable materials;
to cause the material being distilled to travel through a
succession of substantially horizontal zones at different
predetermined temperatures; to protect the gaseous
products successively given off by the material in the par-
ticular zones in which they are respectively formed against
all influences tending to bring about their dissociation
or degradation; to arrange the gas off-takes in overhanging
portions of the end walls of the retort so that the gases
are drawn off vertically upwards from spaces formed
directly under the said overhanging portions and above
the line or angle of slip of the material as it passes from
one zone to the next; to ensure an economic utilisation of
the heat applied to the retort walls, and to obtain a
perfect regulation of the temperatures in the successive
zones traversed by the material under treatment, whereby
the nature of the products of the distillation and the pro-
portions of their constituents can be varied within a wide
range, according to the requirements in each case. In par-
ticular, this invention aims at improving the conditions
under which the extraction of such fractional products
as are liable to be decomposed by the action of the super-
incumbent material or excess heat is carried out, and at
increasing the yield in such products which include the
hydrocarbons of the aromatic fraction, the carbolic and
cresylic fractions and other highly valuable compounds.
The desired distribution of heat and the regulation of the
temperature in the several zones is obtained by passing
therethrough a plurality of streams or hot gases which may
issue from a series of burners arranged in a vertical row,
each stream being regulatable independently of the
others. The range and distribution of the temperatures to
be maintained in the retort will, of course, depend upon
the particular fractional products of which the percentage
is to be increased. In a given retort the distillation may
be conducted so as to obtain a maximum production of
the members of any desired fraction within a wide range.
Thus, for example, in treating coal for the extraction of
hydrocarbons of the aromatic series, a temperature of
about 1,350 degs. Fahr, is maintained in a zone situated
directly below one set of gas off-takes. If it is desired
to increase the yield in products of the cresylic fractions
by suitable adjustment of the valves or other means for.
controlling the flow of the heating gases, the tempera-
ture may be raised to 1,500 degs. or 1,600 degs. Fahr, in
the same or any other zone similarly located with respect
to a set of gas off-takes. Likewise the method and appa-
ratus may be adapted for use in low temperature distilla-
tion when desired. In every case the gases of any speci-
fied fraction or fractions can be drawn off before they
come into contact with material or walls at a tempera-
ture capable of bringing about a substantial change in
their composition. This is a very important feature of
the invention, and permits of saving considerable amounts
of valuable products, pricipally hydrocarbons, which in
the usual methods of distillation, are cracked or degraded
before they can be exhausted and collected. By suitably
locating the gas off-takes and controlling the distribution
of heated zones, certain gases may be caused to travel
through zones where they will be cracked into products
of higher value before they are exhausted. (Ten claims.)

119715. Charging and Discharging of Retorts. J.
Robertson, 316, Golfhill Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow.—
This invention relates to the charging and discharging
of retorts used for the distillation of coal, shale and the
like, and is specially applicable to retorts intended for the
distillation of cannel coal or of bituminous shale. Retorts
for the distillation of coal, with the object chiefly of ob-
taining coal gas, are at present in use in which the coal
is admitted in small doles or parcels which represent rela-
tively small fractions of the total working charge, and the
coke is discharged from these retorts either similarly in
small doles or parcels, or continuously. Moreover, it has
been proposed to charge a gas producer by means of a
cylinder which is rotated about its axis, which is vertical,
which cylinder is provided with cavities or pockets which
in the rotation of the cylinder come, one after the other,
under the discharge port of a fuel-containing hopper, and
thereafter over the charging inlet to the producer, the
fuel, in fractions of a charge, being received from the
hopper into the pockets, carried round therein to the pro-
ducer, and dropped into the latter. It is important to
prevent the escape and loss of gas from retorts, to which
the present invention is, as hereinbefore stated, intended
to be applied. The present invention involves the employ-
ment of a rotor working generally like that just referred
to. Such a rotor may be employed, according to the
present invention, either for charging or discharging
the retort. The invention is characterised by the fact that
the rotor, with the pockets, is enclosed in a gas-tight
casing which, in the case of a charging rotor, is connected

in a gas-tight manner to the hopper and to the retort,
and, in the case of a discharging rotor, is connected in
a gas-tight manner to the retort and to a discharge chute
through which the coke or other residue is ejected. A
detail of the present invention relates to the suspension
of the rotor, which, according to the invention, may be
hung from a central vertical shaft provided with a thrust
bearing. (Three claims.)

119808. Cancelling .Mechanism for Mine Signalling
Systems. Sterling Telephone and Electric Company
Limited, F. G. Bell, and W. C. Davey, 210-212, Totten-
ham Court-road, London.— This invention relates to an
improvement in or modification of the cancelling apparatus
for mine signalling systems claimed in an earlier patent
No. 115280. That specification describes a mechanism for
closing a contact or contacts by means of which signals
previously given may be cancelled, and the mechanism con-
sists of an arm rotated by the engine shaft and engaging
in its rotation a contact-operating device. In order that
the system might be in readiness* as soon as possible to
receive further signals, continued repetition of this can-
celling operation was prevented, and unnecessary wear
upon the parts avoided by arranging for the withdrawal
of the arm by centrifugal action as the shaft gained
speed, so that the contact-operating device- no longer lay
in its path. Even that arrangement, however, was liable
(in some cases) to cancel a signal if begun too soon after
the first cancelling operation, since several revolutions of
the shaft generally occurred before sufficient speed was
gained to bring about the centrifugal withdrawal. Accord-
ing to the present invention, therefore, unnecessary repe-
tition of the engagement between the rotating arm and
the contact-operating device is avoided by electromagnet! -
cally changing the relative position of the co-operating
parts as soon as the contacts which it is the purpose of
the mechanism to control have been once actuated, the
necessary electromagnetic apparatus being so devised that
it is the contact-operating device and not the rotating arm
which is displaced from the position for engagement. This
is very simply attained by mounting the contact-operating
device in movable fashion and connecting it with the arma-
ture of an electromagnet by which it can be moved out of
the path of the rotating arm. The circuit of this electro-
magnet is completed by, contacts operated by the device
itself. (Three claims.)

NEW PATENTS CONNECTED WITH THE
COAL AND IRON TRADES.

Applications for Patents.

November 4 to 9 (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.]

Alliata, G. Devices on furnaces indicating state of com-
bustion, and regulating latter at same time. (18247)

Bamford, C. J. and J. Internal combustion engines.
(18169)

Barbet et fils et Cie, E. Removing tar from products of
distillation of wood, coal, etc. (18026)

Benjamin and Wilmart and Wilmart, C. A. Two-stroke
cycle internal combustion engines. (18129)

Boulton, P. R. Boiler furnaces. (18394)

British Thomson-Houston Company (General Electric
Company). Automatic regulating systems for dynamo-
electric machines. (18321)

British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Com-
pany. Steam condensers. (18286)

Craig, G. Recovering potash, etc., from blast furnaces.
(17974)

Dellwick, C. Combustion of fuel. (18392)

Enclosed Motor Company. Dynamo-electric machines.

(18209)

Erlund, C. Steam boiler, etc., furnaces. (18378)

Holdsworth, H. Overwinding and indicating gear for
cranes, hoists, winding engines, etc. (18356)

Houghton, H. Mine signalling apparatus. (17991)

Joel, H. F. Dynamo-electric machines. (18051)

Jones, J. A. Explosion turbines. (18289)

(Le Petit, C.) Production of fuels. (18039)

Ligotti, O. Rotary converters. (18047)

Mackadam, A. C. F. Two-stroke cycle internal combus-
tion engines. (18129)

Maclagan, J. C. M. Combustion engines. (18236)

Miller, C. E. Internal combustion engines. (18197)
Mornberge, L. F. Rotary engine. (18056)

Mossay, P. A. H. Dynamo-electric machines. (18209)
North British Diesel Engine Works. Combustion
engines. (18236)

Poulson, A., and Rourke, J. C. Steam boiler, etc., fur-
naces. (18378)

Richardson, J., and T. G. A. Construction of radial steam
turbine. (18099)

Rossiter, C. F. Internal combustion engines. (18168)
Rutherford, R. Internal combustion engines. (18197)
Searls, F. H., and Woods, W. J. Expansion engines.

(18066)

Sheard, J. T. Producing neutral sulphate of ammonia.

(18362)

Techno-Chemical Laboratories Limited. Combustion of
fuel. (18392)

Urruty, J.. Disincrustant for cleaning condensers and
boilers. (18343)

Watterson, W. A. Rotary fan or blower. (18204)

Weiss, C. W. Internal combustion turbines. (18043)
Woodburn, M. Furnace regulation. (18105)

Wright, G. Rotary engines or turbines. (18163)

Complete Specifications Accepted.

(To be published on November 29.)

[Note.—The number following’ the application is that
which the specification will finally bear.]

1917.

10973. Wellington, S. N. Destructive distillation of car-
bonaceous substances. (120223)

11179. Cammell, Laird and Company, Carter, Sir G. J.,
and McFarlane, L. G. Internal combustion
engines. (120226) .

12286. Balanced Engine Syndicate, Kerr, R. P., and
Riley, W. A. Internal combustion engines.
(120227)

12863. Basset, L. P. Process and apparatus for treating
ores in the blast furnace. (109452)

15612. Mossey, P. A. H., Jacoby, H. C. E., and Enclosed
Motor Company. Cooling arrangements for
dynamo-electric machines. (120241)

15714. Copsey, E. L. Rotary pumps. (120246)

15959. Parsons, Sir C. A., Cook, S. S., and Douglas,
L. M. Geared turbine systems. (120257)

15974. Smallwood, A. Furnaces. (120259)

16213. Lindley, W. Portable hoisting apparatus for use
in mines, tunnels and the like. (120269)

16409. Whitham, F. E. Furnaces for generating heat for
steam raising or other suitable purposes.
(120274)

16898. Day, D. T., Macdonald, F., and Day, R. B.
Formation of hydrocarbons having low boiling
points from hydrocarbons having high boiling
points. (113264)

16899. Day, D. T., and Day, R. B. Vaporising hydro-
carbons and producing hydrocarbons having low
boiling points from hydrocarbons having high
boiling points. (119440)

18294. Ennis, L., and Jack, A.		Overhead travelling
	cranes. (120290)	
18524.	Uecke, G. H. Processes (120293)	for softening water.
18525.	Uecke, G. H. Apparatus (120294) 1918.	for softening water.

2310. British Thomson-Houston Company (General Elec-
tric Company). Elastic fluid turbines. (120317)
8284. Horiuchi, H. Vertical cylindrical water tube
boilers. (120350)

Coal Output in Alberta.—The Chief Inspector of Mines
in Alberta has supplied figures showing the. output of
coal in the province during the period January to June
1918. The total output for six months is 2,906,820 tons.
The monthly production was : January, 646,338; Feb-
ruary, 481,407; March, 435,094; April, 396,987; May,
435,197; June, 511,837. A summary relating to the output
in 1917 appeared in our issue of April 5 this year. The
Annual Report of the Department of Public Works states
that in 1917 there were 283 coal mines and two shale mines
in operation. The output of coal for the year 1917 was
4,863,414 tons, exceeding that for 1916 by 214,810 tons,
although the production was considerably interfered with
owing to labour trouble and lack of railway facilities in
certain districts. The largest monthly production of coal
was in November, when 607,531 tons were produced.
Several samples of mine air were taken by the officials
of the Department and forwarded for the purposes of
analysis to the laboratory conducted by the Federal
Government at Ottawa. Very little progress has been
made respecting the analyses of the different coals in the
province during the year. Samples are now being for-
warded to the University of Alberta, where complete
equipments for analyses of both coal and gas have been
installed. The plans of the workings of mines in the
province continue to show a great improvement as a result
of the regulations put into effect on June 8, 1915. Satis-
factory progress is still being made in connection with
training in mine rescue and first aid work, three mine
rescue cars and six stations being now in operation. The
average number of persons employed in or about coal
mines during the year was 2,263 above ground and 6,047
below ground, the total number of persons employed above
and below ground on December 31, 1917, being 9,812. This
shows an increase of 1,213 over the number employed
in December 1916. A slight increase took place in the
number of accidents during the year 1917 as compared
with the year 1916. Four persons lost their lives in
accidents above ground and 20 below ground, 10 serious
accidents occurred above ground and 52 below ground,
and 6 slight accidents occurred above ground and 33 below
ground. No fatal or serious accidents occurred during
the year from the ignition of gas or coal dust. Safety
lamps of the Wolf type, which have been in use in practi-
cally all the mines where safety lamps are required, are
gradually being replaced by electric cap lamps of th©
Edison type. The triple entry and panel systems of work-
ing are being considerably extended, with satisfactory
results.

— TREFOR”—|
BORING AND
SINKING CO.,
Contractors for

Deep Borings and Pit Sinkings

a// over the Worlds

Bank Chambers, 329, High Holbom,
LONDON, W.C.

AERIAL

ROPEWAYS

ANY SYSTEM.

The British Ropeway Engineering Co. Ltd.,
7, MINCING LANE, LONDON, E.C. 3.

Tele—CENTRAL 11250.

Winding Engines fitted with
Ferodo-lined Brakes

possess a 50 % greater margin of safety and can be
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makeshift materials such as wood, leather and hemp.

These relics of an inefficient age have all the short-
comings common to makeshifts. They are adversely
affected by pressure, speed and heat.

Ferodo fabrics give a higher co-efficient of friction, which
enables engineers to raise their standard of production.

FRICTION SURFACES.

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Depots at London, Birmingham, Belfast, Bristol, Cardiff,
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