INDUSTRIAL INTELLIGENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18784, 18 May 1923, Page 2

INDUSTRIAL INTELLIGENCE

SUCCESS IN EMCTRIOAL RESEARCH.

Among the various co-operative industrial research bodies formed under Government support in Great Britain of toe most prominent is the British Electrical and Allied Industries Research Association. The latest report ci this body shows that results of very high importance have been achieved. A great deal of work has been done in connection with insulators and insulating oils. In rennection with the transmission of electric power, the Association has been carrying out researches upon the heating of buried cables and upon the mechanical pioperties of overhead lines and of wooden poles for carrying such lines. Electric Control aj>- , paratus in the manufacture of which British firms have always taken a leading place, is receiving attention, a special set of testing apparatus having! been erected at a large power station in order to obtain accurate results under working conditions. Inveetigation has also been carried out upon corrosion in steam condensers, upon the behaviour of steam in turbines, and upon the properties of what are known as dielectrics.” Every quarter this Jissociation issued a progress report recording its work.

A NEW COAL LOADER. A demonstration took place recently on the Clyde of a new equipment for loading bunker coal or. board ship. In this system a self-propelled barge takes its place on the side of the vessel away from the wharf, and the process of coaling can proceed at the same time as the ordinary handling of cargo. The plant consists of a patented form of digger combined with an elevator and conveyor. The elevator, which travels on a gantry over the whole length of the barge, is fed by the digger, wLich is of the caterpillar type ancLhas an endless chain with buckets attached. The buckets as they come over the top deliver the coal into a small hopper, whence it passes along conveyors to the steamer’s bunkers. The apparatus loads coal at the average rate of SO tons per hour and effects great saving in fuel, time and cost. During the trial referred to the ship’s bunker was filled in the short period of 30 minutes with a squad of only eight men engaged on the work.

A EOT ARY TUNNELLING MACHINE

Tn tTie various mining operations which played so prominent a part during the war, considerable use was made of special machines foi driving tunnels. They were chiefly of a comparatively small size, but the experience so gained has encouraged the development of similar principles in cutting large tunnels, up to seven and even twelve feet in diameter. This machine consists esentially of rotary cutters driven by electric motor, the soil removed by the cutter being deposited on a conveyer at the rear of the machine. The whole equipment is provided with means for forcing the cutter forward so that the lips can bite upon the material to be excavated. The machine is mounted on rails laid on the bottom of the tunnel and is worked forward by a hydraulic ram which is under control so that rhe speed of advance can be regulated. All the motions of the machine itself are derived from a single electric motor, which in the case of a seven-foot tunnel! is of only 25 horse-power. Working in chalk the seven foot machine travels forward three feet per hour—which is equal to 116 cubic feet of excavation. In hard marl the twelve foot machine will go as fast as eight feet per hour under favourable conditions.

A REMARK ABLE TELESCOPE. Many interesting new features have been embodied in an astronomical telescope recently supplied by a -British firm to the Brazilian Government. This telescope is eighteen inches in diameter and has two photographic star cameras placed above the main tube. The vertical axis of the telescope ro-

yolves m ball bearings—the introduction of which has been attended with complete success. Not only do they render the telescope very easy to set but they reduce the work which has to be done by the clock which drives the telescope so as to keep it fixed upon a certain portion of the heavens for photographic purposes. So accurately made is the whole mechanism that it will maintain the telescope directed to a particular star for three or four hours without the slightest adjustment. DAMPING THE ATMOSPHEKE. It is well known that the atmosphere m textile factories must be kept at a certain degree of dampness to enable the process of spinning to be properly: carried out. Where the surrounding atmosphere is not sufficiently damp it is necessary to install artificial humidi-; tiers or damp makers. One type of humidifier is known by the name of ‘‘air fountain,” as it combines compressed air with an apparatus which breaks up drops of water into exceedingly fine particles which, under the action of the compressed air are delivered to the atmosphere in the form of an exceedingly fine mist. In an equipment recently perfected by a British maker arrangements are made for enserring that the mist is free from dust, and oil. The same firm is now applying the apparatus in connection with the supply of com prosed air to pneumatic tools. Should the air used in these tools contain dirt or ether foreign ingredients the wear and tear on the tools is greatly increased. Another important application is in connection with rock drilling. The apparatus is so arranged that the line spray can be directed on to the actual point nf the work •„ thus completely lemoving all dust from the drilling operations and avoiding the risk which this dust causes to tlie workmen engaged. A 3-gallon water container will supply enough water for one hour’s use. The spray can also be used in greenhouses and grana rie*. SAFETY IN MINES.

In order to encourage originality in ! connection with reducing the risk of accidents in mines, a British journal is , offering prizes for the best suggestions having for their object the prevention of acidents on haulage roads in mines. 3 his competition is open to working minors ahd mine officials. Should this competition prove a success it will be followed at intervals by others covering every phase of the problem of securing safety in mines. This competition will ensure that the most concerned have every opportunity of putting forward useful suggestions for their own benefit. ECONOMICAL CENTRAL HEATING. In connection with the central heating of buildings a British heating and ventilating engineer makes an interesting and practical suggestion. He promises that regulators should bo installed in every outfit so as to prevent by automatic means, any over-heating. The result would bo to bring down the first cost of installations and also greatly to reduce the amount of fuel consumed. He calculates that on this system a central heating plant can be installed in a building at a cost which would be at least covered by the saving in doing away with chimneys and fireplaces.

RAILWAY TICKET MACHINES IN STORES.

The modern large store contains many things which are devised more for the convenience of customers than for the actual business of buying and selling. In some cases, in fact, practically all the comforts of a drub are provided in order to attract customers One of the most original developments in thia line has been instituted by the Underground Railways Co. of London. This company has made considerable use of automatic ticket machines in its various booking halls in order to relieve congestion during busy hours, and similar machines have now been installed on the ground floor of a large general store in the West End of London. Tickets obtainable from ‘hese machines will be available for a 2d or 3d journey from the nearest underground railway station, or on anv omnibus passing the store. Similar machines have also been placed in the foyer of a theatre close to one of the central stations on the tube railway system. People leaving the theatre are thus able to obtain their railway tickets with the great possible convenience.

BRIGHT STEEL BARS. Important improvements in the production of bright steel bars such as aro used for line shafting and numerous 1 other purposes in engineering, have been introduced by a British firm. Hitherto the bright surface has been obtained by the use of acids—thus tending to pit the surface of the metal. In the new process a special machine is used which turns the bars at an unusually high speed and with extraordinary accuracy. The superior brightness and regulaiity of surface of the bars is due solely to the machine and is achieved without the use of acids.