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The Wheeler Condenser & Engineering Co., of Carteret, N. J., is now building a line of horizontal and vertical shaft centrifugal pumps for general services, as well as for condenser work.. This company has been building centrifugal pumps for over 20 years, most of them being used, however, in connection with condensers. The new line of pumps is suited for all services. A small motor-driven unit for tank or stand pipe operation is shown in Fig. 1. Referring to the sectional illustration (Fig. 2), it will be seen that this pump conforms to the most recent advances in centrifugal pump construction, having a two-part divided casing, with the suction and discharge nozzles in the lower half. The impeller is of the closed double-suction type, protected by labyrinth wearing rings. The shaft is protected from the water by bronze sleeves, which screw on to the shaft and extend clear through into the bearing bracket boxes. Bearings are of the ring-oiled type, and in the outboard bracket, is a ring-oiled thrust bearing, which is a refinement not usually found in double-suction

Jan 4, 1916

Weston Portable Electrodynamometer The Weston Electrical Instrument Co. of Newark, N. J., believes that problems hitherto considered impossible of solution in the designing of portable electrodynamometers have been solved in its new models. The voltmeter, Model 341, is an instrument' of precision adapted to use on alterating- or direct-current circuits, guaranteed to an accuracy of 0.25 per cent. full-scale value either on direct or alternating-current circuits of any frequency to 133 cycles per second and commercial frequencies even as high as 500 cycles per second with very slight error. The polyphase electrodynamometer, Model 329, is accurate to 0.5 per cent. under the same conditions.; Double ranges are furnished in all instruments of this model. All current ranges can be used for 100 per cent. overload indefinitely without introducing error in Models 310 and 329.

Jan 12, 1915

The Maas patent drill-hole compass, for determining the direction and dip of drill holes, is successfully used to a depth of 3,000 ft. APPARATUS FOR SURVEYING DEEP DRILL HOLES. The compass is placed in a thermos bottle or glass tube with hot liquid gelatine and lowered in a water-tight phosphor-bronze case, with a tube containing hydrofluoric acid. When the gelatine is cold the rods are pulled, the direction of the needle is marked on the tube which contained the acid, and the direction and inclination of the hole determined from this tube in a goniometer. There is nothing to get out of order and the compass can be used by any drill foreman, the mark and etching on the tube making a permanent record of direction and inclination. (See Fig. 1.)

Jan 1, 1916

The Jeffrey Company Opens Branch in Seattle The Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. of Columbus, Ohio, announces the re-opening of its Northwestern Branch Office at Seattle, Wash., and the appointment of Mr. Percy E. Wright, Consulting Mechanical Engineer, as District Manager for Oregon, Washington, Alaska, British Columbia and Alberta. Mr. Wright, who has been in the Northwest since 1910, and whose connection with the Jeffrey company dates back to 1902, has' had a wide and varied experience and training in the handling of the Jeffrey line which will enable him to be of great assistance to customers in solving their elevating, conveying and transmission problems. Trade Catalogs To a majority of the public, the name 'DuPont suggests military powder-munitions of war. The DuPont Products Book A-430 (April, 1916) lists 251 distinct commodities made. and sold by this company, many of which are far removed from destructive work. Mining men are fully cognizant of the need for explosives in constructive work, but they may be surprised to know that side by side with the powder and dynamite this company manufactures such peaceful articles as substitute leather, combs and collar buttons. The substitute for leather is Fabrikoid, varying in weight from a quality light enough for bookbinding to one heavy enough for trunks and automobiles, and the combs and collar buttons (with scores of other articles) are made from Pyralin. The book also contains a long list of chemicals, and a shorter list of special products and miscellaneous materials such as charcoal, wood flour and saltpeter. The Jeffrey Manufacturing Co. of Columbus, Ohio, making elevating, conveying, crushing, screening and power transmission machinery, has just issued its. latest Bulletin, No. 177, :featuring self-propelling wagon and truck loaders for handling crushed stone, sand, gravel, clinker, coke, etc. These machines are described as having a capacity of 1 to 1 ½ cu. yd. of material per minute, with power to load crushed stone maximum size pieces through 3 ½ -in. ring and to load trucks or wagons in 3 or 4 min. The self-propelling device is designed to enable one man to operate the loader as it is fed into the pile, and to move the machine about under its own power.

Jan 7, 1916

Boiler-Room Economy "Establishing and Maintaining Boiler-room Economy" is the title of a paper presented before the Ohio Society of Mechanical Electrical and Steam Engineers by Geo. H. Gibson, of which the following is an excerpt: Boiler-room economy depends less upon equipment than upon operation, i.e., it depends largely upon the condition in which the apparatus is maintained and how it is used. A given boiler may operate this week with an efficiency of 78 per cent., and next week with an efficiency of 65 per cent., while using the same fuel and developing the same rating. If there are variations ii; character of fuel and in load and other factors, the falling-off may be even greater, possibly to less than 60 per cent. The steam produced may cost twice as much per 1,000 lb. at one time as at another. Most steam plant managers know from their own experience that these statements are not exaggerated. It does not take much of a plant to run up a coal bill of $5,000 per year, many "spend $10,000 for coal, and fuel bills of $50,000, $100,000, or $200,000 per annum are not uncommon. As it call be shown in the majority of these plants that 10 per cent. of this amount may be saved, and in large numbers of them 25 per cent., while in some the expenditure can be cut in half, there is no disputing that we have here a subject worthy of attention. In the production of steam the greatest variable is the human factor. Before we can pass judgment, however, we must first have standards. This implies accurate quantitative knowledge of fuel consumption and steam production. We must measure the output and know how much the steam costs per thousand pounds, and how many pounds of steam are obtained from a pound of coal. We can then begin to analyze the problem, and find where and how methods and conditions can be improved, and how much. Many favor buying coal on a B. t. u. basis. This is advisable where the amount purchased warrants the considerable expense involved in systematically gathering samples that: are. truly representative and in having analyses made, of every carload. Coal analyses, combined with. an honest endeavor on the part of the miner to ship good coal, should insure the receipt of the heat units paid for. , It often happens, however, that the coal which is cheapest on a B.t.u. basis is not the cheapest or most suitable for producing steam, because of peculiarities of the plant in which it is to be burned, or conversely, the fuel which furnishes cheap B.t.u. may require special methods or equipment for its economic utilization.

Jan 2, 1916

The Du Pont Magazine for August and September gives the following interesting information regarding recent progress in the use' of explosives. Blasting -Clay.-"The place where I tried blasting down clay for a brick yard had been worked for some years by old-time pick and shovel method. There was a large shallow pit, irregular in shape, with a perpendicular face at one end. I put down a line of holes 3 ft. deep and 6 ft. back from this face, loading each hole with one and one-half car-tridges of Red Cross Extra 40 per cent. dynamite. The charges were connected up to a blasting machine circuit and fired electrically. "Two of these shots kept the brick yard men very busy for two days taking out the loose clay. "I am convinced that if any brick yard man will try this method he will always have a blasting machine and dynamite on hand thereafter, because it cuts labor cost almost in two to get down the clay in. this way." In some clay pits the practice is to blast a large amount of clay in the fall, allowing it to freeze and thaw through the winter. Such clay is much easier to puddle in the spring than freshly dug or blasted clay. When the clay contains stones, the blasting loosens them and makes their separation-easy. Well-Drill Holes in Quarrying.-The well drill or cable drill method of working a quarry face is now in quite common use. The use of large drills is constantly increasing among quarrymen. In fact the growing tendency is for large machinery of all kinds such as mammoth crushers, steam shovels, etc. Volume is what is wanted nowadays. The advantages of the big drill over the piston driven drill are numerous. By carrying the holes the full depth of the face the stone is loaded and treated on one working floor. It eliminates the cost of bench cleaning. Loading operations are less frequent, thus lessening the danger. Stone can be shot down in greater volume and in better shape, making it economical to use a steam shovel. No bench cleaning makes it safer for the men. It is cheaper and can be used in outlying and temporary operations where the cost of installing a power plant would be out of the question. It permits a greater spacing of bore holes and eliminates the necessity of "squibbing" or springing. In this method usually holes from 4 in. to 6 in. in diameter are drilled the full depth of the face from 15 ft. to 2,0 ft. apart, and as far back and the whole face shot down at one time. The cost of well drilling may vary all the way from 20 cents to 75 cents: per foot, and in extremely hard rocks up to $1.50 per foot.

Jan 10, 1916

Pulverized Fuel Combustion The apparatus shown in the illustration is a complete equipment f r supplying coal to boiler and metallurgical furnaces, cement and lime kilns, dryers, and to all furnaces requiring a temperature and quality of fame under prompt and easy control. It is claimed that the Aero Pulverizer makes practicable the highest efficiency obtainable from burning coal. It makes coal burn like a gas, a flame, the physical and chemical character of which is regulable- a flame that may be elongated or shortened, thus placing the zone of highest temperature where needed- a flame that may be made oxidizing, reducing, or neutral, as occasion may require. The coal is burned as pulverized, and there is no storage of the powder with its attendant hazard. Artificial drying before pulverizing is not necessary if the coal supply be sheltered from rain and snow. Where the Aero is used, it is wholly a furnace question whether a dryer should be installed; it is not at all a pulverizing or storage question. Labor is reduced to a minimum. Slack coal at low cost yields its last B.T.U.

Jan 11, 1915

For the use of those who prefer manila rope to wire rope for light hoisting and hauling, the Ingersoll-Rand Co. has brought out a new model Little Tugger Hoist which is designated No. 11. The square piston, reversible driving engine, automatic lubrication, inclosed gearing, rum release clutch and worm-operated band brake are essentially the same as in the No. 1 model which was introduced about two Years ago. The main differences are in the diameter and length of the drum, the width of the flanges and, necessarily, the main frame and overall dimensions. The new No. 11 Little Tugger has a hoisting drum 7 in. in diameter by 17 in. long with 5-in. flanges. This accommodates 300 ft. of 7/8 -in. manila, rope. The maximum capacity of this hoist is conservatively rated at 600 1b. The weight of the hoist itself is 358 lb. It is 21 ½ in. long, 31 ¼ in. wide and 23 in. high.

Jan 12, 1916

Beyer Barometric Condenser The Ingersoll-Rand Co. is now offering to the trade complete steam­condensing plants for all service conditions. This equipment includes the Beyer barometric condenser, for' which the company has secured the patent rights, Imperial duplex and Ingersoll-Rogler straight-line reciprocating dry vacuum pumps and, where required, Cameron simplex and centrifugal pumps. The Beyer barometric condenser is of the counter-current type, in which air and cooling water flow in opposite directions. The steam inlet is at the bottom of the condensing v el, the water inlet above and the air-removal opening at the top. The sheets of cooling water over owing the pool at the inlet point meet the entering steam. The two are brought into intimate contact by conical baffle plates which assist the water to absorb to its full capacity the latent heat of the steam. The non-condensable air liberated in the condensing action rises through the falling water to the removal point at the top, being cooled to practically the temperature of the incoming water. It is also to be noted that ample opportunity is given for the removal of the air content of the water before

Jan 8, 1916

The Manufacturer's Viewpoint A prominent manufacturer of mining 'machinery not long ago expressed himself as being confident that he was securing the best kind of publicity for his product through the advertising pages of the monthly Bulletin of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. Such an expression coming from such a man is highly gratifying; yet it is justifiable when the high quality of reader and subscriber is taken into consideration. In fact, the majority of those using our advertising pages feel the same. It is to be regretted, of course, that others catering to our field do not realize the means at their disposal for presenting the points of interest of their product to the mining man. The question has been asked, " Do your members read their Bulletin?" They not only read the editorial pages, but they "admit being up-to-date enough to peruse the advertising section to "see what is new." The next question the prospective advertiser asks is, " Will the Bulletin bring inquiries?" The answer to this question holds good for any publication having as subscribers those who have purchasing or recommending power-yes, if the article advertised is not a stock one, that has been before the public for any length of time. To secure inquiries on, say, a standard centrifugal pump or any other standard product, the features of which are well known, is a most difficult proposition. Yet, of course, some inquiries are secured, but mostly from those having use for the catalogue or trade literature for reference purposes. It is safe to say that the traceable returns from advertising in trade publications hardly, if at all, pay for the advertising. The real returns are intangible, and result from the constant publicity, and keeping ?everlastingly at it." Who can say what subconscious effect is taking place when an advertisement is "glanced at," to say nothing of the effect produced when the copy is attractive and interests the reader. Time after time it has been proved that sales have been secured as a result of an advertisement, yet no inquiry had been made directly traceable to advertising.

Jan 8, 1915

By J. Parke Channing

THE growth of and profession depends on meeting and solving new problems. It is a continuous process. 'A period free from new, or hitherto unknown, questions will be a period of arrested development in the profession it affects. The present generation has witnessed a' mechanical development that has been truly marvelous: Almost every day marks the advent of a new, or the improvement of an old; process, method or machine. Wonders are now commonplace. The impossible is regularly accomplished. Yet, with all our progress in every realm of science and with our development in the engineering field, advances which have made possible the marvelous growth in industry, we have not made commensurate gains in methods affecting the human factor. Without the cooperation of the worker, we shall always fall short of our goal in a mechanical or statistical sense. If we do not make the individual members of the human family strong, healthy, happy, and ambitious for better things for themselves and their children, we will have failed utterly, for that is the real reason for our existence as men and the purpose of our organized effort as an engineering group. Thomas A. Edison

Jan 1, 1921

By D. W. Kestner

Recent developments and trends in the state of the art as being commercially applied to the pelletizing and sintering of metallic ores, concentrates and reverts will be reviewed. Both ferrous and non-ferrous materials will be covered. The influence of environmental considerations on the decision to build, the process selection, and design of the plants will be discussed. Use of coal in iron ore pellet induration will also be reviewed as the availability and price structure of oil and gas becomes a consideration to the plant operators.

Jan 1, 1980

By R. B. Full

DURING the summer of 1949, the United Nations Scientific Conference on the Conservation and Utilization of Resources met at Lake Success. As summed up by one writer, the purpose was: "That everyone will try to learn how to feed more people from an acre of land." That objective is a stimulus to the phosphate rock industry as well as other industries. Phosphate rock was mined first in the Canadian province of Quebec where it was found as an apatite in pockets. In 1863, mining began near the Rideau Canal, first in open trenches and quarries until shafts were sunk. These operations were difficult since hard rock had to be drilled and blasted. Steam was the source of power. The phosphate rock was hand-selected and recovery ranged from 6 to 10 pct, averaging 70 pct to 85 pct bpl (bone phosphate of lime). Costs, f.O.b. Montreal, were $14 a ton, and selling prices averaged $17 a ton. In 1885, about 29,-000 tons were sold on this basis, but by 1892 the output fell to 8000 tons at an average price of $15 a ton at Montreal. South Carolina Deposits Phosphate rock was first discovered in South Carolina in 1837, but a mining company was not formed until 1867. It was immediately successful, and the industry continued to develop and ship an increased tonnage of land and river rock, shipments increasing from approximately 20,000 tons in 1868 to 537,000 tons in 1890, when the shipments began to decrease. In 1892 only 350,000 tons were shipped. In this field there were two types of deposits: land rock and river rock. More land rock tonnage was mined until about 1887 when river rock production began to equal it. The land rock was mined adjacent to and in the river marshes by pick, shovel, and wheelbarrow. Each worker dug daily a space 6 ft wide, 15 ft long and 6 ft deep, which was overburden, and then loaded about 3 cu yd of phosphate rock into wheelbarrows. His helper would wheel the barrows to small steam railroads up to 250 ft distant. Water was kept from the pits by steam pumps connected to railway cars. The phosphate rock was loaded into railroad cars, hauled and dumped into a log washer to which water was added, and run over trommel screens to eliminate the clay and loose sand. Steam shovels for loading were introduced about 1891. River rock was mined by floating dipper dredges and at low tide was loaded into barges by laborers using oyster tongs, the large lumps being hand-loaded. Barges and bateaus were unloaded by wheelbarrows which were wheeled to the same type of land rock washers. The washer product was piled with stacked pine cordwood in alternate layers and fired for drying. Usually this was done under sheds along the river bank. The dried rock then was transferred to ships, usually three or four-masted schooners. Cost of production of both land and river rock, including $1 a ton royalty paid to the state for state-owned property, was approximately $4.25 a ton averaging 60 pct bpl. The selling price was approximately $7 a ton f.O.b. In 1886 the courts handed down a decision permitting anyone to mine, and many additional companies were organized immediately. As a result, the selling price was lowered to a profit margin of 50Ø or less per ton. The South Carolina mines were eventually shut down when a more profitable source of phosphate rock was discovered in Florida. Florida Deposits Phosphate rock was discovered in Florida in 1882, and in 1883 a small quarry was opened near Hawthorne. In 1886 phosphate rock of good grade was discovered on Peace River, and the Arcadia Phosphate Co. was formed. In 1888 the company began shipments amounting to 3000 tons that year. During the latter part of 1888, hard-rock phosphate was discovered near Dunnellon. Exploration extended rapidly, and deposits of hard-rock phosphate were mined over a wide area so that shortly after 1900

Jan 1, 1952

By D. Harrington

ALTHOUGH statistical data are not at hand to justify definite statements as to progress in health, and safety in the mining and allied industries during 1935, it now appears probable that in both coal mining and in metal- mining the rate of accident occurrence as well as the absolute number of accidents will show slight increases for the year. Much: of the responsibility for this increase lies with the large number of relatively. small mines that have more or less recently come into existence, partly because of 'the lack of opportunity for work in the larger mines for large numbers of unemployed miners, and partly due to increased prices for some of the mineral products, especially gold. In general, the larger long-established nines show downward accident trends and this is decidedly encouraging as it shows that where mines are operated with real efficiency, mining can be done in relative safety.

Jan 1, 1936

By Fred E. Carter

AT first sight, the platinum group of metals seem of little import to we, the people," although actually the life of the common man is much influenced by them; this influence is usually indirect, hence his lack of knowledge and interest. He generally associates platinum with high-class jewelry and lets it go at that. Were 11e to go deeper, he would find that platinum metals play their part in his food supply, his clothing. his health, his transportation, his home. And the technical man is in general only slightly better informed, for he usually does not realize how necessary platinum metals are in the manufacture of the many construction materials and chemical products with which he is acquainted. Certainly, our daily lives would be profoundly affected if platinum were suddenly to become unavailable.

Jan 1, 1944

A remarkable industrial renaissance is underway in the People's Republic of China (PRC), says USBM's Dr. K. P. Wang in his recently released 96-page report on "The People's Republic of China-A New Industrial Power with a Strong Mineral Base." Dr. Wang's summary of the current mineral position of the PRC includes many insights into its future potential and trade possibilities with the West.

Jan 2, 1976

The Anglovaal Group has released details concerning its new processes for recovering platinum group metals, stating that the Group's system, which involves batch processing and precipitation methods for these metals (PGM's), leads to faster recovery times, increased recoveries, and higher purities than the conventional process. Insofar as South Africa's Merensky Reef is concerned, the Anglovaal method of recovering palladium first (as opposed to platinum in the conventional process) enables it to use a much simpler process in the subsequent recovery of platinum and other metals. Because the processes give cleaner separations, the volume of material to be recirculated -and therefore the total volume of material in the recovery circuits- is reduced substantially.

Jan 3, 1976

In late May, at its final session in Nairobi, Kenya, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) narrowly rejected the US proposal for a new International Resources Bank suggested by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. The proposal was defeated by a roll-call vote of 33 to 31, with most of the nay votes cast by communist countries, and with 89 of the less-developed countries abstaining or absent.

Jan 7, 1976

ERDA Issues Figures for 1975 Uranium Production and Drilling, 1976 Reserve Estimates

Jan 5, 1976

By Charles Jackson Abrams

MINING is one of the major industries of the Rocky Mountain region and since the United States became involved in the present World War, all mines have been called upon by the Government for the maximum production of the strategic metals necessary. Operating under the most adverse conditions, such as priority requirements, slow delivery of necessary material and equipment, labor shortages, and freezing of all wages, which still permitted some industries to pay higher rates than were allowable in the mines, thereby drawing labor from the mines; and the United States Employment Service continually giving mine labor certificates of availability; these and many other problems made mine operation particularly difficult. Yet, in spite of these obstacles, the mining industry, either through its own resources or through Government subsidies in the form of loans or premium prices for strategic metal, have and still are making an all-out effort to meet Government demands. They, without question, have played a major role in assisting the war effort.

Jan 1, 1945