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By William A. West

One manifestation of anelastic properties in solids is the mechanical elastic aftereffect, which may be described briefly as follows: If a stress is applied to a solid body, a deformation or strain is produced. On removal of the stress, this deformation disappears, at least in part. As a first approximation, this appearance or disappearance of deformation usually has been considered instantaneous. Actually, however, for a very wide variety of substances, on application of stress the instantaneous deformation is followed by a further slow yielding, which continues, although at a rapidly diminishing rate, for as long as the stress is applied. Similarly, on removal of the stress, the instantaneous recovery from deformation is followed by a further slow recovery, which continues, although at a rapidly diminishing rate, often for a long time. This latter phenomenon has been called the "elastic after-effect." Experiments upon the elastic after-effect in metals, when properly designed and when properly interpreted, are capable of giving quite precise information regarding the relation between stress and strain in the various constituent parts of the metal. For example, if certain parts of the metal, such as grain boundaries or slip bands, behave in a viscous manner—that is, if therein—the relaxation spectrum will contain lines or bands associated with the relaxation of shear stress within these parts. No attempts have heretofore been made to utilize elastic after-effects for obtaining such detailed information. The purpose of the present paper is to explore the possibilities of properly designed and interpreted experiments on the elastic aftereffect in metals. Since new procedures and principles are employed in this study, an attempt has been made to record each step taken. Elastic after-effect observations are susceptible of simple interpretation only when the stress level employed is so low that all effects are linear with the stress. Just how low the stress level must be can he determined only by experiment. An advnntage, other than simple interpretation, is associated with low stress levels. When all effects are linear, derived quantities, such as the relaxation spectrum, are independent of the stress distribution. It is, furthermore, possible to employ the type of deformation that is most convenient from the experimental standpoint; for example torsion. It appears that in experiments involving both loading and unloading the following would be observed: I. Instantaneous deformation, recoverable instantaneously in whole, or in part. 2. Delayed deformation, recoverable slowly in whole, in part, or not at all. 3. Permanent deformation, the difference between total deformation and total recovery. In the work here described, unloading experiments only were made. Wires were

Jan 1, 1947

By Frank Clemes Smith

The study of the so-called refractory gold-ores of the Potsdam sandstone, ores which are probably of wider occurrence and of much greater economic importance in the Black Hills than is generally supposed, has led the writer to formulate in the present paper some of the results obtained in the course of a special examination of these particular ores, conducted at the State School of Mines at Rapid City, So. Dak. Various circumstances have interrupted the work, and it will easily be seen that relatively little has yet been accomplished; but it is hoped that this little may be of sufficient interest to justify a later supplement. Tellurium, discovered by Muller von Reichenstein in 1781, is generally classed as a very rare metal; it is further mentioned by one of our late writers as " of comparatively little importance," and as obtained from its ores by a " complicated process.'' Concerning its rarity, we have some trustworthy evidence below. Its commercial importance, particularly in connection with electrical appliances, has been passed upon by Mr. Edison ; * and it is certain that, in some metallurgical processes for the treatment of gold- and silver-ores, it may be saved as a byproduct at a relatively reasonable expense. The importance of tellurium as a mineralizing agent is emphasized by the remarks of one of our leading metallurgists,jwho, in his own practice and by a wide series of experiments, has found its occurrence to be much more general than has been supposed. Recently the same writer has discussed the occurrence of tellurides and oxidized tellurium compounds in the gold-ores of Cripple Creek, Colo., and in those of the Black

Jan 1, 1897

By Frank C. Canney

The word "other" in paragraph 4, line 11, column 1, page 205, should read "over;" the correct version of reason 2, this paragraph, is: 'L. . . 2) to evaluate the usefulness of certain geo-chemical techniques, V. C. Kennedy and S. W. Hobbs of the USGS had already studied the distribution of copper, lead, and zinc in the soils (both in background areas and over veins) and in the water and plants, providing a criterion for measuring the magnitude and effect of soil contamination; ...9 On page 206, in the top left hand corner of Fig. 1 (in the area bounded by 47°35' and 116°10), the reference to Fig. 3 is incorrect. The area of Pine Creek, South Fork Coeur d'Alene River, and portion of Big Creek (the area which includes, from left to right, Kingston, Pinehurst, Smelterville, and Kellogg) should be identified as that of Fig. 2A. The headings for columns 1, 3, and 4, Tables I and 11, page 209, column 2, were reversed when the paper was printed. The corrected tables are:

Jan 1, 1961

By SME

"Comparison of Secondary Fe-Mn Oxides in Fracture Coating and Heavy-Mineral Concentrates as Sampling Media, Silver City Mining Region, New Mexico," a technical paper, appeared in the Aug. 1983 issue of the magazine. In Table 1, page 1182, the correct sequence of the first five metals in column 1 (Elements) should read: Zn, Pb, Cu, Fe, and Mn under "Central District" and Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu, and Mn under "Pinos Altos District." The published table shows the sequences transposed under the opposite districts. All other columns and sequences read correctly.

Jan 1, 1984

By Horace F. Silliman, Curtis L. Wilson, Eugene C. Little

The change in electrical resistance and Rockwell hardness (16-100-B) of copper alloys containing Ni2Si and Co2Si was determined by annealing the quenched solid solutions at various temperatures for various lengths of time. The rate of precipitation of Nisi, as measured by the rate of decrease of electrical resistance and increase of hardness, increased with annealing temperature up to a certain point, depending on the percentage of Ni2Si present. At these temperatures discontinuities in the rate: change occurred. Similar discontinuities in the Co2Si alloys were no The solubility of Co2Si in copper was found to be 5 per cent at 970" DISCUSSION (Robert F. Mehl presiding) R. I?. Mehl, Pittsburgh, Pa. (written discussion).—The electrical conductivity and hardness curves reported in this paper are interesting, particularly because many of the anomalies of the precipitation processes are evident from such curves. The title of the paper, however, is deceptive, for it implies that measurements of electrical conductivity and hardness are suitable to determine the rate of precipitation. Neither of these methods is suitable for a quantitative measurement of rates of reaction or of precipitation in the solid state. Electrical conductivity in some alloys shows an anomalous increase during the first stages of aging at low temperatures; it is notably sensitive to strain and to state of subdivision. I have plotted the conductivity curve representing the decomposition of the phase at 555" C. in the copper-aluminum system, given in the paper by Smith and Lindlief (Fig. 47, p. 93) as a rate of reaction curve, and compared it with the curve determined by area evaluation (Fig. 7); these two curves are not coincident. Hardness is likewise very uncertain, for it is so much dependent upon particle size. Of the various methods proposed for the study of rates of reaction and precipitation, the evaluation of volume of reaction product from the respective area of matrix and reaction product on the photomicrograph is the most trustworthy; suffering, perhaps, only from low sensitivity during the early stages. This method, used originally by Davenport and Bain and now by Smith and Lindlief, is suitable for

Jan 1, 1933

By B. M. Loring, W. H. Baer, G. M. Carlton

It is a well known fact that age-hardening alloys remain in a supersaturated, or partially supersaturated, condition only for limited periods of time at temperatures below the solvus. In order to develop optimum properties by subjecting the quenched alloy to precipitation or age-hardening treatment at a specified temperature, it is necessary that the cooling rate be sufficiently high to maintain the required degree of supersaturation of the solid solution. In practical applications the size and shape of the specimens obviously have considerable influence on the rate of cooling and there is need for more information on the effects of various rates of cooling. Cooling rates of quenched aluminum alloys generally have been established by the type of quenching medium, the temperature of the medium and the dimensions of the specimen. Except for the work of Roth3 little quantitative information is available on the measurement of cooling rates of aluminum alloys and the significance of the influence of various cooling rates upon the mechanical properties. The purpose of the present investigation was to study the use of the Jominy test for aluminum alloys (Table I). The material for this investigation consisted of extruded rods 1 1/4 to 136 in. in diam. The chemical compositions were as follows: The modified L-type Jominy specimen with dimensions shown in Fig I was selected as the most convenient means for obtaining a wide range of cooling rates. The standard Jominy specimen was not satisfactory because its cooling rate was not sufficiently high. The four flat surfaces machined at right angles along the length of the L-type specimen to a depth of 0.015 in. facilitated the hardness measurements. The specimens were machined from the extruded stock with no intermediate forging. New specimens were used for each aging experiment. The specimens were given solution treatments of 2 hr duration at recommended temperatures in a Hoskins furnace (Table 2). The temperature of the furnace was maintained constant to 3°C. No protective atmosphere was necessary because the thin film of oxide that formed on the surface of the specimens had no effect on the hardness measurements. AT

Jan 1, 1949

By M. J. McPherson

Having worked on the thermodynamics of air/liquid-water mixtures passing through the surface fans of deep mines, I find this paper of great interest and congratulate the authors on producing it. There are two matters, however, deserving discussion. First, the authors have described the classical theory of fog formation with fogging occurring at "supersaturation." In fact, the process of fog formation begins well below 100% humidity. The more strongly hygroscopic nuclei in the atmosphere will attract water molecules and begin to grow at a relative humidity perhaps as low as 70%. The process is a dynamic one with both condensation and evaporation taking place throughout the mixture on microscopic liquid surfaces. As saturation is approached, the rate of condensation accelerates rapidly producing the familiar reduction in visibility. Hygroscopic nuclei are present in all natural atmospheres and under the appropriate conditions of pressure and temperature, will produce clean fogs. However, if the air is polluted by particulates from combustion or other processes then the resultant coagulation with growing liquid particles may produce dense (and sometimes photochemical) smogs. It is this process that is likely to occur in underground mines when moist air is cooled below dew point. Second, the authors have summarized very well the individual measures that might alleviate the problem. In particular, I agree that neither heating nor refrigerating the air, by themselves, provides a satisfactory solution. However, there is a combination of these that provides a neat and effective control of fog formation. This involves a small, self-contained refrigeration unit within a duct but without the usual external heat rejection facility. The air is cooled below dew point and, hence, dehumidified on passing over the cold evaporator coils. The heat from the condenser is rejected back into the air down-stream from the water eliminator, as shown in [Fig. 1]. The duct configuration can be designed to create good mixing at the outlet.

Jan 1, 1984

By L. F. Mondolfo

R301 is a clad aluminum alloy, composed of a core of a duralumin-type alloy clad with a magnesium silicide alloy. It differs from other well-known clad alloys in that the cladding and the core respond to the same heat-treatments. and therefore the cladding contributes appreciably to the mechanical properties of the material. In Table I are reported the compositions of the core and cladding alloy for the material used for the experiments. Table i.—Chemical composition of R~OI Used for the Experiments Element Core Cladding Cu........................ . 0.01 Fe......................... . 0.42 Si......................... 0. 0.71 Mg........................ . 0.99 Mn ........................ . 0.54 In clad aluminum alloys where the core contains copper and the cladding does not, at elevated temperatures the copper tends to diffuse from the core through the cladding. This fact is well known and many investigations have been conducted to determine the features of this diffusion. Most of those investigations cover materials clad with pure aluminum; the present investigation covers a material clad with an alloy. Since the cladding thickness on R~OI varies with the gauge, as shown in Table 2, several gauges were investigated. Material and Procedure he material used was sheet of the following gauges: o.o2~, 0.040, 0.064, 0.102, 0.170 Cut in pieces approximately 3 by 5 in., it was in the cold-rolled state and was soaked for increasing times at the following temperatures: glo°F., 940°F., 970°F. A Lindberg cyclone furnace was used for the experiments. The procedure was as follows: The furnace was started empty with controlling pyrometer set at the determined temperature. After the furnace had reached that temperature, it was run for some 20 to 30 min. empty, in order to allow the temperature inside to become stabilized. Then the first samples were introduced. A load thermocouple, with recording pyrometer, was connected with the sample of the heaviest gauge. About 10 min. was required for the material to reach temperature and the soaking time was counted from that point. After zoo min. soaking, the second group of samples was introduced without stopping the furnace. After 200 min. more, the third group of samples was introduced, and so on, until the last sample had been introduced. Every time the furnace was opened and new samples were added, a drop of temperature was registered by the thermocouple connected with the material

Jan 1, 1946

By L. F. Mondolfo

R301 is a clad aluminum alloy, composed of a core of a duralumin-type alloy clad with a magnesium silicide alloy. It differs from other well-known clad alloys in that the cladding and the core respond to the same heat-treatments. and therefore the cladding contributes appreciably to the mechanical properties of the material. In Table I are reported the compositions of the core and cladding alloy for the material used for the experiments. Table i.—Chemical composition of R~OI Used for the Experiments Element Core Cladding Cu........................ . 0.01 Fe......................... . 0.42 Si......................... 0. 0.71 Mg........................ . 0.99 Mn ........................ . 0.54 In clad aluminum alloys where the core contains copper and the cladding does not, at elevated temperatures the copper tends to diffuse from the core through the cladding. This fact is well known and many investigations have been conducted to determine the features of this diffusion. Most of those investigations cover materials clad with pure aluminum; the present investigation covers a material clad with an alloy. Since the cladding thickness on R~OI varies with the gauge, as shown in Table 2, several gauges were investigated. Material and Procedure he material used was sheet of the following gauges: o.o2~, 0.040, 0.064, 0.102, 0.170 Cut in pieces approximately 3 by 5 in., it was in the cold-rolled state and was soaked for increasing times at the following temperatures: glo°F., 940°F., 970°F. A Lindberg cyclone furnace was used for the experiments. The procedure was as follows: The furnace was started empty with controlling pyrometer set at the determined temperature. After the furnace had reached that temperature, it was run for some 20 to 30 min. empty, in order to allow the temperature inside to become stabilized. Then the first samples were introduced. A load thermocouple, with recording pyrometer, was connected with the sample of the heaviest gauge. About 10 min. was required for the material to reach temperature and the soaking time was counted from that point. After zoo min. soaking, the second group of samples was introduced without stopping the furnace. After 200 min. more, the third group of samples was introduced, and so on, until the last sample had been introduced. Every time the furnace was opened and new samples were added, a drop of temperature was registered by the thermocouple connected with the material

Jan 1, 1946

By M. B. Ramachandra Roa

This paper records the results of the earth resistivity surveys made in the Godavari River in connection with the Ramapadasagar project. After describing the topographical and geological features of the area, the results of the investigation at the several sites have been mentioned. Further, a detailed account has been given of the resistivity methods adopted, the apparatus used and the interpretation of the curves. The resistivity measurements carried out over the water course have been specially outlined, and a review of the verification of the electrical indications by drilling in a number of cases, has also been presented. Introduction The Government of Madras has under consideration the Ramapadasagar project which is estimated to cost some Rs.660,-000,000 (about two hundred million dollars). The most essential feature of this project is the construction of a high dam across the Godavari near Polavaram for impounding the waters of this great river of South India, whose maximum discharge is 2 million cu secs in flood time. It is estimated that when the proposed reservoir is constructed, about one million tons of rice could be produced annually under irrigation. To those who have had any acquaintance at all with the recent distressing famine conditions which India has passed through and is still undergoing, the Lounteous effects which this project will bring about to the country in the future, are obvious. In the region of the proposed reservoir, the river flows for several miles through a hilly tract, hemmed in between flanks of hard, solid rock; but the river bed is mostly sandy. A few bore holes put down in this sandy bed touched rock at a depth of 180 to 200 ft. The river bed is about jo ft above the mean sea level (m.s.l.) and the bedrock was found at —125 to —160 ft m.s.l. The crest of the dam is proposed at +162 ft m.s.l. The proposed dam mould therefore be about 120 to 130 ft above the river bed, and the foundations would have to reach down nearly zoo ft below the bed at the deepest part. A number of alternative sites were proposed for investigation, and it became necessary to quickly ascertain the bedrock topography at these sites. Dr. M. S. Krishnan,* who was consulted in the matter, furnished a detailed account of the geological features of the region and suggested a geophysical investigation which the writer carried out from February to April 1944, employing solely the electrical resistivity methods. The total length of the survey lines for the electrical measurements amounted to 62,600 ft and the number of resistivity determinations was about 2500. Altogether nine alignments for the dam were inten-

Jan 1, 1949

G. Sherburne Rogers (written discussion*).—Mr. Kennedy's discussion1 of Mr. Matteson's paper takes the form of a criticism of my own comments2 on this paper. Mr. Kennedy is a respected authority on matters pertaining to the salt-dome oil fields, and his characterization of my "elaborate figures" as "worthless" is sufficiently candid and comprehensive to warrant a brief reply. My 'voluminous figures" consisted simply of a rough estimate of the minimum quantity of salt in the Humble dome, and a, calculation of the volume of sea water and of the volume of saturated brine which this salt would represent. Mr. Kennedy apparently interprets my remarks as opposing the idea that so,large a volume of salt could have been deposited from sea water, for he cites the area and thickness of European salt beds; but nothing was further from my intention. Given an arm of the sea, an arid climate, and evaporation under a hot sun, it is easy to conceive the formation of almost any thickness of bedded salt. I cited the figures in connection with Harris' theory of the origin of salt domes, according to which the plugs were formed by the deposition of salt from ascending brine solutions, owing to the drop in temperature as they neared the surface. I pointed out the well known fact that the solubility of salt is only slightly affected by temperature, and that a drop of 80" C. would cause the deposition of less than one-tenth of the salt in solution; hence that more than ten times the volume of salt actually forming the plug must have been involved. If ten times the salt actually in sight be computed in terms of brine and multiplied by 50 or 60 to take into account all of the known salt domes, the resulting figure is so enormous that I am not at all so sure as Mr. Kennedy seems to be that the porous stratified rocks of eastern Texas and western Louisiana could contain or furnish so great a volume of migratory brine. Mr. Kennedy, however, does not dwell on drop in temperature as the cause of the precipitation, but contents himself with ascribing the whole process to lateral secretion. As I understand it, this implies that the connate waters and brines contained in the rocks migrated to the Gulf Coast region, and there deposited their salt at various loci of crystallization. Just what started the crystallization or what force caused the

Jan 1, 1918

By R. L. Wilcox, M. L. Fuller

Owing to the nature of the die-casting process, fresllly cast alloys are undoubtedly not at equilibrium from the standpoint of alloy phase relationships. After casting, therefore, they tend to undergo phase changes, with the ultimate effeet of reaching a state of equilibrium at the aging temperature, beyond which no fnrther change takes place. This phase alteration undoubtedly is one of the primary causes of the changes in dimensions and physical properties that zinc-alloy die castings undergo during aging. It is planned to report on this problem in a series of papers of which this is the first. The writers have made a study of commercial zinc die-casting alloys over a period of several years, utilizing the X-ray diffraction technic of determining the phase composition changes in the alloys. Up to the present, two principal phase changes have been observed which are capable of causing dimensional changes: (I) the segregation of secondary constituents from the zinc-base solid solution and (2) the beta aluminum-zinc decomposition. The latter is the subject of the present paper and studies on the former will be reported upon at a future time. Scope of Study In the present investigation a special technic for the study of the beta phase in zinc-alloy die castings has been developed, making possible the determination of the period of existence of the beta phase after casting. The pure beta constituent and its decomposition have been studied in detail. The effect of magnesium and copper on the velocity of the decomposition is reported. The heat of decomposition, the eutectoid temperature arid the accompanying density change have been measured. The density change lias been calculated from data on crystal structure and the result thus obtained has been compared with the actual change.

Jan 1, 1935

By R. L. Wilcox, M. L. Fuller

Owing to the nature of the die-casting process, fresllly cast alloys are undoubtedly not at equilibrium from the standpoint of alloy phase relationships. After casting, therefore, they tend to undergo phase changes, with the ultimate effeet of reaching a state of equilibrium at the aging temperature, beyond which no fnrther change takes place. This phase alteration undoubtedly is one of the primary causes of the changes in dimensions and physical properties that zinc-alloy die castings undergo during aging. It is planned to report on this problem in a series of papers of which this is the first. The writers have made a study of commercial zinc die-casting alloys over a period of several years, utilizing the X-ray diffraction technic of determining the phase composition changes in the alloys. Up to the present, two principal phase changes have been observed which are capable of causing dimensional changes: (I) the segregation of secondary constituents from the zinc-base solid solution and (2) the beta aluminum-zinc decomposition. The latter is the subject of the present paper and studies on the former will be reported upon at a future time. Scope of Study In the present investigation a special technic for the study of the beta phase in zinc-alloy die castings has been developed, making possible the determination of the period of existence of the beta phase after casting. The pure beta constituent and its decomposition have been studied in detail. The effect of magnesium and copper on the velocity of the decomposition is reported. The heat of decomposition, the eutectoid temperature arid the accompanying density change have been measured. The density change lias been calculated from data on crystal structure and the result thus obtained has been compared with the actual change.

Jan 1, 1935

By H. O. Hofman

In the blast-furnace smelting of lead, copper and other non-ferrous metals, the largest part of the product obtained is slag. Its formation consumes more of the heat-energy of the fuel charged than any other chemical reaction that takes place. It is therefore of importance to know at what temperatures the different slags will form, so as to be able to choose in a given case the slag that will form at the right point in the operation, will keep the products thoroughly fluid, so as to insure a satisfactory separation, and will permit the consumption of fuel to be reduced to the lowest practicable point. While practical experience has brought out in a general way the leading differences as to the formation-temperatures of Rome silica—iron —lime slags, accurate details are still wanting. The object of the investigation here described was to supply some of these.* Prominent among the men who have worked on the fusibility of silicates are Lampadius, † Sefström,‡ Berthier,§

Jan 1, 1900

By John O. Farmer

The wire-line tubing perforator is a mechanically operated tool that is run on an ordinary steel measuring line into the tubing of a well, under pressure, to drive into the wall of the tubing, and securely lock in place, a tapered, cylindrical insert containing an orifice. Use of the perforator obviates the necessity of pulling and rerunning the tubing to install jet collars or flow valves, reduces the cost, and simplifies the task, of placing an oil well on gas-lift operation. More important, however, is the use of the tool with a removable check valve and stop, to provide a means of washing drilling mud from the annulus between the tubing and casing, and to complete the well for gas lift operation without exposing the producing formation to the mud column and without moving the tubing string. This paper discusses the origin, development, and mechanics of the wire-line perforator, the various purposes for which the tool was designed, and the method of selecting orifice sizes for any depth, and gives the results obtained thus far in practical application. Origin and Development Several years ago, a tool that could be lowered on an ordinary steel measuring line into the tubing of a well under pressure was designed and constructed for the purpose of punching a hole in the tubing walls above a shale bridge that had completely plugged the tubing of a well in the Long Lake field, East Texas. The well was in a low, swampy area, which excessive rainfall had caused to be in- accessible by car or truck for about four months. The only equipment at the well site consisted of an ordinary steel wire line that had been carried there to measure the depth of the bridge. Since a pulling unit could not be moved to the well site, and as the pressure on the casing was 2100 lb. per sq. in., it became apparent that the only way out of the predicament was to make a perforating tool that could be lowered into the tubing on a measuring line and operated under Pressure. Thus, the first wire-line tubing perforator was designed and built as an expedient, and was not used extensively until it had been redesigned to meet more frequent and increasingly urgent needs. Until recently, it was necessary to pull the tubing to install jet collars or flow the when a well was to be placed On gas lift. Because most companies either maintained or had access to pulling units and crews for this work, little or no thought had been given to eliminating or even simplifying this task. When the manpower and steel shortage became so acute, however, many operators suddenly found themselves without facilities to equip their wells for gas lifting. The wireline tubing perforator already had been tried and proved successful, therefore operators immediately requested its use to punch gas-jet holes in the tubing, to eliminate the pulling and running of tubing strings. The first deficiency revealed by more general use of the perforator lay in the inability to regulate the size of the hole punched through the tubing. The size could not be controlled to any degree of

Jan 1, 1946

By John O. Farmer

The wire-line tubing perforator is a mechanically operated tool that is run on an ordinary steel measuring line into the tubing of a well, under pressure, to drive into the wall of the tubing, and securely lock in place, a tapered, cylindrical insert containing an orifice. Use of the perforator obviates the necessity of pulling and rerunning the tubing to install jet collars or flow valves, reduces the cost, and simplifies the task, of placing an oil well on gas-lift operation. More important, however, is the use of the tool with a removable check valve and stop, to provide a means of washing drilling mud from the annulus between the tubing and casing, and to complete the well for gas lift operation without exposing the producing formation to the mud column and without moving the tubing string. This paper discusses the origin, development, and mechanics of the wire-line perforator, the various purposes for which the tool was designed, and the method of selecting orifice sizes for any depth, and gives the results obtained thus far in practical application. Origin and Development Several years ago, a tool that could be lowered on an ordinary steel measuring line into the tubing of a well under pressure was designed and constructed for the purpose of punching a hole in the tubing walls above a shale bridge that had completely plugged the tubing of a well in the Long Lake field, East Texas. The well was in a low, swampy area, which excessive rainfall had caused to be in- accessible by car or truck for about four months. The only equipment at the well site consisted of an ordinary steel wire line that had been carried there to measure the depth of the bridge. Since a pulling unit could not be moved to the well site, and as the pressure on the casing was 2100 lb. per sq. in., it became apparent that the only way out of the predicament was to make a perforating tool that could be lowered into the tubing on a measuring line and operated under Pressure. Thus, the first wire-line tubing perforator was designed and built as an expedient, and was not used extensively until it had been redesigned to meet more frequent and increasingly urgent needs. Until recently, it was necessary to pull the tubing to install jet collars or flow the when a well was to be placed On gas lift. Because most companies either maintained or had access to pulling units and crews for this work, little or no thought had been given to eliminating or even simplifying this task. When the manpower and steel shortage became so acute, however, many operators suddenly found themselves without facilities to equip their wells for gas lifting. The wireline tubing perforator already had been tried and proved successful, therefore operators immediately requested its use to punch gas-jet holes in the tubing, to eliminate the pulling and running of tubing strings. The first deficiency revealed by more general use of the perforator lay in the inability to regulate the size of the hole punched through the tubing. The size could not be controlled to any degree of

Jan 1, 1946

By W. L. Dennen, W. W. Wirth

Research looking toward the reduction of the cost of roof support by substitution of longer-life materials for wooden timber is fully justified by the fact that roof support is an important element of all production costs. Permanent or semipermanent roof support will reduce the expense of timber-maintenance crews during steady operations, but even more markedly during idle periods. The management, therefore, is faced with the important problem of timber renewals, which in times of regular operation are frequently obscured by more urgent problems of production. Increased use of timber in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania is caused mainly by increased percentage of coal obtained from robbing areas, which requires more timber for safety than development work, and maintenance of long haulageways through crushed ground despite the fact that less coal is transported over them. The timber reserve in the immediate vicinity of the mines has been depleted to such an extent that it is necessary to secure 70 per cent of the timber requirements from distant sources. Originally, mine timbering in this region was done by largely utilizing round props or legs with round collars. The whole cross section of the tree from which timber was cut was utilized by forming the joints between the legs and the collars with saw and adze, using plank or round saplings for lagging behind the legs and over the collars to prevent material falling between them. The Mine Inspectors' report of 1898 records an important digression from the use of round timber, when two tunnels at the Babylon colliery, near Pittston, Pa., were timbered with 12 by 12-in. square timber sets with mud sills, through quicksand for distances of 425 and 160 ft., respectively. The timbers were lagged with 3-in. plank to control sand. An early step toward the permanent type of roof support was the installation of "brick pillars or perfect arched brick rooms" instead of

Jan 1, 1940

By W. L. Dennen, W. W. Wirth

Research looking toward the reduction of the cost of roof support by substitution of longer-life materials for wooden timber is fully justified by the fact that roof support is an important element of all production costs. Permanent or semipermanent roof support will reduce the expense of timber-maintenance crews during steady operations, but even more markedly during idle periods. The management, therefore, is faced with the important problem of timber renewals, which in times of regular operation are frequently obscured by more urgent problems of production. Increased use of timber in the Anthracite Region of Pennsylvania is caused mainly by increased percentage of coal obtained from robbing areas, which requires more timber for safety than development work, and maintenance of long haulageways through crushed ground despite the fact that less coal is transported over them. The timber reserve in the immediate vicinity of the mines has been depleted to such an extent that it is necessary to secure 70 per cent of the timber requirements from distant sources. Originally, mine timbering in this region was done by largely utilizing round props or legs with round collars. The whole cross section of the tree from which timber was cut was utilized by forming the joints between the legs and the collars with saw and adze, using plank or round saplings for lagging behind the legs and over the collars to prevent material falling between them. The Mine Inspectors' report of 1898 records an important digression from the use of round timber, when two tunnels at the Babylon colliery, near Pittston, Pa., were timbered with 12 by 12-in. square timber sets with mud sills, through quicksand for distances of 425 and 160 ft., respectively. The timbers were lagged with 3-in. plank to control sand. An early step toward the permanent type of roof support was the installation of "brick pillars or perfect arched brick rooms" instead of

Jan 1, 1940

By G. V. Woody, J. D. Price

Many producers of by-product coke have spent considerable time and given considerable thought to the use of a substitute for low-volatile coal as an admixture with high-volatile coking coal for charging high-temperature by-product coke ovens. Generally speaking, there are two principal reasons for this, one being occasioned by the lack, in certain localities, of low-volatile coal delivered at a cost sufficiently low to permit its use, and another being the desirability of finding a substitute product with a delivered cost lower than the cost of the low-volatile coal. It was for the first of these reasons that the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation was particularly interested in this subject. This paper deals with the experimental work and the results obtained by that company in producing and using low-temperature char. Overcoming Defects in Coke from Colorado Coals Colorado coking coals are all of the high-volatile type and were all laid down during the Cretaceous period, which makes them something like 80 million or so years younger, geologically, than eastern coals. They behave, when coked alone, something like the Pittsburgh-seam coals. They make a very brittle, highly cross-fractured, fingery coke of fair shatter value but quite low in resistance to abrasion. Mixed with a low-volatile coking coal such as Poca- hontas or certain Oklahoma coals, they make a coke that is equal to virtually any of the eastern cokes. The inferior quality of Colorado coke has long been recognized, and a considerable amount of time, effort and money has been spent upon investigations of means for improving its physical properties. While it has been found that some improvement in quality of coke can be secured by the adjustment and control of such variables as pulverization, moisture content, oven temperature and bulk density of charge, and through the addition of certain inert materials such as pulverized coke breeze, pitch, high-volatile noncoking or semicoking coal, the benefits so gained have been comparatively small. There are no low or medium-volatile coking coals available within a reasonable freight-cost distance. Therefore a substitute for low-vol-atile coal was developed through low-tem-perature carbonization—or, more correctly speaking, through the partial devolatiliza-tion—of high-volatile coals. The blending of this lower volatile char with the high-volatile coking coal distinctly improves the quality of coke made from Colorado coal. There is nothing especially new about this idea. In 1908 a Japanese patent was taken out by Kotaro Shimomura, whose claim was: The method of making a nonfingery coke out of bituminous coals, without using natural coals of low-volatile matter; according to which a certain coal is heated at a temperature between about 300°C. and about 600°C. so as to leave about 15 to 25 per cent volatile matter in the coal; this coal is mixed with the

Jan 1, 1944

By J. D. Price, G. V. Woody

Many producers of by-product coke have spent considerable time and given considerable thought to the use of a substitute for low-volatile coal as an admixture with high-volatile coking coal for charging high-temperature by-product coke ovens. Generally speaking, there are two principal reasons for this, one being occasioned by the lack, in certain localities, of low-volatile coal delivered at a cost sufficiently low to permit its use, and another being the desirability of finding a substitute product with a delivered cost lower than the cost of the low-volatile coal. It was for the first of these reasons that the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation was particularly interested in this subject. This paper deals with the experimental work and the results obtained by that company in producing and using low-temperature char. Overcoming Defects in Coke from Colorado Coals Colorado coking coals are all of the high-volatile type and were all laid down during the Cretaceous period, which makes them something like 80 million or so years younger, geologically, than eastern coals. They behave, when coked alone, something like the Pittsburgh-seam coals. They make a very brittle, highly cross-fractured, fingery coke of fair shatter value but quite low in resistance to abrasion. Mixed with a low-volatile coking coal such as Poca- hontas or certain Oklahoma coals, they make a coke that is equal to virtually any of the eastern cokes. The inferior quality of Colorado coke has long been recognized, and a considerable amount of time, effort and money has been spent upon investigations of means for improving its physical properties. While it has been found that some improvement in quality of coke can be secured by the adjustment and control of such variables as pulverization, moisture content, oven temperature and bulk density of charge, and through the addition of certain inert materials such as pulverized coke breeze, pitch, high-volatile noncoking or semicoking coal, the benefits so gained have been comparatively small. There are no low or medium-volatile coking coals available within a reasonable freight-cost distance. Therefore a substitute for low-vol-atile coal was developed through low-tem-perature carbonization—or, more correctly speaking, through the partial devolatiliza-tion—of high-volatile coals. The blending of this lower volatile char with the high-volatile coking coal distinctly improves the quality of coke made from Colorado coal. There is nothing especially new about this idea. In 1908 a Japanese patent was taken out by Kotaro Shimomura, whose claim was: The method of making a nonfingery coke out of bituminous coals, without using natural coals of low-volatile matter; according to which a certain coal is heated at a temperature between about 300°C. and about 600°C. so as to leave about 15 to 25 per cent volatile matter in the coal; this coal is mixed with the

Jan 1, 1944