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By Fred C. Bond

There is acute need for a method that will measure the size distribution of finely divided materials, particularly when the particle sizes are smaller than the openings of the finest screen cloth regularly available for testing. Several methods and types of apparatus are in common use, but none are entirely satisfactory for all purposes. The commonest methods are microscopic grain counts, elutriation by liquids or air, and sedimentation. Valuable results have been secured by air elutriating devices, typified by the Haultain Infra-Sizer and the Pearson Air Analyzer. These are especially useful in obtaining sized fractions that can be examined and analyzed separately. They are particularly advantageous because the sizes of the samples produced are adequate for a considerable amount of subsequent manipulation and testing. The sedimentation methods, such as the Wagner and Klein turbidimeters, and the sedimentation balance, do not deliver sized fractions, but they do provide a means for reasonably rapid comparative determina-tions of fineness and surface area, which are important in many industries. The sedimentation balance consists essentially of a balance pan suspended in a liquid that contains falling particles. These are weighed as they settle onto the pan, and the time rate of settling is determined. The size distribution is computed from the settling rate. The balance appears to be inherently more accurate than any of the other methods, and it has served a useful purpose in the study of numerous problems, but there have been limitations which have restricted its scope of application. Because of the essential simplicity of the method, it was felt that intensive investigation might lead to modifications that would make it a valuable tool [or the operators in industries that require precise information regarding the results secured from grinding equipment. A large number of size-distribution determinations below 200 mesh were required in connection with a particular research problem in fine grinding. The sedimentation balance was used in this investigation, and a technique was gradually developed that ultimately gave good results. A serious difficulty appeared early in the work. It was discovered that less material always settled on the sedimentation pan and more on the bottom of the containing jar than could be accounted for by calculation, and also that the material that settled to the bottom of the jar outside the edges of the pan was considerably finer than that on the pan. This segregation was so great that the distribution obtained for the finer sizes was obviously very much in error; material ground to about the degree of comminution of cement might have only 60 per cent of the calculated weight actually settling on the pan, and the error increased with the fine-

Jan 1, 1943

By Fred C. Bond

There is acute need for a method that will measure the size distribution of finely divided materials, particularly when the particle sizes are smaller than the openings of the finest screen cloth regularly available for testing. Several methods and types of apparatus are in common use, but none are entirely satisfactory for all purposes. The commonest methods are microscopic grain counts, elutriation by liquids or air, and sedimentation. Valuable results have been secured by air elutriating devices, typified by the Haultain Infra-Sizer and the Pearson Air Analyzer. These are especially useful in obtaining sized fractions that can be examined and analyzed separately. They are particularly advantageous because the sizes of the samples produced are adequate for a considerable amount of subsequent manipulation and testing. The sedimentation methods, such as the Wagner and Klein turbidimeters, and the sedimentation balance, do not deliver sized fractions, but they do provide a means for reasonably rapid comparative determina-tions of fineness and surface area, which are important in many industries. The sedimentation balance consists essentially of a balance pan suspended in a liquid that contains falling particles. These are weighed as they settle onto the pan, and the time rate of settling is determined. The size distribution is computed from the settling rate. The balance appears to be inherently more accurate than any of the other methods, and it has served a useful purpose in the study of numerous problems, but there have been limitations which have restricted its scope of application. Because of the essential simplicity of the method, it was felt that intensive investigation might lead to modifications that would make it a valuable tool [or the operators in industries that require precise information regarding the results secured from grinding equipment. A large number of size-distribution determinations below 200 mesh were required in connection with a particular research problem in fine grinding. The sedimentation balance was used in this investigation, and a technique was gradually developed that ultimately gave good results. A serious difficulty appeared early in the work. It was discovered that less material always settled on the sedimentation pan and more on the bottom of the containing jar than could be accounted for by calculation, and also that the material that settled to the bottom of the jar outside the edges of the pan was considerably finer than that on the pan. This segregation was so great that the distribution obtained for the finer sizes was obviously very much in error; material ground to about the degree of comminution of cement might have only 60 per cent of the calculated weight actually settling on the pan, and the error increased with the fine-

Jan 1, 1943

By J. T. Berling, J. B. Conway

MANY studies have been devoted to the correlation of low-cycle fatigue behavior. Several of these have also been concerned with the identification of an effective approach to the prediction of low-cycle fatigue behavior from short-term tensile data. Perhaps the first such approach was that reported by coffin1 in the form: where is the plastic strain range, Nf is the number of cycles to failure, and c is a constant characteristic of a material. In this analysis by Coffin it was reasoned that in a short-term tensile test the value of Nf could be considered as equal to a , in which case the value of c is interpreted as the tensile ductility, f, measured in such a test. If, therefore, the Coffin equation is assumed to be applicable to a given material, it is a simple matter to predict the low-cycle fatigue behavior. Once the tensile ductility is known, this point is located at Nf = 1/4 on a log-log plot of vs Nf and a line is drawn through this point with a slope of to yield a prediction for the fatigue life. Actually, while this equation is quite useful it is not generally applicable, for experiment has shown that the value of —$ does not reflect the relationship between and Nf for all materials or even for a given material over all temperature ranges. An equation similar to the Coffin equation was prepared almost simultaneously by Manson.2 This expression had the form: In this case the exponent on Nf was not assigned any particular numerical value in accord with the various values of this exponent which had been observed for different materials and at different test conditions. Because of this characteristic it will be recognized that little use can be made of this expression in predicting low-cycle fatigue results. A fairly effective expression for use in predicting fatigue behavior was proposed by Manson3 based on a study of numerous sets of experimental results. This relation (Method of Universal Slopes) makes use of modulus of elasticity, ultimate strength, and tensile ductility, and assumes an exponent on Nf equal to 0.6 in representing the plastic strain range contribution to total strain range. While this equation of Man-Son does not yield completely accurate results it must be recognized as being the best means available at

Jan 1, 1970

By W. N. Best

Crude oil attracted attention because of its excellence as a fuel for openhearth furnaoes; for making crucible steel and brass; for melting copper, lead, tin, zinc, nickel, silver, malleable iron, gray iron; and for the production of steam in all sizes and types of boilers. For heating furnaces, mold-drying ovens, core ovens, ore roasters, calciners, hotair furnaces, sand drying, asphalt road work, etc., its superiority over other fuels is due to the fact that the heat is at all times under perfect control, so that a constant temperature may be attained and maintained at the will of the operator. This mcans a maximum amount and uniform quality of work. Crude oil is of two kinds, paraffine base and asphaltum base, and varies from 11 to 46 gravity BaumB. The light-gravity oil does not require heating before use; but oil of less than 20 gravity Baumé should be heated to just below its vaporizing point, in order to reduce its viscosity and to obtain the highest efficiency of combustion. Heavy California oil vaporizes at 230". F., Mexican crude oil at from 175" to 210" F., and Beaumont, Texas, oil at 142" F. Fuel oil vaporizes at 130" F. Scientific Installation Essential The burning of oil is an art based on science, and the "rule of thumb" should never be employed, especially in heating heavy crude oil. Thermometers should be used on both suction and supply pipes so that the fireman or smith will at all times know the temperature of the fuel. The indicators on such thermometers should be large enough to be readily seen by the operator, night or day. It is necessary to have an unvarying pressure of steam or air through the burner, to atomize the fuel. Also, the air used to support combustion should be delivered through a nozzle under the burner at a constant pressure. The oil pressure must not fluctuate; under no eircumstances should it vary more than 1 1b. The oil pump, which should be brass-lined, with the aid of the pulsometer and superheater, will insure a constant

Jan 1, 1916

By A. D. Schwope, L. R. Jackson, A. M. Hall

In the course of an extensive investigation of the comparative properties of several types of copper, data were obtained on the cold working and subsequent recovery and recrystallization of the copper. In this paper, relations between the degree of cold work and the course of re-crystallization are developed. In particular, it is shown that the course of recrystallization over long periods of time and at low temperatures can be predicted with reasonable accuracy from short-time high-temperature recrystallization data. Materials Used in The Investigation Three types of copper were used in this investigation; these were tough pitch, OFHC, and OFHC copper with 15 oz per ton of silver added identified herein as Lots C, D, and F, respectively. The material was supplied by the American Metal Co. Ltd., and processed by the Rome Cable Co. The analyses of the three types of copper are given in Table I. Originally, it started as wire bars 4 X 4 X 54 in. These bars were heated to 871° C in air and hot rolled to % in. rod. This rod was cold drawn to 0.204 in. rod (70 pct reduction) in three passes and annealed at 427°C for 4 hr. A portion of the 3/8 in. rod was saved for more detailed cold-drawing experiments. Starting with the annealed 0.204 in. rod, hard-drawn wires were produced by cold drawing to 0.081 in. wire in 7 passes (84.4 pct reduction in area). Half-hard wires were made by cold drawing the 0.204 in. rod to 0.102 in. wire, (75 pet reduction) in 6 passes and annealing at 427'C for 4 hr. This annealed wire was then drawn to 0.081 in. wire, (37.1 pet reduction) in 2 passes. Square rod was made by hot rolling wire bars to Re in. rod in 8 passes. This rod was then cold drawn to 0.445 in.-diam rod and annealed for 346 hr at 538°C. It was then cold drawn to 0.325 in. rod and again annealed at 538°Cf or 3 1/2 hr Hard square rods were then made by cold rolling this material to 0.257 X 0.257 in. rod, a reduction in area of 20.5 pct. Half-hard square rods were made by cold rolling to 0.268 x 0.268 in. square, annealing for 3 1/4 hr at 538°C and cold rolling to 0.257 x 0.257 in., a reduction of 8.5 pct. Soft wire or rod was made from all types of copper by annealing the hard-drawn material at 343°C for 3 hr in steam. The grain size of the annealed 0.081 in. wire varied slightly among the three lots: from o.o15+.oz5 mm in the silver-bearing OFHC to 0.035-0.045 mm in the OFHC copper. The annealed 0.257 in. wires were more uniform in grain size, averaging about 0.035-0.045 mm. Representative structures are shown in Fig I. Effect of Cold Drawing and Tensile Strain on Strength of Copper Conventional tensile tests were performed on the three types of copper in the various degrees of hardness described above. Results of these tests are tabulated in Table 2. The results in Table 2 are 6

Jan 1, 1949

By Charles H. Jacoby

In 1774 a Swedish chemist, C. W. Schule, first recognized manganese as an element. That same year Schule's associate, J. G. Gahn, isolated the element manganese for the first time. In 1856 the Bessemer process of steelmaking gave birth to the economic importance of manganese. Later, in 1882, Robert Hadfield discovered high manganese steels. Although the primary use of manganese is in the ferroalloy industry, two additional important uses for manganese are making chemicals and dry cell batteries. Manganese is also vital to plant and animal life. Various chemical compounds of manganese are used in fertilizers, feeds, glass manufacture, paints, varnishes, and for numerous medicinal and chemical purposes. For the study of industrial minerals and rocks, only the chemical and battery grade material is of- concern, but for the sake of comparison, metallurgical aspects are included in this presentation. Although currently the world's largest consumer of manganese, the United States is producing only minor amounts of ore at the present time. This is due primarily to the fact that although huge deposits of manganese occur within our borders, all are of such low grade as to be economically unfeasible to mine. For many years various government agencies and segments of private industry have devoted sizable sums of money and time in an attempt to upgrade ores from the various deposits, and also in an attempt to recover manganese from blast furnace slags. In view of current world prices, and the quantity of high grade material available, there is little likelihood that any of these approaches will be found to be economically feasible in the near future. Geology and Mineralogy Mineralogy There are over one hundred minerals that contain manganese. These minerals vary from those with compositions that are predominantly manganese to those having only minor percentages. [Chemical Mineral Composition % Mn Hausmannite Mn304 72 Polianite MnO2, 63.1 Pyrolusite MnO24 60-63 Cryptomelane KR8O16R (R=Mn) Variable PsilomelaneBa Mn Mn8O16 (OH).45-60 CoronaditePb R8O16R (R=Mn) Variable Hollandite Ba R8O16R (R=Mn) Variable Manganite Mn2O3•H20 62 Braunite 3 Mn2O3•MnSiO3 62 Tephroite 2 MnO•SiO2 54.3 Rhodochrosite MnCO3 47 Rhodonite MnSiO3 42 Spessartite 3 MnO•AI2O3•3SIO2 33.3 WadHydrous Mn OxidesVariable Franklinite(Fe Mn Zn)O(Fe Mn)sO3 Variable Asbolan Cobaltiferous wad Variable AlabanditeMnS63.14] Geology From a geological standpoint most manganese deposits are complex. In general, it can be said that all primary deposits of manganese are carbonates or silicates. The most productive and profitable have been those of sedimentary origin and residual concentrations. Examples of these residual types of deposits are associated with the metamorphosed lodes of Madhya, Pradesh, India, and the lateritic deposits of Orissa and Bihar, India; nodules in the residual clays of the Philippine Islands, US southern Appalachians and Arkansas, Ghana, and Brazil. Sedimentary manganese deposits are best exemplified by the Nikopol district of Russia and the Tchiatouri area of Georgia, USSR. Hydrothermal replacements are characterized by the rhodochrosite deposits of Butte and Phillipsburg, MT. In general, the hydrothermal type deposit has not resulted in any large tonnages being produced, but may have given

Jan 1, 1983

By W. R. Wilcox

The camphor-anthracene system was chosen as a transparent low-melting analog of the zirconium carbide -graphite system. Camphor and zirconium car -bide both grow nonfaceted, while casting of mixtures yields platelets of both anthracene and graphite. Zone melting of thin layers of organic was observed under the microscope. Irregular lamellar structures were produced at high values of the ratio of the temperature gradient G to the zoning rate V. The anthracene invariably led the camphor, indicating lower kinetic undercooling for the anthracene. The lamellar spacing was an order of magnitude greater than typical spacings for metal eutectic systems. Exact behavior depended on orientation of the anthracene. Oriented dendritic structures were produced at low values of G/V. Transient and oscillatory behavior were also observed—much of it unexpected. A.RC-CAST refractory carbide-graphite mixtures are promising thermal-shock resistant materials. Oriented structures of these materials would be superior to arc-cast materials for many applications. Mollard and Flemings1 and Cline2 have shown that aligned structures can be obtained for a wide range of Pb-Sn alloys. However, these metals both solidify in a nonfaceted manner while graphite yields platelets or flakes. In addition only small diameter samples of Pb-Sn alloys were produced because it was necessary to avoid free convection and to have high temperature gradients. The purpose of the present work was twofold: 1) To observe the solidification of a transparent low-melting analog of carbide-graphite systems and 2) to see if larger diameter samples can be produced. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE When zirconium carbide-graphite mixtures are cast, the resulting structure naturally depends on composition. Carbide-rich mixtures yield metal-like nonfaceted carbide dendrites in a eutectic matrix. Graphite-rich alloys have graphite platelets in a eutectic matrix. Empirically it was found that camphor-anthracene mixtures produce similar structures with camphor being nonfaceted and anthracene forming plates. The organic eutectic melted at 116°C and was composed of 78 wt pet camphor.3 The camphor used was U.S.P. grade from Fisher Scientific Company; the anthracene was 98+ pet fro Aldrich Chemical Co. The impurity content is judged to be on the order of 1 pet. Mixtures ranging from 50 to 88 wt pet camphor were employed for the experiments. All but one of the experiments were performed on the microscope-stage zone melting apparatus described in detail elsewhere.4 The organic mixtures were contained in horizontal cells made of microscope slides or cover glasses. In most of the cells the organic was present as a very thin layer, thus giving almost two-dimensional growth behavior. The cells were moved slowly under a heated wire, which caused a molten zone to move through the solid at rates ranging from 0.01 to 5.4 cm per hr. The temperature gradient was estimated before moving the zone by measuring the distance between the line where all solid was melted (freezing point) and that where solid first began to melt (eutectic temperature). The temperature gradient was found to be 465°C per cm in the thinnest cells used, which were made by pressing together two microscope cover slips in the organic melt and then rapidly withdrawing them. RESULTS The experimental results are described in four parts: simultaneous growth, dendritic growth, irregular growth, and transients and erratic phenomena. Steady state data are summarized in Fig. 1. Except where noted all comments are for the cells containing a thin layer of organic. A) Simultaneous Growth. Simultaneous and roughly parallel growth of anthracene and camphor was obtained over the full range of compositions investi-

Jan 1, 1970

By Harlowe Hardinge

THE sound made by ball, pebble and rod mills has long been used by the operator as the "telltale " of their operation. The nature of this sound depends upon local conditions and the type of mill used. By experience an operator can tell whether the mill is running properly or not. Some operators are able to detect the difference in sound much better than others and get better results running the same mill under the same conditions. The automatic operation of a mill using sound as the fundamental means for maintaining control presents many problems. The satisfactory solution of these problems requires, for given operating conditions, a greater average output, with improved product for subsequent processing, than can be obtained by manual control. RELATION OF SOUND TO USEFUL GRINDING ENERGY Experience has taught us that there is a difference in character as well as in intensity of sound between a mill grinding wet and one grinding dry, in open or closed circuit, to obtain a coarse or fine product, on the same material, to say nothing of the effect with a variety of different materials. Broadly speaking, a wet-grinding mill operates best at a lower sound level than the same mill grinding dry, with other conditions the same. Several reasons for this variation in sound intensity under these conditions can be advanced, but the important point is that there is a difference, based upon practical results. Since these reasons may be more or less involved, and may be subject to much discussion, only one will be considered here. It is apparent that two balls hitting together or a ball striking the lining, if there is no intervening material, will produce the maximum sound. If a complete cushion of material is placed between the balls or ball and liner, so that the energy is dissipated without doing useful work, the balls will be unable to create enough pressure or force to fracture the particles, and the sound will be at a minimum. At some point in between-that is, where there is sufficient material between the balls or ball and liner so that the ball will fracture the particles without mashing them unduly-the sound

Jan 1, 1939

By AIME AIME

TWO papers, "Calcium, Strontium, and Barium Metals," by Charles Hardy and Paul M. Tyler, and "The Mining of Gems and Ornamental Stones by American Indians," by Sydney H. Ball, were presented before the Rare Minerals and Metals group at its session Tuesday afternoon in the Auditorium. Donald M. Liddell, chairman, presided. Mr. Tyler summarized the first paper, outlining the uses, history, occurrence, manufacture, production and trade, markets and prices of the three metals. In discussion, in response to the chairman's query on "what are they doing in Russia with calcium, strontium, and barium," Guy C. Riddell replied that nothing is being done on a production basis. The great rare metals plant in Moscow is active, however, on other elements. "They are making radium chloride, uranium oxide, vanadium, cadmium, tungsten, molybdenum, selenium, antimony compounds; and mercury, nickel and arsenic are under production at interior plants. The rare metals plant is busily conducting research on beryllium, rhenium, lithium, bismuth, strontium and zirconium. These are the main rare metal activities. Much hard-alloy work. for cutting and facing, is under way:

Jan 1, 1933

By N. A. Gokcen

The construction and operation of a simple and accurate vacuum-fusion apparatus are described in detail. Absolute accuracy of the oxygen analysis has been determined by the reduction of oxides weighed to 20.01 mg. The Bureau of Standards steel samples have been analyzed repeatedly, and their inadequacy for the acceptable range of oxygen is presented. The limits of interference of manganese, aluminum, and titanium, and the effects of tin and water-cooling of the furnace tube have been investigated in detail. ANALYSIS by the vacuum-fusion method consists of melting a sample in a degassed graphite crucible under high vacuum and extracting oxygen as carbon monoxide, and nitrogen and hydrogen as gaseous elements. The resulting gas mixture is analyzed for its constituents, from which oxygen, nitrogen, and frequently hydrogen may be determined within 1/2 hr or less. The history and summary of methods1-4 and extensive reviews of literature'.' for the determination of gases in metals have been published in detail. The foundation of the modern vacuum-fusion method of analysis was laid by Jordan and Eckman,11 and Oberhoffer and his associates.1, 10 Diergarten,11, 12 Meyer,13 Thanheiser et al.,14, 15 Ericson and Benedicks,16 Ziegler,17, 18 Sloman,16-23 Thompson et al.,24 and later many others contributed to the improvement, accuracy, and limitations of the method. In some investigations, however, the limitations of the procedure and the errors involved in the analysis require further critical examination and evaluation. In many apparatuses, lunnecessarily complicated and cumbersome features and elaborate precautionary measures do not have conclusive advantages. The purpose of this invest:igation was, therefore, a) to construct a very simple and accurate apparatus, b) to determine the absolute accuracy of results, c) to establish the limits of interference of manganese. aluminum, and titanium, d) to reexamine critically the reduction and recovery of oxygen from oxide powders of various sizes, and e) to evaluate critically the eight steels of the Bureau of Standards."' Apparatus The apparatus used in this investigation is shown in Fig. 1. It has been used for over three years, during which several modifications were made. A brief description of the apparatus is as follows. The transparent silica or Vycor tube, E, is joined to the Pyrex head, B, by mean of a face to face ground joint sealed with mercury. A similarly sealed ball and socket joint would also have been satisfactory. A standard tapered ground joint, successfully used by some investigators, was tried, but in the absence of grease or vacuum cement it was very difficult to disassemble the joint. The graphite crucible, G, 15/16 or l 1/8 in. OD, 2 1/2 or 3 in. high, 1/10 in. wall, shown enlarged in Fig. 3a, is made from the rods containing less than 0.08 pet ash. Two baffles, overlapping sufficiently to prevent spattering, are inserted in two opposite slots cut on a band saw. Two small holes in the baffles permit the temperature measurement of the melt. A second type of crucible, Fig. 2, G, shown enlarged in Fig. 3b, is also satisfactory, though not as convenient as the crucible shown in Fig. 3a. Somewhat similar but more elaborate crucibles with baffles were first tried by Ericson and Benedicks,'" but were abandoned in favor of a crucible with a stopper and a peripheral graphite powder filter. Various versions of their crucible with a stopper have later been used by other analysts, 10-27, 27-30 The crucible is packed directly in E, Figs. 1 and 2, with —35 + 48 graphite powder for shielding and insulation. A minimum layer of 7 mm of powder is necessary for keeping E cool and minimizing the blank. The first use of graphite powder was made by Sloman,10-23 Who found that —200 mesh was the most satisfactory. The author tried various size powders from +20 to —100 mesh and found that a) particles of 28 mesh or larger were not sufficiently insulating and were heated by the induction current, b) the powder finer than 60 mesh packed too much and did not readily permit the escape of gases even when the crucible was heated very slowly; hence, the powder was occasionally blown out of the side in the crucible and in the mercury pump. The optimum size powder is, therefore, 35 to 48 mesh size or 0.4 mm in average diameter. The furnace is designed to eliminate excessive amounts of

Jan 1, 1959

By C. K. Leith

CERTAIN ideas on iron and steel sanctions to follow originated in a series of conferences held under the joint auspices of the War Department and Brookings Institute in Washington last spring. The views presented may be regarded as those of substantial segments of the steel industry. In view of the fact that steelmaking capacity can be so quickly converted to the production of armament, any effective control must necessarily include the entire steel industry and not solely the parts devoted to the production of implements of war. It must also be exercised all the way from production and shipment of raw materials through their ultimate conversion into finished products and use. Control will be dis- cussed under two main headings: (I) control of raw materials at the source; (2) control of steel capacity within the Axis countries.

Jan 1, 1944

By J. F. K. Brown

ANTHRACITE?S satisfactory showing in 1942 was accomplished in the face of adverse conditions, such as the loss of man power to the active services and to other industries, and the difficulty and delay in obtaining the necessary materials and equipment required in mining operations. Although the in- creased output was stimulated by the war, and thus does not impress one as contributing to continuing improvement in the industry, nevertheless the year witnessed several efforts ant1 consideration of others that have the appearance of permanent progress.

Jan 1, 1943

By R. R. Hoffman

The name L'brush,l as applied to the parts to be briefly considered in this paper, is not clearly descriptive of the design and function of those parts when the usual definition of the word is applied. In a general way, the brushes to be considered here are the parts employed on certain types of electrical equipment to facilitate the transfer of electrical current between a rotating or moving element and a stationary element. These machines are generally motors and generators of both the slip-ring and commutator types, rotary converters, battery charges, etc. Parts that serve a similar purpose on relatively slow or intermittently moving devices such as rheostats, switches, controllers, etc., are generally referred to as contacts. A few special applications involve the use of current-carrying washers, rollers, bushings, etc. As may be inferred, therefore, the design of these brushes and allied parts is dictated by both electrical and mechanical considerations. In most cases these factors are closely interrelated, and unfortunately many of them are not subject to exact scientific or mathematical analysis. Special Advantages Since brushes operating on direct-current machines must carry the load current, resist destructive action from voltage induced in imperfectly compensated armature coils, and in addition act as a bearing material, maintaining intimate contact with the commutator at peripheral speed, which may be as high as 70 miles per hour it is difficult to obtain in one brush the ideal properties necessary for perfect functioning under all operating conditions. The engineer-designer, therefore, when selecting a brush for a specific application, must choose a grade that possesses the characteristics most adequate to meet the conditions involved. In many cases a characteristic that makes a specific grade of brush the ideal selection for one type of machine may be of secondary importance to some other property when the brush is applied on another machine. Frequently different grades of brushes must be applied to the same type of machines when they operate under different or unusual atmospheric conditions. Completely satisfactory brush operation depends on freedom from appreciable sparking, minimum electrical and mechanical losses, negligible commutator or slip-ring wear, uniform film over the commutator or slip ring, quiet operation and good brush life. The ability to produce special structures, and to combine in widely varying proportions materials that are incompatible, through conventional melting and alloying procedures has been the basic contribution of powder metallurgy to the solution of problems involving brushes and allied parts. This is especially true where current-carrying capacity is a major factor, owing to the limitations of all carbon or all graphite brushes in that respect. Metal-graphite Brushes With very few exceptions, friction between moving elements. across which

Jan 1, 1945

By L. W. Pommier, F. B. Brien

In order to determine the ability of cyclones with heavy liquids to preconcentrate ores, a study of the variables which govern the behavior of the solids in the apparatus has been made. To assess the test results, the cyclone products have been examined by sink and float analysis at various specific gravities and the results examined by the Tromp type curves. This analysis has allowed the development of the SG50 unit — specific gravity of the particles, 50% of which goes to overflow and 50% to underflow — rather than the d50 (size) unit used in classification. The results of tests using the closed circuit laboratory cyclone assembly with dry feed samples show the validity of the equation: Results indicate that 83% of the feed may be rejected containing 0.1% Sn. Recoveries in excess of 80% are obtained at a grade of 1.7% Sn from feed samples assaying 0.4% Sn. As water-wetted particles may comprise the plant feed, separate tests were performed to examine the effect of water in the feed material. Results indicate that the entrained water divides into two fractions, one of which is defined as free water and is rejected to the cyclone overflow, the other fraction forms an adhering envelope of water on the ore particles, altering their effective size and density. The presence of the envelope of water on the particles increases the ease with which the heavy liquid can be recovered but decreases the concentration efficiency. It is proposed that the detrimental effect of water in the cyclone may be minimized by using a higher feed pressure cx by the use of surfactants. A higher feed pressure, by increasing shearing forces, would reduce the thickness of the water envelope on the particles. The surfactants, by adsorbing on the particles and producing hydrophobic surfaces, would displace the water envelope and allow the heavy liquids to wet the modified surfaces. In both cases a larger proportion of the entrained water would report to the cyclone overflow as free water, thus minimizing the detrimental effect of water on the concentration efficiency. Additional testing is required on the behavior of water in the system; to determine the optimum particle size for the preconcentration step; to determine final particle size for optimum liberation and subsequent treatment of the products in present plants and to determine the efficiency with which the heavy liquids may be recovered from the products. For many years tin mining in Bolivia has been very important to the economy of the country. In recent years the tin content of the ore reserves has been steadily declining. An improvement in concentration efficiency is highly desirable in order to increase productivity from the present low-grade mine ores and to allow retreatment of the many millions of tons of tailings from past operations, some of which equal the present ores in tin content. A number of investigators have been or at present are working on various phases or approaches to the problem. Gravity concentration is used in Boliva today as it has been in the past to recover tin minerals from the mine ores. An objective of the work reported in this paper was to examine the possibility of treating present low-grade ores and sink-float tailings products, at a relatively coarse grind, in order to produce a higher grade feed material to the present gravity concentration plants. The possibility of using heavy liquids in cyclones to treat large tonnages with a minimum of outlay presented itself and is of particular interest since heavy liquids are now available with physical properties which lend themselves to simple recovery methods. Tests were carried out using a closed circuit laboratory cyclone assembly. It was desirable to determine the value of using the SG50 concept and Tromp curves for analyzing the cyclone concentration test results. The effects of entrained water on the behavior of ore particles in the cyclone were examined. THEORY AND TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS Three types of heavy liquids are available: aqueous solutions of very soluble salts, salts or mixtures of

Jan 1, 1964

By F. Bahnemann

IN discussing the problem of abnormal magnetic polarization, C. A. Heiland1? emphasized the unfortunate fact that our knowledge of the geological and physical conditions relating to such occurrences is very limited and that a more detailed insight into their physical causes would be extremely valuable for interpreting measured anomalies. He also pointed out that to arrive at quantitative physical formulas that would express the conditions that cause abnormal polarization many more occurrences of the kind would have to be recorded. The first part of this paper is a contribution to such descriptions.

Jan 1, 1935

By P. LEROY FOSTER

G EOPHYSICAL prospecting was presented in its several aspects and discussed with much vigor at two sessions during this year's annual meeting of the Institute. The first session was devoted entirely to the presentation and discussion of various technical papers, while the second meeting took the form of a round table conference on the advisability of revising the existing mining laws to recognize the results of geophysical prospecting. This conference was immediately followed by further consideration of technical papers. Each session was well attended and great interest was displayed by everyone present.

Jan 1, 1929

By George M. Bouton, Lawrence Ferguson

The experiments described in this publication were inspired by the Bell System's large interest in lead-alloy sheathed cables and by the wide range of fatigue and corroding conditions to which they are sometimes subjected in service. The first experiments consisted of operating specimens of lead + I per cent antimony telephone cable sheath alloy in a fatigue test while they were immersed in water taken from a manhole. Because of many published reports concerning corrosion-fatigue phenomena of various metals and alloys, a reduction in fatigue life was expected(1)2 Instead, however, the fatigue test ran on for many times the normal number of cycles an4 was finally stopped without failure. Because of this, the experiments were broadened to include the effect of many media on the fatigue properties of four lead alloys over a wide range of testing speeds and strains. One material, a viscous tacky polymerized isobutylene3 used in

Jan 1, 1945

By C. Schlumberger, M. Schlumberger

In order to explore electrically a terrain composed of a succession of horizontal beds, a current of known intensity i is caused to flow between two grounds A and B, and the resultant drop of potential , caused by the resistance of the earth, is measured between two given points in the soil, M and N. In practice it is convenient to choose the two points M and N so that they lie on the line AB and their midpoint coincides with the middle 0, of that line, although this is not imperative. When the lengths L and I of the two lines AB and MN are varied, equations are obtained which may be solved for the resistivity p of the subsoil at various depths. Recall briefly that the formula 4 x l gives the average resistivity, in the horizontal direction, of a layer of earth which extends to a depth1 about equal to L/4. This elementary concept is adequate for numerous practical applications. Nevertheless, it must be said that, in many cases, a rigorous mathematical analysis may be made, provided it is always a question of homogeneous, superposed horizontal beds. The authors expect to publish, later on, appropriate methods of calculation for some specific cases.

Jan 1, 1932

By C. A. Heiland

Geophysical methods are playing an ever increasing part in various engineering fields. About ten years ago, geophysical exploration was first applied in civil engineering to the study of foundations and the location of construction materials and water. Its usefulness is now being extended into the field of structural engineering. Almost every structure has to be so designed that it will withstand any force to which it may be subjected. Such forces may result from its own weight, applied loads, pressures of various kinds, including those due to wind and water, ground subsidence and vibrations. The last two, problems involving the nature and dynamic behavior of surface and subsurface formations, are within the scope of geophysical investigations. In the design of any structure, the disposition and dimensions of its members as well as their materials must be so selected that they will withstand any or all of the forces enumerated above. In other words, its "resistance" to such forces must be sufficient, allowing for a definite margin of safety. Often a static treatment of the problem leads to satisfactory results, but the static method entails serious errors when vibrations are involved, as in resonance with an impressed vibration the displacements of a structure or parts thereof may dangerously exceed the allowable values. The principle of "dynamic design"† is, therefore, avoiding or reducing resonance by suitable selection of the natural frequency of a structure, or by the provision of damping. Methods of Investigation Dynamic design of structures is required where ground vibrations occur naturally or are produced artificially. Earthquake regions fall in the first group; areas of industrial activity where vibrations are produced by machinery, blasting, etc., fall in the second. In either case, dynamic

Jan 1, 1940

By C. A. Heiland

Geophysical methods are playing an ever increasing part in various engineering fields. About ten years ago, geophysical exploration was first applied in civil engineering to the study of foundations and the location of construction materials and water. Its usefulness is now being extended into the field of structural engineering. Almost every structure has to be so designed that it will withstand any force to which it may be subjected. Such forces may result from its own weight, applied loads, pressures of various kinds, including those due to wind and water, ground subsidence and vibrations. The last two, problems involving the nature and dynamic behavior of surface and subsurface formations, are within the scope of geophysical investigations. In the design of any structure, the disposition and dimensions of its members as well as their materials must be so selected that they will withstand any or all of the forces enumerated above. In other words, its "resistance" to such forces must be sufficient, allowing for a definite margin of safety. Often a static treatment of the problem leads to satisfactory results, but the static method entails serious errors when vibrations are involved, as in resonance with an impressed vibration the displacements of a structure or parts thereof may dangerously exceed the allowable values. The principle of "dynamic design"† is, therefore, avoiding or reducing resonance by suitable selection of the natural frequency of a structure, or by the provision of damping. Methods of Investigation Dynamic design of structures is required where ground vibrations occur naturally or are produced artificially. Earthquake regions fall in the first group; areas of industrial activity where vibrations are produced by machinery, blasting, etc., fall in the second. In either case, dynamic

Jan 1, 1940