The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-07

struments. In large operations it is.
not always practicable for inspec-
tors to make proper tests at all
the mines. It Is however possible
to instruct the men at the various
mines how they can test and ad-
just the protective devices. Weekly
reports should be required showing
that proper tests and adjustments
are made"
1.-THE protection Of mine circuits
from oVerloads and short cJcuits
should receive careful c%onsldera-
ton. This is especially true In.
large mines. The protection Is nee.
essary in orde rto precent fires as
well as to save shut downs due to
short circuits. Falls OF slate have
caused trolley wires to drop on
mine cars and thus start a fire. It.
has been found that these troubles
can be prevented by the use OF the
automatic reclosing circuit berak.
ers. These circuit berakers open
instantantly when the current ex-
ceeds the setting OF the circuit
berakers. II the excessive current
is due to a short circuit. the break
er will remain open as long as the
short circuit is sustained"
THE use OF these breakers 0 n
branch headings often saves shut
downs to the entire mine. With a
circuit breaker installed on the
various branch headings short cir.
cults on one heading put out Of
service only the feeder and trolley
wires on this heading. The Mining
operations on the other headings
can continue without Interference.
These are two general types Of au-
tomato breakers. The first type Is
known as the Independent feeder
type and the second known as a
Tie feeder type or the s~ectionallz-
ing type.
1.-THE Consolidation Coal Com
!pany has had an independent feed.
er breaker in service for several
years at one Of its sub stations in
Pennsylvania. This sub station is
several hundred yards from a tip.
pie which is the closest place where
men are on duty. This beraker
gives better service than could be
expected from manually operated
circuit berakers with a substation
attendant on duty. No time Is lost
in recloslng the circuit after the
overload or short circuit has been
removed. With a sub station at
ltendant considerable time might
be lost each day, especially il fire.
quent overloads or short circuits
occur. This would result in con.
siderable tonnage losses. Another
Independent feeder breaker has
been In service about one year in
a sub station In the West Virginia
Division. This breaker has given
perfect satisfaction"
Improper size Of transformer
fuses are quite frequently Installed.
NThe men who install these fuses Of
ten argue that when proper size
fuse sare installed that they will not
hold and that they are therefore no
good. The size Of fuses Is increased
to such a capacity that when short
circuits occur on the load Side OF
the transformer that the fuses do
not blow and as a result the trans
former is roasted out,
Presidents Report
]. W. Bischoff, Elkins, president
o fthe institute in part in his report
said : "The coal mining industry
in all It's phases, like all industries
during the years Just past, has un-
dergone experiences and has been
brought face to face with problems
that were altogether unthought Of
an dunanticlpatet.
Among other objects OF the In
stitute you viii note one Is TO en-.