A coal gasification operation or similar conversion process is carried out in the presence of an alkali metal-containing catalyst producing char particles containing alkali metal residues. Alkali metal constituents are recovered from the particles by burning the particles to increase their size and density and then leaching the particles of increased size and density with water, to extract the water-soluble alkali metal constituents.

An auto-ranging ac resistance measuring instrument for remote measurement of the resistance of an electrical device or circuit connected to the instrument includes a signal generator which generates an ac excitation signal for application to a load, including the device and the transmission line, a monitoring circuit which provides a digitally encoded signal representing the voltage across the load, and a microprocessor which operates under program control to provide an auto-ranging function by which range resistance is connected in circuit with the load to limit the load voltage to an acceptable range for the instrument, and an auto-compensating function by which compensating capacitance is connected in shunt with the range resistance to compensate for the effects of line capacitance.

Patent for "...a novel means for connecting a check-line to the main line..." (lines 11-12) including illustrations.

Patent for baling-presses to prevent the inward-drawing or centripetal movement of the fiber in a press of the roller type (lines 96-97) by “disposed intermediate of the rollers and within the plane of the baling-cylinder for opposing resistance to the inward movement of the fiber and overcoming to a greater or less extent the tendency of the upper layer of cotton to form waves or billows in advance of the rollers.” (Page 1, lines 101-102, page 2, lines 1-6.) Illustration is included.

Patent for a rotary expansion bit for use with well-drilling apparatuses. The bit can be adjusted without removing the well tubing, and can drill a hole large than the tubing in order to insert casing sections.

Patent for "new and useful Improvements in Crude-Oil Burners" (lines 4-5), including instructions and illustrations.

Patent for an improved bailing-press.

Patent for a match-safe and cigar-cutter “receptacle for holding matches from which only one match can be taken at one time and to means for shifting the matches and at the same time cutting a cigar-tip.” (Lines 7-11) Illustration is included.

Patent for a new and improved channel cleaner. This design "is to construct an apparatus which may be anchored in a channel where there are sand-bars, for the purpose of agitating the water and stirring up the sand, so that the current may remove it. [The] invention consists in a trunk or large tube perforated along the bottom and provided at one end with a flaring mouth for concentrating the current within the trunk; also, in the combination, with the trunk, of a stirrer and a motor-screw for driving the same" (lines 17-28).

Patent for a new and improved cotton-loading derrick. This design consists in "[t]he portable derrick, comprising the barrow-base having the longitudinal handle-bars, the extended longitudinal and transverse base-sills, and the bearings, the rotary shaft or mast having the slot and sheave, the upper shoulder and upward-projecting stud, the cross-head, the oblique braces connecting its rear arm to the mast, and the derrick-pulleys suspended from the free arm of said cross-head, the rope passing through said slot and over said sheave and to said pulleys and windlass" (lines 79-90).

Patent for automatic dumpers that can be readily and inexpensively fitted and adapted to most forms of dump car.

Patent for improvements for shipping crates, including illustrations.

Patent for a cotton chopper that connects to other machines, such as cultivators.

Patent for new and useful improvement to clothes pins to automatically lock themselves against accidental disengagement from the clothes line.

Patent for a cotton chopper. The text describes the construction of the machine and explains how it is different from current cotton choppers.

Patent for metal road culvert improvements. Light weight, but sturdy, interlocking metal sheets are used. They can be stacked for cheaper and easier shipping. The culvert allows large amounts of water to flow through.

Patent for a device to prevent the theft of automobiles capable of producing audio and visual signals as warnings of unauthorized access.

This is a patent for a railway Derailer. This new derailer is less expensive, easier to manufacture, and will be an improvement over older models. For example, it is easier to attach to the rail track and more efficient at stopping railroad collisions.

A ceramic-matrix composite having a multilayered interfacial coating adapted to protect the reinforcing fibers from long-term oxidation, while allowing these to bridge the wake of advancing cracks in the matrix, is provided by selectively mismatching materials within adjacent layers of the interfacial coating, the materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion so that a low toughness interface region is created to promote crack deflection either within an interior layer of the mismatched interfacial coating or between adjacent layers of the mismatched interfacial coating.

Patent for "new and useful Invention in Wind-Wheels" (lines 5-6), including illustrations.

Patent for a listing plow, "more particularly an improvement upon the structure disclosed in Patent No. 866,679, issued to [Gottfried Persson] on September 24, 1907" (lines 9-11), including instructions and illustrations.

Patent for a typewriter cabinet with swinging typewriter support held in position by foot pressure.

Patent for an improvement in the design of corn cultivators, including illustrations.

Patent for new improvement in seed planting that describes parts of the construction including instructions and illustrations.