New-York daily tribune., 1843-12-15
Important to Manufacturers of steamEn-

zines.
CIRCUIT Court UNITED STA7Es-Frederick
E. Sickels and Truman Cook us John F. Rod
man.-Action on Patent for Cut-of to Steam
Engines for Steam60ats.-This was an ntere
sting case tried in the United States Circuit
Court before his Honor Judge Belts and it is
one OF considerable importance to persons en-
gagged in the business OF running Steamboats, and
to builders of Steam Engines. The action was
brought to recover damages for the violation of q
patent granted to Frederick E. Sickels, in May,
1912, for an improvement in the cutoff, by which
the valves themselves are made to cut off the steam
at any part of the stroke, without noise or Slam
ming, in simultaneously, and also to effect very
great saving of fuel. Itwas proved on the part Of
the plaintiffs that Mr.. Frederick E. Sickels, tai
ented and very ingenious young mechanic of this
city had FOR three years before taken ont his patent
devoted his time and ingenuity TO this subject and had as
early as the latter part s39 early in ls4o conceived
and made drawinGs Of the plan which forms the subject OF
the Patent. His invention described in the Patent
ss of apparatus for lifting and tripping the valves
required point of the stroke of the piston and also Of
cylinder with cup secondary reservoir the bottom
and partially filed with other fluid, which
cylinder secondary reservoir works punger which
tachd the yaveem and which permits the valve de-
scead very rapidly but checking it the very Of its
reaching seat that closes without noise slammng
aad with great precision and accuracy. 1t further
proved that this invention OF very great utility aud
value and that very perfect in its operation, and e
feced saving fuel of about onehfh what is usually
suned engines with the ordinary throttle valve cut oil
One he apparatus which had been used on board the
Steamer Rhode Island exhibited the trial. and which
had run for year with perfect accuracy, and which effected
saving Of fuel Of about TIVE tons passage 1t was also
proved that the defendant who is manufacturer of Steam
Engines, had without license from the plaintiffs construct
ed apparatus precisely like thar patented by Nh Sckel,
and put operation the engine Of the steamboat West
chester, running upon the Hudson 1t upon this
infringement ,la, the plaintiffs brought the suit well
establish the originality Of the invention and the validity of
the Patent for the recovery Of damages for the infringe
ment.
On the part of the defendant, witnesses called
prove that something similar the plan Of Mr. Sickes had
besa in board the steamboat South America before
the patent aud in other places aud 1t was also claimed tha
the principle of the improvement was set forth IN StuaIt
Anecdotes Of the Steam Engine in the description OF one
of Wattss Recipocatng Engines, which retardation
of the opening Of the valve effected by means OF
weight falling in water The plaintiffs. however, showed
clearly that Mr. Sickes had conceived the plan and made
regular drawings of long before put in use on board
the South America and that the secondary reservoir with
the punge fitted it, and acting water, was entirely his
own invention and that the method described IN Stuarts
wrok was unlike that Of Mr. sicke and was for different
object.
His Honor Judge Bats delivered very able ond Impair
tial charge the Jury, after Trial of three days. aud the
Jury found verdict for the Pantfa for s25 damages bs
ing the whole amount claedus establishing the vadi-
tyy of the patent and the claim of Nh sckels 10 the honor
of being the inventor Of this highly ingenious and useful
improvement
Counsel for the Plaintiffs j. 3 Staples and s. P Sta
pies, Esqrs.
Counsel for the Defendant R. Ten Brock aud Mr. De
Witt.
oU sylvania Association.-o No; 25