Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-25
MisfsIlanfGus


ou-
Id tanned letters patent IN December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment Of
competent persons the Invention OF an appar-
tus recently patented by w. D. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent And, further, that what as
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
as | expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and further, that the use Of
said Porter's invention involves also a process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and whichhas been adjudged TO be
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records Of said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
a copy of his claims. IA
the National IatsAigeacer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the ssexclusive right TO making gas from
wood and threatens prosecution to all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Pttent Office, as it appears
from the records Of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to RobertIF Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivanceI This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
the Exclusive right p making gas from wood
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is a libel on the good sense Of the Patent Office.
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kilp and charcoal mandatory
in the country.
The following COPIES Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Office will
show the true state If the case:
tA As UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE,
august 25, 1854
SIR. In reply to YOUR letter Of this date, asking
'"if any patent has been granted TO w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other personlor persons, securing TO him
or them sMe ezclstsjus right of making gas from
sDood,n and whetherany such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, undei his application for patent
which letters patfnt were issued bearing the
above date, you ar{ informed that w. ID. Porter's
claims are believed to be mined to his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erciii-
siue right of zakbsg gas from acosd. 1t would,
however, be unjuaifable TO expect me TO make
an extended INVESTIGATION 10 answer your re-
quest. asf 'lli
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNATtI, ESQ.,,
Care of Profile. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
Tie United States Patent O6iee-To all persons to
schons these presents shall come, gretfng y:
This is to certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of This Office of an extract from a
paper filed in tho matter of the application Of w.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said w. D. Porler on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof /, Charles Mason, Com
missionef of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office to be hereunto affixed
IL. s. this 18th day of August, in the year OF our
four, and ofthe independence ofthe United
States Ihe seventy ninth. c. Mason.
Copy of disclainer of w. D. Porter IN has appliea.
ton for g tn improved stiH for making soood
gas, filed 4Ignst s, 1854. Letters patent issued
q / do not daim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting thu products Of destructive dstllation
to 10 high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
Tie U,tited ifates Patent Ofce-- To all persons to
schonr tllseprese,ifs shall come greeting:
This Is 10 dertfy that the annexed is true copy
from the records Of this Office Of an extract from
the specification Of w. ID. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day Of August, eighteen
hundred and d6hy-four.
In TESTIMONY whereof, i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
.ttf sealof the Patent Office to be hereunto
r, affixed this twenty-ffh day OF August,
IL ol in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eighthundred and ifty-four, and of the
Independence OF the United States the
~ sevetty-ninth. G. MASON.
Extract from Specification Of W. d. Porter on
1chieh letters bafsu scere issued Augna %, 1854.
CLAM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or STILL
consisting Of q metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphran plate @, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
ci6cation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings."
The truth of The above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 whichal have
access.
iel M WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE \