Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-13

WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.
. - sn.ACns-EN

WOOD GAS.-CAUTTON.
TIE 1t known that j, the subscriber OBJ
ID tanned letters patent in December, 1881, 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 Oh an appar-
tus recently patented by w, ID, Porter cannot be
used BY him or any other person Without infring-
ing my said patent And further, that what IS
paiented by said Porter rightfuly belongs 10 me,
as l expect TO prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office and, further, that the use OF
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged 10 be
patentable 90 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disrlaimed, ss APP
pears upon the public records OF said. Office, ot
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims. r.e sa
1.-THE National I,teli gencsr of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood,p and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact oil my patent of December,
1851 and how far the threat can intimidate under
such circumstances! Mr.. Porer's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
so understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was al first refused AS interfering with a
prior patent 10 Robert Foulis, of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrivance. 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 10 making gas from wood :
The statement carries absurdiiy lis front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent ice.
If such claim right had been granted, il wou'd
forbid every coal-kn and charcoal manniactory
in the country.
The following copies Of correspondence and
extracts from the records of the Patent Ofhce Will
show the true state of the case
UNITED STATES PATENT OrFIcE.
i 4a snt 4.35 Augnst IS, 1854.
Sir. In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
" if any patent has been granted TO w. D. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them "tle erclnsire right Of making gas fiom
uood," and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent We're issued bearing the
above date, you are Informed that w. u. Porter's
claims are believed TO be Mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware thai
patent has been granted heretofore for The erctn-
size right of making gas 1ion, acosd II would,
however, be unjusri.able 20 expect me to make
an extended investigation to answer your re-
quest
am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
@. Mason, Commissioners OF Patents.
W. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof c. G. Page, Washington, d. G..
The United States Patent OEce-To all persons 10
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
said w. ID. Porter on the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner 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
- -. l.fu xs ava1E N
four, and Of the independence ofthe United
States the seventy-nintb. e. MASON
Cory Of dtscleimer Of w. d. Porter p has aqplica.
fion for an iDapropsd sfW for making scood
gas,"JfLed Aagnst 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
August %, 1854.
81 do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subiectng the products of destructive distllation
thereirom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially
has been described and for the purposes sci
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell"
The UaiteA States Patem Offce-To al persons TO
tclom these presents shGH rome greeting:
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification Of w. d. Porer's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August eighteen
hundred and hfy-fouf,
In testimony whereof, l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents have caused the
seal or the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
affixed this twenty.6fih day OF August,
u ~ in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred aud filiy-fcuy, aud OF the
independence of the United States the
seyenty-ninth. G. Mason
Enraet from Specification of ". d. Porter on
tchieh ietters patsns luers issued AugNa % 1854.
. CLAIm.-Whai / claim my invention and de.
sire 10 secure 10y letters patent is
s.The construction of a gas apparatus or still
consisting OF q metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones Z and d, disphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcalion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
VIM. p. MCCONNELL.
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.