Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-22
M


:
DE It known that i, the subscriber OBJ
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1881, for
an apparatus for the destructive distilaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom Of tar or pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention of 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 as
patentsdby said Porter rightfully belongs 70 me,
as expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Ofice 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
pafenable TO the first inventor thereof, and which
said W. d. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as APP
pears upon the public records Of said office, Of
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy of his claims
In the National Iatezigencsv ofthe 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right TO making gas from
wood, and threatens prosecution 10 all parties
infringing his patent. ask how this statement
comports with the fact Of my patent of December,
1851, and how far the threat can intimidate under
such crcumstancesa Mr. Porter's claim is based
upon a movable perforated diaphragm, and was
90 understood by the Patent Office, as il appears
from the records of the Patent Office that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with
prior patent to Robert Fouls, of Canada, for an
Equivalent contriyance 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 TO making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its front, and
is libel on the good sense OF the Patent Ofice.
If such claim or right had been granted, il would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal manufactory
In the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records ofthe' Patent Office will
show the true state Of the case: t8s
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE,
tst4 y. August 25 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date. asking
nif any patent has been granted to w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other personor persons, securing TO him
or them {. the s1clasipe right of making gas from
scoodn and whether any such claim was made by
w. ID. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that w. u. forter's
claims are believed TO be G mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclu
size right Of naakmg gas from fcosd. 1t would,
however, be unjusti6abe TO expect me 10 make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest. :.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
I G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELI, Esq,
Care of Prof @. g. Page, Washington, d. G.
The United States Patent Office To all persons 10
achon these presents shall come, greting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is atrue copy
from the files of This Office of an extract from a
paper fled in the matter of;the application of w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issuedto the
said w. d. Porter on the 22d day Of August,
eighteen hundred and fifiy-four.
In testimony whereof, i, Charles Mason, Com
inssionerof Patents, have caused the seal
Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. ST. this 25th day of August in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty
four, and of the independence Of the United
States the seveniy-ninib. G. Mason
Copy of disclaimer of w. d. Porter in his ayplica.
fion for .am Improved sfiH for waking scood
gas, fied Aagnst s, 1854. Laters patent issued
August 70, 1854.
al do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecing the products of destructive distlation
therefrom TO a high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. P. Mcconnell"
The United Sdafes Patent ORcs--7b all persons 10
schons ftssepres shall come creating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is true copy
from the recofds Of this Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. d. Porter's patent, issued
on the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, I, Charles Mason, Com
missioner OF Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
r, affixed this twenty-61h day OF August,
IL - in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and y-four, and Of the
independence OF the United States the
seventy-nnth. O. MASON.
Enract from Specification Of w. d. Porter on
schich letters patent ,cere issued Angna 22, 1854.
CI.AM.--What claim as my invention and de.
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder b, the
cones E and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
+, substantially as described in the foregoing spe
ciication, and shown in the accompanying draw
ngs.n sHtse
The truth ofthe above may be ascerained from
the records of The Patent Office, 10 which all have
access
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.