Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-28


I'D tanned letters patent in December, lS5l for
an apparatus for the destructive distiilation OF
wood and the making therefrom of tar pitch al
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment OF
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what IS
pate,ued by said Porter rightfuly belongs 10 me,
as 4 expect 10 prove ere long before the United
States Patent Office; and, further, that the use Of
said Porler's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which. has been adiudged to be
patentable 10 the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally disclaimed as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed and also
a copy of his claims.
In the National Iuteliigencer of the 25th instant
Mr. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the trexclusive right making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution 70 all parties
Infringing his patent. 4 ask how this statement
comports with the fact of my patent Of December,
1851, and how far the threat intimidate under
such circumstances? MIR. Porter'sclaim is based
upon 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 at first refused interfering with a
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent conlrivance This claim, as gwen be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm - the
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdity on lis front, and
is a libel on the good sense of the Patent Once
If such claim or right had been granted, it would
forbid every coa-kin and charcoal manufactory
IN the country.
The following copies of correspondence and
extracts from the records OF the Patent Office will
show the true state of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
August 25, 1854
SIR In reply TO your letter of tins date, asking
/" If any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August. 1854 or al any other time. or
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 hlln
or them g The exciasiUe right Of making gas from
soood" 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 informed that w, u. PorteTs
claims are believed to be c mined TO his appara-
tus; and further, this office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the erctat-
sice righ of making gas from 7coaf IL Would
however, be unjustifabe 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation TO answer your re-
quest.
am respectfully, your obedenr servant,
C. Mason Commissioned Of Patents.
w. P. MoCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. C. G.. Page, Washington, ID. q.
The United States Patent O6fee-To all PERSONS 10
achoza these presents shall come, grating:
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.
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 ilty-iour
In testimony Whereof | Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office to he hereunto affixed
IL. $. 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-nintb. 9. MASON
Copy Of disclaimer of W. d. Porter in his applca.
ton for "an improued still for making acood
gas fled august 5, 1854. Letters patent issued
Angnst22, 1854.
81 do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
sublecting the products of destructive distillation
thcretrom 10 high degree oil heat, substantially
as has been described and tor the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p Mcconnell"
The Ualtea States Patenf Office To all persons to
,cllom heseprese'ats shall come greeting:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this Office of an extract from
the specification of w. d. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and fifty-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
affixed this twenty-ffh day OF August,
81 n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffty-four, and OF the
independence OF the United States the
seventy ninth G. MASON.
Eqpract from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
rchieh letters patent scere issued Augua %, 1854.
CLArM-What | claim as my invention and de-
sire TO secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
y, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
Il. al, 1rat
ings."
The truth of the above ma ysbe ascertained from
the records of the Patent Office, 10 which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.