Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-19
WOOD CAS.-CAUTION.
nE Il known that L. the subscribe oil


apparatus for the destructive distillation OF
wood and the making therefrom Of tar pitch at
pleasures 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 any other person without infring-
ing my said patent And further, that what is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs 10 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 process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office and which has been adjudged TO be
patentable TO the first inventor thereof and which
said w. ID. Porter has formally dsclamed, as ap-
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 Intelligencer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the exclusive right 10 making gas from
wood" and threatens prosecution TO 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 circumstances? Mr.. Porter'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 AT first refused as interfering with
prior patent 10 Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragmis Is the
saving clause, is what Mr. Porter calls securing
the, exclusive right to making gas from wood"
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
If such claim right had been granted, 1t would
forbid every coal-kiln 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 of the ease:
UNITED STATES PATEsr OFFICE,
august 25, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
I" if any patent has been granted to W. ID. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
to any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them (" the encfusive right Of making gas from
rood" and whether any such claim was made by
w. d. Porter, under his application for patent,
which letters patent were issued bearing the
above date, you are informed that W. ID. Porters
claims are believed TO be mined 10 his appara-
tus land, further, this Office Is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eaclu-
size right Of making gas from acosd. II would,
however, be unjustifable TO expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
| am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
c.. Mason, Commissioner of Patents
w. p. McCoNAELI- Esq,
Care OF Prof c. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent ORee--To all persons 10
Uh0nl these presents shall come, grating:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the files of this Office of an extract from
paper filed IN the matter Of the application OF w.
ID. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued TO the
said w. ID. Porter the 22d day of August,
eighteen hundred and ifty-four
In testimony whereof, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 be hereunto affixed
IL. s. 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 seventy-nlntb. G. MASON.
Copy Of disclaimer of w. d. Porter IN hiS aYpiica.
ton for s'an improved still for making acood
gas, .fled August s. 1854. Letters patent issned
August 90, 1854.
81 do not claim my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz:
subjecting the products of destructive dstillation
therefrom 10 q high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell.
The Uliled States Patent ORce-To all persons TO
tchom Ulesepresents shall come 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. ID. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ifty-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Office to be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-ffih day OF August,
- n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ffiy-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States The
seventy-ninth. G. Mason
Easrao from Specification Of W. ID. Porter on
tchieh letters patent issued August % 1884.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction of gas apparatus or still,
consisting OF a metallic or other cylinder u, the
cones f and ID, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F. substantially described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings"
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
access.
WIN. P. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.