Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-31
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.


I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distillation 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 hun or any other person without infring-
ing my said patent. And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to me,
as l expect 10 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
paentable TO 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 claiRs,
4 In the National Llteligsacer of the 10Th 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,
1861, and how far the threat can intimdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porter's claim 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 as interfering with
prior patent to Robert FOULS, of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivance. This claim, as given be-
low, and in which the perforated diaphragm is the
saving clause is what Mr. Porter calls securing
The statement carries aosurdi,y on its 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Oitice
If such claim or right had been granted, il 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 case:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,
august 25, 1854
Sm. In reply to your letter of this date, asking
'' if any patent has been granted 10 w. ID. Porter
dated 22d August, 1851, or at any other time, or
10 any other person or persons, securing to him
or them "Me erclusive right Of making gas from
pood" 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. D. Porter's
claims are believed TO be C mined TO his appara-
tus; and, further this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the erclu-
stus right Of making gas from sco0d. II would,
however, be unlusti6able 10 expect me TO make
an extended investigation 10 answer your re-
quest.
am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. MASON, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care of Prof. G. G. Page, Washington, ID. G.
Tie United States Patent O6fce-T To all persons TO
aohom these presents shall come greting
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
from the files of this Office Of extract from a.
paper filed in the matter of the application of w.
d. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued 10 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 2Jlh 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 ninth. q. MASON
Copy Of disclaimer of w. ID. Porter an his appliea.
ton for " an 'mPr0gea sfia Jor MAKING a0ood
gas FILED August 5, 1854 Letters patent ISSUED
Augast22 1854.
do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz
subjecting the products of destructive distilatlon
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"
Tie Uaued States Patent OGcc-1S all persons 10
tctom these presents shall rome greaing:
Thfs is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
from the records OF this Office OF an extract from
the specification of w. D. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffty-four.
In testimony Whereof l, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-ffth day OF August
- n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy-ninth. Q. Mason.
Ezraet from, Specification of W. d. Pote on
schich letters patNnt issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de-
sire 10 secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of a gas apparatus or STILL
consisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones L and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
+, substantially described in the foregoing spe
cifcaton, and shown in the accompanying draw
ingsn
The truth ofthe above may be asceriained from
the records OF the Paten, Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. r. MCCONNELL,
By his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE