Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-17
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
| DE II known that 4, the subscriber OBJ
| I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive distiaton OF
wood, and the making therefrom of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas and that in the judgment 0,
competent persons the invention OF appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him or any other person without infring-
/ ing my said patent And, further, that what Is
patented by said Porter rightfully belongs to 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 adudged 10 be
patentable to the first inventor thereof and which
said w. d. Porter has formally discaimed, APP
| 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 Inteliigencer Of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
| patent the exclusive right 10 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,
1854, and how far the threat intimidate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Porters claim is based
upon movable perforated diaphragm, and was
40 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, 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 Once
If such claim or right had been granted, II would
forbid every coal-kiln and charcoal mandatory
an 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,
SIR Lin 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
10 any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them "Me eercl4sir right Of making gas from
,oOod" 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. PorteTs
claims are believed 10 be mined TO his appara-
tus and, further this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the eacin-
size right Of making gas from acosd II would,
however, be unJustifable TO expect me TO make
extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
I am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
G. Mason, Commissioner of Patents.
w. p. MCDONALD, Esq,
Care of Prof. c. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The Unitsd States Patent OGee-Io all PERSONS 10
Ohom these presents shall eoD,s grettng
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 ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, |. Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office 10 he hereunto affixed
IL. y. 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-nintb. g. MASON.
COPY of disclaimer Of w. ID. Porter IN has apptica
tion for san Improved stW for making ioood
gas" FLED august 5, 1854 Letters patent issued
august %, 1854.
the improvements in making gas from wood, viz !:
subjecting the products of destructive distillaon
theretrom 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 Uyaised States Patent OGce-To all persons 10
tohonl these presents 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. ID. Porters patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and hfty-four.
In testimony whereof, |, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal OF the Patent Office 10 be hereunto
:, affixed this twenty-6fth day OF August,
: - n the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ifty-four, and OF the
independence of the United States the
seventy ninth. 9. MASON.
Ea1ract from Specification Of W. ID. Porter
tchich letters patent 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 and ID, diaphram plate @, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cfcaiion, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.n
The truth the above may be ascertsined from
the records of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. G. PAGE.