Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-01
MisftIlAnkGns.
WOOD GAS.-CAUTION.
~ knawu that II fha oYYhoS. ri

" ~
DE 1t known that i, the subscriber oh.
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, fo
an apparatus for the destructive distillation o
wood, and the making thercfrom Of tar or pitch q
pleasure, and gas and that in the Judgment D
competent persons the invention of an 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 I,
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 oi
said Porter's invention involves also process
which am now claiming before the United States
Patent Office, and which has been adjudged to br
patentable to the first inventor thereof and whith
said w. d. Porter has formally dsclaimed, as Ap
pears upon the public records of said oficet q
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and NJ
a copy of his claims.
In the National Intelzigsncsr Of the 18th lnslsS
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured NJ
patent the "exclusve right to making gas froAf
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 intimidaie under
such circumstancesa 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 Ofice that his
claim was at first refused as interfering with q
prior patent TO Robert FOULS, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrvance. 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 10 making gas from wood"
The statement carries absurdity on its 'front.' and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office.
IL such claim or right had been granted, it 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,
Augua Is, 1854.
SIR. In reply to your letter Of this date, asking
81 any patent has been n'granted to w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1851, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing 10 him
or them " the erclnsivs right Of making gas from
rood" 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. d. Porter's
claims are believed TO be mined to his appara-
us; and, further, this Office is not aware that a
patent has been granted heretofore for the srciu
me right Of making gas from tcosd. II would,
however, be unjusiifabe 10 expect me TO make
IN extended investigation to answer your re-
quest.
l am, respectfully, your obedent servant,
c. Mason, Commissioner Of Patents
w. P. McCoNAELL, Esq,
Care Of Prof. @. G. Page, Washington, d. c.
The United States Patent Ofee-To all persons to
This is TO certify that the annexed is true copy
rom the files OF this Office Of an extract from a |
,aper filed in the matter Of the application of w.
.. Porter for letters patent, in accordance with
which application letters patent were issued to the
aid 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
L. 81 this 25th day of August, in the year Of our
Lord one-thousand eight hundred and ffy-
four, and of the independence of the United
States the seventy-nintb. C. Mason.
Copy of disclaimer of W. d. Porter in has appiica.
ton for "an Improved sfiH for naking GOOD
gas, fled Angust 5, 1854. Letters patenf issaed
August %, 1854. |
q do not claim as nv invention and discovery |
he improvements in making gas from wood, viz
the products of destructive distlation |
herefrom 10 a high degree Of heat, substantially |
$ has been described and for the purposes set |
orth in the specification Of w. p. Mcconnell"
The United States Patent Ofee-To all persons 10
tchona htsepresents shall come greeting:
This is to certify that the annexed is true copy
om the records of this Office of an extract from
,e specification of w. d. Porters patent, issued
n the twenty second day of August, eighteen
undred and ffty-four.
In testimony whereof, /, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal of the Patent Office TO be hereunto
:, affixed thus twenty-ffth day OF August,
IL . in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and ifty-four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. Mason.
;z.ract from Specification of W. d. Porter o,s
chich letters patent scere issued august %, 1854.
CLAIM.-What claim as my invention and de.
re to secure by letters patent Is:
The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
0 insisting OF metallic or other cylinder B, the
ones E and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
, substantially described in the foregoing spe-
6caton, and shown in the accompanying draw
igsn
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
he records of the Patent Office, to which all have
ccess.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. g. PAGE.