Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-26
WOOD GAs.-CAUTION.

-
I'D tanned letters patent in December, 1851, for
an apparatus for the destructive dstillation OF
wood, and the making lherefrom of tar or pitch at
pleasure, and gas; and that in the Judgment OF
competent persons the invention of an appar-
tus recently patented by w. d. Porter cannot be
used by him any other person without nfring-
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 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 disclaimed, as ap-
pears upon the public records OF said Office, OF
which an official copy is hereto annexed, and also
copy Of his claims.
h In the National I,stsAigsnoer of the 25th instant
Mr.. Porter announces that he has secured by
patent the Exclusive right to 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 intimdate under
such circumstances? Mr.. Portcr'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 a
prior patent to Robert Fouls, Of Canada, for an
equivalent contrivancc. This claim, as given be-
low, aud in which the perforated diaphragm is the,
saving clause, is what Mr.. Porter calls securing
The statement carries absurdiiy on its front, and
is libel on the good sense of the Patent Office
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 ease:
UNITED STATES PATENT OFrIcK,
august 25, 1854.
SIR In reply TO your letter of this date, asking
g if any patent has been granted to w. d. Porter,
dated 22d August, 1854, or at any other time, or
TO any other person or persons, securing TO him
or them "the enciusivs right Of making gas from
,oood," 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. Porters
claims are believed 10 be c mined 10 his appara-
tus; and, further, this Office is not aware that
patent has been granted heretofore for the szelu-
stDe rigM Of making gas from aoosd II would,
however, be unjustifabe TO expect me 10 make
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, D. G.
The United States Patent O6ce-Io all persons TO
qchonr these presents shall come, grefng:
This is 10 certify that the annexed is q true copy
from the files Of this office of extract from
paper filed 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 fifiy-four
In testimony Whereof l. Charles Mason, Com
missioner of Patents, have caused the seal
of the Patent Office TO he hereunto affixed
H. s.. this 25th day Of August, in the year Of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and ffty-
four, and Of the Independence Of the United
States the seventy-nlntb. G. Mason.
Copy Of disclaimer Of W. D. Porter in his appiica.
ron for "am insproved still for making toood
ga" filed august 5, 1854 Letters patent issued
August 90, 1854
g | do not claim as my invention and discovery
the improvements in making gas from wood, VIE:
subjecting the products of destructive dsiillation
thereirom 10 n high degree of heat, substantially
as has been described and for the purposes set
forth in the specification of w. p. Mcconnell
The Uaited States Patent OGce-To all persons to
,ohon, thesepresents shall come creating q
This is TO certify that the annexed is a true copy
from the records of this ofice OF an extract from
the specification Of w. D. Porter's patent, issued
in the twenty second day of August, eighteen
hundred and ffy-four.
In testimony Whereof i, Charles Mason, Com
missioner Of Patents, have caused the
seal Of the Patent Ofice TO be hereunto
=, affixed tins twenty-ffih day OF August,
V o. n the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and fifty -four, and OF the
independence Of the United States the
seventy-ninth. G. MASON.
Eazyaa from Specification Of w. ID. Porter on
,ohich letters patent tcere issued August % 1854.
CIAIM--What / claim as my invention and de-
sire to secure by letters patent is:
"The construction Of gas apparatus or still,
CO insisting of a metallic or other cylinder B, the
cones Z and d, diaphram plate G, and exit pipe
F, substantially as described in the foregoing spe-
cifcation, and shown in the accompanying draw
ings.p
The truth ofthe above may be ascertained from
the records Of the Patent Office, TO which all have
access.
WIN. p. MCCONNELL,
BY his attorney CHAS. @. PAGE.