New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-10

DrAKE's IGSITIos GAs-ESGISE.-We have already
noticed an engine exhibited at the late Fair of the
American Institute by DR.. Alfred Drake of Phadel-
phia. which works by the power of exploding gas
The plan was then pronounced mpractcabe, an opln-
ion still adhered to, Us the engine-on an exhibition
courteousy made for our especial beneft-failed to
work either powerfully, quietly, or continuously jus
flee to the enterprise demands however, the state
mept that large engine with eighteen-inch stroke
of n;ston and sixteen inches diameter of cylinder,
worked sinpleactinQ made sixty revolutions per min
ute. and appeared capable of doing more. The ig-
nifer." which sets fire to the gas is small hollow
piece of cast iron, kept sufficiently hot by blowing
fierce fame into il from the outside and results have
proved that this portion, the principal new feature
which renders it possible to work gas In this manner
il capable Of maintaining ts integrity for several hours
and probably for days. Either coal gas or the vapor
Of apy hydro-carbon as spirits of turpentne or cam.
phene is represented as efficient in this engine when
mingled with the due proportion of air to effect per-
feet combustion. Although Sir Humphrey. DaVy )
experiments showed that coal gas could not be fired
by the heat of iron at bright red heat and based on
this property the safety lamp for miners, which has
immoralized bis name-the operation OF this engine
proves that iron can be heated sufficiently high with
ont melting to ignite such gas in nearly every case
Another fact for which We ore indebted To Dr. d. Is
the corroeon and decay of the metal platinum, when
exposed 10 intense heat in the presence OF this gas
Platinum is almost nfusble un-meltable, and 10 thus
favore metal where great endurance OF heat IS re-
ouired but cast iron is found not only cheaper but
more durable for the gniters in this engine.
SIcKLIs's CoAL-AsB SIrTER.-Hr. Gerard Sickles
Of BROOKLYN has Just patented and introduced cylIn-
drca apparatus neatly cased in sheet iron, and de-
signed 10 save all the fragments OF coal now wasted IN
the ashes without exposing the person or the clothing
Of the operator any dust or other annoyance The
sitter is designed 10 operate equally on wet or dry
ashes and its action is may be, continuous, there
being no necessity for suspendng the operation to re-
move the coal. The whole exterior being Of sheet
iron renders it safe TO leave the ashes for any period
in the bottom; and cose-ftting cover prevents the
rising Of any dust No sieve in the ordinary sen-s OF
the term is employed. The crude material IS poured
in at the top and rests upon TN inclined plane. few
inches below this is fine grating of iron, slightly IN
clined in the opposite direction every alternate bar OF
which is movable. A handle outside slides the NOV
able bars backward and forward, and communicates
slight motion to the inclined platform above. The ash
Is thus slowly poured from the reservoir upon the
Grating and gradually travels ts surface, shak
inc the fine ashes through to the bottom and allowing
the coarser Goals to continue across to the lower edge
whence they are led into the scuttle previously
nlaced in position outside. The device appears wei
adsn,.d 10 diminish the waste which ensues IRON
corelessusss in regard 10 this material and worthy
Of examination, even by small consumers OF coal
, sx,rp's CAR-SEAr.-0lr present common car-seat
with the hack shf:ng in either direction, was qa''