matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
Im- PROVEMENTS IN BALANCING AND RAISING OR LOWERING WINDOW SASHES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Albert Bagenal Target
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th April 1866.
I, CHARLES ALBERT BAGENAL TARGET, of Bath, in the County of Somerset,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN BALANCING AND RAISING OR LOWERING WINDOW SASHES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in balancing and raising or
lowering window sashes, and consists in causing the ropes, bands, or chains,
whereby the balance weight or balance weights employed to counteract the
descending tendency of the sash or sashes is or are carried after passing over
the necessary guide pullies, to pass around or partially around a drum or
barrel, or drums or barrels, and thence over other guide pullies to the balance
weight or weights, or otherwise; in some cases the last-named guide pullies
may be dispensed with, and the weight or weights allowed to hang suspended
beneath the drum or barrel, or drums or barrels.
It will hence be understood that according to my Invention the ropes,
bands, or chains carrying the balance weight or weights, instead of simply
passing over a guide pulley, or over guide pullies, and then being attached
directly to the weight in the usual manner, are after being carried over the
first guide pulley or pullies then passed around or partly around a drum or
barrel, or drums or barrels, before passing either directly to the balance weight
or otherwise over the guide pulley or pullies, whereby it or they is or are

page_text: led or guided for attachment to the balance weight or weights, and that by
applying a winch handle or winch handles to the axis or axes of the drum or
barrel, or drums or barrels, I am enabled to turn the same, and raise or lower
the sash or sashes as required. In some cases it may be found convenient to
attach the ropes, bands, or chains to the lower portions of the sashes, and
to place the drums or barrels in such positions as will enable the ropes,
bands, or chains to be passed directly over or around them without the
intervention of guide pullies.
IMPROVEMENTS IN JACKETS, CAPES, AND OTHER LIKE GARMENTS FOR LADIES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Peter Robinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th September
1866.
I, JOHN PETER ROBINSON, of Oxford St., in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
JACKETS, CAPES, AND OTHER LIKE GARMENTS FOR LADIES," to be as follows:-
My improvements in jackets, capes, and other like articles of ladies' dress
consist in making the sleeves and body or cape part of one piece of material,
and without joining or seam otherwise than one seam up the inner part of the
sleeve terminating under the arm in a short cross seam at that point, and a
seam from thence down the body or skirt. There are also short joining seams
in the sleeve, consequent on small pieces of the material being removed in
order to give form to the sleeve. To effect this I cut the jacket or other
sleeved garment from a piece of cloth or other material of sufficient area
without a seam, and of a circular or curved form, somewhat in the manner of
a cloak, and considerably larger than is required for the body part; in this
form of fabric I make incisions from the circumference or lower edge so as
to partially sever parts of the fabric of sufficient width to form the sleeves.
The cut edges of the body part from between which the sleeves have been
removed are brought together and sewn, and form one of the seams before-
mentioned. The garment may be completed and trimmed in any suitable

page_text: manner, and may be made more or less tight-fitting, and of greater or less
length than the size of the material required for the length of sleeve so
made.
manner, and may be made more or less tight-fitting, and of greater or less
length than the size of the material required for the length of sleeve so
made.
The Drawing represents the garment in the flat. a, a, is the body part,
end the sleeves.
The Drawing represents the garment in the flat. a, a, is the body part,
end the sleeves.
IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS OR SIMILAR FASTENINGS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Augustus Scholey at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th November
1866.
I, AUGUSTUS SCHOLEY, of Cunningham House, St. John's Wood Road, in
the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN NAILS OR SIMILAR FASTENINGS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction of nails or similar fastenings,
whereby greater strength will be obtained with a given amount of metal, a
better hold is afforded, they are not liable to shift when driven, economy of
metal is effected in their manufacture, they are more easily driven, may be
used without a gimblet or bradawl, and when driven home a neater appearance
is obtained as the head presents a perfectly flat and flush surface. The
essential feature of novelty of these nails or fastenings consists in making them
three-sided and tapering gradually from the head to the point, each side,
however, in lieu of being flat, is hollowed or grooved the entire length, or any
portion thereof, the three corners or angles presenting sharp ridges somewhat
after the fashion of a bayonet. In lieu of having a laterally projecting head
this part of the nail or fastening is produced by expanding rather more
abruptly the upper end of the nail, so that when driven the extreme end only

page_text: of the nail will be visible. The peculiar nails above described may be manu-
factured in various ways according to the purposes to which they are to be
applied; for example, when cast nails are applicable they may be cast in the
form described, and when wrought nails are required they may be shaped by
forging in swages, dies, or otherwise.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MANEUVERING AND STEERING SHIPS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Ashdown at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
January 1866. A communication from abroad by George Banks, of the
Island of Ascension, Surgeon.
I, JOHN ASHDOWN, of No. 7, Westminster Chambers, Victoria Street, in the
City of Westminster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MANEUVERING AND STEERING
SHIPS," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in the application and adaptation of a screw similar
to a screw propeller, but so placed in the dead wood or after part of a ship as
to work on a horizontal axis at right angles to the length of the ship, and
caused to revolve either by connecting gearing from the ordinary shaft of a
screw propeller or independently of same. The motion should admit of
readily being reversed or thrown out of gear, and if derived from propeller
shaft the said reversing or disconnecting should be contrived so
to interfere with the continuous motion in one direction of the said propeller
shaft; this may readily be effected by the ordinary mechanical arrangement
of a pair of bevil wheels on one shaft, either of which, but not both together,.
may be driven from another bevil wheel, and mounted so that both may be
thrown out of gear, and such driving bevil wheel may conveniently be placed

page_text: on the propeller shaft. The manoeuvering or steering screw may work and be
protected within a cylindrical opening or passage through or across the dead
wood or stern, or may be supported in framework not presenting or forming a
cylindrical opening or passage..
It is to be understood that the manoeuvering and steering apparatus above
described may be used either in combination or not in combination with a
rudder or rudders or other ordinary steering appliances.
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL USED BY SUGAR REFINERS OR OTHERS IN ORDER TO ITS RE-USE
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Barker Patrick at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th June
1866.
İ, WILLIAM BARKER PATRICK, of 9, Mincing Lane, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ANIMAL CHARCOAL USED BY SUGAR REFINERS OR OTHERS
IN ORDER TO ITS RE-USE," to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to means of treating animal charcoal in a granular
form when it has lost power by use in sugar refining or other processes in order
to its re-use.
In carrying out my improvements the charcoal whilst still in the filter after
it has lost power by use is first washed by causing hot water to flow through
it; it is then dried, or partially so, by causing hot air to pass through or
amongst it, aided by force or exhaustion. The charcoal thus treated in the
filter is then allowed to remain for fermentation in the filtering vessel with
the taps or valves thereof open to the atmosphere for, say, 24 hours or more.
When fermentation has taken place I admit carbonic acid gas to act on the
charcoal for the purpose of rendering soluble or neutralizing the lime or
alkaline matters which have combined or mixed with the charcoal in its use.
I then again pass hot water or water and steam through the charcoal to
cleanse it of matters rendered soluble by the action of the gas. The filtering

page_text: vessel may be of the ordinary kind, closed, but with tap ways thereto. If
formed of iron it should be lined with copper tinned or otherwise coated to
avoid the otherwise injurious action of the metal. In some cases the
charcoal thus acted upon may now be allowed to flow from the filtering
vessel by suitable channels over inclined shelves or other supports in fine
streams or films, and subjected to the action of jets or sheets of gas or other
flame; it is then acted upon by fans or winnows to remove loose particles
therefrom.
If desired the charcoal in place of being treated as stated in the filtering
vessels may be removed therefrom and so treated in other vessels, or it may
be placed in vessels provided with agitators adapted to keep the charcoal
agitated during the flow of the hot water or hot water and steam through it,
or in vessels caused to revolve rapidly and having reticulate outer surfaces, so
that the hot water may be caused to flow through the charcoal by centrifugal
action.
AN IMPROVED SIPHON FOR DRAWING OFF LIQUIDS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Henry Bore at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd January
1866.
I, RICHARD HENRY BORE, of No. 55, Globe Road, Mile End, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED SIPHON FOR DRAWING OFF LIQUIDS," to be as follows:
The object of this Invention is to construct a siphon in such a manner that
the air can be exhausted therefrom by a simple movement of the hand, and
thus the necessity for sucking out the air by means of the mouth as ordinarily
practised may be entirely obviated, and the siphon is thereby made applicable
for drawing off oils, acids, and other liquids for which it could not be previously
employed.
In constructing a siphon according to my Invention I make the longer leg
of the same in two parts, the upper part being of about the same length as
the shorter leg of the siphon. To the top of the lower part I attach (by
screwing or otherwise) a cylinder or chamber, which is capable of sliding
telescopically over the lower end of the upper part, and round this lower end
I fix a washer or sucker which fits air-tight in the said cylinder or chamber.
The length and diameter of the cylinder must be so proportioned to that of the
siphon that the cubic contents of the former shall be greater than those of the

page_text: shorter leg of the latter, and it will be evident that if the cylinder be slidden
up to its highest position, and the shorter leg of the siphon immersed in some
liquid, upon closing the extremity of the other leg, and then elongating the
same by sliding the cylinder downwards, the air will be exhausted, and the
liquid drawn up over the bend of the siphon, and upon the lower end being
again opened the liquid will flow through the siphon by reason of the
atmospheric pressure as usual. In small siphons the closing of the lower end
whilst elongating the tube may be effected by the finger, but in larger siphons
a tap should be fixed beneath the cylinder. By the use of a spiral slot and
pin the turning round of the cylinder in one direction may cause it to slide
downwards so as to elongate the tube, whilst the turning of the same in the
other direction would cause it to slide upwards and shorten the tube.
A modification of this Invention might also be made by attaching the
cylinder side by side with the leg of the siphon and fixing the washer or
sucker to a rod passing through the top of the cylinder, and with a
knob or handle on the upper end, an opening being made from the leg of the
siphon to the lower part of the cylinder below the sucker, so that upon drawing
up the rod the air would be exhausted.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS, STREETS, YARDS, OR OTHER SIMILAR WAYS OR SURFACES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Philippe Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents,. with his Petition, on the 22nd
June 1866.
I, CHARLES PHILIPPE HENRY, of Paris, France, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAVING ROADS,
STREETS, YARDS, OR OTHER SIMILAR WAYS OR SURFACES," to be as follows :—
These improvements in paving roads, streets, yards, or other ways or surfaces,.
consist in making use, as a substitute for the ordinary paving or flagstones
hitherto employed for such purposes, of moulded blocks of glass in such
manner that all the blocks being of the same size and shape (by preference
that of a cube) apply themselves closely against and serve as mutual support.
for each other, whilst in order to cause the blocks closely to adhere together
and form as it were one regular body, those sides of the blocks which are to
rest against one another are moulded with a rough surface, or provided with
small recesses and projecting parts, which make the blocks fully dependent on
each other.
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING OR SECURING THE TIRES OF RAILWAY WHEELS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Wasteneys Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd
November 1866.
I, WILLIAM WASTENEYS SMITH, of Masborough, near Rotherham, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING OR SECURING THE TIRES OF RAILWAY
WHEELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a method of fixing or securing the tires upon
railway wheels by so forming them and the wheel, and shrinking the former on
to the latter, as to require no other means of fastening, and to prevent the
possibility of the tires coming off even should they become loose through
accident or long wear. In the first place I propose to turn the periphery of
the wheel slightly conical, the smaller diameter being at the inner or flange
side, the difference in the diameters at the inner and outer edges being as
much as the expansion of a tire at blood-red beat will admit, say about one-
eighth of an inch to every foot of diameter, so that when the tire is heated as
above its smallest inner circumference will pass over the largest outer
circumference of the wheel. An annular recess is turned at the outer side or
edge of the wheel which is to receive a corresponding flange formed on the
inside of the tire; the bottom of this recess is also turned conical in the same

page_text: direction as the outer periphery, and to the same extent (about one-eighth of
an inch to each foot of diameter); the side of this recess is also inclined
inwards so as to form a dovetail and act as a wedge to secure the tire if it
should by any means (when in use) expand more than the wheel. The
interior of the tire is to be bored out to fit the exterior of the wheel as above
described, allowing the usual amount for contraction, the flange in the
interior of the same forming a security against the inward pressure of the
running flange, and the conical form of the wheel preventing the tire from
The tire is to be heated to a blood-red heat which
will expand it so that it can be placed over the wheel from the outer side,
and upon its contraction by cooling it will shrink tightly on to the wheel and
will require no other fastening, being immovable in either direction.
being forced outwards.
As a modification of the above method I propose to turn the periphery of the
wheel cylindrical instead of conical, and to have a second annular recess on
the inner side or edge thereof (in addition to the outer one above named) the
depth of such inner recess being equal to the amount of expansion of the tire
at blood-red heat as above described. The edge of this second recess is to be
slightly inclined inwards, such inclination being equal to the lateral expansion
of the tire when heated so as to act as a dovetail, as before described; other
obvious modifications may also be made without departing from the
characteristic features of my Invention.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE AND REMELTING OF IRON OR STEEL
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Stenson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th June 1866.
I, JOSEPH STENSON, of Duston, in the County of Northampton, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE AND REMELTING OF IRON OR STEEL," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to change the character of iron whilst in a
fluid state from that of ordinary cast iron to a metal more or less either hard
or malleable. This object is effected by introducing or forcing into the blast
furnace or cupola, with the blast of air, materials such as spiegel eisen, titanic,
or other iron ores, manganese, clay, lime, limestone, chloride of calcium, pot or
pearl asb, potassium, soda, salt, salammoniac, or other chemical substance. These
materials, or any of them, in a pulverized state are placed in a hopper or vessel
situated above the blast pipe, from which by suitable feeding apparatus the
necessary quantities are introduced to the blast pipe with or without the addition
of pulverized carbonaceous matters. These pulverized materials are carried
into the furnace by meaus of the blast in any desired quantity according to the
quality of iron or steel it is desired to produce, and depending in some measure
upon the nature of the iron to be operated upon. Under some circumstances
it will be found advantageous to use coal tar or other hydrocarbon for the
purpose of imparting carbon to the iron. The coal tar or other bydrocarbon

page_text: is introduced by means of the blast pipe which carries it into the furnace by
the same means as the pulverized materials before enumerated. I propose
to use the aforesaid materials separately, or in such combination and in such
quantities as the character of the metal intended to be produced may
require.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF SAFES, STRONG ROOMS, AND OTHER SIMILAR DEPOSITORIES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Isaac Eldon Chillcott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd
August 1866.
I, ISAAC ELDON CHILLCOTT, of the City and County of Bristol, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF SAFES, STRONG ROOMS, AND OTHER SIMILAR DEPOSITORIES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention is designed for the purpose of preventing safes, strong
rooms, and other similar depositories from being burglariously forced open by
driving steel wedges into the interstices between the door and the jamb.
In safes, strong rooms, deed boxes, and other similar depositories, as usually
constructed, the form of the door (or lid) is rectangular and the interstice
between each side of the door (or lid) and the jamb (or the side of the box)
is represented by a right line, and it is well known that such depositories
have been frequently forced open by driving thin broad steel wedges into
this interstice until the same is opened sufficiently to introduce a strong bar
or lever, and thus wrench the door or lid open.
In carrying out my Invention I make the sides of the door (or lid) serrated,
and I make corresponding serrations or indentations in the jamb (or in the
side of the box), so that when the door (or lid) is closed these serrations or
indentations interlock with each other, and the interstices between the edges of

page_text: the door (or lid) and the jamb (or the side of the box) represent a waved or
zig-zig line instead of a right line, as heretofore.
It will be evident that the waved or zig-zig form of the interstice or line of
junction will effectually prevent the introduction of wedges therein, and thus
afford an increased safety or security against such safes, strong rooms, or other
similar depositories being burglariously forced open.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTENS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left. by John Cooper at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th August
1866.
I, JOHN COOPER, of Ortzen Street, Nottingham, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BATTENS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for it object improvements in battens, and is applicable
especially to looms for weaving double fabrics such as india-rubber brace webs.
In producing such fabrics it is usual for the shuttle to be caused to traverse
to and fro in a groove in the batten by means of pinions gearing with a
rack on the shuttle. In some cases also in' order to obtain greater speed
two shuttles are caused to traverse simultaneously in the same direction
through an upper and a lower shed, but fabrics so produced are more or less
defective on their edges or selvages. In other cases also the shuttles have
been thrown simultaneously in contrary directions, and the edges of the fabric
have been more perfectly produced, but at the expense of rendering the
mechanism more complex, and also of rendering necessary a wider opening of
the sheds, the arrangements having been such as to require a space of some
distance between the shuttles.
Now according to my Invention I avoid these objections. I give motion to
the shuttles in the following simple manner:-Underneath the shuttle races is
a slide receiving a to-and-fro motion in any convenient manner, on the top of
this slide is a rack gearing with pinions on the batten, one on either side of the

page_text: reed, and these pinions gear also with a rack on the under side of the lower
shuttle, one pinion coming into gear with the rack on the shuttle before the
other goes out of gear in the usual way. To drive the upper shuttle in the
contrary direction to the lower there is a second rack at the back of the
rack slide already mentioned, and this gears with two pinions on vertical axes
mounted on the batten, one on either side of the reed; at the upper ends of
these axes are other pinions, and these gear with a rack at the back of the
upper shuttle which thus receives its motion. The driving racks and gear
wheels are cased in to prevent their becoming clogged with loose fibre or dust.
Each shuttle I prefer to make in two parts, one, the slide, which remains
constantly in its guide groove, and the other, the bobbin carrier, which is
attached thereto by catches and can be changed when it requires replenishing.
I prefer to make the shuttle slide of some length so as to obtain a steady
motion, whilst the bobbin carrier which for its passage requires the shed
to be fully open is considerably shorter, so that the shed need be kept open
to its full extent only whilst this centre part of the shuttle is passing. The
batten may carry several reeds each working with two shuttles driven as
above described and producing separate narrow fabrics. Similar arrange-
ments may be employed when weaving two separate fabrics one over the other
in the same reed.
A NEW OR IMPROVED COUPLING FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES, TRUCKS, AND WAGGONS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Griffish Brewer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
June 1866. A communication from abroad by Alexander Robert Terry,
of Bombay, India.
I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of 89, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "A NEW OR IMPROVED COUPLING FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES, TRUCKS, AND
WAGGONS," (communicated to me from abroad by Alexander Robert Terry, of
Bombay, India,) to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide an efficient coupling, and at the
same time to shorten the distance heretofore generally existing between railway
carriages, trucks, and waggons after being coupled up.
The Invention consists in the employment of two links, one link being
somewhat longer than the other, one link, for example, being, say, fourteen
inches long, the other eighteen inches. These links are united by a lever
wherein there is, by preference, but not necessarily, a slot, and in which one link
is free to travel. This lever is provided with an arm which after the links are
hooked to the drawhooks of the carriage, truck, or waggon, is drawn back or
reversed, thus bringing the two links over one another and reducing the dis-
tance between the carriages by a foot or eighteen inches. The lever is secured
in position by a hook hooking on to one of the links, or by a clip or spring
fastening; but this forming no essential part of the Invention any sort of
fastening may be employed. It will be understood that the lever must be

page_text: long enough to allow of sufficient power being exerted in reversing it to draw
a carriage or truck up if necessary. The slot in which one of the links is free
to slide allows the trucks being forced together in sudden backing, for instance,
when the buffers might be driven quite home. This coupling is not heavier
than the common chain attachment nor of more difficult manufacture, it is
quite as easy to handle and not more liable to get out of order, and presents
greater facilities in coupling and uncoupling, there being no necessity in either
case of backing or moving the train at all.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF PLACING, STOWING, AND EMPLOYING LIFE RAFTS ON BOARD SHIP
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Witherden Hurst, of Deptford, in the County
of Kent, Master Mariner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
METHOD OF PLACING, STOWING, AND EMPLOYING LIFE RAFTS ON BOARD
SHIP."
Sealed the 10th May 1867, and dated the 17th November 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Witherden Hurst at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th November 1866.
I, JOHN WITHERDEN HURST, of Deptford, in the County of Kent, Master
Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE METHOD OF PLACING, STOWING, AND EMPLOYING LIFE RAFTS ON
BOARD SHIP," to be as follows:-
My Invention, although applicable to life rafts or life boats generally, has
reference more particularly to life rafts of a particular construction for which
Her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent were granted to me, dated the 30th of
September 1865, No. 2510, and entitled "Improvements in Life Rafts,"
such life rafts as therein described being more suitable for the object in

page_text: view, viz., facilitating the saving of human life from shipwreck. And my
improvements consist in so placing the life rafts on board ship that they shall
not occupy any of the useful deck space of the ship, as ordinarily the case
with ships' boats, but that they shall form a portion of or be attached to the
waist or other part of the bulwarks or stern or quarters of a ship. By placing
the life rafts on the ship's side and attaching them to stentions (securely, fixed
to the covering board and deck) by a simple cotter or other easily detached
fastening, they will always be ready in case of need for launching into the
water in a few seconds. I prefer to place the life rafts outside stentions fixed
within the line of the bulwarks of the ship, so that when triced up and secured
in place they may be flush or nearly so with the outside line of the bulwarks.
When the life raft is launched the whole of the space which it has occupied
will be available for disembarkation from the ship instead of the ordinary
restricted and limited gangways. It will be advisable to protect the raft
against collision by means of a continuous chock or nosing fixed outside the
gunwale having two or more eyes or ring bolts sunk flush into it, to which
the ends of a.parbuckle or lashing may be secured, which taken over the raft
and made.fast to staples or belaying cleats, attached to the stentions or other
convenient part of the ship will assist in holding the raft firmly in its place.
From the great facility afforded for getting the raft promptly and rapidly into
the water, and also from the increased space given for disembarkation, the
arrangements herein proposed will materially conduce to the more effectual
saving of human life in cases of shipwreck, where frequently only a few seconds
are disposable for preparations for leaving a sinking ship.
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Stead Crosland at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th April
1866.
I, JAMES STEAD CROSLAND, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the County of Lan-
caster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to a mode of "compounding" steam engines.
In compounding engines hitherto, with the view of effecting a saving
of fuel without loss of power, it has been considered indispensable that the
second cylinder, through which the steam is to pass, shall be of much larger
capacity, stroke for stroke, than the cylinder into which the steam first enters,
or that the piston of the second cylinder (if both are of equal capacity) shall
travel at a greater velocity than that of the first cylinder; but my Invention
consists in combining and arranging two cylinders, each of the same capacity,
stroke for stroke, or cylinders of different capacities and speed of piston, if
the product of the capacity multiplied by the speed of the piston is equal, or
nearly so; or in combining and arranging two cylinders where the said pro-
duct of capacity and speed of piston of the first shall slightly exceed that of
the second cylinder into which the steam enters, so that high-pressure steam
will be conveyed to the first cylinder, and therein expanded by cutting off the
supply of steam before the completion of the stroke of the piston, the expanded
steam then passing from the first to the second cylinder, in which the valves
are arranged, so that the steam can enter the cylinder during the entire stroke

page_text: of the piston, or nearly so, from which cylinder the steam may be exhausted
into the atmosphere, or, as I prefer, where greater economy of fuel is desired,
into a condenser connected with an air pump worked by the engine or other
(independent) power.
By my improvements a great saving will be effected in compounding a
existing steam engines having cylinders of the same capacity, and working
stroke for stroke, as no change will be required in the cylinders, or any
alteration in the manner in which the engines are geared together.
AN IMPROVED MATERIAL OR SUBSTANCE TO BE USED INSTEAD OF WHALEBONE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHIPS, WHIP HANDLES, RIDING AND WALKING STICKS, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Keyston at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th September
1866:
I, JOHN KEYSTON, of Kings Norton, in the County of Worcester, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MATERIAL
OR SUBSTANCE TO BE USED INSTEAD OF WHALEBONE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHIPS,
WHIP HANDLES, RIDING AND WALKING STICKS, AND SUCH LIKE ARTICLES," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to produce an elastic or pliable material or
substance to be used in the place of whalebone in the manufacture of whips,
whip handles, riding and walking canes, and for other like articles.
The process of manufacture is as follows:-Having provided a hardened
steel rod, the surface of the said rod is dressed with a solution composed chiefly
of pitch (or other like material), so as to cause the rod to adhere to the prepa-
ration or substance afterwards placed round it, as hereiu-after explained. The
covering or coating consists of a sheet or sheets of ebonite (an article well known
in the market) in a soft or pulpy state. The first sheet or strip is wound
round the rod spirally (after the manner of the threads of a screw). Another
sheet or strip of the material is now placed upon the first, and so on until the
requisite thickness is obtained. The several sheets are made to adhere by a
preparation of naptha which may be spread over the substance by means of a
sponge or cloth. The material (which may be better described in its pre-

page_text: sent state as the half formed whip or stick) is now placed within a mould
of the size and shape which it is desired the article should assume, and
the mould being placed under a press the necessary compression is given.
The article is then placed within a wet cloth of ordinary quality and is
wrapped tightly and carefully therein; the ends of the cloth being secured
the article is next placed in a trough of sand and brickdust, and it is then
submitted to a great heat (say 850°), so that the material may be properly
hardened; when this has been done the article, is taken out of the cloth with
which it has been covered, and the surface is polished in a suitable manner,
first, by means of files, and afterwards by sand paper, and then by rottenstone,
charcoal, and oil. The articles are then mounted in the usual manner, or as
may be desired.
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE FRINGING AND TRIMMING OF SHAWLS, MANTLES, AND OTHER FABRICS REQUIRING FRINGES OR TRIMMINGS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Jonathan Northrop at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th August
1866.
I, JONATHAN NORTHROP, of Thornton, near Bradford, in the County of York,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "APPARATUS TO BE
USED IN THE FRINGING AND TRIMMING OF SHAWLS, MANTLES, AND OTHER FABRICS
REQUIRING FRINGES OR TRIMMINGS," to be as follows:-
My Invention has reference to the fixing or securing fringes or trimmings
already prepared upon shawls, mantles, and other fabrics requiring the like..
This operation it is customary to effect by means of ordinary sewing machines,.
but from the nature of the work it is irregular when completed. To obviate.
this defect is the object of my Invention, and I effect it by the use of a guide.
plate fixed on the front part of the table of the machine. The one part of the
guide, when fixed, lies in the direction of the length of the machine, and may
be made of thin plate or wire of any convenient metal turned over twice,
somewhat in the form of a square within a square. The edge of the article
to be fringed or trimmed is passed into this guide, and thus forms a hem or
turnover preparatory. The remaining part of the guide consists of a piece of
plate or wire (with a simple turnover) placed at right angles to and behind
the previous one, and the depth of such distance from the before-named guide
being regulated as the depth of the fringe or trimming (which is passed
through it) from the edge of the shawl or other article to be trimmed may

page_text: necessitate. By this arrangement, therefore, the relative distances of the
point where the fringe or trimming is sewn to the article under operation
having been determined, the machine being put in motion, uniformity is
attained, and also a much larger quantity of work effected, as on the machine
being put in motion it carries the material forward in the usual manner, and
also does not require that constant attention which is at present the case.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PISTONS, follows:
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Pattison and John Booth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the
9th March 1866.
We, THOMAS PATTISON and JOHN BOOTH, both of Reddish, in the County
of Lancaster, Mechanics, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN METALLIC PISTONS,
follows:-
"
Our Invention is designed for the purpose of maintaining a steam-tight
contact between the packing rings of pistons and the interior surface of the
cylinders within which they move, and consists in the use and application
of a peculiarly constructed ring or rings, which is formed so as to become
elastic and slightly compressible, and from its peculiar form and being com-
pressed it has a constant tendency to press outwards against the internal
surface of the cylinder, and thus a steam-tight contact is effected between the
surfaces. The said ring is to be cut or made from a ring of metal or wood
of somewhat larger diameter than the interior of the cylinder, so that when
formed into an elastic ring and compressed it will expand against the surface

page_text: In this diagram it will be seen that the solid ring or "blank" is cut nearly
through in the direction of line a, b, the part c being left as the only connection
between the top and bottom parts; the spaces d, e, are then made by cutting
diagonally through each half to the line a, b, and removing a portion from the
end of each half. When thus formed the original diameter of the ring may
be reduced by compression, the ring being made elastic, and one or more of
them may be applied to the piston block as required.
CERTAIN IMPROVE MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FANS OR BLOWERS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Bernoulli Barlow at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
March 1866. A communication from abroad by George Leach, of
Elmira, in the County of Chemung, and State of New York, in the
United States of America.
I, HENRY BERNOULLI BARLOW, of the City of Manchester, Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF FANS OR BLOWERS," a communication to me
from abroad by George Leach, of Elmira, in the County of Chemung, and
State of New York, in the United States of America, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to obtain an effective draught and an
uniform current of air, and these results are obtained by certain improve-
ments in the shape and position of the wings of the fan and their mode of
attachment to a centre disc fixed to the axle, the whole revolving in a suitable
case with a spout or chute. The wings of the fan or blower taper towards
their ends, and they are fixed tangentially to the centre disc, which is solid
and is sharp at the periphery, the shape and position of the wings and disc
prevent the counter currents of air which are unavoidable in fans of the
usual construction. The current of air discharged by the fan through the

page_text: spout or chute may be deflected at pleasure by means of an adjustable valve
board applied to the spout or chute, and by properly porportioning the shape of
the wings to the size of the spout or chute an equal pressure of air is maintained
in all parts of the escaping current, which is highly desirable when the fan is
used for cleaning grain, for seed, and for other purposes.
AN IMPROVED SOLDER OR COMPOSITION FOR JOINING CERTAIN METALS, OR UNITING FRACTURES IN CERTAIN METALS, AND FOR SIMILAR USES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Adolpho Lebaudy at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st September
1866. A communication from abroad by Charles Halot, of Brussells,
in the Kingdom of Belgium, Engineer.
I, ADOLPHE LEBAUDY, of 4, Spring Gardens, Charing Cross, in the City of
Westminster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED SOLDER OR COMPOSITION FOR JOINING CERTAIN METALS, OR
UNITING FRACTURES IN CERTAIN METALS, AND FOR SIMILAR USES," to be as
follows:-
The Invention has reference to joining or uniting certain metals, such as
wrought and cast iron and steel, and to repairing defects in the manufacture of
iron and steel plates, goods, or articles, such as holes, cracks, or other failures
therein, by joining or uniting the surfaces where the defect occurs with a solder,
cement, or composition consisting of the herein-under mentioned materials,
in or about the specified proportions, and subject to such moderate variations
as the quantity of composition to be made or applied, or the precise nature or
instance of application may require.
The best general proportions of the materials so far as experiment has yet
shown are in parts by weight:-20 (twenty) of wrought-iron filings; 2 (two)
of salammoniac; 12 (twelve) of borax; 1 (one) of balsam of copaiba,
making a total of thirty-five parts, which are to be incorporated by melting
together and heating until dry or hard.

page_text: In certain cases filings of cast iron, or filings of steel, or a mixture of filings,
whether wrought iron, cast iron and steel, all of them or any two may be
substituted for the wrought-iron filings mentioned in the above table of propor-
tions. The mixture so produced is the solder, cement, or composition, and when
requisite is to be pounded or ground to powder, and for use is to be placed in,
upon, or against the joint or surface or surfaces to be united, or the crack or
hole or defect to be rectified, and the iron or other plate or article, and the
solder is to be heated to a red heat and hammered or pressed together. It will
be found that a moderate heat will suffice to make the composition run or
flow, and when cold the desired union will be attained.
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND DOUBLING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLI- CABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Townsend at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th February
1866.
I, JOHN TOWNSEND, of Shelf, near Halifax, in the County of York,
Worsted Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPINNING AND
DOUBLING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLI-
CABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, firstly, to means of lubricating the spindles and
bushes or bearings of such machinery, and as relates to rotary spindles,
consists in forming or applying an annular dish or reservoir (for the lubri-
cant) on the top end of each bush which the spindle runs in, with a cover
thereto, and one or more perforations in the bottom for the lubricant to.
pass through to the spindle ; and I may or may not also employ a loose ring
or washer as a weight to be placed on the surface of the lubricant for
pressing it through the perforations. As relates to non-rotary or fixed
spindles, I form a similar dish or reservoir on the top end of the warle
tube, and a cover is formed on the bottom end of the bobbin tube, which
may be attached thereto by screw, thread, or lock pin. This kind of dish
or reservoir may be applied to upright shafts or vertical spindles of other
descriptions of machinery.

page_text: The second part of this Invention relates to the ventilation of the caps
employed in spinning and doubling machinery, and consists in perforating the
top part of each cap so that as the bobbin rises and enters into the interior
of the cap the air contained therein may escape through the perforations,
and as the bobbin lowers or is withdrawn from the cap the air may have
free access into the cap through these perforations, thereby avoiding the
rush of air betwixt the bobbin and the side of the cap as at present, which
is very objectionable.
A NEW METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BRIDGES OF A SINGLE REACH OR SPAN FROM ONE BANK TO THE OTHER, THAT IS WITHOUT PILES BETWEEN THE ABUTMENTS
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Charles Boutet at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
February 1866.
I, THOMAS CHARLES BOUTET, of The Glen, Lewisham Road, Greenwich,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
NEW METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING BRIDGES OF A SINGLE REACH OR SPAN FROM ONE
BANK TO THE OTHER, THAT IS WITHOUT PILES BETWEEN THE ABUTMENTS," to be as
follows:-
The bridges will be constructed by means of a metallic weft or woof
stretched from one abutment to the other by means of drums or cylinders
fixed on the said abutments, and put in motion by a steam engine or any
other motive power. The said woof will be composed of metallic wire cables
stretched parallel to each other, following as near as possible the horizontal
line. Each extremity of the said cables will be fixed on the said drums,
which by their rotary movement would wind them round their periphery to
stretch them to their extreme tension. These cables thus stretched would be
interlaced by other cables crossing over and under each other, and vice versa,
so as to form a weft, the strength of which would be in proportion to the
size and number of the cables. This weft would serve to support the
scaffolding on which the bridge would be constructed. These bridges may

page_text: be built with one or several woofs of metallic cables with or without iron
crossings, or with rigid metal, such as cast, wrought, or plate iron. It is
neither therefore the form, the metal, nor the mode of construction which is
the principal object of the present petition.
It is, firstly, the means of constructing bridges without piles as aforesaid, by
means of a wire woof destined to support the scaffolding.
And, secondly, the construction of the body of the said bridges in metallic
woofs with or without the addition of rigid iron in the shape of transoms or
otherwise.
This method of constructing bridges may be applied with great advantage
on narrow as well as on wide rivers, and even for bridging the Dover Straits
or the St. George's Channel, by means of steamers to carry the single cables
from one bank to the other, to be afterwards interwoven as above described.
The bridge to be constructed upon it should be built in the way above
described, or in the ordinary way, but stronger in proportion to the distance
to be traversed. Whilst being placed across wide distances I would support
the cables by hollow floating cylinders at such intervals as might be
necessary, and of such size as to be capable of sustaining the weight of the
cable.