matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENTS IN CONDENSING STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Wild at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd March 1867.
I, JOHN WILD, the younger, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CONDENSING STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in improved arrangements for taking away the
water and air from either the ordinary or surface condensers by means of
valves and receivers, into which receivers the water and air are allowed to
fall, and then prevented from returning by the valves, so as to ensure a nearly
perfect vacuum without the use of the ordinary air pump. To the outside
of an ordinary condenser I connect a valve box having a single slide valve
worked by an eccentric or other means, and place on the box a pipe for
conveying steam from the boiler, and also a pipe connecting the box with
the condenser. The slide valve opens and closes alternately a passage to a
receiver, or two passages to two receivers, each having at the bottom a valve
opening outwards to the atmosphere. To the bottom of the condenser I fix
a pipe leading to a valve box having a valve opening into the top of each
receiver. When the condenser is charged with water and air the slide opens
the passage leading from the receiver or receivers to the condenser, and forms
an equilibrium so that the water and air can fall by their own gravity into
the receiver or receivers and be prevented from returning by the valve in the

page_text: pipe at the bottom of the condenser, and at the return stroke of the valve
the passage to the condenser is closed and a passage opened to the receiver or
receivers, so that steam from the boiler can equalize the pressure and allow
the water to fall out of the receiver or receivers by its own gravity or forced
out by the steam. When this apparatus is applied to surface condensers it
is only necessary to place it at the lowest part of the condenser, where the
water and air are collected, and then the water and air escapes as before
described.
I modify the foregoing arrangement by placing the valve box under the
condenser, and the receiver or receivers immediately below the valve box, and
cause the water to pass from the condenser through one passage to one
receiver, and at the return stroke of the valve through another passage to
another receiver.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEALDS EMPLOYED IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William James Sleath and John
Hargreaves at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 18th March 1867.
We, WILLIAM JAMES SLEATH, of Bacup, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton
Spinner and Manufacturer, and JOHN HARGREAVES, junior, of the same Place,
Reed and Heald Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEALDS EMPLOYED IN
LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
This Invention is designed for the purpose of diminishing and equalizing
the strain of the yarn upon the healds during "shedding," which strain
sometimes becomes excessive and injurious to the healds in consequence of
irregularities in the yarn and from other causes.
The improvements consist in applying to the upper edge of the top heald
laths or shafts, and to the lower edge of the bottom shafts a rib or tube of
india-rubber or other elastic material, that is to say, the tube or rib of india-
rubber is interposed between the shafts and the loops of the heald which pass
round the shafts, so that the pull or strain on the healds is exerted first
upon the elastic surface which yields more or less in accordance with the
amount of strain, by which means great economy is effected in the weaving
of the healds, and more even and regular weaving is accomplished. If
necessary the india-rubber may also be applied at the sides of the laths.
IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING AND PRINTING
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Keymer and William
Whitehead at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 15th March 1867.
We, JAMES KEYMER and WILLIAM WHITEHEAD, Dartford, Kent, Printers,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DYEING AND PRINTING," to be as follows:-
The nature of our Invention for "Improvements in Dyeing and Printing"
is as follows:-Our improvements relate to the effecting of the discharge of
colours from silks, flannels, or other fabrics which have been dyed or printed
with any
of the colours which are known in commence as aniline colours, or
coal tar colours.
In carrying out our Invention we proceed in the following manner :-We
first dye or print the silk, flannel, or other fabric with any one of the aniline
or coal tar colours in the ordinary manner; we then print by blocks, plates, or
rollers in the ordinary manner upon the silk; flannel, or other fabric so dyed
or printed with any one of the following discharge compositions
First, carbonate of soda, whiting, and gum, or other similar substance mixed
together with water in the usual manner.
Second, carbonate of soda, whiting, and flake white, or other similar
substance mixed together with gum or other similar substance and water in
the usual manner.

page_text: Third, carbonate of potash in solution in water added to effervescing
citrate of magnesia and calcined magnesia, the whole incorporated with gum
or other similar substance and water in the usual manner.
Many other alkaline mixtures may be employed, but we have found the
above to be convenient in practice.
When the goods are dry we subject them to the action of steam in the
ordinary steam box. Across the bottom of this box and about 6 inches above
the steam pipe we stretch a felt or flannel. Before the goods are introduced
we sprinkle in powder on this felt some yellow or red prussiate of potash or
cyanide of potassium, or some other cyanide, but preferably red prussiate of
potash. The action of the steam upon these substances causes them to give
out a gas or vapour, which acting upon the discharge composition causes the
colour to be discharged from the silk, flannel, or other fabric in the places
where the composition was printed. We also sometimes proceed in the
following manner: We print upon the silk, flannel, or other fabric which
has been dyed or printed with an aniline or other coal tar colour with the
following composition, namely, some one of the salts called cyanides, but
preferably cyanide of potassium, together with whiting and flake white or
other convenient materials for thickening, and gum and water as usual.
When the goods are dry we steam them in the usual manner, and the
colour is then found to be discharged where the composition was printed.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING BOATS, SHIPS, AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Percy Crause at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th March 1867.
I, PERCY CRAUSE, of 16, Dorset Place, Dorset Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING BOATS, SHIPS, AND OTHER VESSELS," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists in the adaptation and application to boats, ships,
and other vessels of a screw propeller or screw propellers working on a shaft
or shafts, portions of which propeller or propellers work in boxes or cavities
formed in the ship or vessel on either side of the keel, the remaining portion
or portions of the screw propellers working as usual in the water outside. By
this mode of adapting and applying screw propellers the ordinary "slip" of
the screw is diminished, and consequently the speed of vessels diminished.
For this purpose a box or cavity is formed in the ship or vessel for a portion
of each screw propeller to work in. By this arrangement one or more screw
propellers are or may be fixed on a shaft mounted in suitable bearings on
each side of the keel, each of such shafts being driven either by manual or
mechanical power. By means of the arrangement above stated facility is
given for multiplying the number of propellers in proportion to the size of the
vessel.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN CASES AND BOXES FOR HOLDING NEEDLES, PINS, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Reuben Young at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st May 1867.
I, REUBEN YOUNG, of Redditch, in the County of Worcester, Fancy Needle
Case Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CASES AND BOXES FOR HOLDING NEEDLES, PINS, AND OTHER ARTICLES,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of the improvements, herein-after explained, in cases
and boxes for holding needles, pins, and other articles, such, for example, as
postage and receipt stamps, cards, photographs, and cigars.
In constructing, according to my Invention, a case or holder for needles I
arrange the parts in the following manner :-The case or holder consists of a
flat and nearly closed receptacle somewhat larger than the packet of needles
to be held in it. A portion of one side of the case is cut away near one end
so as to expose the heads and other part of the packet of needles; this cut
away part constitutes the front of the case; the back of the case is jointed
opposite the bottom of the cut away part. By means of the joint the whole
of the upper part of the case can be thrown back and the upper part of the
needles exposed to view; within the fixed part of the case and in front of the
packet of needles is a flat slide having a tab with which to move it; when
the needle case is closed this slide is raised by its tab and covers the upper
part of the needles, and by engaging under the edges of the cut away part
prevents the upper part of the case being thrown back; when it is wished to
gain access to the needles the slide is pushed down by its tab and the upper
part of the case thrown back on its joint, the upper parts of the needles are

page_text: thus exposed; in order to close the case the upper part is raised and the slide
lifted by its tab. The needles are secured in a wrapper which exposes their
upper ends, and the said wrapper with its needles is placed or fixed in
the case.
In constructing, according to my Invention, cases or boxes for holding loose
pins and other loose, articles, the parts are arranged essentially in a manner
similar to that of the case already described, excepting that I make the case
or-box-larger-and-of-greater-depth-and-dispense-with-the-joint_by_which_one_
part of the case or box can be thrown back. The box has part of its top or
front cut away and is provided with a slide moved by a tab, by which the cut
away part can be closed or opened. Although I generally make the needle
cases with a joint, and the cases or boxes for holding loose articles without a
joint, as described, yet I do not limit myself thereto, as both needle cases and
other cases or boxes may be made either with or without joints.
IMPROVEMENTS IN UNIONS OR APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER PIPES OR TUBES, AND FOR STOPPING THE ENDS THEREOF
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Nathan Thompson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th July
1867.
I, NATHAN THOMPSON, of 15, Abbey Gardens, St. John's Wood, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN UNIONS OR APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING TOGETHER PIPES OR
TUBES, AND FOR STOPPING THE ENDS THEREOF," to be as follows:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in unions or apparatus for
connecting together pipes or tubes, and for stopping the ends thereof, and
relates to improvements upon an Invention for which I obtained Provisional
Protection on the 8th day of June last (No. 1694).
The Invention consists, firstly, in the employment of a ring or collar fixed in
the middle of the centre sleeve or tube of the union to act as a stop to
the packing, but so as to allow of the free passage of the tubes through such
ring.
The Invention also consists in the application of a packing composed of a
ring or tube of soft metal or other suitable material, the inner surface of
which fits the tubes or pipes to be connected together, whilst the outer
surface thereof at one or both ends is of a conical form; and in order to
compress such packing around the tubes or pipes I employ rings or tubes
which are conical on their inner surfaces, and which are connected to or acted.
upon by a screwed sleeve or tube. Or instead of employing a plain ring or

page_text: collar acting as a stop to the packing, as described in the first part of this
Specification, I sometimes form such ring or collar of a conical form to act
upon the packing, and thereby compress it around the tube or at that part.
Similar arrangements of apparatus may be employed for stopping or closing
the ends of pipes or tubes.
IMPROVEMENTS IN CROQUET MALLETS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Asser at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th October
1867.
I, JAMES ASSER, of the Firm of Asser and Sherwin, of No. 81, Strand, in
the County of Middlesex, Manufacturers of Games, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CROQUET MALLETS," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements applicable to croquet
mallets, the object being to preserve the croquet mallets and balls from
fracture or indentation, and also to enable the game of croquet to be played
without the noise occasioned by the blows of the mallets on the balls, the
sound of the mallet striking the ball being almost entirely obviated, and the
game played with greater accuracy and precision.
I propose to cover the striking faces or ends of the mallets with leather,
india-rubber, cork, and gutta percha, or their compounds, or with any other
suitable yielding material capable of deadening the sound of the blow of the
mallets.
The covering is to be fixed to the mallets by means of any suitable adhesive
cement, such as glue, or a cement impervious to water, or fixed by means
of pins or other fastenings, and the leather or other covering may be stamped
out with a die to the requisite size, and then curved in a press to suit
or fit the rounded end of the mallet, whereby the covering will become

page_text: solidified and strengthened and set to the form of the mallet face. If leather
only is used it may be saturated with a waterproof composition or solution,
and dried previously to its application to the mallets, in order to render it
always elastic and incapable of absorbing moisture.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF BUFFALO HORN AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR WHALEBONE
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Boyles Roby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th April
1867.
I, JOHN BOYLES ROBY, of Featherstone Street, St. Luke's, in the County
of Middlesex, Whalebone Cutter, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF BUFFALO HORN AS
A SUBSTITUTE FOR WHALEBONE," to be as follows:-
The said Invention consists in certain improved methods of treating
buffalo horn, whereby that substance is fitted for employment as a sub-
stitute for whalebone in stays and corsets, bandages, dresses, and other
articles. The method bitberto adopted in this country for preparing buffalo
horn for such purposes has been to use horns the tips of which bave been
cut off as far as the hollow portion, and having cut the same open to dip
them into oil and subject them to the influence of heat. The horns are then
placed between hot metal plates and pressed flat, and afterwards boiled until
soft enough to be cut into strips, which are again subjected to heat, and when
sufficiently soft are cut into the desired lengths. A great objection to this
process is that the horn retains all the imperfections arising from the external
inequalities thereof, and that the strips of horn prepared as before mentioned
curl and warp upon being exposed to the action of the air.
By the present Invention these evils are entirely avoided by adopting the
following mode of treatment and preparation :-The horns are taken either
as usually imported with the tips cut off or in their perfect state, and are sub-

page_text: mitted to the action of a circular saw, whereby the external inequalities of the
horn are first removed and the horn afterwards cut into slabs. The slabs which
have been thus prepared are then soaked in cold water, and afterwards taken
to a bench furnished with a knife or cutting blade, by which they are cut to
the required width and length; the strips of horn having been so cut are
afterwards scraped and smoothed with glass or other suitable substance by
manual labour, and are then ready for the purposes for which they may be
required. The whole of the process having been conducted without the appli-
cation or use of heat the horn is unaffected by the action of the atmosphere,
and retains its form and straightness without any tendency to warp or curl,
thus possessing great superiority over the horn as usually prepared. It should
be observed that for certain purposes, such as, for instance, the construction of
surgical bandages, the non-liability to warp and curl is a quality of especial
importance.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN WATER METERS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Clayton and William
Marbeck at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 25th September 1867.
We, GEORGE CLAYTON and WILLIAM MARBECK, both of Leeds, in the County
of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WATER METERS," to be as follows:-
The purport of our Invention is to measure water by an apparatus which
is at once simple, compact, and of economical construction. We effect this by
placing upon a cylinder of small dimensions, say two inches diameter by six
and a quarter in length, a valve chest having ports similar to those of an
ordinary steam engine slide valve, that is to say, two inlet ports connected by
means of the valve itself with an exhaust port. The valve is worked from a
small transverse shaft passing through the admission chamber and connected
with it by means of catch levers attached on the outside to a bearing having an
angular toothed formation and supported by small runners projecting from the
side. We impart to a longitudinal shaft extending the whole length of the
cylinder, and connected to force pistons working through the ends of the same,
a reciprocating motion. A water piston works freely within the cylinder; ' this
latter piston is constructed of two metallic plates, perforated and having a
ferrule to keep them apart, whilst leathers are flanged outwards and secured
in the centre of the piston, the flanges being kept tight against the cylinder
by the water admitted through the perforations.

page_text: The action is as follows:-The water is admitted alternately by each port
and by the alternate or reciprocatory action of the pistons fixed in the ends of
the cylinder; the water piston (so termed for distinction's sake) accordingly
forces out the water through the several ports, each stroke of course indicating
a given amount of water which is registered by any of the ordinary clock
apparatus used for such indications.
APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO THE HEATING OF GREENHOUSES, CAUSING BOTTOM HEAT TO PLANTS, AND OTHER HEATING PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Wavish at the Office of
ibe Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th August
1867.
I, JAMES WAVISH, of Torpoint, in the County of Cornwall, Ironmonger, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "APPARATUS APPLICABLE
TO THE HEATING OF GREENHOUSES, CAUSING BOTTOM HEAT TO PLANTS, AND OTHER
HEATING PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
of any similar character.
The apparatus for heating greenhouses consists of a peculiar arrangement
of stove and hot water or liquid boiler, such stove being devised and adapted
for being heated by lamps burning mineral or other oil, or lamps or burners
Within a stove case, which is provided at or near
its base with air openings, is placed the lamp, which in lieu of a glass chimney
should have one of tin or other metal. Over the chimney, and within the stove
case the boiler is placed, such boiler being tubular and having the entrance
(of conical form by preference) to one of the tubes situate just over the lamp
chimney, the other tubes which are in connexion with that one above-mentioned
passing through the boiler and opening into the stove case with caps which
diminish the air way but do not wholly close their open ends in order that
the heated air from the lamp may not be met by colder air from the body of
the stove case with full power. At top of the stove case openings are provided

page_text: for the exit of air and vapour from the interior thereof, and from the body of
the boiler proceed flow and return pipes which are to be connected with a
cistern for the propagation of plants or with other similar hot water or liquid
arrangement.
The arrangements for other heating purposes are similar to the above,
except that the cistern is then usually dispensed with.
AN IMPROVED SPRING HINGE
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th
November 1867.-A communication from abroad by Jehiel Keeler
Hoyt, of the City and State of New York, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Con-
sulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED SPRING HINGE," a communication, to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to a simple device which is well adapted to take
the place of ordinary door and other hinges, or may be used in connection
with the same simply as a spring.
The said Invention consists chiefly in constructing and arranging the two
parts or leaves of the hinge in such a manner that one part or a portion of
the same forms the spring to act upon the other part. The two parts or
leaves of the binge may be jointed together with a pin passing through holes
formed in each part in the usual manner. In this case one of the said leaves
is provided with a projecting piece which is bent around the joint pin; this
bent piece lies in contact with a straight tongue which forms the spring
on the other leaf of the hinge. The bent. piece is so formed that the
hinge cannot be opened or closed without depressing the said spring whose
strength and elasticity is adapted to offer the required resistance to the
movements of the hinge in either direction.
In hinges for house doors and like purposes the spring and bent piece are
preferably so formed and arranged that the door will close unless pushed

page_text: widely open and will remain either closed or wide open, or midway between
those two portions as desired.
When my improved device is to be used simply as a spring the two parts
or leaves of the hinge instead of being jointed together with a pin in the
usual manner, one of the leaves may be a plain flat piece of metal, one end of
which has a lateral projection or flat stud at each side. The other leaf is also
a flat piece of metal which is formed with two side pieces with the tongue or
spring in the centre. The space between the two side pieces is made wide
enough to receive the other leaf conveniently between them. The end of the
side pieces is bent at right angles with the flat surface of the
lateral projection of the other leaf rests in the corners formed
the said ends, the said leaf then lying between the spring and the two side
pieces with the spring pressing upon the extreme edge of the said leaf. The
lateral projections on the same are so formed and arranged that the hinge
cannot be moved in either direction without overcoming the force of the
spring, and can therefor be adjusted to remain open or closed as desired.
same, and the
by turning up
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORES FOR THE SOCKETS OF METAL PIPES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Hodgson Lishman and Edward Chambers,
of Stockton-on-Tees, in the County of Durham, Engineers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORES FOR THE
SOCKETS OF METAL PIPES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 23rd July 1867, and dated the 26th January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Hodgson Lish-
man and Edward Chambers at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 26th January 1867.
We, MATTHEW HODGSON LISHMAN and EDWARD CHAMBERS, of Stockton-on-
Tees, in the County of Durham, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CORES POR
THE SOCKETS OF METAL PIPES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be
as
follows:-
Our Invention relates to the casting of socket pipes vertically with the
sockets down. Hitherto in casting socket pipes in this manner it has been
usual to "sweep" the core of the socket in wet loam, but it has been found
very difficult to make pipes of small diameter thus, and almost impossible to
make them less than 8 inches in diameter.

page_text: of cores for making the
Upon a casting consisting
two or other convenient
Now our Invention consists in the manufacture
sockets of pipes with the sockets down as follows:
of a bed and a central hollow column we place
pumber of segments constituting a tube with a bottom flange, the tube having
an inner diameter equal to that of the socket to be made, and fitting over the
column above mentioned so as to leave an annular space between them; into
this annular space we "ram" sand to form the core of the socket instead of
making the core with loam as hitherto. The rim of the bed of the casting has
several vertical projections, and the flange of the segments has corresponding
notches which come against the projections so as to keep the segments in
place. The casting has feet to keep the work off damp ground.
By means of our Invention we can make socket pipes of any diameter with
the socket down, and in dry sand instead of loam.
A NEW OR IMPROVED COMBINED APPARATUS FOR SOWING SEEDS, HOEING, RAKING, AND OTHER HORTICUL- TURAL PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Griffiths at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th May
1867.
I, JAMES GRIFFITHS, of Wickham Market, in the County of Suffolk, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
COMBINED APPARATUS FOR SOWING SEEDS, HOEING, RAKING, AND OTHER HORTICUL-
TURAL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of a new or combined apparatus
or instrument for the purpose of sowing seeds, hoeing, raking, drilling, potting,
cutting, and other gardening or horticultural purposes, and consists of a wooden
handle and stock at the end of which a hoe is fixed by means of a metal
socket, the top of the hoe blade being formed of a triangular shape with two
points serves as a crocking or potting iron. A female screw is cut in the
centre of the hoe and potting iron into which the stem of a rake and
drill is screwed, the rake and drill being formed on curved arms diverging
from each other at the end of the stem; the seed box is placed on the
top of the stock on a bridge, and is secured by a pin passing through metallic
flanges of the seed box and through the stock, the pin being attached to
a short length of chain from the handle. The seed box is provided with
seed sifters perforated with different sizes of holes, according to the seed used,
and the bottom of the box is likewise perforated with apertures for the seed to
fall through; these apertures are closed by sliding plates in such manner that
the rows of seed may be regulated to the width required. A snail hammer or

page_text: pricker is fixed by a shoe, and screws to the under part of the handle; and
under the stock a Turkish saw blade is carried by inserting one end (which is
a screw) in a cavity in the stock and the point of the blade under a leather
strap. The knife may take the place of the rake and drill by screwing it into
the centre of the hoe and potting iron. This gardening implement is intended
for domestic use; it is very light, and only those parts required may be
employed at one time, the others being removed.
IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Crossley at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th November
1867.
I, JAMES CROSSLEY, of Heckmondwike, in the County of York, Manager to
"The Heckmondwike Iron Works Company, Limited," do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to looms for weaving textile fabrics in which different
colors or kinds of weft are used, and for which purpose "rising boxes" or
change shuttle boxes are employed, and also jacquard apparatus or other
indicating or pattern surface for selecting the kind or colour of weft required,
and my object is to simplify the construction and thereby reduce the friction
and cosequently the power required for driving the same, also to facilitate
the readjustment or rearrangement of the several parts of the loom when the
weft becomes used up or broken, the loom having continued in motion for
several picks after the occurrence of such deficiency of weft; for which
purpose I dispense with the ordinary conbination of gearing or apparatus for
working the change boxes and for moving the picking levers into and out of
position to be acted on by the picking tappets, and instead I employ a new
combination consisting of a shaft placed (by preference) under the crank shaft,
on which at each end is fixed one of the cylinders carrying a chain of tappets
(as usually employed) for operating on the levers which actuate the change
boxes. One of these cylinders is made to form one part of a clutch or

page_text: coupling box, the other part of the coupling box being capable of sliding
said shaft into or out of gear, and attached to which is a star wheel. A pin
wheel is attached to a spur tooth wheel and mounted on a stud fixed to the
loom end; the pin wheel gears with the said star wheel and the spur wheel
with another spur wheel fixed on the crank shaft by which motion is com-
municated to the shaft and cylinders which carry the chains of tappets. A
ratchet wheel is also fixed on this shaft which enables the attendant by means
of a catch and a combination of levers and rods to turn the chains of tappets
in the contrary direction when required. The catch box is moved into or out
of gear by means of rods and levers connected to a shaft on which is fixed a
hand lever to be operated by the attendant, and by this shaft and other rods
the change shuttle boxes are lifted out of or lowered into contact with the
chains of tappets. The picking levers are moved into and out of position for
contact with the picking tappets by levers hinged to the loom ends and
connected by rods to levers operated by the jacquard apparatus or other
pattern surface.
IMPROVEMENTS IN OPTICAL APPARATUS DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE PERSISTENCE OF VISION
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Sutton at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th September
1867.
I, CHARLES SUTTON, of 108, Holloway Road, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
OPTICAL APPARATUS DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE THE PERSISTENCE OF VISION," to
be as follows:-
I employ for this purpose a metal frame with a suitable handle on which is
mounted a toothed wheel and axis capable of being rotated by a crank. With
the toothed wheel there gears a pinion the axis of which is also carried by the
frame from which it projects so as to be able to receive upon it a number of
suitably prepared models or forms, each of which is made with a socket to fit
the end of the axis of the pinion. These models or forms which may be very
various consist in each case of a strip of metal or other material bent to such
a shape and so colored that when rapidly rotated (every point in the object
describing a circle which in consequence of the rapidity of the motion is visible
to the eye) the illusion is obtained of a symetrical solid of a circular section.
According to the shape given to the model or form so the illusion will vary.
IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Weare at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th August
1867.
I, ROBERT WEARE, of 22, St. John's Square, Wolverhampton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES," to
be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in furnaces. In arranging
steam boiler and other furnaces I form the fire-door as an open frame,
into which on the side next the fire a number of plates of zig-zag form
are fitted so as to leave air passages of a similar form between them.
On the outside of the door there are louvre plates, by which the admission of
air to the passages may be regulated. The fire-bars are cast with curved
notches in their sides at short distances apart, so that when the bars are set
up for use they form a grate or surface with numerous passages through it
for the passage of air to the fuel, in place of a few long and narrow slits such
as there are in a grate or surface formed by ordinary fire-bars. A water
cistern with a supply and an overflow pipe is provided in the ash-pit beneath
the fire-bars.
IMPROVEMENTS IN LEVELLING AND CERTAIN OTHER MATHEMATICAL INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George White at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th February 1867.
-A communication from abroad by Mr. François Delsarte, of Paris,
France.
I, GEORGE WHITE, of 68, Queen Street, Cheapside, in the City of London,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LEVELLING AND CERTAIN OTHER MATHEMATICAL INSTRUMENTS,"
communicated to me from abroad by Mr. François Delsarte, of Paris, France,
to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to pendulum levelling instruments, and also to
sextants, theodolites, and other mathematical instruments for measuring angles
of elevation, and their object consists in an improved arrangement of these
instruments, which allow of reading by means of them much smaller sub-
divisions than may be read on the graduated limb of such instruments when
constructed in the hitherto known manner. For this purpose my improved
instruments instead of having only one graduated circle, limb, or index are
provided with two or more of them arranged into a series in a manner similar
to that of the tell-tale or registering index of gas meters, viz., in such manner
that if, for instance, the primary graduated circle or index shows the degrees
or other primary divisions, the next following graduated circle of the series
shows the tenth parts or other suitable fractions of these primary divisions;
the next graduated circle on its turn.showing fractions of the second one, and so
on, each succeeding graduated circle, limbs, or index of the series thus forming
a fractional or subsidiary scale for the preceding one, the divisions on each of

page_text: the graduated circles, limbs, or indexes of the series being shown by needles
or pointers, each of which revolving in the usual manner over its respective
graduated limb or index, whilst by means of suitable gearing the axis of the
needles or pointers are set in communication together, and with the pendulum
of a pendulum-levelling instrument, or with the vertical graduated limb of a
sextant, a theodolite, or other instrument of the same class, so that the
slightest motion imparted to the said pendulum or to the said graduated
vertical limb will at once be communicated to the various needles or pointers
of the series, and cause them to revolve over and show on their respective
indexes the various divisions wished to be ascertained.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLOURS, AND THE Ex- TRACTION OF COLOURING AND DYEING MATTERS FROM COAL OIL, SHALE OIL, OR COAL TAR COMBINED WITH PEAT OR TURF, AND FOR A COMBINATION OF ANY OF THESE SUBSTANCES, AND ALSO FOR THE UTILIZATION OF THE RESIDUE FOR THE PURPOSE OF WHAT IS KNOWN AS MOULDER'S BLACKING AFTER THE COLOURING AND DYEING MATTERS HAVE BEEN EXTRACTED
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Vincent Lee and Charles
Edmund Lankester at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 20th April 1867.
We, THOMAS VINCENT LEE, of Macclesfield, in the County of Chester, Civil
Engineer, and CHARLES EDMUND LANKESTER, of Carlton Road, Peckham, in
the County of Surry, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COLOURS, AND THE Ex-
TRACTION OF COLOURING AND DYEING MATTERS FROM COAL OIL, SHALE OIL, OR
COAL TAR COMBINED WITH PEAT OR TURF, AND FOR A COMBINATION OF ANY OF THESE
SUBSTANCES, AND ALSO FOR THE UTILIZATION OF THE RESIDUE FOR THE PURPOSE OF
WHAT IS KNOWN AS MOULDER'S BLACKING AFTER THE COLOURING AND DYEING
MATTERS HAVE BEEN EXTRACTED," to be as follows:-
We first prepare the peat or turf in a manner somewhat similar to that
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Thomas Vincent Lee,
bearing date the 25th February 1863, for, among other matters, "retorts or
kilns for drying peat or turf, and making peat or turf charcoal through the
agency of hydrocaloric or superheated steam, and for collecting the products
of distillation;" and also similar to the methods described in the Speci-
fications of a Patent granted to the said Thomas Vincent Lee, bearing date
23rd September 1865, " for improvements in the manufacture of firelights and
fuel from peat and petroleum or other oleagenous substances."

page_text: The leading feature of the Patents referred to is the method of drying peat by
hydrocaloric or superheated steam, and which is, with modifications, to suit
the present purpose, similarly employed in carrying out the present improve-
ments for the manufacture of colours. When the peat or turf has by this
means been thoroughly deprived of moisture it is immersed in coal oil, shale oil,
or coal tar raised to the proper temperature by superheated steam.
The peat
so immersed having become charged with the proper amount of either of the
substances named (no given quantity can be assigned, as the character of peat
or turf is variable) it is passed to a retort, and pyoligneous acid is driven off in
combination with the colouring matter contained by the oils or tar. The
product thus procured may be used in this state as a dyeing material, producing
a very beautiful black, or it can be farther prepared by the addition of any
one of several mineral acids by the application of which varied colours are
produced. The residue or remainder after the colouring matter has been
extracted by the method described makes an excellent moulder's blacking,
and can be employed for a variety of other useful purposes.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADIES' SKIRTS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Alexander Lyman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
June 1867. A communication from abroad by Thomson, Frères, of
Paris, in the Empire of France.
I, HENRY ALEXANDER LYMAN, of Cheapside, in the City of London, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF LADIES' SKIRTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction of ladies' skirts that will
readily admit of being cleaned when soiled at or near the bottom edge.
The improved skirt consists of an ordinary skeleton or other skirt extending
from the waist downwards some two-thirds, more or less, of the full length.
required for the complete skirt, to which is attached as a continuation a cloth
skirt made with tucks, guides, or other receptacles for steel hoops,. which are
intended to be withdrawn to allow of this lower part of the skirt being:
detached when required to be washed. The ends of the hoops are fitted the
one with a tubular slotted socket, and the other with a cylindrical plug:
carrying a bayonet-joint pin for attaching their ends together when the hoops-
are inserted in the skirt. The tubular slotted end has a return to receive and.
prevent the escape of the pin which projects laterally from the solid termination.
of the hoop, and to ensure the piu remaining in the return of the slot a
cushion of elastic material is fitted into the tube to receive the cylindrical!

page_text: plug. This cushion yields sufficiently to enable the pin to pass to the return
slot, and when there it will force the pin forward and retain it in the return
slot.
The cloth skirt is connected to the skeleton or upper skirt by means of
buttons, hooks and eyes, or other attachment.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Henry Beckingham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st March 1867.
I, CHARLES HENRY BECKINGHAM, of 415, Strand, in the County of Mid-
dlesex, Tobacconist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BILLIARD TABLES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to assist the player, and more particularly a
beginner, in judging the angle at which a ball must be struck to make a
cannon or a losing hazard, and also to assist him in making the necessary
allowance when playing at a different angle to that required for a half ball.
Hitherto ordinarily the pockets and the straight and semicircular "balls "
line, and the winning and losing spots have been the only guides or assistance
in this respect.
The Invention comprises the providing permanent lines, spots, or marks
around the table either at equal or unequal distances; these may be made like
a scale, or otherwise, on the (generally) vertical face of the cushions, or on the
upper side, or partly on each, or on the cloth covering the floor or surface of
the table near the cushions, or on the framing surrounding the cushions, in
which latter case ivory or other button-like knobs or projections may con-
veniently be employed.
The Invention also comprises providing additional lines or marks on the
cloth covering the floor or surface of the table; these may conveniently be
made from the winning and losing spots to two or more of the pockets or
otherwise.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES OR ROAD LOCOMOTIVES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Nathaniel Clayton and Joseph
Shuttleworth at the 'Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 8th July 1867.
We, NATHANIEL CLAYTON and JOSEPH SHUTTLEWORTH, of Lincoln, in the
County of Lincoln, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES OR ROAD LOCOMOTIVES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in traction engines or road
locomotives. In order to obviate the necessity of gearing together the two
carrying and driving wheels on the opposite sides of a traction engine with
differential or compensating gear, but to allow nevertheless the traction engine
to be steered with facility, the driving wheels are actuated separately each by
its own steam cylinder and gear.
The arrangement is by preference as follows:-Each of the piston rods is
by a connecting rod caused to drive a crank on a shaft, which also carries a
By wheel and a pinion for a pitch chain. The chain drives a chain wheel on
an intermediate axis, and fast with the chain wheel is a pinion driving a spur
wheel ou the driving or carrying wheel of the machine. The two cranks are.
on separate axes, but one intermediate axis carries both of the chain wheels
and pinions; one chain wheel and pinion is fast on the axis and the other is
free to turn upon it. We do not confine ourselves to the pitch chain as

page_text: toothed gear may be used. Similarly one of the driving or carrying wheels of
the machine is fast on its axle whilst the other is able to turn. When it is
desired that the two engines should be coupled for the purpose of taking the
whole power from one side the two cranks may be coupled by means of a drag
link or otherwise, the traction gear then being disconnected.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS GLOBES AND OTHER HOLLOW FORMS FOR GASELIERS, CHANDELIERS, CANDLES, LAMPS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Sibbit Landells at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th November
1867.
I, SIBBIT LANDELLS, of 33, High Street, Gateshead, in the County of
Durham, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS GLOBES AND OTHER HOLLOW FORMS FOR
GASELIERS, CHANDELIERS, CANDLES, LAMPS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
In the manufacture of glass globes, moons, and other hollow forms for
chandeliers, lamps, and other similar purposes, I propose to blow the article
into a suitable mould not formed exactly after the ultimate form the article
will assume when finished, but with such additions as may clearly mark and
define the size and position of the two holes one at the top for the escape of
heated air and gases, and the other at the bottom for connection with the
gallery or glass holder attached to the lamp, in order that with the least possible
labour these holes may be accurately and rapidly formed.
According to one method of carrying out my improvements I construct a
mould of brass, iron, or other suitable metal, which will cause the glass when
blown into it to assume the form shown at Figure 1 of the accompanying
Drawing. The blow pipe used is attached to the top, and it will be seen that
the form is such that a grove a is formed round the top at its juncture with

page_text: the blow pipe; another groove a¹ is also formed round the bottom by the
addition of a small cup or projection. When the globe is blown to this form
and otherwise finished the cup at the bottom is first cut off whilst the article
is hot by simply wetting a pointed tool and passing it round the groove a¹,
causing the cup to fall off. The same process is afterwards applied to the
groove at the top when the glass is formed perfect in shape with the holes
correctly placed. The bottom may also be blown into a mould so as to assume
the form shown in Figure 2 of the Drawing, the cup being inverted and
leaving a projection b at the bottom, this projection being afterwards ground off,
the cup will fall out, and the top having been treated as before described the
globe will be perfect. The bottom may be also blown as shown at Figure 3,
and by placing it when hot on a cold metal ring of the exact size of the hole
required the contact of the cold metal will cause a portion of the glass to fall
out, and thus form the hole.
It will be seen from this description that the blow pipe may be used from
the bottom of the article in place of the top, so as to reverse the operations.
By suitably arranging the mould the glass can be formed either with patterns
cast on or plain.