matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES, AND IN THE PREVENTION OF SMOKE
Year: 1854

page_text: This Invention received Provisional Protection,
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Muir Campbell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th September 1854.
I, WILLIAM MUIR CAMPBELL, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Furnace Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FURNACES OR FIRE-PLACES, AND IN THE PREVENTION OF
SMOKE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates and is applicable to all kinds of furnaces, and has for
its object the prevention or entire combustion of the smoke.
It consists in introducing air at the back of the fire space by means of a pipe
or pipes of metal or earthenware, which are laid for some distance inside the
flue or flues, so that the air may become heated before it issues from the
pipe, and mixes with the flames and heated gases. In fitting up this smoke-
consuming apparatus, it is unnecessary to take down furnaces already erected,
as the pipes can be introduced into the flues with great facility, it being merely
requisite to break holes through the flue partitions where the air pipes are to
pass. These pipes are made to communicate with the external atmosphere,
and they may be fitted with dampers to regulate the supply of air.
AN IMPROVED LEVIGATING MACHINE
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Joseph Curtis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
March 1854.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH CURTIS, of 23, Birchin Lane, in the City of London,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED LEVIGATING MACHINE" to be as follows:-
I support on a suitable frame a hollow case, which may be of cylindrical.or
other suitable form, in which is placed a runner of corresponding form. The
outside of the case may be provided with teeth or other appliances, which are
to be acted upon by a pinion or other corresponding appliance, which upon
motion being given thereto will cause such case to rotate; and a wheel or
wheels or other appliance placed upon the axis of the runner will cause the
runner to rotate as well as the case; and the rate of motion, either of the
runner or the case, may be the same, or be made to differ by means of suitable
gearing. Motion may be given to both the runner and the case by giving of
motion to either one of them only when both are in contact. The amount of
pressure or impact of the runner and the case is produced by weighted levers
or the equivalents of the same.
The substance to be operated on is placed in the case, and is levigated by
the action of the said case and runner.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF FITTING UP OR FIXING THE BERTHS IN EMIGRANT SHIPS OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1854

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles O'Neill at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th August 1854.
I, CHARLES O'NEILL, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Joiner,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OR METHOD OF FITTING UP OR FIXING THE BERTHS IN EMIGRANT SHIPS OR
OTHER VESSELS" to be as follows:-
Instead of the usual method of fixing berths in emigrant ships and other
vessels, and making them quite stationary, I propose to fix and make stationary
only a portion of each berth, and make the other part so as to slide in and out
either on the lower or upper part of the decks; by this means of sliding the
berths inwards, I gain more accommodation in room and better ventilation of
the cabins, or more space if on deck, when they are not in use, than is obtained
by the present method of construction.
7
CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WINDING YARNS OR THREADS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Godfrey Ermen at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd June
1854.
I, GODFREY ERMEN, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton
Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WINDING YARNS OR THREADS" to be as
follows:-
My Invention applies to winding yarn or threads upon flat surfaces, such as
cards, or other suitable flat substitutes. By the peculiar arrangement of such
machinery or apparatus I am enabled to wind either one single card, or a
number of cards or suitable substitutes; at the same timo the yarn or thread is
wound on to the cards by menus of "flyers," which are set in motion by small
wheels, such wheels or "flyers" being regulated by other gearing, which stays
their motion after any given length of yarn is wound on. Supposing a machine
is made to wind on six cards at a time, I am enabled by a peculiar arrange-
ment to put in other empty cards in proper places during the time that the six
cards are getting filled or wound on, by turning a handle at the end of a
revolving shaft on which the other cards are supported; by means of blades or
otherwise, I bring these two cards into a fitting position to take the place of
the six cards already filled.
AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN BEAMS OR GIRDERS FOR BRIDGES AND OTHER STRUCTURES
Year: 1854

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Simpson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th September
1854.
I, WILLIAM SIMPSON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Agri-
cultural Implement Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN BEAMS OR GIRDERS FOR
BRIDGES AND OTHER STRUCTURES" to be as follows:-
The Drawing represents in side elevation a portion of a girder, constructed
according to my said Invention. a, a, represents a tubular bridge or girder,
which may be constructed in any convenient manner; b, b', is a triangular
beam or truss (a portion of which only is shewn), which said beam supports
the tubular girder at c, c; the tie rod b' is adjusted by the screw boxes d, d;
and the vertical supports e, e, are adjusted by the screw nuts f,f.
The essential novelty in my Invention consists in the combination of a...
triangular beam with a tubular beam or girder, and the method described of
connecting the said triangular beam with the said tubular beam or girder. I
have not thought it necessary to represent more than about one-half of my
Invention, as each half of the same is the exact counterpart of the other.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES, KILNS, FURNACES, OVENS, AND DRYING CHAMBERS, AND IN GENERATING STEAM
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Castle at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th August
1854.
I, THOMAS CASTLE, of Wouldham, in the County of Kent, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF STOVES, KILNS, FURNACES, OVENS, AND DRYING CHAMBERS, AND IN
GENERATING STEAM," to be as follows:-
By the using of coals in a peculiarly constructed stove, kiln, furnace, or
oven, formed partly of tiles, lumps, bricks, and iron, whereby coke is produced
instead of wholly consuming the coals, and to which will be adapted a boiler
of iron, forming a portion of a retort or furnace, but capable of serving the
double purpose of a retort for producing caloric, and a chamber for the
generation of steam; and which is also adapted for the triple purpose of drying
or baking, with or without a series of flues directed to a chamber to be heated
by the calorific rays given off by the retort or furnace after generating the
steam, aud which can be worked separately or conjointly. The action of which
improved stove, kiln, furnace, or oven and drying chamber will have the effect
of economizing fuel, producing strong working steam power, a great saving in
its baking and drying qualities, and is applicable to drying malt, hops, Portland
cement, seasoning timber, and every other purpose requiring the application
and aid of caloric.
IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Augustus Huddart at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th April 1855.
I, GEORGE AUGUSTUS HUDDART, of Brynkir, in the County of Caernarvon,
Esquire, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED
MACHINERY FOR OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER" to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to obtain an economical power by the use of
two sets of rotating buckets, the one set being attached to the periphery of a
wheel in a manner somewhat similar to the ordinary water wheel, and the
other set being carried by endless chains, set up vertically, or nearly so. By
the discharge of an overshot stream of water into the endless chain of buckets,
greater power will be obtained than if the water were caused to act upon an
ordinary bucket water wheel; and this power I propose to employ in order to
rotate a bucket wheel, and by that means lift the water that has been dis-
charged by the endless chain of buckets. The water thus lifted is discharged
when it has attained the required elevation, and it is then allowed to flow into
the endless chain of buckets, to be used again as a motive power for driving
that chain of buckets.

page_text: The power which I obtain by the descending water, minus that required
to rotate the water wheel, I apply to the driving of machinery generally.
Instead of using water, spherical or other shaped weights may be employed
as the medium of working this motive power machinery.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN PRESERVING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATTERS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Nasmyth at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th August
1855.
I, GEORGE NASMYTH, of Kennington, in the County of Surrey, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRESERVING ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATTERS" to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to the use of carbonic acid gas, or carbonic acid gas
in combination with vapour or gas obtained in a cold or natural state from
alcohol or alcoholic spirits, for the purpose of preserving animal and vegetable
matters in suitable vessels or cases.
The matters to be preserved having been placed in suitable vessels or cases,
and closed air-tight, except at the passages required for ingress or egress
during manipulation, I withdraw the air from such vessels or cases so as to
create as good a vacuum as may be, and then I inject thereto the carbonic
acid gas, or carbonic acid gas and vapour of alcohol or other alcoholic spirits,
thereby to counteract the effect of any remaining oxygen left in the vessel or
case with the matters to be preserved.
The operation of creating a vacuum & injecting fresh carbonic acid gas,
or carbonic acid gas and vapour or gas of alcohol or other alcoholic spirits,
may then be repeated when desired.

page_text: Also, the improvements relate (when preserving animal and vegetable
matters by the application of gases or vapour into the vessels or cases con-
taining the matters to be preserved) to the use of olive oil, or other oil or fatty
matter which will not communicate an unpleasant taste, as a coating to the
matters to be preserved before subjecting them to the action of the gases or
vapours employed.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE, FORM, AND MODE OF ATTACHING BUTTONS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Laurence Gardner at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
September 1855.
I, JOHN LAURENCE GARDNER, of Providence Street, Walworth, County of
Surrey, Manufacturing Stationer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE, FORM, AND MODE OF
ATTACHING BUTTONS," to be as follows:-
The object which I have in view is to make a button so that the shank
shall of itself alone be capable of forming the attachment for binding the
button to the fabric upon which it is to be used, that is, that it shall not
require any sewing or binding substance to affix it. To do this, I form my
buttons so as to have the same shape of heads as those now made and used;
but I discard entirely the shanks as now made, and I adopt in place of them
to form my shank a shape similar in form and principle to the well-known
"eye or eyelet hole," much used in forming the holes for lacing boots, stays,
and other articles. The eyelet hole that I use for forming my shank is a
short, thin, cylindrical, or partly conical, hollow metal tube, open at both ends,
having on one of the ends a projection or flange, the other being plain.
Accompanying, but detached from the above-mentioned tube, is a small metallic
ring, of a bore to fit around the plain end of the tube. The tube is affixed by

page_text: suitable means at the flange end to the under side of the button head, and the
button is now complete and ready to be fixed. To attach it to the fabric on
which it is to be used, a perforation is made in the latter, the unflanged end of
the tube or shank is inserted; the ring is then put around this end, having the
material of the fabric between it, and the head of the button pressure is now
applied, in a similar manner as to that securing the eyelet hole; the projecting
open end of the shank or tube is distended over the edge of the ring, forming
a flange, and at the same time attaching the button firmly to the fabric.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN SELF-ACTING INDICATING OR RECORDING MECHANISM FOR STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Patrick Dall at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th March 1855.
I, PATRICK DALL, of Woolwich, in the County of Kent, Engineer in the
Royal Navy, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF-ACTING INDICATING OR RECORDING MECHANISM FOR STEAM ENGINES"
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of self-
acting indicating mechanism, applicable to steam engines generally, but more
especially to marine engines, whereby are indicated and correctly recorded
on paper, first, the number of revolutions per hour; second, the amount of
steam pressure in lbs. per square inch in the boiler; and, third, the time at
which the expansion has been thrown in or out of gear, and also the position
of the valve gear.
This apparatus consists of a revolving cylinder or drum, actuated by clock-
work, and making one revolution in 12 or 24 hours, or in any other lapse
of time found most convenient; round this cylinder is lapped temporally a
sheet of paper, which has been previously divided or suitably ruled to the
proper form, for the purpose of facilitating the reading off of the several
indications. These indications are all marked in lines by pencils or trackers

page_text: resting on the paper. The pencil for indicating the number of revolutions
per hour is carried by an arm, which traverses along a shaft or spindle, having
a spiral groove cut in it, and this shaft is actuated from a second shaft by a
screw and worm wheel, the second shaft being driven by ratchet mechanism
from the engine itself; a vernier scale is also connected with the pencil holder,
and serves to indicate to the engineer at a glance the speed of his engine.
The pencil for the steam pressure indicator is fitted to an ordinary steam,
indicator connected with the boiler, and as the pressure increases or diminishes,
so will the pencil traverse backwards or forwards along the paper on the
drum. The pencil for recording the expansion is carried on a holder con-
nected with the expansion gear, so that when the expansion is thrown in or
out of gear, the same will be indicated by the pencil, and when in gear the
particular notch or grade will be also shewn on the record paper. The whole
apparatus may be enclosed in a suitable case & kept under lock and key,
and the sheet with the recorded indications may be removed therefrom
periodically and filed for subsequent reference.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDE VALVES FOR STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Henry Johnson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on tho
2nd March 1855.-A communication.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIDE VALVES FOR STEAM
ENGINES," a communication from Erasmus D. Leavitt the younger, of Lowell
in the United States of America, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improved constructions and arrangements
of the slide valves of steam engines, whereby they may be effectually balanced
and relieved from the pressure of the steam on the back of the valve, thereby
greatly reducing the amount of power necessary to overcome the friction of
the slide. According to one arrangement, the back of the slide is fitted with
a rectangular or other shaped metallic packing frame or plate, which is held
in its place by projecting flanges cast on the back of the slide, and by move-
able end pieces screwed to the sides of the slide. This packing piece moves
with the valve, and is kept pressed against the valve chest cover or against
a plate inserted into such cover by suitable springs attached to or carried by
the slide. According to another modification, the moveable end pieces are dis-
pensed with, the packing frame being in the form of a ring, which is simply
dropped into a corresponding recess in the back of the slide, such recess being

page_text: formed by a projecting ring or flange cast on the back of the slide. The
springs are also used in this arrangement for the purpose of keeping the
packing ring hard up against the valve chest cover, as herein-before described.
A third inodification consists in forming the packing of two or more pieces or
bars, which are placed in grooves formed by projections on the back of the
slide, and are combined so as to form one frame, the junctions between the
ends of each bar being made steam-tight. In this arrangement one of
the flanges or projecting ledges on the slide is made to screw on, for the facility
of inserting the packing pieces. Moveable end pieces are also used for the
purpose of retaining the two transverse or end bars of the frame in their
places. Each bar is acted upon by suitable springs, as herein-before described.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GASING YARNS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Stevenson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th March
1855.
I, THOMAS STEVENSON, of Little Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR GASING YARNS" to be as follows:-
The operation of gasing yarns is for the purpose of burning off the loose
fibres of the thread, and to leave it clear and clean, and is at present
accomplished by winding it off one bobbin at the back of a frame to another
bobbin at the front of the frame, and in its progress passing over rollers and
gas jets. And in order that the gas shall operate on several threads at the
same time, the yarn is passed several times backwards and forwards over small
grooved rollers to multiply the number of threads passing over the gas. In
order to facilitate the process, and thereby diminish the amount of gas used,
I propose to wind on two bobbins at the same time, thereby doubling the
quantity of yarn acted upon. This I accomplish by fixing an additional lever
at the front of the machine, supporting the extra bobbin, but which is allowed to
act independently of the lever supporting the other bobbin, so that it can be
easily thrown in and out of gear. I also place the guide rollers under the
framework instead of at the top, as heretofore, by which means I avoid a con-
stant draught on the gas; and I fix a cross shaft at the back of the machine with

page_text: weighted levers, so that when it is requisite to stop the process or put the gas
out of contact with the threads, by turning this shaft each of the said weighted
levers will act on the gas apparatus, and move all the burners from under the
threads at the same time, and thus prevent them being burnt.
small grooved rollers at the top of the frame to cross the threads backwards
and forwards, as heretofore adopted; but by having two bobbins instead of one,
I have double the number of threads passing. over than, can be had by the
present plan. These double threads, requiring double guides, I. place two
separate guides on the front rail, turning on screws, so as to be adjusted to the
necessary positions of the bobbins.
NC
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORMING CORNERS OR CURVES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Gedge at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th March 1855.-
A communication.
I, JOHN GEDGE, of No. 4, Wellington Street South, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FORMING CORNERS OR
CURVES," communicated to me by Charles Sester, of Beaume les Dames, in the
Empire of France, to be as follows:-
0
A fly or fly wheel gives motion to a framing, to which a planing apparatus
is attached. This is composed of four jointers (planes), and is supported
between two grooves, so that the same movement shall be always maintained.
These jointers are convexed, to give the corners of the articles planed thereby
the form required. Two other jointers are placed vertically (which are plane
or straight) for plane surfaces, and furnished with squares or hollows for the
escape of the shavings, &c. The materials on which corners or curves are to
be formed are securely fixed in frames (metal), and these moveable frames
are placed in a wheel with compartments, and by means of a pedal serving

page_text: as a lever, the extremities on which corners are to be formed find themselves
pressed against the planes till they are sufficiently planed or formed. It is
almost unnecessary to observe, that the square on which a corner is to be
formed should be sawn as far as the angle will permit before being introduced
to the planes.
A NEW MANUFACTURE OF PACKAGES FOR DRY OR MOIST GOODS OR LIQUIDS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Robertson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th June
1855.
I, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, of the Parish of Saint Mary, Islington, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "A NEW MANUFACTURE OF PACKAGES FOR DRY OR MOIST GOODS OR
LIQUIDS" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of a canister or package, of iron or tinned iron,
or zinc plate,, secured at both ends by rimmed lids of the same metals. I
first take a sheet of iron, tinned iron, or zinc plate of a suitable size for the
canister or package to be made; I then bend two of the ends together, and
securely fasten them with solder; .I then cut two discs of iron or tinned iron,
or zinc plate, of suitable size to fit the two ends of the canister or package; I
then take a narrow rim of iron, tinned iron, or zinc plate, and turn the edge
over inwards to the extent of about one-sixteenth of an inch; I place one of
the discs inside upon the ledge thereby made, and fasten it with solder. This
forms the cover for one end of the canister or package, which cover is then
placed or fitted thereto. I then cover the outside edge of the rim, and that
part of the body of the canister or package which adjoins it, with tinfoil, so as
to make the whole at that end air-tight.

page_text: The second disc is used by me to cover the other end or top of the canister
or package, and is constructed with a rim, in the same way as the before-
mentioned cover for the bottom, and the cover is so formed as to be capable of
being secured by a band of tinfoil, the same as at the bottom or other end, to
make it air-tight after the goods are packed therein.
I cover the canister or package and also both ends thereof with paper, or any
other substance, grained, so as to have the appearance of wood, and I place
round the centre of the canister or package an ornamental belt of tinfoil for
the trade mark.
IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND SOLAR LIGHT REFLECTORS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Cooke at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st November
1855.
I, WILLIAM COOKE, of 49, Frederick Street, Gray's Inn Road, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN GAS AND SOLAR LIGHT REFLECTORS, to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist in the manufacture of gas and solar light
reflectors, having two or more plates or pieces of similar size and configuration,
fitted to each other by cement, rivets, or other contrivance, whereby the said
pieces may be securely fixed and held in the required position, constructed of
I
reflective material, or in immediate connexion with a reflecting medium.
construct my reflectors of two or more pieces of glass or transparent material,
of similar shape and size, between which are placed sheets of highly-polished
copper, tin, silver, or other reflecting medium, so that the pieces when fastened
or screwed together aro made to appear as one picce, having reflecting
capabilities or powers on both sides thereof, thereby reflecting and at the same
time better diffusing the rays of light.
IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOD CRUSHERS AND LAND ROLLERS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Cockey, Henry Cockey,
and Francis Christopher Cockey at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 9th May 1855.
We, EDWARD COCKEY, HENRY COCKEY, and FRANCIS CHRISTOPHER COCKEY,
of the firm of Edward Cockey and Sons, of the Frome Iron Foundry, in the
County of Somerset, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLOD CRUSHERS AND LAND ROLLERS" to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved form of clod crushing and land
pressing roller, and also to an improved scraper or cleaner to be used in con-
nection therewith, or with any other description of roller or clod crusher.
According to this Invention, the clod crushing or levelling portion of the
implement is composed of one or more cylinder or cylinders of a corrugated
form, or of a cylinder or cylinders having projecting rings of any shape cost
on the surface thereof. The scraper may be made either to correspond with
the corrugations or projecting rings on the implement described, or it may be
made to suit any wheel clod crusher, or with a plain straight edge for a plain
cylinder roller.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS METERS & OTHER ARTICLES FOR CONTAINING AND SUPPLYING GAS
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Edge at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th August 1855.
I, THOMAS EDGE, of Great Peter Street, Westminster, Gas Apparatus
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS METERS & OTHER ARTICLES FOR
CONTAINING AND SUPPLYING GAS" to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to prevent or retard the corrosive action of
those metal surfaces of gas meters, gas regulators, and other articles which are
exposed to or brought into contact with gas. To attain this end many plans
have heretofore been adopted, but only with partial success. In the manufac-
ture of gas meters, gas regulators, and other apparatus employed in the
distribution or supply of gas, I propose to avail myself of the use of the metal
known as aluminium, either alone or in combination with other metals forming
(by means of the plating process or otherwise) those surfaces which are to be
exposed to the gas of aluminium.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLERS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Soelman at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th March
1855.
I, WILLIAM SOELMAN, of 3, Bennett Street, Fitzroy Square, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROPELLERS" to be as follows:-
The object of these improvements is to diminish the loss of power occasioned
by centrifugal force and lateral radiation of water. For these purposes I
propose to vary the direction of the angles of the planes or blades by either of
the following modes, or by a combination of them both :-I lay down a square
A, B, C, D, (Figure 1,) making the sides equal to the visual width of the
intended plane; through the centre of the square I draw a line e, f, at an
acute angle to the plane of the wheel, as 26°; I divide this line into a
number of equal parts, as four; I reserve two of these parts for a portion
of the blade; the two extreme portions I draw at angle of 45° to the plane of
the wheel. By this means I expect to combine the advantage of an acute
angle with the power of resistance given by the angle of 45°. The indentations
may be rounded off, giving the line a wavy appearance. These indentations
are carried down the whole surface of the blade vertically. The other mode
may be thus described :-I lay down a square as before, G, H, I, J, Figure 2;
across the centre I draw a line K, L, at an acute angle, as 26°, and the line

page_text: I, H, for the angle of 45°; at the extremities of the line K, L, I draw the
line K, O, and M, L, to the diagonal I, H. These lines K, O, and M, L,
represent lateral rims or projections over the face of the blade, which rims I
continue down the sides, diminishing the width downwards in proportion to the
diminished width of the planes. To diminish the loss of power by centrifugal
force, I take a piece of metal, the width of which is about equal to the depth
of the wheel, and bend it to the curve described by the extremities of the
blades; I then cut it into oblique parallelograms, according to the direction of
the blades;. I then fix these pieces of metal to the extremities of the blades,
overlapping the sides at equal angles. I only give these as general descriptions.
Subsequent experiments may induce me to make some necessary modifications
and improvements in them, but as these experiments must necessarily be
made in places of public resort, I pray for the protection of the Right
Honorable and Honorable Her Majesty's Commissioners of Patents in prose-
cuting my experiments for perfecting my Invention.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF TISSUES AND OTHER GOODS FORMED OF WOOL MIXED WITH OTHER TEXTILE FIBRES, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE WOOL FROM THEM
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Pierre Emile Thomas at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th January
1855.
I, PIERRE EMILE THOMAS, of Paris, Empire of France, Chemical Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF TISSUES AND OTHER GOODS FORMED OF WOOL MIXED WITH OTHER
TEXTILE FIBRES, IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE WOOL FROM THEM," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in a particular mode of treating rags or other
tissues or fabrics in which woollen fibres are mixed with other textile fibres,
in order to remove these latter from the wool, which thereby is obtained in its
pure state.
say,
I immerge the mixed tissues or other fabrics in concentrated sulphuric acid,
from 50 to 60 degrees Beaumé strength. In the concentrated state the
sulphuric acid exerts no injurious effect whatever on the wool, but attacks
or dissolves the cotton or other textile fibres mixed with the wool. The goods
having been immersed in the concentrated sulphuric acid sufficiently long for
permitting this latter to dissolve or disintegrate the cotton or other fibres that
existed mixed with the wool in the fabrics, the acid is pressed as much as pos-
sible from out the wool, and this latter is then rapidly washed in a little water,
pressed again, and immediately afterwards washed in a large quantity of water,
or in any suitable alkaline solution, after which the wool is dried.

page_text: I must here observe that the more the strength of the sulphuric acid comes
near to 66° Beaumé, the least injurious the same will act on the wool, and the
better clear this latter from the other textile fibres with which the same is
mixed.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF BOLLERS FOR PRINTING AND EMBOSSING CALICO AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Wilson at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th February 1855.
I, JOHN WILSON, of the City of Manchester, Calico Printer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF BOLLERS FOR PRINTING AND EMBOSSING CALICO AND OTHER FABRICS"
to be as follows:-
The rollers hitherto employed for printing and embossing calico and other
fabrics have been made of copper, or of alloys of copper: now, my Invention
consists in manufacturing such, rollers of zinc, or of alloys of zinc, the object
being to produce rollers at less expence than heretofore.
CERTAIN. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF FLAX
Year: 1855

page_text: oy the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Brisco and Peter Swires
Horsman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 10th March 1855.
We, ROBERT BRISCO, of Low Mill House, in the Parish of Saint Bees, in
the County of Cumberland, Esquire, and PETER SWIRES HORSMAN, of the
Parish of Saint John's Beckermet, in the same County, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PREPARATION OF FLAX" to be as follows:-
The object of our Invention of improvements in the preparation of flax is
to procure the useful fibre from the flax plant in a more economical manner
than by the ordinary treatment, and also to obtain a greater quantity of fibre
from a given weight of flax straw, and also of a superior quality to the fibre
produced by the processes now in operation. These results are obtained by
means of the following process or mode of treating the plant:-
.
After the flax plant has been pulled and dried, we scutch it or partially
scutch it, and then place it in its scutched or partially scutched state in any
convenient vessel for the purpose of being fermented; the fermentation may
be produced by any of the known means, but we prefer the method patented
by us on the 27th day of September 1853.
After the scutched or partially scutched flax has been sufficiently fermented,

page_text: the water is run off, and then, whilst the fermented flax is in a saturated and
wet state, and previous to its being dried after fermentation, we expose it to
the action of hot or cold solutions (the hot preferred) of alkali, acid, and
soap, for the purpose of dissolving the gum resins and skin of the plant, by
which means gummy matter is removed, and the fibres are brought to the best
possible condition for the after processes of heckling, preparing, and spinning,
which are greatly facilitated, and the fibre and thread produced will be of an
exceeding fine quality.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GRINDING MILLS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Pierre André at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th February
1855.
I, PIERRE ANDRÉ, Merchant, of Paris (Empire of France), and of 16, Castle
Street, Holborn (City), London, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN GRINDING MILLS " to be as follows;
and relates to a grinding mill working in an inclined position, the improve-
ments being intended to remedy several evils arising from the methods of
grinding at present in use, viz., waste of grinding material or matter, and
deperdition of aromatic and other matter which is vaporised by the heating
of the matter when ground as usual, and consists in the use of a grinding
plate, which is combined with a mill stone on which the grinding action is
carried on. This grinding plate or disc may be of wrought or cast iron, and
along its circumference is secured a crown or ledge of mill burs of suitable
width, which is dressed as usual for grinding corn or other materials.
This grinding plate, which acts instead of the common runner, has a
sufficient weight to grind upon a bed stone, having a flat surface that is
placed underneath it.
This bed stone matches the runner in shape, being grooved out so as to fit,
or nearly so, on the crown of burr above mentioned. The surface of the bed

page_text: stono is equivalent to about one-fourth or onc-fifth of the surface of tho
grinding plate; and this bed stone has the shape of an annular sector with an
eccentric portion, by which it receives from an hopper the material to be
ground, whilst the meal, flour, or powder drops through an aperture at the
opposite end of the annular sector.
The bed stone and grinding plate may have a suitable inclination towards
the aperture, so as to facilitate the descent of the material that is being
ground.
The whole apparatus is arranged in such manner that the mill spindle
which carries the grinding plate may be adjusted to the proper height by
mcans of levers, screws, &c., motion being given by any suitable means. The
bed stone is also adjustable to suit the grinding plate and the material to be
ground.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES FOR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Elce at the Office of the.
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th October 1855.
I, JOHN ELCE, of the City of Manchester, Machine Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING
MULES FOR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, first, to the winding-on motion, and consists in
dispensing with the radial arm and parts in connection therewith, usually
employed for winding on and for regulating the tension of the yarn. One end
of the winding-on chain is attached to the framing of the headstock, and the
other end is wound on the winding-on barrel, in the usual manner. The
motion of the winding-on barrel is transmitted to the shaft working the spindle
drums by differential wheels, or what is technically termed a jack in the box,
and a friction pulley (which carries the intermediate wheels), furnished with a
clip or break that is tightened and slackened by the action of the yarn on the
fallers. By this arrangement, when the yarn is at the proper tension the fric-
tion pulley is held during the going in of the carriage, and the requisite motion
is given to the spindles; when the yarn is too tight, the friction pulley is
released by the action of the fallers, and proportionably less motion is given to
the spindles, the contrary action taking place when the yarn is too slack.
The second part of my Invention consists in an improved arrangement of

page_text: parts for regulating the amount of after-draught. When the carriage in going
out has arrived at the point at which it is desired to stop the drawing rollers,
the faller shaft acts on an adjustable catch, attached to a lever that holds the
rod and lever, which are connected to the drawing roller catch box, thereby
drawing the catch box out of gear. _ The cam-on-the-cam-shaft-is-so-shaped
that the end of the lever is at liberty to be moved for disengaging the said
catch box. By this arrangement the catch box may be thrown out of gear
independently of the cam shaft, instead of by the rotation of the cam shaft,
as heretofore.
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PROJECTING CHAIN OR COUPLED SHOT OR SHELL FROM DOUBLE AND SINGLE BARREL GUNS, AND CAUSING THEM TO EXPLODE SIMULTANEOUSLY BY ELECTRICITY AND OTHER MEANS
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Gore Pearce at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th January 1855.
I, WILLIAM GORE PEARCE, of Grosvenor Street, Camberwell, in the County
of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF PROJECTING CHAIN OR COUPLED SHOT OR SHELL FROM DOUBLE
AND SINGLE BARREL GUNS, AND CAUSING THEM TO EXPLODE SIMULTANEOUSLY BY
ELECTRICITY AND OTHER MEANS," to be as follows:-
The double gun is cast in the solid, and the two barrels bored to an angle,
and the chambers are made to communicate from one vent by small touch-
holes being drilled from the vent into the right and left hand barrel; the shot
are coupled together by a metal chain, the slack of which hangs outside
between both muzzles; when fired, the balls take up the coupling, and travel
and expand together in equal degrees.
The single gun is used by placing two of them together upon one platform,
or at greater distances singly, and, by a simple combination of levers in con-
nection with the pivot upon which those guns are fixed in the platform, any
angle may be obtained for the projection of balls or shell coupled or chained
together.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS AND DRAW SPRINGS USED FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Mitchell, of Sheffield, in the County of York,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS AND DRAW
SPRINGS USED FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 22nd February 1856, and dated the 29th September 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Mitchell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
September 1855.
I, JOSEPH MITCHELL, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUFFERS
AND DRAW SPRINGS USED FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
It consists in arranging inclines or cones so as to act on segmental pieces,
which are encircled by elastic hoops, the inclines or cones or the segmental
pieces and elastic hoops being attached to or formed on the buffer or draw bar,
so that the movement of the buffer or draw bar will cause the inclines or cones
to separate the segmental pieces, this separation being resisted by the elastic
force of the hoops, which will bring the segmental pieces together, again
forcing back the buffer or draw bar when the counteracting force is removed
from them.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Taylor at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th April 1855.
I, JOSEPH TAYLOR, of King Street, in the City of Westminster, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PROPELLING VESSELS" to be as follows:-
My said improvements refer to propelling canal and other boats or vessels.
I provide a spur wheel keyed to the paddle shaft, above which is arranged a
toothed pinion, secured in a proper frame made to slide when operated by
forked levers, one on each side, and connected with notched levers; the raising
or depressing of which, by a vertical or other screw, causes the motion of the
same, and consequent rotation of the propeller shaft, which motion can be
reversed by applying the screw to one or other of the notched levers. The
screw for operating the levers may be worked by manual or other power;
and I would observe that I do not limit myself to any precise description
of propeller.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATER METERS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Lilley at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th June 1855.
I, GEORGE LILLEY, of Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
WATER METERS " to be as follows:-
Water admitted through a tube opening at bottom near to the bottom of a
vessel provided with a corresponding outlet tube, and containing air prior to
the admission of water therein, will rise to a level in the outlet tube with the
level of the head of water admitted into the feed tube. Should the outlet
tube not be carried up to the same level as that of the water supplied to the
inlet tube, the pressure in the outlet tube will be equal to the difference between
the level of these two tubes. Now, my Invention consists in placing any suit-
able liquid measuring apparatus, preferring, however, that for which William
Parkinson obtained Letters Patent the 20th March 1849, in the upper part of
an air vessel, into which water is admitted from any given height through a
pipe opening into such vessel, and near the bottom thereof, and from which
water is carried away through another pipe also opening into the same vessel,
and near the bottom thereof, which outlet pipe delivers the water at any level
lower than that of the head of water admitted into the feed pipe. By this
my Invention, water may be measured at any level below that at which it is
supplied and at which it is required to be delivered.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PIANOPORTES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Frooms at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th August
1855.
I, HENRY FROOMS, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Pianoforte Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PIANOPORTES " to be as follows:-
Firstly, in the use of compensating metal bracings to sustain the rest plank
and metal plate. The said metal bracings have projections at the top to
receive the rest plank, which is fixed in its position by means of iron bolts
passing through an iron plate in front of the rest plank, and thence through
the latter and top end of the bracing, and are secured by nuts screwed on
behind. An advantage is gained by inserting the projections into the rest
plank close under the tuning pins or point of pressure, thereby leaving so little
wood between to shrink or swell, that the metal bracing acting on the reverse
of the wood fully will compensate for it. I also fix a projection on the lower
part of the bracing to receive the plate, and I make the end of the bracing
which passes through the plate round and tapped. The plate is the whole
length of the instrument, being screwed by a nut or other contrivance.
Secondly, in the use of conductors or reflectors; I make apertures in the

page_text: sides of the instrument, the tone being reflected through them, by means of
a hollow semicircular piece of wood, fixed perpendicularly at each end inside
of the instrument.
Thirdly, in the use of equal tension rods, which are formed of metal, and
vary in length to suit the strings, one end being bent to a right angle, and
driven through a perforation in the metal plate into the hard wood beneath. I
bore a hole through the rod near the other cud, and have a piece of wire driven
through and bent, to which the strings are attached,; these are applied in the
treble part of the instrument, and produce the 'most perfect 'equality of tension.
Fourthly, the application of a medium wire, manufactured of steel coated
with copper. I construct the back of the instrument so as to admit of the
reflectors, and which is enclosed by a secondary sounding board, to which the
reflectors are fixed.