matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF ADAPTING SHEDS AND OTHER BUILDINGS TO THE PURPOSE OP DRYING PIPES, TILES, BRICKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM CLAY OR OTHER PLASTIC MATE- BIALS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Salisbury at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th February
1860.
I, ROBERT SALISBURY, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD
OF ADAPTING SHEDS AND OTHER BUILDINGS TO THE PURPOSE OP DRYING PIPES,
TILES, BRICKS, AND OTHER ARTICLES MADE FROM CLAY OR OTHER PLASTIC MATE-
BIALS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the operation of drying pipes,
tiles, bricks, and other articles made from plastic materials previous to firing
the same in kilns. To this end I propose to provide the drying sheds with
hot-air flues, or with pipes heated by exhausted steam, or by steam direct
from a boiler, or by hot water. And in order to keep up a circulation of air
through the drying shed or other building, I make use of a fan or blower for
throwing a current of air into the sheds, and connect the sheds with the
furnace chimney. This chimney I build with an outer shaft surrounding an
inner shaft, which takes the smoke and heated gases from the steam boiler
furnace. Openings are made in the walls of the drying sheds for leading off
the moist air or floating vapor, by means of suitably arranged flues, to the
outer or ventilating shaft, which may communicate or not, as thought desirable,

page_text: with the inner shaft. By thus combining with the heating pipes the action
of a fan or blower and a ventilating shaft, the evaporation of the moisture from
the moulded articles stacked in the drying sheds will be rapidly and most
efficiently performed.
THE APPLICATION OF AN IMPROVED ELASTIC MATERIAL FOR SPRINGS OR CUSHIONS ON THE CHAIRS OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMROADS OR IN ANY OTHER POSITION TO PREVENT THE FRICTION CAUSED BY THE WORKING OF IRON ON IRON OR OTHER METAL SUBSTANCES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Evans Robson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition on the 10th
September 1860.
I, WILLIAM EVANS ROBSON, of No. 4, Adams Court, Old Broad St., in
the City of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "THE APPLICATION OF AN IMPROVED ELASTIC MATERIAL FOR SPRINGS OR
CUSHIONS ON THE CHAIRS OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMROADS OR IN ANY OTHER POSITION
TO PREVENT THE FRICTION CAUSED BY THE WORKING OF IRON ON IRON OR OTHER
METAL SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
Attempts have before been made to diminish the rigidity of the substructure
of railroads by elastic substances, but all efforts to accomplish this have hitherto
failed, on account of the difficulty experienced in preserving the elastic material
made use of from destruction. Attempts have also been made to obviate this
by the introduction of metal plates to prevent its being pressed out laterally
and destroyed by friction; to remove the above difficulties, and to enable me
to interpose an improved elastic substance between the substructure of the
rail is the object of my Invention, which consists in confining an elastic material
(without the aid of metal plates,) in the usual manner, with wedges to tighten
the rails; but the improved elastic material will be so protected from the friction
caused by the working of the rails with the insertion of fine brass or other
wire (or similar substances) embedded, so as to cause the material to be firmly

page_text: rivetted together through the meshes of wire or other material used for the
purpose, so that while it shall be free to yield in a vertical direction it will
be prevented from pressing out laterally, which has been an object hitherto
attempted in vain.
AN IMPROVED PORTABLE RIFLE BATTERY
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Edward Sharp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 14th
November 1860.-A communication from abroad by Thomas Martin, a
Major in Her Majesty's 4th Regiment of Foot, resident at Aden.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD SHARP, of No. 3, Gloucester Terrace, Blackheath,
in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED PORTABLE RIFLE BATTERY," (a communication from abroad
by Thomas Martin, a Major in Her Majesty's 4th Regiment of Foot, resident
at Aden,) to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing portable rifle batteries for the
defence of unfortified coasts, dockyards, towns, villages, railway stations,
public and private buildings, and for the purpose of harassing the flank of an
enemy. The battery is to be formed like an ordinary parapet, its sides and
front being bullet-proof, as also the slope of the banquette, on which two men
can perform all that is required to keep up a constant fire by having a
number of rifle barrels arranged by the side of each other in two or more
tiers, the muzzles of which protrude slightly from the back of the battery, the
whole being mounted upon wheels. The arrangement for the firing consists
of a rod which falls, by suitable contrivance, upon the entire row of barrels,
the barrels having been previously loaded at their breech. A tape of
parchment is used with a series of blots or patches of detonating paste at
intervals.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREACH- LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Golden at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th September
1860.
I, CHARLES GOLDEN, of Bradford, in the County of York, Gun Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BREACH-
LOADING FIRE-ARMS, AND IN PROJECTILES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to means of removing and replacing the bolt or plug
in the breach of such fire-arms and adjusting the sight piece, also diminishing the
friction of projectiles in passing through the barrel, and preventing the formation
of vacuum behind projectiles during their transit through the air, and consists in
having the said bolt or plug mounted on a guide pin fixed in a side piece
which is hinged by a knuckle joint to the barrel, capable of opening and
closing into a recess formed in the breach thereof. The bolt or plug is
formed with an inclined collar, shoulder or shoulders, which fits to a corre-
sponding collar, shoulder or shoulders on the guide pin, so that by turning the
said bolt (by means of a small lever) in one direction on its axis it will be
pushed forward in its axial line and plug the barrel, and by turning in the
opposite direction will be withdrawn therefrom. The sight piece is adjusted
laterally by means of a screw placed at right angles to the barrel, by the
turning of which right or left will traverse the sight piece. The projectile has
a broad groove formed on its surface into which grease or other lubricant may
be supplied, and the recess or cavity formed in the base is made parallel and
filled up with a deal plug extending or projecting beyond the base.
AN ATMOSPHERIC TRAP FOR THE PREVENTION OF SMELLS ARISING FROM CESSPOOLS, DRAINS, WATERCLOSETS, URINALS, OR ANY OTHER PLACE WHERE SMELL MAY ARISE
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Aaron Hobson and James Hobson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the
10th October 1860.
We, AARON HOBSON and JAMES HOBSON, of No. 1, Wirtemberg Street,
Clapham, in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN ATMOSPHERIC TRAP FOR THE PREVENTION OF SMELLS ARISING
FROM CESSPOOLS, DRAINS, WATERCLOSETS, URINALS, OR ANY OTHER PLACE WHERE
SMELL MAY ARISE," to be as follows:-
Our Invention is of a simple construction, and can be made of any size
either in stone, slate, iron, wood, stoneware, copper, lead, or any other descrip-
tion of material. It can be had in traps or materials brought and made on
the premises wherever it might be required to fix it. By this Invention, a trap
can be fixed in the soil pipe of a closet, doing away with the present syphon
and S-traps now used, and in all best closets the valves and leadwork now
used, thereby reducing the cost very considerably. The trap is made to
admit the water at the top between two pieces running across the top but open
in the centre, which forms a part of the trap. The water then runs upon
another piece or shelf across the centre of the trap, from thence into the drain
or cesspool. The foul air is stopped by coming in contact with the bottom
shelf, which prevents it rising any higher, and the atmospheric air having filled
the top above the last-mentioned shelf prevents the foul air from expanding and
making its way to the surface.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREAKS FOR CARRIAGES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Coates at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th June 1860.
I, CHARLES COATES, of Sunnyside, near Rawtenstall, in the County of
Lancaster, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BREAKS FOR CARRIAGES," to be as
follows:-
The nature of my Invention when applied to carriages for high roads
consists in applying an internal break to the nave or naves of the wheels. This
break consists of an eccentric fixed to the axle, and on this excentric is a
moveable cam furnished with leather or other suitable material acting on an
internal flange fixed to the nave of the wheel; a pin or stud from the cam
takes in a radial slot in a plate which is loose on the axle, and to which a
lever is attached to which the power for applying the break is connected.
When the break is applied to two or more of the wheels on the same carriage
the cords or straps connected to the levers are taken through the eyes of levers
fixed to a shaft, to which the handle for working the breaks is applied. The
mechanical arrangement for connecting the power to the breaks may be con-
siderably varied, and the arrangement of parts forming the internal break may
also be modified. When my Invention is applied to locomotive engines and
carriages the excentric is attached to the axle bearing, and the other parts of
the break are connected to the axle.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Henry Farrington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 31st
March 1860.
I, GEORGE HENRY FARRINGTON, Wholesale Stationer, of Cross Lane, Cannon
Street, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES," to be as
follows:-
I perforate with dies, punches, or tools, arround or above that part of the
envelope on which is made the adhesive stamp or seal a number of holes or
cuts, or peircings, by which means the envelope is readily opened, and the seal,
stamp, or adhesive part remains upon that portion of the envelopes to which it
has been attached by the seal or adhesive stamp.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING LEATHER FOR HARNESS, AND BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURERS
Year: 1860

page_text: En the Matter of Letters Patent granted to William Wilmer Henry
Smith, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Leather Merchant,
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR PREPARING
LEATHER FOR HARNESS, AND BOOT AND SHOE MANUFACTURERS," bearing
date the 2nd June 1860 (No. 1362.)
DISCLAIMER AND MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be
entered by the Patentee of the said Letters Patent, according to the
Statutes in that case made and provided.
WHEREAS while experimenting to perfect my Invention before the filing
of my Specification I discovered more efficient mechanical arrangements than
were described in my Provisional Specification for performing certain operations
which I designed to effect under my Patent, but on explaining these improve-
ments to my professional adviser I was informed that they were inadmissible,
from their being a wide departure from the apparatus at first devised by
me, and that consequently it was not advisable to introduce either the old or
new apparatus into the Final Specification.
I desire therefore to limit the title of my Patent to the mode of preparing
leather set forth in my Complete Specification as filed in the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, and to striking out the words relating to the
apparatus.
I further desire to remove from my Specification a clerical error which is

page_text: calculated to mislead the public in respect of the duration of a certain part
of my process and which several alterations are as follows:-
In the title of the Patent I strike out the words "and apparatus for" when
the title will stand " Improvements in the Mode of Preparing Leather for
Harness. and Boot and Shoe Manufacturers." And in the Specification of
the said Patent, I strike out the word "minutes" in the paragraph com-
mencing "This I find will be effected" and substitute therefor the word
"seconds "when the passage will stand thus: "This I find will be effected
in from twenty to forty seconds.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Wilmer Henry Smith, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of Decem-
ber in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR READING AND REPEATING DESIGNS, FOR PERFORATING CARDS OR PAPER FOR JACQUARD WEAVING
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Collinson Ridings at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th April 1860.
I, WILLIAM COLLINSON RIDINGS, of Middleton, in the County of Lancaster,
Pattern Designer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR READING AND REPEATING
DESIGNS, FOR PERFORATING CARDS OR PAPER FOR JACQUARD WEAVING," to be
as follows:-
I use a reading machine of the ordinary construction but dispense with tho
punch box, plates, punches, and needles. I pass the cords through two pulley
boxes, and weight them with lingoes between the two boxes. At one end of
the reading machine the cords pass through a hole in straight wires placed
in rows horizontally, in a bevil rack, the ends of the wires being by means of
cords attached to the punches of the repeating machine. They pass through a
third pulley box and when the card or paper is required to be cut, the cords of
the reading machine are pressed onwards, and the straight wires raise the
punches that are not required to perforate; this motion being exactly
contrary to the method of pressing the cord from the reading machines
now in use.
My repeating machine is also similar to those already known, but is
attached to the reading machine and constructed so as to force the jacquard

page_text: hooks upon the grife where the card or paper is blank. This machinery or
apparatus differs from those now in use so far that the cords of the reading
machine are pressed inwards instead of outwards to move the punches, and in
the repeating machine the punches which are not to perforate are raised, the
stationary punches being placed in a vertical position in plates and secured by
a comb or bar of metal, whilst the plates are moved upwards by the motion
of an eccentric placed on horizontal shafts, the card or paper being perforated
by one turn of a fly wheel. The two machines may be worked either
separately or conjointly as may be desired.
IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR CARRIAGES, WAGONS, AND OTHER VEHICLES ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edmund Simpkin at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd April
1860.
I, EDMUND SIMPKIN, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COUPLINGS FOR
CARRIAGES, WAGONS, AND OTHER VEHICLES ON RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
The objects of my Invention are to permit of the coupling and instantaneous
uncoupling of the carriages, wagons, &c., of a railway train without the risk
attendant upon persons having to go between the carriages, wagons, &c., to per-
form that service, to effect a great saving of time and labor in that operation, and
in the event of the engine, tender, or any portion of a train running off the line
to prevent the disastrous consequences arising from such accident by the coupling
immediately releasing itself. To effect these objects I fix to each end of the
carriage, wagon, &c., an arm having a serrated or toothed surface, the tooth
being of that form commonly called "ratchet," this serrated arm is fixed in such
a position as will allow it to move horizontally, and when the carriages, wagons
&c, are brought together they couple with facility. One end of each of the
serrated arms forming my improved coupling works on a hinge joint fastened
either to the draw rod or body of the carriage and is kept in position by springs
which press the serrated faces together; these springs may be fixed either to the
hinge joint, body of the carriage, the serrated arm, or to any other suitable
place; I also use a lever for uncoupling, to which may be fixed the springs for

page_text: pressing the serrated arms together. The uncoupling lever may be worked
from the side or other convenient part of the carriage, wagon, &c., for uncoup-
ling the same. Instead of the before named uncoupling lever, I can use a
rod or shaft placed across each end of the carriages, wagons, &c., carried by
bearings; on this rod or shaft is a collar; the end of the rod or shaft has a
screw thread working through a wheel or handle, or the wheel or handle may
be fastened to the rod or shaft and work through a female screw, and by turning
the wheel or handle in either of the above arrangements the rod or shaft
traverses and presses the collar against a projecting piece or pin of a hinge
joint and causes the coupling to disconnect. I also arrange my Invention so
that it may be used with the ordinary coupling, and for this purpose I use a
hook on the serrated arm, which hook may or may not be acted upon by the
spring, or I fit the hook on to the pin of the hinge joint in such a manner that
the serrated arm may be turned out of the way when the hook will take its
place and be ready for receiving the ordinary coupling. The before mentioned
serrated or toothed face of the arm being vertical releases itself under any
circumstances of accident arrising from engine, tender, or any portion of the
train running off the line.
IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLES & OTHER FIRE-ARMS, WHEREBY TO INSURE GREATER ACCURACY IN THE USE OF THE SIGHTS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Michael Jones at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th October
1860.
I, MICHAEL JONES, of Lidlington Place, Camden Town, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RIFLES & OTHER FIRE-ARMS, WHEREBY TO INSURE GREATER
ACCURACY IN THE USE OF THE SIGHTS," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in the application of a spirit level to rifles and
other fire-arms, whereby to enable a better aim to be taken. I place the
spirit level across the stock of a rifle, so that it is visible to the eye while
aiming by the aid of the sight. By means of the spirit level the gun can be
readily kept in position, so that the sights are vertical while taking aim and
firing the gun, and thereby insure greater accuracy in the aim.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Hudson and Christopher
Catlow at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 17th February 1860.
We, WILLIAM HUDSON, of Burnley, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
and CHRISTOPHER CATLOW, of the same Place, Overlooker, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN POWER LOOMS
FOR WEAVING," to be as follows:-
Our said Invention consists, firstly, in a means or method of causing the
loom to stop whenever the shuttle fails to complete its traverse through the
shed in due time. This is effected by the use of an instrument resembling a
comb, the teeth of which project into the angle of the shed, but as the sley
approaches the beat up, are made to fall towards the reed in consequence of
part of the comb encountering a finger or arm attached to another part of the
apparatus. If, however, the shuttle be detained in the shed at the time when
these parts come in contact, the teeth of the comb are thereby hindered from
falling towards the reed, and the before-mentioned finger or arm is thereupon
made to recoil and to place the apparatus connected with it in the position
proper for arresting the further motion of the loom, either through the
ordinary frog or by means of a break.
Our Invention includes, secondly, another means or method of stopping the
loom when the shuttle fails to complete its traverse in due time. In this case
we use a spring reed, which yields a little to the pressure upon the shuttle in

page_text: the event of the latter being driven up into the angle of the shed.
yielding the reed presses against and vibrates a lever arm, thereby slightly
elevating another lever arm projecting forward from the same fulcrum. By
this elevation the end of the last-mentioned lever arm is brought opposite to a
projection from a finger or arm attached to a part of the apparatus employed
to effect the actual stoppage, upon which it acts as in the former case, and
stops the loom either by the application of a break or by the common frog.
Our said Invention comprises, thirdly, an, improved arrangement of that
part of the shedding apparatus commonly used in plain power looms, which is
known as the treadles and treading tappets. The improvement consists in
placing the fulcrum or fulcra of the treadles between the tappets and the
lamm rods, and in making the treadle bowls to rest upon the tappets instead
of being presented under them.
And, fourthly, our Invention comprises another improved arrangement,
applicable to the same part of the loom, and for the same purpose as the
lastly foregoing. In the present arrangement the treadles are not moved
immediately by the tappets, but are connected by links to other levers moved
thereby, and pivoted on a stud at the back of the loom. By altering the
points of connection of the links with their respective treadles and levers, the
depths of the sheds formed can be varied at discretion.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND ENGINES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Davies at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th March
1860. A communication from abroad by Pierre Verrier, of Marseilles,
France.
I GEORGE DAVIES, of No. 1, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of
Middlesex, and No. 28, St. Enoch Square, in the City of Glasgow, Civil
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM BOILERS AND ENGINES," (a communica-
tion from abroad by Pierre Verrier, of Marseilles, France,) to be as follows:-
The improvements relate partly to steam boilers or generators and partly
to steam engines.
The improvements in the steam boiler consist of a particular arrangement
which admits of producing high-pressure steam without fear of accident, to act
with a certain expansion in a small cylinder, and to receive into a space
provided for that purpose the steam at a lower pressure, and superheat the
same in order to actuate the piston of a large cylinder independent of the
former.
By this arrangement the engine combines the advantages of the bigh and low-
pressure steam engines without their inconveniences, and the same regularity
is obtained as in engines with two cylinders coupled with right angled cranks
at the same time that they may be worked (if preferred) at the highest
possible amount of expansion. It does not possess the disadvantage of what
is known as the "Woolf Engine" which can only be worked with a fly wheel
of more or less power, and therefore cannot be employed for marine purposes.

page_text: It will be perceived that this Invention is twofold and may be considered to
comprise,―
Firstly, two boilers united into one, the first for the high-pressure steam
and the second without furnace for the low-pressure.
And, secondly, two cylinders which are altogether independent one of the
other, the smaller is destined to receive the high-pressure steam proceeding from
the first division of the boiler. This steam admitted only during a portion of
the stroke of the piston expands to the required degree, and after having
produced its effect returns into the second compartment or division of the
boiler where it is superheated. The larger cylinder utilizes this steam, which
expands again therein, and after its action passes away to the condenser.
The objects of this Invention are,-
1st, to avoid in such engines the concussion and irregularity of movement
which occur when the expansion is pushed too far.
2nd, to reduce the weight of the engines.
3rd, to avoid in a great measure the loss of heat which takes place when a
high-pressure cylinder is put in communication with a condenser.
And, 4th, to utilize low temperatures.
AN APPARATUS TO GIVE WARNING TO THE INMATES OF A HOUSE OR APARTMENT OF THE ATTEMPTED ENTRY OF THIEVES OR BURGLARS, WHICH MAY BE CALLED A BURGLAR AND THIEF DETECTOR
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Atkinson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th April
1860.
I, ROBERT ATKINSON, of the Firm of Robert Atkinson and Company, of
Southampton Court, Tottenham Court Road, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN APPARATUS TO GIVE
WARNING TO THE INMATES OF A HOUSE OR APARTMENT OF THE ATTEMPTED ENTRY
OF THIEVES OR BURGLARS, WHICH MAY BE CALLED A BURGLAR AND THIEF DETECTOR,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an apparatus to give warning to the inmates of
a house or apartment of the attempted entry of burglars or thieves by means
of suitable catches and springs operating upon a bell or other similar alurum,
whereby the inmates' attention is thus attracted. The apparatus is fixed
against the door jamb or other entrance; on opening the door it comes in
contact with a projecting piece fixed on the apparatus. This projecting pieco
or catch is connected to a spiral spring enclosed in a cylinder, and when the
door is pushed against the catch, which works in a slot cut in the spring
cylinder, the catch is released by being pushed out of a retaining slot, and
the spring being compressed when set at liberty shoots up rapidly Attached
to the frame carrying the catch is a bell; the sudden movement of the catch
shakes the bell, and causes it to ring. Fixed to the catch is a lucifer matchi
holder, which is screwed into a fixing secured to the catch for the purpose of

page_text: adjustment, and on the catch shooting up as explained above, the match comes
in contact with a rough surface fixed at the top of the apparatus, and mado
of emery or other substance or material, and is thus lighted; the match then
sets fire to the wick of a spirit or other suitable lamp. At the same time as
the above operations are performed, a door chain is secured by the action of
the catch, which draws up the hook against an abutment fixed to the jamb
of the door or door frame.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Napier at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
Petition, on the 8th March
1860.
I, JOHN NAPIER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Scotland, Engi-
neer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STEAM ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the arrangement and
construction of steam engines, in which an annular steam cylinder around and
concentric with an internal steam cylinder is employed for working the
steam expansively, such engines being particularly applicable for driving the
crank shafts of marine engines. For this purpose I arrange the high and
low pressure steam cylinders by placing the high-pressure cylinder by pre-
ference inside and concentric with the low-pressure cylinder, and allowing the
steam which causes the "down" and "up" stroke of the one to expand to give
the "up" and "down" stroke of the other (but this arrangement of working
the steam may be reversed), the low-pressure cylinder thus forming an
"annular" ring outside the high-pressure cylinder (or vice versa). The piston
rods, one from the centre cylinder, and two or more from the outer or
"annular" cylinder, are connected together by a cross head, from which the
motion may be transmitted in the ordinary manner direct to the crank shaft or
axis, or I prolong the piston rods of the "annular" cylinder (which work
through stuffing boxes at each end of the cylinder), and carry them above and
below the crank shaft, beyond which they are connected by a cross head working

page_text: in suitable guides, the cross head being connected by a connecting rod to the
crank shaft, as is well understood in the arrangement of double piston engines;
or I arrange the combined "steam cylinders above described in vertical or
inclined positions above or below the crank shafts of marine engines.
And my Invention also consists in the application of oscillating steam
cylinders, as above described, for giving motion to the crank shafts of paddle-
wheel engines, for the shafts of geared screw propellers, or for other purposes,
by causing the combined "annular" cylinders to move on trunnions, and
applying the power from the piston rods in a similar manner to that used
in ordinary oscillating engines, as is well understood.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ORES AND COAL
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Newton, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his petition, on the 8th
October 1860. A communication from abroad by Charles K. Landis,
of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ORES AND COAL,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention of improvements in the treatment of ores and coal consists
in the treatment of ores and coal for the expulsion of sulphur and other
impurities, and for their impregnation with chemical properties which are
beneficial in metallurgical and other operations. The object of the Invention
is effected by the combined use of steam or vapor of water and the following
chemical substances, viz, chloride of sodium, carbonate of potash, nitrate of
lead, sulphate of soda, nitrate of potash, protoxide of calcium, chloride of
lime and bichromate of potash, or by the combined use of steam and some of
these substances or their equivalents.
The coal or ore to be purified is placed in a box or chamber which is con-
nected with a boiler in which the chemical substances are placed, with a suffi-
cient quantity of water for the generation of steam. A steam pipe conveys
the steam from the boiler to the box among the ore or coal. In operating with
this apparatus the steam from the boiler with such gases (chiefly oxygen)
and other matters as it may take up in suspension from the chemical sub-

page_text: stances in the boiler passes along the pipe to the box or chamber, and after
circulating among the ore or coal therein, the steam becoming condensed
escapes with the impurities which it has absorbed through a suitable opening
in the bottom of the box or chamber.
If preferred the chemical substances may be placed in a separate vessel, and
steam from a boiler is conveyed into and made to circulate among the chemical
substances. A pipe leading from the vessel containing the chemical substances
to the box or chamber containing the ore or coal to be purified conveys the
steam with the gaseous and other matters which it takes up in suspension from
the chemical substances to the purifying box or chamber in which the steam,
gases, and other matters beld in suspension by it, circulate through and among
the ore or coal producing the same effect, as when the chemical substances have
been contained in the boiler in which the steam has been generated.
The purifying vessel may be lined with lead or zinc, to prevent its corrosion
by the chemical agents employed, and the steam pipes should be lined with
some suitable substance for the same purpose.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ROCKETS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Hewetson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th February
1860.
J, HENRY HEWETSON, of Blackheath, in the County of Kent, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROCKETS," to be as follows:-
The fixing of spiral wings to rockets as now made, causing them to rotate
in their flight by the air impinging on the wings, or by doing away with the
stick and fixing in lieu thereof a tube, through the centre of the rocket
longitudinally, the tube is passed on a metal rod, from which the rocket is
discharged. The rod is fixed in the bottom of a cylinder or breach of a
mortar or gun, when the rocket is discharged by means of powder and a
grooved wad fitting into spiral ribs, or the rod is made fast to a frame.
Pulleys are attached to the frame, and connected with the rocket to cause it
to rotate at the time of its discharge.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DRIVING STRAPS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Michael John Haines at the Office-
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th.
August 1860.
I, MICHAEL JOHN HAINES, of 30, Marlborough Street, Bristol, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF DRIVING STRAPS," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
driving straps. For this purpose I employ short strips or fillets of leather,
hide, or other suitable material cut to a width equal to the thickness of the
intended driving strap, and to a length corresponding with the width of
the strap.
In forming a strap of these strips or fillets they are laid side by side,
so that the cut edges of the sides of the strips will form the upper and
under surfaces of the strap, and the cut ends of the strips or fillets will
form the edges of the strap, and the several strips or fillets are connected
together by each strip having holes formed through it, and by the strips being
then threaded together side by side, as above described, by preference on wire
rope; I also form driving straps by threading on lengths of wire rope, which
run longitudinally of the strap to be formed, several pieces of leather or other
material of a width equal to the width of the strap to be formed, and of any
suitable length, the two ends of each piece being turned upwards, and the
turned-up ends have holes formed through them, in order that the several

page_text: pieces may be threaded at their two ends on the lengths of wire rope; the
several pieces of leather or other material are placed together end to end, so
that the turned-up ends run transversely across the length of the strap to be
formed, and the turned-up ends of one piece come against one of the turned-
up ends of each of the pieces next to it, and the several pieces are held
together by the lengths of wire rope running through the holes in the turned-
up ends of the pieces.
A NEW OR IMPROVED CHAIN AND MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAID CHAIN
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Varley at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th February
1860.
I, SAMUEL VARLEY, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED
CHAIN AND MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE SAID CHAIN,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, firstly, of a chain constructed in the following manner:
-Each of the links of the said chain consists of a rod of iron or steel bent into
a form somewhat resembling the letter U, that is, a rod bent twice at right
angles near its middle; the sides however are not parallel, but are inclined
towards one another at their free ends. The said free ends of the bent bar
are turned into a hook-like form, so as to enable the partially formed link to
be attached to another link by the hooked ends of the former being passed
over the transverse bar of the latter. After the hooked ends of one link have
been passed over the transverse bar of the next link, the said hooked ends
are welded down upon the sides of the link of which they form part. The
chain is thereby greatly strengthened.
My Invention consists, secondly, of a machine for bending bars of iron or steel
into the links of the chain constituting the first part of my Invention. The
said machine is constructed as follows:-On the bed of the said machine is a
die or mould of the form of the interior of the links, and the bar of iron or steel

page_text: to be bent is placed upon the said die or mould, and bent around it in the
following manner :-Two levers having motion in a horizontal plane, approach
the said die or mould one on one side and the other on the other, and in their
motion bend the rod upon the said die or mould so as to give it a form some-
what like that of the letter U. A plunger descending vertically bends the
ends of the partially formed link into a vertical position, and another plunger
advancing horizontally, bends the said ends into a horizontal plane, and brings
them parallel to the body of the link. The U-shaped links are sometimes
formed in the following manner:-A plunger is made to advance against a
straight bar of iron or steel, and force it between two fixed uprights, and
thereby give it the required figure. They are finished in die clams.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BREECH-LOADING GUNS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Grant at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd August
1860..
I, JOHN GRANT, of Hyde Park Street, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BREECH-LOADING GUNS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in forming a conical aperture across a gun near the
rear end thereof, and in the employment of a correspondingly formed breech
plug to fit into the aperture and close the breech or rear end of the bore.
When necessary I strengthen the gun by a hoop, or by the employment of an
additional quantity of metal to prevent weakness, from forming the transverse
aperture. I lock the plug after being inserted by giving it a slight turn,
whereby wings or studs fixed to or formed on its broad end are caused
to engage into recesses made for their reception on the outside of the
gun, or I employ an equivalent method of locking. The gun is bored
through from end to end, to allow of the charge being inserted at the .
rear end.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN OR 'TERNE,' AND GALVANIZED METAL PLATES
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Nurse at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th January
1860.
I, GEORGE NURSE, of Pontymister, in the Parish of Risca, in the County
of Monmouth, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TIN OR 'TERNE,' AND GALVANIZED
METAL PLATES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that part of the operation of preparing metal
plates necessary for removing the oxide from the metal previous to its being
coated or covered with tin or other amalgam commonly used in the manu-
facture of tin or "terne" plates, and also galvanized iron plates. The modes
hitherto commonly practised for removing the oxide from metal plates in-
tended to be used in the manufacture of tin or "terne" and galvanized plates,
has been to wash or steep them in a strong solution of sulphuric acid and
water, or, to what is termed by the trade, "pickle" them, the objection to
which is, that the acid solution not only removes the oxide from the metal,
but also dissolves a quantity of the metal. Now, the object and intention of
this Invention is to remove the oxide without dissolving any of the iron, and
further, to render the operation more simple and effective, and at a mere
nominal expense by the following means, that is to say:-I take a number of
sheets of metal of similar size, and the surface of the first plate I sprinkle or
cover all over with powdered charcoal or carbon; upon this I place another
plate, and proceed to cover the surface of this second plate with charcoal or

page_text: carbon as before, and in this manner I continue to pile several plates one
upon the other, interposing a stratum of charcoal powder or carbon between
each until I have piled together as many plates as I wish to operate upon at
one time; I then place these several plates in an annealing furnace, and subject
them to heat, by which the oxide will be removed therefrom. The plates are
then passed between rollers to planish them in the usual way, and as the
metal by this becomes crystallized, the plates are again subjected to the
annealing process, and are then washed with a weak solution of sulphuric acid
and water previous to subjecting them to the tinning or galvanizing operations,
which may be performed in the usual manner.
IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN BOATS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Samuelson, at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
May 1860.
I, ALEXANDER SAMUELSON, of Scott Street Foundry, Hull, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN BOATS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in gun boats. For these
purposes when constructing a gun boat provision is made for taking in and:
discharging water in such manner that a gun boat may be immersed very
deeply when going into action, the object being to render a gun boat less visible
to an enemy at a distance. By thus providing for the use of water as ballast in
gun boats in place of a gun boat floating several feet above the surface of
the water, she may for a time be caused to be immersed considerably below.
her ordinary line of flotation, and nearly up to the deck, and in that condition..
be propelled into the desired position, and be then relieved of a quantity of
the water in order to bring her again to a proper line of floatation. In con-
structing a gun boat or vessel in order to obtain these results it is preferred,
that where the body is of iron, to construct such body double with water space
or spaces between them, or in place thereof water chambers or tanks may be-
constructed or arranged internally of the vessel with provision for running in
and removing water from them. By thus ballasting a gun boat with water,
great facility will also be offered for floating her in shallow waters by using

page_text: for a time less water than would bring her to her ordinary line of floatation.
It should be remarked that other constructions of ships and vessels have
before been arranged in a suitable manner for using water as ballast in order
to bring them to their proper lines of floatation; but the object of my Invention
is so to construct gunboats that they may by the aid of water be caused to be
immersed considerably below their ordinary or proper water lines.
Iм- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CARVING AND SCULPTURING
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Marcel Gripon Deschamps at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
June 1860.
I, MARCEL GRIPON DESCHAMPS, of No. 261, Strand, in the County of Middle-
sex, Metallurgist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CARVING AND SCULPTURING," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery whereby
medallions, basso relievos, alto relievos, busts, and statuary may be copied
in wood, stone, marble, ivory, shell or any other suitable material either on
the same scale or upon an enlarged or reduced scale as preferred; one, two,
three or more copies may be produced simultaneously of the same or of
different materials. The machine consists of a bed or table provided with
suitable holding down clamps and screws to fix the materials to be operated
upon, and also the original from which it is desired to have copies made.
The cutting instruments (one for each copy,) as well as a tracing point are
all mounted in a frame in which the cutters are caused to revolve rapidly,
and for which purpose the axis of each cutter is mounted with a pulley to receive
a cord. This frame which carries the tracing point is mounted at one end upon
a standard from the bed or table upon a universal joint, and at its other end
is a handle by which the operation causes the tracing point to traverse back-
wards and forwards over the original medallion or other work to be copied.
The operator at the same time working the treddle with his foot gives motion

page_text: to the rotatory cutters which are driven by cords passing from a pulley on
thec rank shaft and over other pullies mounted on overhead framing and
down to the pullies of the cutters; motion is also given to a screw on which
the metal table is caused to move from front to back as the work proceeds.
When operating upon busts, or similar works, another shaft has to be set in
motion provided with worms and worm wheels by which each piece of material
being operated upon may be caused to revolve so as to present all of its sides
to the cutters as the work goes forward.
IMPROVED COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, OR PARTS THEREOF, SUITABLE MORE ESPECIALLY AS FOOT WARMERS FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER TRAVELLERS
Year: 1860

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis Parker at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th August
1860.
I, FRANCIS PARKER, of Wood Street, Northampton, in the County of
Northampton, Boot and Shoe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVED COVERINGS FOR THE FEET, OR PARTS THEREOF,
SUITABLE MORE ESPECIALLY AS FOOT WARMERS FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER TRAVELLERS,"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in constructing a half-slipper or shoe made of
leather, leather cloth, or other suitable material, that is, having the " vamp
or front part only with a half or whole sole attached, and also provided with
an elastic strap or band, or a non-elastic strap or band, and button, buckle, or
other fastening secured to the said vamp, in order that the forepart of the foot
when inserted in such half-slipper or shoe (with or without the ordinary boot
or shoe on the foot of the wearer, as desired,) may be covered and kept warm,
(the inside of such half-slipper or shoe being well lined with warmth-giving
materials, as wool, fur, hair, and the like,) such half-slipper or shoe being held
on the foot by the elastic band being drawn over the heel. The above is a
description of the nature of the said Invention, which might probably, in
practice, be varied in its details.