matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENTS IN OSCILLATING STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1855

page_text: the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd June 1855.
I, GEORGE WHISш, of Canada Works, Birkenhead, do hereby declare the
nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OSCILLATING STEAM ENGINES
to be as follows:-
These improvements have for their objects certain arrangements and com-
binations of parts for supplying steam to oscillating steam cylinders of steam
engines, and for stopping and starting such steam engines; by which improve-
ments the construction and working of steam engines will be simplified, and
some of the working parts heretofore used dispensed with.
For this purpose the two trunnions of each oscillating steam cylinder are
made hollow, but closed at their outer ends. In each of the trunnions are
formed four slots or openings, two at the upper and two at the under surface
of the trunnion. The bearing of each trunnion is capable of being packed
steam-tight by suitable packing around the trunnion, and part of each bearing
is hollow, and forms the steam way or the exhaust way in each case, according
as the steam engine is for the time being working to turn the shaft in one
direction or in the other. The outer end of each trunnion is surrounded for
the most part with the metal of the bearing, but where the bearing is made
hollow to receive steam there are passages through the metal to correspond with

page_text: "
those in the trunnion, in such manner that when the steam cylinder is midway
in its swing or oscillation, the steam ways and the exhaust ways are closed.
The hollow bearings of the steam cylinder or cylinders are connected with a
slide valve box (into part of which the steam is supplied from the boiler or
boilers) by means of two pipes, one of which acts for the time being as the
steam pipe to supply the cylinders, and the other as the exhaustion pipe. The
valve in the valve box is arranged to open a way between either of these two
pipes and an exhaust or outlet passage, and at the same time to open a steam
passage from the valve box into the other pipe. The hand lever, which is con-
nected with the slide valve in the valve box, is arranged to be stopped in one
of three positions (and also at intermediate points), the middle position being
to stop the engine, at which-time the slide valve closes both the passages into
the two pipes. The other two positions are one on either side of the midway
position; the one for retaining the lever-when the engine is working in the
ordinary direction, and the other when the engine is to work in the reversed
direction. By this construction and combination of the parts of a steam
engine, the working of the engine simply by the hollow trunnions admit steam
to, and also allow the escape of the steam from, the cylinder or cylinders without
the movement of any valve, and by the aid of a single slide valve actuated by
hand, the engine is started, stopped, and reversed at pleasure.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, MORE PARTI- CULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE MACHINES GENERALLY KNOWN BY THE NAME OF SMITH'S SELF-ACTING MULES
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Beckett at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th May 1855.
I, JAMES BECKETT, of Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Overlooker,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, MORE PARTI-
CULARLY APPLICABLE TO THE MACHINES GENERALLY KNOWN BY THE NAME OF SMITH'S
SELF-ACTING MULES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more particularly to certain adaptations and modifi-
cations of the spinning machine known as "Smith's self-acting mule," whereby
a more uniform quantity of twist is produced than by the ordinary mules at
present in use. The improvements consist in so altering the arrangement of
the different parts of the mule, that the spindle and carriage straps are dis-
pensed with and gearing substituted, by which arrangement a positive motion
is obtained. This is effected by placing on the carriage shaft a spur wheel,
which gears into and drives another spur wheel on the spindle shaft, to which
shaft a clutch or other similar contrivance is attached, in order to throw the
spindle shaft out of gear during the winding on, instead of the strap being
thrown from the fast to the loose pulley, as in the ordinary mules. Motion is
communicated to the carriage shaft from the main driving strap, either by the
use of an upright shaft, or by pulleys upon the carriage shaft, as may be found
most convenient.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO CARDING ENGINES
Year: 1855

page_text: on for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edmund Calvert and Sidney
Ashton Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 22nd November 1855:
We, EDMUND CALVERT, of Walton-le-Dale, in the County of Lancaster,
and SIDNEY ASHTON SMITH, of the same Place, Manager, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS APPLICABLE TO
CARDING ENGINES, to be as follows:-
Our Invention consists in an improved mode of casing or boxing up the
lower part of the carding engine, so as to prevent or diminish the currents of
air consequent on the present mode of constructing the casings.
One mode of constructing our improvements is by placing two upright
partitions below the main cylinder, so as to divide the under side of the
carding engine into three spaces; the first space, or that under the licker-in,
collects the dirt and short fibres of cotton or other fibrous material under
operation, and the other two spaces collect the dirt and dust under the main
drum and doffer.
By this improved mode of casing or boxing up much less waste is produced,
as most of the short fibres, instead of flying off the main cylinder, are taken up
with the fleece from the doffer.
A JOINTED BACK BAND FOR GIG OR BROUGHAM HARNESS, AFFORDING INSTANT RELIEF TO FALLEN HORSES, AND ALWAYS INCLINING TO THE DRAUGHT OF THE TRACES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Henry Hill at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th October
1855.
I, RICHARD HENRY HILL, Castle Banks, Lewes, Sussex, Sadler & Har-
ness Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
JOINTED BACK BAND FOR GIG OR BROUGHAM HARNESS, AFFORDING INSTANT RELIEF
TO FALLEN HORSES, AND ALWAYS INCLINING TO THE DRAUGHT OF THE TRACES,"
to be as follows:-
A back band, made in three separate pieces, and to be connected on either
side of the saddle with a screw rosette, so that, in the event of a horse falling
down, by unscrewing one or both the rosettes instant relief is given to the horse,
so that he can arise immediately instead of being kept down by the present tug
back band, so that they in consequence kick and otherwise do serious damage
to themselves as well as to the vehicle. By this Invention also the draught
always inclines to the traces, and prevents the tearing and injuring the skirt of
the saddle, and preserves the shape of the tug loop.

page_text: LONDON: Printed by GEORGE EDWARD EYRE and WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE,
Printers to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. 1856.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Louis Dameron at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th April
1855.
I, LOUIS DAMERON, of Paris, Coach Manufacturer, and 4, South Street,
Finsbury, London, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGES" to be as follows, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in constructing a carriage convertible into three
different forms, as represented by Figures 1, 2, & 3 of the annexed
Drawing.
Figure 1 represents a side view of a carriage with two places; Figure 2
is a side view of a carriage with four places; and Figure 3 is a side view of
an open carriage with four places. The number of places may be increased
according to the size of the body. The conversion of the form Figure 1 into
either that of Figures 2 or 3 is effected as follows:-The part A, Fig. 1,
is replaced by part B, and forms with the rest of the vehicle the carriage with
two places. The part A or B can be replaced by part C, the part D being
thrown back to form an open carriage. To form the open carriage the tops of
the doors are removed in one piece.

page_text: I employ covered joints & hooks which secure against the running in of
the rain, & give at the same time a more simple and solid adjustment. I
employ above and below the frame, body shafts with cramp hooks, which
prevent pressure on the body of the carriage, and improves the adjustment of
the parts.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN PORTABLE CASES OR HOLDING RECEPTACLES FOR CIGARS, SPECTACLES, CARDS, CUTLERY, AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Andrew Smith at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th July 1855.
I, ANDREW SMITH, of Manchline, in the County of Ayr, North Britain,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PORTABLE CASES OR HOLDING RECEPTACLES FOR CIGARS, SPECTACLES, CARDS,
CUTLERY, AND OTHER ARTICLES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the so arranging and constructing portable cases
or holders intended for containing and conveying various small articles that
the following advantages may be secured: -First, perfect security when the
case is closed; second, facility of fully opening and closing; third, complete
exposure of the contained articles to a greater or less extent, as may be desired.
Cigar cases made on this principle present the ordinary flat pocket-case
shape, and the greater portion of the length of the case, say, two-thirds or
three-fourths, is solid, whilst the remainder is bi-valved, or formed with two
separate doors, hinged one on each side to the body of the case, for the admis-
sion and extraction of the cigars. The line of junction of the two hinged
opening pieces is in the plane of the case, being either quite in the centre of
the case's thickness, or more or less to one side. The central junction is
preferred, inasmuch as it gives the same thickness and weight to each door or
opening piece. The two hinged doors are held together when the case

page_text: is closed by an end-embracing catch of any convenient kind, as the ordinary
French clip, for example. When this fastening catch is thrown back, one or
both of the hinged doors may be turned over to a right angle with the plane of
the case, so as to expose the upper ends of the cigars all round in a most com-
plete manner. The cigars may thus be examined, and individual ones selected
with great facility and certainty. The same general arrangement is applicable
to spectacle cases, as it enables the user to fully expose the upper end of the
spectacles with great facility. Visiting or commercial card and pattern cases
may be similarly made, also razor cases, and many other receptacles for small
articles of different kinds.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF TEETH, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Hall Brock Thwaites at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
September 1855.
I, JOHN HALL BROCK THWAITES, of Bristol, in the County of Somerset,
Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE PRESERVATION OF TEETH, AND IN THE MANUFACTURE AND APPLICATION
OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH," to be as follows:-
These improvements consist in the employment of the metal aluminium fo
the purpose of stopping decayed teeth, and in the manufacture of artificial
teeth or blocks, with the plates, pins, rivets, springs, or other attachments for
the same, either wholly or in part of aluminium.
AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONSTRUCTING FIREPROOF AND WATERPROOF ROOPING, FLOORING, AND COVERING FOR GENERAL PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis George Mulholland at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
March 1855.
I, FRANCIS GEORGE MULHOLLAND, of No. 44, Vincent Square, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONSTRUCTING FIREPROOF AND
WATERPROOF ROOPING, FLOORING, AND COVERING FOR GENERAL PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
I propose making use of either wrought or cast iron girders or joists for
carrying the roof, floor, or covering (as the case may be), their strength being
determined by the ordinary rules of practice. When the girders or joists are
fitted and secured I fill in or cover the intermediate spaces or bays with curved
sheets of corrugated iron, the ends being turned up or curled to run loose on
the flanges of the girders or joists, thus allowing for play in case of any sudden
increase of weight, or for expansion in case of fire. The sheets are placed
in position by dropping them on to the flanges of the girders or joists (each
sheet lapping over or covering the transverse edge of the next one); they
are then covered to the depth of two or three inches with porous brick or
other rubbish, upon which concrete in a semi-fluid state is cast and trimmed.

page_text: to a flush face, so as to form a substratum for the future floor or upper surface,
which may be finished with any of the ordinary cements, or made waterproof
by the application of asphalte, or a hot mixture of coal tar and lime, well
sauded and rolled to a close and even surface; or if boarding is preferred, the
battens or boards may be laid to fillets bedded in the concrete, or notched on to
the girders or joists.
I claim as novel and original the use and application of curved iron sheets
corrugated and prepared with turned-up or curled ends, as herein-before
described, and the introduction and use of some loose or porous non-conducting
materiel as a covering, for the purposes aforesaid.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Bartlett at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th March
1855.
I, WILLIAM BARTLETT, of Bradford Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VENTILATORS" to be as follows (that is to say):-
I provide myself with a suitable metal or wood frame of any required shape
or size, having a piece of tube soldered or secured in its centre by means of a
cross bar, such tube being placed at right angles to the plane of the frame.
I next require a bevelled or conical glass rim, circular, square, octagon, or any
other desirable shape, and which glass rim is secured to a skeleton frame,
having a cross bar and centre hole, and which hole must be concentric with
the hole in the tube, before described; and these rims I add in any desired
number, putting them one on the other, the holes in the cross bar of each
succeeding one being smaller and concentric with the tube or hole first
described; and over these rims I place a glass or other dome, and which dome
I secure to a pin having as many shoulders on it as rims, and which pin is
put through the tube, before described, and through the cross bars of each
rim, and finally secured to the dome, and the degree of ventilation required
is obtained by pushing the pin through the tube, lifting the dome and rims in

page_text: regular succession. This model of ventilating is highly applicable for vessels
or steam packets, thus serving the purpose of a ventilator and deck light,
and may also be used for berth or dead lights, admitting fresh air without
admitting the spray or rain; and is also applicable for the. ventilation of
railway carriages, and all general purposes where ventilation may be required,
and may be used in an horizontal or vertical position.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHARCOAL AND PYROLIGNEOUS ACID
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Horton at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th May 1855.
I, THOMAS HORTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CHARCOAL AND PYROLIGNEOUS ACID" to
be as follows:-
My said Invention consists in the use of spent tan (that is, the oak or other
bark which has been used by tanners, and from which the tannin and other
soluble matters have been more or less extracted by water,) for the manu-
facture of charcoal and pyroligneous acid. The said spent tan is subjected to
heat in a distillatory apparatus, and the pyroligneous acid is obtained in the
volatile products which distil over. The charcoal remains behind in the retort.
Or the spent tan may be heated in a furnace or kiln, and the volatile products
allowed to escape, if the object of the manufacture is to procure charcoal, to the
neglect of the pyroligneous acid.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Andrew Tevendale at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
December 1855.
I, ANDREW TEVENDALE, of Number Two, Wellington Buildings, Vauxhall
Road, in the Town of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN PROPELLING, AND IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF STEAM OR OTHER VESSELS," to be as follows:-
The Invention is as follows:-The vessel, instead of floating in the water,
rests on a framework under which are fitted two or more water-tight drums or
cylinders, the air in which supports the whole. Rotatory motion being.com-
municated to the drums or cylinders (on which there are radial float boards)
by a steam engine or other apparatus in the vessel, a more rapid motion
is produced by a given power than is otherwise to be obtained.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES FOR SPINNING
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Brierly at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th October 1855.
I, the said HENRY BRIERLY, of Chorley, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SELF-ACTING MULES FOR SPINNING," to be as follows:-
My improvements refer to the operation usually termed governing the
winding-on. In order to effect this, it is necessary to give motion at intervals to
certain parts of the machine (the screw in the winding-on apparatus of "Sharp
and Roberts' mule" for instance"), which motion is effected through the
agency of the faller, regulated by the tension of the yarn if the operation be
self-acting. For this purpose it is required that a connexion shall be esta-
blished between two parts, but in such manner that its arrangement may be
capable of alteration, so as to accomodate itself to different positions of the
machine. This object I effect by the use of two or more rods or shafts, jointed
together so as to form varying angles to each other, but provided at the said
joints with gearing or other apparatus for transmitting motion; thus, for
instance, in the winding-on motion known as Sharp and Roberts', I employ two
shafts, the extremity of the one connected so as to turn the screw, and the end
of the other provided with wheel-work for receiving motion from the "winding-
on drum;" the junction of these two shafts is a joint, also furnished with wheel-
work, and rotatory motion may therefore be communicated throughout, although
the two shafts may alter in relative positions, and such motion is capable of

page_text: being regulated by a clutch box governed by the faller. Another method of
effecting the same object consists in the employment of a shaft, one end
of which is connected by gearing to the regulating screw; the said shaft is also
provided with a pinion connected with the faller, as aforesaid, and capable of
traversing the shaft by a feather, or equivalent means, and consequently of com-
municating motion thereto at any point.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Brown at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th July 1855.
I, WILLIAM BROWN, of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Wool-
comber, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to the employment of gill combs, or combs acting as
such, or porcupine rollers, to operate upon the fibrous substance as it is being
drawn off from the teeth of the circular or other carrying comb; and the
improvements consist in applying such gill combs, or combs acting as such, so
that their teeth in operating may point in a direction at right angles to or
across those of the receiver or carrying from which they are taking the fibre,
by which it will be found that the shorter of the fibre will with the other be
drawn off in a cleansed state.
A porcupine roller, or a roller with an elastic surface (as of india-rubber),
presses the fibre as drawn off from the carrying comb into the teeth of the
drawing-off combs, and I prefer to place such gill or porcupine drawing-off
apparatus between the teeth of the receiving or carrying comb and the
drawing-off rollers employed.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINERS' BRACES, AND IN THE MODE OF FORMING OR PARTIALLY FORMING THE VARIOUS BITS TO BE USED WITH SUCH OR ANY OTHER KIND OF BRACE
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Cooper at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th February
1855.
I, JOSEPH COOPER, of Lionel Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Brace and Bit Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention
for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN JOINERS' BRACES, AND IN THE MODE OF FORMING OR
PARTIALLY FORMING THE VARIOUS BITS TO BE USED WITH SUCH OR ANY OTHER KIND
OF BRACE," to be as follows, that is to say :-
My Invention consists, firstly, in the form of the spindle or mount which
unites the head to the stock, and on which the head works. This spindle is of
a parabolic form, curving outwards at the base for the purpose of giving a
proper bearing to the neck, and equalizing the friction from the pressure and
action on the head while in use.
Secondly, the use of a screw pin, to be placed in the front or side of the stock
just below the base of the spindle or mount, for the purpose of better securing
the same to the stock.
Thirdly, in the form of the back action plate, which I make of an abrupt
conical form, with one or more holes through it, for the oil way for lubricating
the parts in contact, as well as a square hole in the centre, through which the
under pin or mount passes.

page_text: Fourthly, in the application of a lever spring catch to brace pads for holding
in the bits while in use.
Fifthly, in the application of an helical spring and tubular plate, for forcing
out the bit when liberated by pressing on the end of the spring lever catch,
before described.
And the last part of my Invention relates to the forming or partially forming
of the bits, and consists in forming the whole or parts of such bits by the aid
of a stamp and suitable dies, wether such stamp be worked by steam or other
power.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR ROLLING AND SHAPING METALS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Henry Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st 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 of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR ROLLING AND SHAPING METALS," a communication from abroad, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement of
rolling mill, applicable to the manufacture of horse-shoes, railway wheel tyres,
and other curved articles, and consists in combining an ordinary plain roll; or
it may be slightly modified in form, according to circumstances, with a block
or plate runing on a centre, and having a groove or slot formed in its surface,
corresponding in curvation and shape to the article required. The grooved
plate is rotated by a cylinder or roller underneath it, such roller having small
notches or projections formed round its periphery, which take into correspond-
ing notches in a projection on the under side of the revolving horizontal
table. This driving roller is situated immediately below the pressing roller, and
serves thereby as a support to that side of the table under pressure. Both
the pressing and driving rollers are actuated by suitable gearing, which is so

page_text: arranged as to cause them to rotate in opposite directions. The bar to be
shaped whilst at a red heat is fed gradually into the shaping groove, being
drawn in as the table and pressing roller revolves. The groove having been
filled, the bar is cut off from that portion in the groove or matrix by being
pressed by the pressing roller against a fixed knife situated in the groove.
CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Revell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
March 1855.
I, JOSEPH REVELL, of Duckinfield, in the County of Chester, Plasterer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VESSELS" to be as follows:-
My Invention 1 term a "parallel paddle float motion," which consists in
providing each paddle or float (of whatever number the wheel may be com-
posed) with a shaft or axis, and having at one end of such axis a spur pinion,
one to each float, all being geared with one large spur wheel connected by
other suitable gearing with the main or driving shaft of the paddle wheel.
By a proper arrangement of such floats and gearing, as the paddle wheel
revolves, a perfectly vertical position, or slightly inclined position, if required, of
all the floats or paddles will be produced, and cach float be placed parallel with
the other, and maintained in such position throughout the whole revolution or
operation of the paddle wheel, or whilst entering, propelling the vessel upon,
or leaving the water.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC- TION OF MODERATOR LAMPS
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Henry Weston and John
Edmund Lewis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 12th July 1855.
We, JOHN HENRY WESTON, of Cross Street, Newington Butts, in the
County of Surrey, Gas Fitter, and JOHN EDMUND LEWIS, of Nicholas Street,
New North Road, in the County of Middlesex, Brass Finisher, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUC-
TION OF MODERATOR LAMPS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements on what is known as the moderator
lamp. Instead of constructing the lamp with an enlarged diameter at the
base to form an oil chamber, we propose to make the lamp stem the oil
chamber, and by that means we are enabled so to reduce the diameter
of that part as to admit of the lamp fitting into a Palmer's candle stand.
The loose piston we cause to slide over a central supply pipe, which forms
a guide for its ascent and descent, and we connect the piston by a chain
or wire cord to a barrel, which when rotated by a key will wind up the piston,
and allow the oil supplied to the lamp to pass below the piston.
The oil supplied to the lamp enters the central supply tube at its lower
end, the oil having first to pass through a wire gauze or other suitable
strainer at the bottom of the chamber.

page_text: The supply tube is filled with fine wire, which will prevent dirt or other
extraneous matter passing upward to the wick, but will form channels for
the free passage upwards of the oil. At its upper end the supply pipe is
provided with a two-way cock, which will cut off the supply when required,
or open a passage for the rise and fall of the oil. The oil passes up one
arn of the argand burner to the wick, and the overflow oil passes down
the other arm, thus hiding from view the dripping oil. A helical spring is
used for depressing the piston and forcing up the oil to the wick.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DRUGGETS, BOCKINGS, PILOT CLOTHS, BLANKETS, OR SIMILAR STRONG MATERIALS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Clement Coe at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 2nd June 1855.-
A communication.
I, CLEMENT COE, of the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DRUGGETS, BOCKINGS, PILOT
CLOTHS, BLANKETS, OR SIMILAR STRONG MATERIALS," being a communication from
a foreigner residing abroad, to be as follows:-
I propose to use an extra floating warp of cotton or similar material, and
confine it to the centre or interior of such goods, still preserving a woollen face
on both sides or surfaces, by which process I neither encrease the consumption
of warp or weft.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPING BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Georges Bufuoir at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st August 1855.
I. GEORGES BUFNOI, of Lyons (Empire of France), and of 32, Essex Street,
Strand, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN STOPPING BOTTLES AND OTHER VESSELS" to be as
follows, viz.
This Invention consists in using earthenware, porcelain, wood, glass, and
other stoppers in conjunction with india-rubber washers, and any kind of wire
or metallic slips, for the purpose of securely stopping bottles, jars, &c. The
improved glass and stopper has a body part or plug, which enters into the
bottle neck, and is furnished with a head or knob, having the same diameter
as the bottle neck outside. The plug passes through a vulcanized india-rubber
washer in such manner, that when the stopper is driven home, the washer is
pressed between the shoulder of the stopper and the top of the neck. I fix a
wire ring under the ring or swollen part of the neck, and this wire ring has
small rings or eyelets on opposite sides, into which I hook or secure a wire,
which is passed over the stopper head, thereby confining the same in its place,
and allowing it to be taken out when the wire is turned down sideways.

page_text: Several more small rings or eyelets may also be used for passing the binding
wire through and over and across the stopper head several times, and fastening
the same more effectually. In order to confine the binding wire or wires in the
proper position, and prevent them coming off the stopper, I use one or more
grooves on the stopper head, these grooves being placed at right angles or
otherwise. The india-rubber, instead of forming a plain washer, may also be
made to wrap up the plug part of the stopper, for the purpose of forming a
better joint than by a washer merely.
AN IMPROVED BOAT PLUG, OR SELF-ACTING VALVE
Year: 1855

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Robert Birch at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st June
1855.
I, JAMES ROBERT BIRCH, of No. 7, Washington Street, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVED BOAT PLUG, OR SELF-ACTING VALVE," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in adapting to the bottom of a ship's boat a self-
acting hinged. valve opening outwards, in lieu of the detached plug, hitherto
employed in ships' boats, for discharging the water therefrom, said Invention
being designed for the purpose of preventing accumulation of water in the boat
when hoisted and the plug from becoming lost, a circumstance of frequent
occurrence, and by which the boat is rendered useless and human life sacrificed.
This improvement is effected by so constructing the aforesaid plug or valve,
and of so attaching it to the boat's bottom, as that when the boat is hanging
at the "davits" of a ship, the before-mentioned hinged valve falls by its gravity
from its seat, and thus prevents any accumulation of water from rain or other-
_wise.in.the-boat,-so-that-it-is-always ready for use, and when lowered down
the moment she touches the water the valve closes water-tight, and remains so
until the boat is again hoisted.
IM- PROVEMENTS IN HAIR TRIGGER LOCKS FOR FIRE-ARMS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Christian Mayer at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd December
1855.
I, CHRISTIAN MAYER, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN HAIR TRIGGER LOCKS FOR FIRE-ARMS" to be as follows:-
I make use of the ordinary percussion or flint lock, so far as respects the
hammer or cock, lock plate, main spring, tumbler, and its appendages; but
instead of the seer, that takes the half and full cock notches on the tumbler,
being formed with an arm to be operated on by the ordinary or hair trigger to
discharge the hammer, I construct said seer without this arm, and apply a.
separate dog or blocking piece behind the rear end of said seer, kept towards.
the same by a spring, and this dog has the arm on it which takes the ordinary
trigger; therefore when the hammer is at half cock, the piece cannot by any
means be discharged, because the trigger does not operate on the seer that.
holds the tumbler of the hammer; but when the hammer is full cocked, the
seer being thrown by its spring into the second notch on the tumbler, (which
notch is not made. square, but like an inclined plane,) allows the dog or blocking
piece by its spring to be thrown over the rear end of the seer, thereby keeping

page_text: the forward end to the tumbler, and when this dog or blocking piece is knocked
away by the trigger, the seer slips out of the notch in the tumbler, and the
piece is discharged.
In order to regulate the amount which the dog or blocking piece overlies
the back end of the seer, and consequently the hair trigger operation, I make
use of a conical pointed screw passing through the lock plate, and according as
this is screwed in or out (being actuated from the outside of the lock), so will
its conical point allow the dog or blocking piece to pass over the rear end of
the seer more or less.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Niven at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th March 1855.
I, JAMES NIVEN, of Keir, in the County of Perth, North Britain, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PAPER AND IN THE PRODUCTION OF TEXTILE MATERIALS " to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention relates to the application or employment and use of the
common broom plant,' that is to say, the plant which in the botanical classifi-
cation of Linnæus is termed the genista scoparium, or of plants of the broom
species; as also to the application of the common whin plant and its varieties,
botanically known as the ulex Europea, and other plants of the same natural
family leguminosa, in the manufacture or production of the pulpy material from
which paper is to be made, as well as in the manufacture or production of
fibrous materials for textile purposes. In this adaptation of these plants or
their varieties, the plants are used either in their natural green condition, or
when dried; they are prepared by being broken up by any of the ordinary
means as hitherto used for the disintegration of vegetable fibres.
The rough woody parts and refuse, unfit for the purposes of the paper or
textile manufacture, are then cleared away, leaving a strong fibrous material
suitable for being made into a pulp for the paper-maker, or for being spun and
manufactured according to textile processes. In obtaining paper pulp in this
manner, the fibrous materials herein-before referred to may be used either

page_text: alone or in conjunction with other kinds of pulp; and similarly, when applied
as textile materials, they may. bé mixed or-not with other fibres at present in
Paper made from broom or whin pulp is much cheaper than that
produced in the ordinary manner, whilst it is of excellent quality; and the
textile fibres so produced are also economical in first cost, and effective for this
special purpose.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Charles Clive at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
September 1855.
I, JOSEPH CHARLES CLIVE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PHOTOGRAPHY" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates principally to such photographic pictures as are taken
upon glass, and are called collodion positives. The object of my said Inven-
tion is the production of "backgrounds" to portraits and groups, which said
"backgrounds" shall be well defined. By the ordinary process this is im-
possible, as when the face of the sitter is in the focus of the lens with respect
to the plane on which the picture is produced, objects more distant than the
face are out of focus and ill defined.
My Invention consists in taking the portrait or group on one side of a sheet
of glass, and after having removed from the glass the whole of the background,
I take upon the other side of the sheet of glass any scene which I wish to be
the background, or I take the said background on a second sheet of glass,
and place the same at the back of the first. The pictures are thus superposed,

page_text: the portrait or group being uppermost, and the picture constituting the back-
ground undermost.
By the method described, figures or objects taken at different times and at
different places can be brought into one picture.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ROASTING SPITS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Felix Hoyas, Mechanician, of Paris (France), for the
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN ROASTING SPITS."
Sealed the 18th January 1856, and dated the 18th July 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Felix Hoyas at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th July
1855.
I, FELIX HOYAS. Mechanician, of Paris (France), do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROASTING SPITS" to be as
follows:-
My improvements consist in having a roasting spit furnished with two or
more spindles or spits, on which the meat or other articles to be roasted are
attached, which spits or spindles are made to turn lengthwise before the fire
round or together with a central revolving axis, and by a suitable gearing
obtain a sun and star motion in such manner that they revolve on their own
axis the moment they come close to the fire, and turn consequently in that
moment with an increased speed, by which the meat or other articles fixed on
the spindles, at each time when these latter come close to the fire, receive the
direct action of this latter only during a few moments, so as not to be injured
by the same.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BRICKS FOR DRAINING, SEWERING, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Monk at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th August 1855.
I, SAMUEL MONK, Engineer, of Bridge Street, Smethwick, in the County of
Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BRICKS FOR DRAINING, SEWERING, AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows,
that is to say :-
My improvements in bricks consist in so forming them that they shall lap
or fit one in the other at the sides or ends, and which fitting may consist of
rabeting or lapping one part on the other, or angle grooving, or by sunken
cavities and corresponding raised parts, so disposed on the brick that they may
tie in one with the other lengthway as well as sideway. This form of brick
would be particularly adapted for sewerage purposes, as they could be put
together in a self-sustaining arch, and finished by grouting or cementing on
the top.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PROCESS OF PRINTING WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Hindle at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th April 1855.
I, JAMES HINDLE, of Accrington, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Printer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN THE PROCESS OF PRINTING WOVEN
FABRICS" to be as follows:-
In order to keep the blanket as free as possible from the colouring matter
during the process of printing, a piece of grey calico or similar material is
generally made to pass between the blanket and the fabric to be printed;
or when the blanket does become stained, which is impossible to avoid
altogether, it is washed or scoured with brushes, &c. either by hand or power.
My Invention consists of cleansing the blanket whilst the machine is in motion
by passing it between rollers revolving in water or any suitable liquid, and
then drying it by means of heated cylinders and steam chests, and then
conveying it to the printing process perfectly cleansed, thus having constantly
a clean blanket without stopping the progress of the work, or using calico or
other material for the purpose.
The particulars of this my Invention will be clearly understood by reference
to the accompanying outline Drawing, in which a represents the blanket as
coming from the printing machine with the printed fabric b; the blanket then
passes over the rollers c and over the rollers c', which revolve in the trough d,
containing water or other suitable liquid. The rollers e are for the purpose of

page_text: keeping the blanket in contact with the wet rollers c'. During its progress
through these rollers it becomes washed or scoured, and then passes to the
cylinders and steam chests h, and over the rollers i, by which it becomes
perfectly dry and ready for use again, and is conveyed by means of rollers or
similar contrivances to the printing machine, and so repeated continuously.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CRUSHING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1855

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd October
1855.
I, WILLIAM WILSON, of the City of Manchester, Agricultural Implement
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CRUSHING GRAIN AND OTHER SUBSTANCES " to
be as follows:-
In crushing machines it is very desirable to be able to vary the distance
between the crushing rollers, to suit the grain or other substances to be
crushed. In order to accomplish this, and to keep the distance between the
rollers equal at each end thereof, I employ a bar with two inclined planes; this
bar is placed parallel to the axis of the adjustable roller, and each inclined
plane, when the bar is moved endwise, acts on a prolongation of the bear-
ings in which the adjustable roller revolves. The bar is moved endwise
by a screw and nut or other suitable mechanism.
IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS
Year: 1855

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Henry Preece at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th November
1855.
I, WILLIAM HENRY PREECE, of 7, Bernard Street, Primrose Hill, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPHS " to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in an improved manner of arranging electric
telegraphs to communicate in both directions at the same time on the same
wire. In such telegraphs as ordinarily arranged two currents are taken from
the battery, one of which passes along the line wire, and the other passes in a
local circuit, and is used to neutralise the influence of the outgoing line
current on the receiving instrument, and in order to adjust the force of the
local current to the force of the line current it has been usual to introduce
resistance coils. Now, according to this Invention the force of the local
current is not adjusted, but in place thereof its influence is increased or
diminished as required by altering its distance from the needle or other
instrument on which it is arranged to act. The following is the manner in
which it is preferred to arrange the apparatus:-Two magnetic needles
weighted in the ordinary manner are placed astatically on an axis; round one
of those needles the line current passes, and round the other the local current,

page_text: in a coil, arranged so that the distance between its two parts can be adjusted
to regulate its influence on the needle, which is placed between such parts; or
the needle or needles may be hung between the poles of two electro-magnets,
so arranged that the distance of one or both of them from the needle or needles
may be adjusted, one of such electro-magnets being excited by the line and
the other by the local current; and sometimes, in place of passing two battery
currents through the coils, I cause one battery current to pass through both of
them, and I make an earth connection between the two coils, so as to diminish
the quantity of the current after it has passed through the first; then, by ad-
justing the distance of the coils from the needles, a complete compensation is
effected in the case of outgoing signals, and the instrument is free to be acted
on by incoming currents; and when a contact maker or pecker is used to
complete a local circuit, such contact maker or pecker is placed on the same
axis with the magnetic needles before mentioned; and a light hand of steel or
other suitable material is also placed thereon, by moving which to the right
or left the force required to move the pecker can be adjusted as required.
In order to communicate in both directions on the same wire when marking
paper by chemical decomposition, I cause the line current to pass through the
prepared paper at both the terminal stations; but at the sending station, at the
same time that the line circuit is completed, a local circuit is also completed,
which passes a compensating current through the paper in the same place, but
in the opposite direction.