matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Henry Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 11th August
1865. A communication from abroad by Charles Goublier, of Paris, in
the Empire of France..
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF CANDLES," a communication to me
from abroad by Charles Goublier, of Paris, in the Empire of Erance, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction of wick for candles of all
kinds, whereby the candle is burnt more slowly, and.a better light and more
perfect combustion is obtained by reason of the air having a more ready
access to the flame.
According to this Invention it is proposed to employ hollow or tubular
woven wicks, and to introduce them into the moulds by means of a flexible
mandrill which, by preference, is made of india-rubber. The mandrill remains
inside the wick, until the tallow, wax, or other composition of the candle has
set, when the mandrill on. being withdrawn will leave the wick perfectly
tubular and open, and so afford a free passage for the air through the centre
of the candle to the part of the wick which is being burnt.
AN IMPROVED MANUFACTURE OF AERATED WATERS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Hineson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th December
1865.
I, ROBERT HINESON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Hotel
Keeper, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MANUFACTURE OF AERATED WATERS," to be as follows:-
To aerated waters generally, and particularly to soda water and lemonade,
I add in the process of manufacture and preparation for sale a quantity, one-
eighth, more or less, of alcohol or spirituous liquor, such as brandy, whiskey,
gin, or rum. By so doing I produce in a convenient and well mixed condition
a desired aerated beverage, which will keep "sweet" under varying tempera-
tures and in different climates for a much greater length of time than the
aerated waters now produced.
In carrying my Invention into effect I employ the ordinary means and
apparatus for the production of carbonic acid gas and for bottling, and
add the alcohol or spirit to the water before bottling, or I place the alcohol
or spirit in the bottles, and then supply the water and carbonic acid gas
thereto.
A SPOON REST
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Roberts at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
December 1865.
I, JOSEPH ROBERTS, of Prospect Lodge, Holland Road, Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "A SPOON REST," to be as follows:-
It consists in forming a suitable receptacle for the waste gravy from a s
gravy spoon or table spoon, with a convenient rest for its handle, so that a
person carving may remove the spoon from the dish and place it in the.
rest. The design consists in forming a suitable well, box, or case, a por-
tion of the bottom of the said box being extended and turned up to
sustain the handle of a spoon. On the top of the said well or case a rim..
or lid is made to lie or drop on the well, box, or case; the said rim has a
perforated bottom to allow the gravy to pass through, and the said rim
may be attached by a hinge to the lower well. The configuration of the
spoon rest may be made to suit the fashion of the day.
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS. FOR MAKING MORTARS, BOWLS, SPILL POTS, JELLY CANS, GALVANIC TROUGHS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Boulton and Joseph
Worthington at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 8th December 1865.
We, WILLIAM BOULTON and JOSEPH WORTHINGTON, of Burslem, in the
County of Stafford, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS. FOR MAKING MORTARS, BOWLS,
SPILL POTS, JELLY CANS, GALVANIC TROUGHS, AND OTHER SIMILAR ARTICLES," to be
as follows:-
This Invention relates. to the manufacture of mortars, bowls, spill pots,
jelly cans, galvanic troughs, and other similar articles from pulverized clay or
dust.
In carrying out our Invention we, firstly, provide a metal ring or shell of
the proper thickness and shape of the article required to be made, sufficiently
deep to admit of the sliding thereon of the moulds herein-after mentioned,.
and which metal ring is secured to the plank or bottom of the press..
Secondly, we provide a plunger or ram to slide inside the before-mentioned
ring or shell, and so shaped as to form the inside of the article to be made..
Thirdly, we have a partially hollow spindle secured to the plunger or ram,
to which is attached a lever and weight for the purpose of adjusting the ram
to the height required to enable it to distribute the clay inside the mould in
such a manner as to give the clay a proper thickness for the article required,

page_text: and cause it to receive an uniform pressure in all parts. Any other contrivance
besides the lever and weight which will have the same effect will be equally
good.
Fourthly, we provide an outer mould open at the top to receive pulverized
clay or dust. The inside of the mould is of the same shape as the outside
of the article required, and is made to pass over thering or shell, and is adjusted
to the proper height to receive a sufficient quantity of pulverized clay or dust
to make the article.
Fifthly, we provide a top ram or die made in any convenient shape. The
ram or die is either attached to or detached from a screw or other means of
pressure which is applied to consolidate the article.,
Sixthly, we provide a second lever (or any other suitable contrivance) on the
hollow spindle before mentioned to extricate, the plunger from the clay; and in
order to perform this more readily a small valve is provided in the plunger to.
admit air.
IMPROVED MEANS OF CLOSING THE MOUTHS OF BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry James Rogers and Jonathan
Mather Scholfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 16th January 1865.
We, HENRY JAMES ROGERS and JONATHAN MATHER SCHOLFIELD, both of
No. 2, Serle Street, Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVED MEANS OF CLOSING THE MOUTHS
OF BOTTLES OR OTHER VESSELS," to be as follows:-
The first part of our Invention relates to improved means of closing the
mouths of bottles or other vessels by means of a stopper of glass, earthenware,
or other hard material.
In the Interior of the mouth or orifice of the bottle or vessel we cast or form
a screw thread, and immediately below this we contract the neck or opening so
as to form a shoulder. Upon the body or barrel of the stopper (which fits inside
the mouth of the bottle or vessel) we form a corresponding screw thread, and
below that we form an annular groove, in which we place a ring of cork or other
suitable elastic substance. The upper part of the stopper is of a larger dia-
meter than the barrel, forming as it were a flange, the edge of which is milled
or fluted, and upon taking the stopper by this milled edge and screwing it into
the mouth or orifice of the bottle or vessel, the ring of cork or other substance
will be pressed forcibly against the shoulder above-named, and thus a per-
fectly fluid-tight joint will be obtained.
The second part of our Invention relates to improved means of securing
ordinary corks in the mouths of bottles, and is especially applicable to such
bottles as are used to contain soda or mineral waters, sparkling wines, or other
effervescent or aërated beverages or liquids, and consists of a wire clip or clasp

page_text: attached to the neck of the bottle, and capable of being passed over the top of
the cork in place of the strings or wires ordinarily employed for that purpose.
The clip is formed of a stout wire bent somewhat in the form of an inverted
U so as to pass over the cork and embrace the swelling or rim at the mouth
of the bottle; the ends of the wire are bent outwards, and pass through two
eyes or rings formed on a thinner wire which passes round the neck of the
bottle, and is secured thereto by twisting its two ends together. This clip
(which remains always attached to the bottle can at any time be readily passed
over the cork or removed therefrom by pressing it sideways with the thumb
or finger, the two ends of the clip serving as pivots and turning in the eyes or
rings above-named. The part of the clip which extends over the cork is
curved or waved horizontally, so as to pass nearly round the edge of the
cork, instead of across the centre of the same, so that the clip does not cut
into the cork, but is easily removed therefrom by side pressure as above-
described.
IMPROVEMENTS IN FLOATING DOCKS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Turton at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th June.
1865.
I, GEORGE TURTON, of Sheffield, in the County of York, Commercial Traveller,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FLOATING DOCKS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the employment of a series of air or float. cases
built and arranged separately or in loose portions, and running along the
upper part of the sides of the dock from stem to stern, also in fitting hinged
gates or a caisson to close the dock, and in the general arrangement and con-
struction of floating docks, all as hereafter described and shown in the annexed
sectional view, whereby the dock can be propelled or sailed at an equal
speed to any ordinary vessel. I construct the docks of steel, iron, or wood, with
floors, ribs, or cross girders A, A, either of solid plates, trellis, or webs, with angle.
iron reverse bars, running from the keel B to the top of the side frames C, C.
D, D are the air,cases running along the upper part of the sides of the dock
from stem to stern. I fit hinged gates or a caisson to close the dock, and I
insert in the sides scuttle or water-tight side lights, provided with dead plates
to protect the glass in the sides of the dock. Inside the dock, and at the two
sides I employ iron or wooden steps, staging, and platforms E, E, varying accor-
ding to the size and shape of the vessel to be docked. I provide my floating
dock with all necessary cocks, sluices, and valves. The floors are arranged
with opening gutters to allow water to run freely to the pumps. I prefer to .

page_text: construct the shell of the dock of strong plate iron up to the turn of the bilge,
and above that of thin sheet iron to form air compartments. I use bulk-
heads about every twenty feet for strength and safety in case of collision.
The deck may be strengthened if required with keelsons in the bilge or floor,
or at the sides, stayed and supported by stanchions from the frame underneath
the air boxes inside to the floor; such vessel to have a flat bottom. After a
vessel has been floated into the dock, the gate or gates is or are closed and
the water pumped out, when the vessel within will gently take the blocks,
and, being properly shored upon, will remain safely. The dock with its vessel
will ride at ease in stream, tide, or sea-way. When docked the bottom of the
vessel will be below the water level outside the dock.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING ENGINEERS' AND CARPENTERS' TOOLS BY HAND OR OTHER POWER
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Spence at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd March 1865.
-A communication from abroad by Henry Winsor, of Philadelphia, in
the United States of America.
I, JAMES SPENCE, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR OPERATING ENGINEERS' AND CARPENTERS' TOOLS BY HAND OR OTHER POWER," as
communicated to him by Henry Winsor, of Philadelphia, in the United States
of America, to be as follows (that is to say):-
The object of these improvements in apparatus for operating engineers' or
carpenters' tools by hand or other power is especially applicable to the
operations of drilling, boring, slotting, punching, planing, and other like
mechanical operations, to obtain in these operations the adjustment necessary
to manipulate on work of irregular forms; and the said Invention consists
in attaching a circular casting or frame within four circular slides of the
same diameter attached to suitable framing erected on the foundation stone
or bed plate. On the edge of this circular casting for half its diameter
there are formed cogs or teeth gearing into a worm wheel for the purpose
of attaining any angle that a particular casting may be required to be set
to, according to a graduated scale placed on the framing, which gives the
required angle on either side of the central vertical line of the machine.
On the face of the said circular casting are fitted slides in which works
a slide rest, actuated by a crank, eccentric, steam, air, or bydraulic

page_text: cylinder placed below the frame, and arranged so as to give any length of
stroke required. On the face of the said slide rest is fixed a circular cast metal
box, in which is fitted the tool box, which is also made moveable for any angle
in the opposite direction to the before-mentioned one. Within this tool box
are bolted the various tools for the work required, such as drilling, boring,
slotting, punching, and planing. It may also be stated that the whole of the
work on the face of the first named circular casting is made moveable for the
convenience of using the same for other purposes.
IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR MELTING SEALING-WAX, GLUE, OR OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Bünger at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd April
1865. A communication from abroad by Frederick Kührmann, of
Rosslau-on-the-Elbe, in the Kingdom of Prussia.
I, WILLIAM BÜNGER, of 34, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VESSELS OR APPARATUS FOR MELTING
SEALING-WAX, GLUE, OR OTHER SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the arrangement and construction of vessels
or apparatus to facilitate the melting of sealing-wax, glue, or other substances
so as to afford greater convenience and economy in using such materials.
For this purpose an external vessel (by preference of conical form furnished
with a suitable handle) is employed, having a door on one side thereof for
introducing a spirit or other lamp into the interior. Holes or apertures for
the admission of air are pierced through the lower part of this vessel, there
being other holes or apertures near the upper part thereof for the escape of
the heated air and products of combustion. Upon the upper rim, and
descending into this outer vessel an inner vessel is supported, consisting of a
central chamber partly surrounded by a conical-shaped jacket, the smaller
part of the cone being downwards, thus forming a space between it and the
outer vessel. The wax, shellac, or other substance of a like nature to be
melted is placed in the space or jacket surrounding the central vessel, and as
it melts from the heat of the spirit lamp or gas jet underneath it flows

page_text: through holes or openings formed around the inner or central chamber into
the bottom or lower part thereof, the bottom of the central vessel being, by
preference, formed double or with a space between them to prevent the
burning of the wax or other materials when melted. For the purpose of
melting or dissolving glue or other substances of a like nature, the holes
forming a communication between the jacket and the central vessel or
chamber are dispensed with, water being introduced into the jacket or space
around the central vessel.
By the use of the ordinary melting pots or vessels the wax or other
materials are liable to boil over or to be burnt or otherwise injured, thus
causing dangerous conflagrations; but by the use of the improved arrange-
ment of apparatus, herein described, the component parts of the wax or other
materials are not liable to be decomposed by overheating or discolored by
smoke, in consequence of which a cheaper quality of wax is found to answer
the purpose of more costly materials, owing to its adhesive properties not
being subject to injury in the process of melting. The apparatus also affords
great facility in sealing bottles or packets for manufacturing or commercial
purposes.
IMPROVEMENTS IN FLYERS FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS FOR SPINNING
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Ashton Lightoller and
George Henry Lightoller at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 9th January 1865.
We, RICHARD ASHTON LIGHTOLLER and GEORGE HENRY LIGHTOLLER, of
Chorley, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinners, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN FLYERS FOR PREPARING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS FOR SPINNING," to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to those flyers which are provided with pressers.
either single or double, and consists in an arrangement whereby we are
enabled to obtain what is commonly called a soft bobbin but in a compact
form. According to the usual plan, when pressers are used, the sliver after
passing through an aperture in the neck of the flyer is drawn partly around
the periphery thereof before it passes down the leg, and more twist than is
necessary for the after process of spinning is therefore required in order to
resist the strain or drag to which the sliver or thread is subjected. Our
Invention consists in avoiding this strain or drag around the neck of the flyer,
so that we can make a sliver with less twist such as is usually made by the
ordinary flyer without pressure. To accomplish this we cause the sliver or
thread to issue from the neck of the flyer in a line with the leg thereof, and
it therefore passes direct to the said leg, and then to the presser and bobbin
as usual.
IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED APPARATUS FOR THRESHING, DRESSING, AND GRINDING GRAIN AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Marshall at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th March
1865.
I, JAMES MARSHALL, of the Britannia Iron Works, Gainsborough, in the
County of Lincoln, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED APPARATUS FOR THRESHING, DRESSING,
AND GRINDING GRAIN AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the combination in one machine of grinding
apparatus such as or similar to that described in the Specification of the
Patent granted to John Ross, and bearing date 29th of April 1862, No. 1253,
with ordinary apparatus for threshing and dressing grain and other agricultural
produce.
The object of the Invention is to combine the said apparatus in one machine
in such a manner as to provide a communication between the threshing and
dressing apparatus and the grinding apparatus, which may be either opened
for the purpose of passing the material under operation from the threshing and
dressing apparatus to the grinding apparatus, or closed so as to allow each
part of the machine to be worked independently of the other. For this pur-
pose the ordinary threshing and dressing apparatus and the grinding apparatus
are combined in one machine, the revolving separating screen of the first-
named apparatus being fixed over the grinding apparatus, and the hopper of the
latter being so placed as to be capable of receiving the material intended to be
ground where the grinding apparatus is used separately. The means of commu-

page_text: nication between the two sets of apparatus for the purpose referred to consists
of two valves, the pivots of which are fixed between apertures leading from
the threshing and dressing apparatus out of the machine and other apertures
leading into the grinding apparatus, so that by one simultaneous movement of
the two valves on their pivots they are or may be caused to open the aper-
tures leading to the grinding apparatus, and close the exit apertures of the
threshing and dressing apparatus, and by a simultaneous movement of the
valves in another direction the apertures leading to the grinding apparatus are
or may be closed, and the exit apertures of the threshing and dressing appa-
ratus opened.
The separate use of either the threshing and dressing apparatus or the
grinding apparatus forms no part of my Invention, and apertures of communi-
cation between the two parts of the combined machine are formed in parts
thereof respectively which have or may have existed in such apparatus when
used separately.
The grinding apparatus may be varied from that described in the Speci-
fication of the Patent referred to, provided such grinding apparatus contain
parts in which may be formed apertures of communication between such
apparatus and the threshing and dressing apparatus so situated as to admit of
their being opened or closed by the same pair of 'valves as are employed to
open and close the exit apertures of the threshing and dressing apparatus.
A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF PRODUCING A PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE ON THE SURFACE OF COPPER OR OTHER Metal. PLATES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis Ross Wells at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st August
1865.
I, FRANCIS ROSS WELLS, of Hastings, in the County of Sussex, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED METHOD OF
PRODUCING A PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE ON THE SURFACE OF COPPER OR OTHER Metal.
PLATES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new or improved method of producing a photo-
graphic image on the surface of a plate of copper or other metal, the object
being to etch or engrave thereon. I propose to sensitive the plate by the
vapour of iodine or the fumes of bromine, or with iodine combined therewith,
when a photographic image can be produced thereon and developed by heat or
by the fumes of mercury. A picture or engraving, or any picture or drawing,
transparent or semi-transparent, can be produced on the surface of the plate
to serve as a guide for etching or engraving thereon, so that facsimiles can be
produced. In some cases the solution of iodine or bromine may be used in
lieu of vapours.
IMPROVEMENTS SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Laing at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th May 1865.
I, JAMES LAING, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
SEWING MACHINES," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to certain new mechanical arrangements for actuating
the needles of that class of sewing machines which are used for "over
beading," and in which a spiral needle is employed, and a very important
feature of the present Invention is the making of the said spiral needle partly
hollow or tubular, and partly solid. The solid part of the needle forms fully
one circle of it, and commences from the point, whilst the hollow or tubular
portion extends throughout the remainder of its length, except a short piece
at the further end, which is left solid. The needle is situated by preference
in a vertical position (although it may be fixed in any other position that
desire or circumstances may direct), and is held in place by means of guide
rollers. Motion is imparted to the needle by means of driving rollers, which
are actuated by a pulley, or in any other suitable manner. The guide rollers
are fixed to a circular disc, the driving rollers being supported on a bracket
protruding therefrom, fitted with a pinching screw for adjusting the pressure or
grip on the solid part of the needle. The guide rollers merely sevee to keep

page_text: the needle in its position either vertically, horizontally, or otherwise. As the
needle revolves its spiral form causes the cloth being sewn to be moved or
to travel along, so that the unsewn portions are being continually brought
under the sewing action of the needle. This causing of the cloth to travel by
means of the revolution of the needle is a very important feature of the
present Invention. A eut or opening is made in the outer side of the needle,
this being used for inserting the thread into the hollow part, which operation
is effected by holding the end of the thread and turning the needle backwards
until the entire length of the hollow part of the needle is filled with thread
from the bobbins. The needle being thus threaded, and a sufficient length
of thread being left beyond the side opening, will upon starting the needle
be carried through the cloth, and the seam will at the same time be commenced,
and the winding of the thread into the cloth will continue until the whole
thread is pulled out of the needle, each revolution effecting one stitch or "over-
head."
The amount of drag required is regulated by means of a spring placed
inside the needle close to the side of the opening, which spring presses the
thread against the inner side of the needle to any required extent.
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE EXPLOSION OF STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Westerby at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd February
1865.
I, JOHN WESTERBY, of Mold Green, near Huddersfield, in the County of
York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE EXPLOSION OF STEAM BOILERS," to be
as follows:-
In the contrivances hitherto designed to effect the prevention of steam
boiler explosions the principal part of the apparatus has invariably been placed
outside the boiler, where it was liable to be tampered with by the workmen
or others, and various devices have been resorted to for the purpose of so
placing or protecting all the working parts of such apparatus that they should
be free from being so tampered with and from improper interference. Now
a most important feature of my present Invention consists in fixing the whole
of the apparatus within the boiler, whereby it is placed entirely out of reach;
which I am enabled to do by adopting the following construction and arrange-
ment of the apparatus.
At any suituble place in the upper part of the boiler an opening is
made of such a diameter (according to the size or capacity of the boiler)
as to allow of a sufficiently rapid escape of steam in case of danger (from
the lowering of the water level below the ordinary working point) to
prevent all fear of explosion. Beneath this orifice or opening is bolted (or

page_text: otherwise attached) an elbow pipe of similar dimensions, the horizontal arm
of which is furnished with a valve box having an opening into the steam space
above the water level. Inside the valve box works a double equilibrium
valve which is connected by a rod to a lever, one end of which lever is attached
by a rod to a float submerged in the water, and the other end carries a
counterbalance weight, the fulcrum of the said lever being between the point
of attachment of the valve and the end which is connected to the float. Hence
it will be evident that upon the falling of the water level, the descent of the
float will cause the lever to open the valve and allow of the escape of the
steam, so that all danger of explosion from want of water will be obviated.
The escape pipe may be carried up above the top of the boiler to any con-
venient height if desired. No whistle or alarm is required with this apparatus,
as it is entirely self-acting, not being dependent upon any aet by a workman
or other person, as the mere fact of the falling of the water level (which
causes danger) opens the escape valve and lets off the steam, thus preventing
the possibility of explosion from excess of pressure caused by the lowering of
the water level or the want of water, and the consequent generation of steam
or gas on any further supply of water, or from any other cause connected
with the lowering of the water level or the want of water.
IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SULPHATES AND CARBONATES OF POTASH AND SODA
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Frederick Claus at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
February 1865.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK CLAUS, of Fearnhead, near Warrington, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SULPHATES AND CARBONATES OF POTASH AND
SODA," to be as follows:-
Heretofore the only commercial source of sulphates and carbonates of
potash has been the ashes of vegetables and the crude potash derived
therefrom, for the supply of which English commerce is almost entirely
depending upon America. Any process therefore which opens out the manu-
facture of pearlash from less exhaustible sources is of importance. This
is the object of my Invention. I take the rock salt of Strassfurt in Prussia,
or similar rock salt, containing a large per-centage of chloride of potassium,
or it may be the refined salt in which the per-centage of chloride of potassium
has been increased by crystallization. I convert these mixed chlorides into
sulphates, and then separate the sulphates the one from the other by washing
as berein-after described. In case the native rock salt is used I grind the
same into coarse powder and decompose it with its equivalent of sulphuric
acid, in the way in which it is done with common salt in the manufacture of

page_text: alkali. In case the refined salt is used I decompose the same without previous
grinding. The mixed sulphates (which I prefer to grind) I treat repeatedly
with water, by preference at a tomperature of about 90° or 100° Fahrenheit,
at which temperature the water will dissolve out the maximum of sulphate of
soda whilst but little of the sulphate of potash will be dissolved, or if any be
dissolved I allow the same to crystallize out of the solution of sulphate of soda.
The solution of sulphate of soda being very concentrated requires very little
boiling down to convert the same into dry sulphate. When dry I (if
required) convert the sulphate into carbonate by the process generally known,
and which is no part of my Invention. The sulphate of potash, when freed
from all salts of soda by repeated washings with water (as it can be almost
perfectly) I if required convert into carbonate of potash by a process analo-
gous to the well-known alkali process (Leblanc's). The crude carbonate of
potash hus obtained I lixiviate and carbonate, and boil down the solution,
afterwards I calcine the residue. The product of this operation may then be
further refined in the manner now practised in the manufacture of refined
pearlash, or the production of pearlash from the sulphate of potash may be
ctherwise effected.
IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLING AND RECTIFYING, AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO STEAM GENERATORS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Evariste Vignier at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th June
1865.
I, EVARISTE VIGNIEB, of Great Tower Street, in the City of London,
Cognac Brandy Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTILLING AND RECTIFYING, AND IN THE APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO STEAM
GENERATORS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements in distilling and rectifying
fermented and alcoholic liquors, also to the apparatus to be employed therein,
and in the distillation or production of acids, and to steam generators.
According to one part of this Invention it is proposed to employ for the
purposes herein-before referred to stills and apparatus connected with distilla-
tion and rectification of enamelled, wrought, or cast iron in lieu of copper or
other metals heretofore used. This part of the Invention is not only applicable
to the boilers of distilling and rectifying apparatus, but may also be applied
to steam generators, which it is proposed to construct of enamelled in lieu of
plain iron.
According to another part of this Invention it is proposed to employ ip
stills and rectifiers of all kinds for the production and rectification of alcohol
one or more filters of charcoal or other suitable disinfecting material placed

page_text: in the interior of the still and rectifier in such a manner that the ascending
vapours shall be compelled to pass through such filters, whereby the essential
oils or phlegms are more or less arrested during the passage of the vapours
through the successive filters, which are disposed one above the other in the
column, still, or rectifier. This bas the effect of purifying to a considerable
extent, according to the number of filters employed, the spirit, which is subse-
quently run off. The distilling and rectifying apparatus are so disposed and
connected with each other that the produce of the first can be allowed to
if
pass continuously through the second apparatus or reetifier, where it may
desired receive the requisite flavouring by causing the vapours to pass through
a chamber or compartment above the boiler containing the desired ingredients
according to the flavour required, by which arrangement the flavouring ingre-
dients are kept separate from the spirit in the boiler, and consequently all
risk of charring or burning of such ingredients in the boiler is obviated.
The filter before referred to is situate above the flavouring chamber, so that
the best or most volatile portions of the essential oils only will be mixed with
the vapours which pass through the said filter.
A NEW METHOD OF OBTAINING AND APPLYING WATER AS A MOTIVE POWER FOR PROPELLING SHIPS, BOATS, AND OTHER VESSELS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Rosselet at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th April
1865.
I, GEORGE ROSSELET, of 2, Rue Sainte Appoline, Paris, Empire of France,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW METHOD OF
OBTAINING AND APPLYING WATER AS A MOTIVE POWER FOR PROPELLING SHIPS,
BOATS, AND OTHER VESSELS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in forming at any desired depth, but which must be
regulated by the draft of the vessel, and by preference towards the forward part
thereof, an aperture capable of being opened or closed at will. There is a pipe
in the interior of the vessel, and in communication with the aforesaid aperture
to convey water to buckets or floats on the top side of an hydraulic wheel,
whereby rotary motion is communicated to the same, its axis transmitting a
similar movement to one or two screws or paddle wheels, and to pumps or
other mechanical arrangements for carrying back the expended water into the
sea, river, or other water on which the vessel floats. One or two small steam
engines may be used to assist in raising the used water. The arrangement is
such that the water cannot be distributed or thrown out into the vessel, and
while on the one hand its admission can be stopped when desired, on the other
it is raised from the interior of the vessel and always kept at a lower level
than the bottom of the hydraulic wheel. Several wheels may be applied to a
vessel to obtain increased power and speed.
The accompanying Drawing shows how the Invention may be applied.
a is the aperture in the side of the vessel for the passage of water which by

page_text: means of a pipe, not shown in the Drawing, is conveyed to the upper part of
the float wheel b, where its weight communicates rotary motion thereto. The
water on falling from the wheel b is collected in a receiver c, from which it is
removed by pumps or otherwise, in order to maintain the water level below
the bottom of the wheel b. The wheel is enclosed in a case d to avoid
water escaping into the hold or other part of the vessel to which the apparatus
is applied.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Bowerman Belgrave at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th January 1865.
I, THOMAS BOWERMAN BELGRAVE, of Bracebridge, in the County of
Lincoln, M.D., do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESERVING MEAT," to be as follows:-
My said Inventions consists in submitting meat to be preserved to the action
of sulphurous acid gas in a closed chamber until it shall have become saturated,
that is to say, until it is incapable of absorbing any more.
The method of working the Invention is as follows:-A chamber is pre-
pared having numerous beams fixed across it at various levels, the pieces of
meat to be preserved are suspended from these transverse beams at a little
distance from one another so that the gas may have free access to every part of
each. The vessel containing the sulphur is to be narrow and deep in order that
the combustion of the sulphur and the formation of the gas may be slow,
otherwise the surface of the meat becomes too rapidly affected, and being
rendered less pervious, the internal portion is not so completely affected by the
gas as is desirable to secure long preservation. The vessel in which the sulphur
is placed may be made of iron, and should be fixed in the middle of the floor
in which (on each side of the vessel) there should be an aperture communi-
cating with the external air and both capable of being perfectly closed. In
the roof of the chamber there should be another aperture also capable o

page_text: being closed. When the chamber is full of the gas all the apertures are to be
closed, and the meat is to remain in the chamber exposed to the gas during
several hours, when it will have become saturated with it, and have been
rendered capable of resisting decomposition during very long periods, varying
with the quality of the meat and according to the temperature and the quantity
of moisture contained in the atmosphere in which it may subsequently be kept.
When the meat is required to be cooked it is steeped in water for several
hours, when the sulphorous acid, in-consequence of its well known affinity for
water, leaves the meat, which then becomes fit for use when cooked, either by
boiling, roasting, or any other method. It is found to resemble fresh meat, being
juicy and tender, and far from objectionable or peculiar taste, and scarcely dis-
tinguishable from meat a few days old. The addition of a little alkali, such as
soda, potash, or common salt to the water facilitates the liberation of the sul-
phurous acid from the meat.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STRAIGHT EYE CLEARING GUIDES OR CLEANERS FOR WINDING SILK, COTTON, OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Batkin Whitehall and Thomas
Pillings at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 19th July 1865.
We, JOHN BATKIN WHITEHALL, Machinist, and THOMAS PILLINGS, Lace
Manufacturer, both of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
STRAIGHT EYE CLEARING GUIDES OR CLEANERS FOR WINDING SILK, COTTON, OR
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
The straight eye clearing guide or cleaner is used in winding or drawing
silk and other fabrics, and is placed in front of the bobbin or spool for the
purpose of taking away the loose fibres or bard substances where the silk or
other yarn is matted together, and our improvement consists in the peculiar
construction of the guide.
The annexed Drawing represents this guide full size, the two parts a, a,
being jointed at the bottom and drawn together by an elastic or other spring b.
The loose fibres or other obstructions are cleared and the guide cleaned by
merely springing the parts a, a, open, instead of unfastening a screw, which
in the ordinary guide is compelled to be done, causing much waste of time.
The dotted lines on the Drawing shew the action of the parts a, a.
A slot c
and stud d in the centre of the guide prevent an unnecessary strain being put
upon the spring during the process of cleaning.
MENTS IN FASTENERS FOR DOORS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Fitzgerald at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th October
1865.
I, CHARLES FITZGERALD, of the Langham Hotel, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN FASTENERS FOR DOORS," to be as follows:-
Instead of employing a pull-back bolt, a latch, or a lock which requires
to be operated upon by the hand applied to the handle, knob, or other pro-
jection in the act of fastening or unfastening the door, and instead of any of
the ordinary or well-known locks, bolts, or latches, let into, screwed upon,
or otherwise fastened to the door, and opening and closing with it, I construct
a simple fastening or means of securing the door when required in a close or
set position, and which fastener is fixed to the door frame or architrave, or
may be let thereinto and be operated upon from any convenient part of the
room by means of a wire and bell crank or bell cranks or other suitable means,
so that an invalid or other person may without moving from his position fasten
or unfasten the door when it is closed or shut into the rebate or within the
frame.
I construct the door fasteners in the following manner: -I take a metal
plate (by preference a plate of steel), and cut or form it into a somewhat

page_text: triangular shape, or of the shape of a parallelogram having one corner cut
therefrom, and I drill a hole near one corner of the plate, and on the shorter
side thereof, for the purpose of mounting it upon a fixing plate or carriage
which may be screwed to the door frame, architrave, or its equivalent, and I
drill or form another hole in some convenient part of the plate, on the longer!
side thereof, thro' which hole or from which I connect a wire or cord to any
convenient part of the room, either direct or by means of a bell crank or
bell cranks, by means of which a change of direction may be made in the wire
or cord, so that it may be led to the side of the bed, or any other convenient
position.
The plate fastener; if left free, would permit of the 'door being opened and
closed without interruption, as by. the position of the pin by which it is hung
by its own weight it will so hang as to clear the door, and when it is required
to be put into action for the purpose of fastening the door it has to be raised
up by means of a pull, and may be hooked upon a pin or stud, or it may be
made to work the reverse way, that is to say, it may be so suspended as to
fall into the position of locking, and have to be suspended or hooked up to
keep it out of action or cause, it to move clear of the door.
may
Instead of cutting the fastener out of a steel or other metal plate it be
cast, and instead of drilling the holes they may be cast therein, and the
carriage stud and plate may either be cast separately or together.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OXALIC ACID
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Alexandre Laurent, John Casthelaz, and
Nicolas Basset, Chemists, all of Rue Sto Croix de la Bretonnerie, Paris,
in the Empire of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF OXALIC ACID."
Sealed the 8th August 1865, and dated the 16th February 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said François Alexandre Laurent,
John Casthelaz, and Nicolas Basset at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents with their Petition, on the 16th February 1865.
We, FRANÇOIS ALEXANDRE LAURENT, JOHN CASTHELAZ, and NICOLAS
BASSET, Chemists, all of Rue Sto Croix de la Bretonnerie, Paris, Empire of
France, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF OXALIC ACID," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of
oxalic acid, and consists, firstly, in manufacturing this acid from waste
animal matter. The waste animal matters we employ are by preference
the cuttings of leather or hides, woollen rags, wool, or hair, the parings or
refuse of horn, residuum of glue, the waste pieces from tanneries, and other
waste animal matter of this description. In manufacturing oxalic acid from

page_text: these materials we prefer in the first place to obtain the dissolution or
disintegration of the matters by sulphuric acid diluted to about 20 per cent.
and afterwards treat the product with nitric acid of a density of say 36° Beaumé,
diluted with three or four times its weight of water at a temperature of
about 176° Fahrenheit. The quantity of nitric acid we employ is thus
generally not greater than the weight of the material to be treated. In place
of first treating the animal matters with sulphuric acid before treating them
with nitric acid they may only be treated with dilute nitric acid, but by
previously treating the matters with sulphuric acid a much smaller quantity
of nitric acid is necessary. We also, according to this Invention, obtain
oxalic acid from molasses, sugar, and analogous bydrocarbon bodies (which are
the materials from which oxalic acid is usually obtained) by the successive
action of sulphuric and nitric acids.