matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ASCER- TAINING THE DEPTH OF WATER
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Farnham Maxwell Lyte, of Florian, Torquay, in the
County of Devon, now residing at the Hotel de l'Europe, à Pau, Basse
Pyrenees, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ASCER-
TAINING THE DEPTH OF WATER."
Sealed the 5th May 1854, and dated the 9th February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Farnham Maxwell Lyte
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th February 1854.
I, FARNHAM MAXWELL LYTE, of Florian, Torquay, in the County of Devon,
now residing at the Hotel de l'Europe, à Pau, Basse Pyrenees, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
ASCERTAINING THE DEPTH OF WATER" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a combination of mechanical parts into an instru-
ment to descend under water, and to indicate, when drawn up, the depth of the
water. For this purpose a piston is used in a suitable cylinder or vessel
pressed outwards by a spring, and by means of a piston rod the extent to
which the spring is compressed is indicated, there being a graduated scale, by
preference a glass tube, for the rod to move, with a suitable marker or
indicator, though other forms of graduated scales may be used. The weight
to sink the apparatus is so attached as to be separated when it arrives at the

page_text: bottom, or when the instrument is sunk to a depth up to which its scale is
graduated, for which purpose a rod or instrument is arranged capable of
detaching the weight when the end of the instrument comes to the bottom, or
when the piston has been moved a distance equal to that for which the scale
is graduated. And an arrangement is made for having a series of balls or
instruments of different specific gravities, which, as the apparatus descends in
the water, float, and they pass in succession into a separate compartment of
the apparatus and are prevented returning.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF ORDNANCE
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Edward McConnell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the
8th December 1854.
I, JAMES EDWARD MCCONNELL, of Wolverton, in the County of Bucks, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF ORDNANCE" to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the manufacture of ordnance from wrought
iron, in a manner similar to the mode now adopted in manufacturing my patent
hollow axles; the bore may be either rifled or may be smooth; the trunnions
are added afterwards in any convenient manner. After the gun is bored out,
a breech piece may be either screwed or welded into the end, and the touch-
hole drilled in accordingly.
Another portion of this Invention relates to the neutralizing of the recoil of
ordnance, and consists in mounting two or more guns upon one gun carriage,
the axle of the running wheels being made with one or more double cranks,
according to the number of guns on the carriage, and these cranks are con-
nected by suitable connecting rods with the trunnions of half of the guns on the
carriage. Thus, if 4 guns are mounted there will be two cranks on the axle
connected with the trunnions of two of the guns. By this arrangement, when
the guns are fired simultaneously, in the manner herein-after described, the

page_text: recoil of two of the guns, by drawing round the cranks, will tend to move
the carriage forward, whilst the recoil of the other two will tend to force the
carriage back, thereby entirely neutralizing the recoil of the whole four guns.
The guns may be fired simultaneously by connecting their touch-holes by a
metal trough containing the priming powder, which is exploded by a hot bar
of metal extending across the touch-holes, and dropped by the gunner into
the priming trough, or any other simple arrangement of a similar nature.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE DWELLINGS, BARRACKS, AND SIMILAR DWELLINGS; PART OF WHICH INVENTION CONSISTS IN RENDERING SUCH BUILDINGS, AND ALSO SHIPS, PROOF AGAINST SHOT OR BOMBS
Year: 1854

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Charles Hill at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
December 1854.
I, HENRY CHARLES HILL, of Parker St., Kingsland, London, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE
DWELLINGS, BARRACKS, AND SIMILAR DWELLINGS; PART OF WHICH INVENTION CONSISTS
IN RENDERING SUCH BUILDINGS, AND ALSO SHIPS, PROOF AGAINST SHOT OR BOMBS,'
to be as follows:-
My improvements in portable dwellings, barracks, and similar buildings
consist in constructing them of framing made in manner similar to what are
called revolving or rolling shutters, either of metal or wood, or of metal and
wood; and, further, in constructing such buildings of the like materials of
framing made on the principle of Venetian blinds. And, lastly, my Invention
consists of the use of framing made in the above described manner, but of
strong plate or sheet iron of considerable thickness, for the purpose of shielding
or protecting buildings, forts, and ships, from shot, shell, and bombs.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING
Year: 1854

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Aspden at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th January 1854.
I, WILLIAM ASPDEN, of Blackburn, Lancashire, Overlooker of Power Looms,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOOMS FOR WEAVING " to be as follows:-
I attach a small spring to the under part of each end of the slay board of
the loom, to which spring I attach or join one end of a small chain, which
chain runs through a slot or groove in the said slay board, and the other end
of the chain is attached to a small moveable bos or nut, which is on the
picker spindle of the loom, thereby preventing the picker being driven with
force against the end of the slay board, and also giving the picker a rebound-
ing action, so as to make it meet the shuttle gradually, and not with a sudden
blow as heretofore, and so avoiding great wear and tear in both pickers and
shuttles. I therefore claim the above described application of the spring chain
and moveable bos or nut to a loom, as an improved check motion to pickers,
and to pickers and shuttles of looms for weaving.
IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM ENGINES AND IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO SAPETY VALVES FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Walker at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd April
1854.
I, CHARLES WALKER, of Bury, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM
ENGINES AND IN APPARATUS APPLICABLE TO SAPETY VALVES FOR STEAM BOILERS"
to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to a "reflux valve," described in the Pro-
visional Specification of Henry Whittaker Butterworth, dated 13th October
1853, and consists in connecting the governor of the steam engine direct to
the said valve. Thus, for instance, I cause a plunger to extend through the
box of the reflux valve, which plunger is actuated by the governor, so as to
form a varying stop.
My improvements in safety valves for steam boilers relate to an arrange-
ment of apparatus for the purpose of relieving the valve from the weight
usually employed, and thereby allowing the steam to escape or blow off when
any undue pressure exists within the boiler. This may be accomplished by
means of an inclined plane on the lever (or the lever may be formed to this
inclination) between the point of attachment for the valve and the end upon
which the weight is usually suspended, the weight being kept at the outer end

page_text: or top of the incline by a catch or other suitable contrivance. To release this
catch and weight, a column of mercury may be used in a bent tube, one end
being enclosed in a vessel or chamber placed in the interior of the boiler; any
undue pressure will cause the mercury to rise in the tube, and by means of a
float and rod or finger, withdraw the catch, and allow the weight to slip or run
down the incline, for the purpose set forth above.
Or, instead of the column of mercury acting as described above, a straight
tube may be substituted, having its lower end filled or plugged up with lead or
other soft fusible metal, resting upon any part of the boiler upon which the
fire acts.
The heat arising from the water getting too low in the boiler will melt the
lead or fusible metal in the tube, when the steam, acting upon a piston (in the
tube) and rod or finger, will release the catch from the weight, for the purpose
aforesaid.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN WATER GUAGES FOR STEAM BOILERS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Medwin, of the Blackfriars Road, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN
WATER GUAGES FOR STEAM BOILERS."
Sealed the 5th May 1854, and dated the 28th February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Medwin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
February 1854.
I, JAMES MEDWIN, of the Blackfriars Road, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN WATER GUAGES FOR STEAM BOILERS" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of a peculiar combination of parts in order to indicate
by whistle when the water in a steam boiler is too high or too low. For this
purpose the float has a rod connected to a slide valve in a slide box, the
passage from which communicates with a steam whistle; hence, when the float
rises or falls it opens the passage and the whistle is sounded, and by a pointer
it is shewn whether the water is too high or too low in the boiler.
A NEW AND IMPROVED GOVERNOR FOR ENGINES AND MACHINERY
Year: 1854

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Auguste Edouard Loradoux Bell-
ford at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th September 1854.-A communication.
I, AUGUSTE EDOUARD LORADOUX BELLFORD, of 16, Castle Street, Holborn
(City), London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "A NEW AND IMPROVED GOVERNOR FOR ENGINES AND MACHINERY" to be
as follows, and consists in governing the speed of the engine or other motor
directly by the resistance of the machinery driven by it, & not by the vary-
ing velocity consequent upon variations in the power & resistance. This
governor can be used alone, or combined with a common governor, and the
action of the two governors may be combined upon a throttle valve or gate, or
their equivalents, which control the supply of steam, whereby the former is
made to govern by the resistance of the machinery driven, & the latter by
the velocity of the motor.
The principal parts of this improved governor are two discs, wheels, or
heads of equal size, and a slide. The two dises are placed nearly or quite
close together, & their opposite faces are furnished with similar or corre-
sponding projections. Attached to either disc is a series of springs, which act
between the projections of the two dises in opposition to the driving power
applied to the requisite disc, so that when the power is applied to drive the

page_text: machinery, it is transmitted to this disc by the springs. This disc is cut away
at two parts of its periphery to receive two plates, containing grooves which
run obliquely or spirally to the shaft, & which receive studs. The slide
consists of a hub, fitted to slide freely along the shaft at the back of the disc,
& furnished with two arms for carrying bolts; the hub is grooved to receive
the fork of a lever, which is attached to the valve gate or cut off, upon which
the governor acts.
The compound valve is in the form of a hollow cylinder, open at one end
& closed at the other, & fits over the end of the steam supply pipe, & is
surrounded by steam in a valve box, having an outlet for the passage of steam
to the engine. The end of the steam pipe is closed, but there are openings on
opposite sides which correspond with openings in the valve. A lever connects
with the valve by a rod, so as to move it only longitudinally upon the pipe, &
in that way, by changing the longitudinal relation of the openings in the valve
& pipe, to vary the effective opening in proportion as the resistance of the
machinery varies.
In the compound or double gate the passage is furnished with two sliding
gates, one working vertically & the other horizontally, the former being
intended to connect with the common governor, & the latter with the
improved governor.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA- RATUS FOR STOPPING LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, WAGGONS, OR OTHER VEHICLES ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1854

page_text: application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Augustin Mortera at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st February
1854.
I, AUGUSTIN MORTERA, of Paris, in the French Empire, Mechanist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
RATUS FOR STOPPING LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, WAGGONS, OR OTHER VEHICLES ON
RAILWAYS" to be as follows:-
To the locomotive engine and each carriage I attach a cylinder fitted with
a piston and piston rod connected to the brake of such engine or carriage.
A pipe extends from one end of the carriage to the other, and is connected
by a branch or passage to one end of the aforesaid cylinder.
The pipe of one carriage is connected to that of the next by a sliding
jointed pipe, and the pipe on the engine is connected to the boiler, where it is
furnished with a valve or cock.
By opening this valve steam is admitted to the cylinders on each of the
carriages and the brakes are thus put on.
When the steam is turned off the brakes are drawn off' by springs or balance
weights.
A second or return pipe is carried along the carriages in a similar manner to
the first-mentioned pipe, and the two pipes are connected by a band on the
last carriage.

page_text: The steam is thus carried back to the locomotive engine, where it escapes
into the atmosphere through the chimney or otherwise.
This return pipe is provided with a valve which is closed when the brakes
are to be put on, but which is opened when the brakes are off.
A small quantity of steam from the boiler or a portion of the waste steam of
the engine is allowed to pass continually through the pipes to keep them and
the cylinders hot.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED FABRICS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Matthew Townsend at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 12th July.1854.
I, MATTHEW TOWNSEND, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester, Manufac-
turer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF KNITTED FABRICS" to be as follows:-
The Invention relates, first, to the manufacture of what are called "round"
or "circular" "hose," "half hose," or "socks," which heretofore have been
produced either entirely of "round" or "circular" knitted fabric, without
fashioning," or with "round" or "circular" legs or ancles and "selvage"
feet, or feet applied afterwards by means of a straight frame; but the expense
of such separate application of feet to "circular" leggings or ancles has
heretofore interfered with the sale of such "hose," "half hose," or
"socks."
And my improvements consists in forming the legs or ancles and part of
the feet of "circular" or "round" knitted fabric, and applying "fashioned
portions to form the heels and toes.
In order to this, I produce a "round" or "circular" knitted fabric of length
sufficient for the leg (or ancles if for "socks" or "half hose") and the feet,
except so much as may be required to be "fashioned" for the toes. I then
withdraw a thread, or cut about half round the circular fabric where the heel
is to be produced, thereby forming a slit. I then produce a heel piece or heel
pieces, as when making "fashioned" hose, and in like manner I produce the
toe pieces by "fashioning," by which I obtain "hose," "half hose," or "socks,"

page_text: partly of "round" or "circular" fabric, but with "fashioned" heels and toes,
the centre part of the feet being "circular."
Secondly, the improvements relate to the arrangement of parts of knitting
machinery for the manufacture of such and other "round" or "circular" loop
fabric, when the needles employed are arranged in a vertical direction and in
"round" machines.
And the improvement consists in producing the sinkings for the loops to the
threads by means of blades or plates acting on the outside towards the centre
of the machine.
And this part of the improvements is also applicable when two rows of
vertical needles are employed (back to back) to produce knitted fabrics.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING MACHINERY
Year: 1854

page_text: nis Invention received Provisional Protection, out notice to proceed with the
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Varley at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th July 1854.
I, SAMUEL VARLEY, of Stamford, in the County of Lincoln, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF REAPING MACHINERY" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to several improvements in the details of reaping
machines. Instead of the moving cutters or blades heretofore employed, I use
lozenge-shaped cutters, which severally rock on a centre pin, and are con-
nected at their inner ends by links or rods to a common reciprocating bar.
These cutters are pressed up to the fixed blades or stationary cutters (which I
prefer to be serrated) by springs, bearing against their under surface, and to
facilitate the detaching and replacing of the blades, I use spring cotters as their
fulcrum and attachment pins. As these cutters are intended to work like
tailors' shears, I form suitable projections on the fixed blades, for ensuring the
requisite contact between the fixed and moveable cutting edges. To permit
of the facile adjustment of the cutters to the proper level for reaping the crop,
I construct the cutter frame on the balance principle, and attach to it arms
or handles, which project from the front, and enable the attendant to rock the
frame, and thereby raiso or depress the cutters to the required level, which
will vary according to the kind of produce on which the machine is desired to
operate.

page_text: In order to raise the laid corn and bring it under the action of the cutters, I
employ inclined rods, which are jointed to the front of the machine, and are
supported by rollers running in advance of the machine. These rods are
pushed under the laid corn at right angles, or nearly so, to the line in which it
lies, and the corn is thereby raised and held up to the cutters. As a gatherer,
for bringing standing crops up to the cutters, I employ reciprocating bars,
which are carried by a crank shaft, and are raised and lowered by excentrics,
so as to produce a kind of rake motion. At the sides of the platform on which
the cut corn is received I provide boxes or receptacles, for catching any grain
that may fall out of the ears prior to the corn being discharged from the
machine.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SHADES AND REFLECTORS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF LAMPS, LANTERNS, OR CHANDELIERS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Richard Morton at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th March
1854.
I, JOHN RICHARD MORTON, of Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHADES
AND REFLECTORS APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN DESCRIPTIONS OF LAMPS, LANTERNS, OR
CHANDELIERS," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
My said Invention, which has for its object the introduction of greater sim-
plicity and economy in the means heretofore employed for distributing artificial
light from lamps and lanterns used in houses & court-yards, and in coaches,
omnibuses, and other vehicles, and from chandeliers furnished with glass shades,
consists in the application of a metallic reflective covering or coating to various
parts of the glass shades of such lamps, lanterns, or chandeliers, whereby the
employment of the ordinary detached reflectors may be wholly or partly
dispensed with. To effect which object I construct the said shades of one or
more pieces of glass, having plane or curved surfaces, whether convex or
concave, towards the light or burner, and whether formed by segments of
spheres, spheroids, ellipsoids, paraboloids, or hyperboloids, or whether cylin-
drical or melon-shaped, or formed by other curved surfaces, and I cause the
said shades to be covered or coated in one or more parts, whether in longitu-
dinal or in vertical sections, with a reflective metallic substance of any kind

page_text: hitherto in use for such purposes, such as leaf metal, whether silver, gold, tin,
copper, or otherwise, or by amalgams, or by the precipitation of silver from its
solutions, by certain organic carbonaceous substances, or by paints, varnishes,
or foils, or metallic oxides reduced by heat.
I claim the construction & application to the above descriptions of lamps,
lanterns, and chandeliers of the combined shades and reflectors herein-before
described, wherein certain parts of a glass shade, of any convenient form, are
rendered reflective, or made to answer the purpose of reflectors, by the appli-
cation of metallic coatings or coverings of any kind hitherto in use, in the
manner described and set forth, whether the said reflective shades be employed
in conjunction with detached reflectors of the ordinary kind, or without
them.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TN Looms
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Donald and William
Heginbotham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 21st June 1854.
We, WILLIAM DONALD and WILLIAM HEGINBOTHAM, Power Loom Managers
for John Ferguson & Co., both of Carlisle, in the County of Cumberland, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
TN Looms" to be as follows:-
Our Invention has reference to a certain arrangement of apparatus whereby
the weights, ropes, and levers ordinarily employed in looms for weaving for
producing the necessary friction to the yarn beam are dispenced with.
The apparatus we employ for this purpose consists of a metal clip or friction
strap, which is made in two pieces, each piece embracing one half of the yarn
beam. The extremities of each segmental piece are made flat, so that when
placed round the yarn beam they may be connected on the one side by means
of a bolt and nut, and on the other the distance between them may be adjusted
by a set screw, and consequently the amount of friction requisite may be
produced by either drawing the halves of the clip nearer together or widening
the distance between them, as circumstances may direct.
One of these clips is placed at each end of the yarn beam, and is prevented
from revolving with the yarn beam by means of a strap or rod attached to
the loom. By the employment of the apparatus above described, all vibra-
tions of the yarn beam is avoided, and thereby the breakage of the warp
threads from that cause is prevented.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PULVERIZING METALLIC ORES OR OTHER SIMILARLY HARD SUB- STANCES
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Reed Hill at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th February
1854.
I, JOHN REED HILL, Engineer, of 39, Princes St., Stamford Street, Lambeth,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR PULVERIZING METALLIC ORES OR OTHER SIMILARLY HARD SUB-
STANCES" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in the use of two or more conical shaped runners or
crushing wheels with their smaller ends outward, revolving on a circular hori-
zontal bed plate, having an inclined depression to fit the runners.
The advantage of employing conical runners in this way consists in the
grinding motion, which takes place between the circumference of the runners
& the surface of the bed plate, in addition to the weight of the runners acting
as a revolving crusher, & the advantage of the depressed bed plate will be
found in its containing water, mercury, &c. for facilitating the operation of
pulverizing, washing, & separating the matters to be acted on.
The grinding motion before alluded to will be apparent by reference to the
annexd Sketch & following remarks:-
Suppose the runners to be 4 feet in diameter at A, revolving in a circle of
2 feet diam', that it be in contact at this line, so that only a rolling motion
takes place (similar to a carriage wheel on a road), it is clear that the
runner will make two revolutions around in the circle of the bed plate, whilst
it makes but one on its own axis. During these two annular revolutions
of the runner; the outer end, being 2 ft. diameter, will have passd over a

page_text: The
space of about 36 feet, or six times its own circumferential measure.
effect of this annular motion, being so much greater than that of a merely
rolling contact, will be that a twisting or grinding motion takes place between
the two surfaces at every part of the line of contact, except at any point
where the weight of the runner will be the most strongly supported by the
materials under operation.
These runners being free to move at any velocity on their axis, this grinding
motion will be at a greater or less distance from the centre of the mill, according
as the materials may happen to lie on the bed. Motion to be given to these
runners by an upright shaft in the usual manner. The general dimensions
& relative diameters of the ends of the runners, inclination of the bed
plate, form of scrapers for moving the material, & other appliances of
detail, will be determined & adjusted to the specific material to be pul-
verized.
THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA OR IN RIVERS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Cortland at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th December
1854.
I, JOHN CORTLAND, of No. 70, Wellesley Street, Stepney East, in the County
of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "THE
SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA OR IN RIVERS " to be as follows:-
A self-disconnecting raft or bridge, which said self-disconnecting raft or
bridge is composed of a wooden frame, forming the woodwork of the said self-
disconnecting raft or bridge. To the sides, ends, and bottom of the wooden
frame are fastened air-tight tanks, tubes, or cassoons. The said air-tight tanks,
tubes, or cassoons can be formed or made of various materials, such as iron,
zinc, tin, copper, yellow metal, lead, india-rubber, gutta percha, wood, leather,
canvass. The sides, ends, and bottom of the said self-disconnecting raft or
bridge can also be formed or made of cork, or any other buoyant and light
material.
The said self-disconnecting raft or bridge is to be placed on skids or ways
across the deck of any vessel, and when so placed can casily be launched into
the sea, in case of fire or any other accident which vessels are liable to at sea
or in rivers; the above-mentioned skids or ways to be firmly fastened to the
vessel. The said self-disconnecting raft or bridge, when only used as a self-
disconnecting raft or bridge, can be placed (independant of the said skids or
ways) across the vessel, resting on chocks fastened to the side of the vessel;
and in case of a vessel foundering or sinking, the said self-disconnecting raft
or bridge, from its great buoyancy, will float and disconnect itself.

page_text: The said self-disconnecting raft or bridge is particularly adapted for steamers
and passenger ships; when placed on board of steamers, to answer the purpose
of the bridge now in general use.
In one or more of the air-tight tanks, tubes, or cassoons can be placed
water and provisions; and a mast, sail, and oars could be kept in readiness 5
and placed on the said self-disconnecting raft or bridge, when required; and
the said self-disconnecting raft or bridge, when only required or used as a
bridge, will be temporily fastened to the above-mentioned skids, ways, or
chocks.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left, by Charles Barlow at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th March
1854.
$
I, CHARLES BARLOW, of the Office for Patents, 89, Chancery Lane, London,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PERMANENT WAY OF RAILWAYS" to be as follows: _
+:
This Invention communicated to me has reference to the permanent way of
railways, and consists of certain contrivances, arrangements, and combinations
of parts principally for the purpose of supporting, securing, and connecting the
rails where their ends meet; but the same contrivances, arrangements, and
combinations of parts may also be applied to support and secure the rails
at intermediate points between their ends. The details of construction may
be varied considerably, but the general principles of the Invention are as
follows:-
I construct chairs, with ribs or flanges on their under side, for the purpose of
increasing their strength, in addition to those usually employed at the sides,
and I employ metal keys or wedges to fasten the rails into such chairs; I also
place in the jaws of chairs so constructed or otherwise, blocks or cushions
of wood or other elastic substance, to receive the pressure of the metal keys
or wedges, which I slightly indent, notch, or serrate at the part in contact with

page_text: the blocks or cushions; and I make use of wood with the fibres placed in a
direction across that in which the keys are driven, so that the pressure may be
sustained by them in the direction of their length, either for the blocks or
cushions or for keys to hold the rails, or to hold plates of metal against the
rails, which plates I in some cases place in the chair instead of the metal
keys. I also employ a pair of chairs, each having a plate or clamp fitting the
side of the rails attached to it, and extending beyond the base on one side and
a jaw on the other, and I secure the rails therein by forcing the two chairs
together, and the plate or clamp of each chair into the jaw of the other; or I
employ a pair of plates or clamps made to fit the side of the rails, each having
a jaw at one end, and secure the rails by placing one on each side, and forcing
the end of each plate or clamp into the jaw of the other; the under side of
the plates or clamps I make with a sufficiently wide bearing surface to rest
on the sleeper. Both the plates and clamps and the double chair, last before
described, may be provided. with the. cushions before described; or in place of
being forced into each other, the ends of each may be placed in the jaws of
the other, and tightened against the rails by wood or other elastic keys
or wedges driven in between them and the jaws. When the chairs or plates
are thus secured, the one in the other, I hold them down to the sleeper, and
at the same time prevent them from being withdrawn by means of trenails,
pins, screws, or bolts. I reserve the right to vary the details of the Invention,
of which the foregoing is an outline description.
.
IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDLASSES
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Johnson at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th August
1854. A communication."
J, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middle-
sex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WINDLASSES," a communi-
cation from abroad, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of windlass or
purchase apparatus for ships, and other uses wherein the hoisting drum or
barrel is duplex, in place of being single, as hitherto used. Both barrels are
supported in the usual manner in "bitts" or end standards, but the hand-
spike working action is confined to the front or main barrel, which has at
its longitudinal centre a pall or ratchet arrangement to afford the necessary
holding stop.
The secondary barrel is parallel to the first, and it is preferably disposed
at some distance from it, and it is of smaller diameter than the main barrel, so
that the chain may be at a less angle with the deck.
Both barrels have deep grooves cut in them, the grooves being of equal
breadth, and in a line with each other on the two barrels. These grooves are
conveniently formed by placing rings of cast iron upon a plain cylindrical

page_text: barrel, and the bottoms of the grooves are fitted with "whelps" or pieces of
iron, set at regular distances asunder to prevent the slipping of the chain; and
to give a greater hold, the chain may be passed over one barrel and under the
other alternately, so as to cross between the two barrels. It is to be under-
stood that the chain is primarily acted upon from the first or main barrel, round
the grooves of which the chain is passed.
But the chain is not merely wound directly upon this barrel; it passes from
one barrel to the other, so as to encircle both barrels, as it were, within its folds,
passing from the first round the second, and then returning round the first,
and so on. Thus, as the main barrel is urged round, the chain moves and
turns the secondary barrel, from which latter the chain then passes off to the
anchor, or to whatever object is to be lifted.
The second barrel has a pall or stop action at one end, and hence superior
security is gained from the duplex stop effect, whilst the strain upon the bitts
and deck is more uniformly distributed. With this arrangement there is no
necessity for "surging" throughout the entire action of weighing or hoisting;
when the anchor is hove short, dependence can be placed upon its being hove
clear off the ground, and its not falling back, by the usual fleeting of the chain
to the smallest part of the barrel.
IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL NAVIGATION
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Prosper Guilhaume Dartiguenave
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
19th June 1854.
1, PROSPER GUILHAUME DARTIGUENAVE, of Regent Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AERIAL NAVIGATION" to be as follows:-
I make use of two apparatuses, or two sets of apparatuses, similar to
parachutes, one over the other, to rise up into the air, and I effect the rising
by alternately pushing and pulling these apparatuses up and down. I propose
to work these parachutes by steam or other suitable power. When the
desired elevation has been attained, I direct my machine by means of a
horizontal flapper fixed upon a centre, and which may have an upward or
downward inclination given to it by means of rods or cords under the command
of the auronaut. My machine is also provided with wings, the better to
enable it to turn, and which can have their direction changed at will of the
acronaut.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSING AND WATERING MOREENS AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Woolford at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th January
1854.
T, WILLIAM WOOLFORD, of Bowling New Dye Works, Bradford, in the
County of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSING AND WATERING MOREENS AND OTHER FABRICS" to
be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a new and peculiar mode of pressing and water-
ing moreens and other fabrics, by which to effect the watering thereof on both
sides, instead of on one side only as hitherto practised, and these improvements
may be effected by the following means:-The piece of material to be pressed
or watered having been dyed or otherwise prepared for watering as commonly
practised, it is then laid on a table to which is affixed four upright pieces or
pins of metal placed upon the top of the table at four points, thus :-
; and at such distances asunder as to admit of the width of the material passing
freely between the pins 1, 2, and 3, 4; the distance between those pins marked
1 and 3, and 2 and 4. determining the lengths into which the material to be
pressed and watered is folded into equal lengths, and which operation is

page_text: technically termed "placing the piece in cuttle," the same being effected in the
following manner and by the following means:-
A tin plate is first placed upon the table, and upon said plate a strong
press paper is placed, and upon this paper is placed a wrapper watered on
one side only, such said wrapper being of the same material as the article
which it is desired to water; and having done this, the workman then lays the
end of the piece to be operated on upon the wrapper, and proceeds to fold
the material alternately from right to left, or backwards and forwards by
means of pieces of metal termed knives, one of the edges whereof press
against two of the pins, (say, the pins 1 and 2,) or from left to right; but
before turning the material and the wrapper over or back again from right
to left, he again places another and similar wrapper to the former one upon
the material, taking care also to keep the watered side of this wrapper next to
the material; and he then places another knife with its edge against the pins
3 and 4, and again passes the material and the two wrappers from left to right,
and so on alternately until the whole length is folded, each time placing a
knife at the extremity or turn of each fold. This being done, the workman
then places another sheet of paper upon the top fold, and afterwards a tin
plate upon the paper; the knives are then withdrawn, and the material,
together with the wrappers, are subjected to heavy pressure between plates of
heated metal, which has the effect of producing a watered impression from
the wrappers on both sides of the material. And it is important for the pur-
poses of this Invention that the aforesaid wrappers be of the same material
as that which is to be watered, otherwise the ends of the folds will be glazed
instead of watered.
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RIGGING OF SHIPS AND ALL OTHER VESSELS USING OR CARRYING SAILS, WHETHER PROPELLED BY STEAM OR OTHERWISE, OR ON WHATSOEVER SEA, RIVER, OR OTHER WATER NAVIGATED
Year: 1854

page_text: by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Evans at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st August 1854.
I, THOMAS EVANS the younger, of No. 2, Belmont Terrace, Lewisham, in
the County of Kent, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RIGGING OF SHIPS AND ALL OTHER
VESSELS USING OR CARRYING SAILS, WHETHER PROPELLED BY STEAM OR OTHERWISE,
OR ON WHATSOEVER SEA, RIVER, OR OTHER WATER NAVIGATED," to be as follows:-
The sail is to be suspended between any two masts of a ship or other
vessel on a pole, rail, chain, or rope, of any suitable material, such pole, rail,
chain, or rope to be drawn from the head or any other part of the one
mast to the head or any other part of the other mast. The said sail, being
attached to a yard or separate, and being of any size or shape, is to be so
suspended to such pole, rail, chain, or rope by means of a fixed or shifting
block, pulley, swivel, or other such contrivance, affixed to the centre or other
part of the yard on which the said sail is to be set, or to the said sail when
used without a yard, and swung, either running or fixed on such pole, rail, chain,
or rope. The number and the position of the sails and masts may be limited
or extended, and arranged according to the size, tonnage, shape, or other
circumstance of the ship or other vessel to which they may be applied. The

page_text: said improvements may be used, either without regard to or together with
masts and sails, on principles already known and applied in navigation. The
end and object are, that a fore-and-aft rigged vessel may be changed to a
square rigged vessel, and vice versa, at the option of the navigator.
CERTAIN APPARATUS FOR STOPPING SHOT AND OTHER HOLES IN SHIPS AND VESSELS
Year: 1854

page_text: (This Invention received Provisional Protection, but notice to proceed with the
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Woodward at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th September
1854.
I, JOHN WOODWARD, of Barnet, in the County of Hertford, Office Clerk,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN APPARATUS
FOR STOPPING SHOT AND OTHER HOLES IN SHIPS AND VESSELS" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a peculiar apparatus, the head of which is thrust
through or into the hole from the inside of the ship, when a spring is caused
to act upon and throw out two or more arms, which have been previously
covered with leather, gutta percha, or other like suitable. material, somewhat
after the manner in which an umbrella covering is mounted upon its frame.
The leather covering fits close to the vessel's side, and the outer ends of the
arms, ribs, or frames are made to lie upon and embrace the vessel's side, by
means of a stretcher mounted upon a screwed shaft, upon the upper part of
which the inner ends of the arms are hinged. The stretcher is forced down
against the arms by means of a nut.
A SELF- ACTING CRADLE, WITH IMPROVED MATTRASS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Marie Louise Lise Beaudeloux at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her Petition, on the
21st January 1854.
I, MARIE LOUISE LISE BEAUDELOUX, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A SELF-
ACTING CRADLE, WITH IMPROVED MATTRASS," to be as follows:-
I propose to make or arrange a child's cradle in the following manner :-
I place clock or wheel work in such a position that, by the assistance of cer-
tain levers or arms attached to portions of the frame work, and communicating
to or with the wheel work when the latter is wound up (similarly to a clock),
the cradle will be set in a gentle rocking motion, which will be maintained
without assistance of hand, foot, or otherwise, till the works have been down.
Of course the clockwork can be arranged for any reasonable length of time.
I further propose to arrange a mattress for the cradle, in such wise that the
urine of an infant, instead of saturating it or the cot clothes, shall be carried
off into a receiver. This is effected by covering or making the mattress water-
proof, the upper surface (or both) to be grooved or channelled in the stuff, in
such a manner, and at such an inclination, as will secure the drainage to a
given point at which a receiver will be placed, to be emptied as occasion may
require.
IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR RAILWAYS, AND MODES OF CONNECTING AND FIXING THEM
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Bridges Adams at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
May 1854.
I, WILLIAM BRIDGES ADAMS, of No. 1, Adam Street, Adelphi, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILS FOR RAILWAYS, AND MODES OF CONNECTING
AND FIXING THEM," to be as follows:-
In connecting two adjoining bridge rail ends together by applying two metal
side clips, either as half chairs or brackets, and connecting them by bolts
passing horizontally beneath the rails, with an iron tongue piece entering the
hollow of the bridge rail, so adjusted that by the act of screwing up the bolts
the tongue piece will be forced upwards towards the crown of the rail, and the
side clips will be forced downwards towards the upper side of the rail flanges;
and the tongue piece may bear both against the crown of the rail and the
flanges also, or against either of them separately. And in the case of foot
rails, instead of a tongue piece a wedge piece may be used below the rail.
And instead of horizontal bolts vertical bolts or clips may be used, clipping the
tongue piece or foot piece, and passing through the horizontal flanges of the
rail and screwing down thereon, either with side clips or without; or a plain
plate may-be-used-beneath the rail. And instead of constructing the bridge-

page_text: rails in the usual mode, I prolong the vertical sides downwards below the
horizontal bearing flanges, so as to increase the depth of the rail; or I turn
the edges of the flanges down at an angle to increase the stiffness of the
flanges, and these edges or projections of the flanges or vertical parts may be
grooved into the sleepers to keep the guage.
CRUSHING OR REDUCING TO POWDER, PULP, OR WASH ANY MATTER
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Augustin Boyle at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd March
1854.
I, JOHN AUGUSTIN BOYLE, of 29, Alfred Place, Bedford Square, London, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CRUSHING OR REDUCING
TO POWDER, PULP, OR WASH ANY MATTER."
The construction of this Invention in its chief parts are to be as follows:-
A machine set in a strong framework of wood, iron, stone, or brickwork,
being a basin of perfect concavity of any diameter, (eight feet are dimensions
laid down as being most useful for division into large or small machines pro-
portionately). In this basin a shaft is fixed to which the working gear is
attached, and which shaft and gear turns round a corrugated or serrated iron,
wood, or stone conical weight, solid or hollow, perpendicularly placed in the
basin at the bottom, which iron, wood, or stone, conical weight gives revo-
lution to one or more conical weights or mill crushers of the same shape as

page_text: LONDON. Printed by GEORGE EDWARD EYRE and WILLIAM SPOTTISWOODE.
Printers to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. 1854
AN IMPROVED MODE OF CONSTRUCTING AND FITTING GUN BOATS
Year: 1854

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander M°Laine at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th June
1854.
1, ALEXANDER MOLAINE, junior, of Belfast, in the Kingdom of Ireland, Ship-
builder, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED
MODE OF CONSTRUCTING AND FITTING GUN BOATS" to be as follows:-
In constructing gun boats according to this Invention, I make them of iron,
sharp at both ends, with rudders at head and stern, and leave very little side
exposed above the water. In the middle of the upper deck, which is of iron,
I mount a cannon of large calibre, in fixed bearings, held down by bolts, which
pass through the angle iron of the fore and aft bulkheads. The brasses of
these bearings I pack at their rear and under side with vulcanized india-rubber,
or other elastic yielding material, for the purpose of breaking the force of the
recoil. The elevation of the gun is effected in the usual manner, but the aim
is taken by the steersman who steers the boat, so as to bring the gun to bear.
I employ the power of the steam engine, by which the boat is driven, to assist
in loading the gun. This I effect by jointing the ramrod to a crosshead,
which receives a forward and backward motion from a pair of parallel-threaded
shafts, which pass through it, and are capable of being rotated by gearing
driven by the steam engine. The rotation of these shafts in one direction will

page_text: cause the ramrod to advance and push home the ball and charge, and on
reversing the motion the rod will be withdrawn from the gun.
In driving the gearing, I propose to use a friction belt, which, when the
charge is sufficiently rammed down, will permit of a slip taking place, and
prevent all risk of breakage or premature explosion.
The sides of the vessel (above the water line) and so much of the deck space
as is not required to be exposed I render bomb-proof, by covering the same
with balks of timber or compressed cotton, and this I overlay with vulcanized
india-rubber, and cover the whole with plate iron.