matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CROSSINGS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Tomlin at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
October 1873.
I, HENRY TOMLIN, of No. 5, Pellatt Road, Lordship Lane, Dulwich,
in the County of Surry, Joiner, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CROSSINGS," to be as
follows:-
The object of my Invention is to avoid a source of danger in railway
traffic by dispensing with the use of "points," as heretofore used on
railway crossings for transferring carriages from one line to another.
The Invention itself consists in the herein-after described mechanical
arrangements.
As in the mode now commonly in use I employ an oblique or
transverse line of railway to support the carriages during their passage
from one line of railway to another or to a siding, but the continuity of
this transverse line (when not in use) is broken at distances sufficiently
great from the rails of the other line or lines to avoid all danger of
contact of any portion of the transverse line with the wheels of carriages
passing along the other line or lines.

page_text: At or near the ends of the transverse line are curved moveable rails,
and at the shunting points or points at which it is intended that
carriages should leave or come on to the other line or lines, the rails or
parts of the rails of the other line or lines are made moveable, and the
moveable rails or parts of rails of the other line or lines, and the move-
able curved rails of the transverse line are respectively so connected by
any suitable mechanism with a lever that movements of the said lever
may either break or restore the lineal continuity of the other line or
lines, or of the other line or lines, the curved rails, and the transverse
line.
At the points at which the transverse line crosses the rails of the other
line or lines, the rails or parts of the rails of the other line or lines are
also made moveable, and are connected with and controlled by the afore-
said lever, in such manner that the said moveable rails or parts of rails
may be made at will to form portions of the other line or lines, or of the
transverse line.
AN IMPROVED MEANS OF CHECKING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS TRAVELLING BY CONVEYANCES, BY THE COMBINATION OF NEW IMPROVEMENTS WITH AN OLD ARRANGEMENT
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Caldbeck at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 16th August
1873.
I, JOHN CALDBECK, of 28, Lennox St., Dublin, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED MEANS OF CHECKING THE
NUMBER OF PASSENGERS TRAVELLING BY CONVEYANCES, BY THE COMBINATION
OF NEW IMPROVEMENTS WITH AN OLD ARRANGEMENT," to be as follows:-
In means or apparatus for checking the number of passengers
travelling by conveyances, by means of electrical connection between the
seats & a recording apparatus.
My improvements are as follows:-
1st. Instead of the seats occupied being recorded the moment
passengers sit down, this is effected automatically once or oftener during
the progress of a conveyance on a journey.
2nd. The points at which the registering is to be effected are unknown
to the person entrusted with the collecting & rendering of fares.
3rd. The points at which the registering is effected may be altered
every journey by a person at the starting point of the journey.

page_text: .
Combined with these improvements the person in charge of the
conveyance
or fares of passengers keeps a register of passengers
entering & leaving. The numbers represented by this registry are
recorded at the same time that the seats occupied are registered (vide
improvement No. 1). By this means the number of passengers entering
& leaving can be compared with & tested by the numbers automatically
registered as occupying seats.
The automatic registering may be effected by the action of wheelwork
communicated from the motion of the car, or from independent wheel-
work, for which nothing new is claimed.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRAWING AND SPINNING COTTON
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Ward at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th
October 1873.
I, JOSEPH WARD, of Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRAWING AND SPINNING COTTON," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to machinery for drawing and spinning cotton
so constructed and designed as to perform their operations dircct from
the "sliver" without the use (when the "jack frame" is employed) of
the intermediate and swing frames.
I mount on a jack frame or in a swing frame (or on framework
specially designed for the purpose) a series of drawing rollers, rotation
being imparted to these rollers by means of gear wheels of such diameter
and pitch respectively as will impart various speeds or "draughts," that
is to say, the drafts of the rollers is graduated so that on the cotton
being fed in the form of a sliver from cans or bobbins to the first and
second pair of rollers, it will be between the two undergo or "drawing" or

page_text: receipt a certain draft, on passing between the second and third pair the
draught will be continued and so on between each succeeding pair
until reduced to a state suitable for receiving the twist by ordinary
means.
receipt a certain draft, on passing between the second and third pair the
draught will be continued and so on between each succeeding pair
until reduced to a state suitable for receiving the twist by ordinary
means.
The Invention is equally applicable or capable of being readily applied
IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis Zysel at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 23rd June
1878.
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I, FRANCIS ZYSEL, of Cecil Street, Mile End Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to a combination of screws with toothed gearing
and consists, in the use of screws which turned right and left com-
municate a come-and-go motion to a nut or cylinder in which they
travel, a lever attached at one end to the cylinder or nut and connected
by the other to a crank brings this crank horizontal, and to throw it
beyond the centre and cause it to revolve I use a double screw in
addition to the foregoing or in place of one of them; or I may use one or
more levers instead of this double screw. These screws have at one end
cog wheels gearing with a main wheel to which a reciprocating motion
is given by means of a bar fixed to it by a pin through its centre, the
other ends of this said bar being attached to nuts through which travel
screws, at the end of each of which is a toothed wheel; both of these

page_text: wheels gear with a same cog placed between them, and causing them to
revolve in opposite directions; on the spindle of each of each of these
toothed wheels is another wheel toothed on part only of its periphery so as
to give a cam motion, these wheels being so set upon their respective
spindles that while the toothed part of one of them is in gear with
screw upon the shaft of a fly wheel the other is out of gear therewith,
and vice versa. Thus the shaft of the fly wheel being turned by hand,
by treadle, or otherwise, its screw gearing into one of the cam wheels
causes it to revolve the screw to which it is attached, and the nut on
this screw to travel, bringing with it one end of the bar attached to the
main wheel moving it in one direction until the other cam wheel gearing
in its turn with the screw on the shaft of the fly wheel gives an opposite
motion to the reciprocating bar, and so on.
I propose to modify the actuating mechanism of my screw arrange-
ment accordingly as I require less power and more speed or more power
and less speed, and to apply it to the driving of wheeled carriages,
agricultural machines, and to any other purpose to which it may be
found applicable.
IMPROVEMENTS IN RINGS OR SUSPENDERS FOR SUSPENDING KEYS, WATCHES, AND ARTICLES OF JEWELLERY, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left John Boultbee Brooks and Peter
Bull at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 25th April 1873.
We, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and PETER BULL, of Walsall, in the County of
Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RINGS OR SUSPENDERS FOR SUSPENDING KEYS, WATCHES,
AND ARTICLES OF JEWELLERY, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in
rings or suspenders to be used for such purposes, as split rings and
swivels are ordinarily applied to and for other like purposes.
We make the ring of two semicircles jointed together and capable of
opening and closing for the introduction and removal of the key or other
article.
The unjointed ends are provided with a spring snap fastening of the
following construction:-One of the said ends terminates in a hook or
projection, and the other end carries a spring snap. On closing the ring

page_text: upon its joint the inclined front face of the spring snap coming against
the said hook or projection passes over it until the parts of the ring have
arrived at their closed position; wlien the head of the snap having passed
the said hook it snaps by the action of the spring behind the said hook,
and the two parts of the ring are securely connected together. The head 5
of the spring snap fastening has a slight projection, under which the
thumb or finger nail may be introduced for the purpose of lifting the
said head and disengaging it from the hook when it is wished to open
the ring for the introduction or removal of a key or other article.
Although we have described the two parts of the ring or suspender as 1
semicircular in figure, yet we do not confine ourselves to any particular
shape of the parts, as the shape of the parts may be varied without
departing from the nature of our Invention.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN DYEING WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Read Holliday at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th November
1873.
I, READ HOLLIDAY, of Huddersfield, in the County of York,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN DYEING WOVEN FABRICS,"
to be as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to keep the fabric suspended, and to
afford facility for extent of traverse of it whilst it is being conducted
through the vat or cistern of dye liquor, in order that the whole surface
of such fabric may be more equally, readily, and continuously acted
upon by the dye liquid. For this purpose the fabric to be dyed is
attached or hung at one or both of its edges, lists, or selvages to points
or hooks so as to be supported by them, and these points or hooks are
connected to and carried by chains, bands, or straps, aided by guides,
and supported on wheels or pulleys, and are capable of progressive
motion in the direction desired, so that the fabric may be at the same
time kept suspended or distended, as in tentering fabrics for drying
purposes, and whereby the fabric may be caused to traverse through the

page_text: dye liquor in zig-zag directions, or from near one side of the vat to near
the opposite side of it, or from near the top to near the bottom of it, or
in other directions, without one part of its surface necessarily coming in
contact with the other, and by which it may be prevented, if necessary,
from coming in contact with the external air between the time of its
entering and leaving the cistern or vat.
The fabric is thence taken off the hooks or points by a roller or rollers
or lifters, and conducted to the squeezing rollers, by which the super-
fluous dye liquor is squeezed from it, or is otherwise taken off the hooks
as desired, and it is thence taken away to be aired, washed, dried, and
finished in the usual way.
IMPROVEMENTS_IN COMPOUNDS FOR REMOVING AND PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN STEAM BOILERS AND IN APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING THE SAME OR OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS A STEAM LUBRICATOR
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Houlston Morgan at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th December 1873.
I, WILLIAM HOULSTON MORGAN, of the City and County of Gloucester,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS_IN
COMPOUNDS FOR REMOVING AND PREVENTING INCRUSTATION IN STEAM BOILERS AND
IN APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING THE SAME OR OTHER FLUIDS, WHICH APPARATUS IS
ALSO APPLICABLE AS A STEAM LUBRICATOR," to be as follows:-
-
The primary object of my Invention is to remove and prevent incrust-
ation in steam boilers, and for this purpose I employ certain chemical
materials, compounded in or about the following proportions, hydro-
sulphite of soda, 19 parts; cochineal, one-tenth part; and oil of verbena,
one-tenth part.
In order to introduce such or other compounds or materials con-
veniently into steam boilers I use an apparatus constructed as follows:
It consists of a vessel containing a desired and definite quantity of
boiler fluid. This vessel has a filling cup with strainer, a pipe leading
therefrom to a cock with a passage leading into the interior of the vessel,

page_text: and a stand pipe communicating with the said cock, which has also an
outlet to the open air, and two outlets leading to the boiler, one com-
municating with the stand pipe, and the other with the bottom of
interior of the vessel.
The plug of the cock is fitted with an index disc or wheel, marked so
as to manipulate it as required. This is done as follows:-Turn the
index to "fill," then the cock will be shut towards the boiler, and the
material being poured into the cup, passes through the pipe therefrom,
and through the aforesaid passage in the cock into the interior of the
vessel, filling same, the air or vapour at the same time escaping through
the outlet to the open air; next turn the index to "boiler," the cock
with its passages will then stand so that it is.shut towards the filling pipe
and air pipe, and opens communication between the vessel and the boiler,
the pressure entering through the stand pipe and forcing the fluid down
through another passage into the boiler.
By turning the index to "empty" any refuse in the bottom of the
vessel will be able to run out by a cross passage in the cock by the
aforesaid outlet to the air, but at the same time air is admitted into the
vessel by a passage communicating with the stand pipe.
Instead of a plug cock a valve might be substituted.
The aforesaid apparatus may also be applied to the injection of tallow
into steam boilers for stopping or preventing "priming," or to the
injection of lubricating material into steam cylinders, slide valve chests,
or pipes leading thereto.
AN IMPROVE- MENT IN PIANOFORTES AND OTHER KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS
Year: 1873

page_text: '
LETTERS PATENT to Hankinson Hebert, of Lowestoft, in the County
of Suffolk, Clerk in Holy Orders, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVE-
MENT IN PIANOFORTES AND OTHER KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS.”
Sealed the 20th January 1874, and dated the 1st December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Hankinson Hebert at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition; on
the 1st December 1873.
I, HANKINSON HEBERT, of Lowestoft, in the County of Suffolk, Clerk
in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN IMPROVEMENT IN PIANOFORTES AND OTHER KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS," to be
as follows:-
My Invention relates to an improvement in pianofortes and other key-
board instruments, whereby the performer is enabled to readily transpose
any piece of music, that is to say, to play it in a higher or lower key

page_text: than that in which it is written without any mental effort whatever, the
means by which this is accomplished consisting simply in a mechanical
adjustment of part of the instrument itself. Moreover, by this Inven-
tion, all musical compositions may be written in one and the same key,
say the key of C, and yet be played in any higher or lower key desired,
thus obviating the necessity of a beginner learning to play from music
written in different keys.
According to my Invention I make the whole length of the keyboard
capable of being shifted or traversed longitudinally to the extent of an
octave in either direction, but without shifting the remainder of the
action, so that in the case of a pianoforte for instance, the several keys
may be made to actuate the hammers corresponding to notes which are
one or more tones or semitones above or below the notes to which the
keys correspond when in their normal position, the result being that the
music will be correctly transposed one or more tones or semitones higher
or lower without any variation in the ordinary relation of the several
keys struck to the several notes and signs as written.
As applied to pianofortes I fit the keybed frame to slide longitudinally
in guides to the required extent, a cavity or opening in the case at each
end of the keyboard being provided to permit of this movement as well
as a suitable index or gauge to show how far the keys are moved from
their normal position.
To permit of the key hoppers shifting readily from the notch of one
hammer to that of another, I provide a cross bar operated by a hand
lever to raise the whole of the hammers and disengage them from the
hoppers whilst the keyboard is being shifted.
In some cases I may construct the key levers in two parts, and make
only the front or finger ends movable.
A NEW OR AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE WASTE OF WATER USED FOR WATER CLOSETS AND DOMESTIC PURPOSES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Vaughan Davies at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th January 1873.
I, ROBERT VAUGHAN DAVIES, of Old Street, Saint Luke's, in the
County of Middlesex, Zinc Worker, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "A NEW OR AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING
THE WASTE OF WATER USED FOR WATER CLOSETS AND DOMESTIC PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to prevent the waste of water from
house or other cisterns to the water closets connected therewith, and
to avoid or disconnect any communication between such cisterns and
the drainage.
The means by which I propose to carry the said object into effect in
practice is as follows:-My improved arrangement or apparatus is
constructed of strong zinc or other material not corrodible by water,
that it may be fixed within the water cistern without injuring or
deteriorating the water. It can be applied to any.description of water
closet, and possesses the advantages of being the simplest in construction,
most perfect, and the cheapest arrangement or apparatus hitherto
applied or used for preventing waste of water,

page_text: Within the water cistern or tank, and immediately over the supply pipe
to the closet, I fix a cylindrical chamber of zinc or other suitable
material of the capacity of about one and a half gallons, open at its
upper end, the diameter and depth of which cylinder varies according to
the depth of the cistern. In the bottom of this cylinder is a circular
hole, corresponding in diameter or thereabouts with the bore of the closet
supply pipe over which it is placed for the charge of water to pass
through to the closet pan. Near the bottom, outside of the said cylinder,
is a projecting hollow foot or channel communicating with the interior
of the cylinder, in the upper part of which foot is a circular hole for the
ingress of the water. These two circular holes (for the ingress and
egress of the water into and from the cylinder) are opened and closed by a
double-action valve, or by two self-acting valves operating each other by
means of a beam pivotted on the upper edge of the cylinder, to which
beam each valve is connected by a rod. In order that the two valves
may be closed at the same time when the water is discharged from the
cylinder I provide sufficient play for the valve rods therefor by forming
a slot in the upper part of each valve for the lower ends of the said rods
to move freely in up and down.
My improved apparatus is operated in the usual way by raising. or
pulling the closet handle which raises the valve of the ingress hole.
When this valve is lowered the inside or egress valve is thereby raised
and the charge of water in the cylinder rushes into the closet supply
pipe and flushes the closet pan in the usual way, but without any waste-
of water.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REED PIPES FOR ORGANS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Baillic Hamilton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st January 1873.
I, JAMES BAILLIE HAMILTON, of University College, Oxford, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF REED PIPES FOR ORGANS," to be as follows :-
.
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction
of reed pipes for organs, whereby greater advantages are obtained than
with such pipes as previously constructed.
The pipe is closed at both ends, and the escapement of wind and
sound is at the reed itself; one face of the reed is exposed to the open
air and the action of the wind on thic reed is direct, whilst no kind of
suction is necessary to be employed. By means of these arrangements
the pipe can be made much shorter than would otherwise be required,
and there is no loss of wind.
"
Advantage is taken of the fact that a "closed pipe which
"reinforces" any reed will set that reed into vibration by reason of the

page_text: wind escaping at the roed, the latter being exposed to the air, and
the action of the wind on the reed being direct. Any "free" reed
or a "beating" reed if required, and the closed pipe that reinforces it, is
taken, the reed being set on any part of the exterior or interior of the
surface. If wind is brought to impinge upon the reed in any way the t
reed will sound as with the reinforcement of a closed pipe. The wind is
brought to bear upon the reed either by a nozzle (which of course
communicates with the closed pipe) acting directly thereon or by merely
admitting air into the closed pipe.
In both cases it is desirable to avoid disturbing the column of air by ]
the wind thus introduced, and this is effected either by means of an
intervening membrane or by an "abuttment" which prevents the
wind from passing into the column but which directs it. on to the
recd.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TWISTING FIBRES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Midgley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
October 1873.-A communication from abroad by William Cockcroft
and Reuben Ackroyd, of Chester, Deleware County, Pennsylvania,
United States of America.
I, JOHN MIDGLEY, of Pudsey, near Leeds, in the County of York,
Stuff Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TWISTING FIBRES," a communication
to me from abroad by William Cockcroft and Reuben Ackroyd, of
Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States of America, to
be as follows :-
-
This Invention consists of a stop motion in connection with the
feeding or delivering roll of a "ring twisting" machine, so contrived
that if the threads or yarns break it will stop the delivery, and thus
prevent the ends going from one spindle to another, and to take up the
"slack" after a thread or yarn has broken and its ends been united. To
this end the upper face of each pulley for turning the rolls is dished, and
two or more stopping devices or notches are fixed on it, and on the front

page_text: beam or rail of the frame is hinged a weighted lever having a tweezle or
yarn guide in the outer end through which the yarn passes, so that its
tension will hold the inner or weighted end of the lever up and clear of
the stopping devices or notches on the pulley so long as the yarn
remains taut or on the tension and unbroken, but when the yarn breaks
the inner end of the lever will fall and stop the delivery roll by
engaging in one of the stopping devices fixed in the dished pulley and
thus prevent the further delivery of the yarn until it is mended or
"pieced."
A spur gear wheel on the driving drum gears with a pinion which is
keyed on the shaft of a large pulley, whose speed determines that of the
twisting spindle.
It is apparent that when the yarn breaks and the lever engages with
the stopping devices fixed on the dished pulley, it cannot be disengaged
therefrom until the spindle has revolved sufficiently to take up the
"slack" (which invariably occurs in such cases), and draws the yarn
taut so as to hold the outer end of the lever down, and the other end
clear of the stopping devices or notches..
IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER RULING MACHINES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Vincent Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the
1st January 1873.-A communication from abroad by Ellicott
David Averell, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER
RULING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
One part of this Invention relates to electro-magnetic striking
attachments to ruling machines operating to cause the pens to strike the
paper on a head line or head lines at any distance from the head
of the sheet of paper, to rule "down lines" of any desired length, and to
strike and rise from the sheet at any point or any number of different
points in its length, for the purpose of ruling down lines of any desired
length from one or from any number of head lines. This part of the
Invention consists in a combination with an electro-magnet or magnets
and pen beam actuated thereby, of a cam circuit breaker and closer
operating device, composed of two or more sets of adjustable cams set

page_text: in motion by the drum, cylinder, or revolving ruling beam, and a stop
gate operating in a mechanical manner to determine the feed of the
paper to the rulers, whereby while every facility is afforded for adjusting
in a simple and practical manner the timely lifting and lowering of the
pens, a quick and lively but soft or easy action is obtained for the striker
pen beam, and a positive means for opening and closing the circuit is used
instead of using the paper as has been proposed but which is apt to
slip, for such purpose.
The Invention also consists, in a combination with double guides for
feeding in the paper and travelling cloth or apron by which the latter is
carried through the machine, of duplicate pen beams, the one arranged
in advance of the other, whereby two sheets may be simultaneously
ruled, the one with down lines by the striker beam and the other with
cross or faint lines by the other beam.
The Invention likewise consists in a pen beam, which may be the rear
one where two are used, divided transversely intermediately of its length
to admit of its operating by independent sections or (by locking the
sections) of operating throughout its entire length, or to suit narrow or
broad sheets, and when the paper is fed by double guides in two sheets
beneath two pen beams, the one arranged in advance of the other, the
divided or sectionally constructed beam may only have so much of it in
action as is necessary to rule the one sheet with continuous or faint
lines, while the other sheet is being ruled with down lines by the
striker beam.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT FUEL, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Alexander King at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th January 1873.
I, JAMES ALEXANDER KING, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PEAT FUEL, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention which relates to the manufacture of peat fuel consists
in rendering the peat denser in order to reduce the bulk. The peat is
cut by diggers in the ordinary way, filled into waggons, and taken to an
improved pug mill, wherein it is cut up and thoroughly disintegrated.
The improvements in the pug mill consist in the employment of a
series of cutters or blades in addition to the ordinary beaters used in
such mills, the blades or cutters being either arranged separately or
alternating with the beaters in the mill, the use of both being to cut up
and thoroughly disintegrate the peat to a pulpy state. The cutters and
beaters are driven by spur gearing or pulleys, belts, or pitch chains.

page_text: The peat is partly dried in a centrifugal machine, sufficient moisture
being left to allow of the peat being compressed into blocks in any
suitable compressing machine having moulds of the shape and size of
the blocks. The blocks are then completely dried in a drying shed or
oven or in the open air to render them fit for use as fuel.
'
IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Saunders Muir at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th October 1873.
I, JOHN SAUNDERS MUIR, of 31, Park Road, Leeds, in the County of
York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS," to be as follows:-
To obtain illuminating gas I take a vessel of sheet iron or other
suitable material of such dimensions as the circumstances may require.
This vessel may be either square or round and in the upper part of this
vessel I place an aspirator or valve box like an ordinary bellows, & I
put this valve or bellows into motion by any mechanical arrangement
and thus force a current of atmospheric air into the vessel or box. This
vessel I term the gas generator and I put a quantity of volatile
petroleum spirit or oil, the atmospheric air or any hydrocarbon oil being
blown through.
This hydrocarbon oil becomes converted into a highly

page_text: illuminating gas of great brilliancy. At the foot of the generator I fix
a glass syphon tube for the purpose of indicating the quantity of hydro-
carbon contained therein; there is also attached thereto a glass tube in
which is placed an hydrometer for shewing the density of the hydro-
carbons at any time during the operation.
In- PROVED APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
September 1873.
I, THOMAS JOHNSON, of Darlington, in the County of Durham,
Gardener, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVED APPARATUS FOR SIGNALLING ON RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in certain arrangements by means of which
the ordinary system of railway signals is rendered certain, secure, and
intelligible in operation, whether by day or night, and during the
existence of fog, whilst the necessity for the use of detonating signals
is obviated.
At the side of and parallel to the rails are placed two bars or levers
so connected together at one end that the surfaces thereof will form a
double inclined plane when they are raised, as herein-after mentioned..
These levers are actuated by means of a crank or cranks placed under-
neath the same, and which crank or cranks is or are worked by a wire,
chain, or rod attached to the lever balance of the ordinary signal post
so as to raise or depress the levers forming the double inclined plane,

page_text: at "
according as the signal arm is raised. or lowered. When the arm is
danger" the levers are raised to their fullest extent, and thus
form the double inclined plane, so that a rod or trigger placed on
the engine of a passing train, and connected to the whistle by any
suitable means, comes in contact with the lower end of the lever 5
forming one side of the double inclined plane, and in ascending the
same is moved backwards so as to sound the whistle; the rod or
trigger in descending, the lever forming the opposite side of the
double inclined plane, gradually falls to its original position, thereby
turning off the whistle. When the signal arm is at "caution" the 1
double inclined plane is only half raised so as to only slightly sound
the whistle, and when the signal arm is down for "line clear" the
levers lie flat at the side of the rails so as to allow the rod or trigger
on the engine to pass over them without being actuated.
It will be readily understood that the rod or trigger on the engine 1
instead of being connected with the whistle can be made to actuate
a bell or gong both on the engine and in the guard's van, or in any
other desired part of a train.
By means of simple adaptations which will be well understood by
persons conversant with such matters, the apparatus can be connected 2
with signal posts placed on the top of an embankment, or in other
exceptional positions.
AN IMPROVED PORTABLE HEARTH BOX FOR COLLECTING THE FINE ASH OF HOUSE FIRES, AND SEPARATING THE CINDERS THEREFROM
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Slagg at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
November 1873.
I, CHARLES SLAGG, of Madeley, in the County of Salop, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED PORTABLE HEARTH BOX FOR COLLECTING THE FINE ASH OF HOUSE FIRES,
AND SEPARATING THE CINDERS THEREFROM," to be as follows:-
-
The object of this Invention is sufficiently explained by the title, and
my Invention consists substantially in providing a hollow box or tray,
upon the top of which is attached, permanently or otherwise, and in any
suitable manner, a grating of a proper size and description, or a plate
provided with suitable perforations. The apparatus is then placed in a
hole provided in the hearth, in such manner that the top of the grating
shall be flush with (or on the same level as) the hearth, when the box is
in its place, it being intended that the box, with its grating, shall be
removed at frequent intervals (preferably once during each day), and

page_text: the fine ash be then discharged beneath the grating through the side or
through the bottom of the box, the cinders being separately disposed of.
By this improved apparatus, not only is the fine ash of house fires
collected for sanitary purposes, but the cinders are preserved for
reburning, and thus coal is economised to a large degree.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT CLASS OF STEAM ENGINES KNOWN AS BEAM ENGINES
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Martin Henry Gerring at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th June 1873.
I, MARTIN HENRY GERRING, of Shipton Farm, Kidlington, in the
County of Oxford, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THAT CLASS OF STEAM ENGINES KNOWN AS BEAM ENGINES," to
be as follows:-
:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in that class of steam
engines known as "beam engines."
Heretofore it has been customary in this class of engine to employ
only one steam cylinder acting upon one end of the beam, the power
being given off from the other end of such beam.
Now according to my Invention instead of employing only one
cylinder to act upon the beam I employ two cylinders, one to cach end
of the beam, and I cause the power to be given off at some point
intermediate between the axis of motion of the beam and the ends
thereof.
¿
AN IMPROVED HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR SHIPS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James, Scott, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED HYDRAULIC
LIFT FOR SHIPS."
Sealed the 12th June 1874, and dated the 20th December 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Scott at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th December 1873.
I, JAMES SCOTT, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "AN IMPROVED
HYDRAULIC LIFT FOR SHIPS," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention which relates to an improved arrangement or con-
struction of hydraulic lifts for taking ships out of the water, consists in
placing a longitudinal girder above each row of the hydraulic rams the
whole length of the lift. Between each of the rows of rams are several

page_text: connecting rods attached to the longitudinal girders and which carry the
cross girders on which a ship when placed in the lift rests.
By means of this arrangement any number of cross girders may be
used to carry the ship, and double hydraulic rams may be used at each
side of the lift between which the longitudinal girders are carried.
IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR ECONOMIZING THE WASTE HEAT AND GASES FROM BOILERS AND OTHER FURNACES, PART THEREOF BEING USEFUL AS A WATER OR LIQUID METER
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Solomon Sanderson and Albert
Proctor at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 19th September 1873.
We, SOLOMON SANDERSON and ALBERT PROCTOR, both of Huddersfield,
in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVED MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR ECONOMIZING THE WASTE
HEAT AND GASES FROM BOILERS AND OTHER FURNACES, PART THEREOF BEING
USEFUL AS A WATER OR LIQUID METER," to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention relates to apparatus to be placed in the flue leading
from a boiler or other furnaces, and consists of a series of pipes of
brass, copper, iron, or other metal depending from boxes or chambers.
Within these pipes are smaller ones terminating a short space from
bottom of outer pipes, and depending from an upper chamber in said
box so divided and arranged that a continuous passage is formed for
water, steam, or other fluid throughout the whole series of pipes and
boxes or chambers. The bottom end of such outer pipe is provided
with a lid or cap so as to be readily removed for the purpose of cleansing
or examining the interior thereof.

page_text: The boxes or chambers above mentioned are also provided with lids
or covers for the purpose of cleansing and repairing the said pipes.
I couple the pipes to said boxes or chambers so as to prevent leakage,
and a series of scrapers are applied to fit the external surface of said
pipes, which travel up and down the said pipes to cleanse the exterior
surface of soot, which would otherwise accumulate thereon and prevent
the action of heat. Automatically motion is given to the said scrapers
by the power from the water passing through the said pipes; the same
is also used as a water meter for ascertaining the quantity of water
used. Local power to work said scrapers may however be obtained
by a fan or fly fixed in the main flue, the draught causing the fan or fly
to revolve and turn a shaft which is in connection with the said scrapers,
thus giving a continuous motion.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPOUNDS DESIGNED TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR COAL OR FOR MAKING LIME
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Granville Hamilton Forbes at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 30th October 1873.
I, GRANVILLE HAMILTON FORBES, Clerk in Holy Orders, Rector of
Broughton, in the County of Northampton, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
COMPOUNDS DESIGNED TO BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR COAL OR FOR MAKING
LIME," to be as follows:-
My said Invention relates to a compound of chalk or limestone (or
any combination of the two) and tar, pitch, or similar bituminous sub-
stance (or a combination of any two or more of them), with or without
certain other ingredients, herein-after specified. The said compound is
designed to serve as a substitute for coal (or other materials commonly
used for fuel) or for making lime.
The said Invention is carried into practice as follows:-
_I take any
desired quantity of chalk or limestone (or any combination of the two),
and combine the same with coal tar, wood tar, peat tar, or mineral tar,
or pitch, or similar bituminous matter (or a combination of any-two or
IMPROVEMENTS IN BITS FOR HORSES AND OTHER ANIMALS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Edward Newton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his. Petition, on
the 24th June 1873.-A communication from abroad by Henri
Maurissén, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
I, HENRY EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BITS FOR HORSES
AND OTHER ANIMALS," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is so to construct horses' bits that the
length of the lever action shall vary with the force it is necessary to
exert upon the reins attached to the bit. This is effected by attaching
the reins to a piece which is capable of moving up or down the jaws or
side pieces of the bit and of being held in place by rubber springs or
other elastic devices.
In carrying out the Invention the bit is made as usual with a cross
bar which enters the mouth and is attached to the side pieces or cheeks
of the bit, but the eyes or pieces to which the reins are attached are
made capable of sliding up or down in slots made in the cheeks. These

page_text: pieces are held up in the slots by means of india-rubber springs, the
upper ends of which are hooked on to the upper part of the side pieces.
So long as little or no tension or pull is put on the reins the moveable
side pieces to which they are attached will be held up by the springs to
the upper end of the side slots, but upon pulling of the reins the side
frames or checks of the bit will be drawn back by being caused to turn
on the mouth bar as the centre of motion, the moveable side pieces will
then be drawn down the slots in the jaws and will stretch the rubber
springs, but upon slackening the pull on the reins the springs will draw
back the moveable side pieces to their original position.
.
Instead of these moveable side pieces being made to move up and
down in slots they may be made to run on round rods, or the reins
may be attached to levers which have their centre of motion at the
lower end of the jaws to which they are connected by strong box
springs.
AN IMPROVED CONTACT APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC INDICATORS FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James John Frederick Stevens
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th November 1873.
I, JAMES JOHN FREDERICK STEVENS, of Darlington Works, Southwark,
in the County of Surrey, Railway Signal Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED CONTACT
APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC INDICATORS FOR RAILWAY SIGNALS," to be as follows:-
This apparatus consists of a piece of brass or other suitable metal with a
break or division at a suitable part thereof, so as to form two distinct pieces,
each of which is insulated by vulcanite or other insulating material in the
usual manner, and is in connection by a wire with the electric indicator.
Opposite these pieces of brass is a quadrant mounted loosely on an axis or
spindle and held in place by a metal spring which is fastened thereto and
bears against one of the pieces of brass. On the same axis or spindle is
fixed an arm, which is capable of being moved along the curved arm of the
quadrant by means of connections attached to the rod which moves the
signal arm or lamp.
When this rod is moved in the ordinary manner,

page_text: the arm above mentioned moves along the quadrant and pushes against
a projection thereon, thereby moving the quadrant with its spring until
the said spring bears partly against each of the two brass pieces; contact
is thus made by means of the spring. Again, when the rod is moved in
the reverse direction, the arm pushes against another projection on the
quadrant, and moves it together with the spring until the spring bears
only against one of the brass pieces, when the contact is consequently
broken.
IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS
Year: 1873

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Alldridge at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th May
1878.
I, WILLIAM ALLDRIDGE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Pearl Button Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BUTTONS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to buttons made of pearl shell, ivory, and
vegetable ivory, and consists of the improvements herein-after described,
in attaching metallic shanks to the said buttons.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a button of pearl shell.
According to my Invention I make the button of two parts, namely, of
a bottom disk of pearl shell having nearly the figure of the button, and
of a thin top disk of pearl shell, which is affixed to the upper face of the
said bottom disk as herein-after described. Through the centre of the
bottom disk a hole is made; that part of the hole near the upper face of
the disc being conical. This conical part forms a seat for the shank.
I make the metallic shank of a flattened loop of wire, having a conical
head of sheet metal soldered or fastened to it. In attaching the

page_text: metallic shank to the button, the flattened loop of wire is passed through
the hole in the bottom disc of pearl shell, and its conical head made to
fit in and fill up the conical part or seat of the said hole, the face of the
said conical head being flush with the upper face of the bottom disk.
The thin top disk of pearl shell is next cemented to the upper face of the 5
bottom disk. The conical head of the shank is thus fixed between the
top and bottom disks, and the shank very securely attached to the
button.
By placing a metal collet on the flattened loop, and opening out the
said loop so as to give it the form of a shank, the button is completed.
The cement which I use for securing the two disks of pearl shell
together consists of a composition of white lead and glue boiled together,
but other cements may be used for that purpose.
1