matthewleechen/300YearsOfBritishPatents huggingface dataset:
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALINE AND EARTH-METAL CYANIDES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Weldon at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 13th September 1878.
$6
"IMPROVE-
WALTER WELDON, of Rede Hall, Burstow, in the County of Surrey.
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ALKALINE AND EARTH-METAL CYANIDES."
Whenever until now it has been attempted to manufacture alkaline or earth-
inetal cyanides from atmospheric nitrogen the temperatures employed have been
equal to or exceeding what is known as a white heat." I have found however
that alkaline and earth-metal cyanides are formed by the re-action of atmospheric
nitrogen upon alkalized charcoal or upon mixtures of carbon with the alkalies or
alkaline carths enormously more rapidly and in enormously greater quantities at
comparatively low temperatures than at the extremely high ones hitherto employed.
I have found that one great reason of the failure of all previous atempts to manu-
facture cyanides from atmospheric nitrogen has been that these attempts have been
based upon the idea that the desired re-action would take place only at extraordinarily
high temperatures.
The present Invention accordingly consists:-
Firstly. In treating by atmospheric nitrogen either alkalized charcoal or a
mixture of carbon with an alkali or an alkaline earth at the temperatures known as
"blood red" and "bright red," or at temperatures even below these. And,
Secondly. In treating the said alkalised charcoal or mixture of carbon and an
alkali or alkaline earth by atmospheric nitrogen in an apparatus similar to the
revolving furnaces" at present generally used in the manufacture of what is known
by soda makers as "black ash."
IMPROVE- MENTS IN GLAZING AND FIXING THIN SHEETS OF METAL OR STONE
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Needham Chippendale at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1878.
NEEDHAM CHIPPENDALE, of Ilkley, in the County of York, Plumber. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN GLAZING AND FIXING THIN SHEETS OF METAL OR STONE."
The object of my Invention is to arrange metallic purlins that can be used for
roofs pitched at any angle, or for the vertical sides or divisions of greenhouses,
conservatories, or other similar structures in such a manner that glass or thin
sheets of metal or stone can be readily secured thereto, and breakages easily
repaired without the use of putty or other coment now generally employed for
securing the same in position. I accomplish my object in the following manner :-
I form the purlins of thin sheets of metal, which are bent in such a manner that a
flange is formed on one side which I call the top side of the purlin; this flange
when the purlin is fixed in position is next to the glass, metal, or stone that is
employed to cover or divide the structure; the other or bottom part of the purlin is
curved and formed hollow in section. The purlins are made in convenient lengths,
and the same are connected together as follows:-A short length of each purlin at
one end is made without the flange, and the bottom or curved portion is a little
less in section than the remainder of the purlin; this reduced portion is of such a
size that it will slide and fit tight into the larger end of the purlins, and thus I am
enabled to extend the same to any length of building.
In order to secure the glass or other material to the purlins, I form a groove on
one side of each purlin between the before-named flange and the curved portion of
the purlin; into this groove I place one end of the glass or other material that is
being used to cover the structure; this material rests in the groove and extends
over the space between the purlins to the next purlin which it covers, and is held
בל
71

page_text: in position by metallic clips that clip the purlin flange and the bottom of the
material used for covering.
By the use of my improved purlins glass can be laid on the roof without any lap
at the joints that are perpendicular to the ridge roll; this is accomplished by
cutting the joints of the glass clean, and laying the same close together, thus
forming what is commonly known as a jump joist.
IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' AND STEAMERS' UPPER CABIN DECKS FOR THE SAVING OF LIFE AT SEA OR ON NAVIGABLE RIVERS IN CASES OF COLLISION, FOUNDERING, &C., BY MEANS OF AN UPPER SELF-FLOATING DECK OR DECKS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Hammond Kennard at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st September 1878.
HAMMOND KENNARD, of No. 72, Stoke Newington Road, Stoke Newington, in
the County of Middlesex; a Pilot in the Bombay Pilot Service, in the Empire of
India. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SHIPS' AND STEAMERS' UPPER CABIN DECKS FOR THE
SAVING OF LIFE AT SEA OR ON NAVIGABLE RIVERS IN CASES OF COLLISION,
FOUNDERING, &C., BY MEANS OF AN UPPER SELF-FLOATING DECK OR DECKS."
'. The vessel to which this deck or decks is to be attached may be either a screw
or paddle steamer, or a sailing vessel, the decks to be made of wood similar to a
box in principle supported by beams running across forming sections, the sections
to be filled with india-rubber or metallic tubes, any spare spaces to be filled with
cork cuttings or waste, the whole to be fastened together with galvanized iron or
other metal screws or bolts passing through the beams, thus connecting the upper
and lower parts of the deck.
-The
The result intended to be effected by the present Invention is as follows:-
improved deck as shewn in the accompanying plan by the letters a, b, c, d, and is
intended to be placed upon the upper deck of deck houses or cabins, &c., and in the case
of ocean-going vessels should be fastened by lever catches or lockings, the lever con-
necting the same to be placed on the bridge so as to secure it from interference by any
person other than the officer in charge of the deck, but in the case of river steamers
and vessels no locking lever would be requisite, but in all cases there shall be a
space of half an inch more or less between the lower edge of the sides and ends of
the improved deck and the cabin sides and ends above the standing beams, so as to
allow of its floating with ease in case of accident, &c., happening.
The improved buoyant deck being thus fastened on by means of a lever locking
&c., and its own weight, and fitting into recesses duly prepared, is thus similar in
appearance to any other deck built on the usual modern principles, but the
advantage secured by means of this Invention is, that in the event of the hull of
the vessel becoming damaged by leakage or collision and thus filling with water
and sinking in deep water, the improved deck would shew its buoyancy by floating
away from the hull as soon as it becomes level with the water, and thus forms in
Prine 621

page_text: d. Stanchions.
No. 5. Floating deck plan.
a. Space for skylight fixed to floating deck.
2
b. Beams between upper and lower planking space between beams to be filled
with india-rubber or metal tubing laid fore and aft or thawtships, as may be hereafter
thought best, any space under the bilge of tubes may be filled with broken corks 3
or cuttings.
c. Side and end plank of floating deck.
d. Dotted line shewing the overlap of the upper part of floating deck to keep
rain or water from going into the cabin from the upper deck.
A NEW OR IMPROVED GOVERNOR FOR MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Kennedy and William Munro
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th May 1878.
JAMES KENNEDY, Civil Engineer and Architect, and WILLIAM MUNRO, Engineer,
both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "A NEW OR IMPROVED
GOVERNOR FOR MOTIVE-POWER ENGINES."
This Invention relates to a new or improved governor, which is especially suited
to controlling the action of marine engines.
"
In the new or improved governor constituting this Invention an arrangement of
toothed or friction wheels, similar to the arrangement known as the "sun-and-
planet motion," is employed. One of the vertical or sun "wheels is affixed to a
shaft driven from a donkey engine, or some such auxiliary power, which is of
unvarying or of but slightly varying action.
The transmitting or "planet" wheels are carried by a drum or pulley, which is
driven from the engine proper, the action of which is to be controlled. At the back
of the second " sun "wheel is formed a circular or quadrantal rack, into the teeth
of which is pressed a projection from an arm operating the spindle of the throttle
valve.
"
The speed at which the sun "wheel is driven by the auxiliary power, and the
speed at which the drum carrying the "planet" wheels is driven by the engine
proper, are both so proportioned that when the engine proper is running at its
correct speed the motion given to the said drum carrying the "planet" wheels
counteracts the motion given to the one "sun" wheel by the auxiliary power, so
that the second "sun "wheel is not operated upon; but when the engine slackens
or increases its speed motion is imparted from the one "sun "wheel through the
planet" wheels to the second "sun" wheel, which, through the rack at its back,
moves the arm of the throttle valve spindle in the one or the other direction,
increasing or opening, or decreasing or closing the steam inlet, as the case may be.
Rests are arranged on either side close to the circular or quadrantal rack in
positions to receive and hold the arm of the throttle valve spinde when the said
valve is either fully closed or fully opened, and the teeth of the rack are so formed
that they run over the projection on the said arm when it is upon these rests should
84

page_text: the second "sun" wheel still continue to receive motion in the same direction after
the valve has been fully opened or closed.
Although the drum carrying the "planet" wheels is herein-before stated to
receive motion from the engine proper, and the "sun" wheel to receive notion
from the auxiliary power, it will be evident that the "sun" wheel may receive i
motion from the engine proper, and the drum carrying the "planet" wheels from
the auxiliary power, the speed being relatively proportioned to attain the object
before set forth.
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REFRIGERATING OR COOLING OILS AND OTHER LIQUIDS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Bryan Johnson and Charles Augustus
Fisher at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th February
1878.
BRYAN JOHNSON, of Chester, in the County of Chester, and CHARLES AUGUSTUS
FISHER, of Saltney, in the County of Flint. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
REFRIGERATING OR COOLING OILS AND OTHER LIQUIDS."
Our Invention relates to apparatus for refrigerating or cooling oils and other
liquids, in which the liquid is caused to flow through a metal cylinder surrounded
by an annular chamber, in which cold is produced by the evaporation of ether or
by other known means, the cylinder having within it a central revolving shaft
with discs at distances apart so arranged as to cause the whole of the liquid passing
through to come in close contact with the cooled surface of the cylinder, and having
scrapers for removing any coagulated liquid adhering to such surface.
In machines of this construction at present in use the outer surface of the
annular refrigerating chamber is left open to the atmosphere, or simply protected
to prevent undue absorption of heat, and thus its cooling power, which is equal to
that of the inner surface, is lost.
Now according to our present Invention we utilise such cooling power of the
outer surface by forming round it another annular chamber, through which a
portion of the oil or other liquid to be cooled is caused to pass, so as to come in
contact with the said refrigerating surface; and in order to remove any coagulated
liquid from the surfaces of this chamber we provide in the same a series of vertical
bars or rods carrying scrapers in contact with the said surfaces, and connected at
top and bottom to toothed rings resting on supports in the chamber, in gear with
which rings are pinions on a shaft driven from the same gearing that drives the
before-mentioned central shaft of the cylinder, so that by the rotation of the toothed
ring the bars and scrapers are carried round in the annular chamber..
If required annular plates may be fixed at distances apart to the said travelling
bars with their edges approaching within a small distance to the surface of the

page_text: refrigerating chambers, so as to cause the whole of the liquid as it passes through
to come in close contact with such surface.
In place of imparting to the scrapers a rotary motion, as described, they may be
made to move longitudinally to and fro along the surfaces of the chamber; or they
may have both a to-and-fro motion and a rotary motion combined.
IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING IRON, STEEL, OR OTHER METAL SHEETS AND WIRE PREPARATORY TO THEIR BEING COATED WITH TIN, LEAD, OR ZINC
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Conway at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1878.
16
CHARLES CONWAY, of Pontnewydd, near Newport, in the County of Monmouth,
Tin Plate Manufacturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING IRON, STEEL, OR OTHER
METAL SHEETS AND WIRE PREPARATORY TO THEIR BEING COATED WITH TIN, LEAD,
OR ZINC."
This Invention has for its object improvements in preparing iron, steel, or other
metal sheets and wire preparatory to their being coated with tin, lead, or zinc. The
method to be adopted is as follows:-
My Invention relates to a special improved process or treatment of iron, steel, or
other metal previously to the same being coated with tin, lead, or zinc. The present
method of treatment is to subject the iron, steel, or other metal to a bath of
sulphuric acid.
Now my Invention does away with the use of acid and substitutes carbon or
hydro carbon, either in the form of vegetable or mineral tar or hydro carbons,
which may be applied mechanically or by manual labour, but I find it advan-
tageous to employ a machine by which the plates are by means of rollers passed
through a bath containing the carbon to be used, thus doing away with what is
technically known as black pickling" in the manufacture of tin and terne
plates.
After passing through the bath the plates or metal of other forms go through
the usual process of annealing, cold rolling, white pickling, and tinning, as is well
understood.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Mackison at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 10th July 1878.
WILLIAM MACKISON, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain, Burgh
Surveyor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAYS."
This Invention has for its object the construction of tramways in an improved
and convenient manner.
In carrying out the Invention cast-iron parallel bed plates or foundations are
united at intervals to each other and to a continuous bed rail for receiving and
supporting the tram rails by uprights or vertical supports.
The bed plates are formed with fillets or ribs along their under sides, or perforations
Inay be formed through them, or both ribs and perforations may be made. The
bed plates may also be formed with a fillet along their inner side between each
succeeding upright or vertical support.
The ribs upon or perforations through the bed plates cause their being more
firmly fixed and held in the concrete or other foundation, and thus ensures the
better maintenance of the street level adjoining the tram rails.
It is intended to use the bed plates and connections in a continuous series,
but they may be otherwise placed if found preferable or convenient.
In the flat upper surface of the bed rail afore-mentioned there is formed a
groove which is wider at or near its lower than at its upper part.
The tram rail is formed with an oblique tenon or tongue along its under side,
and this oblique tenon or tongue enters casily into the groove in the bed rail,
and fits exactly into one side thereof when placed in position, but a small space
is leftu pon the other side.
The tram rail is formed at intervals with small slots or holes through it, and
in the case of a grooved rail these slots or holes will be formed through the
groove, for the insertion, fixing, and withdrawal of keys for securing firmly. the

page_text: tram rails in position. This key is in section of the contour of the space left
between the side of the groove in the bed rail and the obliqne tenon or tongue
of the tram rail, and is also of a wedge or taper form, and when fixed in position
fits tightly into the space in the bed rail groove left unoccupied by the oblique
tenon or tongue of the tram rail, and secures it.
IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Wilson at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1878.
GEORGE WILSON, of the Cyclops Works, Sheffield, in the County of York. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARMOUR PLATES."
Heretofore great difficulty has been experienced in producing reliable armour
plates entirely of steel, or of steel welded or run in a liquid state on to iron.
According to this Invention I manufacture armour plates by uniting a face of
steel with an iron backing by soldering the two together by tin, zinc, spelter, bronze,
or such like.
The steel face of the plate may either be formed of a single thick plate of steel
or preferably of a number of hexagonal or it might be other shaped pieces placed
side by side and fitting one against, the other; by this means any fracture which
may be caused in any one or other of these portions of the steel facing will be
localized, and will not extend to any of the other portions of the steel face.
IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEPHONES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Daniel Pidgeon at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1878.
DANIEL PIDGEON, of Holmwood, Putney Hill.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TELEPHONES."
The telephone as at present constructed requires a separate apparatus, whereby
the attention of the distant operator may be called before a message is sent.
This commonly consists of an electric bell operated by a battery, both ends of
the line wire being furnished with switches, whereby either bell or telephone
may be placed in circuit in a manner which is well understood by all electricians.
My Invention relates to an improved " call," whereby bells, batteries, and switches
are dispensed with, and the telephone itself is made use of for the purpose. To
effect this I make the telephone with a horse-shoe magnet instead of the bar maguet
usually employed, and between the poles of such horse-shoe magnet I place and
carry in suitable bearings formed in the case of the telephone a small revolving
armature.
The spindle of the armature is provided with a pinion which gears into a hand
wheel having its axis turning in bearings which are formed also in the case of
the telephone. The coil of the armature is placed in the same circuit with the
telephone.
A simple current interrupter is preferentially added to the arrangement which
cuts out one or more of the currents generated at each revolution of the armature.
To operate this call the person desiring to draw attention rotates the armature
rapidly by means of the hand wheel and pinion which form a part of the instrument.
The currents thus sent to the distant telephone are sufficiently strong and numerous
to give rise to vibrations of the disc which are powerful enough to be heard through-
out a large room. It will thus be seen that in my Invention the vibrating disc of
the telephone replaces the ordinary electric bell, which together with battery and
switches is dispensed with, and that the apparatus necessary to effect a "call" forms
an integral part of the telephone itself.
Telephones made according to my improvement are ready for use at all times
without previous adjustment of any separate apparatus, while the continuity of the

page_text: line is always secure from forgetfulness on the part of the operator, or from imper-
fection due to bad contacts in the switches.
In place of the revolving armature being placed in proximity to the magnet of the
telephone, it might be placed in proximity to another magnet, and still obtain some
of the advantages above mentioned.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRESSING HIDES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Joseph Day and John Withey
Lampard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd February
1878.
JOSEPH DAY, of Green Bank, Hampstead, in the County of Middlesex, and JOHN
WITHEY LAMPARD, of 17, Sydenham Terrace, Bath, in the County of Somerset.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRESSING HIDES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for dressing
hides.
The hide to be dressed is placed on a table, which may, if necessary,. be covered
with elastic material.
The tools for performing the various operations of dressing the hide, such as
"beaming," "sleeking," "unhairing," and "scrubbing," are carried by a bar which
moves to and fro parallel to the plane of the table; being supported in guides and
driven by eccentrics or cranks from the main shaft of the machine.
The table which supports the hide has a rising and falling motion given to it, so
that the, hide is brought up against the tool during the forward stroke, but is
lowered out of the way during the return stroke.
In order to give elasticity, the table is supported from two springs, one at
each end.
In addition to the self-acting means above alluded to for giving the rising and
falling motion to the table, a treadle is provided so that these motions may be
given by a workman; this treadle acts by compressing the springs, and is so
arranged that it is stationary whilst the tool is acting on the hide, and therefore
does not endanger the workman's legs.
Also, since there is a spring at each end of the treadle, one end can be depressed
without depressing the other; and in this manner one side of the hide can be
more or less relieved from pressure whilst the tool still continues to act on the
other.
IMPROVE- MENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO DRUM HEADS OR LIDS FOR CAUSTIC DRUMS, AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Henry Colby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1878..
WILLIAM HENRY COLBY, of Widnes, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO DRUM HEADS OR LIDS FOR CAUSTIC DRUMS,
AND OTHER RECEPTACLES FOR LIKE PURPOSES."
In the larger caustic drums it is usual to make the drum head fast to the drum,
This hole is afterwards
and provide it with a filling hole in or near the centre.
covered by a lid screwed on. Now there is often considerable trouble with this
screwing on of the lid; the holes get filled up, screws break, et cetera. My
Invention is designed to do away with this trouble.
I construct the round hole in the drum head with a slot projecting out into the
solid part, preferably with two radial or parallel sides and a terminal one concentric
with the centre of the hole. The cover is made larger than the hole, and has a
sheet or wrought iron disc, also larger than the hole, rivetted or otherwise attached
to the under side of the cover. Out of this a similar slot is cut.
The mode of attaching is as follows:-The disc corner is inserted below the side
of the slot in the main portion of the drum head, and screwed round till the whole
disc is brought below the drum head, when the cover is firmly attached without
screws. Of course the exact forms of disc, hole, and cover are immaterial so long as
the disc can be screwed or turned round till it fits securely below the main part of
the head while the cover remains above.
AN IMPROVED COMBINATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF USEFUL IMPLEMENTS IN ONE ARTICLE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Cox, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED COMBINATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF USEFUL
IMPLEMENTS IN ONE ARTICLE."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said John Cox at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1878.
JOHN Cox, of Plymouth, in the County of Devon.
AN IMPROVED COMBINA-
TION AND ARRANGEMENT OF USEFUL IMPLEMENTS IN ONE ARTICLE."
My said Invention relates to the combination and arrangement of a number of
useful instruments in one portable article, the same being especially adapted for the
use of householders and other persons to whom economy of space may be of im-
portance.
The instruments which are combined in the article forming the subject of my
said Invention are a disc of hardened steel for cutting glass, paper, and cloth; a
tack bammer; knife and scissor sharpeners; a tack drawer; a screwdriver; a can
opener; and a putty knife, the latter being also applicable to a variety of useful
purposes, the whole making a most complete "multum in parvo."
My said Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed
Drawings..
Figures 1 and 2 are views of the respective sides of the instrument, and Figure 3
a top view of the same.
The same letters of reference refer to similar parts in the several Figures.
a is the disc of hardened steel, which serves for cutting glass, paper, or cloth;
b and c are the knife and scissor sharpeners, the same being movable and placed in
a groove, recess, or slot formed in the main body of the article, and held firmly in
position by means of a cross loop and cotter; d and e are finger rests, to assist the
proper holding of the article when in use, the same being short bars projecting at
right angles to the main body; f is the tack drawer; g, the screwdriver; h, the can
Dia 171

page_text: opener; i, the putty knife; and k, the tack hammer. The putty knife is applicable,
as before mentioned, to various useful purposes.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of iny said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting my said Invention
is, the combination and arrangement of the several useful instruments herein-before
mentioned in one article, substantially as herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Cox, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed, sealed; and delivered
by the said John Cox in
the presence of
RICHD. H. DAWE,
Solr.,
JOHN COX. (L.S.)
Plymouth.
IMPROVEMENTS IN CESSPOOLS, AND IN APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR FILTERING OR SEPARATING THE MATTERS FLOWING THEREINTO."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Mary Jane Cooke at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th July 1878.
MARY JANE COOKE, of Heaton Moor, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
IMPROVEMENTS IN CESSPOOLS, AND IN APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR
FILTERING OR SEPARATING THE MATTERS FLOWING THEREINTO."
My Invention relates to the cesspools employed principally to receive the sewage
matters issuing from dwellings..
I prefer to form the wall of the cesspool of cemented brickwork. The bottom of
the cesspool is formed of brick or other suitable material, and slopes towards a grid
through which the effluent water escapes to a drain. Above this grid is a bed of
filtering materials. Above the filtering bed is suspended a receptacle, or two
receptacles; I prefer to employ an inner and an outer receptacle, each formed of
metal, and of comparatively large capacities. The outer or lower receptacle rests
upon a wall plate, or upon brackets, or is suitably sustained. The inner receptacle
is so sustained as that there shall be a clear space between the two receptacles. The
soil pipe discharges into the inner receptacle; the house drain may discharge into
the outer receptacle. I prefer that the inner receptacle shall be perforated for a
distance from its upper edge, the lower receptacle being perforated throughout, or
nearly. At the upper end of the receptacle I fix or sustain a sifter in which the
ashes may be sifted, the fine ashes being conducted by a shoot into the inuer
receptacle. The mouth of the receptacle is closed with a door, or with doors, or
with a cover, which can be readily removed to obtain access to the interior of the
cesspool. The two receptacles are also so mounted or sustained as that they may
be readily removed when the cesspool is to be cleaned. Excepting at times when
it will be desirable to thoroughly cleanse the cesspool it will only be necessary to
empty the inner receptacle, or the inner and outer or lower receptacle.
Lime, charcoal, or other matters having a like action may be supplied to the
receptacle or receptacles.
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO THE PRODUCTION OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Harold Lyon Thomson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th November 1878.
HAROLD LYON THOMSON, of South Kensington, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING TO THE PRODUCTION OF THE
ELECTRIC LIGHT,"
This Invention relates to the division of the electric current produced by a battery
or electro-dynamic machine or any other source of dynamic electricity so as to
enable several electric lamps to be worked by the same current.
I accomplish this by sending the full current alternately to each of the lamps in
succession for a very brief interval of time so that cach lamp receives the current
a sufficient number of times per second to render the light produced by it apparently
continuous.
One method by which I propose to effect this is by bringing one of the wires (say
the positive) from the machine, battery, or other source of electricity up to and in
contact with an insulated metallic disc which is suitably revolved at high speed..
In the rim of this disc are inserted pieces of vulcanite or other suitable non-
conducting material all of equal size and symmetrically arranged and countersunk
so that the circumference or periphery of the said disc is perfectly circular in form
and is composed of arcs of non-conducting material, all of the same size, separated by
arcs of metal all of which are of the same size, but of a sinaller size than the arcs of
non-conducting material. The ratio of the length of the arc of non-conducting
material to that of metal must be an integer and be equal to one less than the max-
imum number of lamps intended to be worked at one time
Copper brushes or contact makers, in number equal to the maximum number of
lamps intended to be worked at one time, are fixed in the plane of the disc so as to
press upon its circumference at different points. They must be so arranged that
only one of them will be in contact with the metal of the rapidly revolving disc at
a time. These copper brushes or contact makers are fixed on insulating supports,
but each of them is in electrical connection with the positive electrode of a lamp.
All the negative electrodes of the lamps are in electrical connection with the
negative pole of the battery, machine, or other source of electricity.

page_text: In this way by rotating the disc rapidly the full current will pass in rapidly
intermittent pulsations through each of the lamps in turn, that is, in continuous
succession, and when the revolutions are sufficiently rapid the light of each will
appear to be steady and continuous.
If an electro-dynamic machine be used to produce the electricity-the-disc-may-be-
-made-to-work on the axle on which the arinature revolves, but in that case the
metallic part of the disc must be separated from the axle by a non-conducting
core:
IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING YARDS AND REGISTERING RULES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Friedrich Hermann Felix Engel at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1878. (A
communication by Wilhelm Holmström, of Westervick, in the Kingdom of
Sweden.)
FRIEDRICH HERMANN FELIX ENGEL, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, of
Hamburg, in the German Empire. "IMPROVEMENTS IN REGISTERING YARDS AND
REGISTERING RULES." (A communication by Wilhelm Holmström, of Westervick,
in the Kingdom of Sweden.)
The purpose of this Invention is the application of a counting and registering
arrangement with yard measures and rules, by means of which the number of units
measured are registered upon a scale.
With "yards" the material that has to be measured is pressed against a small lever
projecting from the "yard" and placed near the handle of same.
This pressure is
exercised by the thumb of the right hand A unit is then measured upon the " yard "
with the left hand in the usual manner.
By the pressure exercised against the small lever, the latter acts upon mechanism
placed inside the "yard," and moves a hand guided in a slot along a registering scale
marked on the "yard."
With each pressure the hand leaps forward for one pitch of the scale.
As soon
as the pressure against the small lever is released the same returns to its original
position.
By measuring a second, third (and so on) unit, the small lever each time enters the
yard" through the pressure of the thumb, and each time the hand leaps forward
upon the scale for the length of one pitch, thus registering the number of units that
have been measured.

page_text: The registering hand is removed to its original position by keeping the yard
measure inclined, the handle end downwards, and by at the same time pressing
down a pin projecting from the "yard."
The arrangement of my registering device with rules is of similar construction to
the one before described for yard measures.
5
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING RAILWAY BRAKES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Douglas Brown and Robert
Woodley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March
1878.
FREDERICK DOUGLAS BROWN, of the Science Schools, South Kensington Museum,
South Kensington, and ROBERT WOODLEY, of Limehouse, both in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPERATING RAILWAY BRAKES."
The improvements relate to means by which the brake power employed to
operate on the wheels of railway engines and other carriages may be readily
brought into action by the use of electric currents.
In carrying our improvements into effect we employ an arm, which for dis-
tinction we will call the magnet arm. One end or part of this magnet arm
embraces or partially surrounds the axle of the bearing wheels or is otherwise
supported, so that the axis of rotation of this magnet arm may be coincident with
or parallel to the axle of the bearing wheels. Towards the opposite end or other
part of this magnet arm there is applied a magnet, or there may be more than one
magnet applied to such arm about the same or other parts thereof, such magnet
or magnets being supported in position to permit of magnetic action upon a
metallic ring, disc, or wheel carried by or forming a portion of a bearing wheel or
the axle thereof. The part of this magnetic arm embracing or connected to the
axle is formed with an excentric, adapted when partial rotation is given to such
magnet arm to act on a corresponding surface connected to the brake employed, so
that immediately a current of electricity is by the guard or others in charge of a
railway carriage or a train of carriages caused to pass by suitable conducting
wires from any suitable source of electricity to the magnets magnetic action will
ensue between them, and the surfaces in rotation applied to the bearing wheels or
their axles, by which the magnet arm will be caused to move about its axis, thus

page_text: causing the excentric thereon to act on its counter part to bring the brake block
into operation on the wheel to stop the further rotation thereof.
In place of excentric a crank pin or other suitable appliance may be employed to
bring the brake power into operation.
The apparatus may be applied to operate any or all of the wheels of a carriage &
or train of carriages as desired.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND TRIMMING MITRES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Williams at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1878.
SAMUEL WILLIAMS, of Number 58, Lister Street, in the Borough of Kingston-
upon-Hull, Mechanical Engineer. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING
AND TRIMMING MITRES."
This is an improvement connected with machines for cutting and trimming
mitres, and used in the manufacture of picture frames and articles of the like
nature.
A lever with a blade attached, having a bevilled edge back and front is pivotted
at one end to a frame so as to allow of its being freely used right or left, up or down,
when required for cutting purposes.
Upon the bed plate of the frame are attached by adjusting screws suitable guides,
which can be placed in any position required for a cut or mitre of any angle.
The blade or knife being narrower with a rounded edge at the lower or pivotted
end makes a drawing cut when used, thus preventing any injury to the best
finished mouldings or work.
AN IMPROVED DISINFECTING POWDER OR COMPOSITION
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Edward Colbert, of Old Ford Road, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED DISINFECTING
POWDER OR COMPOSITION."
Scaled the 28th February 1879, and dated the 26th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Edward Colbert at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th October 1878.
ROBERT EDWARD COLBERT, of Old Ford Road, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVED DISINFECTING POWDER OR COMPOSITION."
".
My Invention of an improved disinfecting powder or composition consists of the
use of the following chemicals, or some of them, in the proportions, or some of the
proportions, undernamed, which when combined form an effective and fragrant
disinfecting powder or composition:-
20 lbs. chalk lime.
20 lbs. stone.
20 lbs. white chalk.
10 lbs. grey lime.
10 lbs. red chalk.
10 lbs. whitening.
10 lbs. chloride of lime.
6 lbs. turps.
6 lbs. camphor.
112 lbs. of compound powder.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Bovey at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd July 1878.
"IMPROVE-
ROBERT BOVEY, of Croydon, in the County of Surrey, Ship Broker.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR COUPLING AND UNCOUPLING RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK."
This Invention rolates to a simple and effective arrangement of apparatus for
coupling and uncoupling railway rolling stock, the operation of coupling being self-
acting, whilst that of uncoupling is effected without necessitating the presence of
the attendant between the two vehicles, hence, avoiding the danger resulting from
the usual methods of coupling and uncoupling.
In carrying out my said Invention I provide cach vehicle with two draw bars
situate by preference where the coupling chains are usually placed. One of these
draw bars on each carriage is made tubular, and provided with an expanded or
bell mouth in order to receive the end of the corresponding draw bar on the
adjoining vehicle. In this bar an oblong opening is made through it in a vertical
direction to receive a bolt carried by the tubular bar, such bolt being weighted to
keep it in its place when it is passed through the slot in the solid draw bar.
Rollers are fitted to the said bolt working in grooves on the outside of the tubular
draw bar.
The coupling of the vehicles is effected by simply bringing them together or
"bumping" them as is well understood, when the ends of the solid draw bars enter
the tubular ends of the corresponding draw bars, at the same time lifting the bolts
to allow them to pass in by the action of a lever on the solid bar sliding up an
incline and acting underneath one of the rollers (both of which project a con-
venient distance beyond the sides of the tubular draw bar) so as to lift the bolt, the
lever being so shaped as to allow the said bolt to descend again after the draw bar
has fully entered, which completes the coupling. Or the lifting of the said bolts
may be accomplished entirely by a system of levers connected with the bolts and
with the solid draw bars. In order to allow the ends of the bars to adjust them-
selves laterally or vertically they are guided by guiding pieces provided with metal
or other springs which bear upon all sides thereof, and thus permit the bars to
adjust themselves to each other both vertically and horizontally.

page_text: The operation of uncoupling is effected from the side or other convenient part of
tho vehicle by the aid of a hand lever actuating another lever which passes under
one of the rollers on each bolt and thereby lifts the same, the said uncoupling levers
being so balanced or counterweighted as to regain their normal positions when
released. Or the draw bars may be made to revolve so as to reverse the positions 5
of the bolts, which then descend by their own gravity and release the coupling.
IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE SHOES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Atkinson Ellis at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th November 1878.
THOMAS ATKINSON ELLIS, of Regent Square, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN HORSE SHOES."
This Invention relates to improvements in horse shoes, the object of the im-
provements being to so construct the shoes that they may be easily and quickly
renewed or repaired as they wear without requiring the aid of the farrier or skilled
labour, so that the improved shoes last much longer than those of the ordinary
construction, at the same time giving a better foot hold for the horse, mule, or
other animal. Further, my improvements allow of the shoes being roughed in a very
short time, and without necessitating the aid of the farrier or of the shoe being
removed.
In carrying out my Invention I take a shoe of the ordinary construction, but
preferably somewhat thinner, and on the bottom or underside of the shoe I form a
number of dovetail grooves arranged radially or otherwise, and at a certain distance
apart; the grooves being narrower at one end than at the other. Into each of
these grooves I slide a block of steel or other suitable metal, the sides of these
blocks being inclined so as to correspond with the inclined sides of the grooves.
These blocks (which may be slightly wedge shaped) project a sufficient distance
from the underside or bottom of the shoe, properly so called, and form the bearing
or working surface of the shoe.
C
From this construction it will be readily seen that as the blocks become worn
they may be easily removed and replaced by others without removing the shoe
from the horse or other animal. Should it be required to rough' the shoe it will
be merely necessary to remove a certain number of the herein before described
blocks, and substitute other blocks, each provided with a point.
In certain cases it may be found necessary to provide means to further fix the
blocks to prevent any sliding motion in their grooves.
For this purpose I may
employ a screw, the head of which shall be sunk below the wearing surface of its
block; or instead of the screw the block may be formed with a split or groove at

page_text: its narrow end, so that after the block is inserted in its groove the split may be
slightly opened, and thus prevent the block having any play.
By my improvements also as the nails fixing the shoe to the hoof are not subjected
to wear from contact with the ground there is less liability of the shoe being cast
than hitherto.
IMPROVED DEVICE FOR SECURING OR RETAINING THE CORDS OF VENETIAN AND OTHER BLINDS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Shirley at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 15th May 1878.
"AN
WILLIAM SHIRLEY, of Newington Causeway, in the County of Surrey.
IMPROVED DEVICE FOR SECURING OR RETAINING THE CORDS OF VENETIAN AND
OTHER BLINDS."
My Invention consists of an improved device for gripping or securing the cords
of venetian and other blinds, and thus retaining the blind at any height to which it
may be raised or lowered.
The device consists of a small metal case, between the sides of which, at one end,
a jaw or lever is hung loosely on a pivot at its upper end, the saiḍ jaw or lever
being prolonged downwards below the case in the form of a pair of arms, with a
cross pin between them.
The gripping surface of the jaw is serrated and comnes opposite the inclined surface
of the bottom of the case, between which and the serrated jaw the blind cords pass
to and over guide pulleys mounted at the other end of the case, the cords also passing
between the extension arnis on the jaw and over the cross pin fixed between them,
as above mentioned, so that by holding the blind cord towards or away from the
blind the jaw may be caused to grip or rolease its hold on the cords as required.
In its normal position it hangs free of the cords to allow the blind to be drawn up
or lowered, but by a slight movement of the hand which holds the cords, as above
mentioned, it is caused to grip them, the form and position of the teeth being such
that the tension on the cords caused by the weight of the blind itself ensures the
firm grip of the jaw immediately its teeth come in contact with the cords.
This improved device is fixed in a corresponding mortise or recess at either end,
or at the front side of the pulley head, the device being equally well adapted for
right or left handed blinds.
AN IMPROVED LEVER ACTION FOR PROPELLING BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SUCH LIKE VEHICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frank Agnew, Jacob Walker, and
Samuel Dorset at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th May
1878.
FRANK AGNEW, JACOB WALKER, and SAMUEL DORSET, all of Wolverhampton,
in the County of Stafford. "AN IMPROVED LEVER ACTION FOR PROPELLING
BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SUCH LIKE VEHICLES."
The object of this Invention is by the arrangement of lovers and parts herein-
after described to reduce the amount of labour necessary to drive a bicycle or other
similarly constructed carriage or vehicle.
According to our Invention we attach a fulcrum bar on each of the forward
sides of the fork of a bicycle, the said fulcrum bar being placed at any desired angle
to the said fork. We next provide a lever having the foot-piece at one end thereof,
and having two holes or apertures provided in the other end thereof, one being at
the extreme end, and being a short slot, and the other being a short distance from
the end, and nearer to the foot-piece. Through this second hole or aperture is fitted
a pin, which passes through the lever next herein-after described, and which goes
through the head of the fulcrum, and thus forms the fulcrum pin. We next provide
a second lever, which is shorter than the one lastly described, which is provided
with two holes at its forward end, the front one being also in this case a slot to
correspond with the holes in the lever before described. The fulcrum pin passes
the first of these, and an adjustable bolt and nut is placed through the forward slot
in this and in the lever lastly before described. This arrangement of slots and pins
is for the purpose of enabling the rider to shorten or lengthen the stroke of the foot
at pleasure, and as may be required. From the near end of this second lever we
provide a connecting rod, which works directly on to the crank.
It will be understood that a similar arrangement of levers and parts is provided
on both sides of the said fork, and that these act upon their respective cranks.