the means of changing the position of the diagonal brush.

2. The general construction and arrangement for cleaning the ground, raising the soil and depositing it in a cart, detached from, and independent of the machine. Also the construction of cart and the application of rotary pumps thereto, and the mode of tilting the same.

MICHAEL LOAM, Treskerley, Cornwall, engineer. For improvements in the_manufacture of fuzees. Patent dated January 11, 1849.

A strip of calico, or other suitable elastic fabric, is led from a reel underneath a hopper filled with gunpowder, and is caused to assume the shape of a trough, which, when supplied with the necessary quantity of gunpowder, is drawn under weighted projecting pieces, and through a hollow axis, which have the effect of bending the edges of the calico over so as to complete the tube. Upon this axis is a collar, which supports a rotary plate, and carries an adjustable sliding piece through which the tube is led. The rotary plate is furnished with a convenient number of bobbins having yarns or threads wound upon them. The sliding plate is perforated with holes, and the threads are passed through them and attached to the tube. The plate and bobbins are made to revolve, and the tube drawn out, whereby the threads or yarns are wound round it. The tube, as it is drawn out, is wound upon a drum. Instead of threads or yarns, it is proposed to use a tape. When the tube has been thus far completed, it is coated with some waterproofing material, as usual.

Claim.-Manufacturing fuzees for mining and other purposes by means of calico, or other suitable flexible fabric or material, which is progressively made to assume the form of the internal tube.

FRANCIS HOBLER, Bucklersbury, London, gentleman. For improvements in the construction of the cylinders or barrels of capstans and windlasses. Patent dated January 11, 1849.

Mr. Hobler's invention consists in constructing the barrels or cylinders of capstans and windlasses with curved grooves of sufficient size to suit the links, in order to give increased hold or bite to the chains. The surfaces of the cylinders may be partially or wholly of metal.

Claim.-Constructing the barrels or cylinders of capstans or windlasses with curved grooves, as described.

WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, Chancerylane, C. E. For a certain improvement or improvements in the construction of wheels. (A communication.) Patent dated January 11, 1849.

A new railway wheel is here presented to our notice, which is composed of three portions-the nave, the rim, and two side plates. The rim is of cast iron or wrought iron, with the exterior circumference chilled, or of steel, and has two dovetailed grooves cut in the edges of its interior circumference. The two side plates are of sheet iron convexed outwardly, and have their circumference turned to fit into the dovetail grooves respectively. The rim is expanded by heat, to allow the side plates to take into the grooves, and afterwards shrunk on. The side plates are attached together by screw bolts near the nave, or screw-nut and collar, and will have the effect, on account of their convexity, when screwed up closer to one another, of forcing the edge of the plates into closer contact with the rim. Or, the side plates may be bolted to the rim. The side plates may be plain or corrugated.

Claim.-Forming a wheel of three principal parts-a rim piece, and nave with two side plates, made with plain or corrugated surfaces, and formed more or less convex outwardly; the whole constructed, put together, fastened, and having tightening pieces as described, whether the principal parts are put together by means of dovetailing the side plates into the rim piece; or, if the rim is attached by means of screw bolts or rivets passing through the plates near the rim ; and whether the plates are tightened upon the rim by means of screw bolts placed near the axle, or having a screw-nut and collar upon the axle, or by any analogous means by which the outward convexity of the plates may be forced inwards or towards each other at or near the centre, thereby causing their peripheries to expand, stretch, and enlarge into full contact with the rim.

MILES WRIGLEY, Ashton-under-Lyne, architect. For certain improvements in the manufacture of yeast or barm. Patent dated January 11, 1849.

The patentee proposes to manufacture liquid yeast or barm by mixing 100 lbs. of brewers' barm or yeast with 100 lbs. of distillers' barm or yeast. He then mixes separately 1 lb. of flour with 4 oz. of spirits of wine, and 10 oz. of water, so as to form a paste, which is afterwards mixed with the brewers and distillers' yeast or barm. In order to produce solid yeast or barm, the mixture is placed in linen bags and subjected to pressure in hydraulic or other presses, whereby the liquid is expressed, and the remaining solid portion is preserved for use.

Or, instead of the substances before mentioned, sesqui-carbonate of ammonia, tartaric acid, carbonate of soda, &c., may be used.

Claims.-1. The mode of manufacturing

yeast or barm in a liquid or solid state by the admixture of the substances before described.

2. The application of hydraulic and other presses to separate the liquid from the solid yeast.

CHRISTOPHER NICKELS, Albany - road, Surrey, gentleman. For improvements in preparing and manufacturing India-rubber (caoutchouc.) Patent dated Jan. 11, 1849.

These improvements refer to the construction of the masticating machine and to the vulcanization of caoutchouc.

The masticating machine consists of a case open at top, but capable of being closed at pleasure, in which revolves the kneading roller, fitted with flanches at each end, to prevent the caoutchouc under operation from coming into contact with the ends of the cylinder; and the roller is in some cases made to work eccentrically in the cylinder. Heat is communicated by means of a steam jacket.

The powder or flowers of sulphur is mixed with the caoutchouc while in the masticating machine, and heated to a low temperature, in the proportion of one to six, after which it is pressed into blocks in heated moulds, and may then be cut into sheets or thread. The blocks are, however, first put under a weighted board, to which a to-and-fro movement is imparted, in order that the vulcanized caoutchouc may be subjected to pressure and to a vibratory motion, which, the patentee states, produces a beneficial effect upon it. Fumes of sulphur may be substituted for the powder or flowers, and it is proposed to pass hydrogen or phosphorus to the caoutchouc during the masticating process.

Claims.-1. Making the cylinders of the masticating machines with flanches, and to work eccentrically in the cylinder.

2. Manufacturing India rubber by combining it with sulphur or substances containing sulphur, or the products of sulphur, by kneading, grinding, or masticating it. Also by combining it with the fumes of sulphur during the kneading, grinding, or masticating process. And, lastly, by combining it, when mixed with sulphur, with phosphorus.

JAMES CASTLEY, of Harpenden, Hertford, manufacturing chemist. For improvements in the manufacture of varnishes from resinous substances. Patent dated January 11, 1849.

This invention consists,

1. In manufacturing in manner following, from resin spirit and the gum resin called gutta percha or gutta tuban, a new compound or varnish, which possesses the properties of being strongly adhesive and perfectly water repellent. The patentee puts into a pot three parts, by weight, of

the gutta percha or gutta tuban, as imported or as it may be bought in the home market, and adds nine parts of crude rosin spirit (obtained by the destructive distillation of common rosin), and subject them to a heat of from 120° to 140° Fahrenheit, stirring the mixture occasionally. The resulting solution forms a varnish which answers well for the coating of all coarse fabrics, such as tarpaulings, rick-cloths, &c.; but to obtain a varnish of a purer and better quality, suitable for fine articles, he substitutes in the preceding process for the crude rosin spirit, a rectified rosin spirit, which he obtains by passing a current of steam through the crude rosin spirit until the condensed product which comes over exhibits a specific gravity of about 0.870, at which point the process of distillation must be stopped, all products of a higher specific gravity being injurious to the quality of the spirit.

2. The invention consists in manufacturing a colourless varnish, in manner following, from gum damar and rosin spirit, or from gum mastic and rosin spirit. He first takes rosin spirit which has been rectified by steam, as before described, and mixes with it from one-tenth to one-sixth its weight of sulphuric acid, of not less specific gravity than 1.700, and agitates the mixture well, after which he rectifies the spirit over again by means of a current of steam, as before, when the spirit comes over in a colourless state; and, finally, dissolves the gum damar or gum mastic in about four times its weight of this purified rectified spirit with the aid of a gentle heat. A varnish of an inferior sort may be obtained by using rosin spirit which has undergone one process of rectification only, and not been treated with the sulphuric acid.

Claims.-1. The manufacture of the new varnish compounded of gutta percha and rosin spirit (crude, rectified, or purified), as before described.

2. The manufacture of the new varnishes compounded of gum damar and rosin spirit, or of gum mastic and rosin spirit, whether such spirit is rectified and decolourized or rectified only, as before described.

RECENT AMERICAN PATENTS. [Selected from the Franklin Journal for May, 1849.]

FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN CANE UMBRELLAS. Isaac Hammond.

Claim. "What I claim as my invention is, the connecting of the rod with the socket-piece, and with the cap, by means of spring catches, which are received within grooves that extend around the interior of the said socket-piece and cap, in the manner and for the purposes set forth."

FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING BULLETS. J. Drummond.

The patentee says,-" The nature of the first part of my invention consists in making bullets from flat plates of lead, cast, rolled, hammered, or otherwise formed, of a thickness less, and of a width greater, than the intended diameter of the bullets to be formed, when this is to be combined with the process of making such bullets, by cutting the lead for each bullet, by a punch and die, from the width of the bar, by means of which combined process or mode of procedure, the bullets are cut off and formed without leaving scraps of lead in the operation of cutting, as heretofore, thus saving the labour required in recasting the scraps, and forming them into a bar. And the second part of my invention relates to the machine for cutting off the pieces from the bar and forming the bullets, and consists in using a punch, the end of which is formed with a semi-spherical cavity, combined with a die having a cylindrical cavity for the punch to move in, the bottom of which is

in the form of a semi-spherical cavity, with a small hole in the centre thereof, to which is adapted a sliding follower, one end of which constitutes a portion of the semispherical cavity of the die, the said follower being so connected with the punch, that when it (the punch) is drawn back, it shall carry the follower with it sufficiently far to discharge the formed bullets, and then permit the punch to move back, independently of the follower, to leave the required distance between them to receive the bar of lead, which is of greater width than the diameter of the bullet when formed."

Claim."What I claim as my invention, is the method set forth of forming bullets, by cutting at each operation a piece across the width of a bar of lead made thinner and wider than the diameter of the intended bullet, that the punch, in the operation of cutting, may force the said piece of lead into the die, and there swage it into the required form, and thus avoid leaving remnants, as described."

Richard Garrett, of Leiston Works, Suffolk, agri, cultural implement maker, for improvements in horse-hoes, pugmills, drilling and thrashing machinery, and in steam engines and boilers for agricultural purposes. July 7; six months.

Edward Ives Fuller, of Margaret-street, Cavendish-square, carriage builder, and George Tabernacle, of Mount-row, Westminster-road, coach iron founder, for certain improvements in metallic springs for carriages. July 7; six months.

Thomas Sedgwick Summers, of Cornwall-terrace, Lee, Kent, lighterman, for certain improvements in fastenings for mouths of sacks and bags. July 9; six mouths.

William Laurie, of Carlton-place, Glasgow, merchant, for improvements in means or apparatus to be employed for the preservation of life and pro

perty, such improvements, or parts thereof, being applicable to various articles of furniture, dress, and travelling apparatus. July 9; six months.

John Goodier, of Mode Wheel Mills, near Manchester, miller, for certain improvements in mills for grinding wheat and other grain. July 9; six months.

George Augustus Robinson, of Long Melford, Suffolk, gentleman, and Richard Egan Lee, of Glasgow, gentleman, for certain improvements in the manufacture of bread, and in the machinery and apparatus to be used therein; and also improvements in the regulation of ovens and furnaces, part of which improvements are also applicable to other similar useful purposes. July 10; six

months.

1945

............

Subjects of Design. Plough-head.

shirts, and fronts.

and Charles Maltley

Rotary self-acting tobaccopipe machine.

enwell

nail machine.

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Central Patent Agency Office,

IT

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