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MALLET'S PROCESSES FOR THE PROTECTION of iron, etc.

salts of zinc and ammonia, or of manganese and ammonia; and then to be thinly coated over with palladium, applied in the state of an amalgam with mercury.

[The directions given as to this process are meagre, in comparison to those supplied for the other processes; but we are informed that the protection afforded by the palladium is as absolute as that by the zincing, and by no means so costly as to exclude it from economical use.]

3. The Zoofagous Paint.

After the iron vessel has been zinced and varnished, in the manner before described, it is done all over (above the varnish, of course,) with a strong-bodied thick paint. This is composed of drying linseed-oil, red lead, and sulphate of barytes, (or white lead may be used, but not so advantageously,) and a little turpentine. To every 100 lbs. of these ingredients, when mixed, is to be added 20 lbs., or thereabouts, of oxychloride of copper, and 3 lbs. of a mixture composed of hard yellow soap melted with an equal weight of common rosin, and a little water. The colour originally sold in commerce under the name of "Brunswick green,"

was an

oxychloride of copper; but the present Brunswick green of commerce is a different thing, and will not answer. The oxychloride of copper may be obtained at a cheap rate, by various known methods, which it is unnecessary to detail. When the whole of the hull of the vessel has been done over with the paint, it must be permitted to dry and harden for three or four days, before the ship is floated out of dock. The entire series of operations are now completed; and the hull of an iron ship so treated will, Mr. Mallet assures us, "resist all corrosion from the action of air, and fresh or sea-water, and not be liable to fouling,' by the adhesion of marine animals and plants."

Mr. Mallet adds, that the power of the zoofagous paint to prevent fouling' arises from the fact, that the insoluble, or difficultly soluble salts of copper, and of certain other metals, are so noxious to the life of marine or aquatic animals and plants, which generally attach themselves to ships' bottoms, that they will not adhere or grow upon a surface so treated. The paint, therefore, is only a vehicle for poisonous matter, for which purpose it is requisite that it should have sufficient adhesion to resist the ship's motion, but still should have a slight degree of solubility in water, so that the poisonous matter may be taken up by the absorbent or capillary vessels of any adhering animal or plant. This latter property given it by the addition of the resinous soap, the proportion of which should be varied to suit the

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climate to which a ship is going, more being used in frigid, and less in tropical climates. Mr. Mallet prefers using the oxychloride of copper, and has found it by much the most efficacious; but any insoluble or difficultly soluble salt, of copper, mercury, arsenic, or antimony, or any combination of these, whether soluble or insoluble, may be substituted for it.

General Observations.

Although Mr. Mallet deems it advisable that where new ships are intended to be protected by zincing, the iron should go through the whole of the processes before directed, namely, the cleansing, the coating with the triple alloy, the varnishing, and the final coating with the zoofagous paint, he remarks that they are not all equally essential, and points out how the same effects may be produced, though attended with less favourable circumstances, by the adoption of a part only of these processes:

"For, supposing the plates and ribs of iron were merely coated with the triple alloy of zinc, mercury, and potassium or sodium, without the addition of the protective varnish and zoofagous paint, it is certain that, on the exposure of this alloy to the action of air and water, the positive metal at the surface would be first acted on, and the surface become shortly covered with a very thin coat of amalgamated zinc, which is known not to be acted upon by fluid menstrua, (except under peculiar conditions, which do not exist in the case here supposed,) and does not, as I have found by experiment, gather to itself, when exposed to sea or fresh water, any of that calcareous coating which is productive of the fouling of vessels. The advantage gained by varnishing over this triple alloy coating is of a twofold nature. In the first place, it serves as a mechanical protection to the coating, and thereby to increase its durability; and, secondly, it shields the alloy from contact with the zoofagous paint, some of the ingredients of which would exert an injurious chemical action on the alloy. The office, therefore, of the triple alloy is simply to prevent corrosion and oxidation, (including, where used by itself, that of preventing the formation of calcareous adhesions ;) that of the varnish, to protect the triple alloy; and that of the zoofagous paint, to prevent fouling, by the destruction of any marine animals or aquatic plants which may seek to attach themselves to the protected surfaces."

When the addition of the zoofagou s paint is not required, to prevent fouling, as in the case of articles exposed to the action

of the atmosphere only, Mr. Mallet states that any desirable colour may be given to the protecting varnish, by a mixture of colouring materials, but that care must be taken that these colouring materials consist of per-oxides not liable to be acted on by air or moisture. The best method to adopt, however, with such articles, is said to be, to pay the varnish all over with a coat of oilpaint.

Finally, although the triple alloy is directed in the first instance, to be employed at the fusing temperature, Mr. Mallet states that, by the addition of a larger portion of mercury, articles of cast or wrought iron or steel may be coated with that alloy at a lower temperature, and even in a cold state, by means of simple contact and friction.

BADCOCK'S AUTOMATON LUBRICATOR AN

TICIPATED.

Dear Sir,-On perusing the Mechanics' Magazine for the past month, I read, at page 446, a description of an "Automaton Lubricator," by Mr. Badcock.

This Lubricator so closely resembles an instrument which was invented by me, for the purpose of readily supplying equal measures of mercury, for dividing the capacity of glass tubes into any required number of equal parts, that it only needs to be supplied, (as mine is,) with an adjusting screw to regulate the capacity of the cavity in the plug, to make it complete for its intention. You did me the honour to notice the instrument to which I have referred in the Mechanics' Magazine, dated May 1, 1841.

Believe me very faithfully yours,

CHARLES THORNTON COathupe. Wraxhall, January 5, 1842.

HOOD ON HEAT, AND THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.

Sir,-Observing in your last number a paper headed "Hood on Heat," commencing with the observation, that "The Members* of the Institution of Civil Engineers have given an extensive publicity, as well as a sort of implied sanction to the contents of a paper lately read before that body," I beg permission to remind you, that every publication issued from that institution is accompanied by an announcement expressly disclaiming the implied sanction of which you speak. I quote the following from the last volume of the Transactions. "The Institution is not responsible for the opinions, statements of facts, or trains of reasoning contained in its publications; such responsibility rests entirely with the authors of the

• Error of the press, for “Minutes.”—ED. M. M.

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ABSTRACTS OF SPECIFICATIONS OF ENGLISH PATENTS RECENTLY ENROLLED.

** Patentees wishing for more full abstracts of their Specifications than the present regulations of the Registration Offices will admit of our giving, are requested to favour us with the loan of their Specifications for that purpose.

EDWARD HAMMOND BENTALL, OF HEYBRIDGE, ESSEX, IRON-FOUNDER, for certain improvements in ploughs. Petty Bag Office, December 10th, 1841.

These improvements consist, firstly, in the peculiar construction and mode of adapting an adjustable lever to the frame of the plough, for the purpose of changing the inclination of the share, which is attached to the end or nose of the lever, so that the point of the share may stand at any required angle below or above the level of the sole slade or ground of the plough.

Secondly, In the particular form of the shares, and modes of attaching them to such adjustable levers.

Thirdly, In the mode of affixing the breast or mould board to the plough, in order that it may rise and fall with the adjustable lever and share.

Fourthly, In the means of contracting or expanding the breasts of a double breast plough, when such double breast is cast or formed in one piece.

The first improvement is carried out in the following manner: a lever is placed at the front of the frame, having at its lower end a groove, in which a step on the sole of the plough works, allowing a small movement backward and forward; beyond this fulcrum the lever is fixed to the ploughframe by a loose bolt. At the top of the lever, on its front face, is a screw, which passes through the centre of a projecting piece or ear of the plough-frame, being secured in any required position by a nut on each side of the ear or projection. By shifting these nuts backward or forward, therefore, the position of the lever is varied, and any required degree of inclination obtained at pleasure.

Another arrangement is shown and de. scribed, differing from the former only in,

SPECIFICATIONS OF RECENT ENGLISH PATENTS.

that instead of the groove in the lever working upon a step, the lever works upon a central bolt passed through the frame of the plough. The mode of attaching the share is also varied. The patentee observes, that "Having explained the manner by which I vary the position of the point of the share by an adjustable lever and screw, I would add, that should it be thought desirable to make this adjustment while the plough is in progress, it may be done by means of a horizontal screw shaft, extending from the front to the back of the plough, the forward end being passed through a swivel eye or socket at the top of the lever, the hinder end of the shaft being supported in a bearing fixed into the back part of the plough, and the shaft turned when required by a winch or other apparatus, within convenient reach of the ploughman.”

[This arrangement formed the basis of certain improvements in ploughs, patented by Mr. Theophilus Smith, of Attleborough, in February 1841,* whose patent would, therefore, be infringed by such an extension of Mr. Bentall's contrivance.-ED. M. M.]

As it is necessary that the breast should rise and fall with the varied position of the share, the front of the breast is attached to the lower end of the moveable lever by a pin or bolt; the back or hinder part being attached to the frame by means of a contrivance commonly called a way-pin or waybar.

For the purpose of contracting or expanding the breast of a double-breasted plough, when such is cast or otherwise formed in one piece, two screw bolts are affixed, one on the inner side of each breast; these screws pass through the two ears or projections of a waybar, which is bolted to the frame, and are each secured by nuts on each side of the ear. By moving these nuts backward or forward the two breasts are contracted or expanded and set at any required distance apart; the elasticity of the metal allowing (it is said) of sufficient play for this purpose.

The patentee recommends, as advantageous, the case-hardening of the inner front of each breast to afford increased durability.

ALEXANDER HORATIO SIMPSON, OF NEW PALACE-YARD, WESTMINSTER, GENTLEMAN, PETER HUNTER IRVING, AND THOMAS EUGENE IRVING, BOTH OF CHARLESSTREET, HATTON-GARDEN, PHILOSOPHICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS, for an improved mode of producing light, and of manufacturing apparatus for the diffusion of light. Enrolment Office, December 17, 1841.

The first of these improvements consists in

• For a description of Mr. Smith's invention, see vol, xxxv. p. 178.

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the production of light, by means of ignited pyroligneous spirit, across which a jet of oxygen gas is driven, causing the flame to impinge upon a cylinder of lime, kept at a proper height by suitable apparatus, and either turned occasionally by hand, or kept in continual rotation by means of clockwork.

The second improvement consists in manufacturing reflectors for lamps of all kinds, in copper, and afterwards silvering them by the electrotype process. These reflectors may be afterwards polished, or employed in the unburnished state for the diffusion of a subdued light.

JOHN GEORGE TRUSCOTT CAMPBELL, OF LAMBETH-HILL, UPPER THames-street, GROCER, for improvements in propelling vessels. Enrolment Office, December 18,

1841.

These improvements in propelling vessels consist in the application of curious levers or shanks with guides, or levers without guides, by means of springs and propellers to be used under water, and whose combined action are a series of inclined planes moving between two parallels, thereby producing a very powerful reciprocating undulatory motion with the least resistance possible," it being only the thickness of the propeller. The only place where they can be worked with ease and useful effect is in a hole at the after part of a vessel, immediately before the stern post.

To distinguish this propeller from all others, and on account of its peculiar action, "being the nearest approach to nature, and consequently obtaining the greatest velocity," the patentee calls it the "Whale Tail, or Fluke Propeller," and states that the experimental boat, "Erolite," which is 69 feet long, and 9 ft. 4 in. beam, is fitted with this propeller. Within a frame at the hinder part of the vessel, but in front of the sternpost, there is a horizontal shaft upon which two triangular shaped frames or levers are mounted; that in the starboard side is used for forward propelling, the larboard for backing astern. The upper and inner angle of the lever is joined to a connecting rod, attached to a main rod proceeding from the engine, and working through a stuffing box in the bulk head; at the opposite angle a horizontal propeller is joined to a knuckle, and as the engine draws the connecting rod to and fro, the propeller beats up and down, within the limits prescribed for its motion by the right angled form of the space in the lever in which it moves; when one propeller is in action, the other is held quiescent in a horizontal position, thus offering only the resistance due to its thickness.

GEORGE THOMAS Day, of UPPER BEL

GRAVE-PLACE, PIMLICO, GENT., for an improved apparatus for creating draft, applicable to chimneys and other purposes, Enrolment Office, Dec. 23, 1841.

This apparatus consists of a vertical cylinder, in the centre of which a spindle is mounted, carrying the thread of an archimedean screw. A rapid motion being given to this spindle by a suitable arrangement of wheel-work, a strong upward current of air is produced within the cylinder, which may be applied for increasing the draft of chimneys, or for ventilating apartments, &c.

WILLIAM LOSH, OF LITTLE BENTON, NORTHUMBERLAND, Esq., for improvements in the manufacture of railway wheels. Enrolment Office, Dec. 24, 1841.

These improvements, relate to the application of wood, felt, rope, or other such like flexible or yielding material between the inner tyre and the ring or felloe, or bearings produced by the prolongations of the bars of iron employed to make the wrought iron spokes, with or without the intervention of a ring of malleable iron between such bearings and such flexible or yielding material; by which means wrought iron railway wheels will be less liable to be prejudicially acted on by the vibrating to which such wheels are liable when in use, than if they were composed of iron alone.

The sort of wheel to which these improvements are said to be applicable, are those included in the patentee's former patent of August 1830.

[The introduction of wood or fibrous materials intermediately between the spokes and the tyre, is included in the previous patent of Mr. Edmund Tayler, of which we gave an abstract at page 413 of our last volume.ED. M. M.]

MOSES POOLE, OF LINCOLN'S-INN, GENTLEMAN, for improvements in producing and applying heat. (A communication.)— Enrolment office, Dec. 24, 1841.

The invention which forms the subject matter of this patent, is the mode of producing and applying heat discovered by Mr. Faber, director of the Royal Mines at Wasseralfingen, in Wirtemberg, referred to in the communication of C. Detmold, Esq., C.E. to our esteemed correspondent, C. W. Williams, Esq., and published at page 5 of our present volume.

In the specification, these improvements are described as consisting: firstly, in a new mode of heating furnaces used in the different manufactures, by employing carbonic oxide gas as fuel, instead of coal, coke, peat or wood. In the manufacture of iron and other metallurgic operations where blast furnaces are used, this carbonic oxide gas is obtained in a pure and uninflamed state; from the blast furnace it is taken some dis

tance below the mouth and conveyed by means of a suitable apparatus to any other furnace that requires to be heated. Secondly, In a new mode of heating furnaces by means of carbonic oxide gas, which may be obtained from a separate furnace expressly constructed for that purpose. Thirdly, in a mode of applying the blow-pipe to furnaces, whereby the withdrawal of the carbonic oxide gas in the working furnaces is facilitated, and the combustion in the furnaces or boilers, assisted by the mixture of heated air with the carbonic oxide gas, thus producing a most intense heat.

This invention is stated to be applicable to the furnaces used in the different processes for the manufacture of iron, and the treatment of other minerals generally, as well as to ovens or furnaces requiring a high temperature, such as glass or pottery furnaces, gas-works, breweries, for evaporating fluids, and to the purpose of generating steam. Its application to the manufacture of iron is minutely detailed, and illustrated with numerous drawings of the furnaces, apparatus, &c., employed.

WILLOUGHBY METHLEY AND THOMAS CHARLES METHLEY, of FRITH-STREET, SOHO, IRONMONGERS, for improvements in machinery for raising, lowering, and moving bodies or weights. (A communication.) Enrolment Office, Dec. 24, 1841.

These improvements are first shown as applied to the weighing of anchors, &c. by an apparatus proposed to be employed in lieu of an ordinary capstan. In the centre of a strong iron frame, there is a vertical shaft or spindle, having at its lower end a small toothed wheel or pinion, and fitted at its upper end with an ordinary capstan head; two grooved barrels are also placed vertically within the frame, one on either side of the central shaft or spindle: at the bottom of each barrel there is a large cog wheel into which the central wheel or pinion works. The lower grooves of the barrels, where the rope is first received are rounded, but they gradually sharpen as they approach the upper part of the barrel. On the under surface of one of the barrels a ratchet wheel is fixed, into which a series of palls take, in the usual manner, for holding on. On the right hand side of the frame there are two guide pulleys for guiding the slack of the rope, which on turning the capstan head will work without fleeting or surging. A second modification of this invention is shown as applied to a windlass, in which two barrels are placed horizontally one before the other; a portion of their circumference being furnished with a number of grooves, by means of which ropes or cables may (it is said) be worked without surging or fleeting, by means of windlass levers, or other suitable machinery.

SMOKE NUISANCE MEETING AT LEEds.

A numerous and highly influential meeting took place at the Music Hall, at the instance of Edwin Eddison, Esq., of Leeds, on Wednesday last, for the purpose of examining and discussing the various inventions for preventing smoke. Sir W. Beckett, Bart., M.P., took the chair at 12 o'clock, and having, in a very suitable address, explained the objects of the meeting over which he had the honour of presiding, he trusted that the effect of the day's proceedings would be to lead, practically, to an abatement of the great nuisance of smoke which hung over their town, and was so injurious to the health of its inhabitants. The chairman then called on the several patentees, who were present, to explain their respective inventions.

Among those whose patents were explained were, Mr. Thomas Hall, Mr. Williams, Mr. Chanter, Mr. Iveson, Mr. Rodda, Mr. Drew.

Mr. Draper, for Mr. Thomas Hall, explained, chemically, the nature of combustion, and the necessarily large quantity of air which was required for the combustion of the 10,000 cubic feet of gas which was generated from every ton of coals, and explained how his plan would provide for such an adequate supply; contending that the charge against it, of not providing a sufficiency, was erroneous.

Mr. C. W. Williams said, he would not enter into the chemical details of the question, but satisfied himself by speaking to the prevention of smoke. He then combated, at some length, the idea that smoke could be consumed in a furnace. In explaining his mode of effecting the combustion of the gaseous part of coal, from which smoke was generated, he referred to the difference between the perfect combustion of the gas from the numerous minute apertures of an argand gas-burner, as compared with that from the same quantity of gas when the burner was unscrewed, and the gas allowed to escape from the tube above. He contended that this difference explained the whole question of the prevention of smoke, and the principle on which nature proceeds in the combustion of the gas. The bringing

a full supply of air to the gas was not sufficient, as Mr. Hall had stated. So intimate an incorporation of the atoms of gas and air must be effected, that those which were respectively to combine, and to effect combustion, must be brought together and into contact, not in masses, but in atoms.

Mr. Rodda read from a paper a description of his furnace, by which air was admitted by side apertures.-(See Mech. Mag. No. 837.)

Mr. Chanter explained, at considerable length, his invention, and referred to a numerous list of testimonials. He stated that he had six patents, and the last he seemed to prefer to any of the former.

Mr. Bell, for Mr. Iveson, then read a statement of his invention of injecting steam into the furnace.

Several other patents were explained by the patentees or their agents, and with reference to models and drawings.

After all the patentees had gone through their explanations, a number of questions were put with reference to the length of time the inventions had been in use, the kind of coal used, the saving of fuel, &c., and an animated discussion ensued, of a highly interesting character.

The meeting lasted four hours, when a series of resolutions were adopted. The first was declaratory of the conviction of the meeting that the combustion of smoke could be completely effected, and so as to abate the great nuisance complained of. This resolution did not pass unanimously, as several gentlemen objected to the term "Combustion of smoke," on the ground that it was contrary to the opinion of the best chemical authorities, and that though the nuisance might be much abated, it was too much to speak so decidedly.

The second and most important resolution was for the appointment of a numerous and highly influential committee to receive communications and carry out the great object of the meeting.

Resolutions were also passed that a subscription be entered into in furtherance of the above object.

A highly complimentary and well worded

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