The first part of these improvements consists of a self- acting apparatus for shutting off the steam from the cylinder of the engine, and sounding a whistle, which is accomplished by the following means :-From the underside of the platform of a locomotive engine two iron rods are suspended by eye-bolts, their upper ends, which are bent, being inserted into the eye-bolts, so as to allow the lower ends of the rods to vibrate to and fro, these lower ends having a horizontal rod attached to them. Near the upper end of the rods two horizontal iron plates are hinged in such a manner as to be capable of moving upwards into a vertical position, but incapable of falling below the horizontal position. On these plates a weight is placed, attached by chains to the handles of the regulator and steam-whistle. At any places on a line of railway, where it is desirable to cut off the steam and sound the whistle, a staff is placed in the centre, or at the side of the rails, which, being raised into a perpendicular position, and coming in contact with the hori. zontal rod before mentioned, causes it to vibrate, by which means the plates are drawn from under the weight, which falls, and, by pulling the chain, shuts off the steam from the cylinders and sounds the whistle. As soon as the engine has passed the staff, the rods resume their vertical position, and remain stationary; the engine-driver then lifts the weight up between the plates, by means of the chains, and the plates resuming their original position, the weight is placed upon them.

The second improvement consists of a "pioneer," and a life-preserver: the former for clearing the rails of any obstructions that might be on or near them, and also for applying the breaks; the latter for picking up men or animals from off the rails.

The "pioneer" is formed of iron bars, and is attached at the top (in a vertical position) to the fore part of the engine, so as to be capable of sliding back a short distance on coming in contact with any considerable obstruction on the rails, or with a train on the same line of rails. At the lower part of the pioneer there is a pair of shares for clearing the under portion of the rails of all obstructions that might interfere with the flanges of the wheels; the upper surface of the rails is cleared by brooms, also attached to the framing. The hinder part of the pioneer is connected with the breaks of the engine, as also with the regulator and whistle; so that, on coming in contact with another train, it applies the breaks, shuts off the steam, and sounds the whistle. The life-preserver is a horizontal frame, attached to the lower part of the pioneer by a connecting-rod, and by

stays jointed in the middle, so as to be raised out of action, when not required, by a chain or rope. The couch of this life-preserver is covered with thick soft padding or mattresses, which, overhanging the front, are continued to within a short distance of the top of the rail. By this apparatus, men or animals lying on the rails will be caught up in the couch of the life-preserver.

The third improvement consists of what the patentee terms “a clamp and stay," to be attached to railway carriages, &c., to prevent their running off the rails, and to support them in the event of the wheels or axles breaking. To the under side of the carriage an upright circular shaft is attached, the lower end of which is forked, and terminates in horizontal arms extending outward; between the forks' is a large guide-wheel, which runs on a centre rail, laid along the line. To the horizontal arms of the circular shaft the upright arms of two clamps are attached, consisting of an ho rizontal and an upright arm in one piece, the former extending inwards towards each other, and terminating in a ball and socket, which nearly touches the sides of the centre rail. On each horizontal arm a small vertical wheel is placed, near its end, nearly touching the under part of the centre rail. Should the train diverge from the proper track, the small wheel and the bail and socket on one side of the centre rail will bear against the side and under part of that rail, and thereby prevent the carriages from getting off the rails. Should a wheel or axle break, the carriage will be supported by the large wheel of the upright shaft.

The fourth improvement is, a buffer carriage to be placed before the engine, and behind the last carriage of a train. It consists of two rectangular iron cases on wheels, the larger serving as a sort of sheath for the smaller; the interior of each case is occupied with wooden frames, on which circular mattresses are suspended; these mattresses are lightly stuffed with some soft materials, and extend from one frame to another. The frames are connected with each other by spiral springs, from between every two frames. The back end of the large case, and the front of the smaller are closed, forming the ends of the buffer carriage, which are well padded with soft elastic substances; the other ends are open.

On two trains thus provided coming in collision, the cases will be pressed together, when the yielding of the mattresses will lessen the violence of the concussion. Other modifications of buffer carriages are described; in one of them, a cylinder partly filled with water is placed in one case, while a piston is attached to the other.

The last improvement relates to the transmission of railway signals; station-houses are placed along the railway, about a mile apart, open in front, but closed at the back and sides. In each side of the house there is an opening, closed by flaps, the interior of which is convex, the exterior plane. Midway between these openings a gong is suspended, and when it is desired to sound the gong, in either direction, the flap on that side is raised, and the opposite one closed. In a space behind the house there is a pillar, with a lamp at top, having white glass front and sides; three panes of green glass are hinged to the bottom, so as to be raised over the white when necessary; three red panes are hinged to the top, so as to be lowered over the white. The top of the lamp is also furnished with tin shades, which can be so used as to throw the light in any one direction only.

DAVID WALTHER, OF ANGEL-COURT, THROGMORTON-STREET, MERCHANT, for certain improvements in the methods of purifying vegetable and animal oils, fats, and tallows, in order to render those substances more suitable to soap making, or for burning in lamps, or for other useful purposes, part of which improvements are also applicable to the purifying of the mineral oil or spirit, commonly called petroleum or naphtha, or coal oil, or spirit of coal tar.Rolls Chapel Office, June 23, 1841.

These improvements consist simply in passing a supply of high pressure steam through a perforated plate of metal, which finelydivided currents of steam pass up through a quantity of such oils, fats, or tallows, while they are kept enclosed within close strong vessels, and subjected to the compressure and temperature due to the high pressure steam, which is afterwards permitted to make its escape through loaded safety valves; by which means the impurities, or a certain part of them, will be carried away. Or another

method consists in collecting and cooling the waste steam, in order to preserve such parts as are worth preserving, or to avoid the unpleasant smell that might arise from allowing them to escape into the atmosphere.

The pressure and temperature of the steam is to be applied for about five or six hours, being continually increased until the pressure is equal to four atmospheres. The patentee proposes to operate upon the oils in the raw state, or after they have been treated with sulphuric acid, and washed with water; or in any stage of incipient purification. The compressure and temperature of the steam having been progressively increased to the extent stated, all the impurities will be carried off, and the oil, fat, or tallow remaining in the close vessel will be left in a purified state, and only requiring to be drawn off, cooled, separated from the water, and then filtered, in order to be fit for sale. The patentee does

not confine himself to any particular form of apparatus, although every atom of the implements employed, and all the minutest details of the process, are explained with a technical verbosity, which is altogether superfluous. The consequence therefore is, that the specification, which could have been very fully and clearly described in one skin of parchment, is made to occupy seven!

The following description of the invention, illustrative of the claim, will afford a fair specimen of the diffuse and wordy style of the whole.

"Firstly, the improvement herein before described of passing a supply of high pressure steam through perforations, by which it is divided into numerous currents, which are passed upwards through quantities of vegetable or animal oils, fats, or tallows, whilst the same are enclosed within close vessels, so as to be subjected to the compressure and temperature due to such high pressure steam, and which high pressure steam, after having so passed in such divided currents, makes its escape through loaded safety valves as waste steam, carrying away with it so much of such volatile impure portions, (which give an offensive smell,) as will leave the said oil, fat, or tallow in an improved state as to purification, after having been submitted (in the manner herein before described) to the operation of such divided currents of high pressure steam, The said operation being performed upon vegetable or animal oils, fats, or tallows, either when the same are in their most gross, raw, or impure state, in which they are commonly bought and sold as current articles of commerce, or else being performed when the same are in any state or stages of purification to which they may be brought by means of those methods of purifying vegetable or animal oils, fats, or tallows, which are commonly known and practised for that purpose.

Secondly, in the improvement herein before described of cooling, condensing, and collecting that waste steam which after having been passed in divided currents through quantities of vegetable or animal oils, fats, or tallows, and escaped therefrom through loaded safetyvalves as waste steam, carrying with it volatile impure portions of the said oils, fats, or tallows, as already mentioned under the first head of improvement, in order that by so cooling, condensing, and collecting (according to the second particular of improvements,) the said volatile impure portions may be collected, (in order to avoid nuisance by their dissipation in the air,) or preserved for such use or uses as they may be fit for.

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Thirdly, the improvement herein before described, of separating the more liquid portion of vegetable concrete oils, or a fat, or tallow, leaving the more concrete parts thereof in a purified state, by passing divided cur

rents of high pressure steam through quantities of such concrete oils, fats, or tallows, when the same are enclosed within close vessels, and subjected to the compressure and temperature due to such high pressure steam, the said steam afterwards escaping through loaded safety-valves, and carrying with it portions of such oil, fat, or tallow, and the steam after so escaping being cooled and condensed, together with the said portions so carried with it, in order that those portions, when collected, may be preserved as the more impure portion of the concrete oils, fats, or tallows; and also that by the separation thereof from such oils, fats, and tallows, the remainder thereof will consist of the more concrete portions in a purified state, so as to be more suitable for soap-making than without the said separation.

"Fourthly, the improvements herein before described of purifying the mineral or spirit, commonly called petroleum, or naphtha, or coal oil, or spirit of coal tar, by separating therefrom the more volatile portion thereof, which chiefly contributes to give an offensive smell thereto (or separates part of that said more volatile portion which chiefly contributes to give an offensive smell thereto,) by passing divided currents of high pressure steam through quantities of such mineral oil, or spirit aforesaid, whilst the same is enclosed within close vessels, so as to be subjected to the compressure and temperature due to such high pressure steam, after being so passed in such divided currents, makes its escape through loaded safety valves, as waste steam, carrying away with it the more volatile parts aforesaid, which chiefly contributes to give an offensive smell (or part of such portion), leaving the remaining mineral oil, or spirit aforesaid, in a more purified state. Also preserving such volatile portions of the mineral oil or spirit (as has been so carried away with the waste steam,) that being done by means of cooling, condensing and collecting such waste steam in manner herein before described, so as that the liquid resulting from the cooling and condensation of such said portion (or part thereof) may be reserved for any such use or uses as the same may be fit for; or if too offensive to be fit for any use, then the nuisance which would be occasioned by the dissipation thereof in the air, may be avoided by so collecting such portion."

JOHN BRUMWELL GREGSON, OF NewCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, SODA WATER MANUFACTURER, for improvements in pigments, and in the preparation of the sulphates of iron and magnesia.-Enrolment Office, June 23, 1841.

This invention consists, first, in the preparation of Venetian red by an improved method; Secondly, the preparation of a new black pigment; Thirdly, an improved mode of making copperas, or sulphate of iron; and

Fourthly, an improved mode of making sulphate of magnesia.

In manufacturing Venetian red, a solution of chloride of iron is poured into a vessel containing hydrate of lime, in the state of cream of lime, constantly stirring the mixture until all the lime is converted into chloride of calcium, to insure which, the chloride of iron is used in excess. The oxide of iron thus obtained is well washed with water, and then dried, and afterwards mixed with two or three times its weight of gypsum (sulphate of lime) in powder, and the mixture exposed to a red heat in a reverberatory furnace for half-an-hour, till it assumes the well known colour of Venetian red.

In the ordinary process of manufacturing Venetian red from sulphate of iron and gypsum, these substances in equal proportions are calcined in a reverberatory furnace for seven or eight hours, or until the whole of the sulphate of iron is decomposed, and the sulphurous acid given off is dissipated along with the carbonaceous matter of the fuel. In order to convert such sulphurous acid into sulphuric acid, the patentee causes this decomposition to take place in a retort, and passes a current of air or steam through such retort, by an apparatus adapted for that purpose.

The method of preparing a black pigment, not hitherto made, is as follows: - Any quantity of oxide of iron obtained from the chloride as above described, or as it is found to exist naturally in certain clays, &c. or as it may be prepared by various processes, is introduced in a state of powder into a retort, resembling an ordinary gas retort, but lighter, placed either vertically or horizontally in a suitable furnace. When the retort is redhot it is removed from the furnace, and its mouth closed, a pipe is then attached to it, and hydrogen gas, or carburetted hydrogen gas, forced into the retort until inflammable gas issues from a perforation at the opposite end of the retort. The perforation is then closed, and the materials kept from contact with the atmosphere until cold. The oxide of iron is thus converted into a protoxide which forms the black pigment, and is to be prepared for use by grinding and washing in the usual

manner.

For making copperas or sulphate of iron, the patentee takes the slag abundantly produced in the balling-furnaces of iron-works, and reduces it to a fine powder. Into a shallow leaden vessel capable of holding fifty gallons is put about 100lbs. of this powdered silicate of iron made into a thin paste with water; 100 lbs. of sulphuric acid (specific gravity 1.845) previously diluted with its own weight of water is then added, the mixture being constantly stirred. The sulphuric acid combines rapidly with the oxide of iron, much heat being evolved; when cold an impure

mass of sulphate of iron remains which is dissolved in its own weight of water, and allowed to stand till clear, when it is drawn off, evaporated, and crystallized in the usual

manner.

For making sulphate of magnesia 100 lbs. of magnesian limestone is put into a retort (resembling a gas retort, and set in a furnace in the same manner), and kept at a low red heat for two or three hours, or till it ceases to give off carbonic acid gas; it must then be removed from the retort and allowed to cool. One hundred pounds of crystallized sulphate of iron is dissolved in an iron boiler in about three or four times its weight of water, the calcined limestone is then stirred in and boiled for about an hour, when by the reaction of the magnesia the sulphate of iron is decomposed, and sulphate of magnesia formed. The solution must now be tested with prussiate of potash, and should it be found to contain iron, a further quantity of magnesian limestone must be added, until the iron is entirely precipitated. After standing, the clear solution of the sulphate of magnesia is to be drawn off, evaporated, and crystallized. The sediment may be further washed to remove all the sulphate of magnesia, it is then to be dried and calcined at a red heat, after which it may be used as a brown pigment.

JOHN DICKINSON, OF BEDFORD ROW, Esq., for certain improvements in the manufacture of paper. --Rolls Chapel Office, June

23. 1841.

These improvements relate to sizing of paper continuously, by the mode of unwinding a roll of dried paper from a reel of ordinary dimensions, and conducting the paper through heated size of the ordinary strength, and after pressing out the superfluous size, re-winding the paper on another reel, the whole being performed in an airtight chamber or vessel, partially exhausted of air, in the manner described in a former patent, dated October 17, 1839.

The apparatus employed for the foregoing process consists of a strong cast-iron vessel, having a flanch round the top, and also a crossbar in the middle, with a flat wide upper surface. The whole of the surrounding flanch and cross-bar are made perfectly smooth and level on the top-side. This vessel is closed in by two lids, each of them in the form of half a hollow cylinder, and having a smooth bottom flange, and furnished with joints by means of which the lids may be opened for the purpose of placing and removing the reels of paper. When these lids are closed, they meet in the centre of the before-mentioned cross-bar, and the surfaces being all properly smooth and level, all the joints are rendered air-tight by means of leather washers and tallow in the usual manner. A reel

filled with dried paper being placed in the vessel, the end of the paper is led down under horizontal guide-rollers placed in the lower part of the vessel between pressing rollers up to the empty reel to which it is attached. The lids are then closed, and the air pumped out by a double acting air-pump until a degree of exhaustion is produced capable of supporting from 20 inches to 25 inches of mercury. Hot size is then admitted from a boiler into the vessel, and the level maintained at one uniform height. Pieces of plate-glass are fixed with air-tight joints on each side of the vessel, in order that the level may be watched, and also that the exhaustion may not be carried so far as to create a great ebullition of the size, and for this purpose an inverted safety valve is attached to the vessel. One of the reels has a small pinion on its spindle, which works into another pinion on a smaller spindle placed below it, which passes out through a stuffing-box in the side of the vessel, by means of which motion is communicated to the internal apparatus from any suitable prime mover while the joint is kept air-tight. The paper being thus led and fixed as above stated, the air exhausted and the size supplied, the working is commenced, and as the paper is gradually unwound from the first reel, it passes down under the guide-roller, through the size, between the pressing-rollers up to the empty reel upon which it is wound, such a speed being given to it as is adapted to the particular texture and thickness of the paper operated upon.

The paper may be prevented from wrinkling or bagging in passing through the size, by a well known process of causing it to draw or slip over a board or copper plate with ribs diverging from the centre at an angle of about 45 degrees, by which means the paper is supported and gradually extended as it expands in soaking. The containing vessel should be furnished with a barometrical and thermometrical gauge to show the degree of exhaustion and the temperature of the size. A float is suspended within the vessel, occupying a large portion of the space between the guide-rollers, for the purpose of diminishing the surface of size exposed to evaporation.

There is also an enclosed space under the bottom of the vessel, into which steam or hot water is introduced as required for keeping the size at the proper degree of temperature.

GEORGE THORNTON, OF BRIGHTON, CIVIL ENGINEER, for certain improvements applicable to railways, locomotive engines, and carriages. Rolls Chapel Office, June 23, 1841.

This invention comprises various improvements under three heads, viz., railways, locomotive engines, and carriages.

First, with regard to railways, the patentee