TO WILLIAM MOORE, of Birmingham, and WILLIAM HARRIS, of the same place, gun makers, for an improvement in repeating pistols and rifles.—[Sealed 1st October, 1852.] THIS invention consists in constructing the frame, in which the chambers of repeating pistols and rifles work, with a joint, so that the barrel along which the projectile is urged, after leaving the revolving-chamber, may be readily removed from the front of the said revolving-chamber, so as to facilitate the loading of the said chamber; and by this method of construction, the advantage is obtained of being able to connect the barrel with the revolving-chamber during the discharge of the pistol or rifle, as hereinafter explained.

In Plate II., fig. 1, represents, in vertical section, a pistol, made according to this invention, and fig. 2, is a side elevation of the same; a, is the barrel, which is connected with the body of the pistol by the joint b, in the frame c. In fig. 1, the frame is represented as closed; and in fig. 2, as open, by the disengagement of the fastening at d, and the raising of the barrel a, upon the joint b. The joint may be made in any convenient manner; but the patentees state that an ordinary hinge-joint, from the middle of which a portion has been cut away to admit of the action of the hammer, answers very well. On bringing the barrel a, into its place, the ends c', c ́, of the frame become connected together by the fastening represented, and which is made as follows: e', is a spring, which bears against the side of the frame c, and carries a stud f, having an inclined face, as shewn by dotted lines in the edge view, fig. 3. When the vertical side of the frame is brought down into its place, the end thereof presses back the pin f, out of the frame, until the hole g, is opposed to the said pin f; the pin is then forced into the hole by the spring e, and the fastening is effected. By pressing on the button h, the pin f, is disengaged from the hole g, and the barrel a, and vertical side of the frame may then be raised. i, is a conical annular projection on the end of the barrel a, which is made accurately to fit the funnel-shaped mouths of the detonating barrels k, k, of the chamber 7, and against which projection the said mouths of the detonating barrels are forced, at the moment of discharge, in the following manner. m, is a hollow fixed axle, on which the chamber 7, rotates; this chamber 7, is keyed, by a sliding-key, to the axle n, which passes through the fixed hollow axle m, into the interior of the lock, and carries on its end the disc o, on the face of which a series of ratchet-teeth are made. By pressing the trigger p, the arm

or lever 4, which is pressed against the face of the ratchet by the spring r, engages with one of the teeth of the ratchet, and moves the chamber through one-sixth part of a revolution, by which a detonating barrel k, is brought opposite the barrel a. The continued motion of the trigger brings the shoulder s, of the link t, against the end of the slide u, and forces the slide against the posterior face of the chamber 7, so as to cause it to slide on the hollow axle m, and axle n, and bring the funnel-shaped mouth of the barrel k, to bear against the conical mouth i, of the barrel a; and thus, during the explosion, to constitute the two barrels one continuous barrel. When the trigger has been moved to its full extent by the pressure of the finger, the shoulder s, of the link t, escapes from the shoulder v, of the trigger, and the hammer falls; but the slide u, is kept in its place by the pressure of the shoulder v, of the trigger, which comes in contact with it at the moment when the shoulder s, of the link t, escapes from it.

On the hammer being again raised, the slide u, is forced back by the spring w, and the chamber l, is forced back so as to disconnect itself from the barrel a, by the coiled spring a, forcing the plug y, against the anterior face of the chamber l. The posterior face of the chamber 1, is formed into a series of inclined planes; so that when the slide u, is pressed forwards, the face bearing against the end of the slide causes the chamber to advance as it rotates, and gradually to bring the funnel-shaped mouth of the detonating barrel close against, and, at the proper moment, to force it into contact with, the projecting end of the barrel a.

By pulling the trigger to any extent, short of what is necessary to discharge the pistol, and afterwards removing the finger from the trigger, the cock or hammer is raised from the nipple z, and locked in that position until it is liberated by the further action of the finger on the trigger. The locking of the hammer 1, is thus effected :-By partially raising the hammer 1, the slide u, urged by the spring w, escapes from the shoulder 2, against which it previously pressed; and being shot by the spring w, under the shoulder, the hammer can no longer fall to its full extent, the under part of the shoulder 2, bearing upon the top of the slide u. When, however, the trigger p, is pulled so far that the hammer becomes detached from it, in the manner already described, the slide is at that time pressed against the chamber 7, by the shoulder v, of the trigger; so that, when the hammer falls, the slide w, on the finger being removed from the trigger, bears against the vertical face of the shoulder 2, of the ham

mer; and it is only after the hammer has been partially raised that the slide u, assumes the position represented, by escaping underneath the shoulder 2.

The principal precaution necessary in opening the frame, for safely loading, is that of first placing the pistol at halfcock, which is done by a partial pull of the trigger, or by placing the thumb upon the cock in the usual manner of cocking. The barrel may, as heretofore, be either screwed into or in the front portion of the frame; or the front side of the frame may be made of the same piece of iron or steel as the barrel.

The patentees claim the construction of a hinge-joint frame for containing the chamber of repeating pistols and rifles, whether the said hinge-joint be situated in that part of the said frame herein described, or in any other part of the said frame; whereby the several advantages herein described, as arising from the said hinge-joint frame, may be realized.

TO THOMAS HUCKVALE, of Choice-hill, near Chipping Norton, farmer, for improvements in instruments for administering medicine to horses and other animals.-[Sealed 1st October, 1852.]

THIS invention consists in having a cylinder or vessel to contain medicine, fixed at the end of a stem or tube, there being a piston in the vessel, the piston-rod of which passes through the tubular stem, so that the piston may be forced outwards after the cylinder or vessel has been introduced into the mouth of the animal.

In Plate I., fig. 1, represents a section of an instrument, having only one cylinder or vessel applied thereto; fig. 2, shews another instrument, having two cups or vessels; and fig. 3, an arrangement where the vessels or cylinders can be drawn backwards on the stem or piston-rod.

The patentee states, that it is necessary, in using the instruments, that one hand only should be used,-leaving the other free to hold the animal's head. a, (fig. 1,) is the stem or handle, which has, within it, the piston-rod, which carries a button b. This button slides in a slot in the stem or handle, by which means the piston and piston-rod can be slidden by the thumb of the hand in which the handle a, is held; the other hand of the person administering the medicine being thereby left free to be employed for holding the head of the horse or other animal operated upon. c, is the piston fixed

to the piston-rod; and d, is the vessel (in which the medicine. is placed) fixed to the handle a. In fig. 2, the instrument is shewn as having two pistons affixed to the piston-rod, and two vessels fitted to the handle a. In fig. 3, the parts of the instrument are arranged in such a manner that the two vessels are connected together, and the ends of the stem act as the pistons. The instrument is held by grasping one of the vessels, and it can be worked by placing the thumb of the hand which holds the instrument against a stop b, fixed on the stem.

The patentee claims the combination of parts herein described.

To MICHAEL CAVANAGH, of Notting Hill, locksmith, for certain improvements in mortice-lock spindles.-[Sealed 2nd October, 1852.]

THIS invention consists in certain improved modes of making lock-spindles, which will admit of being adjusted to doors of various thicknesses.

In Plate III., fig. 1, represents, in front view, an improved lock-spindle; fig. 2, is a longitudinal section thereof; and fig. 3, a sectional end view of the adjusting-spindle or regulating-core, separately shewn. a, a*, are the knobs or handles; b, the thickness of the door through which the spindle passes, taking into the latch or bolt of the lock in the usual manner; c, c, are hollow metal shanks, firmly fixed to the handle, for the purpose of retaining and regulating the spindle to the required thickness of the door; d, is the adjusting-spindle or regulating-core, composed of three pieces, e, f, g,-the outer pieces e, and g, being provided with studs or pins, h, and i, of the same form and size as the rack openings or recesses j, j, formed in the hollow shank or tube c, into which they take. The construction of the spindle consists in its being made of three distinct pieces; so that on removing the centre piece or wedge f, the two outer pieces e, and g, fall together, and remove the studs h, and i, from the rack-holes in the hollow shank c; by which arrangement the spindle can be adjusted to any required length, by the simple operation of re-inserting the studs or pins in different rackholes or openings, according to the thickness of the door to which the spindle is applied, and again introducing the centrepiece or wedge.

Figs. 4, 5, and 6, represent, as a modification of the firstmentioned arrangement, the hollow metal shank or tube,

inserted within the knob or handle, for the purpose of giving increased strength and thickness to the adjusting-spindle, and obviating the necessity of extending the mortice in the lock or door. a, a*, are both hollow handles or knobs; b, the thickness of the door; c, c, the adjusting tubular rack; e, e, set-screws, for fixing the knobs or handles to the shank or spindle; ff, are the rack openings; g, g, the two adjustingstuds; and h, i, and j, the three separate pieces of which the spindle is composed.

The patentee claims, the mechanical arrangement and construction of lock-spindles, having an adjusting-core of three pieces or parts, as aforesaid, in connection with the tubular stem, rack, and studs, as hereinbefore described.

TO WILLIAM EDWARD Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery-lane, civil engineer, for improvements in machinery for boring or cutting rocks or other hard substances, for the purpose of tunnelling through mountains, or making other excavations.-[Sealed 5th October, 1852.] THIS invention consists in employing one or more rotating metal discs, or one or more sets of discs, with their periphe ries or cutting edges properly adapted to cut away the surface of the stone by rolling against it; in doing which they shall describe in their action a segment of a circle from the centre to the circumference of the tunnel or other perforation to be made, in combination with a slow motion, around the said centre of the tunnel or other aperture, whether the two said motions be continuous, intermittent, or reciprocating; whilst, at the same time, the entire machine, or that portion of it which carries the cutting discs, is capable of being moved forward, or advanced in the direction of the axis of the tunnel or other aperture that is being cut, in order to keep the cutters to their work as the face of the stone is cut away by the operations of the machine.

In Plate II., fig. 1, is a plan view of the machine complete; fig. 2, is a front elevation; fig. 3, is a longitudinal vertical section; and fig. 4, is a detached sectional view of one of the cutting discs, drawn in the line of its axis: a, a, is the frame of the machine, the platform of which is mounted on slides b, b, fitted to and sliding on rails c, c, laid along the bottom of the tunnel, as the boring progresses. These rails may be laid in any appropriate manner, or, instead of the rails, the platform may be provided with wheels, to run di