damper, valve, or sliding shutter, into the flue by which it is carried to the chimney.

"What I claim," the patentee further says, "as constituting my invention, and desire to secure by letters patent, is the manner in which I construct and combine the grate bars and the oven, as herein described; that is to say, the forming of my grate with hollow bars, the openings through which lead into the flue space under the oven, for the purpose of heating atmospheric air, and conducting it into said flue space; and in combination therewith. I claim the opening through the bottom and back oven plates, for allowing the air so heated to pass into and through the oven, its passage being governed by a shutter, or damper, as described."

20. For a Portable Furnace for Bathing Tubs; Randolph Densmore, Hopewell, Ontario county, New York, November 26.

The patentee says "The kind of furnace which I have improved is that which is so constructed as to float in the water contained in the bathing tub, and in which the burning charcoal is below its surface, the fire being fed with air through two tubes branching out from each side of the ash pit." The furnace, as improved, is cylindrical, and a semi-cylindrical tube passes down the middle of it, from near the top to the ash pit, through which the air is supplied to the fire.

Claim. Having thus fully described the nature of my improvement, and shown the manner in which I carry the same into operation, what I claim therein as constituting my invention, and desire to secure by letters patent, is the giving to the body of the furnace for the heating of baths, a cylindrical form, and placing the tube, or tubes, channel, or channels, through which air is supplied to the fire, within said body, in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth. And it is to be understood that although I have mentioned a cylindrical form only, as given to the furnace body, I do not intend thereby to limit myself to this particular shape, as the body may be made oval, or polygonal, or be otherwise varied in form, whilst the instrument will remain substantially the same."

21. For a machine for making Splints for Friction Matches; Norman T. Winans and Thaddeus Hyatt, city of New York, November 26.

The patentees say "Our new manufacture of splints, or sticks, for matches, consists in the making them by pressure and condensation from wood first cut into thin sheets in the manner of veneers; which sheets, or veneers, many be about an eighth of an inch in thickness. In proceeding to manufacture our splints we divide these veneers into portions of the proper size for subjecting them to pressure by means of suitable instruments, which will at the same time condense the wood, and cut it into strips, or splints, preparatory to their being

dipped into sulphur, or into any composition with which they are to be tipped."

The machine which they describe consists of two rollers, mounted like flatting mill rollers, fluted longitudinally, between which rollers the veneers are passed and are thereby cut and pressed into splints, but not quite separated. Two dies properly fluted may be substituted for the rollers.

The claim is to the "manufacturing of splints, or sticks, for matches, of wood condensed by mechanical pressure between rollers, or dies, as described."

22. For an improved mode of Regulating the action of the Waste Steam in Locomotives, to increase or decrease the draught; Ross Winans, Baltimore, Maryland, November 26.

(The specification will appear in the next number.)

23. For a mode of Tubing for Sinking Wells in alluvial soils; Ebenezer Rice, Salina, Onondaga county, New York, November 26. The tubes which are to be sunk in bored wells, as described in the specification, are to be made of bored wood in sections, and united by means of two metal ferules at each joint, one of them on the outside let in so as to be flush with the wood, and the other let into the end of each piece mid-way between this and the inside. The lower section of tubing, or pipe, towards the bottom of the well, is to be made of iron. A follower, also made of iron, in two parts, and provided with two ears, is placed on the top, and by means of chains attached to these ears, the force is applied for sinking the tube.

The claim is to the "method of sinking wells in alluvial soils, and marshy grounds, by means of wooden tubing formed in lengths, connected together by metal bands, or hoops, sunk in the ends, together with a metal band on the outside, and provided with a metal tube at the bottom, and also the follower on the top, constructed and applied in the manner and for the purpose described."

24. For an improvement in the Cut off Valves of Steam Engines; Wm. A. Lighthall, city of Albany, New York, November 26. (See specification.)

25. For a machine for Skeining Silk and other Thread; George Heritage, Chestertown, Kent county, Maryland, November 26. This instrument is for winding a number of skeins on the same reel, one after another without stopping, until the whole surface of the reel is covered. In front of the reel there are two bars with pins in them, as far apart as the distance the skeins are intended to be separated. One of these bars moves up and down by being connected at each end with a crank on a shaft immediately under it. The bobbin, or spool, from which the silk is drawn, is placed obliquely, so that at

every up and down movement of the bar the silk, or other thread, is shifted one pin, which forms another skein on the reel-at the end of the operation the thread is cut between each skein.

The claim is to the "mode of skeining the silk by the arrangement of the movable and stationary bars and rows of pins in combination with the reel."

SPECIFICATIONS OF AMERICAN PATENTS.

Specification of a Patent for an Improvement in the Cut-off Valves of Steam Engines. Granted to Wм. A. LIGHTHALL, city of Albany, New York, November 26th, 1840.

To all to whom these presents shall come: Be it known that I, the undersigned William A. Lighthall, of the city of Albany and county of Albany, state of New York, have discovered certain improvements in the "half stroke, or cut-off, valve" for steam engines, which I call the "double plunge half stroke valve," and of which the following is a full description.

A, A, A, A, The steam chest; B, B, the valve stems; C, C, the plunge valves of equal diameter, with their rims, or collars, E, E, being three to six inches deep in accordance with the required "throw" and recoil of the valve, thus allowing the valves sufficient play, or motion, while they are in the openings, and still continuing to close them. D, D, four lugs, or guides, upon each valve, having their outer edges gradually tapering inwards towards the stem, or rod, which, together with said stem, or rod, secures the entrance of the valves into F, F, the valves, seats, or openings, which being turned, or bored square instead of beveling or conical, allow the cylindrical formed valves to enter in, and partially through, said openings, and work as

plungers with little or no friction. Thus it will be seen that this valve differs in structure and mode of working from any valves now or heretofore used. The collar part of the valves being cylindrical instead of conical, the lugs, or guides, being sufficiently tapered inwards, and the seat or valve openings being also turned square, or cylindrical, on their edges instead of conical, or beveling, the valves work by plunging into, and partially through, the seat, or opening; the lugs, or guides, are never entirely withdrawn from the openings when lifted, but on the return stroke, or motion, may pass completely through the openings; the collars, or rims, still continuing to close the apertures G, G. The opening to the side pipes, H, H; the opening to the steam pipe I, I. The top view showing the top and bonnet of the steam chest.

The whole apparatus will thus be seen to consist of a cast iron steam chest, or box, A, A, A, A, partially divided by an interior apartment, division, or chest, with apertures F, F, for admitting the steam from the exterior into the interior chest. The valves C, C, play, or work, in those openings, and alternately close and open the communication between the steam apartments. The steam pipe H, H, from the boiler opens into the exterior box, or chest, and the steam pipe G, G, to the cylinder communicates with the interior box, chest, or apartment; when, therefore, the valves are out of the openings the steam is admitted from the exterior chest, or apartment, into the interior, and thence to the side pipes upon the cylinder.

The advantages obtained by my improvements in the cut-off valves as set forth in the specification and drawings herewith submitted, may be thus briefly enumerated.

1st. It shuts off the steam more perfectly than the cut-off valves now in use, and sufficiently perfect for all practical purposes of a half stroke valve.

2nd. It requires less power from the engine to work it, because having two valve plates on one stem of equal superfices it is, when in "situ" in equilibrium floating, as it were, in the steam that surrounds it, the least possible force destroys that equilibrium, and admits the steam. In this respect it is an improvement on the ordinary double balance valve, for that requires the diameter or superfices, of one valve plate larger than the other to keep it in its seat; consequently greater force to displace it, to admit the steam, is necessary.

3rd. It works without noise and consequently obviates the wear and tear from the collision which in the ordinary valves occasion that noise. The conical, or beveled, rims, or edges, of the ordinary double valves strike on their seats and "bring up" with a jar and recoil that soon renders readjustment and repair necessary, and the recoil impairs their effect. If force be applied to counteract recoil, then they "bring up" the harder.

4th. By passing through, instead of on, the seat, these difficulties are obviated the valve will wear longer without getting out of order, and the collars, or rims, allow it to vibrate (or work up and down) in the openings, still keeping them closed, which is not accomplished in the ordinary half stroke valve.

In the foregoing specification I claim as my invention, or improvement, the combination of two valves working in one stem, constructed as herein described, to wit: with rims, or collars, of sufficient depth to allow the requisite degree of motion while in their seats, and yet continuing to keep the openings closed, and with lugs, or guides, which prevent the valves from being displaced, and at the same time allow the steam to pass freely through the spaces between them. WM. A. LIGHTHALL.

Notice of Tatham & Brothers Improved Manufacture of Lead, and other Soft Metal, Pipe.

Two patents have been granted within the last year to Messrs. Tatham & Brothers, of Philadelphia, for manufacturing pipes of lead and of other soft metals; the first of these was granted on the 29th of March, 1841, to John Tatham, Jr., and Henry B. Tatham, as assignees of the inventors of the apparatus used, Messrs. John and Charles Hanson, of Huddersfield, England; the last to George N. Tatham and Benjamin Tatham, Jr., of Philadelphia, for improvements on the foregoing; and this is dated on the 11th of October, 1841. An attempt was made in England, some twenty years ago, to manufacture lead pipes upon the same principle with that adopted in the apparatus of the Messrs. Tatham, and a patent was obtained for it; but the means then adopted for carrying the design into effect were defective, in consequence of which the article produced was imperfect, and the pipe never went into general use.

The usual method of manufacturing lead pipes is by first casting, and then drawing them, upon a suitable sized mandrel, through dies, by the aid of a draw-bench; until the introduction of Hanson and Tatham's machinery, this has been the only process successfully practiced in the United States. Although good pipe was frequently made by this method, it was not by any means uniformly so. It has not been found possible to keep the bore of the pipe in the centre of the mass of metal, and its strength was unavoidably unequal, from this cause. In the operation of casting, the metal sometimes becomes faulty in the interior, and such faults are extended in the act of drawing, and are not shown on the surface. The drawn pipes are usually from ten to sixteen feet only in length, and they have rarely been made of a greater diameter than two inches.

We have not only carefully examined the specification of Mr. Hanson's patent, and of that for the improvements devised by the Messrs. Tatham, but we have also seen, and critically inspected, many of the pipes manufactured by these gentlemen, and so far as a judgment can be formed by these means, the article may be pronounced to be perfect; the bore is truly centrical, the interior and exterior surfaces smooth and polished, the metal compact, and the length indefinite. With respect to their strength, we have conversed with the superintendent of the water works at Richmond, in Virginia, who has these pipes in use under a head of two hundred feet of water, has found them uniformly to bear this pressure, and in all respects