or yarns, and thus tie the longitudinal threads into a fabric; these forming the length of the fabric, and the braiding threads forming the covering, when worked sufficiently close. The closeness of the covering depends on the relative speed at which the work is taken up, in comparison with that at which the braiding bobbins pass from selvage to selvage of the fabric.

The axes or pipes of the braiding or plaiting bobbins are of tubes, as usual, in order to allow of means for stopping the machine, in the event of any of the threads breaking, and at the same time keeping the thread at the proper tension, at all parts of the revolving tables or heads.

The machine receives motion in the following manner:c, is an endless cord or band, driven by a steam-engine or other power, which drives the pulley d, on the axis e. This axis e, by means of the cog-wheel f, taking into the cog-wheel h, gives motion to the axis g; on the upper part of the axis g, is a cog-wheel i, which takes into and drives one of the cog-wheels j, on the tables or revolving heads. These cog-wheels j, gearing one into the other, are (motion being communicated to one) all actuated and caused to revolve in opposite directions; by their revolution the pipes or spindles of the braiding bobbins are caused to pass from one revolving head to the next, the tappets 1, 1, acting as guides, to cause the pipes or spindles of the braiding bobbins to pass in the proper direction. m, is the roller for winding-up the work; it receives motion from one of the wheels j, which takes into and drives the wheel n, on a vertical axis. At the back of the machine o, is a wheel, affixed on the same axis as the wheel n, and takes into and drives the wheel p, on another vertical axis, at the back of the machine, there being a screw or worm affixed on the axis of the wheel p, which drives the roller m, by taking into the wheel q, as is shewn in the drawing.

In the event of any of the braiding threads breaking, the rod, in the hollow pipe or tube, which is the axis of that bobbin, will fall, and when it comes to the front of the machine, will come against the tail of the catch r, and let go the rod s, from the roller t, which will allow of the driving axis falling towards the back of the machine, and thus take its cog-wheel out of action.

This machine is capable of including eight threads or strands of India-rubber, to be worked into and covered by the plaiting of the threads from the braiding bobbins; and it should be understood, that the threads or strands of India-rubber may be uncovered or covered by any of the known means. The India-rubber threads or strands, which are to constitute the longitudinal threads, are to be wound on to bobbins or beams, but, by preference, one bobbin to each thread; and care should be taken, that the bobbins are equally weighted, in order that the threads may all be worked into the fabric with an equal strain.

One India-rubber thread is to be passed up the hollow axis of each of the revolving heads or tables, and (such is to be the case when working with longitudinal threads of silk, cotton, or other suitable fibrous materials) the plaiting or braiding threads, together with the India-rubber threads, are to be collected together, and passed over the wire guide, and thence to the roller m. The closeness or openness of the plaiting may be regulated as heretofore.

In case it be desirable to make a fabric with a less quantity of India-rubber threads, yet of the width the eight revolving heads or tables usually produce, a part only of the hollow axes of the tables or heads may be supplied with India-rubber threads, whilst the other hollow axes may remain empty; thus any degree of elasticity may be obtained, because the threads from the bobbins, where there are no India-rubber threads to the heads or tables,

will produce simple plaiting or braiding fabric; and again, if it be desired to control the elasticity of the fabric produced in the machine, some of the hollow axes may be supplied with India-rubber, and some with threads of cotton, silk, or other fibrous material, by which the fabric will have the elasticity of the India-rubber, and at the same. time that elasticity may be prevented being drawn on be yond that distance from which it will return to its proper length; thus, with the machine above described, a good fabric may be obtained by supplying the hollow axis of the first revolving table with thread of cotton or other fibre; the second with India-rubber thread, and so on alternately.

The threads supplied to the revolving heads, whether elastic or non-elastic, must all be laid into the fabrics longitudinally, and in the same plane with each other; thus fabrics, of different strengths of elasticity, may be obtained, and also of different weight, depending on the weight of the non-elastic threads, in comparison with the India-rubber threads, which is important for surgical bands and other purposes. Or other fabrics may be made with all nonelastic threads or fibrous material, laid longitudinally in the fabric produced, such threads being wound on suitable bobbins or beams, and applied to the machine, as above described. When fabrics are plaited by this description of machinery, having India-rubber threads or strands laid in longitudinally, they are to be submitted to heat, by the application of a hot iron.

Fig. 4, is a plan view of another braiding machine, differing from that above described, inasmuch as in the former machine the bobbins, having passed from one selvage to the other, return again, but in this machine, the apparatus is so arranged, that the bobbins are constantly performing in a circle, and consequently will produce a hollow cylinder of plaited fabric, and the revolving tables or heads,

having hollow axes, may have strands or threads laid longitudinally within them. This machine differs from other braiding or plaiting machines, only inasmuch as it is capable of laying such longitudinal threads into the plaited fabric, as it is made; and if it be desired, the tube of plaited fabrics may be worked over a cord or a quantity of threads, and will then resemble a covering machine, of the ordinary kind, excepting inasmuch as it has the capability of introducing the longitudinal threads, herein explained.

The patentee makes no claim to any of the parts of the apparatus constituting the machine separately or combined, so far as the same have been before known and in use; and there may be variations made in the machine without departing from the nature of the machine, so long as the general adaptation and arrangement of the parts be as herein described. — [Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, October, 1838.]

To LOUIS GACHET, of Cambridge Heath, in the county of Middlesex, Gent., for his invention of improvements in machinery for manufacturing and producing velvets and certain other fabrics.―[Sealed 18th June, 1836.]

A MODE of weaving two pieces of piled fabric (such as velvet) at one operation, face to face, the warp, constituting the pile of both, being placed between the ground warps, and, by the action of the headles, carried up and down, so as to connect the two fabrics together, constituted the subject of a patent, granted to Stephen Wilson, of Streatham, in the county of Surrey, Esq., dated 7th October, 1824, (see Vol. XI., p. 129, of our First Series.) The two fabrics having been thus produced in conjunction, as Siamese

twins, required to be cut asunder, by passing a knife through the connecting threads, which separated the fabrics, and left them both with an erect pile on their surfaces.

To this mode of weaving velvets and other piled fabrics, the present invention applies, and consists in a machine, by means of which a knife-blade or lancet is made to traverse to and fro, in horizontal directions, between the two fabrics, for the purpose of cutting them asunder, as the process of weaving goes on.

There are two breast-beams in the loom, and between these the knife lies upon a horizontal frame, and it is worked to and fro by reciprocating cords, connected to the swinging lathe of a power loom.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, December, 1836.]

TO ORLANDO JONES, of the City-road, in the county of Middlesex, accountant, for improvements in treating or operating on farinaceous matters, to obtain starch and other products, and in the manufacture of starch. -[Sealed 30th April, 1840.]

THIS invention consists in manufacturing starch from rice and other farinaceous matters, by submitting such matters to a caustic alkaline process, and also in obtaining, by that means, other products besides the starch.

In carrying out this invention, the patentee employs five sorts of vessels, viz., No. 1,-vessels of tinned iron or copper, or of stone ware, in which the rice is macerated in a caustic alkaline solution, and is washed after maceration. No. 2,-vessels of tinned iron or copper, or of stone ware, in which the rice-flour is macerated in a caustic alkaline solution. No. 3,-wooden vessels, in which the deposition