RECENT AMERICAN PATENTS. (Selected from the Franklin Journal, for March.)

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING SHOE PEGS, Mark Wilder, Peterborough, New Hampshire. A vertical frame has, at its lower end, a cutting-knife for cutting the pegs, which knife is attached to a vertical slide, that is operated upon by a toggle-joint, worked by a bar, or pitman, in the usual way. The blocks, after having been pointed by a grooving-tool, are placed upon a slidingbed below the knife, where they are secured upon a metallic disk adapted to receive them. The sliding-bed is made to advance by the action of a feed-rod, which receives its motion from that of the toggle-joint and slide. The grooved block must, of course, be adjusted to the knife, and must also be surrounded by a strap to keep the rived parts together.

The claim is, to "the toggle-joint, lever, and knife-shaft, the revolving-disk, and appendages, together with the palls by which the feeding is effected, the whole operating in combination for the purposes, and in the manner herein set forth and described."

The claiming of the toggle-joint, palls, &c., separately, is not a safe course, as they are not the invention of the patentee; yet, by a fair construction of the foregoing, they are claimed individually as well as in combination.

MACHINERY TO FACILITATE EVAPORATION, John Goulding, of Boston, and Reuben Brackett, of Lynn, Massachusetts. This patent is obtained for “machinery for facilitating the evaporation of solvents, or fluids, and in various water-proof compositions or mixtures, from the cloth or other substance to which said mixtures or compositions may be applied, and also for condensing the same again, or converting them from an aeriform into a liquid state."

The cloth coated with a solution of Indiarubber is to be wound upon a roll in such a manner, as to allow it to form a spiral with a space between each coil. The reel and the cloth so wound on it is then to be inclosed in a box or case of wood or of metal, fitting to. gether so perfectly as to prevent the entrance or the escape of air. From the top of this case or box there is a tube leading to a condensing-apparatus of any convenient form. Heated air, or steam, is to be admitted into the case, either through the axis of the reel, if made hollow for that purpose, or through any other convenient opening, the effect of which will be to evaporate the volatile solvent. The claim is to the accomplishing this object, and to the collecting of the solvents by the means described.

APPLICATION OF WATER LIME CEMENT TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, Joseph Roby, New York. The whole system contained in this specification is that so well known of forming roads by the employment of hydraulic lime with beds of gravel, or broken stones of a suitable quality; the directions given do not contain any thing with which engineers are not familiar, and the patentee tells us, in conclusion, that "he would add to his specification and claim, the right to construct roads, streets, &c, by the use of water-lime or cement, in any other manner than above described:" a right which will be very readily conceded to him, provided it be not an exclusive one-to this both the ancients and the moderns may well demur. Our shelves would furnish a volume of evidence of the antiquity of such roads, we have opened the Dictionnaire Technologique only at the article "Cement," and give the following note:-"I have very recently had occasion to examine a piece of natural hydraulic lime, from which a hydraulic mortar of great excellence is prepared, and which is principally employed in the construction of cement pavements of very great solidity."

POCKET PISTOL, Victor M. Wallace, Virginia. The object of this invention is "to give the greatest length possible to the barrel of the pistol, for the purpose of discharging the ball with increased velocity and greater precision in its direction, as well as to a greater distance." To effect this object the back end of the barrel is cylindrical, and is passed into the stock, reaching to its end, the part grasped by the hand descending nearly at right angles from the upper portion. The percussion cap passes on to a nipple at the centre behind the barrel, the trigger operating upon it through the intermedium of a main spring and other appendages, contained within the handle of the stock.

The claim" is not to the discharge from the centre of the breech-pin, but simply to the manner of construction described, namely, the rounded back part of the barrel, with the manner in which I insert the breech-pin, for the purpose of drawing the shoulders of both towards each other; also the disposition of the lock, as contained in the lower part of the grasp of the stock, also the interior of the trigger, and its adjustment as described."

There is some sacrifice made by rounding the back part of the barrel, as the breech is thereby rendered smaller than the outer, or muzzle, end; perhaps, however, means may be found to remedy this defect.

APPLICATION OF THE RISING AND FALLING OF THE TIDE TO THE PROPELLING

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OF MACHINERY, Henry B, Fernald, Portsmouth, Maine." A buoy of sufficient strength and dimensions, connected by a rope or chain passing from the buoy under a pulley at the bottom of the water, with a wheel which moves the machinery. In the falling of the tide, or water, the weight of the buoy, filled with water by means of a stop-cock, or otherwise, operates as a propelling power, being so connected by another rope or chain to another wheel, as to operate alternately with the wheel above-mentioned.

What I specifically claim as my invention or discovery, is the principle of applying the rising and falling of the tide, and other water, to the propelling machinery."

A patent was granted on the 23rd of December, 1829, to Henry M. Webster for a "tide power," in which it is said that "the object which the subscriber proposes to effect is to bring into value and use the rise and fall of the tide on the seaboard, and particularly in the principal cities of the Union, to be employed in manufacturing and other purposes."

The two plans, it will be seen, are identical; in the first patent it is proposed to use "vessels or floats of great weight and buoy. ancy," a condemned or other hulk of a ship of required size," being mentioned as suitable for the purpose.*

IMPROVEMENT IN THE SAW MILL SAW, Levi Fisk, New York.-Every third tooth of a saw mill saw is to be sharpened to a cutting edge on its upper side, the teeth so sharpened being alternately on reverse sides of the saw; these teeth are then to be so set as to cause them to take a thin shaving off in their ascent, and thus to plane the sawed stuff, or to render it much smoother than is done by the common saw. It is said that experience has shown that the best effect is produced by so sharpening every third tooth, although an adherence to this number is not absolutely necessary. The claim is, to "the upper oblique edge of saw teeth being cut to the right and left alternately, and set together, or betwixt any number of common teeth, for the upward motion of the saw, for the purpose of sawing wood in a smooth manner, as above-described."

CONSTRUCTING GRANARIES, John Harmony, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. — The

The application of the tides as a motive power was suggested and discussed in the Mechanics' Ma gazine, vol. xvi. pp. 375 and 436, and vol. xix. p. 167. The first mède proposed by our then correspondent differed altogether from either of the e which have been patented in America. Dr. Gre gory, too, in his "Mathematics for Practical Men," mentions that tidal power has been applied to pulling out old piles from rivers.-ED. M. M.

thing here patented is very simple, and, if effectual, is of great value. The "improve ment consists in introducing a hog or sheep pen, either under or very close to a suitable room, or apartment, into which the grain is to be put; having found, by repeated experiment, that the effluvia of the pen, or some such cause, operates as a complete preventative against the attacks of the weevil, and also that, should the grain be infected by them, they will speedily leave it." After this information, the patentee describes what he esteems a good plan for the erection of such an establishment; but the particular mode is not considered as important, the claim being simply to "the combination of a hog-pen, or sheep-pen, with a granary, as set forth."

IMPROVEMENT IN STEAM-BOILERS, AND THE METHOD OF FEEDING THEM, Nathan Reed, Belfast, Maine.-The construction of this boiler, with its appendages, is very clearly described, and well represented in a good outline drawing; the things claimed, also, are distinctly set forth, leaving nothing to desire on this point.

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The boiler is to be cylindrical, and is to contain within it a furnace, and a flue passing through it, in the manner of many others. The boiler is not to be placed horizontally, but is to be elevated at its back end, as shown in the drawing; this elevation is equal to one-half of its diameter. From the back end of the boiler there rises a vertical cylinder, which is to be the reservoir for steam, it being intended to keep the boiler entirely full of water, and to allow it to rise to a certain height also in the reservoir. The reservoir contains a float, which is to be sustained by the water, and from this float rises a vertical rod, passing through a stuffing-box at the top of the reservoir. The apparatus by which the feeding of the boiler is to be regulated is governed by a lever, acted upon by the rising and falling of the float-rod. One peculiarity of this arrangement is, that the feeding of the boiler is to proceed when the motion of the engine is stopped; in this case, if the water is sufficiently low, a tube is opened, by the turning of a stop-cock, which admits a portion of steam from the reservoir into a case containing a small rotary-engine, or steam-wheel, constructed like an ordinary water-wheel, which is blown round, and works the supply! pump of the engine; when requisite, a por tion of the steam blows off through another; tube, opened at the same time with the former, as, otherwise, the velocity of thefeeding-engine might be too great.

The claims made are to the construction: of the boiler, so that every part exposed to

the action of the fire shall be kept constantly full of water, whilst the steam generated shall ascend freely into the reservoir, where it is isolated from the direct influence of the fire by a stratum of water. The manner of fixing and connecting the float, so as to ensure a more frequent action of the feeding-apparatus. The method of giving vent to the accumulated steam, by the same operation which shuts off that from the engine; and the method of diminishing the velocity of the feeding-engine, by the additional wastepipe.

Were it not the case that floats, rods sliding in stuffing-boxes, supply-pumps, and other apparatus usually combined and connected in self-regulating and self-feeding contriv ances, added to steam-engines and their boilers, are each liable to derangement from causes which cannot be rendered self-regulating, we should expect much from the apparatus described, which is ingeniously ima gined, and looks well upon paper; but we

are admonished, by some knowledge of prac tical results, not to trust implicitly to fair promises, and specious appearances, especially where complicated machinery, and powers of difficult management and control, are concerned.

FIRE-ENGINE, Thomas Odiorn, Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In this fire-engine the box that to contain the water is covered with a circular platform upon which the persons who work it are to walk; the engine being worked exactly in the manner of a ship's capstan. The head into which the levers are inserted revolves upon a hollow shaft through which the tube ascends that leads to the crane neck. There are teeth on the lower edge of this head, forming it into a crown-wheel, and these take into four pinions, having cranks on them, which work the pistons of four pumps, forcing the water into a central air-vessel. The claims made embrace the particular mode of constructing and working fire-engines, as above described.

Sir, It is a great pity that some indivuals are unfortunately endowed with such peculiar powers of perception, as to believe or rather to suppose the world will believe, that that while indulging private animosity, and endeavouring to inflict personal injury, unprovoked and wholly undeserved, they are promoting the public good!

Doubtless this "pro bono publico" principle of action had its due influence in originating a well-known Portuguese proverb respecting "good intentions," adverted to by Lord Byron in his Don Juan.*

These remarks have been elicited by the tenor of a communication in your last number, page 111, the writer of which has concealed his name, and thereby his motives, from the majority of your readers, under the shelter of an anonymous signature.

"Scrutator (pro bono publico)," save the mark has endeavoured to cast a slur upon the highly respectable firm of Messrs. Mordan and Co., by insinuating that they have surreptitiously ap propriated, and even patented, an invention belonging of right to another individual. Having myself acted the part

eisely the same manner, as in the pen, fig. 1. With respect to this novel and important addition, Mr. Carstairs, at page 31, observes, "A very curious and useful improvement, and, as I conceive, a very necessary appendage to steel pens, has recently attracted my attention, and I consider it highly worthy of the notice of manufacture, as well as others. It is invented by Mr. James Gowland, chronometer-maker, No. 11, Leathersellers-buildings, London-wall. It is very ingeniously appropriated, and can be readily adapted, to almost all steel pens, with very evident advantage, more especially for the purpose of making the pen to hold an extra quantity of ink, as well as of supplying it, in uniform and never-failing succession, while the least ink remains in it. Every time the pen (to which it is attached) is pressed on the down strokes of the writing, the ink flows in a body towards the point, by the power of capillary attraction, the moment it is most wanted, and this effect is produced by the angle which is formed with the point of the appendage (which is a curved piece of watch spring), and the nib of the pen forming a kind of conical tube, with its smallest end placed downwards, tapering and increas ing gradually in width upwards to its widest part, about three-eighths of an inch from the point or nib of the pen, with the point of the spring resting lightly at the back of the nib, thereby forming, when the pen is pressed on the paper, a third point, which also comes in contact with the paper, and always tends to make the ink flow equally as much on the centre of the down strokes, as the two points of the levers or prongs of the pen itself. Capillary attraction, which this ingenious contrivance possesses in a very high degree, counteracts completely the defect existing in all pens, and which arises from the opening in the slit tapering to an angle in the opposite direction to that which is requisite for the purpose of fairly conveying the ink to the paper, as any one may soon be convinced by pressing the points of any pen on the thumb-nail, or on any other hard surface, until the slit opens wide enough for large hand-writing, the ink will then instantly recede from the points towards the upper extremity or angle of the slit. Capillary attraction

always causes fluids to flow towards the narrowest part or opening of every conical tube."

Figs. 3, are similar views of Mordan and Co.'s patent three-nibbed counter oblique pen. Speaking of this particular form of pen, at page 16, Mr. Carstairs observes, "A new steel pen has just been produced by Messrs. Mordan and Co., distinguished by the name of the counter oblique pen.' The utility of their original oblique pen has been very generally acknowledged, as the great and extensive sale of them for the last three or four years will sufficiently evince. If the former was highly approved of, the great facilities and evident improvements produced in the counter oblique pén, must tend much to make it a favourite with the public. This novel and curious introduction will, no doubt, be hailed with delight by the admirers of steel pens, not from the peculiarity of its form, but for the advantages of its holding more ink, and retaining, from its obliquity, a direct position to the writing, while it balances itself; keeping always an unchangeable equilibrium! Many persons having been prejudiced against the form of the original oblique pen, has induced Messrs. Mordan. and Co. to meet the wishes of every one; and in this praiseworthy attempt, they have succeeded in adding some essential and useful improvements in their new pen, which will no doubt be acceptable even to those who were the most opposed to their former pen, merely on account of its remarkable appearance! This new pen requires not only great care and nicety in the manufacture of it, but also very complex and finely adjusted machinery; and not one is permitted to be issued from the manufactory, until it has been minutely and critically examined, tried, and proved by a competent and able examiner!

"Messrs. Mordan and Co.'s counter oblique pen possesses in a high degree a free lateral opening, which is the action more or less of all steel pens, with no grooves or indentations crossing in the vicinity of the central slit; and therefore pens made without ribs or grooves, can never have the curvelinear spring which is natural to the quill pen; nevertheless, some individuals prefer pens which have a lateral expansion. That it may be explicitly understood what is