other vitreous products, together with the manner in which the same may be performed and carried into effect, and having claimed under each series of improvements what we consider as of our invention, we deliver this as our true and faithful specification of the same.-In witness, &c. Enrolled Sept. 5, 1846. WILLIAM NICHOLSON. Specification of the Patent granted to WILLIAM Mather, of Salford, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, and COLIN MATHER, of the same Place, Millwrights and Engineers, for Improvements in Metallic Pistons.-Sealed April 28, 1846. WITH AN ENGRAVING. To all to whom these presents shall come, &c., &c.Our invention consists of a mode of packing pistons by using a combination of two helical springs. And in order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, we will proceed to describe the drawing in the various figures of which the same letters of reference are used to indicate similar parts. Description of the Drawings. Fig. 1, shows a plan of a piston constructed according to our invention the upper plate or cover being removed. Fig. 2, shows a side view of the piston complete within a cylinder, which is shown in section. Fig. 3, is a section of the piston. Fig. 4, is a section of the two springs of which the packing is composed, they being shown as if compressed between the two plates of the piston by the upper plate of the piston being screwed down tight on the body of the piston; and Fig. 5, shows a side view of the inner spring separately in an expanded state. a, shows the body of the piston; b, a part of the piston rod; c, is the top plate or cover of the piston, which is fixed by three screws, d, d, by which a groove or channel is formed all round the piston for the packing; e, is the inner spring, and f, the outer spring; and g, is one of two filling or stopping bits placed across the two openings, where the two ends of the outer spring come, there being recesses formed in the outer spring to receive them, in order to stop the steam passing down or up through the splits. The springs, e and f, are made by first forming a cylinder by casting and then cutting out a portion of the metal in an inclined direction, a vertical cut being made at each of the points, e', e', and ƒ', and in putting the springs, e and f, together, we cause the points, e' and f', to come at the opposite side of the piston to each other. The outer spring, f, is formed with an inner flange or a projection rim, and the inner spring, e, comes between the flanges, and therefore the elastic force of the spring, e, tends to separate or open out the spring, f, and thus to cause the spring, f, to press the top and bottom surfaces of the spring, f, against the top and bottom plates of the piston. And as the springs, e and f, require to be compressed, by coiling up into a less diameter, to introduce the piston into a cylinder, the springs, e and f, will exert an expansive force, tending to assume their larger diameter, and thus will the spring, f, constantly fill up the cylinder in which it is working, notwithstanding any wear which may take place both in respect to the cylinder and the packing. The upper cover of the piston remaining fixed in its place after it has been once screwed up by the screws, the packing requires no further pressure after the first putting together of the piston. Having thus described the nature of our invention, we would remark, that we are aware that it has before been proposed to pack a piston with a spring similar to e, and we mention this fact in order to state that we do not claim the same in its separate state. But what we claim is the packing of pistons by the use of helical springs, f, in combination with springs, e.-In witness, &c. Enrolled October 21, 1846. WILLIAM MATHER. Specification of the Patent granted to GEORGE ALEXANDER THOMPSON, of Connaught Terrace, Hyde Park, Gentleman, and JoOSEPH WRIGHT, of Holborn Bars, Mechanic, both in the County of Middlesex, for Improvements in Propelling Vessels.-Sealed Feb. 25, 1846. WITH AN ENGRAVING. To all to whom these presents shall come, &c., &c.— Our invention consists of applying two revolving propellers in a vessel, such propellers being so constructed and arranged that projections on the one work into recesses in the other, the propellers being combined with suitable water channels or passages to allow of water flowing from the stem of the vessel to the propellers, and then to be ejected by the propellers at the stern of the vessel. And in order that our invention may be most fully understood and readily carried into effect, we proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed, in the various figures of which the same letters of reference are used to indicate the same parts. Description of the Drawings. Figure 1, shows a plan of part of the machinery, the propellers and waterways being covered. Figure 2, shows a horizontal section through the propellers and waterways. Figure 3, shows a longitudinal section; and Figure 4, a transverse section of the same parts. Figure 5, shows a plan of the vessel on a smaller scale than that to which the other figures are drawn; by this figure the position of the machinery and waterways will be more readily traced. Figure 6, shows a side view; and Figures 7 and 8, the bow and stern ends of the vessel. a, b, are two propellers, each having projections, c, c, and recesses, d, d, which are so arranged, that, when rotatory motion is given to the two propellers, a and b, the projections, c, enter the recesses, d, as will readily be understood on examining the drawings. e, e, are two waterways, leading from the stem of the vessel to the closed chamber in which the propellers, a, b, rotate, and we prefer that there should be two waterways, as that ar rangement allows of there being one on either side of the kelson. ff, are the two waterways, leading from the closed chamber in which the propellers move to the stern of the vessel, as shown. It will be evident that various modes may be resorted to for giving motion to the propellers; we prefer the arrangement shown, where a cranked axle, g, receives motion from a steam-engine, which we have not thought it necessary to show, as the same will be readily applied by an engineer. On the axle, g, are two bevilled-toothed wheels, h, h, which take into and drive the bevilled wheels, i, i, on the shafts or axes of the propellers, a, b. In using this machinery, when the propellers are moving in the directions of the arrows, the water will flow through the waterways leading from the stem and be ejected at the stern, and the vessel will be propelled forward; but when it is desired that the vessel should make stern way, the direction of rotation of the propellers will be reversed. We Having thus described the nature of our invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we would have it understood that we are aware that apparatus similar to the propellers, a, b, have before been proposed to be combined for the purposes of constructing steam-engines, and also pumps for pumping water. do not therefore claim the same separately as of our invention. We would remark that, although we believe the arrangement of parts shown and described to be the best for carrying out our invention, we do not confine ourselves to the details so long as the peculiar character of our invention be retained. And we would wish it to be understood, that What we claim is, the application of two propellers, a, b, combined with suitable waterways within a vessel for propelling the same, as herein described. In witness, &c. GEORGE ALEXANDER THOMPSON. Enrolled August 25, 1846. Specification of the Patent granted to THOMAS POPE, of Kidbroke, in the County of Kent, Gentleman, for Improvements in Apparatus for Moving Railway Carriages on to Railways, and in Machinery for Lifting and Moving Heavy Bodies.-Sealed March 25, 1846. WITH AN ENGRAVING. To all to whom these presents shall come, &c. &c.The invention relates to apparatus to be used for the purpose of moving railway carriages on to or from a line of railway, in case of accident or otherwise, and also for the purpose of removing carriages from one line of railway to another. And the invention also relates to apparatus to be used for the purpose of lifting and moving other heavy bodies. Description of the Drawings. It is well known that accidents often occur on railways by the running off of one or more of a train of carriages, and that considerable delay and inconvenience is often in consequence thereof experienced, there seldom being at hand any ready means of replacing such carriage or carriages on to the line again, and I am aware that lifting jacks have been used for that purpose, but such have not been efficiently employed from the want of some ready means of moving the carriages laterally when they have been raised. Now, the peculiarity of this part of the invention consists in arranging apparatus which may be carried conveniently with every train of carriages, so that should any one of the carriages run off, or by the friction of some of the parts take fire, or otherwise become inefficient, such carriage or carriages may be readily moved on to or off the line, as required. Fig. 1, shews a side view. Fig. 2, a plan; and Fig. 3, a section of apparatus which I employ to move the carriage on to or off a line of rails. a, a, is a frame which carries a screw shaft, b, which is capable of turning in its bearings, a', a', the shaft, b, having at one end affixed to it a small pinion, c, which is taken into and driven by a pinion, d, on the shaft, e, which is made capable of receiving a winch handle, as is |