Specification of the Patent granted to WILLIAM VINCENT WENNINGTON, of Goscote Iron Works, in the County of Stafford, Ironfounder, for Certain Improvements in, or Improved Method of Cutting Plate and Sheet Iron.Sealed January 20, 1846.

WITH AN ENGRAVING.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c., &c.— Figure 1, of the drawings annexed represent a side elevation of the machine constructed according to my said invention, and adapted more particularly to the cutting of that description of manufactured iron known by the name of boiler-plate and sheet-iron.

Figure 2, is an end or front elevation; and

Figure 3, is a plan of the machine. A, A, is the bed or foundation plate of the machine. B, B, are two standards fixed upon it, carrying a horizontal shaft, c, upon the end of which a circular cutter wheel or pinion, D, having a circular steel cutter, e, e, attached to it, is fixed, and which has a rotatory motion given to it by means of a mitre wheel, L, fixed upon the other end of the shaft, C. v, is the driving shaft or axis, placed at right angles to the shaft, c, and supported by separate standards, s, s, and to which motion is given by any convenient connexion with a steam-engine or any other driving machinery. M, N, are two other mitre wheels, fixed upon a hollow spindle, y, through which the driving shaft, v, works, and which being made to gear alternately into the mitre wheel, L, by the operation of a shaft hereafter described, reverses the motion of the rotatory cutter wheel, D. E, is an horizontal traversing frame, moved to and fro on two triangular-shaped rails, R, R, placed at right angles to the bed plate, A, A, by means of a rack, F, fixed on the inner side of the frame, E, which works into the toothed or cogged part, G, of the circular cutter, D. K, is a flat cutter fixed to the transverse frame, E, leaving a proper distance or space, a, a, between it and the rack, K, to allow the cutter, D, to revolve freely therein. w, is a shaft fixed under the bed plate in the direction of its length, which has attached to it at one end a forked lever, Q, which actuates a clutch, P, on the axis, v, throwing the mitre wheels, M, N, alternately in and out of gear. At the other end of the shaft, w, is a lever, x, which is

operated upon by the adjustable tappets, y, y, fixed upon the traversing frame, E, so that when it has moved the required distance in one direction it changes the gear of the mitre wheels, M, N, and by reversing the motion, causes it to move back in the opposite direction. T, T, are adjusting screws for tightening or easing the bearings of the cutter shaft, c, as may be required.

The operation of the machine is as follows:-The plate or sheet of iron is placed upon the traversing frame, E, and presented edgeways to the circular cutter, D. Motion being then given to the cutter shaft, c, the cutter, D, revolves, and catching the plate or sheet of iron between it and the flat cutter, K, cuts off the scrap of iron required, which drops into the space, a, a, while simultaneously therewith the cogged part, G, at the back of the cutter, D, operates upon the rack, F, and causing the traversing frame to move backwards horizontally clear of the cutter. When the frame has been moved sufficiently in one direction according to the length of the plate or sheet of iron, one of the under tappets, y, y, strikes against the lever, x, at one end of the shaft, w, which causes the clutch lever, o, at the other end to throw out of gear whichever of the mitre wheels, м and N, was previously in gear with the wheel, L, and to bring the other into gear, whereby the action of the machine is reversed and the traversing frame made to move in the opposite direction, affording an opportunity of cutting both ways if found desirable.

I do not confine myself to the method shown in the drawings for giving motion to, or reversing the motion of, the traversing frame, E, as the same may be done by other means as circumstances may render desirable, without at all affecting the general principle or system of action on which the machine is constructed; nor do I confine myself to any specific length of traversing frame, E, which may be varied to suit the length of the plates or sheets to be cut.

The advantages of my invention resulting from the combination of rotary and horizontal motions are

First, that any length of plate or sheet may be cut, Second, that the motion of the revolving cutter tends to draw the plate or sheet towards its cut, while at the same time the flat part of the circular cutter rolls the scrap as it passes out and keeps it nearly straight; and

Thirdly, that by the reversing of the motion of the cutter, D, it is enabled to cut both

ways.

And having now described the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as my invention, is

The improved machine for cutting plate or sheet iron, having a revolving circular cutter and a horizontal traversing frame and cutter, as before described. In witness, &c. WILLIAM VINCENT WENNINGTON.

Enrolled July 20, 1846.

Specification of the Patent granted to FREDERICK WILLIAM CAMPIN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Gentleman, for Certain Improvements in Obtaining and Applying Motive Power.-Sealed January 22, 1846.

WITH AN ENGRAVING.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c., &c.Figure 1, represents a sectional elevation of a portion of a passenger carriage, constructed according to the said invention; and

Figure 2, another sectional elevation, showing more clearly the internal arrangements. The propelling apparatus consists,

Firstly, of springs, A, A, to the ends of which are attached conical screws, V, V, which press upon the wheels, by the reaction of which springs, combined with the weight of the vehicle to be propelled, the centre of gravity is changed, and motion produced; and

Secondly, of a set of pneumatic heliconical fly-wheels or air turbines, by the aid of which the motion so acquired and the adhesion of the wheels are kept up. The principle on which the former portion of the invention depends will be understood by reference to the diagram, fig. 7. Let, P, represent the primary force, and, R, the secondary force; then, if both these forces are equal, and they are greater than a third force suspended at T, motion will ensue; and if, instead of a straight lever, an endless chain is made use of, and, P, is fixed, then on turning, the

action will become constant as long as, R, is free to act through the piece, o. The maximum effect will be always in a ratio with the suspended mass. Should the two forces (P and R) not be in exact equilibrium, either on account of the load being insufficient, or of any irregularities of the ground, a third force may be applied at м.

Figure 5, shows how the principle thus demonstrated is practically applied. When the detent, D, is set free, the piece, o, ascends, and the springs are loosened, and the conical screw with which these springs are furnished cause them always to act on the same particular part of wheels, and hence the effect which is produced. The handle, h, (see fig. 2,) connected with m, m, raises the fulcrum on the right or on the left, so that the motive power coming from underneath through the medium of the piece, o, may meet the reacting motion backward or forward. The heliconical fly-wheels or air turbines are shown in fig. 3. The spokes, it will be observed, of the two wheels intersect one another; that is to say, those of one wheel take into the spaces between those of the other wheel. They act on each other through the agency of the air which is condensed in their semi-horns (the form assumed by the spokes), and are made to revolve in the same plane by straps connected with the helixis.

In figures 4 and 6, the invention is shown as applied to marine propelling. The hull of the ship serves in this case the office of the piece of, o, in figures 1, 2, and 7, or the apparatus may be enclosed in a case so constructed, as to be supported on its fulcra. D and X, shew the first arrangement of the springs combined with the beam, which acts as the detent. The racks at the bottom are merely introduced to show, by their small range of action, the advantage gained by the substitution of the helixis. In the same plan, fig. 6, q, q, are throttles made in the bow in order to force the air to be condensed upon the paddles, b, b (see fig. 3). This air reacts afterwards at z, enters the turbines by the motion of the flaps, and produces two articificial wind spouts, which may be moderated to any extent desired by slide valves.

And having now described the nature of the said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,

First, the mode of propelling by means of springs with conical screws, acting directly on the wheels of vehicles,

in combination with the weight of such vehicles, as before described and exemplified.

And second, the employment of pneumatic heliconical fly-wheels or air turbines in connexion with the means first herein claimed, as also before described and exemplified. In witness, &c.

FREDERICK WILLIAM CAMPIN.

Enrolled July 22, 1846.

Specification of the Patent granted to THOMAS HOWARD, of King and Queen Iron Works, Rotherhithe, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for Improvements in Steam-engine Condensers.-Sealed March 25, 1846.

WITH AN ENGRAVING.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c., &c.This invention applies to such condensing steam-engines as have their boilers supplied with water of condensation, and wherein the steam is condensed by injecting such water properly cooled down. A tank, A, is placed in any convenient situation, and is supplied with cold water by pumps or otherwise, (at B), and which having its course governed by plates (c, c), within the tank, escapes (at D), as further shown by the arrows. The ends of the tank are closed by plates (which I recommend to be of brass), (E, E), pierced with holes, in which are secured water tight the ends of tubes of copper or other appropriate metal, (F, F, F), a section of one row in height only being shown in the drawing, but which extend through the breadth of the tank. Bonnets, (G, G), are fixed over the plates and open ends of the tubes (and so as to be removeable if access be required to the tubes), and are divided into compartments, which in either bonnet alternate in position with those in the opposite one at the other end of the tubes, as shown in the drawing. A nozzle, (H), on one bonnet is connected by a pipe or otherwise with the hot cistern, and a nozzle, (1), on the other is connected with the injection cock of the steam-engine. Within the nozzle, (H), is a plate, h, perforated with small holes. A quantity of water being introduced into the hot cistern (by first starting the engine with the ordinary injection, which I recommend to be attached or otherwise) sufficient to fill