within the ordinary glass chimney, in the manner shewn in the sections, figs. 1 and 2, Plate VIII.

These figures exhibit the mode of applying this invention to gas-burners, of the kind called one-ring burners, and are marked with the same letters of reference. a, is the burner, supplied with gas by the pipe g;-b, the ordinary chimney, resting upon the arms c, c; and d, d, are supports or standards, carrying the additional chimnies e, f, connected together by rivets. The inner chimney e, corresponds, in diameter, with the circle formed by the jet-holes, and the outer additional chimney f, with the circle formed by the periphery of the burner. The space between the chimney f, and the ordinary chimney b, is the same as between e, and ƒ; and the latter chimnies are situated at a height above the flame, equal to the diameter of the chimney e; this height may, however, be increased, if desired, when one-ring burners are used.

When this invention is used with two or three-ring burners, the tubular rings that compose them are placed one above another, and connected together by short pipes, which supply them with gas. By this arrangement, the patentee states, that a flame will be obtained of a greater brilliancy, and more uniform height than usual.

Fig. 3, is an elevation, and fig. 4, a plan of a three-ring burner, constructed in the way just mentioned. a, a, a, are the rings of the burner; g, is the gas supply-pipe, from the upper part of which, three pipes h, h, h, extend to the outer ring of the burner; from this ring, the gas is conveyed to the second ring, by the pipes i, i, i, and passes from thence to the inner ring, through the pipes j, j, j.

In applying these additional chimnies to burners of this construction, the inner chimney e, is made of the same diameter as the circle of jet-holes on the outer ring of the burner. The additional chimnies may be used with burners of any other shape, with equal advantage.

The patentee claims the particular combination, position, and arrangement, of the several parts or apparatus, hereinbefore described, for the combustion of gas.-[Inrolled in the Petty Bag Office, July, 1842.]

VOL. XXI.

TO THOMAS ROBINSON, of Wilmington-square, in the county of Middlesex, Gent., for improvements in drying wool, cotton, and other fibrous materials, in the manufactured and unmanufactured state. [Sealed 27th April, 1841.]

THIS invention consists in certain arrangements of machinery, for drying fibrous materials, by exposing them to the action of currents of air.

One arrangement of machinery, for this purpose, is exhibited in figs. 1 and 2, Plate VII.,—fig. 1, being a longitudinal, and fig. 2, a transverse section. a, is a case or chamber, through which a shaft b, passes, carrying two revolving compartments c, c, for containing the goods to be dried; these compartments are closed at the sides, but their ends are open, and across them the bars d, are fastened, to prevent the articles from being forced out of the compartments, by the rapidity of their revolution.

In either side of the case a, near the shaft b, are openings e, e, for the admission of air, and in the ends of the case are other openings f, f, through which the air passes out; g, g, are apertures, in the bottom of the case, for the passage of the water or other fluid contained in the articles to be dried.

Motion is communicated to the shaft b, by a band from a steam-engine, or other prime mover, passing round the pulley h, on the end of the shaft; or by power derived from manual labour, applied to the handle i, and transmitted, by the wheel j, to the pinion k, on the other end of the shaft b.

The operation of this machinery is as follows: -When the fibrous materials are admitted through the doors k, and placed in the compartments c, the shaft b, is caused to revolve, and the air, entering at the openings e, e, passes through the compartments, and among the materials contained in them; but being forcibly ejected, by the rapid revolution, it passes out of the case at the openings f, f. Whilst the air is thus rushing through the revolving com

partments c, the articles, contained in them, are constantly changing their position, and, by the force with which they are pressed against the outer bars of the compartments, the water or other liquid contained in them is expressed, and the remaining moisture is quickly evaporated.

Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section of another machine, for drying manufactured or unmanufactured fibrous materials. In this machine, the case a, and openings f, f, and g, g, are the same as before; but, instead of two revolving compartments c, c, for receiving the articles to be dried, a rotary wheel, is employed, divided into four compartments, by bars m, each compartment being provided with a door n, for the admission of the goods. The air enters the case by the holes o, o, near the shaft b, and, rushing through the compartments, passes out at the openings f,f, as before.

The patentee claims the mode of constructing machines, for drying cotton, wool, and other fibrous materials, in a manufactured or unmanufactured state, as described.[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, October, 1841.]

TO JOSEPH RATCLIFF, of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, manufacturer, for certain improvements in the construction and manufacture of hinges, for hanging and closing doors,-being a communication.[Sealed 4th August, 1841.]

IN Plate VII., fig. 1, is a longitudinal section, and fig. 2, a plan of the improved hinge. a, is an upright axis, the upper end of which turns in a brass bearing b, and the lower end works in the cylindrical cavity c, in the bottom. of the cast-iron box or case d. To the lower part of the axis a, a segmental plane f, is attached, its upper surface being inclined to the axis, so as to make therewith, an angle of about seventy degrees; and on the square head of the axis is fitted the lever e, which is screwed to the bottom of the door.

Upon the plane f, two rollers g, h, rest, carried by a

broad lever i, which turns on an axis j, supported by the brackets k, k; and from the hind end of the lever i, two arms l, l, rise, carrying the swivel-nut m.-n, is another nut, screwed on the pin o, between which, and the swivelnut m, the helical springs p, and q, are placed. A number of holes are made in the periphery of the nut n, for the reception of a lever, to turn it, when it is required to approach or recede, from the nut m. The action of this hinge is as follows:

When the door is opened, the lever e, turning the axis a, partly round, will bring a more elevated part of the plane f, under one of the rollers g, or h, and so raise the end of the lever i; the arms l, l, and swivel-nut m, will be thus caused to approach the nut n, and compress the springs p, q, which, when the door is released, will expand and close it.

The patentee claims, Firstly.-The general arrangement of the parts of a door-hinge, as herein described, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Secondly. The use of the swivel-nut, for receiving and transmitting the pressure of the spring to the lever.—[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, February, 1842.]

TO HENRY BARRON RODWAY, of Birmingham, wine merchant, for improvements in the manufacture of horseshoes.-[Sealed 7th March, 1842.]

THIS invention has for its object, the formation of a shoe, which will secure a firm foot-hold to horses, on all kinds of pavements, and be, at the same time, lighter, and remain longer on the foot than shoes now in use. It consists in forming the shoe of bar-iron, not less than three-quarters of an inch wide, in which a groove, at least three-eighths of an inch in width, has been formed, by rolling.

In Plate VIII., fig. 1, is a view of the under side, and fig. 2, a section of the improved shoe. a, is the groove, in which holes are made for the nails that secure the shoe on the horse's foot; b, and c, are the outer and inner edges

of the shoe, the former being higher, and twice as broad as the latter. It will be seen, that as the heads of the nails do not come in contact with the ground, being protected by the raised parts b, and c, there is less chance of the horse casting this shoe than an ordinary one.

The patentee claims the mode of manufacturing horseshoes, by employing bar-iron, rolled with a groove therein, at least three-eighths of an inch wide and in a bar, at least three-quarters of an inch wide, as above described.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, September, 1842.]

TO MOSES POOLE, of Lincoln's-inn, in the county of Middlesex, Gent., for improvements in the manufacture of caustic soda and carbonate of soda.-[Sealed 9th December, 1839.]

THESE improvements consist in manufacturing caustic soda and carbonate of soda, from common salt.

In the first place, common salt is decomposed with sulphate of ammonia, by which means, sulphate of soda and hydrochlorate of ammonia is obtained. The former is then changed into sulphuret of sodium, by being heated with coal, charcoal, or any other sort of carbon; and the latter is reserved, for the purpose hereafter mentioned. The sulphuret of sodium, thus produced, is dissolved in water, and filtered; it is then decomposed, by mixing with it protoxide of copper, in a pulverized state. By the decomposition of the sulphuret of sodium, sulphuret of copper is formed, which is separated from the liquid by filtration. This liquid (which contains caustic soda) is evaporated to dryness, if solid caustic soda is wanted; or is saturated with carbonic acid, if carbonate of soda is required.

The sulphuret of copper is now converted into deutoxide of copper, by calcining it in an iron muffle, heated to a "feeble degree of glowing." A slow current of atmospheric air, being permitted to pass through the muffle, carries off the sulphurous acid gas, produced by the calci