upon the mouth of the compartment b, by its two catches q, q, which clasp the pins r, r, when the lid is closed. On the lower end of the axis p, is a male screw s, taking into a female screw t, in the upper part of the piston; by this means, the piston is elevated or depressed, when the lid o, is opened or closed, the position being prevented from turning round by a pin, as before described, with respect to fig. 2.

Fig. 5, represents a section of the inkstand, which constitutes the second part of this invention. a, is the ink vessel, provided with a cover b, in the centre of which is a nut c; and through this nut the end of a tube or syphon d, passes, having a screw formed upon its exterior, corresponding with the thread of the nut; so that, by turning the ink vessel round, it will be caused to ascend or descend upon the syphon. The syphon d, forms part of the handle of the inkstand, and terminates in a dipping-cup e; it is filled by means of a long funnel, shewn by dotted lines, and the ink vessel being then turned, until the end of the syphon dips into its contents, the ink will flow through it into the dipping-cup.

The patentee claims, Firstly.-The mode of constructing inkstands, by combining two compartments a, and b, opening into each other, with a float or plunger in the compartment b, and a dipping-cup, opening into either of the compartments, as described.

Secondly. The mode of constructing inkstands, by combining two compartments a, and b, opening into each other; the compartment b, having a plunger, working within it, and either compartment having a dipping-cup applied thereto.

Thirdly. The mode of arranging the communicating hole e, between two compartments of an inkstand, in one of which a plunger or float works, so that the lower part of the float may pass below the opening e, as described.

Fourthly. The mode of constructing inkstands, by combining a dipping-cup with an ink vessel a, by means of a syphon d, in such a manner, that the position of the vessel and the dipping-cup may be varied, as above described.— [Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, September, 1842.]

TO SAMUEL WAGSTAFF SMITH, of Leamington Priors, in the county of Warwick, iron-founder, for improvements in regulating the heat of furnaces for smelting iron; which improvements may also be applied to retorts, for generating gas.-[Sealed 24th April, 1838.]

THIS invention is designed to prevent the irregularity with which the air is forced from the ordinary blowing machine into the smelting furnace, and consists in giving a selfregulating action to the blast, by causing the air to act on a valve in the pipe through which it passes to the furnace. This is accomplished in either of the following ways; viz, by bringing into action the force of the air, as it passes to the blast furnace, or by bringing into action the temperature of the air, when hot blast is used.

In Plate XIII., fig. 1, is a longitudinal section, and fig. 2, a transverse section of the pipe leading to the furnace, and the mechanism employed for regulating the blast, by means of the pressure or force of the air. a, is the airchest, into which the air is forced from the blowing machine, and proceeds from thence through the pipe b, to the furnace. c, is a valve, in the pipe b, mounted on the axis d; by the opening or closing of which, according as the pressure of the air increases or diminishes, a regular blast is obtained.

Upon one end of the axis d, outside the pipe b, is an arm e, connected by a rod f, to one end of the beam g; the other end of which is attached by a link j, to the rod of the piston h. This piston works in a small cylinder i, fastened to one side of the pipe b, and communicating with the interior of the same, so that, as the pressure of the air in the pipe b, increases, a portion of it enters the cylinder i, and forces up the piston h. This upward movement of the piston, by means of the link j, beam g, and rod ƒ, causes the valve to partially close the passage for the air through the pipe b, and thereby reduce the quantity of air forced into the furnace.

Thus, when, by the quick travelling of the piston of the

blowing machine, the pressure of the air, in the pipe b, is increased, the valve c, will be closed in proportion; and on the other hand, when, from the lessening of the speed of the blowing apparatus, the pressure of the air is decreased, the valve c, will be opened wider; by this means, a more equal blasting of the air to the furnace will be obtained, and, consequently, the heat produced will be kept more uniform.

Fig. 3, shews an arrangement for effecting the same purpose as the above, which may be used either with hot or cold blast. c, is the valve, turning on the axis d, in the lower part of the pipe b, to which axis the rod k, is attached, carrying the weight 7. This weight has a constant tendency to keep the valve wide open, whilst the air, acting against it, as shewn by the arrows, tends to close it; so that the valve will be opened or closed, according as the pressure of the air increases or decreases.

Fig. 4, shews an arrangement of apparatus for regulating the blast by the temperature of the air. In this instance, the valve c, is placed in the chimney or flue u, of the apparatus wherein the air is heated; and in the pipe b, a bent pipe m, is placed, one end of which is enlarged, and projects outside of the pipe b. Over this part of the pipe m, a casing n, is placed, to contain mercury or other suitable fluid, in which the lower end of the inverted cup o, is immersed. The cup o, is fixed on the rod p, which is attached, by the link r, to the lever q, mounted on the shaft s; and this lever is connected, by the rod t, to the arm e, on the axis of the valve c. The valve c, is worked by the heat of the air, passing through the pipe b, acting on the air in the pipe m, and causing it to force up the inverted cup o, with its rod p; hence, if the temperature of the air becomes too high in the pipe b, the valve c, will be more or less closed, and damp the fire that is heating the air for the blast, so as to reduce the temperature of the air forced through the pipe b, into the furnace; and thus, according as the apparatus is once set, so will be the temperature at which the furnace will be blasted. The damper or valve c, instead of being placed in the chimney u, may be applied to the

ash-pit, or other inlet, by which air is admitted to support combustion in the furnace that heats the air for the blast.

The temperature of gas retorts may be regulated by an apparatus, similar to that just described.

The patentee claims, Firstly.-The modes of regulating the heat of furnaces for smelting iron, by taking advantage of the pressure and heat of the blast of air, as herein described.

Secondly. Regulating the heat from gas retorts, by causing the temperature thereof to act on suitable apparatus, connected with a damper in the flue or chimney, or in other places, as described.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, October, 1838.]

TO RICHARD BRADLEY, WILLIAM BARROWS, and JOSEPH HALL, of Bloomfield Iron Works, in the parish of Tipton, in the county of Stafford, iron-masters and co-partners, for an improved method or means of making iron.[Sealed 21st August, 1838.]

THIS invention consists in a mode of preparing the substance called tap-cinder, and applying it, when so prepared, to the manufacture of iron. The cinder is obtained from the puddling furnace, when converting the crude iron, from the blast furnace, into malleable iron; and, by subjecting it to a continued process of roasting or burning, it is rendered available for covering and protecting the sides and bottoms of the furnaces in which the puddling of refined iron, and the boiling and puddling of crude iron, from the blast furnace, is performed.

The tap-cinder is roasted in a kiln, of a similar construction to those used for burning bricks ;-a plan of the kiln is shewn in Plate XIV. a, a, a, are the walls of the kiln; b, b, b, the fire-places; and c, an opening at each end of the kiln, for introducing and withdrawing the charge; which openings are closed with bricks and clay, when the roasting is being performed.

The mode of charging and working the kiln is as follows:-The tap-cinder having been broken into pieces, measuring about six inches in diameter, is placed in the kiln, in such quantities as to reach six or seven inches above the openings of the fire-places b. Arches of tapcinder are formed over the fire-places, which run from one side of the kiln to the other, so as to permit of a free circulation of fire and air amongst the charge. A layer of slack, two inches deep, is now placed on the top of the cinder, and upon the slack a layer of tap-cinder, two feet deep, is deposited; above this is another layer of slack, of the same depth as the first, and then the remainder of the upper part of the kiln is filled with tap-cinder. The fires are now lighted, and the tap-cinder is exposed for fourteen days, or thereabouts, to a very great heat, which is increased as the operation proceeds; but if, at any time, the heat is so intense, that the cinder is nearly at the point of melting, the fire is removed from the upper parts of the openings or mouths of the fire-places, and the air admitted until the heat is sufficiently reduced. When the fourteen days have expired, the tap-cinder is allowed to cool, and is then broken into pieces of a suitable size, and employed for the purposes before mentioned.

The patentees claim the mode or means of making iron, by preparing and applying tap-cinder, as above described.— [Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, February, 1839.]

To CHARLES SCHAFHAUTL, of Cornhill, in the city of London, Gent., for an improved method of smelting copper ore.-[Sealed 6th March, 1839.]

THE first part of this invention consists in reducing the copper ore to a pulverized state, and mixing it intimately with any alkaline or earthy base that has a great affinity for the sulphur contained in the ore, such as quick lime, which is preferred by the patentee on account of its cheapThe lime and ore, when mixed together, are con

ness.