At fig. 7, is an application of the same principle to stoves, by placing the carbonizing or coking-plate over the ordinary fire; the gases, which rise from the fuel, descend through the aperture shewn in the plate N, and are consumed, by passing over the lower fire.

At fig. 8, this principle is exhibited as applicable to stills, &c., in which also is represented a peculiarity of construction at o, whereby the fire-place is contracted, and the heat directed more immediately to the centre of the still.

The means of regulating the draft of the improved furnaces, is described by reference to fig. 3, in which the apparatus, for this purpose, is shew at P. The cylindrical vessel i, is fitted with a piston k, against which, water from the boiler, exerts a force, when urged by any unusual pressure of steam in the chamber; this action causes the vertical rod 1, to which the piston is attached, to rise, carrying with it one end of the lever m, having its fulcrum at n; the reverse end is consequently depressed, and, by the connection shewn through the rod o, closes the ventilation p. This apparatus is shewn in connection with that for feeding the boiler with water, when required; it will be seen thus:— The upper end of the rod l, working in an upright guide, and being attached to the lever q, will, by its ascent, bring down the opposite end of that lever, which, by union with the chain passing over a pulley, as shewn, will open the valve c, for the admission of water into the boiler.

The reverse action of this last-mentioned apparatus would, by this same connection, open the ventilator. This method of regulating the draft to the furnace, may, however, be employed quite independently of any other mechanism; in which case, the ventilator p, would have to be opened by the attendant.

Q, is a plate for increasing the length of the furnace, and for dividing the draft to the front and back-bars R, and s. The partition beneath, is for the purpose of working the set of back-bars s, when required.

In fig. 5, a mode of regulating the draft is exhibited, somewhat different in form from that just described; it consists of a plate, sliding upon pullies or bowls, which may

be drawn forth or slidden back, so as to shut out the atmospheric air from either one, two, or all three of the chambers below the fire-bars, at pleasure, and may be used simply by hand, or in connection with apparatus similar to that described above; there is also a flue, on each side of the upper fire-place, (one of which is shewn by dots in fig. 5,) communicating with one of the chambers under the fire-bars, by which air may be introduced. The mode of supplying and regulating the necessary draft in those furnaces, represented in the other figures, is in the ordinary way through the ash-pit.-[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, October, 1840.]

TO THOMAS WELLS INGRAM, of Birmingham, manufacturer, for certain improvements in shears and other apparatus for cutting, cropping, and shearing certain substances,—being partly a communication.—[Sealed 7th October, 1841.]

THESE improvements in shears and other apparatus, for cutting, cropping, and shearing certain substances, apply to several descriptions of instruments, apparatus, or machines, designed for cutting fibrous materials, such as shears or scissors, for cutting cloth, paper, and similar substances; snuffers for cropping the snuffs of candles; and choppingmachines for rags, ropes, junk, &c.; preparing for papermaking, and other uses.

The improvements in scissors, shears, and snuffers, consist in so forming their blades, handles, and connecting joints, that, in the act of cutting, one of the blades only, with its handle, shall be moveable, whilst the other blade, with its handle, remains relatively stationary.

In Plate XVII., fig. 1, is a plan of a pair of these improved shears or scissors; fig. 2, shews the same shears, the blades being open, as in the act of cutting.

The lower blade a, with its handle b, are formed in one piece, the under parts of which it may be desirable to make

The

straight and coincident, but that is not essential. upper blade c, is alone moveable, working upon its fulcrum-pin d, fixed in the hilt of the stationary blade. The handle e, by which this moveable blade c, is actuated, turns upon a fulcrum-pin ƒ, also fixed in the hilt of the stationary blade; and the blade c, and handle e, are connected by a link g, and joint-pins, to the extremities of what may be called the shorter arms of these levers, that is, the blade c, and handle e. It will hence be perceived, that by raising the handle e, the blade c, of the shears will be raised or opened, ready for cutting, and that by depressing the handle e, the blade c, will be brought down, as in the action of cutting; the lower blade a, and handle b, having remained quiescent. In order to bring the cutting edges of the two blades together, with any pressure that may be required, an adjusting screw h, is inserted into the back of the hilt of the fixed blade, which screw acts upon a small elastic plate or piece i, let into a groove in the blade a, and held by a dove-tail at bottom; so that, by turning the screw h, the plate i, may be made to press with greater or less force against the back of the tail part of the blade c, and thereby force the cutting edge of the moveable blade against that of the stationary blade.

A modification of the form and construction of the joints or connecting parts of the blade c, and handle e, is represented in the elevation of another pair of shears or scissors, at fig. 3.-Instead of the link g, by which the two levers c, and e, were connected, as above described, there is, in this instance, a tooth or round part ≈, at the tail end of the blade c, which is intended to work in a corresponding recess or curved notch y, at the end of the handle e. When these two are mounted upon their fulcrum-pins d, and ƒ, fixed in the hilt of the blade α, the recess y, acts upon the boss x, and, by leverage, causes the blade c, to rise and fall. A similar tightening screw h, is applied to the back of the plate or piece i, for the purpose of giving such lateral pressure against the tail-piece ≈, as shall cause the cutting edges of the blades to be brought together.

The same constructions of joints may be adapted to

snuffers, nippers, and other similar kinds of cutting or cropping implements. Fig. 4, represents a top or horizontal view (partly in section) of a pair of snuffers, the cutting chap of which is worked by similar means to those shewn in fig. 3. In this figure, the thumb-lever or handle e, is moved outward, and the chap c, thrown open, as in the act of snuffing. It will be unnecessary to explain the construction and action of the connecting parts or joints of these snuffers, as that is clearly shewn in the drawing, and has been fully described above.

Another modification of the mode of tightening or pressing together the blades of shears, is shewn in the detached. figure 8, where the pin d, which forms the axle of the moveable blade, extends on each side of the shears, and a helical spring is enclosed within a cap, screwed on to the end of the pin, which presses the blades together. Fig. 9, represents another kind of spring, shewn formed as a disc at fig. 10, with radial cuts or openings. This disc is inserted into a recess in the hilt of the blade, fig. 9, and is held in its place by a screwed pin, which is the axle of the moveable blade.

The machine for chopping rags, ropes, junk, and other fibrous materials, in preparing them for making paper, and other purposes, is shewn in the drawings, in several views. Fig. 5, is an elevation of the machine, as seen in front; fig. 6, the same, as seen on the side; and fig. 7, a sectional elevation, taken through the middle of the machine, in the same direction as fig. 5. a, a, are the side standards of the machine; b, b, a transverse piece, connecting the sides together, and which forms the box and guide of the cutterframe. The main rotary axle or shaft c, c, is actuated by a band and rigger, and governed by a fly-wheel d. The middle of the shaft c, is formed as a crank, to which the plunger e, is attached, that carries the bolt f, of the cutterframe g. Two excentrics h, h, carry the rods i, i, that work the levers k, k, to which the driving-clicks 1, l, of the ratchet-wheels m, m, are attached, for feeding the rags into the machine. An endless creeping-band j, j, j, is tightly distended over rollers n, n, as shewn in fig. 7; which band

passes over the top of a roller o, mounted in plummerblocks, in the roller-frame p, p, and upon the upper surface of this endless band the rags are placed to be cut. Another roller q, is mounted in the same frame p, above the former, which roller carries a smaller endless band. Between these two endless bands, the rags are guided and carried forward toward the cutter. The excentrics h, h, at every rotation, by means of their rods i, i, lift the levers k, k, and cause the clicks 7, 7, to draw the ratchet-wheels m, m, round the distance of one tooth at every operation, which movement gives rotary motion to the roller o, and thereby advances the endless feeding-band j, at intervals, with the rags, toward the cutter. At one end of the axle of the roller o, there is a toothed-wheel or pinion ", taking into the teeth of a similar pinion, on the end of the axle of the upper feeding-roller q, as shewn in fig. 5, (though in this figure the roller q, is represented broken, for the purpose of shewing the parts behind,) consequently the two rollers o, and q, and their feeding bands, are made to move together in opposite directions, and, as they revolve, to conduct the rags toward the cutter. This movement of the feeding-band j,j, is further assisted by a roller or pulleys, at the other end of the axle of the roller o, from whence an endless band passes to a similar roller or pulley, on the end of the axle of the larger band-roller, not shewn in the drawing.

In order that the rags may be fed to the cutter, uniformly, at certain intervals, and confined whilst cutting, a sliding presser t, is made to rise before the rags advance, and afterwards to come down upon them and hold them compactly, (as seen in fig. 7,) during the descent of the cutter. This rising and falling movement of the presser t, is effected by a bridge-piece u, u, extending across the machine, near the cutter, and affixed to the back of the presser t, by bolts, as shewn in fig. 5; which bridge-piece is connected, at its ends, to anti-friction rollers v, v, seen in figs. 6 and 7. The ends of the bridge-piece u, terminate in small axles, which pass through large slots, cut in the levers k, k, as represented by dots in fig. 6; and the rollers