higher degree in the progress of the process. And I would have it understood, that what I claim is,

Firstly, the submitting manufactured fuel containing coal and bituminous matter, to the high degrees of temperature herein described.

Secondly, I claim the peculiar construction of retort herein described, for applying high degrees of heat to manufactured fuel containing coal and bituminous matter; and,

Thirdly, I claim the introduction of streams of highly heated air into, and also exhausting products from, retorts, when applying heat to manufactured fuel containing coal and bituminous matter.-In witness, &c. FERDINAND CHARLES WARLICH.

Enrolled April 5, 1844.

Specification of the Patent granted to JAMES ROOSE, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, but now of Dudley Port, in the Parish of Tipton, in the County of Stafford, Gentleman, for an Improvement or Improvements in the Mode or Method of Manufacturing Gun-barrels and Ordnance.-Sealed November 18, 1843.

WITH AN ENGRAVING.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c., &c.— My invention relates to improvements in the manufacture or welding the seams or joints of twisted gun-barrels and ordnance; and the improvement consists of a means or particular mode of passing the iron skelp or partly formed barrel through a groove or grooves of a pair of rolls, or through a hole in a pair of dies or tongs.

Description of the Drawings.

A, fig. 1, represents a pair of dies or tongs, having a partly elliptical or oval bell or enlarged mouth. B, represents the frame of the tongs in which the dies slide, the dies having a spring at the back end of each of them, which spring is regulated in strength according to the strength or substance of the iron in the skelp or barrel. Each spring is fastened or prevented from losing its

position by the ends being bent, and slides against the outside of the frame of the tongs, or by a pin or screw being fastened through them in the dies. Figures S, S, s, s, represent a stop in the frame of the tongs, to prevent the dies sliding or expanding more than the springs will admit of, without being injured.

c, fig. 2, represents a bar or rod of iron or steel, with a swell or rim of iron or steel being welded to it some distance down it, for the purpose of preventing the barrel being forced off when the welding pressure is upon it, in passing through the hole in the dies or tongs. The intended small end of the barrel first enters the hole in the dies or tongs, and, owing to the springs at the back end of each of the dies in the tongs, and the hole being partly elliptical, or oval form or shape, with a bell or enlarged mouth, will give pressure to the small end as well as the large end of the barrel. The barrel being secured at the one end from being pushed off by the swell or rim being on the bar or rod, and the resistance offered or opposed when passing through the hole in the pressing dies, presses the joint seams or twists together, and immediately upon that welds them. The tongs or dies are placed by the workmen against a suitable stop made for that purpose, and then the barrel, with the instrument in the inside, is passed through the hole in the dies or tongs by means of a draw-bench, the barrel is re-heated, and passed as may be required.

F, fig. 5, represents a stop, which is placed in the front of the rolls. This stop is similar to the stops now used by those parties that roll gun-barrels, with this difference, that it has two additional bars across it. These bars are for the purpose of placing upon the top a driving-rod, G, and н, figures 6, and 7. The driving-rod slides in a groove, 1, fig. 8, attached to the two bars on the one part of the driving-rod. These are placed upon the top, and it is driven by a cog-wheel. The sides or frame in which the wheel works and gains its support, is attached to the two bars, fig. 9, and may be slided opposite any of the grooves in the rolls. The wheel is driven by a square shaft, bar, or rod of iron, which is attached or set in motion by a steam-engine or other power. This driving-rod is for this purpose; when the barrel is upon the maundrel, it is introduced into the rolls to force the twist up together, so that when it is passing under the

pressure of the rolls, a very effectual weld at the joints, seams, or twist, is so obtained or effected, without disfiguring or making the twist irregular. The rolls are the same as those used by the present mode of rolling gunbarrels, as may be seen at K, fig. 10: and in order to give the best information in my power, I will proceed to describe the manner in which my invention may be most fully and readily carried into effect.

Firstly, I take a strip of iron, or part iron and steel, or all iron or steel, of the required length, breadth, and thickness, depending upon the kind of barrel required, and proceed to turn, roll, draw, or convert it into a skelp or form of barrel. If for a twisted barrel, I have the iron twisted in the same manner as it is practised by gunbarrel welders now. I then proceed to place the skelp or partly formed barrel in the furnace, and insert the bar or rod of iron in the barrel from the back end of the furnace, so that the bar or rod may be caught hold of, and brought out of the furnace by a pair of plyers on the draw bench, when the barrel upon the maundrel has reached a good welding heat. At the back end of the furnace I have a hole, so that the bar or rod may be put in the barrel from the back, and brought out of the front with the bar or rod in the inside of the barrel. The instrument is then caught hold of by the plyers and dies or tongs, being placed on the outside of the bar or rod against the stop or the end of the draw bench, the plyers being then attached to the chain, will draw the instrument with the barrel on the outside thereof, and will force the seams, joints, or twists together, and weld them, as well as making them smooth. These tongs or frames, with the dies inside them, are placed against the stop at the end of the draw bench by one of the workmen, and put in water after each time of using, for the purpose of cleansing them from any scale, which stop is placed close to the mouth of the furnace. The instrument in the inside of the barrel being caught hold of by the plyers, and the chain being set in motion, passes the barrel with the instrument in the inside, through the dies, the twist being forced together, owing to the stop at the end of the barrel under the pressure of the pressing dies, and the dies having springs at the back end of each of them, will give pressure to the small end as well as the large end of the barrel. The greater the substance is, the greater the

pressure is offered to the barrel, owing to the resistance opposed by the springs. The barrel is then turned round. a little, and drawn through the dies again, as before described, and the bar or rod of iron drawn out of it. The barrel is then re-heated and a maundrel inserted, and is placed under the grasp of the rolls for the purpose of clearing the inside, making it of a good shape or form.

I would remark, that there should not be much pressure upon the barrel so as to elongate it, only sufficient to make it of a good shape, equalize the thickness, and make it perfectly smooth inside and out. Should the twist be drawn out a little at the fore end, the iron should be rolled a little taper in its width, so that by its being lengthened in the rolling, and being drawn out from the fore end, the narrow part of the iron being up, for the fore end will allow for the drawing out, and make the twist regular. This improvement is of such a nature that the barrel can be produced for sale at an immense reduction of expense, and of a much superior quality and strength, owing to the small quantity of heats to which it is necessary to submit the material of which the barrel is composed which I have before described, and by the quickness of its operation; and it will have a tendency to improve instead of destroying the nature of the iron. I do not claim the welding of twisting gun-barrels by machinery. What I claim as the first part of my invention is, the construction and principle of the dies or tongs in conjunction with the bar or rod of iron or steel, and the ways those are applied.

Secondly, I claim the principle and construction of the bar or rod of iron or maundrel, having a swell some distance from the one end, and the other passing down the barrel, and drawn with the plyers by the clam of the draw bench when the barrel is about to be welded.

Thirdly, I claim the principle and manner in which the barrel is passed or forced through the dies or tongs.

Fourthly, I claim the principle of the driving rod placed in front of the rolls when used for the purpose of forcing the twist up together, and at the same time passing under the pressure of the rolls.

Fifthly, I claim the peculiar manner of welding twisted wrought-iron or steel, by forcing the twist up together. I should wish it to be understood, that I do not confine myself to any particular form or shape of the dies or

tongs. The other part of my invention, namely, that which relates to the welding of twisted wrought-iron cannon, and the improvement or improvements consist of the means of welding the seams, twists, or joints thereof. And in order that it may be more fully understood, I will proceed to describe the manner in which I carry it into effect. First, I take a piece of iron of the required size and length, according to the size of cannon about to be welded, and proceed to put it into the furnace. When it has reached to a sufficient heat to allow it to be turned, I place the one end, after having been first put into water, between a flange and the maundrel, which flange is attached to a chock. In this chock there is placed the one end, which is square, of a taper maundril, the other end being secured upon a bearing, the chock is driven by a crab that is attached to the steam-engine or other power, and revolves; and by there being a bar of iron placed in front thereof, causes the hot iron to twist or wrap round the maundrel very similar to the present mode of twisting the skelps of twisted gun-barrels, which is well known, I prefer a taper maundrel on account of releasing it from the twisted iron. After the whole of this is performed, I proceed to put the twisted iron into the furnace again, with a hollow maundrel in the inside, projecting through each end of the twist and through the furnace, so that there may be water applied to the inside of the maundrel if found requisite. When the twist has reached a good welding heat it is brought out of the furnace by the aid of cranes. The one end of the maundrel is then placed through a hole in the face of a heavy hammer, and the other is put through a hole in the face of an anvil. This hammer slides up and down the one end of the maundrel, and keeps beating or hammering upon the end of the twist, by which means a very effectual weld is obtained. The hammer is driven by means of a cambring, which cambring is driven by a shaft from the engine. The twist cannot get from under the hammer on account of the one end of the maundrel being through the face of the anvil and the other through the face of the hammer. The top part of the hole in the hammer should be a little larger than the bottom part, on account of the lift of the hammer. When this is performed, I again place the one end of the twist in the furnace, together with a solid piece of iron in the end