333

form. After the ethereal vapours have done their duty there, they pass through an eduction pipe, to a series of pipes surrounded by cold water, where they are recondensed, or, in other words, reproduced in a state fit for renewed use.

The "new and improved apparatus," which is to be used "as a substitute for the (usual) stuffing-boxes," and on the hermetical closeness of which the efficiency of the whole affair entirely depends, is thus described, (omitting the references to certain illustrative drawings which accompany it):

"The cover or upper plate of the cylinder of the engine carries a cone, which is fixed to the plate by its base. Over that cylinder a small cylinder is placed, the cover of which likewise carries a cone. The piston-rod passes through both cones. A leather, saturated with oil or fatty substance, and thus made pliant, is rolled in a spiral direction round the piston-rod and cones. This leather is held only by a tape or twine, which is wound round it in a helical direction, to prevent it from unrolling. Between the leather and the internal sides of the cylinder there is a space which must be filled with liquid fat or oil. A reservoir contains the oil to be employed in the operation; and there are pipes for conveying the oil as it is forced by a pump into all parts of the apparatus. There is also a reservoir of air compressed by the liquid forced by the pump, the object of which is to render the pressure elastic. A valve is provided for the escape of any superfluous oil; which valve is loaded by means of a lever and weight, and is furnished with a funnel and pipe for reconducting into the first reservoir the oil which escapes through the valve. A meter is added on the compressed air principle, for indicating the pressure produced on the stuffingbox. It is by the indications of this instrument that the engineer regulates the degree of pressure which the weight ought to produce on the valve."

"In order to place the leather on the piston-rod, a rod of the same diameter is employed, and on this rod the leather is to be rolled, having the edges previously pared, well prepared, and perfectly smooth on one side of its edges. Then roll it with the hand and as evenly as possible on the rod, so that it be wound round and round two or three times. The leather thus rolled is retained by means of a tape coiled round it. These preparations made, the cover of the small cylinder is removed, the piston being then at the bottom of the other, (the larger or working) cylinder. Then place the extremity of the rod on which the leather is wound round, on the top of the piston-rod, and slide the leather gently from one rod to the other.

The leather descends until it reaches the cone, (of the working cylinder) which being very sharp at its upper end penetrates a certain distance into the circular cavity formed by the leather, and slightly distends the leather. The cover of the small cylinder is then put over the piston-rod, and as it descends to its place, the cone (attached to it) enters into the cylindrical cavity of the leather. The bolts are then tightened gradually, and the cover of the small cylinder brought carefully into contact with the working cylinder, when the leather covers both cones."

The above substitute for a stuffing-box may, it is said, "be used not only in the before described (gas) engine, but also with any steam engines actually in use."

A contrivance is described for "lubricating the piston when necessary;" and also "a cock or a valve, to be used instead of the ordinary cock for retaining very volatile fluids."

The patentee desires it to be understood "that the boiler containing the water and steam which transmits heat to the ether and volatile liquors, and converts them into vapour, should be provided with safety-valves, water-gauges, proof-cocks, and all other accessaries, generally adapted to steam generators."

No claim is made. The public are left to gather from the description given what" the improvements" are which the patentee considers to be new; and this is a sort of labour which the Courts have decided a patentee has no right to cast on the public. The double boiler we do not think is new. The substitute for the ordinary stuffing-box is new, and, moreover, a very ingenious contrivance, which, though it may never be of any use in its native application to ethereal vapour engines, may probably be applied with advantage to high-pressure steam-engines. The patentee (or, more properly speaking, the foreign author of "the communication" to him) gives us to understand in the introduction to his specification, that he has actually succeeded in obtaining a motive power from ethereal vapours " employed over and over again in a machine constructed in such a manner as to prevent the loss and escape of any particle of the same;" but that the machine he has described is capable, even with its ingenious packing apparatus, of accomplishing such a prodigy, or even of reaching within many degrees of it, we hold to be a most chimerical expectation. There could not fail to be very great waste; and, according to the inventor's own showing, unless there is no waste at all, there is nothing to be gained by the adoption of his machine.

334

MOSES POOLE, OF LINCOLN'S-INN, GENT., for certain improvements in fire-arms. (Being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad.)-Enrolment Office, April 16, 1842.

The improvements comprehended under this patent relate solely to fire-arms with revolving breeches, and consist, 1. In so constructing them that by simply pulling and letting go the trigger, one barrel is discharged, and the next in the circle of barrels brought round to be fired off; so that the gun may be discharged as many times as there are barrels, without once moving it from the shoulder; and 2. In making the locks of such fire-arms without either hammer or cock.

When the trigger is pulled, it pushes forward a small spring barrel or case, which by means of a connecting collar and link, brings a moveable stop inside of the revolving breech round upon the nipple of the first of the loaded barrels in order to be fired, and by its forcible contact with the cap fixed upon it, causes it to explode. On withdrawing the hand from the trigger, the spring barrel and stop return to their original positions, while the breech, with which the trigger is also connected, (by means of arrangements similar to those commonly adopted in guns of this class, and not necessary therefore to be here described,) revolves so far as to bring up another loaded barrel ready to be discharged in the same way as before. Should it be desirable to cease firing after the discharge of one or more barrels, there is a stop below the lock, by pressing on which the whole of the mechanism is made fast.

The claim is, "1. To the mode of constructing fire-arms with revolving breeches in such manner that the action of pulling the trigger will discharge the gun, and by withdrawing the pressure therefrom, the breech will revolve, and bring up a fresh barrel to be discharged, the other parts returning to their original position.

"2. To the mode of constructing firearms with revolving breeches applied thereto, in such manner as to dispense with the cock or hammer, by bringing each nipple having a cap thereon, successively in contact with a moveable stop, which will explode and so discharge the gun."

NEILSON'S HOT-BLAST PATENT-IMPORTANT TRIAL.

Jury Court, Edinburgh-April 1—5. J. B. Neilson and others, v. Househill Coal and Iron Company.

[The Lord Justice Clerk and a special jury commenced to try the issues between

the parties on Friday, 1st of April, and so extensive was the investigation, that the case occupied six days.]

This was an action of damages for the contravention of a patent for "an invention for the improved application of air to produce heat in fires, forges, and furnaces, where bellows or other blowing apparatus are required." The claim of the patentee is in these terms :-"I, the said J. B. Neilson, do hereby declare, that my invention for the improved application of air to produce heat in fires, forges, and furnaces, where bellows or other blowing apparatus are required, consists in introducing into, and applying to the fires, forges, and furnaces, atmospheric air, in the following manner, &c."

The following were the issues :

"It being admitted, that, on the 1st day of October, 1828, the pursuer, J. B. Neilson, obtained letters patent under the Great Seal used in Scotland, in place of the Great Seal thereof, and duly enrolled a specification in terms of the proviso contained in said letters patent:

"It being also admitted, that the pursuers, other than the said J. B. Neilson, have acquired, by assignment from him, a joint interest with him in the said patent:

"Whether, in the course of the year 1840, and during the currency of the said letters patent, the defenders did, in or at their iron works at Househill, by themselves or others, wrongfully, and in contravention of the privileges conferred by the said letters patent, use machinery or apparatus substantially the same with the machinery or apparatus described in said specification, and to the effect set forth in the said letters patent and specification, to the loss, injury, and damage of the pursuers?"

The damages were laid as follows:-Profits claimed, as at the date of the action, 10,000.; other damages, as at the same date, 2,0007.-Total, 12,0007.

Mr. Rutherford opened the case for the pursuers in an address of upwards of two hours' duration. The following among other witnesses, gave evidence in favour of the pur

John George Bodmer, Esq. Engineer, Manchester William Silverwood, Esq., Civil and Mining Engineer, Derbyshire. Alexander Buttery, Esq., of the Monkland Steel and Iron Company, &c. &c.

The Solicitor General (M'Neill) then addressed the jury with great ability for the defenders, and afterwards called several witnesses (chiefly from London).

Mr. Rutherford replied for the pursuers in an eloquent and powerful speech.

The Lord Justice Clerk, after giving full directions to the jury as to the law of the case, went over the principal parts of the evidence. In concluding, he informed the jury, that, if their verdict should be for the defenders, they would simply find for them on all the issues; if, on the other hand, they should find for the pursuers, then he considered it would be expedient, with a view to the after-procedure in this important cause, that they should embody in their verdict answers to the three following questions:

"Whether the invention, as described in the said letters patent and specification, is not the original invention of the pursuer, the said J. B. Neilson?

"Whether the description contained in the said specification is not such as to enable workmen of ordinary skill to make machinery or apparatus capable of producing the effect set forth in the said letters patent and specification?

"Whether machinery or apparatus constructed according to the description in the said letters patent and specification, is not practically useful for the purposes set forth in the said letters patent?"

The jury, after retiring for an hour and a quarter, returned a verdict for the pursuers, on all the issues, at the same time adding, in terms of the suggestion of the court, the following special findings:

"And further find, that by the description in the said specification, the patentee did not refer to any particular form, or shape, or mode of construction, of the air vessel or vessels, or receptacle or receptacles, in which the air under blast is to be heated.

"And further find, that by the use of the term "effect" in the specification, the patentee did not state that the form and shape of the air vessel, or vessels, were material for the purpose of heating the air in such air vessel, or vessels.

"And further find, that the terms of the specification respecting the air vessels, or receptacles, and the size and numbers thereof, are not such as to mislead persons acquainted with the process of heating air, so as to direct and cause them to construct the vessels in a form or manner contrary to the ordinary and necessary rules to be attended to in heating air, passed into vessels for the

335

Impure Air.-Dr. Reid, in his lectures on chemistry, mentions the following simple and satisfactory experiment for the discovery of impure air:A spoonful of lime should be injected into a beer bottle with water, and being placed where suspicion is attached to the quality of the atmosphere, the presence of impurity would be tested by the appearance on the surface of a white and copious incrustation.

English and American Tools. All kinds of moulding planes, more particularly beads, hollows, and rounds, are cheaper in the United States than in England, in consequence of machinery being employed in manufacturing them, to a considerable extent. With these exceptions all other edge tools are dearer in the United States than they are in England. Axes made in England of the American pattern and quality, would pay well as an investment to take out: they may be purchased at 6d. per lb. The best axe and hammer maker in New York is an Englishman, named Standish, in Perrystreet-his price is 3 dollars for a broad axe of 9lb.; this is the lowest. The felling axe, of about 6lb., sells from 1 to 2 dollars. One reason why the American axe is superior to those imported, is because the steel is welded to the end of the iron, instead of being put between two layers of iron, as in England, by which it is apt to peel, when using the axe sideways.-Le Cras.

New Salt.-M. Laurent announces that he has obtained a new salt, the "isato-sulphate" of potash, by treating isatine with the bisulphate of potash. This salt presents a new type of crystals; it is isomeric with the indigo-sulphate of potash, but it possesses different properties. Acids give a precipitate of isatine, and disengage sulphurous acid.

Feeding Poultry.-Professor Gregory, of Aberdeen, in a letter to a friend observes-" As I suppose you keep poultry, I may tell you that it has been ascertained that if you mix with their food a sufficient quantity of egg-shells or chalk, which they eat greedily, they will lay, cæteris paribus, twice or thrice as many eggs as before. A well-fed fowl is disposed to lay a vast number of eggs, but cannot do so without the materials for the shells, however nourishing in other respects her food may be; indeed a fowl fed on food and water, free from carbonate of lime, and not finding any in the soil, or in the shape of mortar, which they often eat off the walls, would lay no eggs at all with the best will in the world. Lay this to heart, and let me know in the spring if the hens lay two, or two for one."Liverpool Standard.

Science in High Life.-A letter from Dublin of the 16th instant, written by a gentleman who was present on the occasion of casting a gigantic speculum which has been undertaken by Lord Rosse (late Lord Oxmantoun), and quoted in the Times, saysNothing could be more successful than Lord Rosse's operation, nor more beautiful than all his arrangements. The casting was made at nine at night of yesterday, (15th inst.) and byten we witnessed the building up of the monster speculum of 6 feet diameter, and weighing 3 tons, in a hot

oven, built expressly to contain it, and where it will remain for the next two months, which time will be necessary for that gradual cooling process to which it must be subjected. It is fine thing to see a man of Lord Rosse's station, instead of applying a strong mechanical genius, as is often the case, to nicknackeries, at once attacking the most important and arduous problems, and forwarding the highest branches of science. During the very delicate and difficult experiment of yesterday, he was perfectly cool and decisive, and amidst various suggestions from the bystanders, quietly followed his own judgment, which was better than any of them. His present achievement, should it finally prove quite successful, is of the greater value, since the mere expense is quite beyond the reach of an ordinary professional man. This last operation, after having satisfied himself of the manner and practicability of each part of the proceeding, could not have cost him less than £1,000. If the final result proves satisfactory, which there seems no reason to doubt, he will have reached, in the opinion of scientific men, the maximum of effect that is attainable, since the eye, as they affirm, could not make use of a larger speculum than about 6 feet diameter."

Great Colliery Tunnel.-The Victoria Tunnel, constructed for the conveyance of coals from the Leazes Main Colliery, and Spital Tongues Colliery, to the river Tyne, near the Glass House Bridge, Ouseburn, has been completed, after a labour of two years and ten months. The tunnel, which extends under the Barras Bridge down the Dene, is two miles and a quarter long, and seven feet six inches high; it has been constructed, at a great expense, by Messrs. Porter and Latimer, the owners of the Leazes Colliery, to enable them to ship their coals on the Tyne. The engineer is Mr. Gillespie, who has displayed great skill and perseverance in conducting this great undertaking to so successful and satisfactory a termination.-Mining Journal.

Electric Dyeing.-Mr. Baggs has discovered a method of applying the oxides of various metals to the purposes of dyeing cotton cloths by the agency of electricity. He showed, last week, at the Polytechnic Institution, an experiment or two to prove the practicability of his invention.

Experiments with Jeffery's Adhesive Composition. -Amongst the numerous inventions submitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and referred by their Lordships to the Committee of master shipwrights recently sitting at Woolwich dockyard, was a composition to be used in place of the substance with which vessels are at present caulked, to render them water-tight. The experiments ordered to be made by the master shipwrights to ascertain its value when applied to the purpose for which it is intended, and the result, are interesting and satisfactory. Two pieces of African teak, a species of wood difficult to be joined together by glue, on account of its oily nature, had a coating of the composition applied to them in a boiling state, and in a short time afterwards bolts and screws were attached to each end, the joined wood placed in the testing frame, and the power of Bramah's hydraulic engine applied to the extent of 19 tons, when the chain broke without the slightest strain being susceptible where the joining took place. A larger chain, of one inch and a half in diameter, was then applied, which broke with a strain of 21 tons, the joint in the wood remaining apparently as firm as at first. The utmost strain the cement can bear in this form, therefore, remains to be proved when experiments are made with larger chains.

Four pieces of hard wood were then joined together, weighing in one piece 44 cwt., and carried to the top of the shears in the dockyard, a height of 76 feet, from which it was precipitated on the hard granite wharf wall below, without any of the joints yielding in the smallest degree. The result of these severe tests induced the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to communicate with LieutenantGeneral Sir George Murray, G.C.B. and G.C.H., for the purpose of making experiments with it in the marshes, by bringing the full force of cannon balls against it. Accordingly, a number of planks of oak 8 inches thick and fir 16 inches square were joined together with the cement, to represent 8 feet in height and eight feet in length of the side of a first-rate ship of war, without any thing else in the shape of bolt or security to assist the composition; and it was, on Tuesday, set up as a target at the butt in the marshes. Three new 32-pounder guns were placed at 400 yards distance or point blank range, and three shots fired. The effects were wonderful, tearing the wood to pieces, and in only one instance, where the joint had not been good, showing that they had any effect upon the cement, so as to separate the joined parts from each other. A hole six inches and a quarter in diameter was then bored in the centre of the target and a 32-pounder shell inserted, and exploded by a match, which tore the wood to small splinters without in many places in the least separating the composition. This new invention is said to possess the power of expanding like India rubber in waim climates, and will not become brittle under the coldest temperature.-Times.

Magnesian Cement.-The' valuable properties of magnesia, in the composition of hydraulic cement, were first brought to the notice of the Madras Government by Dr. Macleod, and applied in reparations of the fort in 1825. About a twelvemonth afterwards, a comparative trial was made between a cement of the calcined mineral mixed with sand, a cement of lime and ironstone, and common chunam plaster, applied to portions of the same wall. After a heavy monsoon the magnesian cement was found to be the hardest and strongest of the three; and was thought to be fully equal to Parker's cement. The price at which the two cements could be procured at Madras was then equal; but, chiefly in consequence of the discovery of large deposits of the magnesia on the banks of the Cauvery, near Trichinopoly, the magnesian cement can now be produced at less than one-sixth of its cost at that period. A claim to the discovery of this mineral was made a few years ago by Col. (now General) Pasley, who was unacquainted with Dr. Macleod's experiments; but on an investigation of the matter, made by the authorities in England, the claim of the latter gentleman was clearly proved, and a handsome donation of 3000 rupees was made to him by the East India Company. -Lieut. Newbold.

Intending Patentees may be supplied gratis with Instructions, by application (postpaid) to Messrs. J. C. Robertson and Co., 166, Fleet-street, by whom is kept the only COMPLETE REGISTRY OF PATENTS EXTANT (from 1617 to the present time). Patents, both British and Foreign, solicited. Specifications prepared or revised, and all other Patent buiness transacted.