A modification of the above method of moving the platform and piston is described in the specification; the chief difference being in the employment of pinions and racks, in place of the crank-levers m, and n.

Fig. 7, is a front view, and fig. 8, a section of a fire-place for a dwelling-house, supplied with fuel in a similar manner to the furnace represented at fig. 6; and fig. 9, is a plan view of the bottom of the grate, with its coal-box. a, is the coal-box; b, the platform; and c, a rack, on its under side, into which a spring-catch d, takes, and supports the platform at any required height. The platform is elevated by passing a poker or other instrument through an opening e, in the front of the coal-box, and into the loop at the side of the rack c; it is permitted to descend by releasing the catch from the teeth of the rack, by means of the handle ƒ, and is supplied with coals through the lid g.

The patentee claims the mode of supplying fuel to furnaces or fire-places, by means of a platform, or such like instrument, acting in the manner described.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, June, 1840.]

TO JOHN JUCKES, of Lewisham, in the county of Kent, Gent., for improvements in furnaces or fire-places.-[Sealed 4th September, 1841.]

THESE improvements consist in forming the fire-bars of furnaces or fire-places into an endless chain, which passes over a wheel, at each end of the furnace, and is moved a short distance, at intervals, so that the fuel is gradually carried towards the bridge, and progressively brought into a state of combustion; by this means the gases, evolved from the fresh fuel, are consumed in their passage, over the ignited fuel, to the bridge of the furnace, or entrance into the flue of the chimney.

In Plate VIII., fig. 10, is a longitudinal section, and fig. 11, a transverse section of a furnace, provided with a series of fire-bars, connected together in such a manner as to form an endless chain; figs. 12, are side and end views of the fire-bars used therein. a, is the bridge and entrance into the flue of the chimney; and b, is a carriage or frame,

D

that supports the fire-bars, which can be moved into and out of the ash-pit, by means of its wheels c, running upon the rails d; e, f, g, are the fire-bars, which slightly differ from each other, as will be seen by reference to figs. 12, e, being the outer bars; f, those that are situated next to them; and g, the inner bars. The fire-bars are made into an endless chain, by passing the rods h, through their openings i, and rivetting the ends of the rods; the outer bars e, rest upon the rollers j, so that the portion of the chain. within the furnace is supported by those rollers. The chain of bars passes over a wheel k, at each end of the furnace, and the bars are so arranged that each row will break joint with the row on either side of it; in order that as they pass out of the furnace, over the back chain-wheel, one end of each alternate bar may rise from between the others, as seen at l, fig. 10, and clear away any clinkers or hard cinders formed upon or between them.

The gudgeons of the front chain-wheel are moveable in the frame b, and are adjusted by screws and nuts m; upon its shaft a cog-wheel is affixed, driven by a pinion on the shaft n, and this shaft is turned by a lever o, (represented by a side and edge view, at fig. 13,) when the fire-bars are required to be moved. The lever consists of a bar o, with two plates o1, o', fixed to its broadest end; between these plates is a ratchet-wheel p, mounted upon a hollow spindle q, the interior of which is suitably formed for receiving the square end of the shaft n. The ratchet-wheel turns freely upon its spindle, in one direction, but is prevented from turning the other way by a spring-click r, so that when applied to the shaft n, and moved up and down, in the same manner as a pump-handle, it will cause that shaft to revolve, and, by means of the pinion and cog-wheel, to communicate the requisite movements to the fire-bars.-The patentee states, that he generally moves the bars about one foot every twenty minutes. s, is a hopper, by which the coals are deposited upon the fire-bars; t, an iron box, for receiving the small coals that may fall between the bars before they become caked and ignited; and u, a sliding door, which is raised or lowered, as required, for the purpose of

regulating the quantity of coals carried into the furnace by the fire-bars.

The patentee claims the mode of constructing furnaces or fire-places, by combining fire-bars into a chain, by which the parts may be changed in their position, from time to time, and progressively go into and out of action, as above explained.[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, March, 1842.]

As the above described invention is at present exciting considerable interest, we think it as well to draw the attention of our readers to the specification of a patent, for improvements in furnaces, granted to Mr. Bodmer, May, 1834, (see Vol. VII., p. 57, Conjoined Series,) in which, after shewing two descriptions of travelling fire-bars, viz., rotary and horizontal, he states, "It is obvious, that a propelling or travelling grate may be constructed by a series of fire-bars, attached to an endless chain, passed over conducting rollers, and actuated in any convenient manner."-p. 68.

TO JESSE SMITH, of Wolverhampton, in the county of Stafford, lock maker, for his invention of improvements in the construction of locks and latches, applicable for doors and other purposes.—[Sealed 9th November, 1841.]

THESE improvements in the construction of locks and latches consist, in certain novel parts, adapted to work the springbolt of a lock.

In Plate VIII., fig. 1, represents the improvement applied to a mortice lock; and fig. 2, the novel parts detached.— The lock bolt, of the ordinary construction, is shewn at a; and b, is the private bolt, as commonly applied. The springbolt is shewn at c, on which the improved parts are intended to act, for the purpose of drawing back the spring-bolt, by means of an ordinary handle, knob, or other suitable contrivance. A double-armed lever d, d, forms part of the piece called the "follow," which works in sockets in the plates of the lock, in the ordinary way. One arm of this lever d, acts against the crank-lever e, hanging upon a pin set in the lock-plate at f; and the other arm of the lever against a pin or stud, set in the hinder part of the springbolt c. The lower end of the pendant crank-lever e, is connected by a joint pin to the spring-bolt at g; and the

upper end of this pendant crank-lever is acted upon by a spring h. The action of the lock, when the door is required to be opened, is as follows:-On turning the handle of the door, the upper arm of the follow-lever d, will rise and force the pendant crank-lever e, into the position shewn in fig. 1, the lower arm of the lever e, having by that means drawn the spring-bolt back, so as to allow the door to open. When the knob or handle of the follow is released, the force of the spring h, acting on the upper arm of the cranklever e, will bring it and the bolt c, again into the projected and quiescent situation.

The above is one mode of drawing the spring-bolt c, back, but if the follow is turned in the reverse direction, the lower arm of the follow-lever d, bearing against a pin i, set in the hinder part of the spring-bolt, will also draw the spring-bolt back.

The patentee states that, although in the drawing attached to the specification, he has shewn these improvements only in connection with a mortice lock, yet he does not intend to confine himself to that or any other particular construction of locks, to which the same contrivance may be applicable; but he claims, the use of the pendant cranklever, connected in any convenient way to the spring-bolt, when acted upon by the lever attached to the follow, as above described; however they may be varied in their forms or positions.-[Inrolled in the Petty Bag Office, May, 1842.] Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Son.

TO ISAAC DODDS, of Sheffield, in the county of York, engineer, for certain improvements in the modes or methods of supplying gas, for the purposes of illuminating towns and other places. [Sealed 13th November, 1841.]

THESE improvements in supplying gas, for the purposes of illumination, consist, in the first place, in an improved means of conveying gas from the station or manufactory to any required distance, (say many miles,) to the place or

locality where it may be required to be consumed. The gas is to be conducted through pipes, or tubes of small capacity, instead of large tubular mains, as heretofore, which is effected by exhausting the air in the tubes or pipes, at that end which is nearest to the place intended to be illuminated, or farthest from the manufacturing station, or it may be at intermediate stations between them. By these means, the friction of the gas, in passing through the pipes or tubes, will be greatly relieved, and its progress facilitated and carried on with any required degree of velocity, which may be regulated by the working of the machinery. The same object is also effected by pumping, or otherwise forcing the gas forward from one station to another, with the same construction of machinery, or by any other convenient means. And occasionally the passage of the gas is further promoted by combining the two operations of exhausting and forcing, suitable machinery being applied at the opposite ends of the line of pipes or tubes.

In Plate IX., fig. 1, represents an internal view of an apparatus for exhausting, or it may be employed for forcing the gas; and fig. 2, is a transverse section of the apparatus. The external cylindrical vessel a, a, contains a rotary fan b, b, which is actuated by a pulley and band, or other contrivance, applied to its axle c, c. The tubes d, d, when this apparatus is used for exhausting, communicate with that end of the conducting main of pipes or tubes which is farthest from the supply or manufacturing station; and being likewise connected with the cylindrical vessel, thereby charge it with gas. The rotation of the fan, by exhausting the tubes d, d, causes the gas to flow through the main, with great rapidity, into the cylindrical vessel a, and which is, by the rotation of the fan therein, forced onward through the tube f, into a gas-holder or pipes; from whence it may be conveyed into other receptacles, or to the burners for use. If this apparatus be applied to the station end of the pipe or main, that is, between the purifiers and the main, its rotary action will force the gas onward, though not with equal effect to the operation of exhausting.

Fig. 3, represents, in section, another form of apparatus,