To JAMES LEEMING and RICHARD SHIERS MARKINDALE, both of Broughton, Lancashire, for an improvement in carding engines.[Dated 28th March, 1863.]

THIS invention consists in employing two or more doffers or doffing cylinders between any two carding cylinders or swifts for transferring the fibrous material from one carding cylinder or swift to another carding cylinder or swift; by which means a larger quantity of fibrous material may be prepared in a given time, than where one doffer or doffing cylinder only is employed, and the quality of the sliver is improved, and the machine is maintained in a cleaner and better working condition.

The figure in Plate II. shows so much of one of the improved carding engines (in section), as will be sufficient to illustrate the invention. In this arrangement, three carding cylinders or swifts a, a1, and a", are employed; the first swift a, being supplied with the fibrous material to be operated upon in the usual manner. Between this swift a, and the next swift, a1, are the two doffers or doffing cylinders b, and c, by which the fibrous material is doffed from the swift a, and transferred to the swift al; the upper doffer b, taking off the longer material, and the lower doffer the shorter material; by which the swifts are maintained in a cleaner state than when one doffer only is used,—a larger quantity of material being operated upon in a given time, and a better quality in the resulting sliver obtained. Between the second swift a', and the third swift all, a similar pair of doffers d, e, operate in like manner, and transfer the fibrous material from the swift a', to the swift all, from which latter the fibrous material is doffed in the usual manner by the doffer f.

The patentees claim, "the use and employment in carding engines of two doffers or doffing cylinders between any two carding cylinders or swifts, for the purpose of transferring the fibrous material under operation from one carding cylinder or swift to the other carding cylinder or

swift."

TO JAMES CARVER, of Nottingham, for improvements in the manufacture of carriages employed in machines for the making of lace or other fabrics.-[Dated 30th March, 1863.]

THE object of this invention is to provide for the use, in a carriage for the manufacture of lace, of a larger bobbin than has heretofore been used.

In Plate II., figs. 1 and 2 show the improved arrangement, wherein a spring is placed and arranged according to this invention. This admits of the insertion of a larger bobbin than heretofore, in a carriage of a given size. In fig. 1 the spring is pointing upward; in fig. 2 it is reversed, or pointing downward. A, is the carriage; B, the bobbin; and c, the spring, which is placed at the upper part of the carriage, instead of being a long spring placed at the side, as heretofore.

In carrying out this arrangement, a double spring is sometimes used, with crank fastening; and the fulcrum of the spring may be perpendicular to the centre of contact with the bobbin, and also to the centre of the verge of the carriage, and to the centre of the bottom of the carriage. By the improved arrangements, a better method is obtained of fastening the spring in the carriage.

The patentee claims, "the improvements described, according to which, the spring which holds the bobbin in the carriage is placed at the upper part thereof, and whereby, in a carriage of any given size, a larger bobbin can be used than heretofore employed in a carriage of such size, as described."

To EDWIN FRANCIS CLARKE, of Hemer, Herefordshire, for improvements in the means of fastening rails for railways.—[Dated 2nd April, 1863.] THESE improvements relate to the construction of the chairs and keys employed to support and fasten the rails to railway sleepers, and also to the method of fixing and securing the same. The chair is formed with a vertical slot tapering downwards, and which is cut in the inner faces of the chair, and extends through the bottom of the same. The keys are each formed with a head, which fits on the side of the rail, and drops into a recess formed in the chair for that purpose, and a vertical fin projecting from the outside, and extending downwards in such a form that when the keys are placed one on each side of the rail, the fins meet underneath, and on being dropped vertically (in this position) into the chair, the fins exactly fit, and completely fill the taper vertical slot in the chair. The heads of the keys are the same width as the chair, except at the joint chairs, where they are made wider, so as to act as fish-plates.

In order to keep the keys and rail in their position, and to prevent the rail from rising, a hole is drilled longitudinally (in the direction of the rails) through the chair beneath the rail, and forms a corresponding hole through the ribs of the keys (half in each) at the point where they meet under the rail; and a pin is driven through the chair and the keys, and the whole is secured firmly together. The chair is fastened to the sleeper in the ordinary manner.

In a modification of the above, the lower part of the fin is dispensed with, and a hole is drilled longitudinally through the side of the chair and the rib of the key, for the pin to go through; and in a further modification only one key is used, of the form last above described.

In Plate II., fig. 1 shows an elevation of one form of the improved chair and keys, the rail being shown in section; fig. 2 is a plan view of the chair, with the keys in their position; and fig. 3 is an elevation of the keys removed from the chair. The chair A, A, is formed with a vertical slot a, a, tapering downwards, formed in the inner faces of the chair, and extending also through the bottom of the same. The keys are each formed with a head в, B, (which fits against the side of the rail, and drops into a recess formed in the upper part of the chair for that purpose) and a vertical fin b, b, which fits into, and completely fills the slot a, a, in the chair above mentioned. There is a hole drilled longitudinally (or in the direction of the rails) through the chair, beneath the rail, and a corresponding hole c, through the lower part of the keys, half in each (see fig. 3). In fixing the rails, the keys are placed, as in fig. 3, one at each side of the rail, and the whole dropped vertically into the chair, and secured by driving a split pin or screwed bolt d, (see fig. 1) through the chair and the keys. Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of a joint chair, wherein the head B, B, of the key is made wider than the chair, and acts as a "fish plate." Figs. 5 and 6 show front and side elevations of a modification of the above, wherein VOL. XIX.

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the lower part of the fin b, b, is dispensed with, and the slot does not extend through the bottom of the chair. Fig. 7 shows a section of a rail, with the keys placed in position prior to dropping them into the chair. Figs. 8 and 9 show a further modification of the same, in which only one key is used. In both of these latter modifications it will be observed that the hole for the split pin or screwed bolt d, is made at one side of the chair (half in the jaw, and half in the back of the key), instead of beneath the rail, as in the former instance. These modifications are also equally applicable to joint chairs

The patentee claims, "the improvements in the means of fastening rails for railways, as shown and described, or any mere modification thereof, constructed in substantially the same or a similar manner."

TO ASTLEY PASTON PRICE, of Lincoln's Inn Fields, for improvements in apparatus employed in the fusion, manufacture, production, and refining of metals.-[Dated 2nd April, 1863.]

THIS invention consists in constructing cupolas, blast furnaces, or other similar furnaces employed for the manufacture, fusion, or in the production of cast iron, steel, or other metals, and of crucibles or other similar vessels employed in the conversion or refining of cast iron, in the manufacture and production of iron or steel, by the injection of air or gases, or by that process known as the atmospheric process, in such a manner as that they shall be surrounded, either entirely or partially, with a hollow casing of cast iron, or of malleable iron, or of other suitable metal, and shall permit of a current of water, or jet of steam, or a blast of air circulating freely through and around such hollow casing; by which means the sides of the cupola, blast furnace, crucible, or other similar converting vessel, may be cooled, and the lining of the cupola, blast furnace, crucible, or other similar converting vessel, may be preserved from the destructive action of the heat and the fluxes. When this casing is applied to crucibles, or converting vessels used in the conversion of cast iron into steel or iron, and required to be moveable, the casing should be constructed in such a manner that it shall be closed, with the exception of suitable inlet and outlet pipes, so that no water, steam, or air shall escape, except by such outlets, when the vessel is moved for the purpose of discharging its contents. The inner surface of the casing may be lined with fire-brick or fire-clay, or any other suitable material.

The figure in Plate II., is a section of the improved cupola. A, is a cylindrical, or other shaped, closed or open jacket, of wrought or cast iron, or other suitable metal, forming, when lined with fire-clay or firebrick B, the lower part of the cupola, blast, or smelting furnace, the jacket being, by preference, applied to that part of the furnace only where the greatest heat is generated. This jacket or casing may be formed of one or more pieces, as preferred. The upper part or brickwork c, rests upon a stout ring or annular bed plate D, of iron or other material, which may be itself partly supported upon the closed or open top of the jacket or casing, and partly by the outside columns E, E or the upper part of the furnace may be entirely supported by the columns and ring, or bed plate D. F, F, are tubular openings in the jacket or casing, for the

1st

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reception of the nozzles of the tuyeres or blast pipes G, G; a similar passage h, being made at or near the bottom of the upper jacket or casing, or below the same, to be used as the tap hole. The bottom of the cupola may be composed of another water jacket 1, which may be either distinct from, or in one piece with, the upright, or cylindrical, or other shaped jacket. In these jackets, a constant circulation of air, steam, or water is maintained by the inlet and outlet pipes K, and L. When water is employed in a closed jacket, it is preferred to bend upwards the exit pipe L, in order to ensure that the jacket be constantly full of water.

The patentee claims, "the application and use to and in cupolas and blast furnaces employed for the fusion, manufacture, and production of metals, and also the application and use to and in crucibles or converting vessels employed in the refining or conversion of cast iron into steel or iron, of a hollow metallic casing, lined with fire-bricks, fire-clay, or other good heat-resisting material, such casing or jacket being so constructed that a current of water, or jet of steam, or blast of air, may circulate freely through the same, in the manner described."

To HENRY WILLIAM RIPLEY, of Cheltenham, for improvements in machinery for preparing and printing wool and other fibres,—being a communication.-[Dated 10th April, 1863.]

THIS invention consists in combining a gill box or gill mechanism with printing machinery, in order that an even sliver or web may be produced, and then printed by the combined machinery.

The figure in Plate I., is a sectional elevation of the improved machine for preparing and printing wool. 1, is the wool or fibrous substance; 2, the pressing rollers; 3, the gill teeth; 4, the pressing rollers; 5, the web of fibres passing from the gill teeth to the printing rollers. A, is the color trough; B, is the color supply roller; c, is a roller covered with elastic porous material; D, is a doctor or expressing roller; E, is a scraper; F, is an engraved printing roller; G, is the endless cloth for conveying the printed web of fibres to a suitable drying apparatus. In place of thisarrangement of printing machinery, other printing machinery, wherein the printing roller or surface receives the color, may be employed for printing the desired device on the continuous web of fibres proceeding from proper gill apparatus.

The wool or other fibrous material is caused to enter the gill box or gill mechanism in the form of a sliver or slivers, which may be either partially twisted or be devoid of twist. A sliver or web of the desired width is produced by the gill box, in the ordinary way, as is well understood. The web or sliver is conducted directly to the printing machinery on a supporting roller or rollers, or otherwise; and by means of the printing surfaces, the sliver or web is impressed with the desired device, and is then conducted away, by preference, by an endless apron, to a suitable receptacle or drying chamber, where the same is dried. The printed web or sliver is afterwards steamed, washed, and dried, after which it is gilled and drawn, by which the desired extending and consequent mixing of the fibres are effected, to which processes no claim is made.

To THOMAS BALDWIN, of Bury, Lancashire, for improvements in superheating steam, and in apparatus connected therewith.-[Dated 10th April, 1863.]

For the purpose of superheating the steam before entering the working cylinders of steam engines, it is passed from the boiler through any convenient number of tubes, encased in a flue, through which the hot gases from a separate furnace to that used for generating the steam in the boiler pass, and are diverted in their passage among the tubes by plates of metal or fire-clay, so as to cause the heat to be more equally diffused in the flue; or the flue may be used without the plates of metal or fire-clay, when necessary. The hot gases from the separate furnace, after passing among the tubes, are conveyed direct to the chimney by a separate flue, or they are conveyed into the flue of the boiler, as may be required. A damper is placed in such a position as to regulate or prevent the flow of the hot gases from the separate furnace among the tubes, and another damper is placed to allow the hot gases to pass to the chimney either along the flue of the boiler, or through a separate flue to the chimney, as may be required. The steam from the boiler, on its way to the working cylinder, passes through the tubes, and becomes superheated by the action of the hot gases from the separate furnace, whereby less fuel is required to produce a given mechanical effect, than when steam is used without being superheated. Tubes are also used one inside the other-the steam passing through the space between the tubes; and the hot gases pass through the lesser tubes, and around the larger ones. Such tubes are placed in the flue or chamber before named. In all cases, where convenient, the steam is passed from the boiler in such a way that it shall flow through the heating apparatus in an opposite direction to the flow of the hot gases from the furnace.

In Plate II., fig. I is a sectional plan, and fig. 2 a vertical section, of a furnace, showing an arrangement of horizontal tubes. The steam from the boilers h, h1, passes through the pipes b, into the box c, to which the tubes a, are secured at one end, then through the said tubes a, and into the box c1, to which the tubes a, are secured at the other end, and from thence to the engine through the pipe b1. The furnace d, for superheating the steam, is placed, when two or more boilers are used, between them; but when only one boiler is used, the furnace d, is placed on the side of the boiler in the most convenient position for firing and admission of the hot gases to the boiler flue or chimney. The heated gases pass from the furnace d, along the passage e, and among the tubes a, and through the passage f, or f1, (fig. 1) as shown by the dotted lines, and by the arrows in fig 2, as may be required. The passages f,f, open into the flues of the boilers, and are opened or closed, when required, by the dampers i, i1. The tubes a, are enclosed in the flue or chamber g, through which the hot gases from the furnace pass. When the hot gases from the furnace d, are intended to pass to the chimney, instead of passing into the flue or flues of the boiler, a separate flue is made for the purpose, and a damper or dampers placed therein. The chamber 9, is formed of fire-brick or other similar material.

The patentee claims, "the passing of the hot gases from a separate furnace, through a chamber or chambers containing tubes, or through tubes, and into the flue or flues of a steam boiler or steam boilers; or passing the