which may be employed either for exhausting or propelling the gas in the mains. ≈, ≈, is a cylindrical tank, containing water. Within this tank there is immersed a moveable cylinder H, I, H, I, open at top and bottom, and having an air-tight partition c, c, dividing it in the middle. A crossarm d, d, is affixed to the cylinder H, I, on the upper side of the partition-plate c, c; and to this is attached, by a joint, the vertical rod G, which is connected at top to a rotary crank. An air-tight vessel K, K, is fixed in the lower part of the tank, through which, pipes A, and в, pass; the pipe A, being for the passage of the gas from the purifying or other vessel, and the pipe в, for conducting it to the main, gas-holder, or burners. On the cylinder H, I, being raised, through the agency of the rotary crank and rod G, the valve a, in the pipe A, will rise, and allow the gas to pass into the lower compartment of the cylinder н, I, the bottom of which is rendered air-tight by the water in the tank; and on the descent of the cylinder, the gas, contained in the lower compartment, will be forced through the descending valve b, b, into the pipe в, and thence be forced onward toward the gas-holder or burners.

Another construction of apparatus, for effecting the same object, is shewn at fig. 4, which represents the apparatus in section. This may be called an Archimedean pump. A, A, is a stationary cylindrical tank, one end of which stands elevated at a considerable angle from the horizontal line. The interior of this tank is rather more than half occupied with water, and within it a barrel B, B, containing the spiral or Archimedean screw c, c, is mounted in such a manner as to allow of its revolving; D, is the pipe, by which the gas is conducted from the retorts, or from the purifier into the upper part of the cylindrical vessel A; and F, is the pipe, by which the gas is conducted from the compartment E, at the end of the Archimedean screw-barrel, to the gasholder or burners. Rotary motion being given to the axle G, of the Archimedean screw-barrel, by a band and pulley, or by any other convenient means, the gas or air in the cylinder a, a, enters the spiral passages of the screw c, c, at the elevated open end, and being pressed by the resist

ance of the water, the gas or air is carried through the spiral passages, and discharged therefrom into the compartment E, at the opposite end of the barrel; whence it is, by the rotation of the apparatus, forced onward through the pipe F. It will be understood, that this apparatus may be applied at either end of the main, or at intermediate stations, for the purpose of either drawing or forcing the gas.

Another feature of these improvements in supplying gas, for the purpose of illumination, consists in certain novel constructions of apparatus, for regulating the supply of gas to a burner or burners, by which the quantity of gas passed may be kept uniform, however much the pressure may vary. Fig. 5, represents, in vertical section, the improved construction of burner. a, is the pipe, by which the gas is supplied from the main to the burner; b, b, a chest, for receiving the gas; and c, the passage which conducts the gas to the Argand ring d, d, or other construction of burner. In the passage c, a cone e, is introduced, for the purpose of partially closing the way, and thereby preventing the passage of a full current of gas. The apex of this cone, which is inverted, has a guide-rod ƒ, sliding in an adjustable socket g, with a spiral spring h, to force the cone upward, and a diaphragm i, i, formed of bladder, or any other suitable material, is extended across the lower part of the chest b, constituting its bottom. This diaphragm is secured, round its edges, by flanges or otherwise, to the sides of the chest, and in the middle to the rod f, near the apex of the The spring h, is adjusted by the screw-socket g, so as to raise the cone with certain force, and thereby keep the way, for the gas up the passage c, open; but when the gas, in the pipe a, and chest b, b, experiences any extraordinary pressure, its elastic force against the diaphragm, causes the cone to descend, and hence to contract the sage in the pipe c, as circumstances may require.

pas

Fig. 6, is a vertical section of a modification of the lastmentioned apparatus, suited to supply several burners. a, is the pipe, leading from the main, by which the gas is conducted into the chest b;-c, is a cone, suspended by a rod at its apex, which has a spiral spring d, above, for the pur

pose of supporting the cone. A plate e, e, crosses the middle of the chest, having an aperture in it for the passage of the gas from the upper part of the chest into the lower part. In this aperture the cone c, hangs, and according to the height of the cone, so will the aperture, for the passage of the gas, be more or less contracted. A diaphragm, as before described, is secured to a flange, round the edge of the chest, and also to the apex of the cone. The cone is hollow, and is capable of receiving a small quantity of shot or other weighty matter, if required, for the purpose of counter-balancing the upward pressure of the spring d, which affords the means of a very nice adjustment of the opening, and thereby regulates the quantity of gas passed from the upper part of the chest into the lower part, and thence to the burners.

Should any extraordinary pressure of gas occur in the pipe a, and upper part of the chest b, the diaphragm would rise, and consequently lift the cone c, so as to contract the aperture in the plate e, e, and thereby regulate the quantity supplied through the pipe f, to the burner.--[Inrolled in the Petty Bag Office, May, 1842.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Son.

To ALFRED GREEN, of Sheffield, in the county of York, surgical instrument-maker, for his invention of certain improvements in trusses or surgical bandages.-[Sealed 15th March, 1842.]

THIS invention of improvements in trusses or surgical bandages, consists, in an improved mode of constructing the same, whereby they are rendered more compact, and made to fit more closely to the part affected, so that the truss will not shift its position when once properly placed.

One great inconvenience, arising from trusses of the ordinary construction, is the protuberance of many of the parts, such as the springs, studs, and buttons, by which the various parts are connected together; and also the bulkiness.

of the pads or cushions. These inconveniences, the patentee states, are considerably lessened; firstly, by employing a spring, of such a form as will, when in use, lie close and flat against the pad or cushion-plate; and secondly, by connecting or attaching the various parts together, by means of eyelet-holes, in place of studs, screws, buttons, or other fastenings, which would project and be visible outside the clothes.

In plate IX., fig. 1, is a front view of the improved truss, complete. a, a, is the body-belt, made of soft flannel, covered on the inside with chamois, or other soft leather; b, b, is the pad or cushion, made of a concave metal or other plate, its convex side being padded with soft flannel, and covered with chamois leather, or other suitable material, and the front or concave side of the plate is covered with. strong leather or cloth. A perpendicular ogee steel spring c, is connected, by means of the metal eyelet-hole e, to the body-belt. This spring is covered with leather, and is also connected to the cushion or pad b, by the metal eyelethole d, which passes through the spring and the leather or other covering of the cushion; f, is the thigh-strap, connected to the end of the perpendicular ogee spring c, either by means of an eyelet-hole, or by being sewn on to the leather covering of the spring. This thigh-strap passes between the legs, and is fastened to the body-belt by one of the studs or buttons g, g, and thereby keeps the pad or cushion in its proper place. The body-belt is fastened round the body by means of the strap h, and buckle i.

Fig. 2, is a front view of another bandage, in which the perpendicular ogee spring c, is fastened to the body-belt, by the eyelet-hole e, but passes freely through a metal or leather loop, or slide j, made by sewing or otherwise attaching the loop or slide, in a horizontal position, on to the leather covering of the concave pad or cushion-plate.

Fig. 3, is a section, through the middle of the pad, shewing the concavity of the pad or cushion-plate, and the peculiar shape of the spring, which, when the truss is in use, lies close in the concavity of the pad. The other parts of the truss are the same as in fig. 1; and, as they are

marked with similar letters of reference, no further mention of them is required. The perpendicular ogee spring may also be connected to the pad or cushion, by making a slot in the spring, and affixing a flat-headed stud, through the slot, to the cushion-plate, so as to admit of its sliding.

Fig. 4, represents the manner of applying two pads or cushions to a body-belt, for a double truss. The body-belt is divided into two parts, which are connected together by the middle strap and buckle k, l, by which means the pads or cushions may be brought nearer together, or separated farther from each other, as circumstances may require. The pad or cushion and spring, shewn, is of the same construction as fig. 2,-the spring c, being fastened to the body-belt by the eyelet-hole e, and allowed to pass freely through the leather or metal loop, or slide j.

The patentee claims, firstly, the method, herein shewn and described, of constructing trusses or surgical bandages with a perpendicular spring and concave plate; secondly, fastening a perpendicular spring to the body-belt of trusses and other surgical bandages; thirdly, the improved method of fastening or connecting the various parts of trusses and other surgical bandages together, by means of eyelet-holes, instead of the projecting studs, buttons, screws, and other means, heretofore used; and fourthly, the method shewn, in figs. 2, 3, and 4, of connecting the perpendicular spring to the pad or cushion, by means of a loop or slide of leather, metal, or other suitable material; whereby the pad or cushion may be raised or lowered, as circumstances may require.-[Inrolled in the Petty Bag Office, September, 1842.] Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Son.

TO WILLIAM NEWTON, of the Office for Patents. 66, Chancery-lane, in the county of Middlesex, civil engineer, for an invention of certain improvements in cleansing wool, and facilitating the operation of dyeing; and also in washing and bleaching cotton, yarns, or fabrics,-being a communication. [Sealed 21st December, 1841.]

THIS invention, communicated by a foreigner residing

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