side of each other, being subject to the same degree of expansion as the former. These rods vibrate from one centre common to all, and have attached to their lower ends, two balls or weights which are acted upon by the variation in the metal rods, occasioned by the change of temperature, so as to cause by the slightest deviation in their position, the requisite compensation; also for the means of increasing and diminishing the amount of sectional area, exposed by the pendulum to the resistance of the atmosphere, in the manner shown at fig. 5; a,a, represents the case of the pendulum, or the weight, in which is fitted a mercurial glass tube; b is an opening through the weight or bob of the pendulum, having a sliding door or surface plate, e, for the purpose of diminishing the current or draught of air through, when the same is vibrating; f, is the beam connecting the piston with the regulating plate, e; c, the glass tube containing the mercury; d, the piston, which is suspended by the mercury, and is weighted so as to counterbalance the slide, e, which it raises or lowers by any sudden change in the atmosphere; g, is the stem or vibrating rod of the pendulum. The action is as follows; when the motion is given to the pendulum, as heretofore, the opening in the weight or bob is opened or closed in proportion to the density or otherwise of the atmosphere,

thereby producing an accelerating or re tarding motion as a means of compensa tion. He claims, first, the employment in chronometers, of auxiliary compensation, which act by diminishing and increasing the resistance of atmosphere to the motion of the balance; secondly, he claims the employment in astronomical and other clocks, of a mercurial column in combination with air spaces, diminishing or enlarging the surface for the purpose of correcting the errors ordinarily arising from changes in the density of the atmosphere. Thirdly, for the employment of the compensation spring stud, for watches and all other time keepers. Fourthly, for the improvements in the two-pin lever escapement as herein before described; and, fifthly for the improvements in compensation pendulum; sixthly and lastly, for the employment in clocks, of auxiliary compensation; acting by increasing and diminishing the amount of actional area, exposed by the pendulum, to the resistance of the atmosphere.

WILLIAM REID, of St. Pancras, Middlesex, engineer, for improvements in the manu facture of wire. Patent dated October 29th, 1846. Enrolled April 29th, 1847. THIS invention relates specially to the manufacture of iron wire, and also to the cleansing, or preparing the surface of the same, to receive a metallic coating, for the

in

purpose of preventing oxidation, and has for its object the producing wires of greater lengths, and more perfect throughout its entire length, than can be effected by any means at present in use, and consequently better calculated for the purposes to which it is applied; more especially for transmitting the currents in electric telegraphs. For, whereas the bundles of wire, which average about 192 ft. in length, and weigh fourteen pounds, are welded together when reduced to the size which they are intended to remain, the parts joined almost invariably being thicker than the rest, and at the same time rendered more brittle, and not unfrequently unsound. Now, the improve ment in the first part of this vention, consists in welding end to end, scarf-wise, two, three, four, or more bars of iron, suitable for the purpose, and afterwards drawing them through the drawing machine, which process not only renders it the same size throughout, but by the strain required, effectually tries the different joints, which, if not sound, will give way, thus detecting any imperfections that arise in the construction. By this means, the patentee states he can readily furnish bundles of wire, of ten times the usual length, or even any length that may be required. After drawing, the wire is submitted to the annealing oven, which renders it as near as may be of a homogeneous quality throughout. With regard to the welding and drawing the iron, he does not lay any claim to the different operations when considered without respect to the order in which they are performed: although these improvements have been specially mentioned as desirable for the manufacture of iron wire, it may also be equally well applied to the manufacture of steel wire. The second part of these improvements relates to the preparing wire to receive a coating of zinc or tin, in order to prevent it oxydizing; the ordinary method being to immerse it in a solution of nitric or sulphuric acid, from the unequal action of which, or one part remaining longer in the solution than another, the quality of the iron is much deteriorated. Now, according to this invention, the surface of the wire is prepared solely by a mechanical agency, or at least so far as to require only the acid very much diluted, the apparatus for which is as follows;-the coils, as they are taken from the annealing oven, are placed on reels, which revolve freely on vertical spindles, from a suitable framework. The form of these reels is the frustrum of a cone, the small end being

uppermost, so as to admit of the coil of wire being easily placed thereon; the ends of these coils, which may be five, six, or any convenient number, are led round, or rather half round three rollers, whose axes are also vertical; the sinuous route passes through, bending the wire alternately in contrary directions, as it turns over each roller; it is then conducted through another series of five rollers, whose axes lay horizontally; the wire, in passing the sinuous course prescribed by them, is bent in a contrary direction to that in passing the previous set of rollers. In order that one wire shall not ride on the other in its passage through the different sets of rollers, the wires are passed through suitable guides, and for the purpose of changing the point of contact on each roller, so that it shall not wear the same into grooves, the first series of rollers is caused to traverse backwards and forwards, in a direction at right angles to the motion of the wire; thus far, the process is merely for breaking up any scale or oxide on the surface of the wire; it is then passed between two pieces of wood, faced with leather, or other substance, on which a constant stream of emery is permitted to flow from a hopper above; these pieces of wood are squeezed together with sufficient pressure to clean the surface of the wire, as it passes between them. Instead of leather, he sometimes applies grooved surfaces, cut in the manner of a file, suitable to receive the size of.the wire to be cleaned. The wire is next conveyed through a solution of weak sal-ammoniac or muriatic acid; this is effected by passing it down into a trough filled with the liquid, turning it over two rollers immersed therein; it is then conveyed to the bath of metal with which it is intended to be coated, and from thence to reels, on which it is to be wound; these having motion communicated to them from some primary moving power, effectually pull it through the different machines, by which it is cleansed as hereinbefore described.

Having thus set forth the nature of his invention, and the manner of carrying the same into effect, he wishes it to be understood, that although he has described it as being peculiarly applicable to iron wire, used for telegraphic purposes, he does not confine himself thereto, as it is equally well adapted for steel wire; and the second part thereof, preparatory to receiving a coat of other metal, may be applied to various other descriptions of wire. He claims, first, the welding iron bars end to end, scarf-wise, and afterwards

drawing them through suitable machinery, with regard to the order in which the same is performed; second, the cleansing the surface of wire by the machinery before described, preparatory to receiving a coating of zinc, tin, or other metal suitable for the prevention of oxidation.

JAMES LYSANDER HALE, of Hackney, Middlesex, civil engineer, for certain improvements in sewerage and drainage, and apparatus connected therewith, parts of which are applicable to steam-engines. Patent dated October 27th, 1846. rolled April 27th, 1847.

En

THIS invention relates to a means of preventing the escape of noxious air, vapours, steam, gas, &c., from drains, engines, and other apparatus; and altogether obviating the corrosion of the hinges used in the different apparatus connected therewith. For this purpose, instead of forming the common traps, for drains or sewers, of iron, as usual, he constructs the frame thereof of a brown earthenware or other suitable lasting and non-corroding substance; this he disposes in the usual way at the entrance to an exit from the drain. The valve he constructs of vulcanized India-rubber, a piece of which he takes, large enough to cover the opening in the trap, and also to give sufficient lap; the edge of this is secured to the frame of earthenware by means of rivets, or the cement manufactured for similar purposes, by the Kamptulicon Company. The sheet of vulcanized India-rubber has a metal plate, or a stone, placed on the back of it, which, by its weight, keeps the face of the valve up to its seat. Valves constructed in this way are not liable to get out of order, as is the case with valves of the ordinary construction, in which the metal forming the hinges, corrodes by the action of water or damp, according to the situation in which it may be placed, thereby preventing the freedom of action necessary, and in many instances setting the valves completely fast. Another description of trap, for sewers, is constructed with a number of bars on the back instead of the metal plate or stone before mentioned; the vulcanized India-rubber is affixed to the earthen frame as before, and the bars on the back thereof are secured by means of cement or rivets, in the direction or length of the part secured, forming the hinge; this may be attached to the end of the pipe leading to the sewer; the water, as it issues from the pipe into the sewer, only raises the valve to the extent necessary to admit of the passage of the

water escaping; the space between each bar forming a hinge, on which each bar moves, consequently there is no room for the escape of noxious vapours, the valves being always closed down to the surface of the water. The metal he prefers for the above purpose is galvanized, or tinned iron, as it is not liable to corrode. The next improvement is for a ventilator, which he places on the top of chimnies or flues leading from places requiring ventilation. It consists of two cylinders of galvanized sheet iron or zinc, of different diameters, the smallest of which is placed on the top of the chimney; it has several openings in the sides near the upper end, the top being closed by a plate of metal; the large cylinder is only about half the length of the other, but at the same time sufficient to protect the openings in the smaller one, over which it is placed, from side currents, while, at the same time, space sufficient for the escape of smoke or vapour is allowed between the two; the external cylinder is supported from the smaller one by stays, and in such a way as not to obstruct the passage between them. This arrangement, the patentee states, materially increases the draught, and may be used successfully in and for the purposes of ventilation. The improvement in steam engines consists in the application of the valves thereto before described.

GAETAN BONELLI, of Milan, engineer, for improvements in bridges, viaducts, aqueducts, and other similar erections. Patent dated November 3rd, 1846. Enrolled May 3rd, 1847.

THIS invention relates to the construction of bridges of iron, calculated for carrying roads, railways, or canals, across straits, rivers, &c.; the improvement being in the combination of the various parts, which are as follows:-the arch for sustaining the roadway is formed of a series of "caissons" or wedges, each being a part or segment of a large circle, of the form intended to be given to the bridge. The size and strength of these caissons will be in proportion to the span of the arch, and the purpose for which it is intended. The arch shown in the drawing is represented as being of 150 feet span, in which the wedges or caissons are of cast iron, 12 feet in length, 4 ft. 6 in. deep, and 4 ft. 2 in. breadth; the ends of these are solid, and have four, or other number of holes, through which bolts and screws are passed, for connecting the same together, the top and bottom being left open, and the sides solid

and strengthened by diagonal thickness pieces. The above are the dimensions of the centre pieces of the arch, the depth of which gradually increases to seven feet, as they near the abutments. Two separate arches are formed by a series of these caissons, bolted end to end, the distance between which is equal to the breadth of the road required. The abutments are represented of solid masonry, and are to be in proportion to the other parts of the structure. The road-way, which is formed on a level, is for three-fifths in the centre of the arch, supported by rods from the caissons, converging to a point below; and the remaining two fifths, which are above the ends of the arch, are supported upon circles, the diameter of which increases as they near the abutments. Rods of iron, three inches broad by two inches deep, are laid in a longitudinal direction on the frame-work of the roadway, to the cross-bars of which they are suitably connected. The ends of these bars of iron are securely fixed in the abutments, and serve to sustain the end thrust of the cast-iron arches which support the road-way. He states that the stability obtained by this construction of bridge is not attainable by any other description of arch, in which the road-way is carried across on a level, and part of which is below the arch, and the remainder above, as before described.

WILLIAM PHILIP PARKER, of Lime-street,

City, gentleman, for certain improvements in bell machinery. Patent dated January 28th, 1847. Enrolled April 7th, 1847.

THIS invention relates to an improved apparatus, to be used in hotels, dwellinghouses, public buildings, cabins of ships, steam-vessels, &c., instead of the complication of bells at present required for the purpose of signalling the servants from the different rooms. This apparatus consists of one bell for the purpose of sounding an alarm, which is sustained by a pillar in ' the centre, similar to the bell of a clock, and struck by a hammer on the exterior, in the same way; the striking apparatus is mounted in a suitable framing, with a number of bell-cranks appended thereto, corresponding with the number of rooms or apartments with which it is to be in communication; each wire leading therefrom is attached to a separate crank, and the whole of these cranks have suitable connection with the bell-hammer, and are each furnished with a spiral or barrel spring, in order to cause a re-action of the same. The whole of this apparatus is

enclosed in a case, and placed somewhere near the clerk's desk, or the kitchen, or some other desirable position, where it may be requisite to be heard, the sound being allowed to pass through fretwork in the sides of the casing. The front of the case consists of a dial-plate, having numbers painted, or otherwise affixed thereon, corresponding with the numbers of the different rooms; the whole of these numbers are covered by semicircular plates, supported on pins, passing through the dial plates; on the other end of these pins are affixed ratchet pieces or tumblers, a tooth of which rests against the arm of one of the levers, forming the communication between the first crank and the bellhammer; this tumbler sustains the semicircular drop plate on the dial, at the highest point of its revolution, and imme diately over (or rather in front of) its respective number. The modus operandi is as follows:-when either one of the wires, communicating with the different rooms, are pulled, the hammer, by its action, strikes the bell or alarm, and at the same time the tumbler is let go; the semicircular drop-plate on the dial, by its own gravity, revolves on the supporting pin before-mentioned, and falls to the lowest point of its circle, disclosing the number of the room from whence the impulse was derived, thus registering the same without the number and complication of bells usually required for that purpose. method of readjusting the covering-plate on the dial, is by depressing a handle which projects through the casing for effecting that purpose. Having explained the nature of his invention, and the best method of carrying the same into effect, he specifies his claim as being the combination of the semicircular drop-plate, tumbler, and lever, for releasing and actuating the same as herein before described.

The

WILLIAM EXALL, of Reading, in the county of Berks, engineer, for improvements in the construction of wheels, and in certain implements and tools employed therein, and in the mode of forming and manufacturing the tires of wheels, which mode is applicable to making metallic rings, bane!s, hoops, cylinders, and other similar articles. Patent dated November 3rd, 1846. Enrolled April 3rd, 1847.

THESE improvements in the construction of wheels, and in the tools or implements employed therein, consist, first, in certain apparatus, (to be driven by any convenient power) for shaping the spokes of wheels, and in an improved mode of

forming the tenons at their ends; second, certain improved apparatus for cuting out, and facing the felloes, and turning the inner and outer circumference of wheels; third, improvements in tools for forming the mortice in the naves of wheels, (when such naves are composed of wood) and an improved mode of forming the mortices in the felloes, to receive the ends of the spokes; fourth, an improved form or construction for casting iron naves of wheels; fifth, an improved mode of fixing or fastening the spokes and dowels of wheels in the naves and felloes; sixth, an improved form for the tires of wheels intended to run on common roads. Secondly, the improvements in the mode of manufacturing the tires of wheels, and which is applicable to making hoops, cylinders, and other like articles, consist in a method of forming them of malleable iron, or other metal, or different metals combined, without a weld joint in the usual sense of the term.

The machine for forming the spokes of wheels, is a modification of a lathe, the wood of which it is formed revolving as in that machine; it consists of a two V bed of considerable breadth, which is secured to suitable frame-work; it supports at each end a cross slide, on one of which is erected the mandril or double head; this differs from the common lathe head, inasmuch that it is much higher, and furnished with three spindles, one immediately over the other; the face ends of the upper and lower spindles are fitted with spur wheels, and on the centre one is a pinion, which gears into both wheels; this spindle being driven from the back end, by a rigger and endless strap, from some suitable power, causes the spurwheels to rotate at the same velocity. The faces of these spur-wheels are provided with prongs, against which the rough spoke and a model spoke is forced by a poppet head, erected from the other cross-slide, and provided with two dead centres, opposite and central with the spur-wheels, which, by the prongs on their faces, act as chucks, and carry round with them the rough and model spokes. The tool for cutting and removing the superfluous part of the unfinished spoke, consists of a rotary cutter, suitable for wood-cutting, which is mounted on frame erected from the slide rest; this cutter is level with the upper or rough piece of wood intended to form a spoke, it re-, volves freely in journals, and is driven from some primary moving power, by an endless band passing over a pulley on its axle; the frame supporting this cutter has

a

another spindle opposite and parallel with the model spoke, placed between the cen tres as before described; this spindle carries a wheel, the circumference of which bears against the model spoke, and thereby keeping the cutter at the same distance from the rough spoke. The poppet and mandril heads are drawn in their respective slides towards the front of the bed by two weights, attached thereto by cords passing over suitable pullies, the whole pressure coming against the circumference of the wheel in the cutter framing; thus the model spoke as it revolves, causes the mandril and poppet heads, and with them the rough spoke, to traverse backwards and forwards according to the form of the model spoke, which should be finished correctly of the shape required, whilst at the same time motion being communicated to the cutter, it removes the superfluous portion of the wood, and renders it of the same shape as that part of the model-spoke opposite the pressure wheel; motion is then given to the slide rest carrying the cutter, by means of a longitudinal shaft, which causes it to traverse the lengthway of the bed, thus reducing the rough spoke throughout to the form of the model spoke." In cutting the tenons on these spokes, he employs two sets of circular saws set at right angles to each other, the distance between them being equal to the thickness or breadth of the tenon required; these are mounted in a suitable framing, and each saw being driven by a gut pulley on its axis, the whole is supported on a slide to which motion is communicated by a screw similar to a slide rest. In cutting the tenons, he prefers first securing them in the nave and supporting the whole on a frame-work, over the saws; each tenon is cut by being passed between the saws, the vertical pair cutting slices off the sides of the spoke, and the horizontal pair, penetrating to the depth of the saw-cut made by the vertical pair, remove the side pieces; having thus treated one spoke, the next succession is turned round and treated in in the same way; the thickness of the tenons having been obtained, the saws are set to the breadth thereof, or another set may be used, the superfluous pieces being removed as before; in the above arrangements, the saws may either be moved up by the screw referred to, or the frame supporting the wheel may be moved up to the saws. The second part of these improvements is for cutting out felloes of the required shape, from a slab of wood he effects this by means of an endless band saw, this passes over two strap rig gers having flanges to prevent its running