may be made of any water-tight material, but thin copper is recommended; it is provided with a strong plate of glass in front to enable the diver to see surrounding objects. Inside the helmet is a flexible tube c, with a mouth-piece at the end, which comes near to the mouth of the diver; through this the air is discharged from his lungs, which passes out of the valve d, shown in the upper part of the helmet. At the lower part of the helmet and round the breast, back, and shoulder, a water-proof garment e is attached, fitting closely round the body of the wearer, and made fast by elastic bandages f. To secure the diver from being inconvenienced by the pressure of the air within the helmet becoming too great, a safety valve is inserted about the breast to allow the desired portion to escape.

must be attached to the lower parts of the apparatus, two of which are represented in the drawing.

The patentee likewise contemplates the employment of the same apparatus, divested of the weights, in mines and other places filled with deleterious gases, wherein it may be used with perfect safety, and great advantage.

Description of a Machine for Hulling Rice, invented in the United States, and patented in England, by MELVIL WILSON, agent of the invention. Enrolled, June, 1827.

THE apparatus by which the natives in most countries, where rice is grown, deprive the grain of its husk, is so rude and ineffective, that it is a matter of surprise the experience and wants of society have not, until lately, caused the introduction of contrivances better calculated for the purpose. A machine for effecting this operation must necessarily be very simple, as the act required consists merely in rubbing the grains against one another, or in contact with some other substance. Of these two modes, the latter is attended with the disadvantage of causing a deposition of small particles from the foreign substance (detached from it by collision) upon the grain; to remove which an additional operation becomes necessary, or the rice would not be proper for food. The inconvenience just stated, has, we know, resulted from an attempt to clean rice in the manner that many articles of manufacture are cleansed, viz. by turning the grain round in a barrel fixed upon a revolving axis, in which was also deposited a quantity of pebbles; the husking was, however, thus quickly accomplished, and the pebbles were separated with facility by throwing them upon a sieve, the meshes of which were adapted to let only the rice pass through, and to detain the stones.

To conduct the operation of husking simply by the collision of the grains of rice against one another, has not only the advantage of superior cleanliness, but, we think, also that of greater expedition. On this principle is constructed the machine we have to describe, which is the invention of a foreigner residing at New York, and has been patented in this country by Mr. Wilson, as the commercial agent of the inventor. The enrolled specification of this patent is very concise, and describes merely a portion of the machine, as represented on the other side of the page, the additions being made by us to render the apparatus more complete, and worthy of adoption in the Colonies, not doubting that the patentee will be disposed to grant licenses for the use of that portion of the apparatus claimed by him as original; and, as respects our additions, they are free gifts to whomsoever they may be useful.

The patented portion consists of a long hollow cylinder of metal or wood; around the interior surface of which are fixed, at equal distances and in parallel circles, a series of angular bars, projecting towards the centre or axis of the cylinder; this cylinder revolves loosely on a central shaft, which passes through it, and is provided

with a similar number of bars, pointing (as radii) from the centre to the circumference, and passing alternately between the bars in the cylinder, so as to leave, when at their nearest proximity, (or in opposition) an inch free space between them. Thus disposed, the cyfinder is placed in an inclined position, the rice is allowed to enter it at the top, while the cylinder is made to revolve with a "slow motion" in one direction, the axis moving at the same time at "a high speed," and in a contrary direction; consequently, as the rice passes through the cylinder, the grain will be considerably agitated and turned about; and, by that means, the husks will be rubbed off before passing out at the lower end of the cylinder.

To render the construction of the interior of the cylinder perfectly understood, we have annexed the diagrams in the margin. Fig. 1 represents a plan of the cap of the cylinder, not fixed thereto, nor to the axis, which passes through it, but to the framing which supports the hopper; it serves therefore to guide the grain into the cylinder, and to keep out dirt and other adventitious substances.

Fig. 2 is called, in the specification, "a socket wheel;" it is fixed directly under the cap to the cylinder, and the axis passes through the socket, which serves, therefore, as a bearing for both the axis and the cylinder, permitting them to revolve freely in contrary directions. For the convenience of removal, this wheel is made to divide in two parts, as shown, which are bolted together when in use.

Fig. 3 gives a transverse section of the cylinder and axis, each of which being shown as provided with four bars, that number being fixed in each parallel circle, and alternately as respects those on the cylinder and those on the axis. This section likewise shows the cylinder as made of wood (with hoops round it) and that it is composed of eight distinct pieces or segments; on each of the eight segments is fixed a longitudinal row of similar bars, though only four (the number in one circle) are brought into view to prevent confusion.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of one of the before mentioned bars, showing that they are of the figure of a quadrangular prism, that shape being preferred by the patentee for the purpose in question.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the bottom of the cylinder; it is formed in part. like the socket wheel, described in Fig. 2, but the spaces between the spokes are closed; in each of these compartments a large aperture is made for the egression of the grain, which is regulated at pleasure by sliding doors to each, as represented.

The specification states, that the cylinder may be worked in either a vertical, an inclined, or a horizontal position, and with that view the sketches attached to it (the specification) are apparently design

5

ed to exhibit a method of altering the position at pleasure; the upper extremity of the axis of motion appears (by dotted lines) to be resting on a pivot beam, and to the lower extremity is a regulating screw, by which that end may be elevated or depressed at pleasure; the question of the best position of the cylinder is, however, decided by the patentee himself, who prefers it at an inclination of about 45°: we have accordingly thus placed it in our drawing, with the omission of the apparatus for altering its position.

If the alterations in the position of the cylinder be designed to accelerate or retard the passing through of the rice, that object is effected by enlarging or decreasing the apertures at bottom, by the sliding doors, as before mentioned.

No gearing for communicating motion to the cylinder and axis is either shown in the sketches, or described in the specification; we have therefore taken the liberty of placing such as appeared to us the best calculated to effect the motion intended, by the simplest means, and in the least compass; we are aware that the combination of the two wheels and pinion shown, is peculiar, perhaps never before proposed or attempted; nevertheless, we are convinced that they will, properly constructed, perform well.

At Fig. 6 the machine is shown complete.-a a is the husking cylinder; the axis, turning in plummer blocks at c c; on the axis, b, is fixed a slightly-bevelled pinion, d; at e is a bevelled wheel, and at f a faced wheel. Motion being given to the winch, g, by manual force (or other power,) a "high speed" is thereby communicated to the shaft in one direction, and a "slow motion" to the cylinder in a contrary direction: during which the rice from the hopper h (shown in section) is continually pouring into the top of the cylinder, and as fast as it is husked, running out at the bottom, i. Here ends the process as described in the specification, but we have thought it not amiss to propose separating the husks or chaff from the rice as it runs out of the cylinder; accordingly, we suggest the addition of a blast cylinder or winnow, at k, which may be actuated by a band passing round the cylinder, a, or round a pulley at the back of the bevelled wheel, e; the husks may thus be completely separated from the grain at a single operation, in one connected machine, by a very slight increase of power, instead of two operations with distinct apparatus.

[Ib.

Account of the Apparatus for cleaning paddy, or rough Rice, Patented by MESSRS. LUCAS and EWBANK. Enrolled, May, 1827.

THE specification of this patent states, that it is for improvements upon a patent, granted in the year 1819, for the same purpose, to Mr. Ewbank, one of the parties in the present grant, which consists in some slight variations from the former process; found, nevertheless, to be essential to the perfection of the operations, and a more economical mode of preparing the rice for market.

The specification of the present patent, briefly recites the process described under the former, by which the improvements subsequently made, will be better understood; it consisted as follows:

The rough rice, or paddy, was first cleansed from dirt and other foreign matter, by passing it over a screen, which, detaining the rice, allowed the impurities to pass through. The paddy in this state was taken to mill-stones, set at a proper distance apart, to rub off the external shells or husks; the husks are next blown away by a fanning machine; the rice thus partially cleaned, is then deposited in mortars, where it is beaten and triturated for depriving it of the thin under pellicle, or red skin; and when the trituration has been carried far enough, the contents of the mortars are sifted upon a slop

66