THE REGISTER OF ARTS, AND JOURNAL OF PATENT INVENTIONS. VOLUME FIFTH. NEW SERIES. EDITED BY L. HEBERT, CIVIL ENGINEER. HEC London: PUBLISHED BY B. STEILL, 20, PATERNOSTER ROW; AND SOLD BY ALL BOOKSELLERS 1831. THE REGISTER OF ARTS, AND JOURNAL OF PATENT INVENTIONS. DESCRIPTIVE ACCOUNT OF ALL THE PATENTS ENROLLED BETWEEN 20TH APRIL AND 20TH MAY 1830. Particularizing the Offices in which the Specifications may be inspected, with the Dates of Enrolment. STEAM ENGINE.-To Thomas Banks, of Patricrof, Lancashire, Civil Engineer, a patent for "improvements in steam engines," was granted on the 30th of September, 1829, and the specification was lodged in the Rolls Chapel Office on the 27th of March, 1830. Mr. Banks describes two improvements in connection with the steam engine the first applicable to the supply of oil or other bubricating material to the piston, and the second to the supply of steam to the cylinder. With regard to the supply of oil, the method proposed by this patentee is very similar to the one patented by Colonel Torrens, and described at the 258th page of the 4th vol. of the New Series of the Register of Arts. The oil or melted tallow which the patentee prefers, is conveyed through the piston rod, made hollow for the purpose, to a ring situated half way between the top and bottom plates of the piston. This ring being made open towards the cylinder, which it approaches very 1ST JUNE, 1830. VOL. V.No. 83. B near to, affords an abundant and uniform supply. The tallow is introduced into the hollow piston rod by means of a vessel precisely like a tobacco pipe, with its shank stuck into its side and its mouth turned upwards for the reception of the tallow. The second part of the invention consists of a revolving pipe for the passage of the steam alternately above and below the piston, and from the cylinder to the condenser or to escape, when no condenser is used. The revolving pipe extends the length of the cylinder, and has at each end, two apertures on opposite sides, and a fixed partition twisted into half a spiral, so as to form a communication between the upper opening on one side and the lower opening on the other. On the upper end of the revolving pipe is placed a collar, through which an opening communicates on one side with the boiler, and on the other with the cylinder: and the lower end turns in a similar collar, with communications from the cylinder on one side, and the condenser on the other. Now it is evident from the position of the spiral partition, that each opening at the top is connected with the opposite opening at the bottom; and hence, as the pipe revolves, the communications are alternately opened between the boiler and one side of the piston and the condenser and the other. This is an application of the principle of the two way cock, which possesses considerable ingenuity, and may be found in some cases very serviceable. IRON MANUFACTURE.-To Josias Lambert, Esq. of Liverpool Street, London, a patent was granted on the 4th of February last, for an improvement in the process of manufacturing iron, applicable to the smelting of the ore, &c.," the specification of which was deposited in the Enrolment Office on the 3rd of April. This improvement is stated to consist in the addition of various salts to the iron in its crudest state (the ore), as well as in the subsequent stages of its preparation and refinement, the furnaces and the mechanical muniputations being the same as usual. A mixture is to be made of two parts of " salt," one part potash, and two parts lime, and added to the iron ore in the blast-furnace in the proportion of 25lbs. weight to the ton of iron; but it is not essential to add the mixture in the first instance, if the iron required have to undergo subsequent processes; in which cases, the saline mixture may be added either in the refinery furnace at the rate of 20lbs. to the ton, or in the puddling furnace, at the rate of 18 lbs. to the ton; but if in the balling or reheating furnace, the quantity of the mixture required will vary from 18 to 30 lbs. to the ton; but in this as well as in other respects, there is a want of clearness in the specificátion. The foregoing mixture is stated to be one of the patented improvements contemplated, yet it is added in the specification, that another mixture, consisting of two parts "salt," one and a half part saltpetre, and two parts lime, are to be mixed with the iron in the puddling furnace, whether there shall have been previously added the first mentioned mixture or not. It therefore seems to follow, that when the mixture has been added in the first process, it must be only so much waste; because the improvement is equally effected, according to the specification, when the first mixture has not been added. From an observation made at the close of the specification, we however gather, that the potash mixture is to be used in preference in the making of that sort of iron technically called red-short, and the saltpetre mixture in the preparation of the cold-short. The quantities of either of the mixtures, will depend upon the " degree of inferiority" of the iron to which it is applied, and will vary from 18 to 30lbs., per ton. It is especially directed, that the salts be added to the iron in the puddling furnace, whilst the metal is in a state of fusion; and in the subsequent processes, when the iron is no longer fusible it is to be sprinkled over the metal when it has acquired a red heat. ALTERNATING FROM A ROTATORY MOTION.-To William Parr, of Union Place, City Road, Middlesex, Gentleman, a patent for " a new method of procuring reciprocating action by means of rotatory motion, to be applied to the working of all kinds of pumps, mangles, and all other machinery, in or to which reciprocating action is required, or may be applied," was granted on the 18th of January, 1830, and the specification was deposited in the Enrolment Office on the 18th of April, 1830. The title of this patent sufficiently shows the intention of the patentee; and as he explains the nature of his invention by describing its application to a mangle, we shall follow his example, and describe at once the nature of the apparatus and its action in communicating the required alternating motion to a box mangle as they are generally made. An axis to be turned by a winch extends across the mangle near its middle, and turns in bearing attached to the exterior frame in such a manner, that it is capable of being elevated or depressed with the stone box when the materials to be mangled vary in thickness. Near the middle of this axis is fixed a bevel wheel whose teeth take into, and give motion to, another bevel wheel, with |