and water to be received in a dome, or other appropriate chamber, that the greatest portion of water may be collected together again, in a body, and thence be allowed to flow freely away. The air, and such portion of the water still retained by it, is also allowed to escape.

The fan or fanner, or blowing cylinder, as the one or the other may be employed, may be made to receive air from the open atmosphere, or it may be made to receive it from the depths of the mine, by means of pipes, extending to the required distance. By this mode of operation, pure atmospheric air will descend the pit or shaft of the mine, by its gravity, to occupy the space from which the impure air has been withdrawn; and thus the ventilation of the mine, or other place, may be either wholly or partially effected.

In other modes of raising water by my improvements, as aforesaid, I produce and maintain, by any of the mechanical means adapted to the end, a partial vacuum in the pipe b, b, b, and instead of having a pipe a, a, a, extending to the surface of the earth, allow air to flow from the mine into it, through other pipes, arranged for that purpose, so that by the difference of pressure, between the air in the mine and that in the pipe b, b, the water may be carried up in drops, in the manner hereinbefore described.

Having thus described the nature of my invention, and the manner in which the same may be performed and carried into effect, I wish it to be understood, that the velocities of the air, as due to given pressures, and the descending velocities of drops of rain throughout the atmosphere, as herein described, in fact are given by me as approximate numbers only; for atmospheric changes and other causes will make a material variation from them.

And I wish it to be further understood, that I do not confine myself to the precise arrangement and disposition

of the combinations and contrivances herein described; but avail myself of such other combinations and contrivances, as in mechanics are equivalent thereto.—[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, November, 1838.]

TO DAVID HARCOURT, of Birmingham, brass-founder, for certain improvements in castors for furniture, and other purposes.-[Sealed 10th October, 1839.]

THIS invention may be divided into two parts;—the first of which is, in an improved construction of castors, either of the socket or plate description, whereby greater strength is obtained, and any unequal strain on the upright axis obviated. This is effected by applying a small antifriction roller to the horn of the castor, which will bear against the under part of the socket or plate, and thereby tend to support the axis in a perpendicular position.

The second part of the invention is, constructing the socket or plate castors with elongated pins, enclosed in tubes, which are inserted into the leg of the piece of furniture, and thereby made to retain the castor in its proper position, without the aid of screws.

The patentee has sub-divided his specification into four minor heads, consisting of different modes of constructing or manufacturing the last-mentioned castor; but, if the idea of elongating the pin or centre of the castor, and enclosing the same in a case or tube, is new, it is manifest that no person could make it in any manner, either of wrought, cast, or plate metal, without infringing the rights of the inventor. We, therefore, do not think it necessary to describe more than one, as there is no perceptible difference between them, except that of making the tube either of plate metal, or cast or malleable iron.

Plate XIII., fig. 1, represents the section of a socket castor, and fig. 2, of a plate castor, constructed according to the first part of the invention. a, is the socket in fig. 1, and the plate in fig. 2; and as the castors, with this exception, are identical, the same description will explain both figures, similar letters of reference being marked in corresponding parts.

The socket or the plate turns freely on a centre pin b, the lower end of which pin rests in a framing c, called the horn. This horn or framing hangs on a horizontal pin d, which passes through the upright centre pin b. An antifriction roller e, is placed obliquely on a pin or stud, attached to the horn or framing, its periphery bearing against the under side of the socket or plate.

Fig. 3, represents a castor constructed according to the second part of the improvement. The centre pin or axis b, is much longer than those heretofore used, by which the bearing is carried up a considerable height, within the leg of the piece of furniture to which such castor is applied. This pin is enclosed within a tube ƒ, and is enabled to turn freely therein, it being reduced so that it only touches the upper and lower parts of the outer tube. The conical upper end of the pin enters a conical hole in the piece of metal g, applied or affixed to the top of the tube.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, April, 1840.]

To HENRY TREWHITT, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the county of Northumberland, Esq., for his invention of certain improvements in the fabrication of china and earthenware; and in the apparatus or machinery applicable thereto. -[Sealed 4th December, 1839.]

THIS invention consists of a mode of fabricating china and earthenware by means of moulds or dies, and pressure.

VOL. XVIII.

21

In Plate XII., fig. 1, represents an elevation of a press, and dies or moulds; the details are shewn at fig. 2. 1, is the framing of the press; 2, metal plate; 3, represents other metal plates, which have grooves, from the centre outwards, in which the parts of the die or mould slide from and to the centre; 4, shews the three portions of the concave die or mould, which are opened outwards by means of the cords passing under the frame of the press, and they are moved by the roller,-they are pushed towards the centre by the springs pressing on the lever seen at fig. 1.— These moulds should be of copper.-5, is the pallet of the mould, part of which is raised, as the mould opens, to remove the vessel made, and facilitates its removal from the mould; 6, tube containing the springs; 7, the pulley and frame; 8, coupling swivels; 9, shews one half of the zinc cover of the table; 10, iron shaft or axis, acting as the conductor to the die or mould, which forms the hollow of the vessel; 11, the inner die or mould, turning on the end of the shaft 10; and there are two handles affixed to this mould or die, by turning which, when the act of moulding by pressure is complete, the die will be detached, and will, at the same time, polish the interior of the vessel; 12, is a section of the dies or moulds, and also the exterior frame which encloses the mould 4, and keeps them secure during the act of moulding; and there is a small rod, which, passing up through the lower part or bottom of the mould, raises the vessel when complete; 13, is a rod, around which the spring 14, used for forcing in the parts of the mould 4, is wound; 15, copper tube, in which the spring is contained; 16, is the bearing, in which the parts 13, 14, and 15, are carried; 17, shews the three parts, 13, 14, and 15, together; 18, the joining pieces 8, shewn separately, to be. affixed to the rod 13, and to the cord; 19, guide pullies and their frames, separately shewn in the plan at 7; 20, is

an external frame or case, which is placed over the moulds 4, to hold them secure, when moulding by pressure; 21, plan of fig. 20; 22, shews the vessel separated from the moulds; 23, the inner face of part of the mould 4; 24, onethird of the plate 2.

It will be seen, that the arrangement of the moulds is such, that the various vessels made in the same dies or moulds will necessarily have the same uniformity and appearance; and by this mode, articles may be made at a much less expense than by the ordinary mode; and greater numbers may be produced, in the same time, without increasing the number of the workmen. Although copper dies or moulds are preferable, yet they may be made of other suitable material.

Fig. 3, is a press of somewhat different description to that before shewn; but it is not necessary to describe the mode of working this or the former press, as they are not new, with the exception of the dies applied thereto.

Although only two constructions of moulds or dies are shewn,- one for plates and the other for small jars,—it will be evident, that in making other vessels of china or earthenware, convex moulds or dies, of the figure of the interior, will be employed; and concave moulds or dies, having the figure of the exterior of the vessel to be made therein, will be necessary; and when the vessel to be made is deep, then the concave or die is to be of several pieces, capable of separating, to deliver the articles moulded.

The patentee claims the mode of making vessels in china and earthenware, by means of dies or moulds, and pressure; one of such dies or moulds being of the figure of the interior of the vessel, and the other of such moulds being of the figure of the exterior of the vessel, as above described. -[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, June, 1840.]