It only remains for me to explain how motion is imparted at intervals to the warp and work rollers, in order to furnish the necessary portion of warp, and to wind up the work as it is made. On the ends of these two rollers, there are worm wheels gearing into corresponding worms on the small transverse shafts or spindles m, m; these shafts have affixed at their ends fine ratchet wheels: there are also levers n, mounted loosely upon the said spindles, carrying pawles or clicks o.

Upon the vertical shaft c, is fixed a double tappet wheel p, p, which, in revolving, elevates the lever q, bearing upon it. A bolt or rod r, sliding in bearings or sockets against the end of the machine, receives its vertical motion from this said lever q, and at the same time, by means of projecting pieces or ears, lifts up the pall levers n, n, and thus causes a slight movement to the two ratchet wheels, which is imparted to the two rollers; there being two tappets on the wheel p, this slight motion is produced after each beat of the slay: thus, one roller gives off a portion of the warp, whilst the other winds up the work made. In order to provide against the irregularity of the texture of the work, which would be occasioned by the increasing diameter of the work roller, I apply what may be called a regulator ; this consists of an L-shaped lever s, one leg of which carries a small roller bearing against the face of the tapes on the work roller, and the other leg supports a bolt t, which slides against the standard. From this bolt projects a piece, which serves as a stop for the gauge screw of the upper pall lever n, to drop upon.

Now, as the work roller increases in diameter, the lever will raise the bolt and stop; and by shortening the space through which the pall lever and ratchet wheel moves, lessens the quantity of motion imparted to the

VOL. XI.

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work roller. By this contrivance, the fabric is preserved of uniform texture.

Having thus shown the application of my invention to the production of plain tapes or narrow ribbons, and described the mechanism I use for that purpose, I do not consider it necessary to enter into the various modifications of which it is susceptible, in order to adapt it to the manufacture of other narrow fabrics and small

wares.

In the production of ornamented or fancy fabrics, it may be found necessary, where different portions of the warp shall be required of different thicknesses, or different degrees of tension, instead of one warp roller to employ several; the headles, also, instead of being divided into two sets, each half of them moving together, require (for some patterns) a separate and independent movement for each headle, according to the peculiar formation of such patterns, the cams or tappets, commonly called the cut of wheels, being made to produce such particular device. In this case it will be found necessary to place the cam wheels, which actuate the headles, upon an extra spindle or shaft, whose rotation shall be as many times slower than the driving shaft, as there are beats or picks in the whole course of the pattern to be produced.

These and other modifications or combinations my new method of weaving narrow fabrics may undergo, and still retain the essential features of my invention, viz. of performing the operation of weaving many narrow fabrics or small wares together, the weft being inserted or laid in transversely, or at right angles to the back and front of the machine; therefore, I do not limit my claim to any one of such modifications.

In conclusion, I do not claim as new all the respec

tive parts of the machinery above described, but the arrangement and combination of the same for the above-mentioned purpose, viz. for giving effect to my new method of weaving narrow fabrics, as above described. [Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, June, 1836.]

To THOMAS LUTWYCHE, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, manufacturing chemist, for his invention of certain improvements in the construction of apparatus used in the decomposition of common salt, and in the mode or method of working or using the same.-[Sealed 13th October, 1836.]

THESE improvements are designed to prevent the muriatic acid gas from escaping into the atmosphere, during the decomposition of the salt, which is effected by condensing such gas in suitable apparatus. It is also intended to carry on the process or manufacture in a more advantageous manner than it can be done by the apparatus now in common use, at the same time saving a large portion of the gas so condensed in the form of muriatic acid.

The apparatus usually employed for the decomposition of common salt with sulphuric acid, consists either of iron cylindrical retorts, or of open furnaces composed of brickwork. When the former is used, the heat is applied externally, by a fire under the bottom of the iron retort; and the object to be obtained in this mode, beyond the making of the sulphate of soda, is to collect the muriatic acid, which is effected by receiving the gas evolved during the operation, into double-necked jars or carboys, connected together at their upper parts, and

140 WP 201 to the retort, by earthenware pipes with proper luted joints. But when the latter mode is used, the principal object is to obtain the salt cake or sulphate of soda of a better quality, and in a more perfect state than when made in close iron vessels; by which process, the fire and flame is allowed to play directly upon the materials under operation, and the gas is allowed to escape up the chimney into the atmosphere.

Imperfect decomposition of the salt, impurity of the acid, and difficulty of condensation, attends the first of these methods; and, by the second process of operation, viz. decomposing in the open or reverberatory furnace, the immense volumes of muriatic acid gas and other deleterious vapours, which are disengaged or discharged into the atmosphere, become a public nuisance.

The improved construction of apparatus for the decomposition of common salt and the condensation of the muriatic gas, consist, first, in a novel and peculiar construction of closed oven, or decomposing chamber, with its fire-places and flues composed chiefly of bricks and mortar. Within this oven or decomposing chamber, there are two beds or floors, one about six inches lower than the other; and over them is formed an arch of fire bricks or of fire tiles placed obliquely: which arch separates the oven or chamber from the fire, and prevents the flame and smoke coming into contact with the materials under operation, but admits of sufficient heat for the purpose of decomposition.

By this arrangement, the muriatic acid gas evolved from the salt and sulphuric acid, is separated from the smoke and gaseous products arising from the com> bustion of the fuel, and, consequently, is the more easily condensed. A second arch is formed over the first, or fire tiles are placed obliquely or horizontally, thereby

forming the flue or flues; and one or more fire-places are placed at the end of the decomposing chamber. The salt and acid are placed together on the lower bed of the chamber, in the side of which there are two doors, one near the centre of the bed, the other close to its end next the upper bed, for the greater convenience of moving the charge from the lower into the upper bed, when the materials become sufficiently stiff to allow of this being done, which generally takes place in a few hours.

-A fresh quantity or charge of salt and acid are put into the lower bed, when that last introduced is changed to the upper; and at the expiration of ten or twelve hours from the commencement of the operation, the sulphate of soda in the upper bed may be drawn out, when another removal of partially decomposed salt takes place, and a fresh charge is put into the lower bed; so that although the materials are kept in the furnace ten or twelve hours, yet a fresh charge of salt and vitriol are put into the lower bed, and the decomposed salt or sulphate of soda is drawn out of the upper bed every five or six hours.

Figs. 10 to 16, in Plate VI., will serve to further illustrate these improvements in the construction of apparatus. Fig. 10, is a perspective representation of the decomposing furnace and condensing apparatus as seen looking toward the front of the fire-places; fig. 11, is a similar representation looking at the side of the furnace; fig. 12, is a vertical section taken longitudinally through the furnace, to show the closed oven or decomposing chamber, fire-places, and flues; fig. 13, is another similar section taken transversely: a, a, is the brickwork of the furnace; b, the fire-places; c, the fire-doors jid, the ash-pits; e, e, the flues leading to the