or other smaller surfaces, it will be better to remove them from the carding-engine, and place them in a smaller frame, in connection with the grinding apparatus; but this may of course depend upon the option and convenience of the operator in all instances.

a, a, a, is a bed or framing of cast-iron, somewhat similar to a small lathe-bed; to each end of which are attached arms b, b, connected together by the cross-rail or frame c, c. A shaft d, d, is supported in bearings in the arms b, b, upon which a small bevilled pinion e, is keyed, taking into a bevil-wheel ƒ, fast upon a stud g, supported by a carrierpiece, and adjustable in the mortice of the frame c. Upon this stud is fixed a toothed or chain-pulley h; a similar pulley i, being also placed upon a stud k, fixed in another part of the frame c; around and in gear with these pullies, is the endless chain l, . To this chain a swivel connecting link m, is attached, which is also fastened to a stud at the back of the carriage or slide n, n; this carriage n, is capable of being traversed to and fro upon the stationary bed a, a, and is furnished with jointed swivel-pieces o, p, q, which carry or support the emery or grinding-block r, being formed as an universal joint, so as to enable the block r, to assume any suitable angle or position.

The operation of the machine is as follows:-The grinding machine being placed across the front of a cardingengine, in the direction of the main cylinder-shaft, and the block r, faced with emery or other cutting surface, being in contact with a carding-cylinder, as shewn in fig. 2, power is applied to the driving-pulley, placed upon either end of the shaft d, which, by its rotation, traverses the carriage n, with its grinding-block, regularly to and fro, from side to side of the cylinder, and as the cylinder is caused to revolve upon its own axis simultaneously, a perfectly even surface may be thus obtained, and any requisite degree of set or edge may be given to the teeth.

A modification of the improved apparatus for grinding cards, is represented at fig. 3, which is another arrangement of mechanism, adapted to the purpose of grinding or sharpening flats or top cards, or other flat surfaces. The essen

tial features of this apparatus are still retained, but a revolving cylindrical grinding-roller is substituted in place of the grinding-block, before described. a, a, a, is a framework, supporting the bed b, b, which traverses to and fro, as in the former machine, and supports the swivel-jointed carriers b, c, d, in which the cylindrical emery-block e, is mounted. The flat or top card f, to be ground or set, is fixed with set-screws in the frame g, g, which turns up or down upon its centre h. Upon the frame a, a, is a table i, i, set perfectly level; and upon this table the flat card is first to be placed, preparatory to grinding, in order to set it square and flat before it is presented to the grinding-roller; the frame g, g, is then to be turned down upon it, and the flat secured therein by the adjustable set-screws in the frame, as shewn by dotted lines. The frame, with the top card, is now to be turned up, and being provided with a projection or nib k, upon the back, is held in this position by turning over the lock or catch 7, which secures the position of the card, ready for the grinding operation.

Rotary motion is to be given to the grinding-roller, by means of the straps and pullies m, and n, and the grinding commences. Now, in order to traverse the flat or top card up and down, so that its entire surface may be evenly presented to the action of the grinding-roller, a frame or parallel motion o, o, is provided, and worked up and down by the crank-arm p, affixed to the shaft q, which may be driven in any convenient manner; and in order to slide the flat in and out in a horizontal direction, when shifting its position, and presenting it to the grinding-roller, another parallel motion is provided, by means of the excentrics r, r, and links s, s. This modification of the apparatus, it will be observed, is more particularly applicable to grindingmachines of the old construction.

The patentee does not confine himself to the peculiar mechanical arrangement of the parts shewn in the drawings, as it may be easily modified and varied; for instance, the traverse of the carriage may be done by rack and pinion, or mangle-wheel; but he claims this or any other modification of the working motions of the apparatus, as exhibited

in the drawings, and herein set forth, for grinding, setting, or sharpening, the teeth of cards or any similar apparatus -[Inrolled in the Petty Bag Office, March, 1842.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Son.

TO WILLIAM HENRY KEMPTON, of South-street, Pentonville, Gent., for improvements in the manufacture of candles. -[Sealed 1st June, 1842.]

THIS invention relates to candles which are made with platted wicks, and consists in combining within, or affixing to the wick, a piece of bobbin, braid, cord, yarn, or other like preparation of fibres, for the purpose of regulating or controlling its tendency to bend outwards, and thereby prevent the candle from guttering; which circumstance frequently happens, when the ordinary platted wicks are used, especially if the candles are made of common tallow, on account of the heat being greater on that side to which the wick bends, in consuming, than on the other side.

The candle may be formed with either one or two wicks, and the piece of bobbin or cord, of the same length as the wick, is secured by introducing it into one of the strands, previous to platting. Another method of applying the cord to the wick, is by binding a piece of thread tightly round both, as shewn in the drawing, Plate III., or it may be affixed by running the cord into the side of the wick with a needle.

The cord is fastened to that side of the wick where the strands branch upwards from the centre towards the edges of the plat, as shewn in fig. 1, and thus, the wick is prevented from bending too much over the opposite side. Figs. 2, represent a wick with the cord attached to it by a binding thread. In these figures, a, is the wick, formed of three strands of loose cotton fibres; and b, the cord, also composed of three strands, which are each formed by twisting together three fibres of cotton; c, is the binding thread.

The patentee claims the application of platted wicks, combined with bobbin, braid, cord, yarn, or other like pre

paration of fibres; whereby the platted wick is regulated and controlled in its bending out of the flame, as described. -[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, December, 1842.]

TO WILLIAM THOMPSON CLOUGH, of St. Helens, in the county of Lancaster, alkali manufacturer, for improvements in the manufacture of the carbonates of soda and potash,-being a communication.-[Sealed 17th March, 1841.]

THIS invention consists in obtaining the carbonates of soda and potash of commerce, in combination with silicate of soda or potash, and thereby rendering those carbonates more useful for bleaching; and also in facilitating the production of the crystals of carbonate of soda, by the use of silica.

The silica is added to the soda or potash, in the process of manufacture, in such quantities as will be sufficient to saturate the caustic alkali it may contain, and convert it into silicate of potash or soda. It is applied to the alkaline liquor in the boiling down furnace; or, by preference, when for soda-ash or potash of commerce, it is mixed with the salts from the boiling-down furnace, with a shovel, or other instrument, and the combined materials are thrown into the finishing or carbonating furnace, and finished in the ordinary manner.

The patentee states, in his specification, that although he does not confine himself to the exact quantities, he prefers, when making carbonate of soda, to add from 10 to 15 per cent. of silica, and for carbonate of potash, only 7 per cent.

When the carbonate of soda, prepared as above, is crystallized, the larger part of it separates in nearly pure and colorless crystals, and the resulting mother salts, from the residual liquor, retain the whole of the silicate of soda.

Where crystals of soda are not required, and only the dry carbonates of potash or soda of commerce are wanted, for the purposes of the bleacher, a similar product to that

obtained from the mother waters is produced, by combining a quantity of silicate of soda or potash, with carbonate of soda or potash, in such proportions that the mixture shall contain 20 per cent. of silicate of soda or potash.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, September, 1841.]

To JOHN DUNCAN, of Great George-street, Westminster, Gent., for an invention of improvements in machinery for driving piles,-being a communication. [Sealed 21st September, 1841.]

THE object of this invention is so to construct machinery for driving piles, that it may be made to travel progressively along the piles which have been driven by such machinery, and, by means of a suitable saw, cut off the upper ends of the piles to the height desired.

In order to carry out the invention, the pile-driving engine is mounted on a carriage with wheels, such wheels being guided, in their progress along the tops of the piles, by temporary rails, which are readily applied to and taken from the piles, as the carriage progresses, as will be hereafter explained; by this means, when a long range of piles for a railway or other work is to be driven, there will be no necessity for erecting a platform or works for supporting the machinery, except at starting, as the piles, which have been driven by the engine, will be rendered capable of sustaining the weight of the machinery in its onward progress.

In Plate III., fig. 1, represents a side view of the piledriving engine, on six wheels, and supported on a temporary railway, formed on piles which have been driven by the engine; fig. 2, is a sectional plan of the same; and fig. 3, is a front view thereof. c, are the uprights which guide the monkeys and the weights; c', are the diagonal supports to the uprights; and c2, the cross-framings from the uprights c, to the diagonal supports c1: and it will be seen, that these parts are of the ordinary construction. c3, is the horizontal framing of the machinery, which, with the