[ 246 J 
PATENTS FOR MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL 
INVENTIONS. 
To Joun VatLancr, of Brighton, for his 
New Method of Communication, or Means 
of Intercourse, by which Persons, Goods, 
or Intelligence may be communicated from 
one Place to another with greater Expedi- 
tion than by Steam Carriages, or Carriages 
drawn by Animals.—Feb. 13, 1824. 
The subject of the present patent must 
be considered as most extraordinary. It is 
proposed to construct hollow cylinders of 
cast-iron, large enough to allow carriages 
with passengers and goods to pass through 
them ; a series of these cylinders are to 
be united, and extend from town to town, 
the junctions being made sufficiently air- 
tight to allow of a vacuum being produced 
within. The carriages, formed to the di- 
mensions of the cylindrical trunk, are to be 
projected from place to place by the pres- 
sure of the atmosphere rushing forward to 
occupy the vacuum. The junctions of the 
cylinders are to be bound round with rolls of 
flannel, coated with tallow, and an external 
hoop to keep the joints air-tight. They 
are to be supported upon blocks of masonry, 
or brick-work; and where it becomes neces- 
sary to deviate from a straight line, or 
from a horizontal position, the inclination 
must be made as gradual as possible. In 
this way trunks are to be formed, extend- 
ing from station to station, and may be 
carried over rivers by means of bridges, or 
’ through hills, if necessary, by means of ex- 
cayations ; and air-pumps, of very large 
' dimensions, are to be constructed at each 
end of the trunk, for the purpose of ex- 
hausting the air within. The cylinders 
that form the trunk being arranged as above 
described, the carriage is to be introduced, 
and the doors are to be shut, that the exter- 
nal air in exerting its pressure against the 
closed end of the carriage may impel it 
forward. The air-pump is now to be put in 
action ; and, as soon as the airis exhausted 
from the interior of the cylinders, the force 
of the air from the open end of the trunk, 
drives the carriage forward with a velocity 
proportionate. to the degree of the ex- 
haustion within. 
The velocity of this carriage might be 
increased or diminished by a greater or less 
degree of exhaustion produced in the trunk; 
but the speed could not (the inventor thinks) 
be conveniently carried beyond one thou- 
sand miles per hour, as that is the velocity 
of air rushing into a vacuum. In order to 
avoid any retardation of the carriage, by the 
friction which the air would experience in 
passing along the sides of the ‘trunk, it is 
proposed to have air valves opening into 
the trunk at every mile of its length, which 
are to be rendered air-tight by mercurial ~ 
joints ; and as the carriage passes the valve, 
a small lever is to open it, and allow the air 
torushin. It is intended that the interior 
of the trunk should be marked at every 
mile, and lighted lamps are to be attached 
to the carriage, that the conductor may 
krow where about he is: a lever also is to 
be connected to the carriage, by pressing 
upon which, the conductor may produce a 
friction sufficient to stop the carriage. The 
pumps are to be kept working all the time 
that the carriages are in progress, in order 
to preserve the state of exhaustion as 
nearly as possible. When the natural pres- 
sure of the air is insufficient to propel the 
carriage with the desired velocity, the air- 
pump at the posterior end of the trunk is 
to be employed in injecting air, so as to 
produce a plenum, while the pump at the 
reverse end is exhausting to produce a 
vacuum. A contrivance is proposed, con- 
sisting of a long series of pipes, extending 
from the starting-place to the station of 
the next air-pump, to convey intelligence 
when the pumps are to be put in action.— 
Abridged from the London Journal of Arts 
and Sciences. 
— 
To JoserH CuisELD DantEt, of Stoke, 
Wilts, for hisNew Improved Method o 
Weaving Woollen Cloth.—7th July 1824. 
These improvements apply to power- 
looms of the description employed for 
weaving woollen cloths. The principal 
novel features, consist in the introduction 
of a spring behind the lathe or batten, to 
which the crank-rod is attached, that 
causes the lathe to vibrate ; the employment 
of a weighted lever, which tumbles to and 
fro on the treddle shaft, for the purpose of 
throwing the warp open to receive the 
shuttle; and the introduction of oblique 
brushes or card-rollers in the breast beam, 
in order to stretch the cloth out towards 
the sides, and prevent its wrinkling on the 
work-beam as it rolls up. The Patentee’s 
claims are comprised under the following 
heads :—bringing the shuttle through the 
warp gradually, and without a jerk; in 
continuing the pressure of the reed against 
the shoot while the position of the warp 
changes ; enabling the lathe to be at rest 
when the shuttle passes; assisting the 
changing of the warp, and keeping it open 
by a tumbling weight ; and, lastly, stretch- 
ing the cloth, in its width, as it rolls on the 
work-beam.—London Journal of Arts and 
Sciences. 
4 Lisr or rue Parents which, having been 
granted in October 1811, will exrirE in 
the present Month of October, viz. 
Oct. 1—To W. Srranan, of Poole Cot- 
tage, Cheshire: for his new method of mak- 
ing culinary salt, 
50.— 
