382 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[December, 



Safety Pressure- Gauge for Gas-Works.—ln the manufacture of gas there 

 are raanv circumstances umler which accidents are very hkely to occur; for 

 instance', if the pipes which conduit the gas happen to become obstructed 

 by deposits of crystalised napthaline, or carbonate, or hypo-sulpliate of am- 

 )nonia, there are great dangers of explosions. Any negltct in the compU- 

 cated arrangements of the valves will form an obstruction, and by preventing 

 the free flow of the gas generated in the retoris into the gasometers, an ex- 

 plosion is the result. The only means at present in general use to call at- 

 tention to the state of the gas in the tubes is the ordinary pressure gauge, 

 which is, under many circumstances, insufficient. M. Magnier communi- 

 cated at the last sitting of the Paris Academy of Sciences, a plan for an 

 apparatus for giving timely warning of any obstruction to the passage of the 

 gas, which is simple and inexpensive. He terms it a " Safety Pressure- 

 Gauge," which consists of a small bottle-shaped vessel, with two orifices, one 

 of which is attached to the glass tube forming the ordinary pressure-gauge. 

 • To the other of these orifices is attached a whistle, in such manner, that 

 whenever any obstruction or excess of pressure occurs, a loud warning is 

 given. Water is introduced into the pressure gauge, which communicates 

 with the gas apparatus, on which the pressure is reproduced, and all the va- 

 riations of pressure, to several inches of water, can be traced ; but if 

 greater than ordinary, the water contained in the pressure-gauge is forced 

 into the bottle, and the gas, in escaping through the orifice, acts on the 

 whistle, producing a sound which gives notice of danger, and which sound 

 becomes so much louder as the pressure increases, thus giving sufficient 

 timely notice to avoid danger. 



A Novel Steam Engine. — Practical Application of Water in the Sphe- 

 roidal State. — It will be remembered by our readers, that at the meeting of 

 the British Association at Cambridge, a considerable sensation was produced 

 by M. Bontigny, who brought before the meeting a series of experiments on 

 •what he calls the spheroidal state of water, and the remarkable phenomenon 

 of freezing water in red-hot crucibles, under the influence of this peculiar 

 condition. At a recent meeting of the Academy of Sciences at Paris, M. 

 Boutigny announced, that by the persevering efforts of a young engineer, 

 M. Testud de Beauregard, a steam-engine bad been constructed, which was 

 moved by the vapour of water in its spheroidal state. This is a machine of 

 one-horse power, the boiler of which is so small that it can be easily carried 

 in the pocket. It was also stated, that two other machines were in progress, 

 one of two, and the other of four-horse power ; and that a third, of four 

 hundred horse-power, was about to be made in England. From a commu- 

 nication to La Presse, we learu that the boiler is placed in a bath of melted 

 lead, and water projected in small quantities at a time upon its heated sur- 

 face. Tlie spheroidal state is produced, and although the temperature of 

 the water never rises above 190 degs., the elastic force of the vapour given 

 off is found to be very far superior to that of steam in its ordinary condi- 

 tions; and if we understand the somewhat obscure description given, a por- 

 tion of the water is decomposed, as in Professor Grove's beautiful experi- 

 ments, and the additional force of the gases is rendered available. We may 

 briefly state, for the benefit of those who may not be familiar with Bou- 

 tigny's experiments, that if water is projected upon a metal-plate heated to 

 dull redness, it is not vaporised at once, but it forms itself into a sphere, 

 and rolling with great rapidity over the heated surface, evaporates with 

 comparative slowness. This is the spheroidal state— a remarkable physical 

 condition is produced, in which eveu the ordinary powers of chemical affi- 

 nity are suspended, but the vapour of which appears to obey other laws 

 than those of steam. We may therefore hope that we are on the eve of a 

 great improvement in the employment of heat as a motive power. — [The 

 above French invent ion h not new in England. Patents have been taken out 

 in this country by bmith, Howard, and others. — Ed. C. E. & A. Journal.] 



I.IST OF NE^V PATBNTS. 



GRANTED IN ENGLAND FROM OCTOBER 26, TO NoVEMBEK 23, 1848. 



Sia? Months allowed for Enrolment^ unless otheiivise ejcpressed, 



Alfred Vincent Newton, of IG, Chancery-lane, mechanical draughtsman, for "certain 

 Improvements in the manufacture of BLeel."— Sealed Nov. 2. 



Charles William Kesaelmeyer, of Manchester, warehouseman, and Thomas Mellowdew. 

 of Olilham, for •' certain Improvements in the manufucture of velvets, velveteens, and 

 other similar fabrics."— Nov. 2. 



Charles Dawson, of Hardinge-street, Islington, professor of mOsic, for "certain Im- 

 provrnt^nts in musical instruments, and in apparatus to be used In conoecLion with mu- 

 sical instruments.*' — Nov. 2. 



Robert Thom'^on Pattison, of Glasgow, printer, for " an Improved preparation or mate- 

 rial for fixing paint, or pigment colours, on cotton, linen, woollen, silk, and other woven 

 fabrics." — Nov. 2. 



James Hart, of Bermondsey-square, engineer, for "Improvements In machinery for 

 manuiatturing brick, sand, and tiles, parts of which machinery are applicable to mould- 

 ing other substances." — Nov. 2. 



William Weitd, of RIanchester, mechanical draughtsman, for "certain Improvements 

 in machinery for spinning cotton and other tJbrou3 substances." — Nov. 2 



Itichard Bright, of Brutonstreet, Middlesex, lamp manufacturer, for " Improvements 

 in lamps, wicks, and covers for vessels for holding uii and other tiit'ius.'* — Nov. 2. 



Robert Walter Winfield, of Birmingham, manufacturer, fur "certain improvements in 

 the construction and manufacture of metallic bedsteads, couches, and sofas.'* — Nov. 2. 



John Harris, of Richard's- terrace, Rotlierliithe, Surrey, engineer, for " a mode or modes 

 of founding type. &c., and of casting in metal, plaster, and certain materials." — Nov. 2. 



James Robertson, of Liverpool, cooper, for " a mode or modes of consuming smoke 

 and other gaseous products arising from fuel and other substances." — Nov, 2. 



Richard Archibald Brooman, of Pleet-street, Loudon, gentleman, for "certain Im- 

 provements in the manufacture of hinges, and the machinery or apparatus u»ed therein." 

 Nov. 2. 



William Bullock Tibbits, of Bramston, Northampton, gentleman, for " Improvements 

 in obtaining, applying, and controlling motive power, parts of which improvemeuls are 

 applicable to the raising and lorcing of liquids."— Nov. 2. 



Francis Gybbon Spilsbury, of St. John's Wood, gentleman, for " Improvements in 

 paints and pigments." — Nov. 2. 



George Arthur Biddle, of Ipswich, engineer, for " Improvements applicable to gas 

 burners." — Nov. 2 



Meyer Jacobs, of Spitalfields, Middlesex, gentleman, for "certain Improvements In the 

 manutacture, stamping, and treating generally, of woven fabrics of all kinds.'' — Nov. 2. 



Thomas John Knowlys, ot Heysham Tower, near Lancaster, gentleman, for '* Improve- 

 ments in the ajiplication, removal, and compression of atinijs,jheric air." — Nov. 2. 



George Henry Bachhoffner, of the Royal Polytechnic Institution, London, doctor o f 

 philosophy, professor ol natural philosophy, for " Improved means of transmitting, com- 

 municating, or conveying intelligence."— Nov. 4. 



Joseph Cooper, of Walworth, tailor, for " Improvements in fastenings for wearing ap- 

 parel." — Nov. 4. 



Charles lies, of Birmingham, machinist, for " Improvements in the manufacture of 

 certain descriptions of dress fastenings, and in the making up of dress iasteuiugs and 

 other articles for sale.*'— Nov. . 



Henry Kempton, of Pentonville, Middlesex, gentleman, for " Improvements in reflec- 

 tors and apparatus for artificial lit^ht." — Nov. 7. 



Rloses Poole, of the patent bill office, London, gentleman, for "certain Improvements 

 in machinery for making nails." (A communicatiun.)— Nuv. 7. 



James Napier, of Swansea, operative chemist, for " Improvements in the manufacture 

 of copper and other metals, and alloys ol metals." — Nuv. y. 



Richard Goad, of Kennington, Surrey, chemist, f-ir " Improvements in theconstniction 

 of blast and other furnaces and fire-places." — Nov. il. 



James Anderson, of Abbotsford-place, Glasgow, starch manufacturer, for "acertain 

 Improved mode of separating the ditferent qualities of potatoes and other vegetables." — 

 Nov. 11. 



Alexander Parkes and Henry Parkes, of Birmingham, fur " Improvements in the ma- 

 nufacture of metals and alloys of metals, and in the treatment ot metallic matters, witli 

 various substances." — Nov. 11. 



John Browne, of Osnabnrgh-street, Middlesex, gentleman, for " Improvements in fire 

 escapes, and in apparatus to facilitate persons employed in cleaning wmdows.'*— Nov. II. 



Alexanfier Balfour, of Dundee, Scotland, leather merchant and manufacturer, for " Im- 

 provements in apparatus for cutting metal washers and other articks, and in the con- 

 struction of buffers." — Nov. Iti. 



Samuel Adams, of West Bromwich, StaflFord, organist, for " Improremeuts in mills for 

 grinding." — Nov. 16. 



William Wilkinson, of Farrow, near Gateshead, Durham, coke manufacturer, for 

 " certain ImprGvements in the construction of coke ovens, and in the machinery or ajipa- 

 ratus to be connected therewith." — Nov. Id. 



Thomas Masters, of Regent-street, for "certain Improvements in apparatus for making 

 aerated waters, and in apparatus for charging bottles and oUier vessels with gaseous 

 fluid i also improvements in bottles and other vessels, anrl in apparatus for drawing off 

 liquids; in securing corks or stoppers in butties or other vessels, and in taps and vent 

 pegs." — Nov. ly. 



Thomas Cullen, of the city of London, gentleman, for "Improvements in apparatus 

 for steering ships and other vessels." — Nov. 18. 



John Juckes, of Rosamond-cottage, Fulham, gentleman, for "Improvements in fur- 

 naces and lire-places." — Nuv. IS. 



Alexander McDougal, of Longsight, Manchester, chemist, and Henry Rawson, of Man* 

 Chester, agent, for " Improvements in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, nitric acid, 

 oxalic acid, chlorine, and sulphur.*'— Nov. 21. 



John Oliver York, of 24, Rue de la Maideleiue, Paris, engraver, for " Improvements in 

 tho manufacture of metallic tubes." — Nov. 21. 



William Hood Clement, of Philadelphiji, for "certain improvements in the ma"ufac- 

 ture of sufjar, part of which improvements are applicable to evaporation generally; also 

 improved apparatus for preparing the cane trash to be uswd as fuel." — Nov. 21, 



Henry Nevvsou, of Smethwick, near Birmingham, for " Improvements in trusses." — 

 Nov. 2X 



Hugh Bell, of London, gentleman, for "certain Improvements in aerial machines, and 

 maebinery in connection with the buoyant power produced by gaseous matter."— Nov. 2H 



Christian Schiele, ol Manchester, mechanician, for " certain Impiovements in the 

 construction of cocks or valves, which im provements are also applicable for reducing the 

 friction of axles, journals, bearings, or other rubbing surfaces in machinery in general '* 

 Nov. 23. 



Peter Llewellin, of Bristol, brass and copper manufacturer, and John Hammons, of the 

 same place, bra-s-fnunder, for " Improvements in the manufacture of cocks or valves ft>r 

 drawing oli" liquids." — Nov. 23. 



Henry Archer, of Great George-street, Westminster, gentleman, for " Improvements 

 in facilitating the division of sheets or pieces of paper, parchment, or other similar sub- 

 stances." — Nov. TA. 



Frederick Bramvvell, of Mill-wall, Poplar, engineer, and Samuel Collet Honiffrsham, of 

 the Adelphi, gentleman, for " Improvements in feeding furnacts with fuel." — Nov. 2'i. 



END OF VOLUME XI. 



