1846.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



385 



The second part of this inveatioa relates to the rivetlinK togethei' plates 

 of metal by the same means as before described for punching ; the only dif- 

 ference in the machine being, that rivet sets are adjusted in the same posi- 

 tion as the punch and die; to receive and form the rivet heads, it is not 

 necessary that it should be furnished with a double ram or cylinder. 



The third part relates to tlie shearing and cutting of metal plates, the 

 machines for which, are modifications of that already described, one being 

 exactly similar to the common form of Bramah's press, but furnished with 

 a double ram. The patentee proposes to use this for cutting such articles 

 as railway axle guards. A punch, of the shape of the article desired to be 

 cut, is fixed on the head of the ram, and a corresponding die in the cross 

 head ; the ram, on being forced up by the means already explained, will 

 cut the metal plate the shape required. 



Fig. 



-Catting Shears. 



® <5 e 



d 



Fig, 2, represents a front elevation of a machine of shearing; «, a, is a 

 strong iron frame, supported in a vertical po.sition by means of dovetail 

 guides, in which it moves freely up and down; b, li, is a knife or shear, 

 attached to the frame a ; c, c, c, are a series of hydraulic rams, by which 

 pressure is applied directly on the knife or cutting shear ; the correspond- 

 ing shear d, is stationary, and a fixture lo the frame of the machine. 



Having described the manner of applying the invention to the different 

 purposes for which it is intended, the patentee wishes it to be understood, 

 that he lays no claim to the details as herein described and carried out, nor 

 to the application of water for the same purposes; but claims, first, the ap- 

 plication of the pressure of a fluid, caused by means of pumps, for the 

 punching of metals. Second, the application of the pressure of a fluid, 

 caused by means of a pump or pumps, for the rivetting together plates of 

 metal, as hereinbefore described. Third, the arrangement of a series of 

 hydraulic rams, for the purposes of shearing metal plates, as hereinbefore 

 described. 



APPARATUS FOR PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS. 



WiLLiA.M Newton, of Chancery Lane, Middlesex, civil engineer, for 

 " hnproved modifications and novel application of known machinerij and pro- 

 cess to the purpose of cleaning, softening, dividing a)id preparing Jia.r, hemp, 

 and other vegetable fibrous materials." (Being a i:ommunication.) — 

 Gianted August 14, iS45; Enrolled February 14, 184G. 



The invention relates to the employment of an apparatus similar to the 

 ordinary fulling-stock, for beating, breaking, or operating upon textile 

 plants of all descriptions, and for constructing the beaters and trough or 

 bed of the slocks in the manner hereinafter described. 



Fig. 1 is a vertical section, and fig. 2 a plan of tlie apparatus; the bed or 

 trough may be made of cast iron, copper, or other suitable metal, the in- 

 ternal surface is formed of three curves ; the first curve is the front of a 

 radius of 10 feet and 2 feet in length, which is the length of the arms of 

 tlie beaters ; the bottom curve is 10 inches in length and 10 inches radius, 

 and the back curve 19 inches in length and 24 inches radius ; the trough 

 is about 24 inches w ide on the top. The wooden beaters are of equal size, 

 and lifted by rotary tappets e, falling alternately on the substances in the 

 trough, they are about 400 lb. in weight, and have a fall of 2 feet, (the 

 weights and fall may be varied according to the degree of hardness and 

 resistance of the plant). The beaters have 5 teeth, the front tooth is 2J in. 

 thick, and projects half an inch beyond thS two following or intermediate 

 teeth b h, wliich are 2 inches thick, forming an arc of an inch radius, and the 

 fourth tooth c is Ij inch thick, and 2i inches longer than the first, and the 

 fifth and last tooth li is 4^ inches thick, and projects nearly 7 inches ; a space 

 of 24 inches is left between the 4th and 5th tooth. The upper surface of 

 tlie beater is perpendicular to the first tooth, and curved to the shape of the 

 trough. The teeth are covered with sheet copper, and the arms of the 



beaters are mounted so as to vibrate in an arc concentric with the front 

 curve of the trough. 



Fig. 1. 



Fig. 2. 



The operation is performed in the following manner : — the plants are 

 firmly twisted together in bundles of about a pound each, and then cleansed 

 and deprived of all gummy and other extraneous matters, and softened by 

 being beaten or pressed. About SO lb. of the plant is then laid on the 

 trough and submitted to the action of the two beaters, acting alternately 

 for about four hours. 



This alternate action of the beaters turns the plant over and over, in a 

 regular and uniform manner, compressing it forcibly against the sides of the 

 bed, and causing the fibres to rub against each other at every stroke of the 

 beaters. The outer covering or woody portion of the plant is first broken 

 and then removed by the peculiar shape of the teeth of the beaters. Alter 

 a time the outer covering and ligneous matter being broken oH', the fila- 

 ments are separated and the plant gently heated, which facilitates the re- 

 moval of the gummy matters, and all the parts become softened. After 

 this operation, and a cleansing in water, the fibres are operated upon in the 

 ordinary matter. 



METALLIC PISTONS. 



William Mather and Colin Mather, of Salford, near Manchester, 

 millwrijihts and engineers, for " Improvements in metallic pistons."-— 

 Granted April 28; Enrolled October 21, 184G. 



,v-.-. 



.^^.ji 



Mf 



The improvements relate to the mode of packing pistons by a combina 

 tion of two helical springs, one within the other, as sliown in the annexed 

 figure, one-half of which shows the outer spring a, aud tlie other half the 

 inner one b, wliich surround a groove or channel formed round the body of 

 the piston e ; they are compressed and held in their places by the top plate 

 or cover d of the piston when fixed down by three screws t' ; at the twa 

 ends of the outer spring, there are tilling or stopping bits /, placed across 

 the two openings in recesses formed in the outer spring in order to stop 

 the steam passing down or up through the splits. 



The two springs a aud b are made by first forming a cylinder by casting 

 and then cutting out a portion of the metal in an incliued direction, a 

 Tertical cut being made at the points a', a' : when the springs are put toge- 



49 



