56 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[February, 



whole process, and so far as tlic result of the manufacture was concerned, 

 they exj)ress themselves perfectly satisfied. As to the saving to he ctfected 

 by it, they had no ground on which to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion, so 

 as to confirm thf statement of the inventor, who affirms, that for the cost of 

 two francs he cau mould a thousand bricks. From their inspection of the 

 working of the engine, they were enabled to think that this statement is cor- 

 rect. — Ibiil. 



NAIL, PIN, AND RIVET JIACHINERY. 



William Southwood Stocker, of Birmingham, certain improvements in ma- 

 chinery applicable to making nails, pins, and rivets, .Ian. 2. Claim first. — 

 Mode of combining the forging tools in a moveable frame, and causing such 

 tools to approach each other ami forge a bar of iron that is properly held by 

 a machine, either in making the stems of nails or bolls, or in pointing their 

 ends. Claim second. — Mode of constructing the beading and cutting ma- 

 chine. Claim third. — Mode of applying moveable dies to the machine, for 

 heading pins and rivets. Claim fourth. — The turning over by machinery and 

 cutting a series of plates or strips of metal in making cut nails. A crank 

 axle is mounted in a strong frame connnunieating by means of pulleys to the 

 engine. Four iron bars are caused to slide backwards and forwards in a 

 frame by a rod from the crank axle. Other sliding bars are placed so as to 

 move in a position at right angles to these. Their ends are supplied with 

 anti-friction rollers, that work against an inclined plane, liy these bars the 

 forging tools are moved to their proper places. K tube extends along the 

 machine, one end of wliicli ^ery nearly approaches the forging tools. A red 

 hot bar of iron is passed through the tube : motion is given to the axle, 

 which, through the connecting rod, gives motion to the sliding bars and 

 rollers, causing the forging tools to close together, and their action on the 

 heated t)ar produces the shanks of bolts, nails, or rivets, of any shape or size. 

 The heading machines are constructed by a cranked axle, working the head- 

 ing die, which strikes the bolt as it Ues in a proper cavity, and forms the 

 head of the nail or rivet, .\nother machine is shown in which the working 

 parts are the same, only instead of a fixed cavity for holding tlie shanks pre- 

 vious to the heading, dies are used, one of which is moveable and the other 

 fixed, and are held together by a spring catch and lever. With reference to 

 the last part of these improvements : a pair of shears are worked by the re- 

 volution of a crank axle. .\t the face of these shears a series of cylinders are 

 placed angularly. Through the end of each a strip of metal of the required 

 width passes. The whole of the cylinders are connected by jiinions and a 

 rack, so that on the cranked axle being made to revolve, a nail is cut from 

 each strip of metal by a descending cutter. ,\ sliding motion is then given to 

 the rack, wliich causes the cylinders and pieces of metal to move round suffi- 

 ciently at every stroke of the cutter, to preserve the angular or taper form of 

 the nails or brads. — Ibid. 



SUBMARINE PROPELLERS. 



John Edward Carpenter, of Toft Monks, Norfolk, improvements in the ap- 

 pUcation of machinery for assisting vessels in performing certain evolutionr 

 upon the water, especially tacking, veering, [jropeUing, steering, casting or 

 winding, and backing astern, Dec. 12. Claim first. — The application os 

 adaptation of submarine propellers, as hereafter described, in whatever situa- 

 tion such propellers may be placed. Claim second. — The pecuhar form of 

 the propellers, shown in the drawings annexed to this specification. These 

 improvements may be divided into three parts : — First — The method in which 

 the propelling apparatus is fixed, for propelling vessels at the greatest possi- 

 ble speed attainable, with reference to submarine rotary propellers on the 

 quarter. Secondly — The method of applying the same apparatus, so as to 

 turn vessels about without the assistance of wind or rudder. Thirdly — The 

 methoil of appljing the apparatus to vessels, with one propeller at the stern. 

 The blades and screws forming the quarter propeller may be constructed 

 either of metal or wood, their strength and superficies depending on the size 

 of the vessel which they will have to propel. Spindles are constructed, which 

 consist of moveable axles protruding through the vessel at both quarters, 

 near the line of floatation, below the load-water line and above the keel, be- 

 tween the midship section and the stern frame. These spindles are enclosed 

 by metallic cylinders, or other proper packing, having a cup and socket valve 

 and stuffing-box at one, or both, ends, and are firmly secured to the timbers 

 of the vessel. That part of the spindle which is within the vessel is to he 

 connected to a steam-engine, or other first mover, by any convenient me- 

 chanical contrivance. The outer part is connected to the propelling shaft. 

 The regidator consists of a rod furnished with a rack and pinion, with a 

 pendant bearing attached to the propelling shaft at the bottom of tlie rod. 

 Through this bearing the propeller shaft passes, by which means the pro- 

 peller can be raised or lowered, as circumstances may require. The end or 

 stem bearing is constructed of metal and bolted firmly into the transom of 

 the vessel, so as to be capable of resisting the force of heavy seas against the 

 propeller, and also of being easily detached. With reference to the second 

 part of these improvements, a bevelled wheel is fitted upon the capstan, and 

 this communicates the motive power to the propellers ; there are two pinions 



which gear with the bevelled wheel. The axle of the pinions are connected- 

 with the spindles as above described. The piopeller is confined in its posi- 

 tion by a stay and other parts of the apparatus. The shaft rotates in a bear- 

 ing, and can be raised or lowered by means of a topping lift. After the ap- 

 paratus has been connected with the capstan, it is only necessary to turn that 

 by power, and the head of the vessel will move round. The third part of 

 this invention consists in the manner in which the rudder is divided, so as to 

 admit the shaft of a single propeller to pass through it, and also in the form 

 of the blades to be applied to such shaft. The length of each blade is more 

 than twice its radius, and two of these blades are placed angularly upon the 

 shaft, which is supported by a hinged bearing at its extremity, a strong iron 

 connecting piece joining the rudder at its upper and lower divisions. — Ibid. 



PLASTER CASTING. 



Plaster of Paris is sulphate of lime, or gypsum, deprived of its water of 

 crystaUisation by heat. In this state it has such an affinity for water, and is 

 capable of taking up so much, that when the powder is mixed with water till 

 it becomes of the consistence of cream, it sets after a few seconds into a hard 

 mass. In the manufacture of plaster casts, we must jiay attention to several 

 little niceties, in order to get rid of all the air bubbles. These arise from two 

 causes, either from the adhesion of the air to the plaster, or from the plaster 

 carrying down air with it, when added to the water. The first is to be re- 

 medied by using fresh burnt plaster, which is always adopted by the cunning 

 stereotj'pers, for they state that if it simply stands a fortnight, the casts wiU 

 not be so good. The workman cannot explain this, but the rationale was 

 well known to Mr. Wyatt, our celebrated sculptor, who told me that he at- 

 tributed it to the adhesion of the air ; and that thus many dehcate casts 

 were injured. He places the common plaster in a saucepan over the fire, and 

 heats it, when it heaves from the discharge of gas, and is then ready for use. 

 Sufficient plaster should be placed in a basin, and water poured upon it till 

 it is completely covered, and all hubbies cease to rise, when it must be 

 thoroughly mixed by rubbing it together. The surface to which it is to be 

 apphed should be slightly brushed over with a very small quantity of salad 

 oil. A little fluid plaster may then be poured on the cast, and with a hog's 

 bristle painting brush thoroughly rubbed into all the fine parts, which will 

 prevent the adhesion of any air bubbles in the plaster wiiieh might prevent a 

 perfect impression, .\nother portion of plaster, sufficient to give the desired 

 thickness is now to be added, and time must he given for the whole to set, 

 when it should be removed from the mould, and gently heated to drive off 

 excess of moisture. — Stnee^s Elements of Electro Metullnrgy, 



PRESERVATION AND STAINING OF WOOD. 



M. Boucherie's process, which we have already noticed, proposes to render 

 wood much more durable, to preserve its elasticity, to prevent it from under- 

 going variations in volume, to which it is liable by dryness and humidity, to 

 diminish its combustibility, to increase its tenacity and hardness, and to give 

 it varied and durable odours and colours. The mode is, to cut the tree at 

 the bottom when it is growing luxuriantly and full of sap. The lower part is 

 then immersed in a trough containing the bquid which it is intended shall 

 penetrate the vessels of the tree. This will reach the liighest leaves in a few 

 days. It is not necessary that the tree should be supphed with all its branches 

 and leaves : a few leaves at the summit will suffice. It is not, however, ne- 

 cessary to cut the tree : a niche at the bottom will answer the same purpose, 

 by which the Uquid may be introduced. 1. To increase the hardness of the 

 wood, and to preserve it from decay, a solution of pyrolignite of uon is to be 

 employed, a substance readily formed by digesting iron filings in pyrohgneous 

 acid. 2. To diminish the combustibility, M. Boucherie introduces chloride 

 of lime, or the mother liquor of salt marshes ; the wood is thus rendered 

 more flexible. 3. The author also stains the most common natural and in- 

 digenous woods. With pyrohgnite of iron, a brown colour is produced ; 

 with tannin, an inky colour is formed ; Prussian blue and yellow tints are 

 alTorded by introducing these substances with prussiate of potash, acetate of 

 lead, and chromate of potash. This paper has been very favourably reported 

 on by Dumas, Arago, &c. 



FIRE PROOF BUILDINGS. 



Louis Leconte, of Leicester Square, gentleman, for constructing fire-proof 

 buildings. Jan. 9, 1841. This plan consists in the employment of iron 

 frames to receive concrete matters for forming the walls. The basement story 

 of the building is constructed according to the ordinary methods up to one 

 foot or more above the ground ; on the basement so constructed is to be 

 erected the patent wall, formed of frames entirely of cast iron, in one or more 

 pieces, or a combination of cast uon and wrought iron plates. These frames 

 are to be set one on to the other until the required lieight is obtained, the 

 necessary stability being obtained by means of steady pins at the corners of 

 one frauie fitting into holes made in the corners of the frame which is op- 

 posed to it. Suitable shaped frames are employed for the internal partition 

 walls, and for doorways, wiudow frames, &c. The flues of the cliimneys are 



