144- 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[ Ai»R|L, 



NOTES OF THS NONTK. 



Professionai Jurisdiction. '-^\n the inquiry before Mr. Ciibitt, as AdmiraUy 



Inspeclnr. on the Lea Navigation Bill, the East London Water Works Compnny daimed 

 to be heard hy counsfl ; nnd on the L''»tll, on the opening of the court, Mr. Mrreuether 

 appeared lo support their application on the threat of withdrawinp altogether from the 

 ioquiry. flir. Cubitt adhered to the determination he had expressed by letter, of hearing 

 only engineers or solicitors; and this lefusal having been recorded in his minutes, Mr. 

 Merewelher left the room. We hope Mr. Cubitt, and other enfiineerfl, acting in the like 

 official capacity, will be equally firm, for there can be no reason, before such a tribunal, 

 for the emp!oynii-nt of barristers, who have to be instructed by engineers. Solicitors, are 

 persons practically acquainted with the business of their clients. There cnn be no hard- 

 ship on the Waterworks Company, for ihey could have adequate engineering assistance. 

 The Board of Ordnance, who opposed, were represented by their solicitor and two govern- 

 ment engineers; and most of the other opponents by engineers or surveyors. Asa start- 

 iingr example of the mischiefs of employing non-praeticai men, we may refer to the 

 celebrated Heading case, where many days were lost by the several batches of counsel. 



Opening for Traffic of the Britannia Bridge. — On Friday and Saturday, 

 the 15th and l»!th ult. Captain SimmonH, the Government Inspector for the Railway 

 Commissioners, made his oftijial inspection of this great structure, accompanied by Mr. 

 Edwin Clarke, the resident engineer, ami Mr. lleduorth Lee, the engineering manager 

 of the Chester and Holyhead line, when a series of important experiments took place to 

 ascertain the law of deflection, and the absolute structural strength of the fabric. The 

 experiments consisted in observing the deflections under a series of successive toads ; the 

 passing of three locomotives, with a train sufficient to cover each of the tubes, through 

 the bridge, at various speeds, and the running of locomotives and tenders through, 

 without trains, at variable rates of progress. The first experimental Government train 

 was a heavily laden one of coai wagons, weighing 2-10 tons, with three locomotive 

 engines. This was run through the tube at the ordinary rate at which such trains travel, 

 from 10 to 12 miles an hour, nnd the deflection, as takc?n by deflectometer, fixed in the 

 centre tower, was scarcely perceptible. This train was then drawn completely over one 

 of the tubes, and there left as a dead weight, while Captain Simmons descended and 

 made a minute inspectiou of the masonry, the rivetting, plate-work, cellular top and 

 bottom of the tubes, and other srraagements, which occupied a considerable time. On 

 returning to the tube, the deflection caused by the load was found to be about three- 

 fourths of an inch. Similar e,\perinients made in the other tubes exemplified the perfect 

 success that has attended the continuity of the beam— the most remarkable feature in the 

 structure, caused by the junction of each of the before isolated tubes, for as the engines 

 entered upon the small land tube tlie motion due to their progressive weight was ascer- 

 tainable in every tube, even over to tlie further extremity of l.'idO feet in length. Loco- 

 motives in steam were then passed through as fast as practicable, but only at 20 miles an 

 hour, owing to the curves at either end. The deflection was tlie fraction of an inch, and 

 the vibration scarcely perceptible, the tonnage weight of the tube itself acting in reality 

 as a counterpoise or preventive to vibration. On the Monday following, the up express 

 from Hohhead, carrying the mails and passengers from Ireland, came by the tube at a 

 saving of a fiUl hour over the usual transit. The subsequent trains to and fro also went 

 through both ways. All the arrangements for this purpose are now permanently com- 

 plete, and the floating of the twin tubes for the parallel line is occupying the attention 

 of the engineers. 



Improved Covering for Railway Wagons, to supersede the cumbersome and 

 loose tarpaulin, h.is been patented by Rlr. Rowland Brotherhood, of Chippenham. It 

 allows of a sm^ll or larj^e portion, or the whole area ot the truck, to be exposed ; one 

 porter can uncover two trucks in the space of a minute, and two can re-cover them in the 

 some time. It consists of a fan of seven ribs, placed at each end of the truck, connected 

 in pairs by a hcrizontal bar to each over the top of the truck ; this fan is covered with 

 prepared water- proof canvas, and is opened and inclosed with as much facility as the 

 head of a cabriolet or landau, on which principle it is constructed. It afl'ords great faci- 

 lity for loading and unloading goods ; cnn be secured by locks and keys. It has been in 

 use all the winter on the Great Western line with much satisfaction. 



Improved Mainfactare of Peat Charcoal. — Although numerous have been 



the attempts to produce a charcoal from peat, fit for all, even the most delicate metal- 

 lurgical purposes, and although several patents have been obtained within the past few 

 years for particular methods of manipulation, success has not yet appeared to have 

 crowned our efiorts ia this country. While these attempts have been made in vain in 

 England ard Ireland during the past ten years, DIr. Vignolcs, the well-known roilway 

 engineer, d'lrini,' his professional dutits on the continent, discovered that a process for 

 converting peat into charcoal or coke, had been most successfully carried out in Germany 

 for some years past. He accordingly availed himself of the opportunity, and bavin? 

 made himself master of ail the details of the process, has taken out a patent for Irelanu, 

 from the specification of which we extract the following particulars: — The peat is sub- 

 jected to a certain high temperature, in such manner as to deprive it of the whole, or a 

 principal portion, of the water which it naturally contains. This heat is then continued 

 under (leiuliar circumstances until the peat is converted into charcoal or coke. One of 

 the most important properties of the process is, that by the mode adopted of applying 

 the heat the substance is not burned to ashes and wasted. In the first part of the 

 process, the peat or turf extracted from the bog by any of the usual methods, Is dried 

 in pieces of any convenient size, either by exposure to sun and air, or to artificial heat, 

 and afterwards placed in an iron vessel of large capacity, called the "carbonising vessel.*' 

 Steam, generated in any form of boiler, with a pressure of from 45 lb. to (iO lb. pi r square 

 inch or upwards iibovo the atmospheric pressure, is passsd through a number of tubes of 

 iron, heated to a bright red heat, by being placed in a suitable furnace, so that without 

 losing its pressure it acquires additional temperature up to J.'iOO or 460 Fahr., or abcut 

 the melting point of tin or lead. This pail of the apparatus is called the "coil," the 

 surface of which should be nicely proportioned to the generating power of the boiler. 

 The steam thus highly lieated is permitted to pass into the "carbonising vessel" con- 

 taining the partially dried peat, and the etfcct is rapidly to withdraw any moisture which 

 may remain, in the state of steam, from the peat; the whole of the steam from this 

 vessel is allowed to escape, and may be advantageously used as a motive-power, for 

 preparatory desiccation of the turf, or for any other purpose. After this drying process 

 has gone on until the peat or turf has parted with nearly all its moi.'^ture, it begins to be 

 charred or carbonised by the high-pressure steam, and in proportion as the dehydration 

 o* the peat advances, so does the temperature of the carbonising vessel increase, until it 

 approaches closely to that of the steam in the coil, which must be sufficiently high for 

 the perfect decarbonisation of the peat. The process is continued until the turf is found 

 reduced to a black substance, retaining the forms nearly of the original masses, but now 

 almost a perfect vegetable charcoal or coke. 



Br, Potfs. — Dr. Lawrence Ilolker Potis died on tbe 23d of March, at the 



age of ()[>. He was the patentee of the system of hydraulic pilcdriving, which la applied 

 on the Chester and Holyhead, Windsor, Great Northern, and other railways. He was 

 likewise the inventor ot a process for preserving animal ^ui;slances. His mechanical 

 genius showed itself even when a boy at Westminster school, in constructing an elec- 

 trical apparatus from n quart bottle, and like rude materials; and as it afterwards infln- 

 enced his professional pursuits, having distinguished himself very much in the applica- 

 tion of uieclirtnical contrivances to the treatment of spinal diseases. Dr. Potts was a 

 native of Lunrion, but practised long at Bodmin ; and was the founder of the Royal Corn- 

 wall Polytechnic Society.^ 



IiIST OF NB^V PATENTS. 



GRANTCD IX ENGLAND FROM FeURLARY 23, TO MaRCU 20, 1850. 



Six Months alloiredfor Enrolmenty unless otherwise expressed. 



Charles Andrew, of Compstall-bridge, Chester, manufacturer, and Richard Ma'-klaud 

 of the same idace, mannger, for certain improvements in the method of, and la the ma- 

 chinery or aiiparatus for, pieparing wiirps for weaving. — Seiled February 21. 



James Hall, of Geecross, near Stockport, Chester, machine maker, for certain improre- 

 nients in looms for weaving. — February 25. 



Brereton Todd, of the Bank, Falmouth, gentleman, for improvements in. the manufac- 

 ture of arsenic, sulphuric acid, and the oxide of antimony, from copper and other ores, in 

 which they are contained, and also the oxide of zinc— February 27. 



George Gwynne, of Sussex-square, Middlesex, esq-ure, for improvements in the manu- 

 facture of sugar. — February 27. 



Matthew Cochran, of High-street, Paisley, Renfrew, North Britain, manufacturer, for 

 improvements i[i machinery for the production and ornamenting of fabrics and tissues 

 generally, parts of which are applicable to the regulation of other machinery, and to pur- 

 poses of a similar nature. — February 27. 



Julius Jeffreys, of Biicklersbury, City of London, gentleman, for improvements i pre 

 venting or removing affections of the chest. — February '28. 



Geori-e Tosco Peppe, of Great Marylebone-street, Middlesex, civil eogiaeer, for im 

 provements in time-keepers. — l-'ebruary 2Hih. 



George William Lenox, of Billiter-square, City of London, chain cable manufacturer^ 

 and William Roberts, foreman to I^Iessrs. Brown, Lenox, and Co., of Millwall, for im- 

 provements in working windlasses and other barrels — February 23. 



Thomas Richards, William Taylor, and James Wylde, the younger, all of Falcon 

 Works, Walworth, Surrey; ci)tton manufacturers, for improved rollers to be used in tbe 

 manufacture of silk, cotton, woollen, and other fabrics. — March 2. 



William Edwards Staite, of Throgmorton-street, City of London, gentleman, for iin> 

 provements in pipes for smoking, and in the apparatus connected therewith. — March 4. 



William Mac Naught, of Rochdale, Lancaster, engineer, for c^rt.iin improvements in 

 steam-engines; and also in apparatus for ascertaining and registering the power of the 

 same.— March 7. 



Jnhn Fowler, jun., of flielkjham, Wilts, engineer, for improvements Jn draining land. 

 —March 7. 



William Benson Stones, of Golden-square, Middlesex, TManchester warehouseman, for 

 improvements in treating peat, and other carbonaceous and liqueous matters, so as to 

 obtain products therefrom. (A communication.)— March 7. 



Henry James Tarling, of Bayswater, Middlesex, commission agent, for improvements 

 in the manufacture of fuel and manure, and deodorising and disinfecting materials.— 

 March 7. 



William Brown, of Airdrie. Lanarkshire, electrician, and William Williams, the 

 younger, of St. Dennis, Cornwall, gentleman, for improvements in electric and magnetic 

 apparatus for indicating and communicating intelligence. — March 7. 



Ebenezer G. Pomeroy, of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, chemist, for a new and 

 useful process of coating iron, and other metals, with copper and other metallic sub- 

 stances.— March 7. 



William Church, of Birmingham, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery or 

 apparatus to be employed in manufacturing cards, and other articles, composed wholly or 

 in part of paper or pasteboard ; part or parts of the said machinery being applicable to 

 printing the same; and other purposes where pressure is required. — March 7. 



Richard Archibald Brooraan, of the firm of Messrs. J. C, Robertson and Co., of Fleet- 

 street, for improvements in types, stereotype plates, and other figured surfaces for print- 

 ing from. (A communication.) — March 7. 



Richard Carte, of Southampton-street, Strand, Middlesex, professor of music, for cer- 

 tain improvements in the musical instrumcuts designated flutes, clarionets, hautboys, and 

 bassoons.— March 7. 



John Taylor, of Manchester, mechanical designer, and Richard Hurst, of Rochdale, 

 cotton spinner, for certain improvements in, and applicable to, looms for weaving, and in 

 machinery or apparatus for preparing, balling, and winding warps or yarns. — March 7. 



Gerard John de Witte, of Brook-street, Westminster, Middlesex, gentleman, for im- 

 provements in machinery, apparatus, metallic, and other substances, for the purposes of 

 letter-press and other printing, (A communication.) — March 7. 



John Tebay, of Hackney, Rliddlesox, civil engineer, for an improved meter, for 

 registeiiog the flow of water and other fluids.— March 7. 



Frederick Rosenberg, of Albemarle-street, Middlesex, esquire, and Conrad Montgomery, 

 of the Army Jaud Navy Club, Saint James's. square, io the same county, esquire, for im- 

 provements in sawing, cutting, boring, and shaping wood. — March 7. 



Thomas Irvine Hill, of Clapham, Surrey, gentleman, for certain improvements in the 

 treatment of copper and other ores, and obtaining products therefrom. — March 9. 



Richard Holdsworth, of the firm of Holdsworth and Co., cotton spinner, and William 

 Holgate, engineer, for improvements in apparatus and machinery for warping worsted, 

 cotton, and other fibrous materials. — March 1 1 . 



William Crane Wilkins, of Long Acre, Middlesex, engineer, for certain improvements 

 in ventilating, lighting, and heating in lamps and candlesticks; in the manulacture of 

 candles; and in the apparatus to be used for such purposes. — March II. 



James Nasmyth, of Lille, France, engineer, for improvements in the method of 

 obtaining and applying lieat. — March 12. 



Robert Miiligan, of Harden, near Bingley, York, manufacturer, for an improved mode 

 of treating certain floated warp or weft, or both, for the purpose of producing ornamental 

 fabrics.— March 18. 



George Jenkins, of Nassan-street, Soho, Middlesex, gentleman, for certain improve- 

 ments in the means of producing motive power. — March 18. 



Thomas Edmondson, of Salford, Lancaster, printer, for improvements in the manu- 

 fucture of railway and other tickets; and In machinery or apparatus for marking railway 

 and other tickets.— March 19. 



William Joseph Horsfall, and Thomas James, both of the Mersey Steel and Iron 

 Works, Tcxteth Park, Liverpool, Lancaster, for improvements in the rolling of iron, and 

 other metals.— March 19. 



Samuel Cunliffe Lister, of Manningham, near Bradford, York, and George Edmund 

 Donisthorpe, of Leeds, in the same county, niaoufacturer, for improvements in preparing 

 nnd combing wool and other fibrous materials. -^March 20. 



