Jas. 23, 1SS5.] 



♦ KNOWLEDGE - 



73 



0i\v I-nbrntorG' Column. 



So great is the numler of inrentinns note patented that many good 

 things are comparatively lo^t in the croicd. A succinct account^ 

 therefore, iy an Erfert, of all inventions of really popular interest 

 and utility must ie advantageous both to the public and the 

 Inventor, enabling persons to hear of inventions already da^iderated 

 fcy them, and thus acting reciprocally as a stimulant on supply 

 and demand. 



SPKAY DISTRIBUTOK. 



[Patent Xo. 3i05. 18S4.] — This is an ingenious and eminently 

 valuable piece of apparatus, patented by Dr. Alfred Wright, who 

 calls it an " Atmonemetor." It consists of a bottle or liquid-holder 

 to which is attached a syringe which is worked by pressure of the 

 thumb on a spiral spring attached round the piston-rod ; thus, air 

 being driven down displaces a small portion of the fluid contents of 

 the bottle and forces it along a horizontal tube, at the end of which 

 it is discharged through very minute orifices, and is distributed very 

 finely divided as spray. 



The application of remedies in the form of spray in diseases of 

 the throat and respiratory tract is now becoming generally adopted, 

 and this instrument promises to become a great favourite, ic being 

 the most convenient spray-producer and distributor yet invented. 

 It is light, and is easily held and worked with one hand. These 

 are very great advantages, especially when applying spray remedies 

 to the throats of children. 



WASHING MACHINE. 



[Patent Xo. 1S76, 1884.] Among the numerous washing ma- 

 chines before the public the Enchantress, patented by Mr. J. E. 

 Taylor, Kingswinford, is one of the most recent, and in many 

 respects is unique. It has been the object of the inventor to pro- 

 duce a machine that will wash any fabric without damaging the 

 material — will wash it better and quicker than any other means, 

 and with less labour and soap. 



j# 



Considering that the old style of hand-rubbing ie as effective a 

 process for cleaning clothing as can well be imagined, he has 

 adopted the same mode of cleansing in his machine, which 

 represents two very large hands, with ribs or wooden rubbers 

 corresponding to the knuckles of the hand. 



Reference to the " open " cut shows the machine ready to receive 

 the water, clothes, &c., and it will be seen that the rocker (E) on 

 its semi-circular face is fitted with grooved fingers, and so acts as 

 one hand. The inside of the tub (T) is fitted with similar 

 fingers, which oppose those of the rocker when in place for busi- 

 ness, and so constitutes the other hand. When the rocker is in 

 position, the axles fall into the notches visible in top edges of 

 open tab, and then the machine has the appearance indicated in 

 the second figure. 



To use the machine, the operator, having soaped in the clothes, 



placed sufficient water and the clothes in the tub, and closed down 

 the rocker, stands at the "O " end of macliiiio, and, grasping tlje 

 handle (H) with one or both hands, works the rockrr to and fro, 

 thereby giving the necessary friction, and in a very few seconds all 

 the articles in the machine arc made perfectly clean. 



The Enchantress is made of wood and zinc, without any iron- 

 work to injure or rust tho fabrics, nor has it a cog-wheel about it, 

 and it is capable of doing a large amount of work elllciently.i"iocii 



THE "XACTILUS" FIUE-GRATE. 



[Patented, 1884." -Mr. J. B. Fetter, of Yeovil, Somerset, [has 

 patented a new grate, which ho has called the " Xautilus," and 

 which possesses many interesting features to recommend it. A& 



may be gathered from the accompanying illustrations, it is a fire- 

 brick lined slow-combustion dog-stove, in form resembling a Nautilns- 

 shell, burning ordinary coals. In all its various forms, the smoke 

 revolves witLin the centre or axis, before jiassiug off through the 

 exit nozzles, S, K,or P, into the small flues leading to the chimney. 

 Provision is made for regulating the draught to the greatest nicety, 

 whereby the fuel consumption is marvellously small. The smoke is 

 claimed to be automatically consumed by being drawn over or 

 through the incandescent fuel at the back of the fire. Heat is 

 radiated directly from a bright and glowing open fire, and indirectly 

 from its outer case. A register door (for sweeping) encloses the- 

 chimney immediately over the grate, thus obviating any waste of 

 heat. The ash falls through the grating A into the concealed ash- 

 pan C, thus allowing no dust to fall upon the hearth, and ensuring 

 great safety and perfect cleanliness. 



The grate may be fitted in any fire-place, and, being on wheeltf, 

 may be removed in the summer, and its place filled with ferns or 

 flowering-plants. The fire may be laid in and lighted in the samp 

 manner as that of an ordinary register grate. 



DE. BOXD'S PATENT MILK-TESTER. 



This very cheap and simple piece of apparatus for making a 

 rapid approximative determination to the percentage of butter fat 

 contained in any given eample of milk, consists of a glass vessel, at. 

 the bottom of which fine pfrallel black lines are ruled in a circle, 

 an ounce measure, and a glass dropping-tube with an india-rubber 

 capsule. It is used by pouring a measured ounce of water intO' 

 the glass vessel and then adding to it the milk to be tested (by 

 means of the dropping-tnbe) until the lines at the bottom of tho 

 glass dish just cease to be visible. The number of drops of milk 

 needful to cause their disappearance is counted, and then a table 

 (which is stuck on the lid of the box containing the whole appa- 

 ratus) gives the percentage of butter fat contained in the sample 

 of milk experimented on. Dr. Bond's iugenious device has been 

 brought out by the Sanitary and Economic Association, Gloucester. 



