Feb 20. 1SS5 



♦ KNOWLEDGE • 



161 



0UV I-nbrntor5' Column. 



We give here, ircf^ hy iceeV, a terse deseription of such of the many 

 inveittions as trc think may he of use to our readers. Where it is 

 possible, the number of the patent is quoted, to enable those who 

 desire fuller ivformation to procure the specification from the 

 Patent Office in Cursitor-street, Cliancery-lane. We shall, >jene- 

 rally speaking, confine ourselres to the more recent inventions; hut 

 it often happens that an article comes under our notice which, 

 although not quite novel, is xcorthy of mention for its xitility and 

 ingenuity. In such a ca^e ice shtntld not hesitate to refer our 

 readers to it. And while ife thus increase the interest of our pages, 

 \ce at the same time assist the inventors hy giving greater publicity 

 to their inventions (Kxowlepge being a popular magazine) thaji 

 is accorded by the most excellent trade j umals. 



THE CHALLEXGE HEATING APPARATUS. 



[Patent, Xo. 11,59S, ISSl.]— The subject of this patent, taien 

 out by Mr. Poore, of Cheapside, Loinlon, is a simple, cheap, easily- 

 manai^ed, and e£fecti%-o heating apparatus, whilst it reiiuires but 

 the minimnm of attention. It consists of IS ft. of 2i-in. pipe, 

 21 ft. of 2i-in., and tft. of 3i-in., and forms a complete radiating 

 heating coil of great etKciency. 15y using double tubes, a larger 

 heating surface is obtained with less water, and consequently a less 

 expenditure of fuel. The ends are left open at top, so that the 

 water can be easily supplied. The caps ])revent any dirt or dust 

 - intering into the coil, and may, if necessary, be taken off. The cold 

 air, by passing through the tubes, enters the apartment or building 

 warm, and ensures a free circulation of fresh air, as shown by the 

 arrows. 



The apparatus may be termed self-acting, and claims as its dis- 

 tinguishing feature that it has extraordinary economical heating 

 power, which does not depend alone on its large radiating surface, 

 but which is principally attributed to the numerous currents of 

 fresh warmed air, which are expelled by the respii-atorj' or venti- 

 lating tubes. 



It occupies but a small space, being only 33^ in. high and 

 3 ft. 6 in. long. The boiler is made of copper. The wicks are 

 fitted with a water-well, to prevent an explosion or the eva[)oratiou 

 of the oil. It will burn for 48 hours without any attention, con- 

 suming only two quarts of oil. The arrangements for trimming, 

 cleaning, and regulating the lamps are simple and easily under- 

 stood. If gas is used, the consumption is regulated to 4 ft. per 

 hour. A smoke-pipe is added to carry off the noxious fumes 

 arising from combustion. The boiler can be placed in any posi- 

 tion, either within or outside the house, and the connecting pipes 

 lengthened for the purpose. The stove may also be arranged to 

 bum coke at a cost of 2d. for every 24 hom-s. 



51 ARISE EAIX-GAUGE. 



Me. W. G. Bl.^ck, F.JI.S.S., has invented a gauge for the collec- 

 tion and estimation of rainfall at sea on board ship. It is a cylin- 

 drical vessel, open at the top and with a conical bottom, as in a 

 vrine bottle, projecting upwards. It is poised on an upright pivot, 

 projecting into this from the floor of the square box that encloses 

 it, and is thereby maintained in a horizontal position in all the 

 rolling movements of a ship. The gauge is formed of two parts, 

 that fit into each other half-way down, the collector on the top 

 and the receiver below. At the bottom of the collector is a dia- 

 phragm, perforated with holes for the passage of the water into the 

 receiver below, which will also check evaporation of collected rain, 

 and prevent the upward splashing of the fluid by lurching of the 

 ship. From the bottom of the receiver is projected a right cone, 

 hollow from below, which constitutes its floor, so that the rain 

 collected in it will lie in the space between the cone and the 

 enclosing cylinder. The contents of the receiver may be emptied 

 after disconnecting the collector on the top, and measured by the 

 usual glass measnre graduated to parts of inches of rainfall. The 



apparatus is made in a portable form, a'.ul imy be placed in any 

 convenient position. 



GAUGE FOR CASKS, Ac 



[Patent No. 3,238. 1881-.] Mr. F. W. Denison, of Hull, has 

 patented a device for ascertaining the height of licpiids in casks, 

 barrels, and other vessels. Tho oV)joct of this invention is to 

 provide a simple and inexpensive apparatus to be applied to casks, 

 Ac, containing beer, wine, and otiier liquids, for the purpose of 

 ascertaining tho height of such liquid in tho cask or other vessel 

 which has been tapped, whereby a register may ho kojit of the 

 contents of each cask or vessel at the end of each day. A small 

 tap or hollow metal spilcMS inserte'l into any convenient ]>art of 

 the cask or barrel, [jrcferably underneath. This lajj is connected 

 by means of a union joint to a flexible tube, which is connected in a 

 similar manner with a vertical gauge-glass or tube, secured in any 

 convenient manner to a metal holder or scale, which may be 

 secured to tho side of tlio cask, this scale being divided off to 

 represent inches, pints, or any other convenient measnre. 'J'lic 

 small tap, on being turned, will allow tho liquor to run into the 

 gauge-glass, and tho height of tho liquor in the glass, which will be 

 tho same as that in the cask, may be taken and entered in a 

 register. If this reading agrees with tho reading taken in the 

 morning, before any of tho contents are drawn from the cask, it 

 will be seen that the cask has not been tampered with during tl e 

 night, and a check will thereby be obtained on the employes, A'c. 

 The end of the tulic may be left open to allow for the escape of the 

 air, but to prevent evaporation, in the case of spirits, a spring 

 stopper may be employed to close the opening. Tho dra-ving-oit 

 tap will be entirely separate from the gauging ap]iaratus. 



IXFEC'IOUS DISEASES. 



[Patent, No. 8,209, 1884.]— Mr. Gayton has patented a device for 

 " preventing the escape of infectious jiarticles from vehicles," 

 which consists of two perforated frames, with the intervening 

 space filled in with cotton-wool or other absorbent material, im- 

 pregnated with a suitable disinfectant. A number of these 

 appliances are fitted at such jiarts of tho vehicle as may be deemed 

 necessary. 



AX IMPROVED ERASIXG KXIFE. 



[I'atent Xo. 2,8tj7, 1881.] — Every one who has ever had occasion 

 to u.=e an erasing knife must know how utterly unfit for writing on, 

 the jjrocess of removing ])revious ink-marks renders paper. The 

 novelty under review combines, in a simple and effective manner, 

 with an ordinary eraser a p.aper-smoother, a few moments' applica- 

 tion of which restores to the roughened paper its smooth surface, 

 and thus, at the same time, fits it to receive fresh writing and 

 almost completely removes every trace of the erasure. The smoother 

 consists in a peculiar conformation of the handle, wliicli is composed 

 of porcelain, ivory, or other hard substance capable of taking a 

 smooth, polished surface. The part of the handle furthest from 

 the blade is shaped for a short distance along it on one side slightly 

 convex, and rounded off at the extremity, and with a smooth, po- 

 lished surface, which, being rubbed lightly and quickly over the 

 roughened paper, effectually smooths it. On the other side there is 

 a slight concavity, so that when the convex surface is on the paj^er 

 the concave surface is perpendicularly above it, and thus admits of 

 the forefinger being placed in the hollow to steady the handle, and 

 give the hand a firm hold of it while smoothing the roughened 

 paper. The patentee is Mr. William Stccn, of 51, Fitzroy-avenue, 

 Belfast. 



XOSEBAC FOR IIO!;.SK.S. 



[Patent Xo. 7,643, 1884.]— 51r. li. f. S. (ioldfrap has taken out 

 this patent relating to the fittings of nosebags. The nosebag is 

 suspended by a strap, which passes through a ring on a headstrap, 

 and is attached to the saddle. The bag is also connected by 

 another strap with the bottom of tho collar. The first strap 

 enables the horse to reach the food easily, and the latter prevents 

 the tossing of the nosebag. 



.iccoRDiNX. to tlie Eleetririi, i j is a summary of the 



Eastern Telegraph Company's systim, with its connections: — 

 Cables: Eastern Telegraph Ctmipany, 19,121 miles; Eastern aad 

 So-ith African Company, 3,8(5 !• miles; Black Sea Telegraph Com- 

 pany, 351 miles ; Eastern Extension Company, 12,012 miles; total 

 length of cable.", 35,048 miles. Land lines: Eastern Telegraph 

 Company, 3,345 miles ; Eastern and South African Company, OJ 

 miles; Black Sea Telegraph Company, 27 miles; Eastern Extension 

 Company, 24 miles ; total length of lani lines, 3,402* miles. 



