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♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[April 24, 1885. 



(Bnr I-nbrntor5' Column. 



We give here, weelc ly weeli, a terse description of such of the many 

 inventions as tee think may he of use to our readers. Where it is 

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

 desire fuller information to procure the specification from the 

 Patent Office in Cursitor-street, Chancery-lane. We shall, gene- 

 rally speaking, confine ourselves to the more recent inventions ; but 

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

 although Tiot quite novel, is worthy of mention for its utility and 

 ingenuity. In such a case we should not hesitate to refer our 

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

 we at the same time assist the inventors by giving greater publicity 

 to their inventions (Knowledge being a popular magazine^ than 

 is accorded by the most excellent trade journals ■ •... 



"AUTOMATIC GOVEEXOE TIP" FOE OIL-CAN. 



[Patent Xo. 7,941. 1SS4.J — Oil consumers find that the present 

 oQ-can, with its spent terminating in a fine orifice, is tronblesome, 

 because, after new cans have been in use a few days that these 

 fine terminals become made up and are broken away, until an 

 outlet is made four or five times the area of that intended. This 

 means a very large percentage of waste in oil. The Automatic 

 Governor Tip, patented by Jas. Pearson, of Ashton-on-Eibble, near 

 Preston, is intended to remedy this. The Patent Governor Tip 

 gives an orifice for oil delivery three-sixteenths of an inch in 

 diameter, while the orifice for oil supply is only equal to one-thirty- 



being downwards. The vapour may then be inhaled through B. 

 Mr. John W. Dyas, of 16, Tictoria-road, Hackney W.^k.is entrusted 

 with the manufacture of the article. 



LAWX EDGE-CUTTEK. 



[Patent No. 5,949. 1884.]— Mr. J. E. Ransome, of the well-knowi. 



firm of Ransomee, Sims, i 

 Jefferies (Limited), have in- 

 troduced their new Patent 

 Edge Cutter, to meet the 

 demand for a light, simple, 

 strong, and useful substitute 

 for hand shears, for trim- 

 ming the edges of lawns. 

 &c. It will be seen from the 

 illustration that revolving 

 with the roller is a series of 

 four knives, while a fifth is 

 fixed vertically. As each re- 

 volving blade passes the 

 fixed, an automatic pair of 

 shears or scissors ia formed, 

 and the grass, &c., which 

 intervenes, is cut off. Being 

 light in weight and having two handles it can be guided with ease 

 either in a straight line or round the edges of flower beds, &c. 



The depth of cut can be varied to suit the depth of the edge by 

 simply tilting the conical roller more or less. It is said that, after 

 a little practice, a man can trim the edges of his lawn as fast as h«» 

 can walk. 



Section showing open Spout. 



CAN WHEN NOT IN USE. Section showing orifice for Oil delivery. c.\N in use. 



Size of orifice at spout end, 3-lG in. Size of orifice for oil delivery, 1-32 in. 



second of an inch in diameter. As will be seen from the above 

 drawings, the spout is only closed daring the operation of oiling. 

 When the can is at rest the spout is open. The tip is made in 

 strong brass, the ball being steel and highly polished. Any can 

 having this simple attachment will deliver either a drop by drop 

 or a needle-like supply. It is stated that by the use o'f this 

 Governor Tip over 30 per cent, of oil is saved, and the wear and 

 tear and repair accounts are reduced at least 50 per cent., while 

 within a short distance of Preston within a few weeks 30,000 of 

 these cans have been disposed of. 



BRAKES FOE VEHICLES. 



Two-wheel vehicles have always presented great difficulties to 

 the successful application of a brake, the leading one being that of 

 throwing too much weight on the horse. A glance at any two- 

 wheel cart in motion will readily show how this is, as, wherever 

 pressure or friction is applied, weight must be thrown on the 



INHALER. 



[Patent No. 775. 18S4.] — Dr. Stoker has patented this simple 

 and useful contrivance for the treatment of chest and throat 

 diseases. It ia characterised by its cheapness, simplicity, portability, 

 and facilitv for attaching it to the vessel containing the inhalation. 



It consists of a distensible cap. A, provided with a small inlet tube, C, 

 of glass or other material, and a mouthpiece, B. The cap is fitted 

 over the mouth of the vessel containing the medicated vapour, C 



shafts. In Mr. Casson's brake, which will be shown at the Inven- 

 tions Exhibition, this diSiculty is overcome by a simple arrange- 

 ment whereby the centre of gravity of the load is shifted behind 

 the axle a few inches when the brake is applied. To effect this. 

 Mr. Casson connects the back end of the shafts to the rolling-bar 

 of the brake, so that when the brake is applied the back ends of 

 the shafts are risen some seven or eight inches, and weight taken off 

 the ends on the horse. It is generally supposed that the shaft is 

 a lever, moving round a fulcrum near the foot-board, and that 

 when the back ends are risen the front must be depressed. This 

 would be the case were the fulcrum fixed to the grotind, but being a 



