96 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



JVo. 701 — Machines for Cutfing Ropes, 8fc. 

 Daniels & Raymond, Woodstock, Vt. Machines for cutting ropes, 

 sacking, &c. A good and well-proportioned machine. 



l^Siiver medal awarded. 

 JVo. 467 — Fire Escape Ladder. 

 George N. Keller, PhiladeliDhia, Pa. A valuable invention. This 

 article is cheap and portable. [Silver medal awarded. 



J\'o. 269 — Improved Toggle Joint Press. 

 Elias Davis, Montpelier, Vt, The nature of this improvement 

 consists in the peculiar arrangement of a series of horizontal and 

 vertical knuckle jointed levers below the screw and bed plate, 

 whereby any degree from a light to an extremely severe pressure 

 may be exerted upon the article being pressed, by reason of its 

 gravity with that of the moving portion of the press. The man- 

 ner of operation is as follows : When the article |:o be pressed has 

 been placed upon the platen, raise the press by means of the side 

 wheel, the dog resting upon the gear wheel (front) holds the press 

 at any desired elevation; elevate the platen as far as you arc able, 

 by means of the wheel immediately under it; the dog is then 

 thrown back, and the press allowed to settle upon the levers by 

 its own gravity. This alone has been found to be sufficient for 

 most purposes for which the press on exhibition was designed, 

 viz : printers, bookbinders, kc. Should more power be necessary, 

 reverse the side wheel, by which the press was raised, and bring 

 the gear wheel pinions and racks to bear with the gravity of the 

 press, and a joower may be exerted upon the article, limited only 

 by the strength of material of which the press is made. Should 

 the yielding of the substance allow the levers to assume horizon- 

 tal and vertical positions, raise the press as before, bring the 

 platen snugly up, and this brings the levers into full effective 

 operation again. The attachment of a weighted lever or cord to 

 the side wheel makes the most severe pressure continuous. The 

 effect of tliis peculiar construction of a press, is a continuous ac- 

 cumulative pressure upon the article under operation, the yield- 

 ing of which is immediately taken up by the gravity of the press, 

 and by the consequent change of position of the knuckle joint 

 levers, a still greater degree of power is transmitted through 

 them, upon the substance being pressed. The press is thus found 

 to be always at work, while those of other construction (after the 

 first power has been applied,) are lying still. This self-regulat- 

 ing feature renders this principle peculiarly applicable to nearly 

 all kinds of operations for wliich a press is required. Other points 



