RE CEN TL Y PA TEN TED IMPR VEMENTS. 407 



between the violence, duration and frequency not only of maximum rains but of 

 all rains. 



\yhen this work is completed it will enable an engineer to construct the 

 water-ways, of bridges of such a capacity that they will probably stand a definite 

 number of years before they are washed away. This number of years will be so 

 determined that the interest on the invested capital during the probable life of 

 the bridge will equal the possible damage when the destructive flood comes 

 which the engineer determines shall destroy his work. The running expense of 

 maintaining the bridge is then the least possible. — St. Louis Republican. 



SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY. 



RECENTLY PATENTED IMPROVEMENTS. 



» 



J. C. HIGDON, M. E., KANSAS CITY, MO. 



Grape-Crushing Apparatus. — The object of this invention is to provide a 

 grape-crushing machine of such construction that the body of the grapes after 

 thorough maceration will be immediately separated from the waste portions there- 

 of, and to provide improved means whereby the latter may be expeditiously ex- 

 pelled from the crushing-chamber. 



The invention consists of a semi-cylindrical crushing-chamber composed of a 

 pair of semi-circular end pieces, or heads, to the circular edges of which are at- 

 tached in a slightly separated position — to form a porous bottom, square-ended 

 strips, V-shaped in cross-section. 



The said chamber being provided with a suitable supporting frame, across 

 the upper portion of which is journaled a pendent agitator having a serrated 

 crushing head that is adapted to be oscillated within the said chamber in close 

 contiguity to the circular bottom thereof. 



A feeding hopper of sufficient capacity is placed directly over the crushing- 

 chamber and the uncrushed fruit is supplied to the crushing devices through an 

 opening controlled by an oscillating plate or valve that is pivoted therein across 

 the framing of the machine. 



Across the upper horizontal bars of the said framing is journaled, in suitable 

 bearings, the shaft of the pendent agitator frame. 



This latter is provided upon its outer or crushing surface with intersected 

 grooves, or serrations, so that the skins of the grapes may be more easily rup- 

 tured thereby and the same having a radial movement corresponding to the in- 

 ternal diameter of the crushing-chamber, it is therefore adapted to be oscillated in 

 very close contiguity to the circular bottom thereof. 



The bottom of the said chamber is formed of narrow strips, the sides of 



