Jan. 6, 1888,] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



23 



RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The following list has been compiled especially for the Scientific 

 News, by Messrs. W. P. Thompson and Boult, Patent Agents, of 

 323, Bigh Holborn, London, W.C.; Nr.vcastle Chambers, Angel 

 Row, Nottingham ; Ducie Buildings, Bank Street, Manciiester ; and 

 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Organ Blower — A pneumatic action for organs has 

 been patented by Mr. M. Hetherington, of Wallsend-on- 

 Tyne, whereby the entire action is worked by pneumatic 

 pressure only, instead of by pressure and exhaust, and 

 may be worked with one uniform pressure throughout 

 the instrument. The action also is simplified and the 

 wind employed economised. 



Horse-Shoe. — Mr. Charles Howieson, of Dollar, N.B., 

 has patented a horse-shoe. A permanent inner shoe, not 

 subject to ordinary wear, is fitted to the horse's hoof, the 

 outer surface of which is made flat with the ex:eption 

 that projections are made at the toe and calk parts, to 

 which an outer wearing shoe, formed with the usual 

 wearing calks and toe-point, can be attached. 



Petroleum Fuel. — The use of petroleum as fuel in 

 stoves forms the subject of a patent by Mr. E. O. Eaton, of 

 Martin's Lane, London. A metal wire cylinder is 

 provided, and filled with asbestos, or other incombustible 

 material of absorbent qualities, to absorb the oil which 

 will burn for a length of time proportionately to the 

 amount absorbed. A tin can is provided for the reception 

 of the cylinder. 



Heating Air. — An apparatus for heating air to a high 

 temperature has been patented by Mr. J. A. Eaton, of 

 Cannon Street, London. To prevent the air passing too 

 quickly through the heating chamber, a number of 

 bafQe plates are fixed at intervals along the chamber, and 

 so arranged that there is a space at top and bottom 

 alternately for the air to pass over and under, and thus 

 become more effectually heated. 



Underground Telegraph Wires. — A method of lay- 

 ing and insulating underground telegraph wires has been 

 patented by Mr. T. O. Callender of loi, Leadenhall 

 Street, London. He joins together "in situ " troughs of 

 any desired dimensions, preferably rectangular in shape, 

 made of bitumen concrete, so as to form one continuous 

 case for the conductors. The latter are first insulated 

 with the bituminous material and protected in the usual 

 manner by tape braiding. 



Automatic Fire Extinguisher. — An automatic fire 

 extinguisher patented by Mr. J. B. Hannay, of Dumbarton, 

 N.B., consists in charging the branch pipes which supply 

 water to the sprinklers with air. When a sprinkler valve 

 opens, by the action of heat due to fire, the air first 

 issues, but is immediately followed by the water. 

 Suitably placed gauges show if leakage of air through the 

 sprinkler valves takes place and the charge of air can be 

 renewed from time to time. 



Smokeless Fire-grate. — Asmoke consumer for domes- 

 tic fire-grates forms the subject of a patent of Mr. J. F. J. 

 Brovrae, of Ealing Dean, Middlesex. The usual register 

 opening is closed up, and at the back of the grate a false 



back is arranged with a space behind ; in this space is a 

 second plate to compel the smoke to pass downwards, and 

 on turning round the bottom of second plate passes into 

 the chimney. The fire makes the false back red-hot and 

 thus consumes the smoke as it passes down behind. 



Method of Generating Electricity. — Mr. C. J. 

 Woolly, of Grand Rapids, U.S.A., has patented a 

 method of generating electricity. It consists in the 

 utilization of heat generated in a steam-boiler, or which 

 is radiated from pipes through which the products of 

 combustion pass, in connection with a thermo-electric 

 pile, which is applied thereto in such a manner as to 

 generate an even, steady current of electricity to charge 

 the dynamo used for electric-lighting, telegraphy, etc., etc. 



A Car Coupler. — Mr. E. J. Hill, of 6, Westminster 

 Chambers, London, has patented a car coupler. It con- 

 sists in the employment of an arm pivoted to the head- 

 stock of the waggon, and in suspending the end link of 

 the coupling from a chain passing over a sheave at the 

 end of the arm, and thence to the side of the waggon ; 

 the arm is preferably mounted on an inclined axis so 

 that its free end will rise as it slews outwards, and will 

 naturally tend to swing back against the head-stock 

 and carry the coupling with it when the latter is un- 

 coupled. 



Manufacture of Aluminium. — An improvement in 

 the manufacture of aluminium is the subject of a patent 

 of Mr. Edward Cleavers, of Stockwell, Surrey. This is 

 effected by baking alumina and dissolving it in sulphuric 

 acid. The sulphate of alumina thus obtained is mixed 

 with finely-divided carbon, which when dry is heated out 

 of contact with air, thereby causing a reduction of the 

 alumina salt. The' material so obtained is mixed with 

 iron in a divided state, and the temperature raised 

 sufficiently to melt tjie metal, when analloj' of aluminium 

 and iron is obtained. 



Self-w-inding Clock. — An electrically-wound clock 

 has been patented by Mr. W. J. Barnsdale, of Brunswick 

 Place, City Road. According to this invention electrical 

 contact points or springs are placed with relation to the 

 centre wheel, and a corresponding pin wheel driven 

 therebj' or acting in unison therewith. The winding is 

 effected by means of the revolving armature of an 

 electro-motor, which acts upon suitable wheel trains in 

 connection with the mechanism, but such motor is only 

 actuated when the circuits are completed through the 

 contact points, and ceases to act so soon as such circuit 

 is broken. 



Automatic Fire Extinguisher. — Mr. William Mayall, 

 of Mossley, Lancashire, has patented an automatic 

 sprinkler. In this invention a valve is mounted inside 

 the perforated sprinkler, the spindle of which passes 

 through the casing to the outside, where it is supported 

 in position by a lever, the larger arm of which is soldered 

 to a bracket with a metallic soldering compound consist- 

 ing of lead, tin, bismuth and cadmium, mixed together in 

 such proportions as to melt at a temperature of about 

 160" F., thus permitting the valve to fall and water to be 

 supplied to the sprinkler as soon as the temperature 

 rises sufficiently. 



