Aug. 31, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



215 



> RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The following list has been compiled especially for the SCIENTIFIC 

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

 323, High Holborn, London, W.C. ; Newcastle Chambers, Angel 

 Row, Nottingham ; Ducie Buildings, Bank Street, Manchester; 

 and 6, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Surgical Splints. — Improved surgical splints have 

 been patented by Mr. J. Mayer. These splints are 

 made of papier-mache, as thin as is compatible with 

 strength, and are perforated to afford means of escape for 

 offensive matter, and also for ventilation. These splints 

 combine lightness, strength, and impermeability to 

 moisture. 



Cleansing Powder. — A cleansing powder has been 

 patented by Mr. J. W. Paton. It is composed of car- 

 bonated soda, ash, and precipitated carbonate of lime. 

 The powders are thoroughly mixed together in suitable 

 quantities, and passed through a fine sieve. They are 

 then packed ready for sale, and may be used as a polish- 

 ing powder or paste, and for cleansing floors, marble, 

 metal, and such like. 



Folding Bath. — A folding bath for use at the side of 

 a floating structure has been patented by Messrs. G. 

 Sparrow and W. S. Kelly. The bath is constructed with 

 its bottom consisting of a framework supporting a grat- 

 ing, and connected by rods to a platform constituting the 

 top of the bath, from which the bathers enter the water. 

 At the sides and ends the structure is enclosed by 

 netting. The bath is attached to the floating structure by 

 hinges, and is connected to a winch, by which means it 

 may be folded up and made to assume a vertical position. 



Photography. — An apparatus for washing photographic 

 J prints has been patented by Mr. E. H. Lyne. The 

 apparatus consists of a pipe which conducts a spray of 

 water on to the prints in a tank until the tank is filled. 

 A self-acting regulator is provided for the water, and 

 comprises a ball and plug ; when the water in the tank 

 1 reaches the desired height, it raises the ball which lifts 

 ' the plug, thus allowing the water to run off, leaving the 

 prints in the tank. As the water lowers, the plug is re- 

 placed, and the tank is again filled and the operation re- 

 peated continuously. 



Cleaning Boots. — Mr. G. H. Cable has patented an 

 apparatus for cleaning boots. From a base projects a 

 stand on which a boot can be placed to be cleaned. Also 

 from the base extends upwards a bracket having a swan 

 neck projecting over the heel part of the stand. Through 

 a socket at the end of this neck passes a sliding bar 

 which can be lowered or raised. When lowered it is 

 pressed down by a lever fixed by a screw. The bar 

 being fixed, a boot is placed on the stand, the bar is slid 

 down, its foot pressing on the inside sole, and there 

 fixed by the lever and screw. The boot is thus firmly 

 held in position while being cleaned. 



Electric Lamps. — An electric lamp attachment has 

 been patented by Mr. W. Hartnell. The object is to 

 provide means for placing and retaining a reflector sur- 

 rounding an electric lamp in different positions so as to 

 throw the light accordingly. This is accomplished by 

 supporting the reflector, and the lamp also when possible, 

 "•"'table attachments such as will permit them to 

 on a transverse axis passing through the centre of 



gravity of the pieces to be moved, and at the same time 

 leave the whole free to turn upon another axis at right 

 angles to the first, provided on a fixed support. This 

 removes any tendency which the reflector or other parts 

 might otherwise have of gravitating into a new position. 



Projectile. — A projectile for ordnance has been 

 patented by Mr. M. Gledhill. The projectile consists of 

 a hollow cylinder, its penetrating end having an annular 

 surface of impact ; this surface is bevelled to give it a 

 rather sharp edge, so that in striking an armour plate in 

 a direction normal to the surface thereof, the action will 

 be somewhat like that of a hollow punch, and except 

 when the angle of the axis of the projectile with the sur- 

 face is very acute, the glancing of the shot from this sur- 

 face will be almost impossible. The rear end of the 

 projectile is provided with a plug or cover which forms 

 a surface on which the pressure of the gas generated by 

 the explosion of the powder will be exerted. This plug 

 drops from the projectile when it leaves the gun. 



Cartridge. — Mr. A. H. Walker has patented a sea- 

 oiling cartridge. The cartridge consists of a shell con- 

 taining powder in the rear part of its interior, and having 

 another shell containing oil in the forward part of its 

 interior, the latter being provided with a forward open- 

 ing. When discharged, this shell is driven through the 

 wall of the containing shell and out to the desired 

 distance over the sea. During its flight the open end 

 is kept forward by the rotation of the projectile on its 

 axis, and the oil kept in by the pressure of the air. 

 When it reaches the end of its range the projectile sinks 

 base downward a little below the surface of the water. 

 The oil then escapes, rises to the surface, and spreads 

 into a film, thus stilling the waves. 



Pocket Combination Tool. — A combination tool to be 

 carried in the pocket has been patented by Mr. W. Body. 

 This tool comprises a corkscrew, a piercer, a button-hook, 

 and a seal. The appliance is constructed in two parts, 

 one fitting in the other, to be carried in the pocket. The 

 corkscrew portion is provided with a square flat top with 

 a hole through it. The flat surface is used as the seal. 

 When required as a corkscrew the portion comprising the 

 piercer and button-hook is passed through the hole, thus 

 forming a cross-piece for convenience in turning the 

 screw. The piercer and button-hook consists of a round 

 portion with one end sharpened as a piercer and the 

 other end formed into a hook. The hook and piercer 

 portion fits into the screw portion, and is thus carried in 

 the pocket. 



Grinding Almonds. — An apparatus for grinding al- 

 monds has been patented by Mr. W. T. Oschwald. It con- 

 sists essentially of a hollow perforated cylinder fitting into 

 a cone and united with same at their lower open extremi- 

 ties. Partitions are provided and placed in the interior 

 of the cone in a helical direction, so as to prevent the 

 almonds rotating with the cylinder, and to cause them to be 

 carried downwards and through the perforations as the 

 cylinder revolves. The cylinder is revolved by a handle 

 which passes through a top cross-piece connecting the 

 parts together through the centre of the cylinder, and 

 fixed to a cross-piece at the bottom of same. When 

 rotated the cylinder grinds the almonds placed in the 

 cone, causing them to pass through the perforations and 

 fall into a receptacle placed beneath for that purpose. 



