Dec. 14, 1888.] 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



615 



RECENT INVENTIONS. 



The following list has been compiled especially for the Scientific 

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

 234, High Holborn, London, W.C- ; Newcastle Chambers, Angel 

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

 andb, Lord Street, Liverpool. 



Batteries. — Mr. H. Thaine has patented a secondary 

 battery. This invention dispenses with the use of 

 perishable materials as far as practicable, and employs 

 uncured or unvulcanised indiarubber, either in sheets or 

 small pieces. The rubber is subjected to a gentle heat 

 to soften it, and whilst soft lead in narrow strips or dust 

 is mixed with it to render it porous. Plates thus formed 

 I contain a greater proportion of active material, and are 

 practically unbreakable, and may be made into any 

 suitable shape. 



Electrical Apparatus. — Mr. A. M. Taylor has 

 patented an electrical transforming apparatus. It relates 

 to means for compensating for the effects produced in a 

 system where a constant electrical current is maintained 

 in a primary circuit, and in which various inductors are 

 arranged in series. It consists in combining with each 

 of a number of inductors an independent core of iron, 

 wound with a coil of low resistance in shunt from the 

 primary inductor coil, with or without separate convolu- 

 tions connected to the secondary. 



Aerial Propulsion. — Mr. G. S. Parkinson has patented 

 means for aerial propulsion. Any ordinary balloon is em- 

 ployed having a depending car to which is fixed an air-fan, 

 or blower. To the axis of the fan is affixed a tube, 

 which is passed into the body of the balloon from the 

 base, and is divided into three channels, which terminate 

 one at the end and on each side of balloon/opening into the 

 air with trumpet-shaped mouths. The fan is worked by 

 any suitable motive power, and air being drawn into 

 the fan is driven through the tubing and out into the 

 open air, thus reacting on the balloon and propelling it. 



Electricity. — Messrs. W. Lowrie and C. J. Hall and 

 H. W, Kolle have patented means for measuring alter- 

 nating currents of electricity. When measuring the 

 current deviation of a number of lamps in a lighting 

 circuit a voltaic cell is placed in the circuit. This cell 

 i comprises two dissimilar metals placed in an acid. When 

 j the current is passed through it and the circuit the flow 

 of the current is alternately retarded or assisted by the 

 cell, causing a waste of the positive electrode. The 

 current which acts upon the electrode varies, and is 

 directly proportional to the electro-motive force of the 

 [ cell and the resistance of the lamp circuit ; the action of 

 \the cell, therefore, is available as a current measure. 



Engines. — Mr. H. Jarman has patented improvements 

 in high-speed revolving multiple cylinder engines. Ac- 

 cording to this invention, a revolving cylinder engine 

 is provided, consisting of three or more single-acting 

 cylinders enclosed in a stationary casing and disposed 

 radially around and fixed to the engine-shaft, and pro- 

 vided with pistons having connecting-rods jointed thereto, 

 and working jointly upon a fixed pin which is eccentric 

 to the centre of the shaft, the casing having a bearing for 

 the shaft and a trunnion bearing for the cylinders, the 

 latter revolving on the trunnion, which is provided with- 

 steam ports corresponding with ports in the cylinder- 

 bearing part. 



Steel or Iron. — Mr. J. H. Darby has patented im- 

 provements in the manufacture of steel or iron. The 

 metal is run from the open hearth furnace into a ladle 

 fitted with an ordinary nozzle and stopper to regulate 

 the flow. From the ladle the metal flows through a 

 filter from which the metal takes up carbon. From 

 the filter it runs into another ladle, in which it is allowed 

 to stand, covered with small pieces of charcoal for a 

 short time before being cast or returned to the furnace 

 and submitted to a reducing heat. While in the furnace 

 charcoal is spread over it, and the metal is left until the 

 desired temperature and temper are attained, after 

 which it is tapped in the usual way. 



Electric Light. — Mr. E. F. H. Lauckert has patented 

 apparatus for indicating the time during which electricity 

 is used for a lamp or other purpose. A counter mechanism 

 is provided for each lamp; this counter is of any suitable 

 kind, and is connected with clockwork by a magnetic 

 clutch, which may consist of a pair of iron bosses facing 

 each other, the one on an axle driven by clockwork, and 

 the other on an axle belonging to the counter, both bosses 

 being surrounded by a coil of wire forming part of the 

 circuit of the lamp. When a current passes through the 

 coil the two bosses are held together by magnetic attrac- 

 tion, and the counter is operated. When the current ceases 

 the clutch is released and the counter stops registering. 



City of London College. — On Thursday last, the 6th 

 inst., a visit of the Science Society to the Millvvall Docks was 

 arranged by Mr. Henry Adams, M.Inst.C.E., who accompanied 

 the members. Mr. F. E. Duckham, the engineer to the Dock 

 Company, met the party at the railway station, and was most 

 assiduous in showing and explaining the many interesting 

 details with which the dock abounds. Among the points 

 noted were some economically built sheds with compound 

 iron and wood roof trusses, and other very light galvanised 

 roofs of 60 ft. span. When first opened the dock was fitted 

 with fixed hydraulic cranes on the quay; these have been 

 supplemented by portable hydraulic cranes, which are found 

 much more convenient, and they have since been largely 

 adopted elsewhere. The arrangement of the pipe mains was 

 explained, and the method by which a breakage at any point 

 could be shut off by means of stop-valves, so as to permit 

 the machinery at other parts to continue working. Branches 

 at intervals allow connection to be made with the portable 

 cranes, and the telescopic pipes provided give a considerable 

 range of movement. The grain machinery was next inspected 

 with the automatic weighing-gear and self-emptying buckets, 

 and Mr. Duckham's pneumatic apparatus for discharging 

 mud from the dredger barges was seen in operation. Much 

 interest was taken in the hydraulic engine-house and the 

 various pumping appliances, which were fully explained to 

 the visitors. To prevent damage to the engines an ingenious 

 self-acting relief-valve is used, by which a large area is opened 

 to allow the pressure-water to flow back into the tank when 

 the accumulator reaches the top of its stroke and the draught 

 of water from the main is suddenly reduced. The graving 

 dock was fortunately empty, so that its construction could 

 be seen, together with the fiat-sided caisson at its entrance, 

 a large ship being on the blocks in course of scraping and 

 painting ; and the noted 75-ton shears, by Messrs. Day and 

 Sumner, of Southampton, were observed with some interest 

 owing to that subject having been set for the home work of 

 students in machine construction at the last May examination 

 of the Science and Art Department. By the courtesy of 

 Messrs. MacDougal, their extensive wood-fibre paper-making 

 plant was next seen in operation, from the arrival of the 

 spruce fir-logs at one end to the packing of the bales of 

 finished paper at the other. The whole of the processes were 

 in full swing, but an intimation was given that the visit was 

 considered to be " private and confidential." 



