is well represented in the drawing, although the description is but an indifferent one, and neglects altogether to inform us what is new in the machine; and as similar operations are performed by analogous means in other machines, we are left at a complete loss on this point; in fact, we see nothing that could have been claimed excepting the particular combination and arrangement of the parts.

45. For a method of Hanging House Bells; Seth Fuller, city of Boston, Massachusetts, December 26.

"The improvements particularly claimed are, the construction of the box to inclose the bell,-the substitution of the stationary clock bell for the common house bell, and the application of the box, cylinder, lever, friction roller, staple, clock bell, crooked spring hammer, springs, wires, strings, and vibrating plate, to produce a sound and motion so definite and distinct as to draw the attention of those interested, to the proper point, without unnecessary noise, waste of room, or injury to the appearance of the room where the bells may be placed."

The bell, as will be perceived, is to be the common hemispherical clock bell, which is to be struck by a hammer; two strokes being given by the tipping of the hammer by a lever which passes backward and forward when pulled. A tin plate suspended by a wire from the lower part of the lever, has a number marked upon it, and by its vibrations indicates which bell has been struck.

The box, and various other things described and claimed, are not represented in the drawings as they ought to have been to fulfil the intention and requirements of the law; and although the specification is drawn up with care, it is deficient in clearness, not conveying to the reader the ideas existing in the mind of the writer; this defect would have been remedied by proper drawings.

46. For a Machine for Breaking Corn; Webber Furbish. First patented March 15, 1833. Patent surrendered and reissued, December 26.

We noticed the former patent in due course; the claim now made is to "the employment of indented and plain rollers, or of indented rollers, or of indented rollers and a suitable concave segment, so arranged, upon the principle, or in the manner set forth, as to form a machine to be employed for the breaking, or cracking, of corn."

47. For improved Metallic Pumps; Jedediah Beckwith, Saratoga, Saratoga county, New York, December 27.

When patents are obtained for pumps, we rarely look for novelty in the things claimed, and if the patentee had, in the case before us, claimed any thing, he would not have presented an exception to this rule; he, however, has merely given us references to the drawing, which represents two chambers, with their pistons moved by a rack and pinion, the handle being a pendulum attached to the pinion.

48. For a piece of furniture called a Stand; Ezra Riply, city of Schenectady, New York, December 27.

This "Stand" is to be like other stands in form, but not in material, as, instead of wood, it is to be made of cast iron, or other metal. The one represented in the drawing, is a tripod, with a rim at the top suitable for a wash hand bowl, but they are to be of any required form. The principal advantage stated, is the ornamental embellishments, in the manner of carving, &c., which such a stand may receive at little cost, and its light appearance with great strength.

We have seen cast iron tripods, much like the one drawn, placed on the blocking of a portico, to hold a lamp, and if this patent is good, should the owner carry one of these in doors, and use it as a washhand stand, he must buy a right. We have also seen metallic "stands, or tables," imported from France, usually of brass, and neatly ornamented. Independently of all this, however, we should very much doubt the validity of a patent for a mere change of material.

49. For Setting Kettles for Boiling Sugar; Joshua Jordan, city of Boston, Massachusetts, December 27.

The patentee calls his contrivance "the damper sugar furnace," and states that it comprises "an improvement in the mode of constructing sugar furnaces and setting kettles for manufacturing sugar, so as to prevent the sugar from burning during the operation of striking, or removing the same from the granulating kettles to the coolers, and for other purposes therewith connected." The principal object in view, however, is the preventing of the burning of the sugar in striking.

In constructing the furnace, the fire is made to pass directly under, and through a flue around the granulating kettle, before it reaches that for evaporating, so that, by means of the damper, it can be prevented from acting on the granulating, without interfering with its operation on the evaporating and clarifying kettles, while the striking is going on.

Between the bottom of the granulating kettle, and the fire, a damper of a peculiar construction is to be introduced during the striking. This damper is a vessel of copper, made flat in the form of an oblong square, of sufficient width and length to cover the fire, and hollow so as to contain water in the cavity formed between its flat sides, which water cannot escape excepting through a safety tube, extending up from its outer end. Above the furnace door, there is another close to the bottom of the kettle, and of such size that when open, the damper can be passed through the opening. This damper is placed upon a carriage, which runs upon a rail-way, in front of the furnace, and when wanted it is brought up, and slid in through the opening, from off the carriage; the same serving to remove it when it is no longer wanted.

Another damper, similarly constructed, is placed vertically between the granulating and evaporating kettles. When this is down in its place, the fire passes freely through a suitable opening in it for

that purpose, but when raised, by the aid of pulleys, the opening between the two kettles is closed by an imperforated part of the damper.

There are in the drawing a number of the parts of the furnace represented, which are without written references; the general plan, however, is sufficiently apparent, although no specific claim is made.

50. For a Machine for Dressing Staves; Ebenezer Gregg, Derry, Rockingham county, New Hampshire, December 27.

This machine contains circular saws for cutting the staves to a length; a heavy wheel with cutters on its periphery for dressing the hollow side of the stave; an apparatus for receiving it afterwards, dressing the opposite side, and jointing it, all of which, taken together, has an appearance of much complexity; it, however, is well represented in a drawing, to which there are numerous and full references, and in these its description principally consists.

The claims made are to "the application of the balance wheel with cutters; the flyers with concave edges, and the particular manner in which the rolls are placed and regulated; the application of the saws for cutting off the ends, and jointing the staves; the form of the racks, the swing box, and other apparatus regulating and guiding the saws; the particular manner in which the saws are applied for the purposes set forth, and operating in the way described."

It may be doubted whether some of the particulars claimed can be sustained as original, although, as combined together, and forming the machine described, they may legitimately constitute a new invention.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

SPECIFICATIONS OF AMERICAN PATENTS.

Specification of a patent for an improved Hydrant, in which the water is prevented from freezing in winter, and the waste pipe is altogether dispensed with. Granted to THOMAS W. NEWTON and JOSEPH H. LANING, city of Philadelphia, July 30, 1833.

Attached to the end of the pipe that draws or conducts the water, is a large hollow male screw, the calibre, or hole, through the screw to be about the same, and attached so as to correspond with that of the pipe. There is a small cylinder, or chamber, attached to the male screw, the calibre of which, where it joins the screw, and for a small distance up, is to be from a half inch, or more, larger than the calibre of pipe and screw to form a chamber suitable for the spiral spring and valve; the valve seat is formed by bringing the calibre again to that of the pipe.

The calibre of the cylinder, or chamber, immediately above the valve seat, is to be two, three, four, or more inches in diameter, for a piston, or plunger, to work in, and to draw the water down out of the hydrant low enough to prevent its freezing in cold weather. The piston, or plunger, is raised to draw the water down out of the

pipe, with a rod attached to it, and to one end of a small lever working on a fulcrum, with a weight on the opposite end. The valve is opened by a small rod, or pin, in the valve, or piston, or plunger, when the piston, or plunger, is caused to descend by raising the lever; and closes by the force of the spiral spring and the water, when the piston, or plunger, is allowed to raise again by the action of the lever, and the weight on the opposite end.

If it should be found necessary, or more convenient, there may be two long staples linked together, and attached one to the valve, the other to the piston, so that when the piston, or plunger, descends, they will open the valve at the proper time, and when it ascends they will close the valve more securely, and prevent the piston, or plunger, from ascending more than necessary for the purpose of drawing the water down out of the hydrant, or discharging itself.

We claim as our invention, or discovery, the above described mode of constructing, combining, and applying to the use of hydrants, for the purposes described and intended, the hollow cylinder, or chamber, piston or plunger, lever, spiral spring, and valve, without regard to proportion or size, as that may be varied according to circumstances and places,

Specification of a patent for an improvement in the mode of generating steam in steam engine and other boilers. Granted to ISAIAH JENNINGS, of the city of Philadelphia, December 19, 1833.

To all whom it may concern, be it known, that I, Isaiah Jennings, of the city of Philadelphia, have made an improvement in the mode of generating steam, in steam engine and other boilers, by which improvement both economy and safety are attained; and that the following is a full and exact description thereof:

I make use of such boilers as are generally employed, my improvement not being in any way dependent on the particular form thereof, but upon the manner in which such boilers are filled, or charged with water, in combination with other substances. My invention principally consists in the placing within a boiler spongy, porous, or solid substances of various kinds, so as to fill, or nearly to fill, its internal cavity, with the exception of the spaces between, or within, such substances. As, for example, I prepare globular, or irregular lumps, of wood, of such diameter as may be found convenient, say from three inches to one foot, or more, in diameter; or, instead of balls, I use pipes, or round sticks of wood, perforated with holes; which sticks, or pipes, are to be piled within, and along the boiler, until it is filled, or nearly so. Instead of wood I sometimes employ reeds, canes, or stalks of various kinds; taking care, however, that the substance be such as will not be readily reduced to pulp by boiling in water. sometimes prevent the vegetable or other substances so placed within the boiler from coming in direct contact therewith, leaving a cavity all around them, to be occupied by water, which may be done in various ways. Let there, for example, be cylindrical boilers, in which this is to be done; I make a cylindrical vessel of wood, cut and fixed together like the staves of a barrel; this cylinder may be three or four inches less in diameter than the interior of the boiler; it should be perforated with holes, and is to have spikes, or pins, driven into it, over its outside, extending out, so as to bear against the sides of the boiler; this will leave a space as above mentioned, of from one inch and a half to two inches, more or less, between the wood and the metal. The wooden cylinder is to be filled with blocks of wood, or other materials, in the way already described.

For steam boilers used on land, where an increased weight is not objectionable, I sometimes use more solid materials than wood; such, for example, as large pebble stones, which, although they do not possess all the advantages of porous substances, yet, from their durability, will, in many cases, be preferred.

The increased surface obtained by thus charging the boilers, especially when the softer and more porous woods are employed, occasions a great increase in the production of steam, exceeding, it is believed, that which can be safely obtained by any other arrangement where the actual quantity of water within the boiler is so small as in that above described. For filling with water, I use such supply