rigger at f, over both of which an endless band or chain g, is passed, and the rigger ƒ, being turned by a crank or any other contrivance connected to a steam engine, the spur wheel c, will be made to revolve, and as it goes round the ends of the pins or spurs, set radially in its periphery, coming successively in contact with the ground, will cause the vessel to be propelled forward.

This spur wheel may be placed in any convenient part of the vessel either in the middle as shewn, or at the head or the stern or two such wheels may be applied at the sides of the vessel, and suspended to swinging arms, or attached in any other way that might be found convenient. The spur wheel itself may also be made without a circular rim, the ends of its arms or spokes answering the purpose of the pins or spurs above described, and these spurs being brought in contact with the ground, the rotation of the wheel will cause the vessel to be driven forward.

The same principle is described as applicable to the propelling of carriages on land, (though not contemplated in the title of the patent.) Fig. 2, shews a carriage with the spur wheel adapted to the purpose of loco-motion. Its construction is exactly like that above described, the axle being supported in arms that rise and fall upon their fulcruum joints. The wheel is driven by an endless chain or band, passed over two riggers, the hinder one being turned by a steam engine, or any other first mover within the carriage.

This contrivance is applicable to loco-motive carriages running either on rail-ways or common roads: the pins or stars of the wheel may either take into notches in the rail, or act immediately against the ground, and the wheel may be applied either at the front part, to draw the carriage as in the figure, or behind to push it forward.

VOL. XIV.

21

The body of the vehicle is proposed to be supported upon springs, in order to prevent jolting, as it passes over slight inequalities in the road, and it may be made of any form or fashion that convenience or fancy may dictate, the invention consisting simply in the employment of the spur wheel as described.

[Inrolled April, 1826.]

To BENJAMIN Cook, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Brass Founder, for his Invention of certain Improvements in making or constructing hinges of various descriptions.

[Sealed 19th January, 1826.]

THE improved hinge described in the specification of this patent, is designed to rise as it opens, and the mode of effecting this rising is by a pin passed through the barrel of the hinge, the point of which acts in a spiral groove cut in the perpendicular spindle, or axle upon which the hinge turns.

The mode of constructing these hinges, is shewn in Plate XIII, fig. 3; a, is one leaf of the hinge; b, the other leaf detached; c, is the steel spindle or axle, on which the leaf b, is to turn. The lower part of this spindle is fixed into the socket d, but the socket e, being hollow slips on to the upper part of it, and the leaf b, turns upon it as an axis. A spiral groove is cut round a portion of the upper part of the spindle c, and when the socket e, of the leaf b, is put on to the spindle, a small pin is screwed into the socket e, the point of which protruding into the

spiral groove, prevents the leaves from coming asunder, and when opening causes the leaf b, to rise by the pin acting in the spiral groove.

In order to conceal the open space between the two sockets d, and e, caused by the rising of the leaf b, when the hinge is expanded, a piece of thin tube is fixed to the upper part of the socket d, which covers the joint.

[Inrolled July, 1826.]

TO JAMES FRASER, of Houndsditch, in the City of London, Engineer, for his Invention of an Improved method of constructing Capstans and Windlasses.

[Sealed 25th February, 1826.]

THE patentee has exhibited no drawings of his improved capstans and windlasses, but merely states that his invention consists of three particulars; viz. First, making the barrel hollow for the reception of wheel-work; Secondly, introducing wheels and pinions for the purpose of working occasionally with increased power; and thirdly, applying a bar on the outside of the barrel, to confine the rope or chain cable as the capstan or windlass winds it in.

If we understand this invention right, it must be nearly the same thing as the plan proposed by Captain Phillips, in his improved capstans, for which he obtained a patent, dated September, 1819, see our second vol. page 1, and Plate 1, excepting perhaps that the gear for gaining power is to be placed in a different part of the capstan.

When these slight variations in the mechanism of so simple an apparatus as a capstan or windlass, are called improvements, and published to the world under the sanction of a patent, the inventor should take the trouble of giving a drawing, by which his intentions may be clearly understood, which really cannot be definitely pointed out by this specification,

Something is said about placing a rim or wheel with bevel teeth upon the capstan, and connecting a pinion and shaft to it, for the purpose of working the pumps; but this has often been proposed before, and without doubt occasionally resorted to under such circumstances as rendered it necessary.

With respect to the confining bar or break which is to hold fast the cable, we are not aware either what is to be its form, or exactly how it is to be adapted.

[Inrolled April, 1826.]

TO JAMES FRASER, of Houndsditch, in the City of London, Engineer, for his Invention of a New and Improved method of Distilling and Rectifying Spirits and Strong Waters.

[Sealed 4th March, 1826.]

THE object of the patentee appears to be the application of the heat carried off with the vapour from a still to the heating of the wash in a detached vessel, previous to its introduction into the still; and also where the still is heated by a surrounding chamber of boiling water or steam, to apply the heat of such steam as it passes off to

the purpose of heating another still in which the spirit is undergoing the process of further concentration or of rectification.

By this mode of conducting the process of distillation, it is said that the expense of fuel is considerably economised, and the production of an empyreumatic flavour prevented, which in the ordinary modes of distillation, so frequently occurs to the great detriment of the spirit.

There are no drawings explanatory of any particular mode, by which this heated vapour is to be applied, indeed it is said that the apparatus may be constructed in a variety of ways: therefore as the same idea has been frequently suggested before, both in a general way, and also in peculiar modes of application, we are completely at a loss to define what are the particular features of novelty intended to be claimed by the patentee.

[Inrolled May, 1826.]

To JOSEPH CHESSEBOROUGH DYER, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Patent Card Manufacturer, for his Invention of certain Improvements in Machinery, for making Wire Cards, for Carding Wool, Cotton, Tow, and other fibrous substances of the like nature, and also certain Improvements on a Machine for Shaving and preparing Leather, used in making such Cards.

[Sealed 19th December, 1825.]

THE subjects of this invention are certain improvements in, that is, modifications of, and additions to, the very