when the impression-cylinder is not in contact with the form of type.

It will be seen, upon referring to figs. 1, and 2, that instead of the arms of the lever-frame e, being jointed direct to the upper end of the vertical arm m, this connection is effected by means of adjusting-screws, which will admit of the arms e, being screwed up or down, so as to regulate, with nicety, the pressure of the cylinder at the opposite end of the frame e; by which means a greater or less pressure on the face of the type may be given at either end of the cylinder.

The bed, on which the form of type is placed, also admits of nice adjustment, by means of the screws g, g. For instance, if, upon examination of a proof, it should be found that any particular part of the form (say, for example, one corner thereof) is too pale, in consequence of a deficiency of pressure, this defect can be easily rectified by slightly raising that part of the bed by means of one of the screws beneath that particular part.

The arrangement of the strings or tapes for conducting the paper into, through, and out of the machine, is similar to that usually employed in printing-machines, and therefore needs no particular and detailed explanation.

From the above description it will be seen, that in the operation of printing it will only be necessary to traverse the travelling-frame and its appendages, a few inches beyond the length of the form of type, as the inking apparatus is carried with the impression-cylinder; and the distance the travellingframe will have to move will depend upon the length of the form: the same machine may therefore, without great inconvenience, be employed to print large or small forms; or, in fact, any form less than the dimensions of the bed,-the speed of the printing operation of course increasing with the decrease in the size of the form; as the distance to be travelled over will, of course, be diminished. In order to prevent the workman (when the machine is driven by hand-labour) from moving the travelling-frame too far either way, wooden stops y, are placed at one end of the side-grooves c, c, of the machine. These stops are made capable of adjustment in the grooves c, c, and may be fixed at any point; so that, when working a small form, they will prevent the workman from pulling back the travelling-frame further than is ne

cessary.

The patentee claims, First, the general arrangement of the machine as herein shewn and described. Secondly,mounting the impression-roller or cylinder in a lever-frame,

which, being moveable, admits of the roller or cylinder being moved backwards and forwards over the form of type, which remains stationary on its bed. He claims, particularly, the arrangement shewn, or any mere modification thereof, whereby the impression-cylinder, when moved forward with the paper to be printed, is made to press on the surface of the type; and, when moved back with the printed sheet, is lifted and carried over the type without touching the same. Thirdly,the combination of the inking apparatus with the impressionroller in one travelling-frame, so arranged and operated that it may be made to traverse any required distance, according to the size or dimensions of the form of type to be printed; and also adjusting the bed on which the form of type is placed, as shewn and described.

To THOMAS DICKASON ROTCH, of Furnival's Inn, Gent., for improvements in treating peat, and in manufacturing fuel and other products therefrom.-[Sealed 1st October, 1852.] THIS invention consists in procuring fresh peat and separating or tearing it apart whilst immersed in a tank of water, in such a manner as to separate the roots and fibrous portions of the peat from the other parts, which form a sediment, to which the patentee has given the name of "peat paste," and which he collects, moulds, dries, and, in some cases, carbonizes, and thus obtains a highly condensed, hard, and inflammable substance.

In Plate III., fig. 1, represents one form of apparatus (there being many others which would accomplish the same object), which he considers particularly simple and efficient for preparing the peat to form the paste. A, is a wooden case or vat, rounded at the four corners, in which are placed four vertical shafts b, b, driven by the horizontal shaft and spur gear B1, and carrying fans or arms c, c, working between other arms p, p, fixed to the side of the case or vat, after the manner of an ordinary pug-mill. This vat being half filled with water, and fresh peat being introdued by means of the hopper B, the vertical shafts b, b, are put in motion, and cause the process of separation to be effected. The wooden vat has a false bottom R, of wire gauze, from one end of which the pipe E, furnished with a sluice s, leads into the wire-gauze cylinder D, which is placed at an inclination immediately below the vat. A*, is a cock for carrying away the water from the vat from time to time. When the peat has been well

broken up, the sluice s, may be opened, to allow the charge to flow into the cylinder D, through which the shaft D*, runs. This shaft carries brushes d, d, placed at an angle thereto, and intended to brush out through the spout, p*, the fibrous and other matter which was unable to pass through the wire-gauze cylinder. The machine is set in motion by means of a strap passing over the pulleys a, and c, and may be driven by any adequate power. As the shaft D1, revolves, the pasty residuum falls into the tank Q, below; and it is there collected and removed to the moulding-machine. If, however, when removed, the paste should be in too liquid a state to be conveniently moulded, it must be pressed between two cloths, passed between squeezing rollers; or it may be put in a press, as shewn at fig. 5, which is a simple perforated wooden tank, lined with wire gauze, in which the wet paste is acted upon by a piston from above. In reference to the other matters used in the water-bath, previously alluded to, the patentee states that, if the peat is of a dry character, he adds a small quantity of marl, clay, or fullers' earth, to the water in the bath, according to the quality of the peat,-rich or fatty requiring less than the dry sort. He also mixes with the water in the vat various other substances, such as gums, glutens, and the like.

E,

The patentee next proceeds to describe the moulding apparatus, shewn in section at fig. 2, and in plan view at fig. 3; in which A, is the framework of the machine, carrying a strong cross-bar в, B, which supports the round metal disc or table c, having a shallow rim or border all round it. An octangular metal frame D, supported on friction-rollers c, revolves upon this disc, and is keyed on to the vertical shaft by means of the arms F, and driven by the pulleys g, g. In each octagon of the frame D, a half mould 1, is placed, having a piston J, to act in it, containing the other half of the mould; and the two parts are brought together, when required, by the rollers o, o, acting against the fixed excentric cam o, with which they come in contact by the revolving of the frame; so that when the paste to be moulded is introduced by the hopper u, into the mould, the piston J, acted upon by the cam o, gives it the necessary pressure as it passes round; and as the frame continues its revolution, and the piston is released from the cam, the spring a, withdraws the piston, and the piece of paste P, which has thus been moulded, falls through an opening м, into a trough N.

The patentee states that there are other known modes which may be applied for moulding this paste. After it has

been moulded, it may further be subjected to the process which he calls "carbonization," when it is required to be used in a particularly pure state. For this For this purpose he employs the furnace shewn at fig. 4, which represents an iron vessel Y, with a cupola top, introduced into a furnace a, a. Into this iron vessel the pieces of moulded paste are introduced, a layer of sand having first been spread over the bottom of the vessel, to prevent their coming in immediate contact with it. When the fire is lighted, the operation should be continued for about two hours; and the absence of smoke will indicate that the operation is completed. The top of the cupola is furnished with a valve z, which can be opened or shut at pleasure;-there are also two pipes b, b, from which elastic tubes may be brought to convey into the interior of the furnace the escaping gases, which are to enter from below, and thereby assist the combustion.

The patentee claims, First,-the beating to pieces or separating of the various particles of matter contained in what is ordinarily called peat, in a menstruum of water or other suitable fluid, whereby he is enabled to remove the rooty and coarse fibrous matter therefrom. And, Secondly, he claims the sediment obtained thereby, which may be collected, dried into a paste, pressed into moulds, and finally made into a highly condensed, hard, and inflammable substance, adapted for fuel and other purposes.

TO JOHN LAWRENCE GARDNER, of Whitecross-street, London, ink maker, for improvements in bottles and other vessels for holding liquids.-[Sealed 1st October, 1852.]

may

THIS invention relates to improvements in bottles and other vessels, and is intended to prevent any inconvenience from the regurgitation of the air, by means of a second channel or passage, which is to admit atmospheric air while the liquid is being poured out from such bottles. There is an uneven jerking flow, which disturbs the sediment or crust which have become deposited, when pouring out from bottles of the ordinary construction, owing to the bubbles of air forcing their way through the liquid; and, in some cases, it is necessary to pour off or decant the liquid, and allow it to settle again, in order that the disturbed sediment may again be deposited; and, in pouring out acids, accidents sometimes occur through the effects of regurgitation.

In Plate I., fig. 1, shews a section of a bottle, with a second

or extra aperture. When moulding this bottle, a triangular depression a, is made in the neck of the bottle, so as to divide it into two distinct channels, b, c; but above the part a, the neck is of the usual circular form: for the purpose of decanting its contents, it is held so that the channels b, and c, are in a horizontal position. Air then passes into the bottle through the upper channel, while the contents flow out equably, and without the slightest agitation, through the lower one. In fig. 2, the air-passage d, is a small tube, moulded on the inside of the neck of the bottle,—not rising sufficiently high to interfere with the cork. Upon pouring out its contents, the air will pass down the tube d, and thereby ensure an even flow of the fluid. The air-passage in fig. 3, is a tube formed upon the outside of the bottle, and provided with a supplementary cork or stopper. At fig. 4, the object is effected by the addition of a small neck f, formed on the shoulder of the bottle. The patentee remarks, that in vessels adapted for holding varnishes, oils, molasses, treacle, and other thick matter, his improvements will be found useful, by greatly facilitating the pouring off of the contents. Figs. 5, 6, and 7, shew the improvements adapted to these bottles. In fig. 5, the air-channels are pierced through a portion of the material forming the neck; and in figs. 6, and 7, the airpassages are shewn,-the one placed in front, and the other at the back, of the handles of the bottles. At figs. 8, 9, and 10, the improvements are shewn as applied to carboys, and other similar vessels. 1, fig. 8, is the air-passage; fig. 9, is a vessel having two necks, one for the purpose of pouring out the contents, and the other for the admission of air. At fig. 10, the channel is on the outside of the neck of the vessel, similar to the bottle shewn at fig. 3. In using vessels for acids, such as herein described, the flow of the acid may be regulated by partially stopping the air-passage or supplementary neck. The patentee remarks, that glass bottles, or other vessels, constructed according to his invention, may be made by moulding, pressing, and blowing, as is well known in the glass trade; his improvements being only additions, in some instances, or making channels or passages in other cases.

The patentee makes no claim to the form of the bottles or other vessels, neither does he restrict himself to the use of these or any other form of bottle or vessel for holding liquids; but he claims the manufacture and use of bottles and other vessels for holding liquids, having therein or thereon a second or extra aperture, channel, or passage, for the admission of atmospheric air, whilst pouring off the contents thereof.