adaptation of two or more peculiarly formed file cut pieces of steel, which pieces of steel may be conveniently mounted on the handle of a fork, or other handle, or in any other way that circumstances may require.

" Plate VI. fig. 1, is a face view of one of the said pieces of steel, shewing several indentations, and also the file cut surface, and the aperture through which the shank of the handle passes. Fig. 2, is an edge view of the same. Two of these steel pieces, formed as shewn in the drawing, having indentations made exactly to fit each other, are placed nearly in connection in fig. 3, and joined together in fig. 4; both of these figures representing the pieces in section.

"The two pieces of steel, when thus united, may be confined by passing the shank of an ordinary fork through them, when by resting against the boss the pieces are secured firmly between it and the handle, as shewn at a, a, in figs. 5, and 6, by the ordinary means of attaching handles to table forks.

"I form these sharpeners, by cutting dies, of whatever dimensions may be necessary, out of thin sheet steel, and give them the file surface by means of dies in a stamping press, and afterwards harden them in the ordinary way of hardening steel tools.

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When I employ the instrument as above described to sharpening scythes and such like tools, I set them in guards, where they are secured and held together by a screw, as shewn at fig. 7.

"It is to be observed, that in the drawing, figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, represent the sharpeners as circular pieces, on a scale sufficiently large for sharpening scythes; but when the instrument is to be applied to a table fork, it should correspond, or nearly so, with the size and shape of the ornamental part of the shank of the fork, whatever that may be.

"The apparatus for manufacturing these said improved sharpeners, consists of peculiarly formed conical dies. These dies are cut with indentations corresponding and fitting into each other, in order to cut and mould the pieces of plate steel into the required forms, for producing the sharpening tools above described. The conical part of the lower or female die is file cut, by means of which the face of the steel disc is similarly impressed; the upper or male die is formed as its counterpart, excepting the file surface.—[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, April, 1830.]

Specification drawn by Mr. Newton.

TO JOHN BRUNTON, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, for Improvements in the Apparatus for manufacturing Coal Gas and Coke; and also Improvements in the Method of arranging such Apparatus. [Sealed 2d October, 1828.]

SPECIFICATION.

"My improvements consist, first, of retorts made of cast iron, and not cased or lined with fire clay; of a conical shape, for the purpose of facilitating the discharge of the coke at the larger end, when the retorts are fixed in a vertical position with that end downward; thereby saving much labour and inconvenience in the discharge thereof, and also preventing the injury which is occasioned by the breaking and reducing to powder, a portion of the coke attendant upon the ordinary method of discharging retorts. Secondly, in the adaption of a perforated pipe, of a conical or other convenient shape to the retorts, for the purpose of enabling the gas to escape freely through the mass of

coal when it is of such a nature as to make it desirable to facilitate the escape of the gas by some such means. Thirdly, in an improved furnace or fire-place door or mouth. Fourthly, in a contrivance for preventing the breaking or disturbance of flanches or joints by the expansion and contraction of the hydraulic main, or the pipes leading thereto. Fifthly, in improvements in the arrangement of various parts of gas apparatus; which arrangements, and also the improvements in the various apparatus, are set forth in the annexed drawings and the explanations thereof. (See Plate VI.)

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Any convenient number of my retorts may be connected together or placed in beds; but I have in my drawings, confined myself to a set or bed of twelve retorts, considering that that number will be generally useful and advantageous.

"The same letters or characters refer to the same parts in each of the drawings, and illustrate each other.

Fig. 8, is a ground plan of a bed or set of twelve retorts; fig. 9, shews the mode of connecting the mouth pieces of the retorts; fig. 10, is a cross section of the apparatus, taken vertically; and fig. 11, a sectional plan of the upper end of fig. 10, taken at the dotted lines.

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Fig. 12, is a general elevation, shewing the thoroughfare under the beds of the retorts for the purpose of discharging, &c.; fig. 13, exhibits the bottom cover or stopper of a retort; fig. 14, the perch or support of the coal within the retort, and fig. 15, a measure that may be used in charging the retorts.

"The ground plan, fig. 8, represents a double bed of retorts, containing six in each, which are marked a, a: A, is a wall of fire-bricks passing between the two beds, and is supported by a sleeper K, as shewn in fig. 10; B, B, are two furnaces heating the two beds of retorts through the

flues c, c, c, c, which passing along the outside of the retorts, unite and return between them into the main flue leading to the chimney, as is shewn more distinctly in fig. 11.

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Fig. 9, shows the manner in which the mouth pieces are connected together, viz. by means of bolts and screws passing through the flanches, d, d, d, d. Two flanch pieces, e, e, extend beyond those of the retorts, resting on the piers, E, E, the outer part of which flanches marked q, form supports for the bottom of the flues.

"Fig. 10, is a cross section taken in the dotted line, fig. 8, shewing its elevation, with stand, pipes, hydraulic main, &c.; A, is the wall dividing the two beds of retorts; D, D, are the two outside walls or arches connecting the two piers E, E, (see fig. 12). Under these arches are two walls F, F, supported upon sleepers &, &, and containing four stoppers, T, T, T, T, for the convenience of withdrawing, in order to clear out the flues. The four conical retorts are marked a, a, a, a, the lower ends of which are shewn with their covers in various positions; j, the lower cover or stopper of a retort, (seen more distinctly in fig. 13). The mode of attaching it to the mouthpiece is shewn, but I do not claim any particular mode of doing it; f, a perch or support for the coals within the retort, which is attached to a rod g, and passes through the cover j, and is secured at the proper height by the screwed cap h.

"The perch is shewn more distinctly in fig. 14; n, an upper cover, which when placed on the top of the retort and luted in the usual manner, is kept down by the pressure of the lever and weight o, upon the centre of it; but which in case of a stoppage in the pipes, allows it to act as a safety valve and thereby prevent mischief. The end of the lever opposite to the one carrying the weight is attached to the support p; b. a perforated pipe inserted into

the retort for the purpose of facilitating the escape of gas when generating from small coal; it is kept in its place at the bottom by the perch ƒ, and at the upper end by the cross bar m; H, H, H, H, figs. 10 and 12, represent the furnace doors; the entrance to each furnace consists of a frame and two doors meeting in the middle and there forming an angle, as shewn in the drawings, the one door opening upwards and the other downards.

"The lower door is opened when the fire-place wants cleaning; the upper door is opened for the door is opened for the purpose of introducing fuel, a portion of which lies against the door, preserving them in a great degree from the action of the fire, and at the same time preventing the escape of a portion of heat; w, the ash pit, in which is placed the water trough X; I, I, I, I, are cover titles resting on the upper flanches c, c, &c. and upon the walls A, and D.

"To prevent any expansion of the hydraulic main, or the pipes leading thereto breaking or disturbing the flanches or joints connected therewith, instead of supporting the hydraulic main in the usual manner by means of an inflexible column or standard, I interpose or place between the hydraulic main and the upper part of the column or standard, a crutch or bearer, the lower part of which is allowed to press upon one end of a compensating lever, to the other end whereof a weight is attached. These levers and weights are so proportioned to the weight of the hydraulic main as to allow the crutch upon the upper part of which the hydraulic main rests, to move up and down with it, and thereby prevent the inconvenience which might otherwise arise.

“As a further means of preventing injury from the expansion of the pipe, I fix to the hydraulic main a requisite number of dip pipes, each of which descends about three inches into the liquid contained in the main; and through