not have where the buffers of the coupled carriages are. not brought into contact.

The Patentee says, in conclusion, "I do not claim as new, any particular kind of throstle valve; that may be left to the judgment of the engineer, provided it be so constructed that, when open, the steam-way shall not be contracted, but the steam be allowed to escape freely. But I claim the introduction of a throstle valve or damper into the exhausting steam-pipe of a locomotive engine, by closing or contracting which, the engineman can check or stop the engine at pleasure. And, as regards the coupling apparatus, I do not claim, as new, the separate parts, as the buffers, screw-chain, or drawbar attached to a draw-spring; but I claim the combination and joint action of those parts as described, and the consequent close but elastic attachment of the carriages to each other, which constitutes my improvement as applied to railway carriages."-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, July, 1836.]

TO JOSHUA BUTTERS BACON, of Sidmouth-street, Regent-square, in the county of Middlesex, gentleman, for certain improvements in the construction of locomotive steam-carriages applicable to railways and common roads, being a communication from a foreigner residing abroad. [Sealed 11th March, 1835.]

THE particular feature of novelty proposed under this patent, is the mode of communicating the power of the steam-engine to the running wheels, for the purpose of propelling the carriage, which, instead of being affected through the agency of rods and cranks, or by toothed gear or riggers and bands, all of which modes.

have been heretofore employed for that purpose, it is now proposed to drive the carriage by means of friction applied to the peripheries of the running wheels.

From a very confused description, accompanied by a drawing, which appears to be considerably defective, we are enabled merely to give the general features of the scheme, which, however, is so obviously inapplicable to the purpose proposed, that our readers will feel no desire to be in possession of more minute details.

Plate II., fig. 1, represents the locomotive carriage in longitudinal elevation; fig. 2, being an end view of the same. The frame of the carriage is in the usual rectangular form, supporting the boiler a, and engine b; and in this case a box c, is placed behind upon the framework for the stowage of fuel, instead of dragging a tender after it. The running wheels d, d, and e, are of the ordinary construction, and are affixed to revolving axles as usual, their journals turning in axle boxes, which are capable of adjustment, for the purpose of bringing the engines to a true level. The steam-engine employed for exerting the driving power is of the rotary kind, consisting of a pair of arms, which revolve within a circular chamber b, the transverse sectional figure of which is nearly elliptical. The steam is admitted into this through the axle by a pipe f, at one side, and is discharged by a pipe g, into the chimney, or into the cylindrical water tank contiguous.

The power for driving is applied to the larger running wheels e, in the following manner:-At the end of the axle of the rotary engine there is a pinion i, taking into the teeth of a wheel h, turning upon an axle, which is supported by the swinging armj: upon this same axle there is also fixed a conical roller or friction

wheel k, having several steps or peripheries of different radii ; one of which peripheries is intended to be brought into contact with the periphery of a wheel, mounted upon an axle turning in an upright standard m. This wheel, is not fixed upon its axle, but is connected thereto by what is called a feather, and therefore is capable of being slidden to and fro on its axle, for the purpose of being brought into coincidence with any of the steps of the wheel k, that might be desired; and their peripheries being so brought into contact, the ro tation of the wheel k, will cause the wheel 1, to revolve also. On the same axle as the wheel 7, there is affixed a smaller friction wheel n, the periphery of which runs in contact with the periphery or the flange of the running wheel e.

The degree of friction created between these surfaces, in connexion, will, of course, depend upon their closeness of contact, which is regulated by drawing the periphery of the wheel k, against the wheel 7, through leverage obtained by the engine-man in pulling the handle o; and the pressure of the friction wheel n, against the periphery of the running wheel e, is obtained by drawing down the standard m. Thus the peripheries being brought into close contact, the rotation of the pistons in the engine b, is intended to give such rotary motion to the wheels, as shall, by the friction of the surfaces, cause the running wheels to revolve and impel the carriage forward upon its line of railway.

The Patentee says, "The pressure of weight upon the driving wheels may be varied as follows:-Let the after-bearing wheels be raised by moving the arm p, which is a bent lever, toward the front of the carriage,

until the weight of the engine is chiefly sustained upon the forward bearing wheels; and the driving wheels being placed sufficiently in rear of the centre of gravity, to sustain the weight in all ascending planes, when it is essential the weight should be thrown upon the driv ing wheels."

Again the Patentee observes, "When turning a bend in the road, the bearing wheels are made to turn by means of the arm or lever q, and the bars r; the longer of these bearing upon the extremity of the forward axle shoulder, and the shorter connecting the end of this compound lever, as seen at s; so that when the lever or arm q, is drawn toward the point, the longer bar is moved forward and the shorter back, and thereby the wheels are turned conformably to the bend of the road if the curve is to the left hand, and by a contrary movement of the lever if the bend is to the right."

In order to promote combustion in the furnace a fanwheel is to be adapted, as shown at t; which fan may be made to revolve by a band from one of the wheels of the conical series above, and the wind will be conducted by a spout v, into the ash-pit of the close furnace. The water tank u, is connected with the boiler, by a steam pipe w, and by a water pipe x, so that by the former the pressure of steam in both vessels may be equalized, while the water is drawn or allowed to run through the latter into the boiler.

The Patentce says, "The construction of the smoke pipe as seen, is designed to prevent the cinders flying out of the pipe. It is so constructed as that there shall be within it at the bottom a space where there is no current, but into which the cinders are thrown by the force

of the furnace; then ceasing to be impelled by this force they settle by their own gravity, while the smoke which has not been and could not be impelled into a space, where, from its structure there can be no current, ascends by the continued force of the furnace. This improvement in the structure of the smoke pipe is applicable to steam-boats and to standing engines, and is of great value from the security it affords against fire by cinders."

If this is really as great an improvement as the Patentee seems to consider it, how much is it to be regretted that he has not either in the description or the drawing, shown us what is the form of construction to which he attaches so much importance.

The Patentee says, in conclusion, that he claims, first, the combination of the roller n, with a pinion i, on the shaft of the rotary engine, and the rollers communi. cating the force of the engine (by friction we presume), to the driving wheels of the locomotive engine; to. gether with the mode of increasing or diminishing the rolling friction of the same upon each other, and upon the driving wheels, and of the driving wheels upon the rail; secondly, the combination with a locomotive engine of a smoke pipe, constructed with a recess out of, or aside from, the current, so that the cinders may be thrown into it by the draft; thirdly, the combination of a lever with the hinder bearing wheels on each side, to throw the weight of the engine upon the driving wheels; and fourthly, the combination of levers with the bearing wheels, to change the direction of the bearing wheels conformably to the bends of the road.-[Inrolled in the Inrolment Office, September, 1835.]