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liquid above the piston will be sucked downwards through made hollow so that warmth may be imparted by hot air the larger valve, which opens downwards. (2) In ball- or water. The apparatus is supported by legs 7 which cocks the valve-seat is formed at the end of a short neck fixed to the supply-pipe, the whole mechanism being carried

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by the shell or body of the cock, which can be thus conveniently unscrewed for repair. (3) Screw-valves are made with the valve connected to the screw by a loose connection to prevent its revolving with the screw when pressing upon the valve-face. (May 14, 1880.)

1933. APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE FLOW OF WATER, ETC.; F. P. PRESTON, J. T. PRESTIGE, AND E. J. PRESTON, DEPTFORD, KENT.-Relates (1) to the construction of single and double valve ships' water closets as described in Specification 4844 of 1876. The passage between the self-acting overflow valve and the closet-pan is tapered, the larger end being at the closet-pan, by which arrangement it is possible to use a larger strainer, and to make it flush with the inside of the pan instead of projecting inwards as heretofore. (2) The supply-valve for such closets is of a conical or curved form, so that it finds its bearing in almost any position with regard to the seating, whereby no raised seating is required. (3) Sometimes a valve is used in connection with a horizontal spindle, and hinged to the interior of the valve-box. (4) Closets with horizontal and parallel upper and lower pan-valve seatings are constructed as shown in the illustrations. In fig. 2, a is the lower valve; b is the lower valve seatings; is the ventilating air pipe; and d the overflow pipe from top chamber e with valve fat bottom to prevent back-wash; g

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may be screwed to the floor or any foundation s. (May 18, 1880.)

2039. VENTILATORS FOR EXHAUSTING, FORCING, OR COMPRESSING AIR, GASES, ETC. J. HOWORTH, FARNWORTH, LANC.-Relates to an Archimedian screw-exhauster or blower, applied vertically or horizontally, and worked by motive power, or by the action of the wind. The apparatus consists essentially of a cylinder within which the Archimedian screw revolves. In some cases a fixed hoodcover or disperser is used in lieu of the revolving hood usually employed. For cooling, dyeing, moistening, or impregnating the air, it is passed through saturation boxes containing the necessary liquid or vapour. The illustration shows one form of ventilator, and also the saturation box. The screw B is carried by shaft c', and driven by steam or other power by means of pulley C. The cylinder A projects through the wall of the building, and terminates in a fixed cap or hood H. According to the direction in which the screw is rotated, the apparatus can be used as an exhauster or blower. The saturation box H (fig. 2) is made of iron plates formed in zigzag or corrugated shape, in order that

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is the overflow-valve grating, mentioned under head (1); / is a plughole. Fig. 1 illustrates the method of working the closets; j is a slotted lever; k the weight with pin which slides up and down on the guide standard o; the supply-valve; m lever working same with fulcrum #. (5) For closets under the water-line of the ship a double-acting pump is used, with its valve-chamber placed directly under the pan. The details of the arrangement form the subject of seven illustrations in the specification, which further relates to (6) supply-valves with ball-cock levers, (7) to ballvalves, and (8) to waste-water preventing apparatus. (May II, 1880.)

2019. WATER-CLOSETS: W. R. LAKE, LONDON.-ACcording to this invention closets are made with fixed and with movable traps. The closet shown is of oblong narrowshape, with a perpendicular rear surface. The ring R is

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the air admitted at м may be caused to impinge upon the liquid at N before it is discharged at N1. The interspace o may be filled with hot or cold water, or it may be arranged as a steam chamber. (May 19, 1880.)

2048. CISTERNS, WATER-CLOSETS, ETC.: T. JEWELL, LONDON.--The ironwork is covered with black oxide and

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then coated with Spence's metal, or other effective metal', to prevent corrosion. The illustration is a section of a water-closet, in which a is the pan, b the soil pipe, the

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a firebrick tile above the fire, and drawing off the products of combustion at the front edge thereof. A is the grate, the cover firebrick cover plate, e the flue, B a hotair chamber. (May 20, 1880.)

2051. VENTILATING APPARATUS: W. CUNNINGHAM, DUNDEE.-Relates to the ventilation of buildings by apparatus constructed on the principle of that described in Specification 3621 of 1875. Fig. I is a side elevation, and fig. 2 a cross section of the ventilating machine, which ex. ternally resembles a horizontal cylinder partly embedded in a rectangular box, which forms the lower part of the structure. The cylinder 5 consists of a cylindrical shell formed by longitudinal staves built upon circular ends. It does not form a complete cylinder, there being an open space at the bottom, which is divided into two openings, 10 and 11, by a vertical partition, which also divides the lower part of the valve chamber into two compartments, and extending up inside the cylinder, forms an abutment separating the FIG. L FIG. 2

fluid is filtered by passing from the outside of the filtering cylinder into the inside of the conical compressor, whence it is led through perforations in the upper compressor into the chamber p. The unfiltered fluid enters the filter through pipes s leading into the annular chamber t, from which it is distributed by pipes u with outlets so directed as to give the current a rotary motion, whereby an agitation of the water is maintained which retards the clogging of the filtering material; d is an indicating rod to show the degree of compactness of the filtering material. (May 25, 1880.)

2072. DISINFECTING VAN MOHAIR, ETC.: J. C. RAMSDEN, HAMPSTHWAITE, YORKSHIRE.-Bales of van mohair, wool, or of other fibrous substances enclosing poisonous matters are placed in an air-tight vessel, and, a vacuum being created in it, disinfectant gases or liquids, such as Condy's fluid, etc., or superheated steam, is injected into in the illustration, where A A are two bales of wool or hair the bales. A suitable apparatus for the purpose is shown in air-tight chambers B B, which should be large enough to allow of the swelling of the bales under the action of the

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space on one side of the radial piston 6 from that on the other side thereof. The travel of the piston is from the outer edge of one opening 10 to the outer edge of the other opening II, and vice versa, drawing in and expelling the air alternately through each opening 10 and 11. The lower parts of the ends, and the whole of the sides of the lower rectangular part of the structure, are occupied by the inlet and outlet valves, there being inlet valves at one end occupying half the side of each valve chamber, and outlet valves at the other ends occupying the other halves of the sides. Externally, the space is divided by a vertical partition 19 placed transversely at the middle of the length of the cylinder, so that all the inlet valves are at one side, and all the outlet valves at the other side thereof. The valves consist of horizontal strips of a light impermeable cloth, fixed by their upper edges to rectangular frames 21, se cured by hooks or catches 22. (May 20, 1880.)

2131. FILTERING APPARATUS: G. H. MOORE, NORWICH, CONNECTICUT, U.S. A.-As will be seen from the illustration, the walls of the filtering cylinder e are perforated, the inner surface being coated with the strainer h of fine wire cloth or similar material. The loose filtering material is contained in the chamber formed between the

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chief feature, and that which renders it thoroughly efficacious, is the substitution, beside the boiler, of a cylinder, furnished with a safety valve instead of the usual hot-water circulating cistern upstairs. The points of this system will, however, be better appreciated by the perusal of a detailed description with reference to a diagram.

At the top of the house (see Figs. 1 and 2) is placed a cistern, A, from which a supply of water is laid on direct to the cylinder, C, and to the boiler, B, which is of small size and preferably tubular. This boiler is in connection with the cylinder, and has an ordinary flow and return. The small junction at is inserted in case of any emergency, such as for instance when the water in the cylinder may have become evaporated down to this point. It would, however, take many weeks to achieve this.

From the top of the cylinder, and also from the boiler direct, the hot water is caused to circulate throughout the house and back again to the boiler, supplying all the various draw-off taps on its way. By this means, hot water is rendered accessible immediately, without waiting, as is usually the case, to first empty the pipes of the cold water lying dormant in them. The cylinder C, which can be made of any size to contain from fifty gallons upwards, thus takes the place of the dangerous hot water cistern usually

communication with the cylinder. Weights are added according to the head of water which has to be resisted. Besides this valve, there is also the ordinary expansion pipe, G, placed at the highest part of the apparatus. In the return pipe at E is placed a valve, the object of which is to stop the circulation round the house during the night, and so as to allow of the water in the cylinder being kept hot, ready for use in the morning, without waiting to have the fire lighted in order to obtain hot water. In furtherance of this object, the cylinder is packed with felt composition. The valve at E is placed there only for convenience, and no danger would accrue to any neglect of turning it off at night, or on in the morning; the only consequence in the latter case being the trouble of waiting for the cold water in the pipes to spend itself before the hot arrives. At N in the supply pipe from the cistern, is placed a valve for shutting off cold water from the apparatus, thus allowing all upper pipes to be emptied in case of severe frost. The cylinder would be still full, the circulation being confined to this and the boiler. In case of necessity, as for instance during repair, the whole apparatus could be emptied by means of the sluice cock at F.

Another great advantage of this system consists in the fact that the water can be made to circulate through hot water heating coils anywhere in its circuit. There is also no necessity for two boilers behind the kitchen fire, one a high pressure boiler for baths, lavatories,

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and sinks upstairs, and a low pressure boiler besides, for the scullery service or basement service, because the boiler in connection with the cylinder serves all purposes. In conclusion, it may be mentioned that this system is simply perfect as regards enjoying an immunity from explosions. It is impossible to draw off water below the dotted line shown at fig. 2, between the safety valve, D, and the cylinder top at J, and therefore, the kitchen fire can be kept up in full action without heed of frost. The cylinder can be fitted to any close or open range whatever. The patentee and sole manufacturer is Mr. F. Dyer, of 66, High Street, Camden Town, London, N.W., who first introduced this improved system into England.

Sanitary affairs in Plymouth are stated by the Western Morning News to be in an intensely unsatisfactory state. A large number of complaints have been lodged against the contractors.

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THE Long Room of the London Custom House-one of the largest rooms in London-has recently been ventilated by Messrs. Robert Boyle and Son, ventilating engineers of London and Glasgow, under the direction of her Majesty's Office of Works; the system applied by them being a combination of their well-known air-pump ventilators and vertical tube air-inlets. As the Long Room of the Custom House has long been notorious for being one of the worst ventilated rooms in London, and was officially reported so to be by Professor Faraday and Dr. Else so far back as thirty years ago, considerable interest has been displayed amongst those skilled in sanitary science as to the result of Messrs. Boyle's efforts to remedy the evil. Accordingly, on the completion of the work, a series of experiments were instituted to test the efficiency of the system; these experiments extended over five days, beginning on Wednesday the 5th ult., and terminating on Monday the 9th. A large number of scientists attended those experiments, amongst whom were Dr. B. W. Richardson, F.R.S., Captain Douglas Galton, C.B., F.R.S., Dr. Corfield, Sir John Monckton, Town Clerk, Ernest Turner, Esq., Rogers Field, Esq., C.E., and Bailey Denton, Esq., C.E. The room is 194 feet in length, 60 feet wide, and 54 feet in height, and is lighted by about 200 large argand burners, fixed at about the level of the head. When the gas was lighted, owing to the position of these burners, the heat and sulphurous vapour was intolerable, and the source of great discomfort to the occupants of the room. The heating arrangements consisted of two large double open stove fires placed in the centre of the room. The number of the clerks employed in the room is about 140, and there is a constant influx of the public having business with the department. Messrs. Boyle have fixed six 3 feet diameter air-pump ventilators on the roof, which are connected with the interior of the room by means of an iron shaft 18 inches diameter, led down from each to an opening in the centre of the ceiling, an iron one, of the same diameter as the pipe. These shafts equally divide the ceiling. For the admission of air there are twelve vertical tubes, each 10in. x 8 in., placed in the bays of six of the windows on the south side of the room, and communicating with the outer air through openings 2 ft. × 1 ft. cut in the wall under the centre of each window; these are the only air inlets to the room, as it was not considered advisable to admit air from the north side, taking into consideration the odoriferous character of the atmosphere usually found in Thames Street. On testing the air-tubes, an abundant supply of air was found to be passing into the room.

Proceeding to the roof, the air-pump ventilators were then tested, and on Wednesday were found to be extracting at the rate of 800 cubic feet per minute, making a total for the six of 4,800 cubic feet, or 288,000 cubic feet per hour. The wind was N.E.E., an unfavourable direction for the ventilators, and putting them to a severe test, the air inlets facing the south. On Thursday forenoon the ventilators were extracting 900 cubic feet per minute; total for the six, 5,460 cubic feet, or 324,000 cubic feet per hour; wind in same direction, but strong. Thursday 4.45 p.m., tested by Dr. Richardsonextracting 1,3471⁄2 cubic feet per minute; total for

six, 8,085 cubic feet, or 485,700 cubic feet per hour; wind in same direction, but strong.

Friday, experiments conducted by Prof. Corfield and Mr. Rogers Field. Ventilators extracting 612%2 cubic feet per minute; total for six, 3,675 cubic feet, or per hour 220,500 cubic feet; wind N.E., fluctuating average speed as tested by Mr. Rogers Field, 525 ft. Saturday, experiments conducted by Mr. Ernest Turner, F.R.I.B.A., and Mr. Bailey Denton, C.E. Ventilators extracting 595 cubic feet per minute; total for six, 3,570 cubic feet, or 214,200 cubic feet per hour. Wind N. and very light, the most unfavourable direction for the ventilators, added to which the room was almost air-tight on the north side, on which side alone the wind blew; and Mr. Turner had caused all the air-inlets on the other side to be closed, so that the action of the ventilators under such conditions, and in spite of the enormous fires burning in the room, necessarily causing a great suction towards them and away from the ventilators, was the more remarkable. On comparing the action of the ventilators with the room in this closed state with their action when the inlets were open, a difference of 25 feet per minute only in each ventilator was discernible. The temperature in the room was 60 deg., and outside about 40 deg. On Monday, the 10th, the ventilators, owing to the dull, cold, foggy weather, were put to a most severe test, the instrument showing that the ventilators were each drawing 560 cubic feet per minute, or 3,360 for the six, or 201,600 per hour; and it is interesting to notice in connection with this day that between the hours of seven and eight, when a dense fog prevailed outside, the atmosphere of the Long Room remained quite clear, and continued so throughout the day.

During the whole of the experiments there was not the slightest down-draught discernible in the airpump ventilators, even when all the inlets were closed. All those present at the experiments expressed themselves highly satisfied with the results obtained.

With regard to the improvement which the introduction of Messrs. Boyle's system has effected in the atmosphere of the room, those occupying it testify to the fact in the most marked manner, one gentleman, who has been for over thirty-four years engaged in the room, giving the strong testimony that, compared with the past, the present condition of the room was as Heaven to the nether regions.

Messrs. Robert Boyle and Son are to be congratu lated upon the success they have achieved, and the London Custom House may justly be added by them to the long list of public buildings which they have ventilated in a satisfactory manner.

PORTWAY'S PATENT SLOW COMBUSTION STOVE.

Close stoves have always formed an important item in our heating arrangements, and can scarcely be considered as occupying even a secondary position to the open fire-grate, as their presence is often found necessary in dwelling houses, while the numerous uses to which they are applied, render them of considerable utility. At present, much progress has not been made in producing smoke-consuming stoves of this character, but we fortunately possess several examples, built on the slow combustion principle, of a meritorious character. The close stove appears to us to offer more favourable features for adoption as a smoke consumer than the open fire

grate, and as recent experiments with anthracite coal has proved that many of them will readily burn that fuel, without any alteration in their arrangements, they are, so to speak, at once placed in that category.

A 'line' of stoves that are rapidly increasing in public estimation, are 'Portway's Patent Slow Combustion',very appropriately named 'The Tortoise', invented. and made by Mr. Charles Portway, Halstead, Essex. They have the advantage of being manufactured in several sizes, and of both plain and ornamental designs, which render them suitable for any sized apartment, from a harness room to a place of worship. The smallest, of the plain character which our illustration depicts, is only twenty inches high and nine inches in diameter, but it has

a heating capacity of about 2,000 cubic feet, and may be removed easily by a man from room to room, if required for use in different places. They are simple in construction, the interior, including the bottom, being composed entirely of Stourbridge ware, which gives the greatest amount of heat with the smallest consumption of fuel, the outer parts being of iron. The clay interior is calculated to last several years, and is necessarily the only wearing part, and this can be replaced at any time by an ordinary mechanic, at a trifling cost. By a peculiar flue arrangement, all sulphur fumes are carried off, rendering them perfectly safe for heating conservatories, etc. They are fed from the front towards the top, and the amount of heat is regulated by the bottom door, the smallest sized one burning for many hours without attention, and being built on the slow combustion principle, gives off but a trifling quantity of smoke. Our next

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and at an almost infinitesimal cost.

BARNARD, BISHOP AND BARNARD'S SLOW COMBUSTION STOVES.

Anthracite and

In view of the great interest now attaching to the subject of the combustion of coal and heating of houses, we are preparing an extended review of the famous combustion stoves of Bishop and Barnard, which have just now a reputation stamped by an enormous practical experience of the many thousands who have employed them, as well as by the highest smokeless coal burns perfectly in these stoves, as we awards at various exhibitions. have had occasion to see on more than one occasion, Palace, where a handsome display of these artistic and as may be now witnessed at the Alexandra stoves may be seen in use. We recommend all who are interested in this subject to pay a visit to the Bishop's show-rooms in Queen Victoria Street, Alexandra Palace, or to Messrs. Barnard and where the anthracite may be seen burning in two slow combustion stoves with the utmost perfection.

A BATCH OF INVENTIONS. We have recently inspected a number of useful inventions due to Mr. J. F. Clarke of 49 Moorgate Street, E.C. The first which attracted our attention was his patent self-flushing and water-waste preventing water-closet. The speciality of this is that it is so arranged that when the flap of the seat is raised it locks the water-closet door, by means of a bolt, and at the same time raises the valve, in the supplycistern over it, by means of a cord or chain and pulleys, and fills a flushing-box, which holds just sufficient water to flush the pan. When the flap of the seat is shut, it unfastens the bolt of the door, and also shuts the valve in the supply-cistern and opens the one in the flushing-box, which flushes the pan, so that unless the flap is shut the door cannot be opened; consequently, the pan is flushed each time the water-closet is used.

Another very useful invention is Mr. Clarke's patent portable hydrant for watering and cleansing public thoroughfares, extinguishing fire, and other purposes. These hydrants would be useful to keep at the police and fire escape stations and other places, so that they could be used on the first alarm of an outbreak of fire, without the necessity of waiting the arrival of turncocks or engines.

In passing through Mr. Clarke's varied collection of useful novelties our attention was attracted by some French tiles of compressed concrete with the designs inlaid. The appearance and designs of these tiles leave nothing to be desired, and they have also the special excellencies of perfect level of surface and of margin, intense hardness, and cheapness.

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