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Under this heading we shall publish weekly notes of some of the more prominent home and foreign patents. Self-Acting Shackle and Car Brake.—Lyman Alphonzo Russell, Shrewsbury, Vt.—This invention relates to improvements in self-acting shackles and car brakes, and consists in an improved connection of the brakes with the shackle, for automatic operation, whereby the connection may be readily so adjusted that the brakes will not be set in action as when required to back up the train. Feed Bags for Horses.—W. A. Hough, South Butler, N. Y.—This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in feed bags for horses, and consists in making the bag self-supplying, by means of one or more reservoirs, the discharge orifices of which reservoirs are closed by a valve or valves. Truss.—Adam Hinoult, Montgomery, N. Y.—This invention has for its object to furnish an improved truss, which shall be so constructed as to yield freely to the various movements of the body of the wearer, while holding the rupture securely in place. Governor for Steam Engines.—Charles A. Conde, Indianapolis, Ind.—This invention relates to a new method of regulating the movement of the balls of a steam governor, with a view of adjusting the same in proportion to the increased or diminished centrifugal force. Circular Saw Guard.—G. W. Shipman, Ischua, N. Y.—This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in means for protecting the operator and others, near running circular saws, from injury, and it consists in a movable guard, operated by means of the saw carriage, in such a manner that, during the period of danger (when the saw is not cutting), the guard covers the saw, and is thrown back from the saw when the latter is in actual use. Carpet-cleaning Machine.—J. C. Craft, Baltimore, Md.—This invention relates to a machine, through which a carpet may be passed, and so beaten and brushed, during its passage, as to come out of the machine thoroughly cleansed. The invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of beaters and brushes for effecting this result. Combined Cotton and Corn Planter.—L. A. Perrault, Natchez, Miss.—This invention relates to improvements in machinery for planting seed, and consists in a combination, in one machine, of a seed-dropping apparatus, adapted for corn, and another adapted for cotton, in a manner to utilize one running gear for the two kinds of seed, and thereby save the expense of separate gear for each. Lime Kiln.—T. A. Kirk, Kansas City, Mo.—This invention has for its object to furnish an improved lime kiln, which shall be so constructed as to enable the kiln to be worked from the front, in firing and in drawing the lime and ashes, which will not allow cold or unburnt rock to pass through, and which will consume its own smoke. Car Brake.—S. D. Tripp, Lynn, and Luther Hill, Stoneham, Mass.—This invention relates to improvements in railroad car brakes, and consists in an arrangement, on the locomotive or tender, of a steam cylinder and piston, and the arrangement, on the cars, in connection with the brakes, of sliding rods, so that the rod of the car next to the engine or tender, being moved backwards by the piston rod of the above cylinder, will bring the brakes of the rear wheels down upon them, as well as the brakes of the tender, and slacken the speed thereby, so that the rear projecting end of the brake rod will come in contact with the rod of the next car, and set its brakes in action in like manner, and so on, throughout the train. The arrangement of the said brake actuating rods is such that no matter which end of the car is foremost, the wheels of one track will be acted on by the brakes. Combined Ruler, Blotter, and Paper Cutter.—Hugh S. Ball, Spartanburgh, S. C.—This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a combined ruler, blotter, and paper cutter, three articles indispensable for the desk, combined in one. Reed for Organs and Melodeons.—Augustus Newell, Chicago, Ill.—The object of this invention is to so construct the tongue-butts, or shanks, of musical reeds, that the same cannot, during the vibratory motion of the tongues, be raised from their seats. Anti-Friction Compound.—Victory Purdy, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.—This invention relates to a new and useful compound for lubricating railroad car axle journals, and other journal bearings. Queries. [We present herewith a series of inquiries embracing a variety of topics of greater or less general interest. The questions are simple, it is true, but we prefer to elicit practical answers from our readers, and hope to be able to make this column of inquiries and answers a popular and useful feature of the paper.] 1.—Emery Wheels.—Can I make emery wheels similar to those used in a foot lathe, that will answer for sharpening fine tools, such as gouges, rounds, and hollows, and if so, how shall I proceed?—F. W. 2.—Boiler Furnace.—I have two boilers, twenty-four feet long and four feet in diameter each, with five ten-inch flues. The fire passes under the boiler, and enters the flues at the back end, passes through the flues, and enters the smoke stack at the front end. I use hard pine wood for fuel. Will some of your many readers give me the best way of constructing the flue under the boiler, from the end of the grate bars to where it enters the flues at the back end, and also state the proper distance from the back wall to the end of the boiler?—N. H. 3.—Medal Casts.—I have some medals which I should like to copy. Having tried several times, and failed, I thought that I would ask advice through your query columns. I do not know of what the medals are manufactured. They are, I suppose, made to imitate bronze. I have tried casting them in plaster of Paris molds, but have had very poor success, as the surface of the medals was covered with small holes. The metal used was lead and antimony, seven to one. I should like to know, if there be any metal that I can cast them of, and bring out the bronze color afterwards, or if there be any metal that I can cast them of, and afterwards color by some solution. Also, of what should I make my molds?—J. E. M. 4.—Removing the Taste of Tar from Rain Water.—Will some of your correspondents tell me if rain water, which runs off a gravel roof, and tastes very strongly of tar, is unhealthy, and if there be anything that will prevent its tasting, as it is very disagreeable for cooking purposes?—C. E. H. 5.—Sorghum Molasses.—How can I separate the molasses from the sugar, in sorghum sugar mush, to make a dry merchantable sugar? 6.—Flux for Aluminum.—Will some of your readers tell me, through your columns, the best flux to use in melting and mixing aluminum and copper? |