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Oi,d Fabrics Made into New.L. F. Vandelin, of London, patentee.The operation of converting old fabrics into fibres for being again employed in manufacturing woven goods has been hitherto performed on such fabrics whilst in a dry state, by which means the fibres were in a great measure injured or destroyed. The loss resulting from this process the patentee now proposes to obviate by operating on the fabrics whilst wet, so as to enable the fibres composing them to be drawn out or untwisted, instead of being broken, as heretofore. The materials are cut into pieces of from 2 to 8 inches square, an fc subjected to the action of machinery which is similar to that used by paper-makers, two beating wheels and plates of teeth being provided in the same trough, and a stream ot water kept constantly flowing through it. When operating on silk rags, the water should be used at a temperature of about 80 degrees, when a small quantity of soft soap may be advantageously introduced into it. In conclusion, the patentee state that the mode of operating may be varied, so long as the peculiar character of the invention, that ot treating old fabrics in water so as to separate their fibres into a state to be again used with other fabrics by spinning and weaving be retained. Nsw Gutta Percha Composition.Alfred H. Gaullie, Paris, patentee.This improved composition is formed by mixing together equal parts of gutta percha and of Roman cement reduced to a pasty consistence with ox-gall. The operation of mixing is to be performed while the gutta percha is in a heated and plastic state, and the two ingredients must be well masticated so as to cause them to combine intimately together. Any kind of coloring matter may be combined with the materials according to the effect desired to be produced. Working Steam Expansively.John H. Johnson, of Glasgow, patentee.The improvement has a relation to working steam expansively, and consists in arranging the cylinders of an .engine in such a manner that after the steam has acted by high pressure on a piston of small area, it is admitted alternately into two larger cylinders, whose pistons it shall move by its expansion, but the stroke of whick shall be only half the length of the high pressure cylinder. [At the present day there are many improvements in steam engines which look like marching backwards in the history of invention. Tanneks' Geease.William Tanner, Exeter, Eng., patentee. (Well named.) These improvements consist in using blubber combined with cod liver oil tor dressing leather. The blubber is first melted by the application of heat, which should not exceed 130 to 140 degrees Fah., and an equal quantity of cod liver oil is then introduced, and well-stirred in order to incorporate it thoroughly. The mixture should be used at a temperature of about 70 to 80 deg. Fah., and well stirred previous to removing any portion of it from the vessel in which it is contained. For ihick skins, the proportion of blubber must be reduced, as they do not so readily absorb She mixture as thinner ones, for dressing which a larger proportion of blubber than ;hat above stated may be employed. Napping Cloth.Wm. Murdock, of Hol-3orn, Eng., patentee.This improvement consists in subjecting milled or fulled woolen fabrics to an operation of beating, whereby the exterior fibres will be brought to an upright josition, forming a pile, which is to be reduced to a uniform length by shearing. The seating is performed by rods striking the fabric across its length whilst in a wet state ; ind as the pile is only raised on each side of ihe part struck by the rodj care must be taken to ehitt the fabric gradually, so as to bring a fresh portion of it constantly under the action jf the beating-rod. The operation may be repeated it the pile is not sufficiently raised y a single treatment. Condensed and selected from the ' London ixpositor," " Mechanics' Magazine," " Arti-an," "Repertory of Inventions," and " Genie ndustriel," Paris.
