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AUTOMATIC SWITCH.-JOHN L. POLK, Me· nands, Albany Co., N. Y. This automatic switch is for use in controlling electric currents, the switch in one of its movements being automatic, and also sluggish in its action. Morp particularly stated a switch is provided having a lever movable by hand in one direction and movable in the opposite direction by the action of a spring and against the cushioning pres· AUTOMATIC SWITCH. sure of a dash pot for the purpose of retarding the movement or rendering it sluggish, the idea being that when the switch lever is in one of its extreme positions it closes one electric circuit and a fcw moments afterward opens that circuit and automatically closes another. A plan view is shown herewith complebe, the lever occupying its extreme position to the left and closing one of the circu its. COLLAPSIBL E HAN DL E CAN .-E. G. CA· NEPA, Portico Vittorio Emanuele, 4A, Genoa, Italy. This invention relates to metallic vessels and cans, the object being to produce an article at cheap price and easily carried by minimizing the space occupied in packing. These results are obtained by forming th,” mouthpiece for pouring the liquid contained in the vessel in the shell of the same, and further by providing a yielding handle which, in packing, can be brought in contact with the body of the can, thus avoiding any projecting part. Of Intel·est to Farmers. FOLDING HAY KNIFE.-L uT HER L. CARR, Chalmers, Ind. The object in this improvement is to provide a novel construction of knife in which the blade can be conveniently folded into the handle so that when the knife is not in actual use, the blade will be housed within and protected by the handle, the han· FOLDING HAY KNIFE. dIe and the blade being so formed that the former operates IS a stop to limit the opening movement of the blade at the proper point and the handle being provided with hand-holds for convenience in manipulating the knife, means being provided for holding the blade to the handle both in the opened and closed portions of the blade. The accompanying view shows the knife with the blade in position for use. GRAIN S EP A R A '1 0 R.-CHARLES G. BRANCH, 1019 North Mosley Street, Wichita, Kan. The purpose of the invention is to provide a device wherein all vibrating parts are eliminated, the grain being separated by car- rielS and the like, thus dispensing with nOise, and eliminating the great strain on the mechanism of vibrating or reciprocating parts. A ve r ti cal longitudinal section Is shown i the engraving. The toothed wheels are very necessary since they thoro uglly beat and shake up the straw so that the grain drops out of the straw. Screens and wheels work to secure cleaning action, thoroughly separating grain and straw, so that only a small portion of grain is passed out through the stack. BALE CARRIER.-EDWARD H. BOEHME, R. F. D. No. 2, Rankin, Ill. A front presentation of a bale carrier patented by Mr. Boehme illustrates this article, and the inventor's object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and easily operated fork especially designed and adapted for lifting material, such as hay, “traw, and the like, in bales, which will firmly hold, during elevation and transportation, a plurality of bales, and which may be easily and quickly engaged with and released from the bales. The levers cannot be disengaged uutil the trip rope is pulled. Of (ene.. al Interest. HOD STAND.-SAMUEL H. M OO RE , Phoenix, Ariz. This invention is an improvement in hod stands for use in holding hods for carry· ng brick or mortar, and the invention has for an object the provision of a novel construction of folding hod stand which can be adjusted to suit any size of mortar or brick1 hod and hold such hod when applied to the stand at any desired angle. In practice the stand may be made of wrought iron of suitable size and dimensions to give the necessary strength for supporting the hod and the device will be found useful for the purpose for which it is designed. The engraving shows a perspective view of the stand as in use, the hod being in position. FOLDING SCAFFOLD.-E. ZAHN, Rhodesia Park, Norwalk, Conn. Mr. Zahn's invention relates to folding scaffolds for general use, his more particular purpose being to provide a simple, strong and efficient scaffold suitable upon the exterior faces of b u il d ing walls and 48 a SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Novcmbcr 25, 1 911 adaptl'd to be let out and drawn through windows or the like. In order to erect the scaftold aK shown in the accompanying illustration. the device is let out through the window, so that the window bar lodges against the inner face of the wall upon opposite sides of th(, window. To take the platform within the building, the floor consisting of boards (shown in dotted lines) is first removed and taken inside. The bar at the top is next grasped and pulled over practically through the window. Honsehold Utilities. IIgAT COOKgR-A. REUBOLD, 1120 Fox Street, Bronx, New York, N. Y. This invention provides an airtight receptacle in which food may be placed, and means for closing this receptacle so that juices and volatile parts of the meat will be retained, thereby preservin, the flavor, preventing shrinkage and increasing its value as an article of food, the ue fOt' which the devil'” is best adapted being the cooking of bone hams and pork shoulders, so as to preserve their flavor, ju..ees and aroma. lachines and Inechanical Devices. V ALVK-J. D. HOBERTSON. 219 South Seeley Street, Chicago, 111. In this case the valve head is 0'[ thimble form and fits .ver and is secured to a cylindrical float filled with huoyant material, as cork, to float the >!lve in water. The valve is movably confined an
