Sept. 21.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 2307

the value of the coin placed in the machine. The quantity of gas obtained by means of the machine is determined by the height to which the worm 1 is raised upon its column 2, the flow of the gas being utilised to revolve the column 33 and cause the downward descent of the worm, which then operates mechanism to cut off the supply of gas.

[NOTE.—The above extracts from the specification are inserted in place of the claims.]

(Specification, £1 6s.; drawings, 6s.)

No. 19728.—13th July, 1905.—HORACE JOHN BAKER HARDING, of Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, Watchmaker and Jeweller. Improvements in numerical recording machines specially applicable for election voting.

Extracts from Specification.—A numerical recording machine constructed according to this invention has presser bars or plungers, referred to as “plungers,” each to be operated in voting for any candidate to actuate a “counter” or group of revolving dials or drums bearing numbers on each of said dials or drums for the units, tens, hundreds, thousands as well understood. Such machine has also a controlling-lever and warning-mechanism, all these being contained in a shell or cover with the plungers and controlling-lever protruding therethrough. The plungers pass through the casing and have movement against rods or bars adapted to slide in a bed or groove and to limit the number of votes castable, and hereinafter called “limiting-slides.” There is one of these slides to each plunger, though the series of them are placed end to end to form one continuous rod, hereinafter referred to as the “limiting-rod,” the whole being retained in normal rear position by a spring or springs. The limiting-slides have upon their faces projections or pins against which engages a V or wedge-shaped striking-piece upon the plungers when a plunger is depressed, thus forcing forward all the slides forwardly of it. As soon as the striking-piece is lower than the pin on its limiting-slide said slide escapes and the springs return the limiting-rod to normal position. At the same time a spring catch engages over the top of said striking-piece and holds the plunger in its lowermost position in the case of casting a single vote, or in the case of plural voting (no plumping allowed) the plunger cannot be released until the controlling or releasing lever is operated as explained by the presiding or other officer in charge or otherwise. The plunger is allowed to regain its normal position after being released, being raised thereto by means of a spring. In the case of plural voting (plumping allowed) the beforementioned spring catch is held out of action by an appropriate device, and the plunger recovers its normal position by the action of said spring. In both plural and single voting each limiting-slide (except the most forward one) has fixed on its forward end a block or stop which passes freely under the striking-piece of the more forward plunger when this plunger is in normal position. . . . The forward end of the limiting-rod has an arm reaching to the limiting-wheel, and this arm carries a limit-pawl adapted to engage a spring-toothed wheel, called the “limiting-wheel,” which has a drum containing a spring to insure the return of said wheel to normal position when it is released as set forth. As each plunger is operated, or each time one plunger is operated, the limit-pawl moves said wheel to the extent of one tooth, and this wheel is retained in such advanced position by means of a spring catch or retaining-pawl adapted to be released by the movement of the controlling and releasing lever. In voting, as the last allowed vote is cast a stop or post on said limiting-wheel, referred to as the “operating-post,” and which is adjusted according to the number of votes allowed, operates a sliding rod parallel to the arbor of the counters, called the “engaging-rod.” This engaging-rod carries discs, or tappets, or arms to engage with one end of spring levers, called the “clutch-levers,” the other end of each of which clutch-levers takes into a boss on the actuating or unit wheel of its counters. As the engaging-rod is moved along it operates the clutch-levers, thus moving the actuating-wheels of all the counters within the paths of pawls on the lower end of the plungers, so that as a depressed plunger actuated by its return spring is recovering its normal position the pawl thereon engaging with the actuating-wheels of the counters moves the unit drum or disc one-tenth of a revolution, or, say, one number or one vote. The movement of this engaging-rod carries a disc or tappet thereon over or past a spring catch or hook on a lock cam or tumbler pivoted on the frame of the machine and adapted to be operated by one member of the controlling and releasing lever so that as this cam or tumbler is moved against the disc or tappet on the engaging-rod it prevents the return of the said engaging-rod, and thus holds the actuating-wheels of the counters in operative position or within the influence of the pawls on the plungers. When said controlling and releasing lever is operated to disengage the retaining-pawl from the limiting-wheel (to allow said wheel to return to its normal predetermined position) this lock cam or tumbler is removed from the disc or tappet on the engaging-rod so that said rod will be returned to normal position by the action of the springs of the clutch-levers removing the actuating-wheels of the counters from operative position. In single voting or in plural voting (no plumping allowed), as this controlling and releasing lever is operated it engages a stop on one of the series of limiting-slides and moves them all backwardly just sufficient to cause the rear end of the front blocks or stops on these limiting-slides to push a spring catch off the striking-piece of each of the plungers so that their springs may return them to their normal position ready for action again. In plural voting (plumping allowed) these last-mentioned spring catches are all held by a continuous holding-rod, or individually by a screw or other device clear of the striking-pieces, and the engaging-rod is locked so that the actuating-wheels of the counters are normally in operative position. As the last available vote is cast a warning-bell is sounded by a hammer being released by the operating stop or post on the limiting-wheel lifting a spring or drop-catch while said hammer is again engaged by the operation of the controlling or releasing lever. The arbor upon which the limiting-wheel revolves extends across the width of the machine, having bearing in brackets fastened to the bed of the machine. On this arbor is a wheel or disc bearing numbers, referred to as the “regulating-wheel,” with one of its numbers visible through an orifice in the casing and denoting the number of votes allowed. This number may be alterably fixed by means of a set-screw through the frame taking into orifices in a companion disc affixed to the arbor of the regulating-wheel, and so regulating or adjusting the position of a regulating fixed stop or post on said regulating-wheel. A second controlling stop or post on the limiting-wheel will be arrested against this regulating stop-vote post on the spring-actuated return movement of said limiting-wheel when it is freed from its holding catch or pawl on operation of the releasing or controlling lever. Instead of being alterably fixed, the number of votes might be changeable—that is, the number might be changed for each elector having different qualifications, in which case a spring lever or other holding-device with a point or stop engages in the orifices in the companion disc of the regulating-wheel, which latter is actuated or partially revolved by the presiding officer by means of a key on its arbor extending through the casing.

[NOTE.—The above extracts from the specification are inserted in place of the claims.]

(Specification, £1 2s.; drawings, 4s.)

No. 19748.—17th July, 1905.—THOMAS RICHARD MOSES, of Christchurch, New Zealand, Bootmaker. An improved draught and dust excluder for doors.*

Claim.—A draught and dust excluder for doors consisting in the combination with a roller placed upon the floor against or near to the lower edge of a door of inverted hooks secured in the door and partly embracing the roller, a stud in the door at one end of the roller, and a spring upon its other end, as specified and for the purposes set forth.

(Specification, 1s. 6d.; drawing, 1s.)

No. 19756.—19th July, 1905.—JAMES THOMAS HUNTER, of Queen’s Chambers, Wellington, New Zealand, Registered Patent Agent (nominee of Maurice Leblanc, of Villa Montmorency, Auteuil, Paris, France, Engineer). Improvements in refrigerating-apparatus.

Claims.—(1.) In an ice-machine of the kind in which the reduction of temperature is obtained by the partial evaporation of water in a vacuum, creating and maintaining the vacuum by means of a steam-ejector exhausting into a vacuum condenser or a series of steam-ejectors in tandem, the last of which exhausts into a vacuum condenser, substantially as set forth. (2.) An ice-machine comprising a refrigerating vacuum chamber, means for the gradual introduction of water into said chamber, and a steam-ejector or series of steam-ejectors in tandem exhausting into a vacuum condenser, substantially as described with reference to the drawings. (3.) The ice-machines shown in the drawings.

(Specification, 3s. 6d.; drawing, 1s.)

No. 19757.—19th July, 1905.—The Honourable CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, of Heaton Works, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland, England, Engineer. Improvements in the production of high vacua and in cooling by evaporation.

Claims.—(1.) Combining two or more vacuum intensifiers to work in series, with or without intermediate coolers, for