No. 20897.—20th March, 1906.—JOHN RENNIE, of Longwood, Victoria, Australia, Carpenter. An improved wire-strainer.

Claim.—In a wire-strainer of the kind described, a frame having at one end a wire-cutter and a guide formed by two depending lugs, and at the other end a jaw provided with a pair of horizontal slots arranged lengthwise of the frame, and with a vertical groove and an operating crank-handle provided with a hammer-head, substantially as and for the purpose set forth, and as illustrated.

(Specification, 3s. ; drawing, ls.)

No. 20934.—31st March, 1906.—HENRY THOMAS RAWNSLEY, of Kaponga, New Zealand, Priest in Holy Orders. An improvement in harness.*

Extract from Specification.—My invention consists in making a trace in two parts, one part being attached to the hames and the other part to the swingletree. The two parts are united together by a spring hook. The breeching-strap is attached to the breeching-ring by another spring hook.

[NOTE.—The above extract from the specification is inserted in place of the claims.]

(Specification, 3s. ; drawing, ls.)

No. 20943.—3rd April, 1906.—HEINRICH MESTITZ and EMIL MESTITZ, trading as S. Mestitz and Son, of Raudnitz a/Elbe, Bohmen, Austria, Manufacturers (assignees of Adolf Hein, of 24 Lansitzerstrasse, Berlin, Germany, Engineer). Improvements in dust-suction apparatus.

Extract from Specification.—The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a cylindrical and portable casing 1, preferably made of sheet metal, which stands on a hollow socle or pedestal 2. A bottom 3 separates the casing 1 from its socle 2. On the bottom 3 are fastened two bellows 4 of a sucking-pump. These bellows are provided with return-valves 5 for producing the sucking-action of the same, arranged on the top and in the bottom of the bellows. The valves in the bottom of the bellows open into tubes 6, which in their turn are connected with a common main tube 7. With this tube 7 is connected a tube 8 with a nozzle 9 provided with a narrow slit, into which enters the dust attracted by the sucking. The bellows 4 are connected through connecting-rods 10 with the bents of a cranked shaft 11, which can be turned by a crank 12. The reservoir or casing 1 is provided, at any suitable place, with a socket 13, with which is connected a filter-bag of fine gauze. At the top the reservoir 1 is closed by a lid 15, which can be turned up or taken off.

[NOTE.—The above extract from the specification is inserted in place of the claims.]

(Specification, 14s. ; drawings, 4s.)

No. 20983.—11th April, 1906.—THE J. P. KARNS TUNNELLING MACHINE COMPANY, a corporation located at Boulder, Colorado, United States of America, Manufacturers (assignees of John Prue Karns, of Boulder aforesaid, President of the said company). Improvements in tunnelling-machines.

Claims.—(1.) In a tunnelling-machine, a revoluble drill-head having central cutting-bits arranged in advance of the main bits. (2.) A drill-head having a forwardly extending central shaft provided with cutting-bits at its end, the rear end of the shaft being rifled, and means arranged close to the rear of the head for engaging the rifled portion of the shaft and turning the same. (3.) The revoluble head having radial slots, and cutting-bits having their rear edges fitted within the slots, the forward face of the head having shoulders bearing against the bits and the rear flanges of the bits provided with bolt-receiving recesses. (4.) The cutting-head having projecting lugs at its periphery and bits extending beyond the periphery of such head and supported by the lugs. (5.) The drill-head supporting shoes having rollers and provided with anti-friction balls for the support of the heads.

(Specification, 8s. 6d. ; drawings, 2s.)

No. 21019.—18th April, 1906.—LUCY HOOKER, of 95, Elizabeth Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Gentlewoman. An improved mantle for incandescent lights.

Claim.—A mantle for incandescent lighting, consisting of a disc of asbestos covered with a textile fabric, a tuft of hemp or other suitable material depending therefrom, and an external mantle or annulus of stockinette, the whole being saturated with a solution of the incandescing earths or minerals in a manner that is well understood, and means for supporting the same over a gas-burner, as specified.

(Specification, 2s. 3d. ; drawing, 1s.)

No. 21045.—27th April, 1906.—ROGER CONNELL, of Westport, Westland, New Zealand, Inventor. Improved means for automatically inflating pneumatic tires.*

Extract from Specification.—My invention differs from similar apparatus heretofore used particularly for the reason that it can be adjusted upon the ordinary casing of an inflation-valve, and that air is forced through the ordinary air-valve casing into the air-tube by the expansion of the air-tube and outer cover. Other differences are the construction-tube and outer cover of the inlet valve at the top of the pump, the flexible plunger-rod, and the means for connecting one end of the rod to the inner tube and the other end to the plunger. A further advantage of my invention is that the pump and plunger-rod can be instantly disconnected, and the ordinary valve replaced in the valve-casing when the tire is in such good condition that continuous pumping is not necessary.

[NOTE.—The above extract from the specification is inserted in place of the claims.]

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

No. 21076.—3rd May, 1906.—DANIEL KLEIN, of Roanoke, Virginia, United States of America, Machinist. Milking-machines.

Claims.—(1.) A milking-machine characterized by a pulsator having air-exhaust and compressed-air connections, and provided with a milk-tube connection, the milk-tube being maintained in connection with the air-exhaust, and a quantity of air being admitted thereto at predetermined intervals without raising the pressure within the tube to that of the atmosphere. (2.) In a machine of the class set forth in claim 1, means for alternately opening communication between the air-exhaust and the milk-tube and between the outer air and the milk-tube, and for closing the outer-air connection in advance of the equalisation of the milk-tube with atmospheric pressure. (3.) In apparatus of the class set forth in claim 1, a pulsator having pressure and vacuum cylinders, a pair of connected pistons arranged in the cylinders, air-exhaust and compressed-air connections leading to the vacuum and pressure cylinders respectively, ports in the vacuum-cylinder, one of the ports leading to the milk-tube and the other to the outer air, and the piston of the vacuum cylinder serving as a valve for placing the milk-tube alternately in communication with the air-exhaust and with the air-inlet port. (4.) In a machine of the class set forth in claim 1, an automatic means for controlling the pressure of air admitted from the air-port to the milk-tube. (5.) In a machine of the class set forth in claim 1, means for retarding the movement of the piston in the direction of the air-exhaust connections, and means for effecting quick return of the piston after momentary opening of the air-port. (6.) In apparatus of the class set forth in claim 1, the fluid-pressure cylinder having a piston, a piston-rod, a valve connected to the piston-rod, a valve for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure into the cylinder, said valve having both inlet and escape ports, an adjustable means for controlling the escape of air through the escape-port, a spring tending to move the valve to its open position, and a trigger for controlling the movement of the valve. (7.) In apparatus of the class set forth in claim 1, a base-plate arranged to form a cover for the milk-receptacle, a casing secured to the base-plate and having upper and lower transparent walls to permit inspection of the contents of the receptacle, a milk-tube leading into said casing, and a suction-tube leading outward from said casing, whereby the rate of flow of the milk may be observed.

(Specification, 14s. ; drawings, 4s.)

No. 21108.—9th May, 1906.—LEWIS HENRY HICKS, of Williamstown, Victoria, Australia, Artificial-limb Maker, and ALEXANDER NOTT COOKE, of Richmond, Victoria aforesaid, Medical Electrician. Improvements in boot and shoe sole toe-clips.

Claims.—(1.) A toe-tip plate composed of thin sheet metal,