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.
[_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.