Part 10

It so happens that many of my Inventions are of a generic nature, and thus apply to cases which, appearing different, have nevertheless some common properties. The _rule of contraries_ especially applies to many of them,--of which this is an example. It offers a good method of driving a boat through a tunnel, or other confined space, either by the force of steam or any convenient power. To this end a rope laid along the side of such canal, and fixed at each end, or at several intermediate points, might be led between a pair of wheels like those above described; which duly turned, would drive the boat the distance required with the least possible expence of _power_, and _without_ the defect of agitating the water.--But I must not anticipate too much on my intended subjects.

OF A MACHINE _To set on, and suspend, rapid Motions_.

This Invention is under the protection of a Patent. It is applied to the spindles of my spinning machinery called Eagles, from their analogy to the machines named _Throstles_. It is in my opinion an excellent machine; as it secures a mathematical equality of twist to _any_ number of spindles from permitting the use of geering to turn them, which could not have been done without some means of stopping a single spindle. This mechanism (see Plate 19 fig. 1 and 2) consists of a toothed pinion _A_ soldered to the box _B C_, (partly cut down in the figure to shew its contents) and with it running loose on the lower part of the spindle _E D_. In this box are placed two weights _M N_, like that _M_ fig. 2, which both together, fill the box loosely, and, rising above it, are pinned at _O P_ through the spindle. They are moreover kept from quitting the latter by the ring shewn in section at _q q_, which holds them _loosely_, yet prevents their flying away or hurting any one. When now the spindle _E D_, turns swiftly, the centrifugal force of the two weights _M N_, projects them from the centre as far as possible; and they lay hold, by friction, of the cylindrical surface of the box _B C_, and thus _keep_ the revolutions of the spindle to the same number of turns per minute, as the pinion _A_ receives from the driving wheel. But when the spindle is stopped and held by the fly as usual, then the centrifugal force ceases to act, and the box _B C_ does _not_ wear out much, by its further revolutions. And when as before, the spindle is again let loose, _that_ friction which takes place on the bottom of the box sets the spindle running again, when the centrifugal force comes to its aid, so as to unite again the box and the spindle, thus renewing that valuable property of all spinning machinery, the mathematical correctness of its movements.

OF A MACHINE _For forging Screws, Beads, &c._

The effect which this Machine is intended to produce, is analogous to several culinary or officinal processes that might be named. It is called _rolling_: but not in the same sense in which that word is used in manufactories, where _rollers_ form or modify the body acted on. Here this body itself _rolls_ between two surfaces moving different ways and receives from them the desired impressions, and this idea I have extended to _screws_; proposing to _finish_ them on some metals and in some dimensions; and to _rough them out_ in others. The Machine is represented in figs. 6 and 7 of Plate 19, where fig. 7 shews the _faces_ of the arcs _A B_ of fig. 6. By the form and connection of the arms _A C_ and _B D_, these arcs move opposite ways: and since they are grooved obliquely as shewn in fig. 7, if a prepared cylinder of soft metal _a_, be put between them, and the handle _C_ be sharply pressed into the position _A E_, the cylinder _a_ will be made to _roll_, and the grooves of fig. 7 be impressed on it so as to meet and form the screw in question. The only conditions are, that the arc _B A_ be at least equal in length to the circumference of the screw, when finished; and that the grooves (fig. 7) be rightly sloped, and have the _form_ intended to be given to the threads of that screw. It will occur of course, that the opening between the arcs at the point where the blank cylinder is introduced, must be larger than the distance between the arcs by the whole depth of the threads to be impressed: which therefore will begin to be formed at two opposite points the moment the screw _a_ begins to roll. This however, might and would be otherwise, if it were thought best to form the arcs _A B_ spirally; and let the deepening process be gradual: in which latter case another consideration would occur, namely; that the grooves themselves (see fig. 7) must diverge a little instead of being parallel, so as to permit the screw to lengthen as the pressure should displace a part of the metal. In all cases the upper surface of the grooves should be _milled_ so as to lay hold of the soft metal, and insure the rolling motion: and should this material be hot-iron, the stroke should be taken in an instant, and the machine be kept cool by every proper method, in the intervals of working.

I need not add that this rolling process would be still easier performed, if the impressions to be made were circular and _not_ oblique: such as beads, balls, &c. but these considerations I leave to my readers.

OF A DIFFERENTIAL STEEL-YARD, _To weigh vast Weights with short Levers_.

Plate 19, figs. 8 and 9, offers two representations of this Machine--one intended to shew its manner of acting, and the other _one_ of its practical forms. By means of the first, (fig. 8) we may compare it with the common steel-yard; and even shew the latter as a part of the former. If a weight, or load to be weighed _M_, were suspended to the arm _A B_, and the counter-weight _W_, placed at the point _C_, of the arm _A C_, we should have a common steel-yard whose power would be as 5 to 1: for the arm _A B_ is just 1/5 of the arm _A C_, and this is the principle on which steel-yards are commonly made. But instead of this, my steel-yard _G E B D C H_ fig. 8, is now infinitely powerful: so much so indeed, as to be infinitely useless. If millions of pounds were now to be suspended at _P_, they would not raise the weight _W_ one tittle, for they hang _entirely_ on the point of suspension _A_. But although the Machine is _now_ useless, it can be altered in a moment and made both useful and commodious; only I thought its principle would be the better understood from being thus shewn _in excess_. To make it a useful and powerful Instrument, I only move the hanging bar _D G_, to _a b_; and the bar _E B_ to _c d_, the lever _b d_ being similar to that _E G_. In this state of things, the whole load _P_ is found at the point _o_ of the lever _B H_, (for the lever-arms _c o_ and _d e_, and those _e b_, and _a o_ are equal) and the power of this steel-yard is as the line _A C_ to the line _A o_; that is as 20 to 1, instead of being as 5 to 1 which it before was. But this is not _yet_ a powerful Machine; being chiefly intended to shew the principle on which it acts--and to prove that however small the distance _A o_, that distance, dividing the arm _A C_, gives the real power of the steel-yard. And supposing now the arm _A C_ to be four feet in length, and the distance _a D_, _B c_, and _A o_, to be 1/10 of an inch, then the power of the weight _w_ to raise (or weigh) the load _P_ is as 48 inches to 1/10 of an inch, or as 480 to 1: so that if the weight _w_ were 10lbs. this steel-yard would weigh 4800lbs. or upwards of two tons; and it is easy to see that this power can be almost indefinitely extended.

Fig. 9 of this Plate shews a real steel-yard made on this principle; the power of which, under its present length, is as 40 to 1. In this Machine all the centres are fixed: and the load is suspended on knife-edges, the distances of which from each other and from the common centres are invariable--as they _must_ be in all instruments of this nature.

OF A RETROGRAPH, _Or a Machine to write backwards, for Engravers_.

This Machine is exhibited in the two figures 10 and 11 of Plate 19. It is composed of a straight ruler _A B_, having an exactly dove-tailed mortice made along it, to receive the rollers, (or slides) by means of which the parallelogram _C D E_ _F_ slides up and down in this mortice. This parallelogram is composed of four rulers _C D_, _D E_, _E F_, and _F C_, connected by cannons or tubes fixed to every-other arm: and on which the contiguous rulers turn very correctly. Through which moreover, in two cases, _F D_ the drawing pencils are introduced, and under which in other two cases, _C_ and _E_, the guide rollers already mentioned are nicely fixed by the screws on which they turn. This is seen by an elevation in fig. 10, where _p_ marks one of these rollers, and _o q_ the end of the ruler supposed fixed to the paper by proper blunt points, &c. At _r_ is seen one of the tubes which form the joints _C_ and _E_: and _r t_, are, one the writing pen, and one the retrographic style or pencil. Fig. 11 is a plan of the whole Machine: where if the hand guiding the pen _D_ goes upward, the tracer _F_ rises too. But if the pen or hand _D_ moves to the right, the tracer moves to the left at the same moment. In a word this is to write backward in the sense of engravers, who thus write that their letters may proceed forward after _one_ impression.

If it were desirable to give the engraver the same facility he has in the use of a pen, the tracer _t_, fig. 10, would be terminated above as a hollow conical cup, into which he would introduce a pointed style held as a pen. In this case the tracer _t_, would be made as short or _low_ as possible, to bring the style so much the nearer to the paper; and thus to prevent all anomalous movements.

OF AN EYE MACHINE, _Or Machine for making the Eyes of Hooks and Eyes_.

If it were enquired why this Machine is offered to the public without the Hook Machine; the answer would be, this only is _finished_: and it is wished to present nothing here that admits even a doubt of its utility. The drawings given in Plate 20, figs. 1, 2 and 3, are more intended to be useful in the construction of this Machine than complete in _appearance_: so that nothing has been done by way of shading, but what it was thought would the better distinguish the parts from each other, and facilitate their assemblage in one effective Machine. The Machine consists first of a slide _A B_, (worked by a lever-handle, a crank, or any proper first motion.) It glides between two cheeks _C D_, (see the _end_ view in fig. 1) connected with the several parts about to be mentioned. This slide is marked _A B_ in all the three figures. It carries (by means of the screws _a b_, coming through the slits _c d_, in the main Plate _E F_) a plate _g_, the chief use of which is to support a tumbler _e_, whose use is to throw the eye, when made, from the machinery: which tumbler is kept to its work by the spring _i_, as will be further explained presently. This slide itself has a peculiar form at the end _B_, (fig. 2) which is shewn by dotted lines at _c d_ in fig. 1. It is a slit, with the corners rounded off for the purpose of working the springs _now_ to be described. These springs _m n_, (see fig. 2) are fixed to a _cock_, itself screwed behind the main plate: and they come through the latter to the _left-hand-ends_ of the small curved mortices seen (with the springs) at _m n_ fig. 1. The slide _A B_ then, with its forked end shewn by the dotted lines at _c d_, is destined to take the springs _m n_ and carry them to _r s_, where they are _now_ seen surrounded by the eye _almost_ formed: for in this motion these springs take the wire (shewn by the lines dotted _across_ the Machine and previously _cut_ by the sheers _u_) and meeting with the obstacles _t v_, being the thicker parts of the clams _t v w_, they bend it into the form _r s_--when the screws _a b_ lay hold of the sloping ends of the clams _c t w v d_, and squeeze them together; by which operation the hooks _t v_ finish the _eye_, by rolling its two ends round the springs _m n_ now in the position _r s_. Where note, that the slit _c d_ of the slide _A B_ is so formed as, when it has carried these springs _m n_ to _r s_, to slide forward without doing any thing more to them, while closing the clams. It performs, however, some other less important operations, to which it is now necessary to allude: among other things this slide works the sheers _u_ that cut the wire, and _that_, by means of the doubly wedged hook _x_, which goes back with the plate _G_, doing nothing: but which by the action of its springs fixed at _a_, falls _under_ the sloping end of the sheers _u_; and, when the slide, by the screw _b_, carries it to the right hand, raises the end _x_ of the sheers _u_, and cuts the wire near _v_, to prepare it for the operations already described. The part _y_ in the two figs. 1 and 2, is the other cheek of the sheers fixed by screws to the main plate, and covered by a small plate _z_, in which a _nick_ is cut to form a passage for the wire, and present it to the sheers, that they may cut it to the proper length, after having directed it right across the springs _r s_, then placed by their elasticity at _m n_. It hardly need be added that a _stop_ is placed at _o_, to determine the length of the wire so as to form the eye complete, and not to admit more wire than is sufficient; all which is regulated between the sheers and the _stop_, by proper adjusting screws, which it is very easy to suppose or supply.

Fig. 3 is intended chiefly to shew the mechanism by which the eye, when finished, is thrown off the pin round which it is bent by the springs _m n_. It consists of a _tumbler_ _e_, placed in a mortice in the end of the plate _g_, and kept to a given position by the pressure of the spring _i_. When the slide _A B_ is carried forward, toward _E_, to perform the operations already noticed, this tumbler _e_, gives way to the angle _G_ of the _doffing lever_ _m G_, (this lever being shewn also between _c m_ & _d n_ in fig. 1) and rides towards _m_ without producing any effect either on the plate _G_ or the lever _m G_: but when it has once passed the said angle _G_, it cannot go again toward _F_ without depressing smartly the end _G_ of that lever, and thereby raising the end _m_, thus starting the eye from the stud _m_, round which it had been bent by the processes above described.

At the right of fig. 1 near _F_, is an object, the use of which is too evident to need description. It is a double spring for the purpose of keeping the _hooks_ _c t w v d_ pressed against the pins, near _t v_, which determine the position of the said hooks; and the degree of _bend_ first given to the wire by passing the points _t v_.

There are some less important parts and operations left undrawn, in order to prevent confusion in the figures: but they are such as would strike any person having the above under his eye. In a word I have done what I thought best to aid the construction of this Instrument:--which is represented at two thirds of its natural size--but whose dimensions, of course, would vary with that of the objects to be produced by it.

OF A VENTILATOR, _Rotatory yet by pressure_.

By this title I wish to distinguish this Ventilator from all such as act by the mere centrifugal force of the air: and to make this distinction the more palpable, I would add that _this_ Machine acts like a pump, that is by means of a space alternately contracted and expanded, into which the air enters, and from which it is expelled _by force_ as water is from a pump. The means are the following: _A B_ (fig. 4 of Plate 20) is a hollow cylinder, of a diameter proportioned to the effect wanted to be produced. _C_ is a cylinder closed at both ends, which fills that just mentioned as far as the length goes, excepting _a play_ of about 1/8 of an inch. This interior cylinder revolves in the former; but _not_ on its own centre. It revolves on an axis _E_ eccentric to itself, but exactly concentric with the outer cylinder _A B_. The centre therefore, of the inner cylinder _C_, describes a circle within the outer one, which is always parallel to its circumference. On the axis _of motion_ of this cylinder _C_, and outside of that _A B_, are fixed two cranks _E F_ fig. 5, which exactly reach from its centre of motion to its centre of figure: so that whatever circle the latter describes _in_ the large cylinder, the former describe the same line _without it_. And hence any slide or valve _D_, driven by these cranks, will always touch, or be equally near, the circumference of that interior cylinder _C_. The valve _D_ then, worked by the bars _G_ from without, forms a constant separation between the right and left hand parts of the _lunular_ space left between the fixed and moveable cylinders; and if the latter turns from _C_ by _B_ to _D_, the right hand space _C B G_ is the _plenum_, and the left hand space _C A D_ is the vacuum of this Instrument; or in other words the air will flow _in_, through the passage _H_, and flow _out_ through the passage _I_: and by a contrary motion of _C_, it would do the contrary--but I prefer the first process because any pressure within the valve _D_ is not liable, then, to press the valve upon the drum _C_, and produce contact and friction; which in the second case it might do. Suffice it to add, that the quantity of air displaced at each revolution of _C_ round its centre of motion, is the difference between the area of the drum _C_ and that of the cylinder _A B_: and that its quantity at each part of the revolution is proportionate to the curvilinear triangle _G B_, multiplied by the length of either cylinder.

In the prospectus, this Machine was said to be good as “a gas meter,” which I still think it is. For such a purpose however, _friction and eccentricity of weight_ should be obviated, by placing the axis _E_, _in a perpendicular position_: when I doubt not it would measure flowing gas better than many of the machines that have been proposed for that purpose.

OF A COMBINATION OF WHEELS _To raise Water_.

This _mode_ of raising water in its simplicity, is I think called the Persian wheel. The buckets hang upon centres, dip in the _under_ water, fill themselves there, and by meeting an obstacle above which turns the buckets aside, they empty themselves into the upper _back_, from which the water is conveyed to the general reservoir prepared for it. This present Machine is such an extension of the above principle as to make it applicable to considerable degrees of elevation, and to many situations where a single wheel would be of no service. Having observed that in every _train of wheels_, the circumferences of any two wheels, have motions _towards_ each other, as well as _from_ each other; I perceived that, in a vertical train, this circumstance might be laid hold of to compose a machine for raising water. Be therefore, (Plate 21, fig. 1) _A B C D_ four of a set of wheels thus intended: on the left of the lowest wheel the buckets move _upward_, as indicated by the arrow; while those at _B_ move downward, coming thus to meet the former. The buckets _A_ are full, and those _B_ are empty; and as the latter, by the motions of the _equal_ toothed wheels on which they are hung will infallibly meet the former, and even plunge into them at _I K_ and _L_, it is only to put a _clack_ of leather or a valve, in the bottom of _all_ the buckets, and we have a machine that will raise water to the top-most wheel, be it ever so high, and there the water will be poured out into the vessel _M_, as in the common Persian wheel above alluded to. On this principle the first change of buckets will take place at _I_; where the lower bucket belonging to the wheel _B G_ will take the water from the upper bucket of the wheel _A H_; when the bucket _I_ will go down, nearly empty, by _H_ and fill itself again in the under water; But the bucket of the wheel _B G_ having now _got_ the water, will rise by _G_ to _K_, where another bucket belonging to the wheel _C F_ will come empty, and plunging itself into _that_, take its water and go upward by way of _C_ to _L_, where a similar change will take place and the water from _L_ will rise by _E_ to _M_, into which vessel it will be poured by the _canting_ of the bucket as seen in the figure. Thus it appears that any number of toothed wheels geering together, surrounded with buckets _valved_ at bottom, and receiving power from any one of their number, will raise simply and effectually a quantity of water _not small_ in proportion to the power employed, and by means that promise great durability to the Machine.

OF AN ECCENTRIC BAR PRESS, _For clearing wetted goods of Water_.

This press (see Plate 21, fig. 2) is indefinitely powerful. It was invented for the use of my late beloved brother, then contractor with government for cleansing the sea bedding. It is composed of a centre piece _A_, strongly fixed to a post in the ground, the bars _A B_ _A C_ being suspended above it, so as to remain horizontally moveable, while describing 1/4 of a revolution round the general centre _A_. The blankets (or other goods) are put into the space _s_, (on a net nailed _under_ the bars) while in the position _A B_; and the whole is then thrown with force towards _B C_; the length _A C_ being so calculated as to cease pressing at the desired moment: for such is the _power_ of this Machine, even without this projectile force, that were the stress not moderated, nothing could remain whole under its operation. It is clear however, that, when this operation _begins_ at _s_, the relative motion of the jaws _s_ and _B_ is assignable, and even visible, as shewn by the dotted circles; but as the whole approaches toward _B C_ that relative motion becomes insensible, the circles parallel, and consequently the power infinite: which is all I shall say on the theory of this Machine.

OF A COLOUR MILL, _For Calico Printers_.

This Machine is delineated in fig. 3 of Plate 21. It has several properties which I think important in the process of grinding colours, either in a wet state or a dry. It consists of a frame _A B_, which has a hollow centre, through which the axis of the bevel wheel _C D_ is brought in such manner as to geer with the bevel pinion _P_, in whatever position the frame _A B_ may be placed. The axis of the pinion _P_ carries a vessel _of which_ _E F G_ _is a section_, and in which rolls a well turned and heavy ball _H_, _upon_ the colour to be ground: which it crushes in the line of direction of its centre, and to a greater or lesser _width_ according to the diameter of the ball, as compared with the section of the groove _E G_, in which it rolls. Now as the motion of the vessel _E G F_, is oblique to the perpendicular, the contact between it and the ball does _not_ take place in any great circle of the latter: but is constantly varying by a twist in its motion dependent upon the angle of the vessel’s inclination to the horizon. From hence arises the _impossibility_ of any colour remaining on the ball unground: and in order likewise, that none may remain uncrushed in any part of the vessel _E F G_, the frame _A B_ gives it constantly new positions, _one_ of which is represented by the dotted lines _I K_: where it is seen that the ball bears on a different line of the vessel’s bottom than it did before. This also adds still greater change of action to the ball itself, and occasions (taking both these properties together) an unbounded variety of effect, which necessarily brings every particle of colour under the ball by the mere continuance of motion: and thus grinds it all without any care on the part of the attendants. It may be added, that this vibrating motion of the frame _A B_, is easily made to result from an eccentric stud and proper connecting rods behind the frame; all which is too easy to require further description.