Part 13

The figures 2 and 3, are two views of the upper part of the Machine. They shew, and mark with the same letters, the cross bar _a b_, the inside of the screws, and the circular plates _o p_, together with the circular conducting plate of which _q q_, fig. 1, is the section. Fig. 3 shews the fixed wheel _m n_, the two screw-wheels _i k_, the cross piece _a b_, and under them the plates _o p_ of the 1st. and 2d. figure.

One other object claims our attention: The threads of the screws (whether more or less numerous) should each be furnished with a valve at bottom: that the water may _not_ run out when the Machine ceases working.

OF A FORGING MACHINE, _For Bar Iron, Steel, &c. square or figured_.

This Machine acts by pressure instead of percussion. But this pressure is so instantaneous as to resemble a blow, and so often repeated as to produce a considerable effect in a short time. The means are represented in fig. 4 of Plate 25.

There, _A_ is a mass of metal answering the purpose of an anvil, but having two surfaces, situated at or nearly at right angles to each other, on which the metal is alternately struck or compressed. The two sides of this mass _A_, are perforated by two holes, properly _bushed_, in which turn the crank shafts _B_, _C_: the latter furnished with the bevil wheels _D_, _E_, which geer into and receive motion from two _equal_ bevil wheels _F_, _G_, fixed on the main shaft _H I_, and to which the power is applied. It is thus evident that the two crank shafts _B_, _C_, will make the same number of revolutions; and that if one of the rollers _K_, _L_, is placed on the excentric arm of one shaft, and the other roller on the other (their position being as in the figure) that then the rollers _K L_ will impinge alternately on any bar, held in the angle _M_, and forge or extend it, and finally leave it reduced to the same dimensions, in it’s whole length, if, by hand or proper machinery, the bar has been drawn or pushed along the angle _M_, in a manner analogous to this motion at the tilt hammer. It is also clear, that the size of the bar will be determined on a given Machine, by the diameters of the rollers _K L_, compared with the distance of the shafts from the angle _M_ of the anvil.

It may be of use to observe, that the effect of this Machine is not confined to square bars: since with unequal rollers _K L_, it will produce flat bars; and with rollers properly grooved, (the piece _M_ being formed accordingly) it will produce round iron or steel of better texture (I presume) than when taken from the slitting-mill, and merely passed through grooved rollers. I expect, at all events, a _rapid_ effect, from four or five hundred turns of the cranks per minute.

It will occur to every mechanical reader, that the mass _M_, which is tempered and adjusted to the principal anvil _A_, may be still more varied in form, so as to give other results besides those above anticipated. Nor need it be said, that the shafts _B C_ might run in steps capable of being _screwed up to their work_, even during the process, should any such motion be expedient. These are details I do not wish to dwell on in these descriptions--where I endeavour to make known general and essential properties, leaving particular views and cases to my reflecting readers.

OF A RECIPROCATING HORSE WHEEL, _For Mines, Mangles, &c._

I believe there is no better floor for a working horse to tread on, than a plane of wood--on condition, of the horse being rough shod: I speak however, on recollection of many years’ standing. I then felt persuaded that a horse wastes less effort by travelling on _this_ floor than on any other; which is one of my reasons for the adoption of the present Machine. It consists (Plate 26, fig. 1,) of a wheel _A B_, on which the horse walks, as indicated by the sketch of him given in the figure. Besides this, he is placed between two shafts _C D_, affixed to the lever _E F_, the latter carrying round with it, at intervals, the drum _G_, whose office it is to raise the weight _I_, whatever kind of resistance that weight represents. This lever runs by means of it’s _cannon_ _L_, on a round part of the shaft common to it and to the drum _G_. Moreover, there is a second drum _H_, destined to raise the weight _K_, whatever kind of resistance _that_ represents. Both the drums, _G_ and _H_, turn on round parts of the main shaft _M_, but are alternately connected with it--first, the drum _G_, by the rising of the bolt _a_ into it; and secondly, the drum _H_, by the falling of the cross piece _b c_, between the studs _e d_ affixed to it. Now, this cross piece _b c_, is part of a T-formed bar, that penetrates the centre of the shaft as low as _f_, where it rests on a transverse lever _f g_, connected _to the right_ with the bolt _a_ above mentioned, and forming a branch of the bent lever _f g h_, which works the bolt _h i_ under the wheel. In the present state of things, if the horse steps forward, he draws the shafts _C D_, round the common centre; for the wheel is immoveable by means of the bolt _i_, which _takes_ against some fixed object at _k_: and thus will the weight _I_ be raised. And when this motion is achieved, the handle _o_ is raised a few inches, which brings it into contact with the obstacle _p_, and puts a stop to that motion of the lever _E F_. At the same time the bolt _a_, is drawn out of the drum _G_, and the cross piece _b c_ is let down between the studs of the drum _H_, while, by the bent lever _f g h_, the bolt _h i_, which held the wheel, is drawn back, and _then_ the horse, instead of progressing round the centre of the wheel, is himself brought locally, to a stand; and without even knowing it, (for he is blinded) he now treads round the wheel in a backward direction, and raises the weight _K_, while the drum _G_ permits the weight _I_ to descend by the uncoiling of the rope, till _this_ operation has likewise produced the desired effect--when things are again placed in the state first observed. One thing remains to be noticed: It is, that both these motions _might_ have been produced by acting from a fixed point on the central bar _b c f_, through the upper gudgeon of the shaft, _instead_ of using the handle _o_, as before directed. It is even easy to conceive how the Machine may itself be made to perform these changes, and thus to produce the whole effect without any personal care or attendance.

OF AN EXPANDING VESSEL, _For Steam Engines, Pumps, Blowing Machines, &c._

It is one of the simplest and most perfect operations of the mechanic art, to form a _flat surface_: witness the process of grinding looking glasses, and forming one plane from another. Nor is it, necessarily, more difficult to place two surfaces parallel to each other, by means of three or more _pillars_ with proper shoulders, or counternuts against which to screw the plates from behind. It is therefore easy to compose an expanding and contracting vessel, that shall become _a mover_ by the force of any fluid, elastic or not, or shall act as a water or air pump, when driven by a convenient power; or both together, when this combination may be desirable. Thus, in Plate 26, fig. 2 and 3, _A B C D_ is a box with four sides and four _jointed angles_--which, if one of it’s sides, _D A_, be fixed to a given position in the cage or frame _E F G H_, will expand or contract according as the sides _A B_ and _D C_ shall rise toward the perpendicular, or fall toward the horizontal position. The dotted lines _A_ 2, _A_ 4, _A_ 6, &c. shew that the successive capacities included in the vessel, are respectively as the sines of the angles which those sides _A B_ and _D C_ make with the horizon; so that, although this device furnishes an _unequable_ power, yet it is equable enough for many purposes in the first few divisions _D_ 3, _D_ 5, &c. and might be altogether _equalized_ in it’s effect if necessary. Let us suppose then, that the aperture 8, brings steam into this vessel: The _lid_ _B C_ will rise to 6, 7, when, if the pipe 9, communicating with a condenser, be opened, the steam in the vessel will rush thither and be destroyed: when the atmosphere will press on the lid _B C_, and cause the vessel to collapse with a power proportionate to that area; for the sloping and parallel sides _A B_ and _C D_ counterpoise each other; where note, on occasion of the _pressure_ which I am now speaking of, that the ribs or bars _L M_, are used to strengthen the sides of the vessel, and thus prevent it’s fracture under this pressure.

From this manner of making these expanding vessels, it follows among other things, that if the frame _E F G H_ were surrounded with wood or any non-conducting substance, and made to communicate with a warm close room, the atmosphere thus acting on the vessel would _not_ cool it, and that therefore, an atmospheric engine, would, in this respect, be as good as a steam-acting one. But steam might be introduced into this outer case, and act as a spring to reciprocate the internal effect of the same agent.

The third figure of Plate 26, offers an end view of this cage or frame, shewing the expanding vessel at _B C A D_, where the strengthening ribs of fig. 2 are seen _endwise_ at 1, 3, 5, 7, &c. and moreover, _F G_ and _H_ are the pillars or cross bars by which the parallelism of the two end plates is effected and secured.

There remains an important subject to be considered: How to make the corner joints _D C_, and the end joints steam or water-tight as required. The small figure 4 answers the question as far as _water_ is concerned. _A_ is a strip of leather screwed more or less near to the _edges_ of two contiguous sides of the vessel, so as to cover the joint or hinge, and make it water tight whether the pressure come from within or without. This figure also shews the grooves which receive the stuffing to close the _ends_ of the vessel, by sliding against the plates or cheeks _E F_, &c. fig. 2. The several members of the corner joints themselves should be well fitted into each other: so indeed as almost to close the vessel without _any_ stuffing. Nor need we in all cases be anxious about this stuffing; for I think it very possible to make this joint close enough for pumping or blowing without any such provision. I observe, however, that the leather _A_, fig. 4, might give place to a strip of thin metal, bent into the same form, (or nearly so) the elasticity of which would leave play enough for the joints, on the supposition of working only with a moderate degree of motion in the said joints.

I should not have given this idea so much attention, had I merely wished to use it where the cylinder-motion now applies: But my present views go further. I foresee the use of this Machine for _very low_ pressures--and in _very large_ dimensions; and I can conceive a proportion between it’s length and height, that shall as it were annul the effects of friction and leakage, compared with those of the cylinder-formed piston. But I do not undertake, or hardly wish _now_, to exhaust this subject: being more anxious to _deliver_ the idea to my readers, than to announce all I intend to undertake by it’s means. I shall, therefore, merely finish the description of the other figures 5 and 6 of this Plate. The first, is a small hand pump on this principle, having a suction pipe _A_, and a rising pipe _B_, both having proper valves and opening into the expanding vessel, as _worked_ by the handle _C_, much in the manner of a common pump. It will therefore act by it’s expansive and contractile properties; and have one good quality we should seek in vain elsewhere--It will _begin_ the motion of the water with a _softness_ unknown in the use of pumps in general.

In fine, the sixth figure shews a System of this kind applied to the two objects, of _giving_ power, and _using_ it. The vessel _A B_, receives the power from steam or any other agent; and the vessel _C_ blows a fire, raises water, or does any analogous work, without requiring any other _parts_ than those here displayed.

OF A GOVERNOR, OR REGULATOR, _For Wind-Mills, Water Mills, Steam Engines, &c._

This Instrument was first intended to regulate the grinding of a wind-mill; and was used for that purpose in Kent, some time before my departure for France, in 1792. It is founded on the doctrine of opposite qualities--and is a practical combat between equal and unequal motions. In wind-mills, the mechanism is exposed to all the variations of a capricious element: and the common way of preventing these convulsive motions from injuring the _flour_, was for a man to attend a lever connected with the _bridge tree_, (which carries the upper stone) and by it to bring the stones nearer together when the wind was strong--and nearer still, when it was violent: and, contrariwise, to lift again the upper stone when the wind assumed a milder movement. A process this, which _nearly_ equalizes the degree of grinding, but not so nearly the quality of the meal--for this is found to be more heated by great, than by moderate velocities. At all events I thought a Machine like the present, would regulate this process, as well as a man; and it was found to do so--except, perhaps, in very extreme cases.

This Governor, is represented in fig. 1 of Plate 27--the ground work of which is the same as that of the third figure in Plate 3: for in reality the present Machine claims the precedence of the Dynamometer; and may therefore, well borrow a figure from it’s description. _A_ is the power-axis, receiving motion from any proper shaft of the mill. It is turned _backward_ by that shaft, and therefore tends to raise the ball _B_--an operation equivalent to bringing the mill-stones nearer together. At the same time, the axis of resistance _C_, carries round a pallet-wheel _D E_, and by the pallet _D_, sets the pendulum _F G_ a vibrating, which therefore, by every stroke, _lets down_ the ball _B_, and thus _raises_ the upper mill-stone. A _proper_ position of the latter depends on the similarity of the motion of the power-axis _A_, which winds up the ball _B_, and that of the axis _C_, which _lets it down_. While these are equal, the weight _B_ remains stationary, and the work goes on well. But if a gust of wind increases the speed of the mover _A_, (the pendulum _F G_ confining the axis _C_ to it’s usual speed) the ball _B_ is immediately raised and the stones brought closer--which is what the grinding process requires: And should that gust increase in violence and become a hurricane, the intermediate cylinder _M_, while producing _that_ effect, carries also with it the cord _H I_, and thereby raises the bob _G_ of the pendulum, and thus fits this movement to the increased speed of the mill: raising, sometimes, the bob to the very centre _F_ of it’s vibration, where it’s oscillations become rapid enough to _unwind_ all the excess of motion which the hurricane had occasioned; until, the wind subsiding, the pendulum acquires a medium length, and things go on moderately as before.

It may be observed, that the _present_ form of this Machine is not quite so simple as it might have been made; nor is it so simple as it first was. The required motions being much shorter than those of a Dynamometer, the cylinder _M_, among other things, might be dispensed with; and one of the intermediate wheels be likewise suppressed. And if we advert to the retarding principle which resides in the pendulum, the well known conical pendulum might be substituted for the present one; since from it would arise a regular or equable resistance, opposed to an equable effort. Some however, might _then_ consider the conical pendulum as an ordinary centrifugal governor; and, as a mere retarding principle, it may be thought too complex for the occasion: but I think on the contrary, that it’s use in this connection, would make this Machine one of the best of regulators, as well for steam engines as for water and wind-mills of every description: especially if fitted up with my Patent Geering.

OF A MACHINE _For Forging Nails_.

There is a strong analogy between this Instrument for forging Nails, and the Machine heretofore given for forging Bar Iron, Steel, &c. The process of _kneading_ the softened metal, by means of a pair of alternating cranks, is the very same: but the acting bars or stampers _A_, _B_, are an addition to the former method. Plate 27, at figs. 2 and 3, gives a representation of the present Machine; which forms the nail almost instantaneously, by _many_ contacts of the stampers _a b_, (fig. 3) on one of which the figure of the nail is engraven--or rather _filed_ across that stamper, for no _hollow_ figure is required by this System.

The second stamper _c d_ fig. 3, whose place is at _A_ fig. 2, is quite plain on it’s face; being destined merely to keep the metal to it’s thickness--as the particular nail here intended, is a floor nail, requiring a head on two sides only. As to the figured stamper _b a_, fig. 3, it meets a similar form in the anvil, as at _e_: and it is by the pressure of these _half matrices_, that the head is formed and the bar separated from the nail. It may be noticed that the stampers _a b_, _c d_, are shewn in the figures, as perfectly straight on the face: but the kind of motion resulting from that of the cranks, would require a gentle curve here, which a _first_ experiment will sufficiently indicate.

Some skill would doubtless be necessary in presenting the nail bar to this Machine; but to make this operation the easier, there should be a guage, moving toward the working point _e_, by a given quantity for each nail: say that this guage comes forward at each time a distance equal to half the length of a nail; and that the thickness of the nail bar is so proportioned as to contain in that length, enough of metal for the nail when finished.

It remains to be observed, that the stampers or bars _A_, _B_, fig. 2, are contained, in the direction of their width; by two plates like _f_, connected with the anvil _e_, and leaving near _e_, an opening large enough for the nail-bar to pass easily.

OF A MECHANICAL ASSISTANT _For the Tea Table_.

I shall, perhaps, be laughed at by some unfeeling censor, for including the tea table in the field of my mechanical speculations. But, in so doing, I seriously mean to be not only attentive, but useful to the ladies--who, I am _old_ enough to believe, deserve this service at my hands. My object is to obviate for them the necessity of tediously wielding a ponderous tea-pot, until real and painful fatigue ensues: thus emphatically making a _toil_ of that pleasure they had hoped for in administering comfort to others.

This new method of tea-making admits the use of the common tea urn--which is placed on the table near the left hand of the fair distributor. This arrangement is given at figs. 4 and 5 of Plate 27. There, _A_ is the Urn; and _B_ any common tea-pot, for whose spout, the cock _a_, has been substituted; and the handle of which has been slightly modified, so as to make it a proper centre of rotation. This tea-pot is, of course, _opened_ before it is brought into the position shewn in the figures. At _C b c_, is placed, first of all, on the table, _a stand_ of metal, terminated upward by the stem _C D_ which forms a vertical centre to the whole apparatus: and which is sufficiently fixed to the table by standing on _three_ feet, _b c_, &c.; under which are stretched small pieces of Caoutchouc (or India rubber), which, by their adherence to the table, make the whole steady. By these means, the tea-pot can be turned round, by a gentle effort, till it comes under the cock of the urn, from which it receives the boiling water. And, finally, the tea-board, which is itself circular, revolves on the same axle _C D_, supported by the casters or rollers _e f_, and bringing successively _all_ the tea-cups _m_, _n_, _o_, &c., to the spout of the tea-pot, where they are filled without the smallest difficulty, as will appear by a further inspection of the figures, and especially by an appeal to experience.

The above, I should presume, is all that need be _said_ upon the subject. It remains for some rationally zealous friend of this social repast, to put these (or other analogous) ideas in practice: in which enterprize, should he succeed in pleasing the _ladies_, he may depend on the approbation of every _lord_ who deserves the name.

OF A COPPER-PLATE PRESS, _With curious and useful Properties_.

This Machine, as intimated in the Synopsis, was invented expressly for the use of the lithographic art, as an improvement on the _roller press_ used in Paris when that process was first introduced there. I have, however, seen in England the description of a Machine which takes the desired impression _without_ any rolling motion. This Machine, in that description, carries a kind of scraper, or, as the calico printers would say, a Doctor, which, pressing on a line only (while drawn over the paper, or the paper under it), acts successively on every part of the sheet, and, no doubt, gives a good impression. Of the relative perfection of these methods, I do not presume to judge, as it is a technical question; and _both_ Systems are, or have been, used. But, when intense pressure, joined to much precision, and great economy of power, are desirable, _this_ Invention appears to me superior to any thing I have seen used for these purposes.

In fig. 1 and 2, (see Plate 28), _A B_ are two horizontal planes of hard wood or metal, connected, at a proper distance, by the pillars _C D_, shewn in fig. 1 _only_. _E F_ are two _Sectors_ of a large cylinder, united at the point _a_, either by a _good_ hinge or by a joint composed of a _hollow_ prism fixed to the upper sector _E_, and of a _solid_ one, more acute, fixed to the lower sector _F_; so that, in the latter case, this joint works with an insensible degree of friction, and thus occasions a great saving of power.

In the working of this Press, the joint just mentioned, however made, describes a straight line, parallel both to the floor _B G_ and the ceiling _H A_, which have been already shewn to be parallel to each other: and thus are the joint _a_ and the sectors _E F_ suspended to the cap or ceiling _A H_ by a pair of triangular braces _I a K_, which slide smoothly in two dove-tailed grooves _A m_. Moreover, to the lower sector _F_ are fixed two working arcs _b c_, one on each side of the Press, and whose radii are exactly equal to that of the upper sector _E_ (whose circumference, therefore, is invisible in fig. 1.) Further, just above these arcs, and in the middle of the slide _I K_, are placed, on proper centres, a pair of grooved pulleys _P_, destined to _work_ the under sector, without disturbing the motion of the upper one, which latter is a rolling motion under the aforesaid ceiling _A H_. For the said purpose, a metallic cord or chain is fixed at _m_ (fig. 1), which, passing round _one_ of the pulleys _P_, is led to the end _n_ of the arc _b c_, _n o_; and near _A_ is fixed a similar cord, which, carried round the other pulley at _P_, is led to the angle _o_ of the same arc _b c_, _n o_. By these means, the sector _F_ is fixed both in place and position, as long as the slide _I K_ retains it’s present position and state. But, again, a system of similar cords, placed _under_ the ceiling _A H_, near the edges of the upper sector _E_, determines the place of that sector, in every case, _except_ a change of _position_; for a _rolling_ motion can still have place, without occasioning any other change.