Part 22

This Machine (see Plate 49, fig. 1,) is capable of great results _merely because it employs, at a small expence, a great mass of air in motion_; whether _ill_ or _well_, is not the question: for as this source of _power_ is almost indefinite, methinks we may draw from it without reserve. The present method of so doing, consists in using _a very large sail_, (_A B_) both to receive the impulse of the wind, and to raise the water. This figure is _a section_ of the Machine _in it’s length_:--and it’s _width_ (not represented) is as great as the occasion may require. The sail is here shewn as placed over a lake or other sheet of water which it might be wished to drain, (or which may serve as a mill pond to drive any required Machines, by the water thus raised.) _C D_ is the water in it’s lower bed: and _E_, is a canal on a higher level, into which a large quantity is thrown at each _manœuvre_ of the Machine, _a_ is the bank of the upper canal, to which is affixed the _edge_ of the canvass, of which _a B A d_, is a section; and which _might be_ large to immensity. At 1 2 3, &c. is a row of stakes as long as the Machine; and they are capped transversely with round poles, on which the sail rests when in it’s lowest position. In this state, also, the part _b_ of the sail, plunges into the water, which rises above it in the prismatic form, _b r s_; a row of valves or clacks, (_b_) permitting it to rise through them, but preventing it from again falling that way. Thus, at every change, this prism of water, is sure to be replenished; and if we suppose the triangle _b r s_ to have an area of ten square feet, and the prism to be one hundred feet long, the water there contained will be a thousand cubic feet--capable, however, of being augmented or diminished at pleasure, by slackening or tightening _the sail_ towards _A_. At _d_, is the weather-end of this sail, which is supported when at rest, on the surface of the water, by the posts and caps before mentioned. This end _d_, of the sail is connected with a row of posts _C F_, placed more or less closely, as the prevailing strength of the wind and the _size_ of the sail may require. The sail is held to these posts by rolling pulley frames, of which _one_ is seen at _g_, and is drawn up and down by the rope _g h_, acting at one end directly on the rolling pulley-frame _g_, and the other on the sail _d_, after having passed over a pulley (_F_) in the post itself: where note, that this effect can be communicated by proper machinery, from any _one_ of these posts (_C F_) to all collateral ones; so as to make the manœuvres general, _across the sail_, whatever be it’s magnitude.

The following then, is the operation. The wind blows (by supposition) in the direction of the arrows in the figure: and the rolling pulley-frame _g_ is quickly drawn up to _g_, where the hook _i_ holds it fast. By a necessary consequence the wind fills the sail _d c r_, and stretches it into the figure _d A B a_: in doing which it lifts the water _r s_, and _pours_ it, in all the width of the sail, into the canal _E_; thus raising a thousand cubic feet of water at each stroke. As soon as the water is turned into the canal _E_, the hook _i_ is pulled outward, and the rolling pulley _g_ is forced down, by the wind itself, to the position k, when the wind blowing _over_ the sail, will give it a bent form, (_k c a_) and soon bring the sail into it’s present position on the posts 1 2, &c.--when water will be again admitted by the valves at _b_, and another stroke of the Machine be prepared.

The above contains the basis of this idea. I do not expect it will obtain at once universal assent: But if I knew the several grounds of objection, I am persuaded the greatest number of them could be removed. The first I anticipate, is the difficulty of turning this Machine to the several winds that may blow over it. To this objection I would reply, that in such a case, the canal _E_, should surround an area made large enough for the sail, of some polygonal form, say an octagon, to different sides of which the stretching cords of the sail should be carried, so as to catch the prevailing winds--but the direction of which need not be followed to a nicety; since an obliquity of a few degrees would not prevent the effect.

It might be added, that it is not indispensable that the canal _E_ should be stationary. Made of wood, or metal, it _might_ turn round a fixed centre, and be braced into the necessary positions with ropes--when the posts only (_C F_) would have to be removed, or quitted for others duly placed. These ideas are connected with immense effects; and cannot, therefore, be lightly disposed of: they both deserve and require serious attention.

OF ANOTHER WIND MACHINE, _Furnishing immense Powers_.

This is the last of those conceptions I shall now bring forward, for making _more_ than a common use of the WIND as a first-mover of Machinery. Horizontal windmills are well known; and this is a horizontal windmill--yet not like those already in use: for, here, the sails, very large and numerous, are placed on a boat in the form of _a ring_, which thus moves through the water without any other resistance than that arising from the asperities of it’s surface.

In Plate 49, fig. 3, _B B_ is a section of the Vessel, placed in a circular canal _D_, into which the lower water flows through proper arches (_C C_) in the banks. The vessel is rigged with several narrow horizontal sails, stretched on ropes between the oblique masts _a b_, _c d_; and so placed, that the sails (being a little wider than the interval between the ropes) can _open_ in one direction, but not in the other; and they are shewn open at _c d_, and shut at _a b_, in the figure. This, therefore, is a mill, that takes all winds; and although it’s uses might be various, we shall finish it’s description as adapted to raise water _by the centrifugal force_. As before hinted, the canal _D D_ is circular; and has a bank, sloping outward, with a canal (_E_) on it’s top. When, therefore, the wind blows, the ring boat _B_ (held to the centre by the ropes _f g_) revolves around it; and by one or more water drags (_h_) which it carries, collects the water on and up the bank, and finally drives it into the canal _E_, from which it flows in _any_ destined direction. If for draining watery lands, it will be done rapidly; if for irrigating, it will be done abundantly: if, in fine, for driving any mill with the water thus raised, the machinery will be very efficient, as working with ten or twenty times as much _sail_, as any other windmill can carry. I add, merely on this occasion, that the sails here mentioned, might be placed _obliquely_, instead of straight across the ring vessel; (see the plan in fig. 2 of this Plate at _E F_) from which disposition, nearly all the advantages of the _vertical_ mill might be transferred to the horizontal; and with this remark I leave the present interesting subject to the studious and candid reader.

OF A CENTRIFUGAL MIRROR, _To collect Solar heat_.

My fiftieth and last Plate contains this idea: It is _not_ intended to vie with the usual mirror, in correctness of form, or intensity of local effect--but to offer, by the largeness of it’s dimensions, some properties which _better_ mirrors cannot present. It is _intended_ to pave the way for the use of the Sun’s rays in _Engines of Power_. For this purpose, however, it must probably be transported to some tropical climate, where “a cloudless sun” diffuses it’s rays more constantly, and less obliquely, than in our northern climes.

This is the more necessary here, because this Mirror can only be used in a horizontal position, and is in fact a fluid Mirror. Fig. 1, shews it mounted on a steady frame _A B_, and having a strong axis on which it can be turned, faster or slower, according to it’s dimensions; and it may or may not be floated on water, to lessen the stress on the axis. The Mirror, properly speaking, is composed of mercury--contained in the revolving vessel _C D_, whose motion should be given by proper machinery in the most uniform manner possible. The mercury, thus turned, acquires a concave surface, _a_, _b_, _c_; and receiving the parallel rays _d c_, _e b_, and, _f a_, collects them into the focus _F_; in, or near which, is placed the vessel where the effect is to become useful, and which of course is _moveable_ so as to follow the sun’s motion. Those of my readers who have seen the machines used for fixing the sun’s image in the solar microscope, will be at no loss to conceive how our present focal station must be _moved_ to adapt it to a _fixed_ mirror. I shall only add further, that it is not necessarily an _exact_ movement that is here wanted; since the vessel to be heated would have dimensions somewhat large, and the focus itself be only brought to a moderate degree of precision. In a word, the utmost heat wanted would be, what could be usefully employed in heating water. It remains then to be observed, that the source of power, in this Machine, is _magnitude of parts_, more than precision of form: yet it may be mentioned, that the form we thus procure in the revolving mercury, is a solid of revolution, having the _logarithmic curve_ (_a_, _b c_) for it’s section--a curve, which in fact, comes indefinitely near to the parabolic figure which _would be_ required, if greater precision were attempted. We finish then, by observing, that the bottom itself of the revolving vessel might be made concave, (like the dotted line under _that a b c_) in order to avoid the necessity of using a large quantity of mercury, to form the reflecting surface.

OF A SECOND MIRROR, _For collecting the Sun’s rays_.

This Mirror seems superior to the former, as depending on _fixed_ materials. It likewise, produces the desired effect, by offering a _very large surface_ to the sun, and directing the rays to a focus, nearly enough to give the heat required for water, as before mentioned.

To do this, a frame _A_ (Plate 50, fig. 2) holds the Mirror; and this frame has a horizontal motion round the _post_ _B_, something like a common windmill. In this frame and on two horizontal trunnions, turns the Mirror _C D_: and one or both these trunnions are hollow, to admit of a process we shall shortly mention. This Mirror itself is composed of an air-tight ring _C D_, of a width proportionate to the diameter adopted; and on which are fixed two _heads_, much like those of a _tambourine_, (or the _under_ head might be made of some metallic substance). The head _a b c_, is made of a fine texture, duly prepared and varnished till it becomes air tight, and then there are stuck to it, a number of small _hexagonal_ looking-glasses or mirrors of any kind, (see fig. 7) which thus fill up the whole space, and prepare the Mirror for the intended change of form. The method of giving this form, consists in exhausting, more or less, this _tambourine_ of air, when, by the pressure of the atmosphere, the heads will take the form _a b c_, that is a _spherically concave form_--fit to reflect the sun’s rays _as correctly_ as this our object requires; and thus may some thousand small images of the sun be brought to fall on the same spot, and an immense heat be occasioned. The accounts we have of the destruction of the Roman fleet by the _united_ mirrors of Archimedes, make this process appear the more feasible--as whatever were the methods of uniting the _foci_ of his mirrors, a similar effect _may be expected_ from this simple process.

My readers will perceive that this Machine has the advantages of the universal joint, by which it can be directed to the sun in every position; and even made to fix his ardours on any immoveable spot for a good length of time. The persons to whom I particularly address these ideas, will require no further details to conceive the less obvious circumstances of this Invention. In general, we want no effect that requires _optical precision_: but if we did, it could be obtained to a good degree, by methods similar to these.

I shall only add here, that this fig. 2 is given _as a section_--because intended to represent a parallelogram, as well as a solid of revolution: and thus (with proper mirrors) to make what now appears a spherical focus, _a linear one_--fit to heat a cylindrical vessel with it’s contents; and thereby draw _power_ from the sun’s heat, _without_ running expense. I am serious when I say, that we can thus, practically, collect the solar rays which fall on many hundred square feet of surface; and produce by them, at any desired distance, effects to which those obtained from _modern_ burning mirrors, are but as sparks to a blaze.

OF AN ENGRAVING MACHINE, _For large Patterns_.

This Machine supposes at once a _new kind_ of engraving, and admits of patterns of _very large_ dimensions. This kind of engraving will be best understood by persons acquainted with figure-weaving; and especially with the manner of _mounting_ the looms for that purpose. In that System, (see Plate 50, fig. 8) the patterns are drawn on ruled paper divided into squares; and each of these squares represents a point in the texture, composed of one or more threads each way; insomuch that whenever that _square_ has any desired colour in it on the pattern, it’s threads are _taken_ by the person who prepares the loom; and they are _missed_ in every case where nothing appears in that square, or a colour not then wanted. Now, whatever be the dimensions of these elementary points on the loom, they may be represented by squares of any convenient size on the pattern: only remembering that the smaller they are, in reality, the better will be the delineation. Thus in carpeting, for example, an element of this kind may be a square of one tenth of an inch and more; while one on a ribbon or a piece of silk, is often not the hundredth part. And therefore, the perfection of this engraving depends on the fineness of the points of which the figures are composed. For, in a word, this System proceeds on the same principle. When any part of a line requires a dot or mark to be made, the Machine strikes a blow _there_; and when no impression is to be made, the Machine (by means that will be shewn) suffers the cylinder to pass that place without striking. The means of regulating this is committed to workmen who merely know how to _read_ off the pattern _in it’s length_, as it is now read off _in it’s width_ by the weaver. To describe the construction of the Machine, (as exhibited in figs. 3 and 4 of Plate 50) _A_ is the cylinder to be engraved; and _B_ is a worm-wheel _fixed_ to it’s mandril, and destined to turn it. This it does, slowly, by the endless screw _a_, as turned by proper straps on the fast and loose pullies _b c_, (figs. 3 and 4). _C_ shews a second wheel, concentric with that _B_, but running loose on it’s axis, which is a pin fitted into the end of the mandril. This wheel, when the threads of the screw _a_ are _fine_, requires a motion more rapid than the wheel _B_--to give which motion by means of the latter, we use a pair of multiplying wheels _d_, which geer, one in the larger bevil wheel cut near the edge of the wheel _B_; and the other in a smaller bevil wheel cut or fixed on the inner face of the wheel _C_--and whence this latter wheel receives a velocity of about ten times the speed of _B_. The use of this wheel _C_, is to carry, across the Machine, certain bars, of wood or metal, shewn in figs. 5 and 6, whose function is to carry short pins or studs 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. for the purpose of determining the places _where_ the punch is to act, and where it is not. To this end, _g h_ is a frame, which is raised by a _cam_ or tappet _i_, fixed in the endless screw _a_, once every turn; and _that_ through the medium of the little tumbler _i e f_, by which is finally determined whether the stroke shall take place or not--for _m_ being a section of the stud bar of figs. 5 and 6, it’s pins, _when they occur_, raise the end _f_ of the bent lever _f e i_; and when there is no pin or stud in _m_, this lever is not raised, and the point _i_, does _not_ come near enough to the cam to be laid hold of, in which case no stroke is given. This then, is so whenever the studs fail in the bar _m_; and these fail whenever the _pattern-reader_ has said to the stud-setter, _miss_: and they occur whenever he has said _take_--both which cases happen more or less often according to the state of the squares in the pattern.

To be a little more particular: in fig. 5 we see a part of the wheel _C_ of fig. 3, and also a part of the stud bars _m m_, which _geer_ in the wheel _C_, and which being conducted by the guides _n_, follow the motion of that wheel, presenting at _f_, (fig. 3) a stud to raise the lever _f e_, whenever the pattern requires it. It may be mentioned, that these studs act _obliquely_ on the wing _f_ of this lever, and thus _raise_ it as they pass under it. And further, these stud bars are made and fitted to each other in the manner shewn at fig. 6. There is a geering tooth under every stud hole, and the last stud hole of a given bar has, fixed in it, a thin tube _a_, into which the stud enters the same way as in any other place: but this tube whether studded or not serves to lay hold of the succeeding bar _b_, by it’s first hole--so, in fine, as to make the bars endless; the attendant having nothing else to do than to hook them to each other as the wheel _C_ draws them in.

Thus then, are the strokes of the _hammer frame_, _g h_, conformed to the pattern: for these bars have been studded before hand by one or more readers and setters; and it is a merely mechanical process to put them in while the Machine moves: from which, by the bye, they _fall out_ after the passage into a proper box, and the studs out of them, to be _composed_ again from the succeeding figures of the pattern. A dozen or two of these bars might be prepared at _any_ time and place, and to _any_ pattern, which they will thus transfer to a cylinder at _any_ desired moment, without the further preparation of dies, punches, mills, &c.--as used in other Machines. N. B. The strength of the blows thus given by the hammer frame _g h_, is lessened or augmented by the position of the point _i_ fixed to the bent lever _i e f_, and which makes that lift higher or lower as required--which is a mean of _shading_ offered by this Machine. But to mention it’s other properties, the endless screw _a_, (figs. 3 and 4) carries another endless screw _o_, _more or less fine_, which turns at the same time the wheel _p_, and, by that, the long screw _s s_, whose office it is to shift, slowly, the punch carriers _k l_, along the Machine, from _k_ by _l_, towards _s_. And here an observation occurs: this can only be so, when the pattern permits the action of the punches _k_ or _l_, to take place _spirally_ on the cylinder; that is, when the _sketches_ are distinct enough _not_ to shew the anomaly that would occur were a _straight_ pattern thus transferred to a set of spiral lines. But should it be desirable to engrave patterns so correct as to require an exact parallel motion round the cylinder, _then_ the motion of this screw must _not_ be continual--but must intermit and be resumed, at every beginning of a new line round the cylinder. I hope, I make myself understood: a pattern drawn on _squares_, produces lines all parallel to the first; while the spiral motion of the punch causes a slight deviation--which, in a word, can either be suffered or avoided. At all events, this deviation is so much the smaller as the punch motion is slower in both directions; and, in _fine_ patterns, must be _very small_. One remark will close this part of the subject: although a fine pattern, requires a great number of blows, and thus a certain expence of time, each blow can be so much the lighter and more frequent; so as to compensate, in some degree, for this cause of delay. I add, that the levers shewn above and around fig. 6, are intended to lift the hammer frame _g h_, equally at both ends: while the screw _Z_ regulates the _depth_ to which it is permitted to fall.

I observe, finally, that, according to the size of the intended pattern, there are more or fewer of the punch bearers _k l_, connected, by their nuts, with the screw _s s_; each of which thus engraves it’s sketch, similar to the collateral ones; and that were it wished to make _one_ pattern of the whole length and circumference of the cylinder, a single punch bearer would be required--since nothing else limits the extent of a pattern engraved by this Machine.

* * * * *

Thus have I gone through my proposed “Century of Inventions,” for every imperfection in which I beg the indulgence of my numerous readers. And here I can truly say I have _neglected_ nothing--although the precarious state of my health may have sometimes veiled the evidence of my descriptions. On the other hand, I did not even attempt many of the lesser details of execution; as I wrote for those to whom they would have been superfluous: but as to the objects themselves, I believe there is not one that is without the pale of practical utility. In a word, many of the subjects have been frequently executed, and _are in daily use_: and as to those which remain to be tried, I engage, if called on, to give them useful existence. And the better to convince candid minds of the serious attention I have paid to these subjects, I shall add _the scales_ on which they have been executed, or to which they are drawn--those scales expressed by a fraction, shewing what proportion the figures bear to the reality. Thus the scale of one inch to a foot will be expressed by the fraction 1/12; that of two inches to a foot, by 1/6, &c. that is, the figures, in these cases, will be (nearly) 1/12 or 1/6 of the size of the Machines. This premised--and also that we shall observe the alphabetical order, the following is the

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

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