Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-04-01

norseS with a five-feet wave, and so on, to
any larger diameters. It may be difficult to
determine what may be the best size of
wheel for general service; it seems proba-
pie, however, that the diameter should be
as large as possible, consistent with strength
and other considerations of expediency in
their use, not only because larger wheels
receive increased force from the increase in
size OF the wave, but that, in point of fact,
they also collect greater quantity of force
IN proportion from the smaller waves Thus
the power of fve-feet wheel working with
one-foot wave is four horses, while that of
ten-feet wheel, under similar circumstan-
ces, Is sixteen horses, and that of twenty
feet wheel sixty-four horses so also the
power off ten-feet wheel, with two-feet
SIX In wave, is forty horses, and that of a
twenty-feet wheel. with such wave, one
hundred and sixty horses, while a hve-feet
wheel, with two-feet six in wave, gives
only ten horses power as above.
Independent, therefore, of the enormous
power attained by increasing diameter, it
appears that the power is in favour of larger
wheels under all circumstances, even under
reduced waves it is probable that the best
proportion for general service would be
from five to ten feet diameter, although for
very large ships, if no practical difficulties
present themselves, that of Is or 20 feet
might be desirable. IF such a wheel could
be applied, so as to obtain its full force from
the waves in heavy gale, it would not only
tend very much to shorten the voyage of an
lndiaman, for instance, but would rapidly
carry her out Of the dangers which accom-
pany the powerful waves, by which, under
such circumstances, she would be propelled.
1t would be seen also that scarce day in the
year would occur, in which the largest of
these wheels might not be used with great
effect, since, with wave of one foot, or a
ripple as it may be called, without which
the surface of the ocean is seldom to be
found,a vessel equipt with two 20-feet wheels
would command a power of 100 horses. On
the other hand, am aware of the Importance
OF obtaining power with as small surface
as possible, in which point of view it is most
important to repeat, that Is six-feet wheels
on side would afford 300 horse power, and
that 20 six-feet wheels on a side would give
power of $50 horses, with even one-foot
wave. Under these circumstances, there
fore, it would probably be not difficult to ar
range the exterior apparatus of this sys-
tenn, so that different sized wheels might be
applied to the same vessel under different
circumstances, and, in ships constructed for
the purpose, it would be easy to stow away
spare wheels of different sizes, while, in YES
sells not built expressly, other arrangements
may be applied for the purpose of increas-
| ing or diminishing the diameter of the wheels
IN their places. The simplest mode of ap-
rly'ne the wave wheels, seems to be by
means of. strong movable iron spindles,
| screwed into iron sockets in the ships side,
and supported at the extremities by iron
stays.
The operation of these wheels may be
practically demonstrated with great facility
on small scale. Let model of such
wheel be made of about inches diameter,
and broad, with projecting axles, so as to
be supported horizontally by the finger and
thumb of each hand let this wheel be then
immersed in this position in cistern of wa
ter, so as to be completely covered, it will
be found to revolve rapidly by the buoyans
effect Of the air in the ascending buckets,
until that air has escaped, and its place be
supplied with water: if then the wheel be
raised out of the water, so as to be entirely
uncovered, it will continue to revolve the
same way with the same force, until the
water which it had collected while miners
ed has discharged itself; so that, alternately
raising and lowering the wheel, continued
rotary motion may be produced. Now, it is
evident, that precisely the same effect must
occur if the wheel be stationary, and the
water rise or fall, as in case of waves pass
ing along ship. 1t might, at first sight,
/ be supposed, that in seeking to obtain force
from the waves, power might be derived
from their momentum, but this is not the
may be, still that of the wave, which is taken
from a more certain though less obvious
source, namely the gravity of the water on
one side of the wheel, combined with the
buoyancy of the wheel on the other, which,
| by somewhat concealed action, produces a
curious combination of these two forces,
this power is more sure in its result than
any derived from the impulse of the wave
can possibly be, inasmuch as it is deduced
from the mere load of water carried by the
wheel,--a principle universally adopted in
water-wheels, and which, as applied to the
propulsion of ships, whatever allowance may
be made for discrepancy between theory
and practice, is nevertheless the most pow
erful and economical agent ever thought of;
thus we find, that by six 20-feet wheels, the
enormous and unprecedented power of 4800
horses is attainable without any increase of
expense for its maintenance, occupying no
| internal space, and cheaper than that of
common sails, over which latter it possesses
the eminent advantage of acting in all di-
| -.