The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-08-12
COMMUNICATED.
SAFETY STEAM EXPERIMENT.

The subscriber deems il proper to inform the pub
lie that he has, for time past, been employed by
the General Government in building small model
steam engine upon his plan of safety The object
of this work was, if possible, to improve upon his
principle of generating and using steam power with
safety as exhibited to Congress in 1885, 3S, and al,
and at as small expense practicable, reduce
the same to state of perfection, before it should be
tried upon large scale. Some Of the mechanical
actions, inject the water, not perfect the
inventor believed he could make them; but sup
posed Improvement had suggested ITSELF in tho course
of his experiments, which, in its simplicity deserved
test without delay of which result he would wish
to inform the community. 1t appeared reasonable
that, as the steam was generated in heated genera
tors, filled with iron, and communicated TO the work
ing cylinders, that the generators might be done
away, upon the same principle, and the cylinders
alone arranged in the fire. and made the generators
themselves by injecting the water in one end, pro-
vded the water injected could be distributed the
heated surface Of the cylinders the piston passed
out To effect this, distributor invented, and
connected to the bottom Of the piston, and the water
injected into that upon its descent which on taking
its departure, by proportion of steam generated
from the water, the whole would be distributed
over the surface of the heated cylinder while in mo-
ton, and converted into high steam. The injecting
Of water into the heated cylinder was Perkins plan,
but il is stated that he failed because he could not in
ject the water in equal proportions. Having dis
covered the true method Of Injection it was thought
best to do away the generators altogether, which
would render the steam engine very simple; and this
could only be determined by experiment. In making
this trial, the work constructed by the inven-
tor, that if il was found false theory, il might i'm
medatcly be changed TO the already exhibited in
operation, with generators filled with iron instead of
boiling water or steam.
1t should be the obligatory duty Of all inven-
tors TO give correct information, when time and
much labor might be saved by it TO all future ex-
perimenters; hence the subscriber conceives il
duty due to public interest TO state that this plan OF
Perkins, any other inventors is absolutely false
that the water, although il can be injected in equal
proportions in the end OF the heated cylinder, it will
not be converted into steam nstantaneously nor can
a piston be worked in a cylinder, exposed to con-
slant fire, without oil /; and il the heat could be so
regulated TO admit oil with the piston, It forms
nonconductor upon the surface of the ron and the
water will not be converted into steam but by very
slow process.
These very important discoveries, notwithstanding,
have been mace in this experiment, which deserves
publication. Trst-the proper manner Of filling the
generators with iron, so that the water, when inject
ed, will be distributed over the surface Of the gene
rators, aud converted into steam ins,antancously
Seeondly-the cause Of the iron not generating steam
quickly in his generators after running for some
time and this is very important as some have sup
cd hat u, a.
would adhere to the iron forming nonconductor-
this is found out TO be nothing but the oil from the
working cylinder, which is simply remedied by pro-
per location Of the escape valve. Thirdiy-the man
Of using salt muddy water, without affecting
the generators. These three very important i'm
provements have been discovered, which consti-
tutes the perfection Of this mode 'of generating
steam.
An opportunity will be given TO the friends of SCI
ence to its performance Tuesday evening next
at O'Clock. At the time it is proper tina,
those who attend should be provided with this view
Of the subject that the generators the cylinders
and first in the experiment above stated which IS
not in proportion Two model engines will be pu,
in motion, with cold water, and the other exhi-
biting the plan OF using salt or muddy WATERFALL to
be seen the upper bridge, leading to George
town, al his own residence.
An explanatory description Of using salt or muddy
water, without affecting the generators, will be given
in few days, while its practicability will be fully
demonstrated in experiment, and showing the great
utility AT Of its immediate introduction and upou
the great Mississippi river as an engine Of perfect
safety and power.
EDWARD ID. TIPPETT