The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-11-27
American Institute.

Frequently as we have attended the learned delib.
eratlons which issue from this fountain-somtines
OF fertility, but more generally of foly-it was re-
freshng last evening to find that the inexhaustbe
subject Of the "decay Of the potato" and the va
rious and innumerable privileges and properties Of
the Croton water have yielded to the development
OF the steam engine, practically illustrated by
large model exhibiting at one glance the whole
external and internal movements of the engine in
It's full operation, and eloquently and scientifically
illustrated in lecture on the subject, by Mr. G.
Emmons. To mere casual and superficial OBJ
server OF the powers OF this invention still may
say IN It's infancy, In the propulsion OF vessels of
i gigantic tonnage, the numerous intricaces by
which each peculiar function is adapted to its posi-
tive utility, the harmony with which every action
flows to the aid and operation OF the combined in
fiuence OF the whole, Is spectacle which gives to
the inventive genius OF man, to the interminabe re-
sources Of science, and the expansion and diffusion
| OF knowledge, something OF more than human
| apparent capacity. Well might the venerable pa
triot, John Quincy Adams, in his speech at the
cent meeting Of the Historical Society, predict that
STEAMBOATS, and steam cars would form connect
ing line from the Atlantic to Oregon, and the wa
| tiers OF the Pacific"
The lecturer commenced by observing that steam is
i
tions Because, in the first place Of the beautiful CON-
bnation OF philosophical and mechanical principles And
the mex. place. because Of ~ having so much to do,
that whether consider the history effects OF the
invention, we find much to command admiration
that 1t is work Of modern times Tha, Tor refined nge
nuy stands without parallel in the annals Of human
Invention. and that it only requires clear explanation
dersood. That the principal ogent in manufactures is
motion which in rude state OF society communicated
by the hand That observation ard rejection poipts 10
more eiecual means, and that being surrounded by na
innate matter, undergoing various changes, in which
the natural motions already IN existence SO as TO sut o'r
purposes. The instruments by which these mo-
dfcations produced called machines engines
that macbne engine Is instrument interposed be-
tween some natural force motion, and the object to
which force motion required to be transmitted The
al force motion, and transmit to the object be moved
the peculiar species kind OF motion It is required
have That in every machine there three objects
obseIve--the power which imparts motion called toe
prime moverthe machine ITSELF and the object to which
motion Is to be conveyed In the steam engine the prime
mover crises from applying heat
to liquids. II Is found that imparting heat TO body
comes warm to the touch-these two effects always
king place togetherhe has baen taken the mex
sure Of the other and upon this principle is The themo
produced by mparting or absracting heat In many
total change Of form and mechanical qualities is e.
fected by It, i sufficient quantity Of heat be impaired
to solid it will become quid and an additional quaint
ty to the liquid in the form Of vaporand by the
abstraction Of series of changes take place in the
comes water and further abstract on Of heat from the
water i becomes ice The sransmsion Of liquid to va
The reciprocal transmission Of vapor to liquid called
condensation and the liquid is said TO bo The
body here to be attended to SO far as the effects Of heat
upon il are concerned water This body is observed
exist in three different states the solid the liquid ond
which is exposed wste. may Be heated to sa de-
grees the barometer standing at 80 inches when ceases
parted. Bubbles Of steam viii lnow be formed n,
at the bottom Of the vessel over the fame, and,
Escape By thus The ss the
d %a ss S0 asr dprg m
ton Of ara one cubic inch Of water evaporased and
maintained at 22 degrees will produce about l2sn
steam Of an elastic force equal to the Of the at
mosphere under which il ia Produced dere follows
experiment to illustrate the atmospheric pressure and the
condensation Of steam by expeliDg the air from retor
verted and the ned coned Of the tube placed vessel
Of colored water the waer rises and fills the tube and
retort, and would do 81 feet hgh) cubic inch Of
water, converted into steam, swelling into about i72s
times its own bulk, exers mechanical power capable Of
will raise about 26o pounds one loot hgh and if spped
to piston within cylinder will raise about ton eight
one foot high and the same power produced by conden
cubic inch water about two weight can be raised
foot high awhat has been here Illustrated is how.
which the force Of the is only equal 10 atmos
pherc PRESSURE 10 lbs inch but by applying it
greater degree OF heat find its expansive force
pidly increase. At the temperature of 25l degrees
srce two so lbs per and at
275 degrees IS lbs
pheres The model exhibited represents vertical
Of low pressure condenspg engine the most
ed construction, as used in The boats upon rivers
they usually have two boilers, the section CT one Of
which here represented in the model (here cross
| sections OF the boiler exhibited Each boiler has p
blower where anthracite coal is used and each blower
has small separate engine to drive IT, by which the
locity of the blowers and intensity Of the fires
may be increased or diminished at pleasure
The water should always cover the fires Of the
boiler, Sc, gage cocks to ascertain the level Of
A n IF nj
Of the tube in communication with the boiler, the steam
pressing upon the mercury in the tube causes gnsge
rod to project from the other end OF the tube &c. safety
valve Sc, throttle valve steam side pipe exhaust side
pipe, valve chest steam nduct valve exhaust valves
condenser, cylinder and piston. During the pressure OF
the steam upon the upper side Of the piston vacuum ia
produced in the cylinder below i, by the steam which
had raised the piston being condensed and when the
steam flows from the boiler under the piston. Is
produced above by the steam that had forced it down
By meeting JET cold ns nIse ol.S
playing into the condenser when the engine is in motion
The piston IL thus alternately forced up and down in the
cylinder by the steam, with all the force due to the pres
sure Of the steam above the atmospheric presure and
also with the additional force due the degree Of
existing on the opposite side OF the pison-air pump
| for drawing of the water and air that accumulates
in the condenser-hot water cisern-supply pipe
Sot water well wcthe power and motion COMMUNICATED
to the yiston BY the steam Is transmitted through
the medium Of the piston rod, connecting links,
| on the paddle wheel shaft Eccentric, ditto rod
and hook, rock shaft, valve rods and lters, the
arrangement Of which is suchsas 10 open the respective
valves at the precise time requiredthe dead centres
from which there no practical dihculy by Of
the momentum Of the paddle wheels crank and
ing rod Engines, when first introduced, being substi
tuted for the power Of horseshe size power Of the
engine usually designated by saying it is equal to the
power Of certain number OF horses but to avoid ambi
guilty. engineers have adopted standard value Of the
horse power which s that each horse power shall be
equal to tho raising of 49, lbs foot high per minute
| Mode Of estimating the power Of sn engine-vacuum
gage Steam used expansively-,he difference between
the high and low pressure engines, locomotives &C.
This interesting and useful subject was rendered
perfectly lntelhglbe TO tue audience by the clear
del, put in motion by small high pressure engine
attached to il, which developed the various evou-
| tons OF the machinery with perfect precision
plantations by MIR. Emmons, has induced him TO
repeat his lecture on Friday next, when, we hope
/ iufa cd in MT Qrhi