Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-06-05
THE CALoRIC SHIP ERICSSON.

The editor of The Boston Evening Transcript gives the
following Of this enterprise in his journal Of the
9th ultimo, after personal visit to the works in New
York. where the machinery for the calorc ship is
being built and where also sixy-horse power trial en-
CINE is in operation this principle for the produc
tion Of motive power:
"The idea Of substituting new and superior motive
power for steam will doubt strike many minds
ravagant, if chmerical We have been so accustom
ed regard steam power as the plus ultra OF attain
ment in subecng the modified forces Of nature to the
service of man. that discovery which promises to super
sede this agency viii have contend with the most for
midabe preconcepons well as with gigantic interests
Nevertheless it may now be predicted with confidence
that the Of another great revelation pro-
duced by the application Of agent ecomical and
intellectually safer than steam On Saturday visited the
mandatory and had the privilege of inspecting Erics
sons caorc engine Of sixty horse power while 1t was in
operation consists of two pairs Of cylinders the work
ing pisons Of which y inches in diameter Its great
pecuare consist in its very large cylinders and pistons
working with very low pressure and in the absence of
boilers heaters, there being other fires employed
than those in small CRATES under the bottoms of the work.
ing cylinders. During the eight months that this test
engine has been in operation has been expend
ed for repairs accidents. 1t is beautiful and mpos
ing object and conveys the idea Of power and symmetry
much mpressively than the largest steam engine
that have seen The leading principle of the
oric engine consists in producing motive power by the
employment of the expansive force Of atmospheric air in
stead of that Of steam the force being produced by
preston Of the air in part of the machine and by its
dtaton by the application OF heat In another part This
Utilization, however is not effected by continuous appca
ton Of combustbes but by peculiar process of transfer
by which the caorc is made to operate and
again. viz the heat Of the air escaping from the working
cylinder at each successive stroke Of the engine trans
ferred TO the cold compressed air entering the
that in fact continued application of fuel only
sary order TO make good the losses Of heat occasoned
by the unavoidable radiation Of the heated parts Of the
machine The obvious advantages of this great improve
the great saving of fuel and Of labor in the
nagement Of the engine, and its perfect safety ship
carrying the amount of coal that the Atlantic steamers
take for single trip could cross and the
Atlantic twice without taking in coal and the voyage
China to California could be easily accomplished by
caoric ship without the necessity Of stopping any
port to take in fuel There being smoke short pipe
carry of the carbonc acid gas and other products Of
combustion is all that is needed But the great advan
age of this important improvement and that which, in
the absence Of other advantages, would commend il 20
adoption is the entire safety Of the engine explosion
being impossible In steam engines, if the water gets
low if there is of pressure any defect in
the materials Of which the boiler is composed,
heating Of the furnace tops occasoned by ncrustaton
formed by salt in marine boilers &C., explosion is in
evtabe But in the caoric engine the only result from
neglect will be the stoppcoe Of he engine The present
test engine shows that there must be neglect to put in
fuel for the space Of three hours before the speed is even
sackened. Thus you have nothing TO fear from sleepy
engineer ambitious captain and all the while not
onequarer the amount Of attendance and labor required
TO keep steam engine in motion will be needed. ca
oc ship OF Zoo tons TO be called the Ericsson Is now
in process Of construction and is in such state Of for
wardness that she viii be in frames by the end OF next
week She is a very beautiful model, and is the admira
ton Of all shipbulders for her remarkable strength being
admitted TO have the strongest bottom Of any ship built
in New York. The machinery is more than half COM
psted. saw three out Of the four working cylinders,
the paddew heels all the valves and valve chests the
main links and connecting rods the bed plates, and main
pillar blocks and various other parts Of the engines oil
Of them massive forms Of metal cast with the utmost pre-
cison and smoohness The cylinders 168 inches in
dameter-72 inches larger than those in the Collins
The Ericsson viii be ready for by October
next and her owners intend take passengers at re-
the new principle. The ship belongs TO Mr. John b.
Ktching and few other wealthy men. The Ericsson
will be commanded by Captain Lowber"