Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-20
THE CMLoRIC SHIP.

The experiment of Mr.. Ericsson of applying heated
air to the propulsion of ships is rapidly approaching
crisis The trial ship for this object launched in the
city Of New York several weeks ago. and by the first
December her machinery will be ready to test the FEAST
blity Of the discovery substitute for steam Opin-
ions much divided the subject The revolution
which it proposes in navigation is too wonderful not to
enlist the iveliest concern among business men, The
principle if successful with water craft is capable Of
plication to nearly all machinery driven by steam
Mills, factories and railway locomotives may employ it,
The discovery and rapid extension and employment of the
magnetic telegraph not remarkable than this
will be if its practical working should correspond with
the sanguine hopes of Mr. Ericsson and the friends
who are furnishing him with the means.
The principle involved in the construction Of the caoric
engine is the employment of heated air to the exclusion
furnaces boilers and the troublesome ct ceeras of the
steam engine The engine consists Of two cylinders, the
lower being of much greater diameter than the upper
The upper is called the supply, the lower the working
cylinder In each cylinder is fitted piston, correspond
ing to the diameter but arranged that the operations
made simultaneously. At the base Of the lower
working cylinder fire is applied and the machine is at
set in motion The piston in the upper cylinder de-
scends, series of valves placed in the top opened
and the cylinder is filled with cold air As the piston
rises these valves close and the air Within unable
escape, passes through another set of valves into
ceiver whence it again passes int the working cylinder
through an apparatus regenefat0r, Wnlcn
formed of series of wire-nettngs, placed side by sde
and about twelve inches in thickness The air. in pass
ing through the meshes of this contrvance, takes up
large amount of heat say 1902 In passing into the work
ing cylinder it receives additional amount of caoric
30 At the temperature of 4S00 the volume of air
is doubled by expansion, and in the effort to find vent
performs the work demanded of it by the engine In
other words 1t is the expansion of heated air in place Of
the vapor Of water team that produces the essential
propel,ing power The advantages to be derived from
this improvement should it prove effective too OBJ
vious to call for argument Most important of ALL it is
claimed that there be danger Of explosions, and
very little chance for fire shpboard. The saving in
is very considerable and the danger Of eaugc
placing the bed bolts through the bottom Of the
sci is entirely obyiated The bedpates firmly boted
rabe iron coating which to bid defiance to the
| binary dangers Of the steamships.
1t is not expected that ship thus propelled will make
the voyage to Europe short Of fourteen fifteen days
at least until the experiment is developed and points
OF Improvement suggested The competition in speed,
therefore, viii first be with the sailing merchantmen and
packets in heavy freghts not with the mail steamers
passengers and light and costly goods The greatest
revolution will probably be in the clipper service long
voyages around Capes Horn and Good Hope San Fran
cisco, China, and India. The present difficulty with
steamships and propelers is that they
ry coal sufficient for such voyages apd besides the in
convenience and loss Of time in putting intermediate
ports, they find the supplies Of fuel too uncertain and
costly TO do On the calculation Of Mr. Ericsson that
onefh only of the fuel required to make steam will be
sufficient to create the caloric vessel may carry from
New York all the coal necessary for the longest voyage
In addition TO her cargo freight .1lnF
The experiment is its definite trial to make the
expression Of opinion from the press all important
particularly abundant private have been ad-
vanced In its support If the discovery itself be
theory 1t Is not lees true that many of the objections
urged in advance against its practical theoretical
| Mem York Tines.