Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-09-22

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Over each of these is placed one mucl
smaller. Within these are pistons, ex
actly fitting their respective cylinders, anG
so connected that those within the lower
and upper cylinders move together. Un,
der the bottom of each of the lower cylin.
ders fire is applied. No other furnace,
are employed. Neither boilers nor water
are used. The lower is called the
working cylinder: the upper the supply
cylinder. AS the piston in the supply.
ing cylinder moves down, valves placed in
its top open, and it becomes filed with
cold air. As the piston rises within It,
these valves close, and the air within, un-
able to escape as it came, passes through
another set of valves, into q receiver.
from whence it passes into the working
cylinder, to force up the working piston
within it. As it leaves the receiver to
perform this duty, it passes through what
is called the regenerator, which we shall
soon explain, where it becomes heated to
about four hundred and fifty degrees. and
upon entering the working cylinder, it is
further heated by the fire underneath
We have said the working cylinder is
much larger in diameter than the supply
cylinder. Let us, for sake of illustration
merely, suppose it to contain double the
area. The cold air which entered the up
per cylinder will, therefore, but half fill
the lower one. In the course of its pas
sage to the latter however, we have said
that it passes through regenerator, and
let us suppose, that as it enters the work
ing cylinder, it has become heated to
about four hundred and eighty degrees.
At this temperature, atmospheric air ex-
pands to double its volume. The same
atmospheric air, therefore, which was con-
tanned in the supply cylinder, is now ca
pable of filing one of twice its size
With this enlarged capacity, it enters the
working cylinder.
We will further suppose the area of the
piston within this cylinder to contain a
thousand square inches. and the area of
the piston in the supplying cylinder above
to contain but five hundred. The air
presses upon this with mean force, we
will suppose of about II pounds to each
square inch; or in other words with a
weight of $500 pounds. Upon this
surface of the lower piston, the heated air
is, however, pressing upwards with like
force upon each one of its one thousand
square inches, or, in other words, with a
force Of 900 pounds. Here, then, is a
force which, after overcoming the weight
above, leaves a surplus of 5, 500 pounds,
if we make no allowance for friction.--
This surplus furnishes the working power
of the engine. 1t will be readily seen that
after one stroke fits pistons is made, it
will continue to work with this force so
long as sufficient heat is applied to ex-
pand the air in the working cylinder to
the extent stated; for so long as the area
of the lower piston is greater than that ol
the upper, and like pressure is upon
every square inch of each, SO long will the
greater piston push forward into the small
Ter, as a two-pound weight upon one end
of a balance will be quite sure to bear
down one pound placed upon the other
We need hardly say that after the air in
the working cylinder has forced up the
piston within it, valve opens, and as
it passes out, the pistons, by force of gras
vity descend, and cold air again rushe-
into. and fills the supply cylinder, as we
have before described. In this manner
the two cylinders are alternately supplied
and discharged, causing the pistons in
each to play up and down, substantially
as they do in the steam engine.
We trust our readers will be able, from
the brief description we have here at
tempted, to understand at least the gene
raj principles upon which this machine
operates. Its cylinders draw their sup
ply from the atmosphere. The cylinders
of the steam engine are supplied by seal.
ding vapor drawn from Kissing boilers
The caloric engine draws into its iron lungs
the same element which expands those ol
the most delicate child, and derives Its
motion and its power from that sustain.
ing source upon which depends the exis.
tence of all animated life.
We have endeavored to explain the
construction of the caloric engine. Its
most striking feature consists in what i:
called by its inventor the regenerator.-
Before describing this, we will present the
grand idea upon which it is based. First
| let it be remembered that the power oi
the steam-engine depends upon the hea
employed to produce steam within its boi
lers. 1t will be seen that from the very
nature of steam the heat required to pro-
duce.it, amounting to about 1900 deg, is
entirely lost by condensation the moment
it has once cxerted it's force upon the Pis
ton. If, instead of being so lost all the
heat used in creating the steam employed
could, at the moment Of condensation, be
recovered to the furnace, there again tC
aid in producing steam in the boilers, bu
a very little fuel would be necessary. none
in fact, except just enough to supply the
i nse:s.t lost by radiation. The reason Is
obvious. Let us suppose the steam hai
passed from the boiler, has entered the
cylinder. has driven the piston forward
and is about to pass into the condenser
there to change its form. and be agar
converted into water. The steam, yet II