The daily union., 1852-11-30
THE UNION WASHINGTON TUESDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 80 1852

The cALoaic sHlP.--The experiment pi Mr.. Ericsson,
OF applying heated TO The propulsion of ships, rapid
y approaching crisis The trial ship for this object
launched in this city several weeks ago, and by the
rst OF December her machinery will be ready 10 test the
feasibility OF the discovery substitute for steam.
Opinions much divided on The subject The reyolu.
on which il proposes in navigation is too wonderful
not 10 enlist the vellcst among business
The principle il successful with craft. is capable
OF application 10 nearly all machinery now driven by
steam Mills. factories. and railway locomotives may
employ il. The discovery and rapid extension and EN-
ployment OF the magnetic telegraph not remark
able than this will he If its practical working should
respond with the now sangune hopes o Mr. Ericsson and
the friends who are furnishing him with the means.
The principle involved in The construction of the
orlc engine is the employment OF heated air, TO the
cuson OF furnaces, boilers and the troublesome et ess
ras OF the steam nengne 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.
corresponding 10 the diameter but arranged that the
operations are made simultaneously. Al the base oil the
lower working cylinder fire is applied and the
chine is at once set in motion The piston in the upper
cylinder descends series OF valves placed n The top
opened and the cylinder is filed with cold air As the
piston rises these valves close and the air within,
Bile to escape. passes through another OF valves into
receiver whence il again passes into the working cy
Under through an apparatus called the Regeneration,
which is formed OF series of wire neings. placed side
by sde and about twelve iaches in thickness.
The air. n passing through the meshes OF this conri
vance, takes up large amount al heatsay 45o degrees
In passing into the working cylinder il receives adj
donal amount Of calonc-say 80 degrees. AT the tenn
peratue OF $50 degrees the volume OF air is doubled by
expansion and in the effort to find vent, performs the
work demanded OF il by the engine. In other words
s the expansion Of heated air in place Of the yapor OF
water, steam, that produces the essential propeng
power. The advantages to be derived from this i'm
provement, should it prove effecve too obvious 10
call for argument Most important OF all, il is claimed
hat there be no danger OF explosions, and very e
chance for fire on shipboard. The saving in room is
very considerable and the danger Of leakage from placing
the bed-pate bolts through the bottom OF the vessel is
entirely ohva,ed, The bedplates are firmly bolled to
the flooring Of the Ship and constitute safe and durable
iron coating, which 10 bid defiance 10 The ordinary
dangers OF The steamships.
|, 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 new points
OF improvement suggested. The competition in speed
therefore, will first be with the sailing merchantmen and
packets, in heavy weights; not with the mail steamers
In passengers and light and costly goods. The greatest
revolution will probably be in the clipper service on
long voyages around Capes Horn and Good Hope 10 San
Francisco, China, and India. The present difficulty with
steamships and steam propeers s that they cannot carry
coal sufficient for such voyages and hesdes the ncon
yenenee and loss Of time in putting into intermediate
ports, they find the supplies of fuel uncertain and
costly to do On the calculation of Mr. Ericsson, that
TO create the calorc, vessel may carry from New York
all the coal necessary for the longest voyage. addition
to her cargo on freight
The experiment 10 too near its definite trial 10 make
the expression OF an opinion from the press all import
ant, particularly abundant private means have be en-
advanced in It's support Ii the discovery itself be
theory is not less true that many OF the objections
urged in advance against its practical are theoretical
[N Y Tmts