Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1852-09-18

the working cylinder to the extent stated; fol
so long as the area of the lower piston /.
greater than that of the upper, and like
pressure is upon every square inch Of each
SO longer will the greater piston push for.
ward the smaller, as a two-pOund weight
upon one end of 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 il
passes out, the pistons, by force OF gravity
descend, and cold air again rushes into, anC
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 attempted,
to understand at least the general principles
upon which this machine operates. Its cylin-
ders draw their supply from the atmosphere.
The cylinders of the steam-engine are sup
piled by scalding vapor, drawn from kissing
boilers. The caloric engine draws into its
iron lungs, the same element which expands
its motion and its power from that sustaining
source upon which depends the existence OF
all animate li!e
We have endeav6red to explain the con-
struction of the caloric engine. Its most
striking feature consists in what is called by
its inventor, the Regeneration Before de-
scribing this, we will present the grand idea
upon which it is based First let it be re-
membered that the power of the steam-en-
gine depends upon the heat employed to pro-
duce steam within its boilers 1t will be
seen that from the very nature Of steam the
heat required to produce it, amounting to
about ,2OOs, is entirely lost by condensa-
tion the moment it has once exerted its force
upon the piston. II, instead of being SO lost,
all the heat used in creating the steam en-
ployed could, at the moment of condensation
be reconveyed to the furnace, there again to
aid in producing steam in the boilers, but a
very little fuel would be necessary; none, in
fact, except just enough to supply the heat
lost by radiation. The reason is obvious
Let us suppose the steam has 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 again converted into water
This steam, yet in the cylinder, and uncon-
densed, possesses all the heat it contained
before passing out of the boiler. Ii has
driven the piston forward, but in that effort
it has lost no heat That source of power it
still contains.
Let it be supposed that the heat contained
in the steam could, at the moment it is con-
verted into water within the condenserS. be
saved, and by some device be again used to
create steam from water within the boiler,
with what exceeding cheapness could the
power of the steam engine be employed
But it is quite impossible thus to re-employ
the heat of steam: it cannot thus be saved;
and hence every effort to economize in this
manner would be unavaIling
The propositions we have here advanced
were, it appears, more than 25 years since
familiar TO the mind of Captain Ericsson
He was at that early period deeply impress
ed with their Importance and regarding heat
as the sole source Of motive-power, was
anxious to discover some element in which ii
could be so employed that, after giving mo-
ton to machinery,.it it should be returned to
act over and over again for the same purpose.
But reflection was necessary to convince him
that steam was not this element 1t must
consist of some permanent gas, and atmos-
pheric air seemed admirably adapted to the
purpose. Accordingly it was employed by
him.
In work entitled .' A Dictionary of the
Arts of Life and Civilization" /" published in
London in 1888, the author, Sir Richard
Phillips, mentions an engine which Captain
Ericsson then had in operation in that city,
as his application of excited or rarefed air
to the performance Of those powers of ma
chinery which hitherto have been made to
depend on the Intervention of boiling water
and its steam" The author further states
hat he :" has, with inexpressible delight,
seen the first model machine, of five horse
power at work. With a handful Of fuel ap-
,led TO the very sensible medium of atmos-
oheric air, and most ingenious disposition
Of Its differential powers, he beheld a result
ng action. in narrow compass, capable of
extension to as great forces as ever can be
welded or used by man."
The author adds The principle Of this
lew engine consists in this: that the heat
which is required to give motion to the en-
zine at the commencement, is returned by a
peculiar process of transfer, and thereby
made to act over and over again, instead of
'eing, as in the steam-engine, thrown into
! condenser, or pto the atmospheric, as sol
much waste fuel"
During the last nineteen years, Captain
ericsson has employed much of his time,
md expended large amounts of money, in
overcoming those practical difficulties which
ire ever stumbling blocks ia the way leading
o the successful development of great
rlnciple in new machinery. This he has
ow achieved. The principle of his inven-
ion, as stated by Sir Richard Phillips, is
till retained, embodied in that practical and
onplete form, which render this engine
economical, absolutely safe, durable, simple
q construction. and in action effective.
Let US now attempt TO describe the regen-