The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-01-26
The New Motive Power.

L ne telegraph INFORMED US uay ortWO
ago that the coloric ship, Ericsson, had
made another trial trip, and had proceed
ed down the bay against the tide and a
strong head wind, at the rate of seven to
eight knots an hour. As every thing re-
lating to this important invention can not
but be deeply interesting to our readers,
we shall not apologize for our frequent re-
ference TO it. Upon its success. OF which
we are not permitted any longer to doubt.
the advancement of civilization will be the
more rapidly spread, and human happi.
ness, comfort and convenience increased.
We have already stated the great saving
in fuel this invention will secure, also its
security against explosions, and the little
danger there is from fire from the furnaces
which heat the air in the cylinders. We
now give the best account we have yet
seen of the propelling apparatus and its
mode OF operation. We copy from the
New York Times:--
The leading peculiarities Of the caloric
ship, it is we'll known, consist in the appli.
cation Of heated air to the propulsion Of
vessels. The radical alteration which is
accomplished by this plan in the cons,ruc-
ton Of the engine, renders description
of the machinery, unaccompanied by dia.
grams. a matter Of some difficulty. The
engine consists Of two pairs of cylinders.
connected in their action, but not placed
side by side. Each pair is composed of
two cylinders, Of which the lower one is
much the larger. The upper is termed
the supply cylinder; the lower the working
cylinder. The diameter of the working,
or lower cylinder is 1863 inches; of the up
per 1877 inches each. Their bore, it will
be remarked, is surprisingly large. The
position Of the cylinders is exactly in the
center ofthe vessel.
The operation oI the engines is remarka.
bly, simple. A fire is kindled in the furna-
ces attached to the lower cylinders, the
flames being removed to distance ofabout
five feet from the bottom Of the cylinder.
so that no actual contact can take place.
The application Of heat serves to increase
The temperature Of the air already contain
ed in the lower cylinder. The air thus
heated, seeks ventwhichis is readily found
in series OF valves properly arranged for
The purpose. The cylinders being each
provided with piston, fitting closely with
in it, but so contrived that the pistons of
both cylinders operate simultaneously, the
vacuum created by the escape OF the air
rom the working cylinder causes the des.
cent ofthe lower piston, which, ofnecessity,
1raws down with tthe piston OF the supply
cylinder, and the work Of the engine is
airly commenced, in this wise: A series
IF valves, each of which is two feet in d.
ameter, is placed in the top Of each supply
cylinder, and these valves instantly open
1t the descent OF the pstons. A current
If cold air rushes in, which passes down,
ollowing the piston Of the upper cylinder,
Until it is stopped by the regenerator. a
,ontrivance upon which depends the sue.
,cssfal operation Of the machinery. The
lir having entered this regenerator. is
from cold into warm current,
" the operation Of the simplest philoso-
'hical laws. The construction of the ere.
is at once simple and ingenious.
The invention of this remarkable feature
f the engine is entirely due to the genius
f Captain Ericsson. He found, BY a
cries Of careful experiments on the prop
rites of fcaloric. that the affinities of metals
Or heat was marked by peculiar circsm-
tanoes; that the absorption aud radiation
4 heat from metallic surfaces is nearly
and that the expansive force
{ air when its volume is doubled by the
pplication Of heat, was at least equal to
le power ofsteam. i3a ~
The apparatus known ~ the regenera. J.