Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-03-19
TRIAL TRIP OF THE ERICSSON.

The first opportunity the public have had
for pronouncing upon the merits and success
of the new caloric ship Ericsson was afford
ed yesterday, when a select party of about
fifty, chiefly from the literary and legal pro-
fessions, took short trip in her down the
bay. Her performances fully realized the
anticipations of the most sanguine, and ell
icited from those who witnessed them, an
unqualified testimonial, as to the triumph of
the principle Under a pressure of twelve
pounds to a square inch, the ponderous hulk
was put in motion at will, and maintained a
speed Judged to exceed eight miles per hour,
against wind and tide, the wheel making ten
and quarter turns per minute. The en-
gine worked with perfect regularity from the
commencement to the end of the trip, and
without any jarring, except what is common
to the best constructed engines. A loud
missing noise proceeded from one of the cyl
inders, arising from defective packing, but
which could be easily remedied. The valves,
too, allowed Of some escape. The action of
the engine upon the air affords of itself per-
feet ventilation to all parts of the vessel. So
cool was the fre-room, ordinarily heated al
most beyond endurance, that the fireman,
(only one fireman is required, and but one
engineer worked in his pea-lacket. The
vessel was absent from her anchorage off the
Battery, only about three hours. On her
outward passage salutes were exchanged
with the steamship Baltic, coming in. After
breakfast, when the vessel and engine had
been thoroughly examined in every part, MIR.
Ericsson briefly explained, with the aid of
diagram, the operation of the engine, and
answered numerous enquiries relating to it.
He was frequently interrupted by bursts OF
applause; and as he progressed, the great
est enthusiasm was manifested Prot. Mapes
said, though he was afraid he should be un-
derstood as indulging in fulsome compliment,
that he regarded the names of Ericsson and
Fulton as belonging to the same category
names that would ever stand prominent in
history. Solon Robinson, Messrs. Stought-
on, Dana and White, Freeman Hunt and
others, expressed themselves in equivalent
terms.
| Mr.. E. said the chief principle involved in
the operation of this engine was that OF using
the same heat over and over again. This
was effected in a very simple way, through
the Intervention of what is called a "regen-
orator" between the valves and cylinder,
which is HOtniIlS uiorC VI A0SS 'i.oii '" ''
of l-l6th inch wire, compactly interviewer,
the whole containing "a square feet. Upon
the heated air passing through this, the cal
oric is absorbed, and the cold air, In return
ing, is again heated nearly enough to con.
tinue the motion Of the engine; IS tons OF
air is drawn through the meshes of the wire
each hour. The resistance to its passage Is
almost imperceptible. In its passage through
the meshes the air is instantaneously heated
to 400 degrees.-as rapid as the electric
fash. The wires are not oxidized by the
There is pair of cylinders on either side
ofthe shaft, each composed of two sections
the upper, called the supply cylinder, which
is 1877 inches in diameter, and the lower, o.
working cylinder. having diameter OF ios
inches, or IA feet. The atmospheric ar u