Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-12
BENDING SHIP TIMBER.

We witnessed yesterday some experiments in Trinity
buildings illustrative Of the capacity of machinery for
giving different and increased strength heavy
tmbers for shp-buding and other purposes The prn-
cpe upon which the force is exerted very simple An
iron model, with large groove corresponding to the
shape Of the knee passes in its whole length under cog
ged Wheel whose cogs ct into corresponding grooves in
the surface Of the model and performs semcrcuar
luton. 1t receives into It's anterior extremity which starts
under the wheel the stick OF timber be bent and s
II 1t lies upon the horizontal frame which supports The
chnery receiving the stick into its groove up the spot
where the begins where the model rises from the frame
tho knee Of the ship rises from the The horizontal
framework has also groove into which the stick is received
and its further end iron plate forced against steadily
by screw, giving strong and uniform end pressure In
the direction Of s length. II lies upon flexible band
which is attached to the end Of the model where the stick
rests Az the anterior Of the model passes under tho
ged wheel and rises right angle with the frame carrying
with the stick of timber bound in is by the flexible
iron band its posteror extremity deeend fitting the
timber until II Is level with the frame. The stick Of timber
has taken the shape Of the mould and when Geld
it's shape with much tenacty If II had grown into It. It
is very evident that when straight stick of timber bent
into semunar shape the fbres Of the wood upon the inner
side be packed densey The wood is steamed for
from half hour for each inch Of thickness and put into
the machine warm and moist and IL takes Its bent position
the inner hbres mpaeted without destroying the tissues
Of tho wood but only increasing slightly its density the
1t s stated by the inventor that thus bent much
stronger and will bear greater pressure than that which has
natural curve. BY slight modification OF the mouds or
del, which intended to be made sections great diver
y Of shape to double curve, be given and the
immense variety Of purposes to which this invention can be
applied will at suggest themselves 10 the mind II viii
give increased strength and ghtness furniture requiring
curves Of wooden material The principle Of making timber
flexible by the aid Of heat and moisture has been long known
and practsed upon and when the wonderfully per-
feet results Of such simple bat effective machinery appears
strange that its application should have been made be-
fore the present time II is supposed that this invention will
effect great auction In tho cost Of ship timber and
increase the buoynncy Of vessels by giving equal strength
with lesser weight Of timber The largest sticks that have
yet been bent bat inches in dnmetsr bat there APP
pears why sticks Of mnh larger sine should not be
handled with almost equal facility The only difficulty
would be increased strength and size Of machinery
The exhibition ~ the companys Office witnessed by
large number Of aud Others who all appeared to
BE- satisfied with the results Of the experiment
fec York Courier.