Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-02-01
The ErIcsson Engine.

Few have been able, from the descriptions
that have been published Of the wonderful
machine, invented and constructed by Capt.
Ericsson, to give any very definite idea Of
its shape, paris, or mode Of operalion.--
Some of The writer's have described TOO
much, 10 The confusion Of the reader, and
some too little, leaving his impressions in
complete. The invention, supposed by
many TO be complex. and beyond the range
OF ordinary comprehension, is, in fact, very
simple, and can be- understood by any one
having a moderate knowledge Of the me-
chancal power, and the construction of the
steam engine. The principle upon which
ihe idea of The atmospheric Engine is loun-
ded, is The expansabilily Of common air,
under the application Of heat This expan.
sive power is made to generate mechanical
force in The same manner that steam is
employed for a similar purpose, in the ordi-
nary steam engine. The heated air passes
into cylinder, giving motion 10 piston,
which is coupled TO the machinery Intended
to be driven. This, with the furnace for
generating heat, ard the apparatus for sup.
plying dir, is Tie whole. We will attempt,
in as few words as possible, TO describe the
working parts Of the engine Of the new ves-
sci, whose recent rial "Trip has realized all
and more than the inventor expected, and
which has excited so large share Of The
public curiosity, gasi-a aAq
The machine corresponds 10 what In Q
steam vessel is termed a double engne--lha
is 10 say, there are Two parts, each complete
lin itself, and connected with the other only
as il aids 10 produce the joint effect. A
single engine, which is all that il is neces
sary to describe, consists Of Two pairs o
! cylinders. The elargest Of each pair-beinl
fourteen feet in diame,er--is termed th'
working cylinder, and stands upon It's ent
over the furnace. Upon the top Of this !
placed another cylinder, eleven feel sevel
inches in diameter, the use Of which is 4
. condense by means Of piston, the atmos
pheric air. forcing il inlo reservoir above
: The working, like the air cylinder, Is pro
S vided with piston, both being attached .
Q the same rod, and operating with The sam
q movement, Fl3
n Lei the reader then imagine two pairs {
n such cylinders as we have described, s'anc
i ing each over its own furnace. their pislo
a rods connected with The opposite ends Of
h common working BEAM. The air which
/, forced from the air cylinder into the rese
: voir, passes from thence into the iurnac'
IF BY means of pipe, and is thrown in an e,
l. panded state beneath The piston OF the worl
}. ing cylinder, which il eevales, The heats
e air is then discharged, the piston sinks b
y its own weight, and The process re-commel
le ces. In The mean time, while the piston
of one Of the working cylinders is rising tn
le in the oiheris falling, and The movemen
se Of both being communicated 10 the workil
IN beam, the action is reciprocal, and motto
" is given. which completes The revolution.
% A We have as ye, RETAINED from nolicil
is the most remarkable Of all the features
el Captain Ericson's inveniion--lbai In she
or which is destined 70 giveeis its practic
Of value as an economs, Of labor, fuel, al
e. consequent expense. This part is call
of the .'regeneraior," and consists Of a mass
y. iron wire network, enclosed IN a suiial
uiI vessel, thfoagh which the cir passes on
y way 10 the working cylinder, and iihrou
r. whichsit Is also discharged aitefisl has P'
nd formed ils Office liz use consists 10 %
is SANITY preserving and employing 'be sa'
=