The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-27
The NEW MOTIVE POWER.

The Caloric Engine is no hasty product
Twenty five years ago, Ericsson conceived the
idea. For twenty-five years he has been eu-
gagged in celebrating and perfectng it. In
1888, he propounded it to the scientific world
at London. Men of the highest authority, such
men as faraday and Brunei, pronounced it
good and predicted its triumph. But there
were practical difficulties The principle was
clear not so its application. Those difficulties
have had to be overcome gradually, one by one
Since the first model engine of FIVE horse power
was constructed, the inventor has built some
twelve or thirteen others in each making some
Improvement removing some obstacle. Two
years since his invention was complete No
hindrance remained to be vanqushed. He was
ready to submit the New Motive Power to the
test OF trial on the largest scale. Fortunate
beyond other great inventors, at every step he
had found means to 90 forward. Aud now
came the final demonstration. For that means
were also found. Enlightened capitalists came
forward and examined, and were convinced
The funds were furnished. It was determined
to bring out the machine on a scale unprece-
dented in the history of inventions The Erics-
son, asplendid ship of 2 200 tons, was construct
ed, the machinery built and put on board
The public trial has taken place at the earl-
est possible moment if anything, too soon for
perfect justice to the invention. Though the
engine was unfinished, and unable to perform
all the work for which it is designed, yet, as
many unfavorable rumors had been put in cir.
culation, such as that it could not move the
ship from the dock, that the wheels had to be
turned by hand, that it was but vast hum.
bug, with others of the same sort-in order to
silence these assertions, and relieve the owners
from the sneers and imputations to which they
were subjected as having thrown away their
money on deusion, it was determined to an
ticipate the time of bringing out the ship, and
to submit the Caloric Engine to public inspec-
ton, even in its present imperfect state, and
with the certainty that it could not exhibit its
whole power
This was first done in the trial trip of last
week, when only the inventor, owners, and
crew OF the ship, were present. Her perform
ance on that occasion we have recorded Yes.
terday second trial was made. This was for
the special satisfaction of the members of the
Press. Representatives were present from all,
or nearly ali, the journals of the city, including
several of the edtors-in.chief Of the respective
papers The party was taken from Whitehall
at about half past 9, in a small steamer. IL
was nearly 10 when the Ericsson was put in
motion. With the tide and light breeze
against her, she ran down beyond the Narrows,
distance of some ten miles the tide was also
against her in returning; the run each way
was accomplished in about an hour and quar-
ter, making her average speed about eight
miles an hour against the tide.
The time on the passage down was spent in
discussing an excellent breakfast, and in ex-
aiming the engine The first thing in the en-
CINE which strikes the observer, is the magni-
tude of the cylinders. These are fourteen feet
in diameter, siA feet more than those of the
Collins steamers. There are four in the Erics-
son, standing in q fore-and-aft line two before
and two abaft the shaft, and working in pairs
upon It, From the base of the cylinders to the
summit il about thirty feet. Each cylinder il
double, consisting of what ia called a working
cylinder and u supply cylinder; the latter be.
ing on top, and united with the other though
OF inferior diameter. The working cylinder
of the machine is developed in the form of air
expanded " heat. The supply cylinder is al.
ways cold. The working cylinder is fourteen
feet in diameter the piston which PLAYS in it
has superiicies of %, 300 square inches. The
supply cylinder is eleven feet seven inches in
diameter, and the area of its piston is IA 500
powerful iron rods. The stroke is six feet. On
the under side of the upper piston are valves
through which the supply of fresh air is drawn,
after the machine 10 put in motion Over the
supply cylinder is a reservoir, in which the up
ward motion Of the piston congresses the air,
which passes in there through valves The
connection between the reservoir and working
cylinder is by large pipe running from the
former to the base of the latter. The engine
is set in motion by pumping cold air into the
reservoir, by hand or otherwise.
From the reservoir, through valve at the
bottom of the large connecting pipe, the COM
pressed air is admitted into the working cylin-
der over the furnace, Here i is instantly heat
ed, and by its expansion drives up the piston,
and at the same time congresses the air in the
supply cylinder, and forces it into the reservoir
Then another valve in the connecting pipe
opens, and the hot air lie lot Of into the atmos-
phere This removes the pressure that has
driven the piston up, when its own weight
brings it down again, and the escape valve
closes Then the supply valve opens again.
and lets the cold air in over the furnace it is
heated, and 20 the process goes on.
But the great feature OF the invention is vet
TO he described This is the apparatus by
which the main part Of the heat which az