Washington sentinel., 1854-02-05
New Mode of steam Propulsion.

A few days since an article was copied into
your paper from the Edinburg Courant, Civ
ing an account of the new method of propel-
ling vessels invented by Ruthyen & Sons, of
Edinburg. 1t was the fortune of the writer,
in September last, to visit, in company with
the Hon. ]. R. Chandler, the ship-yard of the
Messrs. Ruthven, at New Haven, on the Firth Of
Forth, a few miles from Edinburg, and inspect
the vessel called the Enterprise, which was
then nearly ready for the launching and which
has since so successfully proved the advantages
of this method of propulsion over all others.
We regard it as the greatest invention of the
age, and feel satisfied that by it the paddle
wheel and screw will soon entirely be suppressed
ed. The Enterprise is vessel of 100 tons
burden, and having an engine of 30 horse power.
The propeling power is obtained entirely by
means of the reactive force of water-a princi
pal of hydraulics equally well established and
well known. To Illustrate however, let us sup
pose perpendicular tin pipe, of say a foot in
diameter and thirty feet in hight, and open only
at the top, to be filled with water. Now it is
well known that the pressure of water near the
bottom ofthe pipe will be the same on all parts
of the pipe at the same level but if hole be cut
in the side, of say an inch diameter, although
the pressure is relieved at that point, it still re-
mains the same as before at the point directly
opposite of the hole so cut, provided you keep
the water at the same level, and thus the equili-
brium being lost, the pipe is driven along in
direction contrary to the escape of the water.
The fact can easily be illustrated by expert
ment 1t is this simple principle which in the
hands of science, genius, and enterprise is,
without doubt, destined to create new era in
navigation. In the application of this princi-
pie to na,igation, the power of the steam en-
,h,t,t he r.
the weight Of the water-column. In the hold
of the Enterprise there is an iron tank of some
eight feet in diameter and about two feet thick
ness, composed Of two plates of iron screwed
tightly together, and in shape resembling two
large soup-plates placed one over the other.
This tank lies horizontally and below the water
level, so that by means of apertures communi-
eating with the bottom of the vessel it is al
ways full of water. From the centre of this
tank perpendicular shaft rises, connecting
the engines with sort of Wheel of very pecu-
liar construction and having but two arms
which revolves within the tank and, acting as
force-pump, drives the water through pipes
on each side of the tank and through nozzles
at the sides of the vessel, discharging it with
great velocity just above the water-level. The
nozzes Of the Enterprise are about eight inches
in diameter, and when the vessel is going for
warward lie along and parallel to the sides,
being about eighteen inches in length, and
shaped like goose-neck." They are mo-
vable, and are worked by wheel on the deck
Of the steamer, and the speed may be increased
or diminished by the position in which they
are placed. If placed at right angles to the
surface of the water, although the engines be
working with full power, the vessel continues
at rest. To stop the headway it is only neces-
sary to reverse the direction of these nozzles
without stopping the engine. In the trial-trip
of the Enterprise, she was brought to dead
stop in the space of forty feet, although run
ming at the rate of ten miles per hour when the
order to stop was given.
Again, by reversing one of the nozzles only,
the vessel swings round precisely as if moving
on pivot.
The advantages Of this method Of propulsion
over those of the wheel and screw are numer-
Gus, and it is reduced to demonstration that,
with the same power of engines and the same
amount Of fuel consumed, the vessel can be
propelled nearly one-third faster, as there is
one-third gained; so that, if the Collins steamers
were provided with these improvements, they
would cross in six days instead Of nine days,
saving, Of course, three days consumption of
coal, &C., while the whole paraphernalia Of