Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-03-06

There are perhaps not many OF our citi
zens aware that Davenport claims the cred
it OF being the home of one Of the ablest in
ventors of the time; yet snch is the fact
Dr. Christian Raub, Civil and Mining Engi
neer, of whose high scientific attainment
we have long been aware. presented to u
yesterday the original drawings OF his new
ly invented desert Locomotive" which !
desis sned, we believe, to bring about com
plete revolution in the conditions Of railroat
transportation and traffic. and We sicere
Iy hope, TO result in wide spread reputation
and large fortune to the ingenious and learn
ed inventor. DIR. Raub presents here 10
como,ive entirely different from all oul
present locomotives, both in shape and me
chanical arrangement, and We will try Il
give the public an idea Of the advantages o
this most interesting machine.
Following the course Of it's operation W
observe first very simply constructed self
feeding box, placed exactly 10 the centre o.
the machine, capable of containing the fue
for q passage Of 200 miles. and feeding the
fire chamber without help. In the fire
chamber are number Of pipes Of a peculiar
construction, intended as generators, con
tanning the water, which communicate with
the boiler and form part thereof thus
economizing the heat instead Of transmit
ting it to the surrounding water. After the
flames leave the fire chamber they pass a
fiue chamber. from whence they are com.
PEELED to touch first the lower part Of a flue
boiler arranged in the ordinary manner,
and which is intended as heater. The
very little smoke which may possibly reach
the smoke chamber, now leaves the boiler
and enters the chimney by an outside pipe,
since the chimney is not at the top of the
smoke chamber. as is usual in locomotives,
but in the immediate vicinity of the cylin-
ders, which rest in vertical position upon
the frame work, and form q perfect unity
with the boiler. In consequence Of the po-
sition of the cylinders the piston rod is
hinged to vertical swinging driving rod,
which again is connected with the conf ~ct-
ing rods Of two pair of driving wheels at its
central point. The entire motive power,
has been placed by this means at the cross
section vertically straight through the CEN
tre Of the machine. The connecting rods
form q segment of circle and Join the dr.
wing rod at it's tangent point, which at the
lowest terminus of its circumvolution
reaches near the track, while it never will
rise to the height of the centre of the dri-
wing axle. Beyond the entire length of the
machine and in perfect connection with the
frame work, is the water tender, carrying
sufficient water to consume all the fuel con-
tanned in the feeding box, and also to gen.
crate sufficient steam for passage Of two
hundred miles. The truck wheels are pre-.
sented in the drawing in two different
shapes, the application of one or the other
being subject to the results of peculiar
system Of analytical laws and rules their
Independent motion being secured in
manner very simple and at the same time
very exact in its operation. The water
feeding of the boiler is one of the most in
genious inventions ever seen, and will per-
form safely and with automatic certainty
many Of those operations, which under the
present saystem throw the safety Of life and
property on the watchfulness and skill Of
the engineer. Instead Of the water pump
and its uncertainty. its troublesome appli-
cation and intricate mechanism, there is a
simple slide valve applied, which in cou
formity with each stroke in the cylinder
moves upon plate located in the boiler at
the level Of the water line; by which op-
GRAFTON the water pipe acts as syphon,
drawing the water by condensation of steam,
keeping always the level Of the water line
infallible
The entire small mechanicism, including
the mechanical apparatus and link -motion.
has also been avoided, and has been reduced
to simple system Of levers, working both
the steam and water valves, while the
brake motion is produced by an easily per-
formed transposition of said levers. Fin
ally the management of the brakes has been
brought under the control Of the engineer,
and is subject to the application Of the
steam-power. Furthermore, when We say
that the construction Of locomotives gener-
ally will be released in future from depsn-
dency on accidental results. as the inventor
Of the above described machine, Mr.. Raub
has calculated general system Of analitical
formulas, reduced to tie simplicity Of prac-
teal application for any educated mechanic,
and, consequently, any locomotive for a
special purpose may be arranged and con-
structed according to said mathematical
laws, being the result Of long years Of study
and investigation Of the matter, and the
final disposition Of the elements Of the
sciences connected Herewith, explained by
mathematical analysis-we believe that
every citizen Of this community viii con-
gratulate the talented and presevering in
ventor on the accomplishment and perfec-
ton of his valuable machine. With regard
to the advantages Of DR.. Raub's locomotive,
We believe that it will produce immense
economical effect, since the construction will
avoid the use of oil the turntables, and the
employment of bfaksmeu and perhaps hre-
men. 1t will certainly save Is per cent. Of
fuel, and it will gain just - much in work
ing power; also it will save the public from
the danger of an explosion of the boiler
since the water ins never can be altered.
We call the attention Of our mechanics
and monied men to this important invention.
Can they not secure the construction ol
these engines at home. and release the in
vontnr nd the nuhliN from dAnAn6AneA or