Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-12-15
ssThe Marvel Of Steam Engineering"

0The Marvel OF steam Engineering"
| The Philadelpbia correspondent OF the
Iron Age contains the following descrip-
! ton of gem of q steam engine:
eve have a perfect host of interest
ing aud useful inventions TO note this
week An enat0yTass de richesses lit
would be more popular to make the
quotation in German just now which
completely overpowers the resources OF
the solid nonpareil of your column.
OF this number we extract the most
noteworthy, reservlng, o. course, the
bonnie bouche for the last.
prominent among these is what
seems Justly termed THE marvel OF
steam engineering This little machine,
which is a rotary steam engine, certain
y combines the maximum of power in
the minimum of space, and seems like
ly to go far toward superseding the
piston engine Thus, for economy and
space, We have IN eight-horse engine,
with governor attached, the entire en-
CINE enclosed within circular case, rs
inches diameter by 2 inches wide, and
looking not unlike an ordinary grind
stone when hung In frame. The prin-
ciple upon which the invention is based
is the same as that involved in the tru-
bine water wheel, with the essential diff
ference, however, that the engine con
sists of two wheels within one case
rotating In opposite directions with
equal force and speed-one, the outer
wheel, being driven by the direct action
of steam upon buckets extending around
the inside surface OF it's arm, and the
other by the reactiye force of the steam
which escapes from two tubular radial
arms, bent and tiattened at their ends
from which the steam Is discharged.
This latter wheel has a hollow journal,
connected with the supply steam pipe
by stationary steam-tight sleeve
through which the steam is led to the
hollow axle OF journal of the wheel.
These wheels, therefore, have equal We
locity and power, and each has pulley
attached, from whence belts are carried
to the counter shaft, one of the belts be-
ing reversed or crossed. The advan-
tages Of this ingenious piece of mechan-
ism are numerous. 1t costs but one-half
the price OF a piston engine; econo-
my of space and weight, a 30-horse en-
giur weighing but 800 pounds; simphcl-
tv OF construction, having no valves, ec-
centres, cut-piis or connection-rods; and
moreover, tLat 10 engineer Is required
TO run it, any one competent to fire and
watch u boiler being sufficient. For
farm labor, hosting purposes. drilling,
factories, etc, tins engine must become
valuable, and n very slight adoption Of
boiler, with the consumption OF the ex-
haust steam, to avoid noise, would make
it o most valuable motor for our city
railway cars. The specimen visited was
not larger than an ordinary circular
cheese, and was yet driving fan-blow
err and circular saw of thirty inch di-
ameter, with power to spare Although
not an entirely new invention, having
been in use for two years, 1t is well wor-
thy of notice, and to many of your read
ers would be valuable and economical
addition to the workshop"
Testing the Electric. Magnetic Car Brake
on the Erie.
Recently the Olmstead Electric Mag
netic Car brake was tried on the Erie
Railway under the supervision OF Mr..
w. q. Cook, the proprietor OF the pat
emit. a special train of five cars, on
each of which was placed the brake,
started from Jersey City in charge OF
Conductor Bradley shortly after ii
o'clock, and went to Hackensack june
ton Messrs. Fisk and Gould, who
we're expected, did not witness the trial.
Mr. Gould arrived at the depot in few
minutes after the departure OF the train
Among the officials of the road and
gentlemen interested in railroading who
we're on the train were Messrs. James
B. Doremus, A. Y. Randall, e. o. Hill,
S. s. Berdan, Mr. Snow, inventor of the
adjustable car axle, John Earl, N. Hatch,
and others.
This brake is In successful operation
on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy,
and the Providence and Worcester Rail
roads 1t consists of Daniels battery,
three cups being the full complement of
a car Wires from these cups connect
with the bell-cord, by means of which 1t
can be operated 10y the engineer or con
ductor. Pulling this cord, the circuit is
opened, and the friction wheel is placed
on shaft parallel with the car axle, by
means of magnet swings against the
axle whose revolutions turn the wheel,
winding up the chain Of the brake al
most simultaneously. 1t is not SO la
BILE rs the hand brake to get out of or
der Should it fail on one car, its work
ing on the rest of the train is not endan-
gered, as each car is independent. The
cost per month does not exceed 20 cents
n car.
The brakes being applied instantane-
ously to each brake, there is no jerking
of common brakes, making the stops
even and steady. While the train was
running at the rate OF % miles an hour,