The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1872-08-24
A MECHANICAL TRIUMPH.
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From the Racine (wis) Argus.
Thomas Morton, member Of the senior
class Of Racine College, and resident of
Racine, las invented an improvement upon
the crank, which is deemed by many prac
tical engineers and scientific men likely TO
prove one of the most valuable and greatest
inventions Of the age.
Persons familiar with machinery arc
aware that there are two dead points In the
crank where all tho power is lost; y balance.
wheel Is necessary to carry the machinery
beyond these points; the balance wheel Is
not able Of itself to generate any force, 50
that double the power Is required, one half
to turn the machinery while the crank is
working. and the other half 10 give sufli.
cicnt momentum to the Ia lance wheel to
carry the machinery beyond the points
where the cranks cannot act.
Mr.. Morton's improvement docs away
with the dead points entirely, and keeps the
power continually upon the long lever, or,
40 engineers call it, the half center, thus
very nearly doubling the power, and 50 saw.
ing great amount Of fuel in engines. II
can readily he applied Ia Ill kinds Of crank
machinery, engines, !athcs, sewing mschin.
cry, etc.
Mr.. Morton went in person to Washington
and procured = patent; he says that the
men in tho Patent Office pronounced his in.
vention wholly new from anything they
had ever seen also the engineers ut the
capitol building gave rs their opinion that
1t was very excellent improvement, and .
perfect success.
No one has yet given reason Why it will
not work, aud the only argument raised
against It is that 1t has bccn labored ut ever
since steam engines were first invented,
many men having spent their fortunes and
lives in searching after II, and people can.
not believe that Mr.. Morton, being young,
and not a practical mechanic, has really
found the secret.
The simplicity of the invention IL almost
ridiculous. and makes one laugh and wonder
Why 1t was never thought Of before. 1t con.
sists of . rachel wheel, which takes the
place If the crank over this ratchet wheel
runs frame, in the two sides of which arc
movable cogs or pawls, when the connect.
ing rod drives the frame out the cogs on
one side act upon the teeth Of tho wheel
and carry it half way around, while at the
same time the cogs on the opposite side.
working in contrary direction, when
touched Ivy the teeth Of the wheel are thrown
out Of tho way. aud the instan. they scrape
the teeth Of the wheel they adjust them.
selves by their own weight or by means Of
springs, and arc ~ ready to carry the wheel
tho remaining half revolution when the
connecting rod is drawn in, thus rcvolu.
tion Is obtained with every stroke Of the
piston, and no time is E,st.
Mr.. Morton got up the invention and
demonstrated II in two days, anil declares
that hc never thought Of it before iu his
life, in fac. hc never knew that there WIS
anything wanting in the crank His sur.
prise can only he imagined when he found
that his simple little iLe, had opened
prospect for fame and wealth.