Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-01-18
Mechanical Fallacies.

IT is very generally supposed that the
nclef in perpetual motion, like the behei
in witchcratt, has died a natural death
but this is not the case. II Is rs flourish
ing as ever, but in IA somewhat different
form, and the title improvements in mo
tive power covers any number OF me
chanical falIacies. The patent records
furnish some instructive information on
the subject, and we will take the year
1866 rs an example. In that year sixty.
four patents were granted for obtaining
motive power, and twenty of these de
pend for their presumed action upon the
simple principle that 2x2 is greater than
H. They are not only self-moving ma
chimes hut they supply power To drive
others. 1t is quite unnecessary to men
ton them all in detail, but we may speak
Of few of them ii is the old, old story.
One engineer has "A wheel, provided ut
the extremiticS Of the arms with flexible
bags, weighted at one end. The bags
open and I'LL with air as they arrive al the
bottom, and the air is forced out as the
wheel brings the weighted end uppcrmost.
A "mechanician" patents "a combination
OF levers and rods fearful 10 contemplate,
whereby a greater amount OF power IS
rendered available for use and aiding 10
overcome the resistance. Another in
yentor speaks of "a power crcating
wheel" which consists of wheel
having a tube OF vulcan
lied Indiarubber secured on a
portion of lis outer periphery, the ends
being connected with the hollow axle 10
which the wheel is attached. The other
wheel has an elastic tube on the opposite
portion of the periphery so that one tube
may always bc undergoing compression.
BY this means supply OF compressed air
Is obtained, which, says the enthusiastic
individual who proposes the plan, 'is the
power use for driving or propelling
such engine carriage or apparatus. one
inventor proposes 10 gain power by means
of weight revolving at u high velocity,
while another lays down this principle:
ANY body being plunged in liquid is
submitted 70 two opposite forces; first, ITS
own weight, which tends 10 lower NJ;
secondly, the pressure 81 the hquld,
which tends 10 raise ii with force equal
10 the weight Of tie liquid displaced by
the BODY. The difference between these
two forces is the motive power which the
inventor proposes TO use. On the prlnci'
pie of having ones cake and eating
it." weak-mindcG enthusiast attempts
"t0 produce motive power by the force
of steam acting on reaction and direct
action wheel both, however at the same
time" In other words, his machine con
gist. Of the tOy known a Hero's steam
engine" combined with BrauCa's engine
Another equally greedy individual utiliZcs
the force Of the steam expended on the
top and bottom Of the cylinder during the
up and down strokes of the piston, which
is effected by causing the steam cylinder
To slide in the reverse direction to the
piston. What, however, is most amusing
Is the -eif satisfied air Of the motive power
man when he cOBdescends 10 argue. We
will take. a. an instance. the author OF a
machine. the name of which perhaps indl-
Gates To some extent the cloudy cOndl-
ton of the inventors mind, and which Is
described in the specifications a. an en-.
gine manufacturing power, and ol
which il is stated that il constitutes that
dnsidcrafum so thoroughly tabo0cH in
assumed impracticabiliIy OF attainment
that scientific bodies have in instances de.
termined TO consider no such question -
quite right, too. The inventor then pro-
ceeds 10 develop his theory At length.
Skeptics are disposed Of in the follow
ing short and easy manner TO any
one not educated 10 the point OF 1ncapaci-
~ for such consideration, the demon
siration given above would appear amply
sufficient. But, as "A rule, the difficulties
Of surrounding an established creed,
which has become part OF the being Of NJ
professor, are as insuperable as would be
the difficulty Of making an intelligent
Christian out Of an intelligent Moham'
medan."
We would give one more instance OF
the eccentricity Of the inyentorial mind.
A patent was granted in 1864 for improve
ments in developing heat, boiling water,
and generating steam. II took two gen
fuses TO accomplish the invention, the one
a surgeon and the other gentleman"
They proposed 10 use q boiler surrounded
/ by rubbers worked in the first instance by
I an auxiliary engine The friction Of the
rubbers against the boiler will, say the
inventors, generate sufficient heat 10 boil
the water and get up steam. 30 far,
good As philosophical experiment,
such an arrangement is by no means an
impossibility. when the power Of the
steam in the boiler before mentioned,
the specifications go on TO say, is sufti-
GENTLY developed, the machinery con-
nected with il can be set in motion TO Sc
cure a similar revolution of wheels or mo-
ton of blocks, and the fire In the small
engine first mentioned may be. let out,
and the means used TO create the primary
motive power discontinued The sur.
plus power obtained in this manner Is TO
be applied to any purpose which may DC