The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-24

A New PowER-AE INVENTION FOR WHICH
WONDERFUL THINGS ARE CLAIaED-A GREAT
FuEL-SAvER.-[B Boston Globe. MIR. William
Wells, of Salem, has just perfected an appa-
ratus for running stationary or locomotive
engines by vapor.power, which, if it fulfls
all that is expected of it, will entirely reyO-
lutionize the method of running engines OF
every description. The new apparatus was
set up few days ago, and on Saturday after
noon it was put in practical operation for the
first time, in the presence of several gentle
men well versed in machinery and the appli-
cation of3power. The working of the engine
was entirely satisfactory, aud all present ex-
pressed themselves as highly pleased with
the success of the invention, which had been
considered by all but the designer as an ex-
pertinent.
The whole apparatus is very simple in
construction, and the new power can be APP
piled to any engine. The whole popularity
in construction is in the boiler, the engine
being precisely like any other, and the vapor
being conveyed to the cylinder of the engine
just the same as steam. The boiler is an up
right one. and is really double boier-that
is, it has two heads at each end-one few
inches from the other. The two chambers
thus formed(on at each end of the boiler)
are filed with water, and are connected by
tubes, which are for the circulation of the
water between the two chambers. The
second or inside boiler (that between the
two inner heads is filled with prepare
ton of bisulphide of carbon, the vapor
from which is the motive power and
takes the place of steam. Beneath
the boiler is small fre-box, from
which flues run up through the two boilers
to the smokc-pipe. These flues pass inside
of the tubes already mentioned, and the fire
in passing through heats the chemicals. BY
this arrangement it will be seen that the BIZ
sulphde in the inner boiler receives the re-
uuisite amount of heat without coming in
direct contact with the fire-fues, as the
water, us has been explained, is kept in Cir
culatiOn through the tubes. MIR. Wells
claims that with a comparatively small fire d
great amount Of power can be obtained, and
it has been practically. shown that with the
water at a temperature Of 2l2 degrees Fab
renheit, or the boiling point. a pressure of
sxty-tiye pounds to the square inch is OBJ
tained on the vapor boiler, and Of course If
greater heat is applied to the water
the vapor pressure will increase pro-
portionately. 1t should be mentioned that
the chemical preparation is used over
many times, as the vapor, after passing
through the cylinder OF the engine, passes
into condenser, aud is then returned to the
boiler to be used again. The waste Of chemi-
cal materials is said to be very small. 1t is
estimated that at least tWo-thirds Of the
amount of fuel can be saved by the use OF
this invention, but the exact amount can be
better determined after further experiment.
Mr.. Wells has been at work eight years in
perfecting this apparatus, and, judging from
the test on Saturday, his labor and pains
have not been thrown away. The engine Is
to be put in daily use at the planing-mill OF
David Bufum, on Front street, Salem, in a
short time, and all interested can have an
opportunity to judge of the merits of the
invention for themselves.