The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-05-16
A New Mechanical Discovery.

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opinion Of many scientific men who exam
ined II is likely to effect acompletc revo-
luton in the machinery Of the wofld.-
It consists simply Of process whereby wa
ter is transformed to vapor without the
application or development of heat, result
ing in production Of motive power Of
greater capacity than steam. This discov-
cry is the result of laborious experiment
carried on for twenty-five years by Mr..
John w. Keely, OF Philadelphia. These
experiments were begun by Mr.. Keely be-
fore he had attained to his twentieth year
with view to the construction Of per
feet water wheel He constructed such
a wheel, but in the course Of his expert
ment he conceived the idea that he would
build an engine driven in part by water
and in npart by the utilization of atmospher-
ic pressure, which would be as powerful as
an engine driven by steam, and of course
infinitely less expensive, the use Of fuel
being dispensed with. In this he was also
successful he constructed an engine whose
motive power was compressed air on one
side and vacuum on the other, and water
as an agent for holding the vacuum in sus-
pension. So far as It was tried it was
claimed for this engine that il was a vast
improvement over steam machinery, but in
operating it certain effects were manifested
that convinced the inventor that be could
construct still simpler and far more pow
crful machine. He acted upon this belief,
and after great labor produced an engine
which more than fulfilled his expectations.
The vital principle Of Mr., Keely's en-
gine is that it converts water into cold
vapor more powerful aud elastic than
steam, without any agency other than a
mere mechanical appliance. When Mr.
Keeley's discovery was first brought to the
notice of scientific men much inquiry was
excited, and it was pronounced by many
to be a philosophical impossibility. The
machine was exhibited in operation. Its
vast power was apparent to all, but the
manner of producing this power was less
obvious. The presence Of electric, mag
netic, chemical, or other hidden agencies
was suspected, and a close and searching
investigation followed with the result of
satisfying those who examined that the
power was produced by n mechanical COM
bination pure and simple. Mr.. Keely
originally expected to obtain pressure Of
about 800 pounds to the square inch, and
applied it to steam gauge which has a
measuring capacity of $500 pounds but
the pressure produced was so enormous
that the guage was insufficient to register
it, and he was compelled to construct a
mechanism designed expressly for the pur-
pose. He then found that he could pro-
duce pressure of moro than ten thousand
pounds to the square inch, and that he
could generate the power in any volume
required. 1t is peculiar quality of the
yapor that il can be used at any pressure
from 10 pounds to 10000 pounds to the
square inch, and when once generated il
can be placed in receiving vessels and pre-
served without loss Of energy for an indef-
mite period In the course of his expert.
ments Mr. Kcely has repeatedly charged
an iron receiver of capacity of p gal
Ions with pressure Of 10000 pounds 10
the square inch, and retained it without
appresiable loss OF energy for fortnight
at time. Mr. Keely is building an en-.
ginc for practical purposes, and thinks that
his invention will, at no distant date, su-
persede steam. His confidence is shared
by certain capitalists in New York, who
are so confident of the success Of the in
vention that they have made arrangements
to purchase half interest in the State Of
New York.-N y Sun.