The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-11-23
M i 8 @ eIlano Gus.
For the Nais and Mtelli1encer.
HUT Ute 4I1VtS UNW IHJeIIlyc7lC6F.
Experiments Illustrating n New Improve.
ment in the Steam Engine, &c.

ment in the Steam Engine, &c.
There is new patent by means Of which
steam boiler is kept supplied with water
without force pump. This apparatus is
| being adopted to some extent in this coun-
try. first heard of it at the Centennial,
and saw small steamboat on the Schuyl-
kill which was said to be in use, but had
no opportunity to examine the machine
| suppose some of your readers understand
how the valves are oiled in the steam chest
of an operating engine under full pressure
of steam. There is strong brass vessel,
shaped like common flower-vase, except
that it is brought to narrow neck Just be-
low the trumpet like expansion at the top,
and this neck is closed by stop cock
There is another stop-cock at the bottom
of the vase, which being screwed tightly
into the top of the steam chest, opens into
the steam chest when the lower stop-cock
is opened. Suppose the lower stop-cock
closed so as to keep the steam from rising
into the vase-lke oiling cup. Open the
upper stop. cock and pour n quantity of
oil into the broad trumpet formed top it
will slowly run down into the oiling cup.
When it has all disappeared below the
upper stop-cock, close this and open the
lower stop.cock, the steam will then pass
through and above the oil, and though the
pressure be 100 pounds to the inch the oil
will pass down into the steam chest and
lubrcate the moving valves. The condition
of the oil under this pressure being in no
respects different from the same oil, under
the pressure of single atmosphere, as in
the open air; and it will run down into the
steam chest as from an inverted bottle in
the open air. Now, if there were similar
but larger cup upon the boiler, water can
undoubtedly be supplied in the same way
to boiler under full pressure of steam.
Last Friday the following experiment
was made here at the school, before the
philosophy class, illustrating this fact A
copper oxygen flask was partially filled
with water to answer for steam boiler
The iron tube connected with the neck of
the flask was connected by stout rubber
tube to small stop cock, and this by
another rubber coupling to a glass tube
about ] inch in diameter and about 10
inches long. BY similar rubber coupling
another stop cock was connected to the ex-
tremity of the glass tube all forming con-
tinuous tube of iron, rubber and glass,
about three feet long. The flask was now
piled until the steam issued from the open
end of the tube, both stop-cocks being
open. The stop-cock nearest the flask was
now closed, and at the same instant the
open end of the tube was dipped into a
cup of cold water. The cold water con-
densing, the steam run up and filled the
glass tube. Had the tube been perfectly
full of steam at pressure, the water
would have run up to 30 feet or more as
from a river to the top of a boiler in
boat. The outer stop cock was now closed,
and the tube being raised to position
nearly vertical the lower stop-cock was
opened. At first great bubbles of air were
seen to pass through the water in the verti-
cal glass tube, while some of it disappear
ed down into the flask. The fire had been
diminished under the flask, for fear of too
great an accumulation of steam, while the
lower stop-cock was closed, and the glass
tube being filled with water and probably
partial vacuum having been formed 10y
condensation, some air had found its way
into the flask. The balance of the water
remained in the tube until it was seen to
boil, when it quickly disappeared into the
| flask The same process was again repeat
cd, and could have been adj li6itum.
Another experiment was then made,
illustrating the fact that water can be
pumped from distantsp spring with pump
located at or within the house, if the eleva-
ton to the lower valve of the pump be not
over 80 feet above the spring, (all connec-
tions being perfectly
The end of u small glass pump, (made
here at the school to illustrate the workings
of the common suction pump was attach
ed to the same tube used in the former ex-
periments, and the stop cocks being open
fused now only to continue the tube) the
further end of the open tube was dipped
into cup of water placed at the extremity
of the table, The cup was repeatedly
emptied by working the pump. The ex-
pertinent was suggested by the inquiries of