The Franklin Journal, and American Mechanics' Magazine (Volume 2)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1826. Excerpt: ... I have caused the air, by the effect of the explosion, to be compressed over a column of water, to such a degree, as to throw it to a great height and distance. I have, in a measure, reversed it, and by forming a vacuum in a vessel above, the water would be driven up, by the pressure of the atmosphere. I have caused the explosion to compress, in a reservoir, a quantity of atmospheric air, and made use of that compressed air, for working an engine, similar to a double stroke high pressure steam engine. This mode will make it perfectly safe on account of fire, as the compressed air may be led, in tubes, any distance, before it works the engine. Sometimes I have made a valve in the piston to open upwards, and fill the cylinder below the piston with the prepared air, and when the piston is about half way up the cylinder, it is at the height of its working stroke; the explosion then takes place. The effect is, that the quantity of air above the piston is nearly doubled; its elasticity or force is also greatly increased, by a great increase of its temperature, it now re-acts on the piston, while a vacuum below, adds greatly to the effect. This mode acts with great energy in a small space. I have attached to the working piston, thin tubes, about f of an inch in diameter, open at top, eacn one of which is directly over and enters one of the tubes of a condenser, attached to the bottom of the cylinder, which tubes are f of an inch in diameter. The prepared air, as usual, is let into the cylinder near the upper end; as the piston rises, it fills with the prepared air, the upper part of the tubes, and the spaces around them, and when the piston is nearly up, the explosion takes effect, but the tubes prevent all violence. At, or near all of those springs, which are c...