TRIAL OF THE PULSOMETER AT PIŒNIX FOUNDRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5490, 21 June 1879, Page 5

TRIAL OF THE PULSOMETER AT PIŒNIX FOUNDRY.

Recently a good deal of attention has been devoted in scientific magazines to the description and working of s new pumping machine, which has been designated the Pulsometer. One of these machines is now iu Auckland, and may be seen at the establishment of Messrs. Fraser and Tinne, Stanley-street. It differs considerably from other pumping contrivances, and is one other evidence of the continual atlvance in mechanical adaptations. Labour-saving, machines as well as those which enbanca the value of the work employed, are belDg invented almo3t ad infinitum. In respect to many of these il may be said that they have been constructed on the model of portions of the " human frame divine," and, in their flexor and extensor motions, imitate in a humble degree the action of the muscular portion of the body in the application to the motive and i jointed part of the frame. Thj ateatn-eiigina ha 3 often been likened to the working parts of an animal, the boiler to the stomach, the cylinder to the heart, the steam pipes with ' their valves to the great blood-ves9els. But there was always a remarkable difference, whiuh was specially shewn in the amount of work porformed iu contrast to the power used, and no approximation could be made ) in any pumping engine to the results tff'cted ' by that wonderful muscle, or combination of muscles, the heart, in forcing liquid through the various blood-vessels which reticulate the living frame. But it seems now that a considerable step ha* been taken in that direction. By absolutely almost copying the heart and its auricles and ventricles, together with the valves of the aorta—the great river which distributes the Wood through the many channels supplying nourishment to the system—a machine has been constructed which, to take tho lowest point of view, is calculated to do more to facilitate the raising of water than auy combination of machinery has yet been able to do. No better description of it can be given than to say that its action closely resembUs that of the heart, steam taking the part of the living or nervous force in the valves and ejecting the fluid. The machine is most easily worked, and is specially adapted to pumping purposes; and an immense advantage possessed by it is, that it can be suspended by flexible tubes (like the blood-vossels) in any position where its operations are desirable. For this and other evident reasons, it will readily be seen that it must be a vast improvement on all tbe previous systems of pumping; and the volume of water raised by it is far greater than has ever been done uud-jr the old systems of pumping. A or two ago a trial was made at Messrs. Fraser andTinne's foundry, in presence, of •-* number of scientific gentlenirn, of a small sample one which his been imported by that enterprising firm. The trial was eminently successful, and with a very small pressure of ste:im a large body of water was drawn from a well and thrown to a considerable height. The engine is a most compact ono, occupies little space, and its motive power and starting arrangements are so simple that a mere child can attend a-,id work the machine efficiently. The highest testimonials have been given by European and American engineering firms, who unite in stating that a new era has arrived iu respect to the adoption of hydraulio machinery.