COAL AND STEAM SUPERSEDED.

Colonist, Volume X, Issue 743, 12 July 1867, Page 3

COAL AND STEAM SUPERSEDED.

{From the Mining Journal.) Attebttiok was called to an article in the Mining Journal of July 7th, 1566, to an inventrou designed by Mr. S. A. Cheaae, of Egretnonfc, Cheshire, for obtaining motive power, and is now stated that their efforts have been crowned with success. Action and reaction is a law of nature, evidenced by the ebbing and flowing of the tides, and other natural phenomena. Can the natural forces of air and water combined be employed for mechanical purposes without chemical change ? This problem these gentlemen claim to have solved, *by constructing an engine on the following principles:—They mate a reservoir having two compartments, the internal compartment having a lif!--purap for raising water or other fluids contained in the external-compartment, thug giving and maintaining two levels of the fluid in the one reservoir. From the bottom and through the lid of the external-reservoir they raise a tank, which may be made of any height. The whole of this portion of the engine must be made perfectly air-tight, so that any amount of air may be compressed into the-reservoir. Within the tank, and fixed on its bottom and one side, are two cylinders, having two sets of valves, the one set opening to the fluid in tho tank. Within each of the cylinders is inserted a h* How tube or^float. The floats are attached by means of slings to a beam which rests on a fulcrum, giving to them tho character of a pair of scales. Each float is surrounded by a cup-valve, which is fixed to the rim of the cylinder, to prevent any escnpe of the fluid contained in the tank through the apertures occupied by the float. On the Lend of one float is fixed a rod which passes through a stuff giu-box on the lid of the tank, and is linked to a beam on the outside. The other' end of the beam is connected by a rod to the crank, and a second rod connects the crank with the lift-pump. An eccentric affixed to the shaft actuates the gear, which opens and closes the valves at the moment required On the lid of the reservoir is fixed an airpump with gear, which may be attached either to the beam or the eccentric, and which at each rotation of the engine throws a jefc of compressed air into the reservoir. ' A safety valve is also affixed to the lid of the external reservoir, to let off the superincumbent pressure. A syphon feed-pipe 'dscend* from the head of the tank through the lid down to the base of the internal reservoir, having a sluce valve to open or close the communication between the tank and the reservoir. This completes the . mechauieal arrangements of tho present engine, but the principle is capable of modification and adaptation to marine, railway, or other purposes. Tho next operation is to fill the tank, syphon, feed-pipe, and internal reservoir with water or other fluid. The external reservoir is then partly filled, until the tank valves that open into it are submerged, when the engine is ready for use. The floats being below, are lighter than a space of 3qual magnitude filled with water; and consequently, ifc follows of necessity that when, ihe valve on the first cylinder is open to jravatic force of the fluid contained in. the ;ank, that force acts on the bottom of the loat, causing it to rise • while the valve of the lecond cylinder, being open to the reservoir, :auses the float to descend, there being no xnyer to support it; thus producing a ■ ■ociprocating motion, which, acting on "the >cam, gives rotation to the craulc, and actuates the eccentric aud the tank valves, :ausing them to open and Bhut at the troper time. This motion is continued mtil the valve of the syphon facd-pipe is losed, shutting off the pressure by which he water or other fluid is forced through he syphon feed-pipe. By the air-pump the lower may may be raised to any extent. ?he air, being confined to the surface of the uid, forces it through the syphon feed-pipe a the tank, and through the tank valves ito the reservoir, and tb.ua produces a • erfeet circuit of motion.