The Steam-engine: Being a Popular Description of the Construction and Action of that Engine; with a Sketch of Its History, and of the Laws of Heat and Pneumatics ...W. Tait, 1838 - 203 pages |
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The Steam-Engine: Being a Popular Description of the Construction and Action ... Hugo Reid No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
acting action air-pump aperture applied atmo atmospheric pressure attached axis beam boiler boiling point bulk Caus cause cistern coal cold water communicating considerable constructed containing contrivance cooled crank cubic foot cylinder density descend described diameter diminished earthy matters effect elastic force elastic power equal expansion explosion extremity Fahrenheit feet figure fire fixed flask fluid fly-wheel force of steam formed fuel furnace gaseous body gases heat Hence horse power inches of mercury invention iron JAMES WATT latent latent heat lever liquid machine machinery mercury moving power Newcomen's engine Papin particles pipe piston piston-rod pounds procured produced proportion pump quantity of steam quantity of water quicksilver raising water resistance rotary engine safety-valve Savery Savery's engine shewn shews solid specific gravity square inch steam-engine steamboat stroke surface temperature thermometer tion tube turned vacuum valve vapour vessel Watt Watt's weight wheel
Popular passages
Page 154 - This uncommon light first attracted the attention of the crews of other vessels. Notwithstanding the wind and tide were adverse to its approach, they saw with astonishment that it was rapidly coming...
Page 75 - I have taken a piece of a whole cannon, whereof the end was burst, and filled it three quarters full of water, stopping and screwing up the broken end, as also the touch-hole ; and making a constant fire under it, within twenty-four hours it burst, and made a great crack : — So that having a way to make my vessels, so that they are strengthened by the force within them, and the one to fill after the other, I have seen the water run like a constant fountain stream forty feet high.
Page 101 - One thing is тегу remarkable : as they at first were working, they were surprised to see the engine go several strokes, and very quick together, •when, after a search, they found a hole in the piston, which let the cold water in to condense the steam in the inside of the cylinder, whereas before they had always done it on the outside.
Page 75 - An admirable and most forcible way to drive up water by fire, not by drawing or sucking it upwards, for that must be as the philosopher calleth it, infra spheeram activitatis, which is but at such a distance. But this way hath no bounder, if the vessels be strong enough ; for I have taken a piece of a whole cannon, whereof the end was burst, and filled it...
Page 75 - One vessel of water rarified by fire driveth up forty of cold water, and a man that tends the work has but to turn two cocks; that one vessel of water being consumed, another begins to force and refill with cold water, and so successively; the fire being tended and kept constant, which the self-same person may likewise abundantly perform in the interim between the necessity of turning the said cocks.
Page 188 - ... means hereinafter mentioned or specified. When the steam is admitted in these engines between these weights and the valves, it acts equally...
Page 76 - ... into the next room ; and with so great ease and geometrical symmetry, that, though it work day and night, from one end of the year to the other, it will not require forty shillings reparation to the whole engine, nor hinder one day's work.
Page 144 - I considered how to produce rotative motions from them in the best manner ; and amongst various schemes which were subjected to trial, or which passed through my mind, none appeared so likely to answer the purpose as the application of the crank in the manner of the common turning-lathe (an invention of great merit, of which the humble inventor, and even its era, are unknown).
Page 154 - She had the most terrific appearance, from other vessels which were navigating the river, when she was making her passage. The first steam-boats, as others yet do, used dry pine wood for fuel, which sends forth a column of ignited vapour many feet above the flue, and whenever the fire is stirred, a galaxy of sparks fly off, and in the night have a very brilliant and beautiful appearance.
Page 144 - I proposed to employ two engines, acting upon two cranks fixed on the same axis, at an angle of 120° to...