Scientific American, Volume 22, No. 1, January 1, 1870 - A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and Manufactures.

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Scientific American, Vol.22, No. 1,
January 1, 1870, by Various
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Title: Scientific American, Vol.22, No. 1, January 1, 1870
Journal Of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics,
Chemistry, And Manufactures
Author: Various
Release Date: September, 2005 [EBook #8952]
[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule]
[This file was first posted on August 29, 2003]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, VOL.22, NO. 1 ***
Produced by Don Kretz, Juliet Sutherland, and Distributed Proofreaders
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF PRACTICAL
INFORMATION, ART, SCIENCE,
MECHANICS, CHEMISTRY, AND
MANUFACTURES.
NEW YORK, JANUARY 1, 1870.
Vol. XXII.--No. 1. [NEW SERIES.]
$3 per Annum [IN ADVANCE.]Contents: (Illustrated articles are marked with an asterisk.)
*Engines of the Spanish Gunboats
The Torpedo Problem
Sugar Making in Louisiana
Sticking, or Court Plaster
*An Improved Hoisting Pulley Wanted
*Ferdinand De Lesseps--Chief Promoter of the Suez Canal
*An Ingenious Vent Peg
*A New English Patent Pulley Block
Plants in Sleeping Booms
*Improved Treadle Motion
*Improved Method of Catching Curculios
Remains of a Megatherium in Ohio
Artificial Ivory
American and English Kailway Practice Contrasted
Boiler Covering
Attachment of Saws to Swing Frames
Patent Decision
Inventions Patented in England by Americans
*Russ Improved Wood Molding Machine
A Lost Civilisation
*Girards "Palier Glissant"
A Happv New Year
The Suez Canal not yet a Failure
Tubular Boilers and Boiler Explosions
Professor Fiske's Lecture at Harvard
The Brighter Side
The American Institute Prizes Awarded to Steam Engines
A Protest against the Canadian Patent Law
American Railway Management
Scientific Lecture before the American Institute
The Battle Fields of Sceence
How French Bank Notes are Made
What the Newspapers Say
Chinese Method of Preserving Eggs
Steam Boiler Explosion
Editorial Summary
The Steven Breech Loading Rifle
* A Novel Improved Hand Vise
The Mound Builders of Colorado
*The Woven-Wire Mattress
Flouring Mill Hazards
Fire-Proof Building
The Decline of American Shipping
Aerial Navigation-A Suggestion
Putty Floors of Jewelers Shops and otherwise
Western Demand for Agricultural Implements
Economical Steam Engine
Friction and Percussion
Oiling a Preservative of Brownstone
Interesting Correspondence from China
Commumcation Between Deaf and Blind Mutes
Cheap Cotton Press Wanted
A Singular Freak of a Magnet
Preservation of Iron
The Bananas and Plantains of the Tropics
Putting Up Stoves
The Magic Lantern
The Largest well in the World--Capacity 1,000,000 gallons of water
per Day
Paper for Building
*Improved Muzzle-Pivoting Gun
Stock Feeding by Clock Work
Milk and What Comes of It
*Improved Hay Elevator
*Improvement in Lamp Wicks
Great Transformation
Answers to Correspondents
Recent American and Foreign Patents
New Books and Publications
List of PatentsEngines of the Spanish Gunboats.
In our description of these boats in No. 25, Vol. XXI., special mention
was made of the compactness of the engines.
It has frequently been urged as an objection against the twin screw
system that the double set of engines, four steam cylinders with
duplicates of all the working parts called for on this system, render the
whole too complicated and heavy for small vessels, preventing, at the
same time, the application of surface condensation. In the engines of
the Spanish gunboats, of which we annex an illustration from
Engineering, the designer, Captain Ericsson, has overcome these
objections by introducing a surface condenser, which, while it
performs the function of condensing the steam to be returned to the
boiler in the form of fresh water, serves as the principal support of the
engines, dispensing entirely with the usual framework. Besides this
expedient, each pair of cylinders have their slide frames for guiding
the movements of the piston rods cast in one piece. Altogether the
combination, is such that the total weight and space occupied by
these novel twin screw engines do not exceed the ordinary single
screw engines of equal power. Several improvements connected with
the working gear have been introduced.
ENGINES OF THE TWIN SCREW SPANISH GUNBOATS
The outer bearings of the propeller shafts, always difficult to regulate
and keep in order on the twin screw system, are selfadjusting and
accommodate themselves to every change of the direction of the
shafts. This is effected by their being spherical externally, and resting
in corresponding cavities in the stern braces or hangers. The spring
bearings for supporting the middle of the shafts are also arranged on
a similar self-adjusting principle.
The thrust bearing is of peculiar construction, the arrangement being
such that the bearing surfaces remain in perfect contact however
much the shaft may be out of line. The reversing gear likewise is
quite peculiar, insuring complete control over the movement of the
two propellers under all circumstances. It is claimed that these
engines are the lightest and most compact yet constructed for twin
screw vessels.
The Torpedo Boat Problem.
The Army and Navy Journal thinks the problem of a torpedo boat
capable of firing rapidly and with certainty, has at length reached a
satisfactory solution. It says:
"A boat has been completed which is proved by experiment to befaultless in machinery and arrangement. On the 2d of December,
Secretary Robeson, Vice-Admiral Porter, and Commodore Case,
Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, went to the Navy Yard at
Washington, to witness the experiment with this new engine of
destruction. After examining the workings of the machinery, and the
manner of firing, one of the destructives was put in the frame and the
party proceeded to the shore to witness the result. A torpedo of only
thirty-six pounds was first run out with rapidity and fired; but the result
showed that this small amount of powder, even, would have been
sufficient to destroy any ship, by lifting her out of the water and
breaking her back, even if her bottom was not knocked out altogether.
Mud and water were thrown up together, and the concussion was felt
far up in the Navy Yard, the ground being shaken by the shock of the
powder against the bed of the river. The concussion felt on board the
torpedo-boat was not more than that caused by a wave striking a
vessel at sea.
"Several torpedoes were fired from the vessel, the explosion of which
the party witnessed on board, as they desired to ascertain for
themselves the effect of the shock. The result seemed satisfactory, as
no change whatever is contemplated in the machinery, which is very
simple, and 'works to a charm.' The torpedo vessel is the Nina, a very
strong iron boat of three hundred and fifty tuns burden, capable of
crossing the ocean, and having a speed of seventeen knots an hour.
She is not impervious to heavy shot, but can be made so, and is
capable of resisting any ordinary projectile that could be brought to
bear on her from the decks of a ship of war. Her decks will be made
torpedo and shot-proof, and several arrangements will be applied,
now that it is known that the torpedo system is a success. Such a
vessel as the Nina, attacking an enemy's squadron on our coast
some dark night, or entering an enemy's port, could destroy half the
vessels in the harbor, and easily escape as few vessels could
overtake her. Such a vessel could, for instance, enter the harbor of
Havana, and destroy every vessel of war in the port, under cover of
darkness. A squadron supplied with such boats to be used to attack,
after the fight began, and the ships were enveloped in smoke, would
have a most decided advantage against an enemy not thus armed for
torpedo warfare. It is reported that our torpedo navy will consist of
twenty vessels, none of which will have a less speed than twelve
knots, and the fastest of them will go seventeen knots."
SUGAR MAKING IN LOUISIANA.
The New Orleans Times contains, in a late number, an account of the
manufacture of sugar as conducted on the Poychas estate, from
which we extract portions conta