320 REPORT—1852. 
In this vortex, the fall being taken at 7 feet, the calculated quantity of 
water admitted, at the standard opening of the guide-blades, is 2460 cubic 
feet per minute. Then, the efficiency of the wheel being taken at 75 per cent., 
its power will be 24 horse power. Also the speed at which the wheel is 
calculated to revolve is 48 revolutions per minute. 
In connexion with the pivot of this wheel arrangements are made which 
provide for the perfect lubrication of the rubbing surfaces with clean oil. 
The lower end of the upright revolving shaft enters a stationary pivot box, K, 
through an opening made oil-tight by hemp and leather packing. Within 
the box there is a small stationary steel plate on which the shaft revolves. 
Within the box, also, there are two oil-chambers, one situated above and 
round the rubbing surface of this plate, and the other underneath the plate. 
A constant circulation of the oil is maintained by centrifugal force, which 
causes it to pass from the lower chamber upwards through a central orifice - 
in the steel plate, then outwards through a radial groove in the bottom of 
the revolving shaft to the upper chamber, then downwards back to the lower 
chamber, by one or more grooves at the circumference of the steel plate. 
The purpose intended to be served by the provision of the lower chamber 
combined with the passages for the circulation of the oil, is to permit the 
oil, while passing through the lower chamber, to deposit any grit or any 
worn metal which it may contain, so that it may be maintained clean and 
may be washed over the upper surface of the steel plate at every revolution 
of the radial groove in the bottom of the shaft. A pipe leading from an oil 
cistern, L, in an accessible situation conducts oil to the upper chamber of the 
pivot-box ; and another pipe leaves the lower chamber, and terminates, at 
its upper end, in a stop-cock, M. This arrangement allows a flow of oil to 
be obtained at pleasure from the cistern, down by the one pipe, then through 
the pivot-box, and then up by the other pipe, and out by the cock. Thus, 
if any stoppage were to occur in the pipes, it could be at once detected ; or 
if water or air were contained in the pivot-box after the first erection, or at 
any other time, the water could be removed by the pipe leading to the stop- 
cock, or the air would of itself escape by the pipe leading to the cistern, 
which, as well as the other pipe, has a continuous ascent from the pivot-box. 
Certainty may consequently be attained that the pivot really works in clean oil. 
The author was led to adopt the pivot-box closed round the shaft with oil 
tight stuffing, from having learned of that arrangement having been sucéss- 
fully employed by Kochlin, an engineer of Miihlhausen. As to the other 
parts of the arrangements just described, he believes the settling chamber 
with the circulation of oil to be new, and he regards this part of the arrange- 
ments as being useful also for pivots working not under water. In respect 
to the materials selected for the rubbing parts, however, he thinks it necessary 
to state that some doubts have arisen as to the suitableness of wrought iron 
to work on steel even when perfectly lubricated ; and he would, therefore, 
recommend that a small piece of brass should be fixed into the bottom of the 
shaft, all parts being made to work in the manner already explained. 
The two examples which have now been described of vortex water-wheels 
adapted for very distinct circumstances, will serve to indicate the principal 
features in the structural arrangements of these new machines in general. 
Respecting their principles of action some farther explanations will next be 
given. In these machines the velocity of the cireumference is made the 
same as the velocity of the entering water, and thus there is no impact 
between the water and the wheel; but, on the contrary, the water enters the 
radiating conduits of the wheel gently, that is to say, with scarcely any 
motion in relation to their mouths. In order to attain the equalization of 

