438 
ments:1( Ishoulds hope they may, ‘at. least 
in«part, find a:pldce im your journal. 
uff Alcoholimay:be substituted: for water, or 
added to:itincany proportion., | The vapour 
and» atmospheric:air,'if placed in contact, 
wilbiin jtimeyunite;'/as hydrogen gas) and 
common air do; and) become: apparently as 
highly explosive.’ “But the process by na- 
turalevaporation would be too slow, when 
the use’ or demand. was very considerable, 
unless: the ‘reservoir was very large, when 
it would ‘then be inconvenient, expensive, 
and ‘unsafe. : It was desirable to prepare or 
manufacture the article as wanted: in time 
itwas) effected... It was also very desirable 
(and there was not, to me, any apparent 
reason why it might not be effected,) to 
eommand or control the explosions, as we 
do those of gunpowder, although they are 
much more violent. Another most de- 
sirable) object: was, to unite in the same 
engine, if.it possibly could be done, the 
effect or force of the explosion with that of 
the vacuum which always accompanies it, 
and that without rendering it too com- 
plicated, expensive, and unsafe. By pur- 
suing a course very analagous to that 
adopted for the use of gunpowder, it was 
in a measure, or entirely, effected. 
.-@ The preparing part of the machine 
consists of a metallic vessel, or tube, so 
constructed thata stream or current of 
atmospheriejair may pass freely through it, 
ther: withthe vapour or gas to be made 
use’of, both: being impelled through a space 
interrupted by short turns,or other impe- 
diments,’ the object ‘of whichis to blend, 
mix, or unite’ them intimately with each 
other, by which: process: they are)rendered 
highly explosive. © This apparatus admits of 
an éndless variety of forms: A description 
of ‘one’ follows, which: is found to be per- 
fectly’safe, and probably as. convenient as 
amy: “Make a:box of tin:plates, four or five 
inches'wide, and about fourteen long, and 
seven deep. Divide: it horizontally into 
four or! five’compartments, by partitions, 
which extend from one end of the box to 
within a short distanee‘of the other end, so 
that ‘the: air,:entering the Iower part, will 
be compelled, by the partitions, to travel 
the whole length of the box; through each 
contpartment, in its ascent to the top; 
divide these compartments, by vertical par- 
titions, running the whole length of the 
box, except at the beginning, or where the 
air enters and passes out, into spaces about 
half an inch apart, which have the double 
advantage of effecting, by their friction, a 
rapid mixture of the air and vapour with 
each other, and also of preventing violence 
in the explosion in the box, should one 
take place. | A short tube for the admission 
of*air, and other materials, into the! lower 
apartment, ‘and another for’ letting out the 
explosive ‘or’ prepared air from the upper 
one, each covered with fine wire gauze to 
prevent explosion, ‘yyill complete ‘the pre- 
Varieties. 
([Ocr. 
paring vesse]..»)\The, opening! to. this:-box 
should:be:about tivo, inches in diameters </ 
of The vexploding spart\of the machine 
also admits ofjaigreat variety-of ednstruc= 
tion the: following: may, ‘serve asiiascon+ 
venient one. Haye'a eylinder-fitted: witha 
piston or plunger, and ‘connected: witha 
erank shaft, as\in the steam: engine:; let:the 
lower end of the cylinder haveoa valve ofiat 
least half its diameter, opening» outwards, 
This valve may be made of thin soft leather, 
of ‘the same diameter as: the icylinder ;:this 
leather is to be tied or fastened to\the lower 
end of the working cylinder, ‘so. as:to form 
a continuation of the same. The lower end 
of the leather cylinder or \valye: is to: be 
flattened, so as to bring its inner sides 
together, for about four or five inches of its 
length, and kept in that position by light 
springs attached tothe two edges of the flat 
part, placing it in a position much like that 
of a bow and bow-string. This valve is 
supported, or prevented from being driven 
into the cylinder, by a plate of metal, of 
sufficient thickness to bear the pressure. of 
the atmosphere, arched or raised outwards, 
and perforated with as many holes as can be 
well made in it; the holes should be from 
about 3 to 4 of an inch in diameter; the end 
of the cylinder forms the abutment to this 
arched plate. An air valve, also: opening 
outward, is fixed in the sideof the cylinder, 
just below the piston when ‘down: \aipipe 
from the preparing’ -vessel) is inserted) or 
attached to the side of the cylinder, at:from 
# to 4 of the length of the:stroke fromthe 
top. ‘This pipe should be asishort‘as,itcan 
conveniently ‘be, and: it should be furnished 
with a valve ‘next the preparing-box;/to eut 
off the communication with it; and ‘a small 
valve about ‘half an inch in‘diameter, next 
the cylinder, to let the inflammable: air 
communicate with the flame-of ‘a lamp, so 
as to take fire, and communicate by the 
trail to the charge ‘in the cylinder.» These 
valves also open upwards, but as the explo- 
sion meets with so little resistance below, 
they are never thrown upwards; they are 
.worked by beams on the crank ‘shaft, as is 
also the air valye, or) by’ any: other» con- 
venient mode. To give a double stroke; it 
will require two cylinders fitted ‘up in this 
way, communicating with the same prepar- 
ing vessel and crankshaft. When. vapour 
is intended to be used, put:a little alcohol, 
or high proof spirit, either alone, ‘or with 
the addition of a small portion of ‘spixit: of 
turpentine, or put in spirit of turpentine 
and water, or other materials conveniently 
capable of evaporation, and the? vapour of 
which is infammable when’ mixed with 
atmospheric: air, into the lower apartment 
of the preparing vessel ;: the> proportion of 
each is’ not very material. “Apply a) small 
lamp, or other ‘heating “substance, ‘to: raise 
the temperature ‘to about ‘blood’ heat,sand 
place the flame of a lamp at’the inflaming 
valve.» The piston being down, in - 
cod 2oneqnig Sy 
