46 [Senate 



Report on Campbell's " Self-feeding Apparatus.''' 



The Committee appointed to examine Mr. Ethan Campbell's " Self- 

 feeding apparatus" for supplying all kinds of steam boilers with 

 water, beg leave to report: 



That they have carefully examined the same, and have no hesita- 

 tion in recommending it as the most perfect machine which has yet 

 been invented, (as far as they know,) for the above purpose. 



This machine, like many others, although simple in its operation, 

 and easily understood from inspection, is difficult to describe without 

 the aid of drawings ; the committee, therefore, will not attempt a 

 minute description. 



It appears very effectually to accomplish the objects for which it 

 is designed, and when put in operation requires but little if any at- 

 tention from the engineer to keep the water in the boiler constantly 

 up to the same level. This is a matter of importance in all cases, 

 more especially for boilers in steamboats, as it probably will entirely 

 prevent, and certainly greatly lessen the chances of explosion, and 

 consequently the loss of life. 



Mr. Campbell's self-feeding apparatus takes no power from the 

 eno-ine to work it as does the common feed pump : it operates by a 

 beautiful application of the principle of hydrostatic pressure, and 

 only requires a little steam from the boiler for its action, and this 

 steam by being condensed, heats the water which is returned to the 

 boiler ; consequently but little heat is lost. 



There is also an ingenious and simple arrangement for condensing 

 the exhaust steam of high pressure engines, whereby the water en- 

 terino- the boiler, is heated to the boiling point, or 212° Fahrenheit, 

 which will make a very great saving in the^article of fuel. 



A most important recommendation, and which is a desideratum in 

 all machines, is its simplicity and durability. The apparatus exa- 

 mined by the committee is now in operation, attached to the boiler 

 of the ste^Mn saw-mill, in 14th street, near the North river, and has 

 before been at work nearly a year, supplying the boilers of a twenty- 

 five horse power engine, using steam as we are informed, at 140 lbs. 

 to the square inch, during which time, as far as we can learn, it has 

 never suffered any derangement, nor required any repairs. 



This self-feeding apparatus can instantly be converted into a 

 powerful engine for throwing water, and raising the same from any 

 depth by successive lifts, thus placing at hand the means of extin- 

 guishing fares, which is invaluable in steam navigation, and with some 

 slight modifications in its construction may be made applicable to 

 many useful purposes, such as raising water from ships, mines, coffer- 

 dams, &c. 



This invention is evidently the result of long, deliberate reflection, 

 perfectly philosophical in its principles, and from the best informa- 

 tion which the committee can obtain, is entirely original in its appli- 

 cation, reflecting great creflit upon the ingenuity, intelligence and 

 mechanical knowledge of the inventor. 



The committee are of the opinion that this is one of the most im- 

 portant inventions connected with the feeding of steam boilers, which 



