184S.J 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



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they should also have machines for straightening and bending plates ; by 

 •which means they would be enabled to supply their customers with plates in 

 a fit state for being rivetted together. Were this system brought into prac- 

 tice, engineers would turn their attention to adapt their work to the capa- 

 bilities of the perforating machine, and thus great perfection, dispatch, and 

 economy of construction would be the result. A drawing represented a 

 machine (similar in principle to that already described) adapted to perforat- 

 ing paper and thin sheet metal, such as sieves and window-blinds are made 

 of, in which plain perforations, arranged in squares, may be made by a single 

 row of punches ; and perforations, arranged quincuncially, may also be made 

 by a single row of punches, by giving to the plate a lateral alternating 

 motion ; but a double row of punches, arranged intermediately to each other, 

 is preferable. Each of tliese arrangements admits of a great variety of fancy 

 patterns by the application of the Jacquard principle. A large class of pat- 

 terns may be produced by punches of various forms and sizes, which shall be 

 so grouped together as to give to the work a columnar effect ; and the range 

 of this class maybe extended by giving the plate a zig-zag or waved motion, 

 and still further extended by combining it with the Jacquard. Another class 

 of patterns may be produced by employing two distinct sets of puncbes of 

 different size or form, and with each set a Jacquard, to bring punches of the 

 one or other set into action as required, and thus be made to produce repre- 

 sentations of figures, landscapes, &c., at pleasure. A further variety of pat- 

 terns might be produced by the introduction at intervals of punches contain- 

 ing set patterns, such as sprigs, flowers, &c., and perforating the ground 

 ■with small punches. 



The foregoing is but a brief description of the capabilities of the Jacquard 

 Perforating Machine, which in good hands would be found to be nearly co- 

 extensive with those of the Jacquard loom. Another drawing represented a 

 double-acting machine for shearing (at the one side) and punching (on the 

 other), at the same time, plates of iron J inch in thickness with holes li in. 

 in diameter, and to perform both processes to the extent of 18 inches from 

 the edge of the plate. 



The Chairman said it was a machine represented as peculiarly adapted 

 for perforating plates used in ship steam-boilers, girders, &c. But, from 

 the description, it appeared to him to be a very useful machine for steam- 

 boilers generally. Seeing the great accuracy with which the punch is made, 

 it would be rather interesting to follow out the applicability of the ma- 

 chine. 



Mr. Ald. Thornton asked if the machine punched in any other than a 

 straight direction .' — Mr. Fothergill said it did, and it would punch twelve 

 holes at once. 



Mr. Beyer thought it was a very excellent punching machine, and it 

 might be applied to a great extent, and to all ordinary-sized boilers. 



In answer to questions by various members, Mr. Fothergill said, all the 

 punches acted upon the plate at the same time. 



In order to give an idea of the nature of the work to be performed by 

 this machine, we subjoin the annexed diagram and description, taken from 

 the Manchester Guardian : — 



" The diagram represents a portion of a wrought-iron plate, which we will 

 assume to be, when entire, 12 feet long by 2 feet wide, and | inch in thick- 

 ness, and requiring to be perforated, along each sides and ends, by a row of 

 boles exactly four inches asunder from centre to centre, and each an inch 

 in diameter; as well as by certain intermediate holes of the same size, the 

 situation of which will be best understood from the diagrams. 



" On looking to the left hand of the diagram representing the entire end of 

 the plate, it will be seen that there is vertically a row of seven dots, repre- 

 senting seven perforations. or rivet-holes. These perforations the machine 

 makes at one moment, by bringing down with immense force seven punches 

 of tempered steel, upon that part of the plate which at the time rests 

 upon the same number of dies, also of tempered steel. These perforations 

 being made, the punches are lifted clear of the plate, which is then moved 

 forward longitudinally, exactly four inches ; and then the striking peculiarity 

 of the machine comes into play. 



" It will he seen on looking carefully at the diagram, that the second row 

 TCrtically of perforations, counting from left to right, instead of seven eon- 

 tains only two, one at the upper and the other at the lower margin, 

 each forming a part of the two side rows of rivet-holes. These two holes 

 the] machine perforates also at one blow ; but as there are seven punches, 

 and only two are required, the five intermediate ones are thrown out of use 

 by a contrivance exactly similar in principle to that of the Jacquard loom, 

 by which figures are produced in silks and other fabrics. The third vertical 

 TOW of holes, still continuing from the left, consists of four, the fourth 

 again of two, the fifth of three, and so on, the number varying through the 

 whole length of the plate ; and, in each case, the machine itself, without the 

 slightest interference of the workman, moves the plate on to the required 

 distance, selects the proper number and right situation of the punches, makes 



the requisite number of perforations, and throws itself out of action when 

 the plate is completed. Those who are aware of the force necessary to per- 

 forate an iron plate of moderate thickness, even with a single punch of small 

 size, may form some judgment of the enormous power required to impel 

 seven punches, each an inch in diameter, through plates three-quarters of an 

 inch thick ; and it is a little singular to see this enormous power regulated 

 in its operation by the identical means employed in producing figures in the 

 most delicate fabrics. The machine is calculated to make, when necessary, 

 twelve perforations by one stroke, and to produce any requisite combination 

 of twelve or any Bmaller number of punches, at distances of three or four 

 mches from each other. The speed with which the work is performed may 

 be understood from the fact, that it regularly completes the perforation of 

 one plate of the size above described,— namely, 12 feet long and 2 ft. 4 in. 

 wide,— in four minutes; and if the plates were so quicklv supplied as to 

 prevent any loss of time, which might easily he done, it Would complete 

 them regularly at that rate. As it is, fifty have been completed in four 

 hours. But the facility and dispatch resulting from the use of the machine 

 are not, perhaps, its greatest merits, so far at least as tlie coustruction of 

 tubular bridges and beams are concerned. In such cases, the strength of 

 the fabric depends in a great degree upon the whole of the rivets completely 

 filling the perforations, retaining a regular cylindrical form, continuing per- 

 fectly straight, and being, throughout then: length, exactly at right angles 

 with the faces of the plates. As each of the perforations represented in the 

 diagram is intended to correspond with a similar perforation, either in 

 another plate, or in an angle or T iron, it must be obvious that deviations in 

 opposite directions of a sixteenth of an inch in each, would prevent them 

 fitting each other by an eighth of an inch altogether; and, whatever might 

 be done by enlarging one or both of the holes, to bring them a little nearer 

 each other, the firmness and strength of the work must be impaired by he 

 direction of the rivet being rendered in some degree oblique, instead of being 

 exactly at right angles with the plate ; whilst, in the work perfoimed by the 

 machine, the perforations are set out with such accuracy that they always 

 correspond precisely, and the rivets retain their proper form and direction.'' 



The Dinner. — In the evening the members and friends, amounting to 

 about 100, dined together at the Queen's Hotel— Mr. M'Connell presiding. 



ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS. 



Jan. 24. — Mr. Charles Fow»ler, V.P., in the Chair. 



The donations included a number of works by the celebrated archsologist, 

 M. de Caumont, of Caen, a corresponding member of the Institute. Mr. 

 Wallen sent a portion of the mosaic pavement found nine feet below the pre- 

 sent level, while digging the foundations for the new warehouses of Messrs. 

 Morley, at the corner of Gresham-street and Wood-street. Mr. Wallen 

 thought a Roman temple formerly stood on the spot. 



Professor Donaldson read a paper on " Caen, its Quarries and Buildings, 

 with a few words on Arras." This paper we have given in full in another 

 part of the Journal. 



Some very high compliments were paid to Mr. Donaldson on this valuable 

 paper. 



Feb. 7. — Mr. Angell, V.P., in the Chair. 



Among the donations reported were Canina's work on Etruria, sent in the 

 name of the Queen of Tuscany ; Mr. Sharpe's " Architectural Parallels ;" and 

 eleven volumes of the " Ban Zeitung," the architectural journal of Vienna, 

 edited by Mr. Forster; and parts of Billings' " Antiquities of Scotland." 



Mr. Wright sent a set of drawings illustrative of the ceiling at Carpenters' 

 Hall, London-wall. 



Mr. G. L. Tavlor read a paper in reference to the New Western Gas 

 Company, entitled " Some observations on Gas-works, and the details of the 

 Manufacture of Gas ; with the view of showing that it is capable of being 

 rendered so Pure as to be introduced beneficially throughout Houses, Manu. 

 factories, and Public Buildings," 



Mr. Burn observed that formerly he resided at Edinburgh ; that he had 

 twice as many burners as he now has in London, and paid at a much higher 

 rate, being 9s. per 1,000 cubic feet. The gross charge at Edinburgh was 

 however only one-half of the London gross charge, arising from the superior 

 illuminating qualities of the Edinburgh gas. It is true, the latter is made 

 from Cannel coal ; but there is an unfortunate temptation to gas compa- 

 nies to deteriorate the quality of gas, in consequence of the charge being 

 made on the quantity. He further observed, that though the Edinburgh gas 

 is superior in illuminating power, it is not free from impurities ; in proof of 

 which he said all the book-binding and leather furniture of a new club-house 

 at Edinburgh had been destroyed by tlie gas, as the book-binding of the 

 Athenaeum club-house, in London, has likewise been injured. 



Mr. Palmer dwelt upon the importance of the purification of gas, and 

 said that the new plan showed its practicability. 



The Western Gas Company have their works in a building at Kensal- 

 green, 166 feet in diameter. They propose to use Cannel coal, and supply 

 gas at 6s. per thousand feet, which they say is as cheap as common gas at 4s. 

 per thousand. 



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