218 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER ANU ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[Jui.v, 



plate anil with the platinum wires, so tliat each time that the pen- 

 dulum strikes against c, c. the connection is made, and the magnet 

 acts. V, and Y, are the wires connected with tlie distant instru- 

 ment and witli tlie decomposinff voltaic hatteries. 



Tlie second part of the invention is carried into effect by causing 

 magnetic needles that are deflected by tlie electric current in the 

 main telegraph wire, to bring into action scjiarate voltaic batteries 

 and electro-magnets at each station ; by which means the return 

 circuit through the earth is interrupted, and the station next in 

 succession is placed in circuit. Fig. 2 shows this arrangement, 

 which is repeated at each station, o, is the main wire; N, a mag- 

 netic needle, that may be deflected to the right or left in the usual 

 manner; c, c, are the ends of fine ])latinum wires, so arranged in 

 coiniection with the wires from the voltaic battery V, that when 

 the needle is deflected, the electric circuit is completed, and the 

 electro-magnet is brought into action. The wire A, A, connects the 

 main wire with the earth, and in the position shown the electric cir- 

 cuit is completed through the telegra])hic instrument E. I, a wheel 

 actuated by clock-work to make a revolution in about four mi- 

 nutes, and the electric connection is made through it by the wire 

 p. When the magnet is brought into action, it withdraws the 

 detent rf, and, by setting the wheel in motion, it breaks the con- 

 nection until half a revolution has lieen made, and it rests on 

 the opposite pin o. In this manner, all intervening stations may 

 be thrown out of circuit until the one required is attained. Modi- 

 fications of this arrangement are shown, by which the communica- 

 tions with branch lines may be opened and closed at will. 



The patentee claims, — 



1st, The arrangements described and shown for copying, at a 

 distance, written or ])rinted characters by means of electricity. 



ynd. The employment of electro-magnets for regulating the 

 continuous movements of distant instruments, either with or with- 

 out the a])plication of pendulums. 



3rd, Tlie use of pi'econcerted marks on the transmitting instru- 

 ment to serve as guides in regulating the receiving instrument. 



Itli, Tlie arrangement for breaking the electric circuit at distant 

 stations by means of local voltaic batteries and local electro-mag- 

 nets, brought into action by magnetic needles deflected by the 

 electric current transmitted through the main wire; also the mode 

 of renewing the circuit by the mechanism described. 



RAILWAY WHEELS. 



William VYiubto.v, superintendent of the carriage department 

 of the London and North-VYestern Railway Station, Eu?ton- 

 square, Middlesex-, for '■^ improvements in the conxt ruction of vehicles 

 to be used on rmhcaijs^ or on other I'oiids and ways." — Granted De- 

 cember 15, 1818; Enrolled June 15, 1849. 



The improvements relate, first, to the construction of wheels of 

 vehicles used on railways or other roads. The construction of the 

 wheel is as follows: — Into the boss, or nave, the ends of curved 

 wrought-iron spokes are cast, or in some cases the nave may be 

 made of wrought-iron; the spokes are connected to a wooden 

 felloe, and to the tyre, by countersunk bolts and nuts ; and be- 

 tween each pair of spokes, weilge-shaped pieces of metal are 

 placed, and connected together by a bolt, passed through a hole 

 formed therein, — the lower extremity of the bolt having a thread, 

 a corresponding thread being formed in the hole in the wedge, into 

 which the bolt takes; and by turning round the said bolt in ime 

 direction by a spanner, the wedge-shaped pieces will he made to 

 approach towards each other, and comiiress the curved sides of the 

 spokes, and thereby cause that part of the spoke in contact with 

 the felloe to be pressed forcibly against it; iind such pressure will 

 be transmitted from the felloe to the tyre; and in this manner a 

 solid and substantial wheel is formed. 



Another form of construction of wheel consists in having the 

 cast-iron boss or nave of the wheel formed in two parts, the tvre 

 being connected to the boss or nave in the following manner: — The 

 boss or nave has holes formed therein, through which bolts are 

 passed, in a radial direction from the centre of the wheel, the bolts 

 being employed for the purpose hereinafter-mentioned, connected 

 to the boss or nave by countersunk bolts and nuts, passed thi-(nigh 

 holes formed in the parts of the nave and block, the outer extre- 

 mity of each of tlie blocks being securely connected to a ring of 

 wrought-iron, formed with two flanges, by means of countersunk 

 bolts passed through hides formed in the tyre, the ring, and block; 

 and there is a hole formed through the centre of each block, and 

 fitted with a short tube of metal, for the purpose of connecting 

 these last-mentioned parts together by means of a split key, passed 

 through a hole in the end of the bolt. Wedge-shaped pieces of 



metal are placed between each pair of wood blocks, and connected 

 thereto, and to the boss or nave, by a bolt and nut; or the bolt may 

 be either cast into the nave of the wheel, in which case, there 

 would be a nut upon its other extremity; or the said bolt may be 

 screwed into tlie nave of the wheel instead of passing through it, 

 by turning round the bidt by means of a spanner. The wedge- 

 sliajied piece will be fmcibly pressed against and between each pair 

 of blocks, and as each of tliese wedges is successively tightened, 

 it will be obvious that each lilock will be compressed. The grain 

 or fibre of the wood blocks must be placed radiating from the cen- 

 tre of the wheel, and in this manner a solid and substantial wheel 

 is formed. It should be observed, that the wedges may be easily 

 tiglitened from time to time by the means before described, should 

 the shrinkage of the wood blocks require it. 



Another modification of the wheel first described is as follows: — 

 In this case the wooden felloe is entirely dispensed with, tlie spokes 

 being in close contact witli the tyre of the wheel, and connected 

 thereto in a similar manner to the former wheel. 



Another part of the invention consists in constructing wheels 

 for common roads upon the principle described with reference to 

 wheels to be used on railways. The diiference consists simply in 

 making the tyre of the wheel for common roads flat instead of 

 flanged, and the nave must be formed to suit the axle upon which 

 it is to be placed; in other respects, the arrangement and construc- 

 tion of the wheels are similar to those before described. 



THE BRITANNIA TUBULAR BRIDGE. 



The great engineering exploit of the month has been the floating 

 of one of tlie large tubes to its place across the Menai Straits, and 

 which was to have taken place on Tuesday, 19th ult., but owing to 

 some sliglit failure in one of the capstans, it was deferred until the 

 following day, when it was completed at half-past nine o'clock in 

 the evening. The perilous work had to be accomplished within 90 

 minutes, and if it had exceeded that time the chances were that 

 the tube would have been wrecked; however, so well were the 

 movements directed, it was accomplished in 85 minutes, leaving 

 five minutes to spare. 



The cables that were used to guide the pontoons were twelve 

 inches in circumference, and said to be three miles in length; there 

 were about 300 men employed at the capstans, moorings, &c., be- 

 sides steamers engaged to tow the leviathan tube. It was floated 

 obliquely, and one end brought against the centre pier, then gra- 

 dually swung round, its face to the space between the piers. The 

 swinging the other end round to the tower on the Anglesea side 

 was a work of great risk and anxiety; fortunately, such was the 

 nicetv of the arrangements, and the rapidity of the directing 

 movements, that the final step was perfectly successful, and, by 

 the vigorous action of a gigantic implement like a vice, the tube 

 was clenched at its extremity, and in an instant lielil fast. On this 

 occasion, in addition to Mr. Stephenson and Captain Claxton, Mr. 

 Clarke, Mr. Brunei, and Mr. Locke were on the tube, rendering 

 valuable and unceasing assistance throughout the perilous pro- 

 cess. 



The next operation, that of elevating the tube to its permanent 

 position, will be accomplished as soon as possible. This is to be 

 done by huge hydraulic presses, similar in design to those described 

 in the Journn/,'\\tl. XI., 184.8, p. 87 and 217, but of a larger de- 

 scription, commensurate with the size of the works, one cylinder 

 alone being almost large enough at the entrance to contain a man 

 standing, and of the ponderous weight of 40 tons. It is the most 

 powerful machine ever constructed. The two end tubes w ill then 

 be raised, and it is expected, from the rapidity of the movements, 

 that this great iron highway over the Straits will be ready for the 

 passage of trains in the autumn. 



The names of the gentlemen who have been continuously en- 

 gaged (HI this great work, under Mr. Stephenson, since 1847 are 

 — Captain Moiu'soni, the resident directiu'; .Mr Frank Forster, the 

 resident engineer; Messrs. E. and L. Clarke and Wild, assistant 

 engineers; Messrs. Nnwell, Ileniingway, and Pearson, contractors 

 for the masonry, and Mr. T. E. Kawliiison, chief inspector of ma- 

 sonry; Messrs. iSlare, of Blackuall, and Messrs. Garforth, of Dun- 

 kinfield, contractors for the iron tubes; Mr. J. Greaves, general 

 manager of the masonry; Messrs. J. and A. Greaves, contractors 

 for the scaffolding and stages. Mr. G. Campbell, engineer of the 

 tube work, and Messrs. J. jlorris and II. Hodgkinson, managers of 

 it; and Messrs. Easton and Amos, who constructed the hydraulic 

 machinery for lifting the tubes, — all of whom were present. 



A very interesting description of the herculean works connected 



