292 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[JULT, 



The Waterman Steamer No. 12.— An cxtraonlinary instance of despalcli 

 aii'l facility in the construcHon and completion of stuamers uns exemplified in the build 

 of this iron steam-boat, one of whirh class so boldly, a short time sinte, made the pas- 

 sage to Osteiul. The Waterman Ne. \2 was built by Messrs. Ditchburn & Mare, from new 

 drawings, in live and a half weeks, and directly after the launch taken to Deptford, where 

 in 47 hours after, Hressrs, Penn and Son had completely shipped her engines, steam got 

 up for trial, and without delay the vessel loosed her moorim; and proceeded up the river. 

 Hb'.TL Majesty's STEAM-i-uuiATE Retributiox.— This vessel, which has just 

 been launched at Chatham, is the largest steam-frigate and the finest vessel of her class 

 in the service. She is longer by 5 feet than the Penelope, which ship it will be recollected 

 was originally a sailing frigate of the 38-gun clas^. The Retribution is one of the most 

 perfect specimens of naval'architecture we have seen, and has been turned off the stocks 

 in a manner highly creditable to her constructor. Her frame is of Italian oak, her plank- 

 ing and decks are of teak, and her beams are of African teak. She is frigate built, with 

 ports lore and aft on her main deck, and has very superior accommodation, not only for 

 her own crew, but for troops, as, in adtlition to her own ship's company, which is to con- 

 sist (if '2(H) men, she can convey a full regiment of soldiers a thousand or eleven hundred 

 strong. She is constructed upon the Surveyor of the Navy's improved system, with iron 

 diagonal riilers at reverse angles, with wood trussing in the frame and shelf pieces fore 

 and aft. Although longer than the Penelope, she is not so broad as that vessel by three 

 inches, but she carries L*5 tons more, and has engines of I5ft h. p. greater ; the compara- 

 tive dimensions of the two ships being as follovvs : — 



The Retribution. The Penelope. 



Length . 220 feet. 2U; feet. 



Breadth . 40 ft. G inches. 40 ft. 9 inches. 



Tonnage l.fi4l tons. l.niti tons. 



Kngines . 800 horse power 6S0 horse power. 



The draught of water of the Retribution when she is fully equipped, and has her water, 

 provisions, stores, and ."iOO tons of coal on board, will be 18 feet. She is not to be ship 

 rigged, but will have two masls, lik- the present men-of-war steamers, which have only 

 two masts, with the exception of the Penelope, which has a mizen as well as a fore and 

 main mast. The armament of the Retribution will consist of six 8 inch pivot guns, and 

 four a2-poundcis, besides two smaller guns for boat and other purposes, making altoge- 

 ther 12 guns. By this it will be perceived that she is not so powerfully armed as the Pe- 

 nelope, as that vessel carries 24 guns— namely, ten S-incb pivot guns, two 42-pounders 

 (pivots), ten 42-pounders, carronades, and two boat guns. The machinery for this splen- 

 did vessel, made by Messrs. Maudslay, Son, and Field, is quite ready to be put on board. 

 There are two engines, each having two cylinders of six feet diameter and seven feet 

 length of stroke. The paddle-wheels are ;^4 feet in diameter and 13 wide; the shafts 

 which carry them are of wrought iron, each nearly 30 feet long and 1 foot 10 inches in 

 diame'er in the middle. We believe they are the largest shafts which have ever been 

 made for any purpose. Tlie boilers are four in number, and so constructed that they may 

 be worked sepai-ately or altogether. The entire weight of the machinery, including water 

 in the boiler, is GUO tons. The Refribiitiou is to be taken into dock and coppered, and 

 brought forward for commissioning immediately. 



The Telephone." At the last, levei'-day at the Admiralty amongst llie 

 numerous models in the waiting-ruom was Captain J. N Tayler's telephone instrument, 

 wliich was exhibited to the Lords Commissioners. The chief object of this powerful wind 

 instrument is Ui convey signals during foggy weather, when no other means present itself, 

 by sounds produced liy means of compressed air forced through trumpets, which can be 

 heard at thf distance of six miles. This important instrument will tend to prevent colli- 

 sion at sea and on railways, and will lessen the horrors of shipwreck and capture, and 

 give notice of fire. Vessels in the offing will be by it directed into harbour, and tlie time 

 to enter tide harbours urade known from the picr-heod. The foirr notes are played by 

 opening the valves of the recioieut, and the interrsity of sound is proportioned to the com - 

 l)ressiuir of the internal air. The small-sized telephone instrument, \\'hich is portable, 

 was tried ou the river, and the signal notes were distinctly heard four miles off.— Times. 

 Screw Proi'eli.i-rs on Canals.-— Steam tugs with screw propellers have 

 been successfully introduced on the Union Canal. An experiment with one of these 

 steamers took place a few days ago. The boats are the first of the kind introdirced into 

 Scotland. They ai-e birilt ot iron by Messrs. John Reid and Co., Port Glasgow; and the 

 engines, screw propellcr-s, &c., are fitted up by Mr. William Napier, sen., engineer, Glas- 

 gow. The engines are on the upright principle. They communicate their power to the 

 screws placed on each side of the bow; and by a very nice arrangement of wheels with 

 wooden and iron teeth (in order to prevent noise and vibration) they are driven at a great 

 speed without creating any of that surge or wash on the banks which has hitherto formed 

 the chief objection to the use of steamers on canals. The result of the experiment gave 

 great satisfaction to all present; and, independently of the gain in point of speed, it is 

 calculated that there will be a considerable saving in expense, compared with the ordinary 

 mode of tracking by horses. The steam-boat had attached to her six very large scows 

 deeply laden, but it is capable of towing double the number without matenal diminution 

 ot speed. Tire scows to be tracked are connected together by rods having a pai'allel move- 

 ment, and all under the control of the steersman on board the steamer, so that the neces- 

 sity of a separate rudder and steersman for each scow is avoirled— the whole train moving 

 along witll a steady and unifoiru motiorr. — ' Glasgow Citizen.' 



The Taurus Slcawcr lias iiniliTj^dne a cunif.lete refit at the factory of Messrs. 

 Miller and Ravenhill. Her former boilers have been removed, and new ones on the dou- 

 ble-storied tubular plarr substituted, by which the fallowing advantages are stated to have 

 been reali/ud : — A saving in space of about one-fifth as compared with the old ; a less dis- 

 placement by about (i inches, the vessel floating that much lighter ; an ecoiromy of weight 

 of ne;irly fiO ttins, the former boilers and water being nearly 130 tons, and the present 80 

 tons ; an increase of power, by using a greater pressure orr the steam valve with perfect 

 safety, the present boilers working up to 2.0 per cent, of what they are proved capable of 

 sustaining, and those of the old coirstrnction to 7^ per cent. Nor are the boilers them- 

 selves the only improvement that has been made in the nuichinery department. A simple 

 and very effective arrangement of the cut-ofl valves by Mr. Lamb has been adopted, and 

 the supply of the oil to the hearers has been regulated by the adoption of Allen's lubrica- 

 t ors, by which the consumption of oil is r-educed to 30 per cent, of its former waste. The 

 excellent blow-oft valves of Mr. Kingston have also been brought to bear in therr fullest 

 extent, and to great advantage. 



The C'hasnei, Steam Packets.— 'I'he report (»f General Paixhans on a 

 credit of 1,6''"2,IHI0 francs for the construction of three steamers between Calais and Eng- 

 land, was distributed last week in the Chamber of Deputies. The I)( bats, in mentioning 

 this fact, suys—" The English have at iiresent. for Calais and Ostend, eight steamers, 

 xvhich altogether have 050 horse-power*. They have given to some of these packets en- 

 gines of a very superior description, and have placed tliem under the direction of the Ad- 

 miralty. The Princess Alice, of 140 horse-power, crosses the Channel in UU minute's, 

 with wind and tide against her. France has on this line but three steamers, together of 

 'CO hor-se-power. They are crazy vessels, often obliged to demand the assistance of the 

 steamers, when the sea is high, to take over our despatches." _ 



Eni.argemepot ok the Bristol Docks.— At a special meeting of tlie Toun 

 Council of Bristol, on Monday, a report from Mr. Brunei, relative to the contemplated 

 enlargement of the South entrance lock of Cumberland Basin, was submitted. Mr. 

 Brunei is of opinion that to commence a thorough repair of the lock would be the same 

 thing as its re-construction. The expense of widening it will oidy, he thinks, entail an 

 extra cost of aborrt 5,000/. The expense of a lock 62 feet wide and 240 feet in length will 

 be 22,000/., and this will be amply sirfficlent for all the ordinary steam boats employed in 

 the Irish trade. It was stated that the masonry is in a very defective state, both as to the 

 banking au<l facing, and also that the fronting had been separated from the banking nearly 

 18 inches. Some discussion occurred as to the impropriety of limiting the increose to 52 

 feet. Most of the Rnyal Navy steamers, it was contended by the objectors, weiT *J0, 61, 

 or62 feet wide, and all those were now thought to be rather tog narrow. Fifty-two feet 



would not admit such a vessel as the Great Western in sea-golng trim . Ultimateiy, how-- 

 ever, the recommendation of Mr. Brunei was agreed to. — Railway Magazine. 



LIST OF NEW PATENTS. 



fFrom Messrs. Robertson^s List.) 



GRANTED IN ENGLAND FROM JULY 3, TO JULY 24, 1844. 



Six Months allowed fur Enrolment^ unless otherwise expressed. 

 Guy Carlton Coffin, of J.unaford. Wilts, esquire, for "certain Improvements applicable 

 to locomotive, marine, arrd stationary errgines."— Sealed July A. 



Anthony I^orimer, of Clerkenwell Close, Middlesex, bookbinder, for " certain Improve- 

 ments in the apparatus and means of facilitating drawing from nature or models."— July 3 . 

 Henry Smith, of Stamford, Lincolnshire, agricultural implement maker, for "certaiu 

 Improvements in the construction and arrangement of harrd-rakes and horse-rakes, and 

 in machinery for cuttinu vegetable substances."— July 3. 



Charles Nossiter-, of Linden End, near Birmingham, tanner, for "Improvements in 

 tanning hides and skins."— July 3. 



Jolin George Bodmer, of Manchester-, engineer-, for " certain Improvements in locomo- 

 tive steam-engines, and in carriages to be used upon railways, in marine engines and ves- 

 sels, and in the apparatus for propelling the same, and also in stationary engines, and in 

 appartus to be corrnected therewith."— July 3. 



Christopher Dunkin Hays, of Bermondsey, Surrey, wharfinger, *' for Improvements 

 in propelling vessels." — July .1. 



Oetavius Henry Smith, of Wimbledon, Surrey, esquire, for certoin " Improvements in 

 steam engines, boilers, and condensers."— July 3. 



Stephen Beircraft, of Bar-nstable, esquire, for " Impi-ovemeirts in the construction and 

 fitting up of harness for tlie prevention and cure of galled shoulders to draught horses." 

 —July 3. 



James George Newey, of Birmingham, hook and eye manufacturer, and James Newman, 

 of the same place, jeweller, for " Improvements in fastenings for wearing apparel."— 

 July 3. 



Thomas Syson Cundy, of Cutler-street, builder, for *' cer-tain Improvemerrts in the con- 

 struction and arrangement of stoves and fire-places."— July 3. 



Willoughby I'heobold Monzani, of Wellington-terrace, Uanisgate, gentleman, for " cer- 

 tain Improvements in the construction of boats for the preservation n( life and property, 

 and in apparatus applicable thereto."— July 3. 



Daniel Stafford, of Grantham, gentleman, for " Improvements in apnnratus for prevent- 

 ing what is termed smoky chimneys or flues, and for the extinction of fire in chimneys or 

 flues."— July 3. 



Timothy Fisher-, of Liverpool, mechanic, for " Improvements in locomotive engines." 

 —July 10. 



Moses Pole, of Serle-street, gentleman, for " Improvements in the manufacture of 

 paper." (Being a communication.)— July 10. 



Moses Poole, of Serie.street, gentlemen, for " Improvements in the manufacture of oils 

 by using a material not hitherto employed, and in obtaining stearin* therefrom, applicable 

 irr the making of candles, and also in the manufacture of mamire from the residuum of 

 such oils with other matters." (Being a communication.)— July 10. 



William Bcdington, jun., of Birmingham, menufacturer, for " Improvements in tbe 

 construction of furnaces." — July 10. 



Charles Henry Capper, of Birmingham, engineer, for "a certain Improvement or 

 certain improvements, hi the manufacture of palisades, gates, and fences, the whole or 

 part of which impi-ovements may be applied to other purposes."— July 10. 



William Newton, of Chancery-lane, Middlesex, civil engineer, for " certain Improve- 

 ments in the manufacture of wire from zink, and the application of the same to various 

 useful purposes." — July l*t. 



Henry Highton, of Rugby, Warwick, master of arts, clerk, for " certain Improvements 

 in electric lelegiaphs."— July 10. 



Robert Beart, of Godminchester. Huntingdon, gentleman, for " Improvements in ap- 

 paratus for boring in the ear'th and in stone."— July 10. 



John McBride. manager of the Nursery spinning and weaving mills, Hutcheaontown, 

 Glasgow, for "cer-tain Improvements in the machinei-y and appai-atus for weaving by 

 hand, steam, or other power."— July 15. 



James Harrison, of Irwell House, Buiy, Lancaster, manufacturer, for " cei'tain Im- 

 provements in machinery or apparatus for spinning cotton and other fibrous substances." 

 — Jirly 15. 



Henry Davies, of Noi-bury, Stafibrd, engineer, for " Improvements in the construction 

 of certain steam-engines, also in the application of steam to such engines."— July 15. 



William Taylor, of Regent-street, Middlesex, gentleman, F.L.S., for " Improvements in 

 the manufacture of oil from a vegetable, not hrthwrtu so used."— July 15. 



Jacques Bidault, of Paris, merchant, for " Improvements iu applying heat for generating 

 steam, and for other purposes, which improvements may be employed to obtain power." 

 (Being a communication.)— July 17. 



Charles Armengaud, of Paris, engineer, for " Improvements in apparatus for heating 

 apartments, arrd other places, and in apparatus fur cooking. (Being a communicatron.) 

 —July 18. 



Henr-y Bewley, of Lower Sackville-street, Dublin, apothecary and chemist, and George 

 Owen, of the same place, chemist, for " Improvements in the mode of confining corks, or 

 substitutes for corks in bottles and other vessels, whether made of glass, earthen, or stone 

 ware, containing liquids charged or not charged with gas."— July 20. 



James Nield. of Taunton, in the State of Massachusetts, North Amer-ica, for " certain 

 Impi'ovemeirts in looms." — July 24. 



Sarah Coote, of Clifton, near Bristol, Gloucester, for" Improvements in caulking ships, 

 boats, and other vessels." — July 24. 



Charles Humfrey, of Cross-lane, St. Mary at Hill, London, for " Improvements in the 

 manufacture of candles." — July 2-1. 



General George Wilson, of Cross-str-eet, Islington, machinist, for "certain Impi-ove- 

 ments in the construction of chimneys and flues, and in furnaces, stoves, grates, or fire- 

 places generally." — July 24. 



Willkim Brockedon, of Devorrshire-place, Queen-sqnaie, gentleman, for " Improve- 

 ments in covering the roofs of houses and other buildings, in covering the valves used 

 when propelling by atmospheric pressure, in covering Uie sleepers ot railways, and m 

 covering parts of stringed and keyed musical instruments."— July 24. 



Joseph Hall, of Bloomfield, iron works, Tipton, Start'ord, ironmaster, for " Improve- 

 ments rn the manufacture of horseshoe nails." — July 24. 



John James Russell, and Thomas Henry Russell, both of Wedoesbury. Stafford, tube 

 manufacturers, for " Improvements in the manufacture of welded iron tubes."- July 24. 

 Jamas Kite, of Hoxton, coal-inerchant, for "certain Improvements in constructing 

 chimneys, and in the means used for sweeping the same, parts of which improvements 

 are applicable to other like useful purposes."— July 24. 



Kdmund Pace, of the firm of Messrs. Taylor and Pace, of Hackney, in the county of 

 Middlesex.gentleman, for -'Improvements in the 3i»chinery for figure weaving in silk, 

 and other fabrics." — July 24. 



