1845.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



57 



successively aiKlcd, as ibe buiing is increase J in ileiHli, by screw joints, in 

 sucli manner lliat the turning of the tube wlien at work tcmis to lighten the 

 screw joints. At the upper end of llie tube tliere is a pump in orilcr to fill the 

 tube with water before starling to W(irl\; as tho means of giving motion to 

 the tool or cutter used, the upper end of the tube is suspended by means of 

 tlie bar which embraces it, such bar being supported by chains passing over 

 pulleys and having weights applied thereto. Connected to the upper part of 

 the mbc is the descending limb of a syphon, made with a water tight joint 

 so that it can rise and fall to accommodate itself to the descent of the tube. 

 The descending leg of the syphon apparatus enters into a reservoir, into 

 which the current of water passing through the tube and descending limb 

 of the syphon enters constanily, carrying witli it any soil or matters which 

 liave been cut or moved by the tool or cutter ; and there will he a cimstant 

 (low of water through the tube so long as the water stands in the e.\cavatiun 

 at the top of the tube at a higher level than in the reservoir, and it is by 

 having a constant current of water down the boring outside of the tube that 

 the earth and matters cut and moved are carried up ; and it will only be de- 

 sirable further to remark in respect to this part of the invention, that the 

 direction of the currents may be reversed by any suitable supply being con- 

 stantly caused to descend down the tube and ascend up the cutting, but he 

 believes the means of obtaining a constant (low herein described to be the 

 best for carrying out this Invention. 



EXPOSITION OF FRANCE, ISH. 

 (H'llh Engravings, Plate III.) 

 We continue our account of the rec'-nt Exposition at Pari?, but we 

 must observe that we do not hold ourselves responsible cither for the 

 originality or utility of the inventions described. Tlie descriptions 

 will, however, be of interest to our readers, as illustrating tiie progress 

 and present st.ite of engineering in France. 



M. Stoltz's Engine. 

 Tllis engine is of great simplicity ; it has neither cocks nor valves. 

 Tlie cylinder oscillates upon an axis iixed or tho lower end of the 

 cylinder, in the bottom of which are openings for tlie admittance of 

 the steam and exhaust passage, which opens and closes with tlieoscil- 

 Ution of the cylinder. Fig. ], Plate IV., represents an elevation of 

 the cylinder, and fig. 2 the expansion valve gearing. 



M. Legendre's Oscillating Engine. 



M. Legendre exhibited an engine on anew plan; instead of the 

 cylinileroscillating it istlie piston rod only, this arrangement very much 

 simplifies the moving parts. In lS3t'), Mr. Francis Humphrey, in 

 Engl.ind, applied an oscillating piston rod, which vibrated in a trunk 

 that was attached on tlie top of the piston and moved through a 

 studing-boxin the lid of the cylinder, (Ste Journal, vol.3, 181u, p. H2), 

 as applied on board the Dartford steam boat; one great objection to 

 this system was on account of the large area on the top of the piston 

 occupied by the trunk being rendered ineft'ective, and consequently 

 the pressure of the steam on the two sides of the piston was unequal, 

 and caused an irregularity in the movement of the engine. 



In M. Legendre's engine the piston rod is articulated to the crank 

 and the other end to the top of the piston by a vibrating joint, 

 wliich enables the power to be transmitted direct from the piston to 

 the crank. In the cover of the cylinder there is an opening or slot of 

 sufficient size to allow the piston rod to vibrate freely, but this opening 

 is closed by a ball and socket joint being attached to a sliding plate, 

 transversely in the thickness of the cover in grooves or guides; the 

 radial movement of the rod is secured by the ball and socket stuffing- 

 box, which is connected by two small steel axes to the traversing plate ; 

 tllis allows sufficient play for the piston rod to move the crank freely. 



It is stated that one of these engines was constructed in lb 13, and 

 that it has proved there is not the least escape of steam in the tra- 

 versing plate or the bill joint stuffing-box, although the pressure of 

 the steam has been from one to five atmospheres. When the vacuum 

 was produced under the piston the pressure of the steam against the 

 plate was sutiicient to make a perfect joint, and when over the piston 

 the packing in the stufling-box kept the plate in perfect contact 

 with the underside of the cover. 



The engravings show an engine of 10 to 12 h. p. to which the system 

 has been applied. The engine it appears is well adapted for steam 

 boats, as a steam vessel with engines of this description of 200 h. p. 

 has been lately constructed for the King of Naples. 



M. Legendre took out a French brcvU for this engine Jan. 3. 1S42, 

 and in consequence of some additional improvements he took out an- 

 other brevet Jan. 23, lb44 ; Mr. John Harvey has also taken out a 

 patent in England anti Mr. Parkyn in America for the same engine. 



Reference h Engravings, Figs. 1 and 2, Plate IF. 

 A, piston rod; B, stuffing-box with a ball and socket join!, E; C, 

 plate under the cover sliding in a groove, I and T; C, C small plate 

 of bell metal covering the opening in the cover, to prevent dust or 

 dirt getting in ; H, H', piston with metallic packing; J, steam chest; 

 and L, steam valves. 



Bourdon's Exi>ansive Qearikg. 

 M. E. Bourdon's expansive valve dillers from tliose already de- 

 scribed, (See Journal, vol. vii., JSM, p. 326,) by the disposition of the 

 parts forming the steam passages, so that the admission of the steam 

 will be instantaneously cut offon entering the cylinder, the engravings 

 figs. 1 and 2 will sufficiently explain its construction. Fig. 1 is a sec- 

 tion through the middle of the valves and passages, and lig. 2 a view 

 of the face of t'.ie valves with the plates for closing the steam 

 passages. A, is the cylinder with the passages; B, valve box; C, 

 slide valve pierced with four orifices in pairs; D, D, small plates for 

 closing the orifices, turning on axes of steel ; E, a regulator, the ex- 

 tremities of which are terminated by pallets, it oscillates on .i conical 

 axle, which passes through the outside of the steam box, and is then 

 attached to a small lever for the purpose of regulating it by hand or 

 by apparatus attached to the working parts of the steam engine; F, F, 

 two stops, the lengtli of which determines the opening of the orifices 

 for the introduction of the steam at each stroke; G, steam pipe. The 

 movement of this apparatus is very simple; if the regulator, E, be in- 

 clined one way so that the pallets do not come in contact with the 

 moveable plates, D, D, the steam will enter during the whole stroke 

 of the piston, and if inclined in the opposite direction the orifice will 

 be closed: the closing of the orifices will take place more quickly 

 when the pallets are made to come in contact with the plates, D, D. 

 By these means the expansion can be regulated so that the steam can 

 be cut off from g^^ to i the stroke of the piston. When it is requisite 

 to expand from five to seven-tenths, fur example, it is sufficient to 

 employ an eccentric cam regulated so as to permit the steam to enter 

 during those limits. 



Farcot's Engine. 

 This engine, fig^;. 1 and 2, Plate HL, was one of the most remark- 

 able exhibited by M. Farcot. It was in the form of a hollow column, 

 possessing the properties of simplicity and stability. This hollow 

 framing, cast in a single piece, gives a greater degree of firmness than 

 is to be found in framing with four pillars. It is one of the best plans 

 for engines where the shaft is above, and susceptible of many appli- 

 cations, and particularly for engines of a few horse power. It would, 

 however, be desirable to adopt for the machinery an arrangement more 

 accessible, for it is often necessary to get at the machinery, and the 

 interruptions should be as short as possible. 



HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE. 



./I Brief Fiew of the General History of jlrchi lecture, from the Earliest 

 Periods of i^gyptian Art to the Middle of the XFI. Century. By 

 Thomas Leverton Donaldson. (Read at the Royal Institute of 

 British Architects,) ' Monday, January 13. 



To those, who devote themselves to the profession of architecture 

 with a real love for the pursuit, instigated by a passion to follow out 

 a noble study from the delight it affords, whether considered as an art 

 or a science, or from its intimate connection with tlie history of all 

 periods of the world, and its illustration of the habits and feelings and 

 intellectual developements of every nation, it is apparent, that the 

 satisfaction derived from the contemplation of the individual monu- 

 ments of those, who have preceded us, falls far short of all the interest 

 with which those monuments are ca|)able of being invested, unless we 

 associate with those impressions other considerations connected with 

 the purposes for which they were erected, with their history and with 

 those elements, beauty and propriety, in an esthetic point of view, 

 which give a finished charm to the majesty and proportions which 

 they exhibit. 



It is not my purpose at this time to follow out so vast a subject, but 

 I am anxious to invite your attention to one part of it, and to ascer- 



■ [We are indeblcd to Protessor Donaldson for the liberal use of liis rough notnj 

 the toiiclusioa of which ivc shall present in our next number. In availing ourselves o' 

 this permission, wc would urge upon the members of the Institute and the jirofession 

 generally the iiropriety offolUnving the laudable example of Mr. Donaldson, and by their 

 labours contribute to the reputation and usefulness of the Institute. Few can plend the 

 excuse of want of time or pressure of professional occupations so strongly as Mr. Donald- 

 son, yet few ore so ready to devote their time for the pubUc advantage, mid the interests 

 of the profession to which they belong.] 



8 



