136 THEORY OF CONSTRUCTION AND SCIENTIFIC DESCRIPTION 



146. The Hydrostatic Press,, in its present high and refined state of 

 improvement, is a machine that is capable of generating and trans- 

 mitting a 'greater degree of force, for the purpose of overcoming 

 immense resistances, and raising enormous loads to a small height, 

 than any other instrument or engine with which we are acquainted ; 

 it is therefore of the highest importance th,at the principles of its 

 construction and the mode of operation should be rightly understood, 

 and in order to render the subject as clear and intelligible as possible, 

 we think proper to lay before our readers the following detailed 



description. 



Fig. 1. 



The wood cut before us, fig. 1, exhibits an elevation of the press 

 in its complete state, accompanied by the forcing pump and all its 

 appurtenances as fitted up for immediate action : F is a strong metal- 

 lic cylinder of cast iron, or some other material of sufficient density 

 to prevent the fluid from issuing through its pores, and of sufficient 

 strength to preclude the possibility of rupture, by reason of the im- 

 mense pressure which it is destined to withstand. 



The cylinder F is bored and polished with the most scrupulous 

 precision, and fitted with the moveable piston D, which is rendered 

 perfectly water-tight, by means of leather collars constructed for the 

 purpose, and fixed in the cylinder by a simple but ingenious con- 

 trivance to be described hereafter. 



