582 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Dr. Rowell alluded to the arrangement of some tide wheels which caused 

 them to run in the same direction whether the tide was running in or out. 

 Mr. Norman Wiard said he had constructed such a wheel and would il- 

 lustrate its peculiarities by a drawing on the blackboard. The wheel 

 moved horizontally; each paddle was|^hung on pivots near the middle so 

 that the direct pressure of the water being greater on one side of the pivots 

 than on the other, would tend to keep the paddle open that is in line of the 

 radius. AVlien the water was directed to one side of this wheel, its effect 

 was to open the full paddle to receive its force, but as the paddle com- 

 menced its return with the rotation of the wheel being pressed equally 

 on both sides, it moved edgewise through the water to the point where it 

 was again thrown into the radial line by pressure only on one side. In the 

 course of his remarks upon the action of tide wheels, he related a singular 

 occurrence on a small steamer under his charge, anchored off the battery 

 not long since. During the day the pumps had been used. In the night 

 the paddle wheels were put in motion by the tide. When morn- 

 ing came, 12 inches of water was found in the hold and the water tanks 

 were filled with salt water. Mr. W. then directed attention to the attempts 

 which liad been made to use the force of waves produced by wind, for 

 propelling vessels; and described the jointed bhip called "the Bender," 

 in which the motion of part of the ship was expected to operate machinery. 

 Mr. Fisher said he had read this in the Scientific American some time 

 since, and he remembered another abortive attempt to make waves move 

 fins on the outside of a vessel. The smallest steam engine ever put into 

 a boat would be more effective than either of these plans. 



Mr. Dibben said the plan alluded to was copied by the Scientific Ameri- 

 can from the London Mechanics' Magazine, and the credit (if any) was due 

 to England. 



Mr. Root and Mr. Garvey joined in condemning the proposed plans. 

 The Chairman remarked that the highest waves seen on the Atlantic 

 ocean did not exceed thirty feet. In the Southern ocean, which is very 

 deep and unobstructed by islands, the waves are higher. Off Cape of 

 Good Hope some were estimated to have an elevation of 40 feet. A wave 

 form travels its own length in the time of two oscillations; and the time 

 of an oscillation is proportional to square root of the wave length. 



Mr. Enos Stevens returned to the subject of tides, and explained at 

 length the effect of the moon's declination upon the tides in high latitudes. 

 After which " The Use of Compressed Air as a Motoi'," was selected for 

 discussion at the next meeting. 

 Adjourned. 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, -) 

 February ISfh, 1864. ) 



Chairman, S. D: Tillman, Esq.; Secretary, Mr. B. Garvey. 



Water Engine. 



The miscellaneous business commenced with the exafnination of Eames' 

 new water engine, patented in 1862, especially designed for the factory and 

 the farm, to force a small stream of water to any height required by means 

 of a larger stream. It is claimed that it will do much more duty than the 



