THE EXHIBITION OP 1862, 
147 
are more efficient or capable of more general application to 
every variety of fall than the vortex wheels which he has 
constructed. 
The peculiarity of these vortex wheels consists in the 
arrangement of the fixed guide-blades on the outside of a 
circular chamber, in which is placed the revolving wheel, so 
that the water flowing inwards strikes the curved plates of 
the revolving wheel tangentially, and leaves the wheel at the 
centre at a minimum velocity; the whirlpool created in the 
wheel-chamber giving to this description of turbine its desig- 
nation of vortex wheel. These wheels are constructed by 
Messrs. Williamson & Brothers, of Kendal, who, we believe, 
have at present erected all that are employed in this country. 
In addition to the horizontal wheel or turbine, there are 
centrifugal pumps and water-pressure engines. The first and 
most important is by Mr. Appold, and to that gentleman the 
country is indebted for many ingenious mechanical contrivances. 
Messrs. Gwynehave also contributed to the centrifugal pumping 
system, and both have splendid specimens of their different 
constructions at the Exhibition. The principle on which this 
machine is based, is a small wheel, which is driven at a great 
velocity, — as many as from 800 to 1,000 revolutions per minute, 
at the bottom of the suction-pipe. This wheel or fanner with 
blades is driven by a steam-engine, and, revolving at great 
speed in a tight box, forms a vacuum in the suction-pipe and 
forces the water before it, up the discharge-pipes to the 
required elevation. 
These machines are simple and effective where the water has 
not to be raised to a great height, but they are inapplicable 
for high lifts, and require a considerable amount of power to 
overcome the friction and pressure of water in the pipes. It 
is a question yet to be solved as to whether they are equal, 
on the score of economy, to the common pump. In fact, 
they are the same as a scoop wheel surrounded by water in a 
close box. 
Those who have witnessed the imposing effect of these 
machines at work in the Exhibition, cannot be otherwise than 
struck with the large body of water which they discharge at 
a height of 12 to 15 feet, and without entering into comparison 
as to cost or the force employed to raise a given quantity of 
water, we nevertheless arrive at the conclusion that this system 
of raising water is well entitled to consideration. 
The water-pressure engine, exhibited only in models and 
drawings, is employed for the same purpose as the centrifugal 
pump. Steam-power is not used in this case, but is obtained 
from the pressure of a column of water, which, acting upon a 
plunger, generates a reciprocating instead of a rotatory motion. 
