Some Account of a New Beam. 
57 
■working it, that is, by walking along the beam carrying the pump rods, is said to be 
the most easy and the most effectual method of applying a man’s strength ; and in 
proof it is averred that the above performance exceeds Desagulier’s estimate of the 
maximum performance of a man in l.he proportion of i) to 7 
In considering these statements, it was thought that such a pump would he appli- 
cable to many situations and circumstances in India. The idea suggested itself, that 
if for the man, there con'd he substituted any mass of inert matter, which should 
yet have the property of changing its place, from one end of the beam to the other 
by the assistance of a small application of power, another step would be gained. 
One idea led to another till, not to fatigue our readers, a plan of a hollow beam to 
behalf filled with water or other fluid was fixed on. Such a beam, it was conceived, 
would have a greater tendency to oscillate than one of solid matter of equal weight, 
and that the application of a very small power would be sufficient to keep it in mo- 
tion. The water rushing violently towards the descending arm of the beam would 
bare a tendency to return upon itself ; ami thus a very slight counterbalance, it was 
supposed, would be sufficient to produce another stroke. 
The investigation of the subject has now been steadily pursued by the inventor 
for some time, and many other improvements and modifications have suggested 
themselves. Hut the great object was, if possible, to execute the experiment on such 
a scale as should leave no doubt of the practical utility of such an arrangement. 
The experiment has been, after many difficulties and much loss of time as well as 
money, at last made, and we shall allow the inventor to speak fur himself in the bil- 
lowing extract of his letter to us on the subject. We need not point out the very 
great utility of su simple a machine in this country, if it be found to answer all the 
inventor’s expectations. To the indigo planter, opium and cane cultivator, and 
indeed to the general farmer, the benefits are obvious and treat. But it is not merely 
to this application that the invention is confined. Our readers will see it has a much 
more extensive range ; but in the present state of the invention it would be premature 
enlarging on this subject. 
“ I send you a sketch of an experiment which was made yesterday, the result of 
which turns out, as I calculate it, in favour of thepower employed. A weight was 
used to measure the effect, and its descent of 18 feet, in about 5 seconds of time, caused 
an action of all the communicators of motion to be made, (with some intermittent ir- 
regularity for want of a flv,) and wi th a very perceptible degree of acceleration towards 
the last part of the descent. 
“ The inertia of the whole system was about 445Ibs. and the actuating weight was 
made at first 28lbs. or T ' 5 of this, hut the descent being too quick it was reduced to 
181bs. and this acted very well in about 8 seconds, the whole fall. The work pro- 
posed to lie done was that'of raising 1 121bs. alternately by each stroke of the beam, 
which was put in motion by means of crank rods attached eccentrically to two tooth, 
ed wheels, ram ing in opposite directions and set in motion by a pinion wheel fixed on 
the axis of the cylinder. Hound this cylinder was wound the rope to which the 
moving weight was attached. 
“ The accompanying sketch * will make the arrangement more intelligible. 
“ The contents of the beam consisted of 35lbs. fine loam and 851bs. of water, in all 
1201bs. The beam itself weighed, empty 1251bs Total 245 
Wheel train, crank rod, and line roller, w M 
Single weights uniting the stroke, 112 
Lever, roller, &c. Jbs, each 25 50 
Total, 445 
Actuating weight (with line) first trial 281bs. 
• — - ■ - second do. 18, 671bs __ 5 ' ? 
“ In the first trial, the attendant was obliged to check the velocity of descent by 
putting a slight pressure on the winch handle : in the second trial the winch was 
removed. 
“ The velocity of the line roller was equal to about 3 feet per second, (being ] 2 in. 
ches iu diameter as measured from the centre of the line ;) that of the working point 
was measured by the roller end of the weighted lever being depressed from 0 to 8 
incites, and the weight on the opposite and equal arm being raised as much each 
time. One revolution of the crank wheel answered to two of the roller wheel and 
each crank wheel revolution produced two upward and two downward crank move, 
ments iu 1 second, that is, 2 strokes of the beam or one at each end 
* Fig. 3, PI. 1. 
