58 
Some Account of a New Beam . 
« Now here we have 18.671bs. falling through 37£ inches to raise 11 2lbs say 7 
inches 18.67 V 37£ : 112 7 : : 1 :.1.12 nearly, so that, none of the power was 
lost. It would even appear that there must have been in theory again, as the friction 
of the train must have b^en considerable ; perhaps however, it might he better ex- 
plained by some inaccuracy in the measurement of the small quantity 7 inches. 
Allowing every possible abate ment, you will still see enough, I hope, to warrant fur- 
ther experiment and investigation. 
“ V' ii are aware that few machines of any size realize half the power expended on 
them. Montgolfier's ram, in which the momentum of a column of water in motion is 
the prime mover, effected 60 per cent, and a mi chine called the Panaide invented 
in France reached the high estimate of 76 per cent. But nothing yet executed 
has gone near these values. The majority of steam engines, for instance, waste 
half their power. 
“ I shall repeat the experiment when the apparatus is entirely finished, and let 
you know the. result. The preceding was by no means a fair trial ; in particular, 
one of the cranks only was applied, and this caused an irregular action and, conse- 
quently, waste of power. Imperfect as it is, it will bear a comparison with Profes- 
sor Robison's account of the man s work. In that experiment, it is evident, that 
(supposing no friction) the man descended and ascended about 46 feet per minute. 
Taking this performance, we shall have 15 strokes of the beam in the same time, each 
stroke being made by a descent of the weight through 37 feet ; and as the actuat- 
ing weight is 6 times what we have supposed it, (110 : 10. 67: : 6: 1 very nearly) 
we shall have 112 X 16 X 6 X 10,080lbs. raised through 7 inches every minute- by 
the same degree of exertion as raised 7 C. ft. 1 1 £ ft. This is the same thing as 512lbs. 
raised through 11^ feet. Now512Ibs. = {$} C. Ft. instead of 7* There ore the per- 
formance of this beam, loaded as it is with ft iction , has an advantage over the solid one 
in the proportion of 8 to 7* 
Explanation of' the Sketch , (Fig 3, PI. I.) 
a Wheel of first mover on which the rope passing over the sheave h , and car- 
rying the weight <? — 181bs, is wound. 
b a twelve- inch sheave on same axis. 
c c Two wheels actuated by (a) and carrying each the eccentrically fixed 
crank rods ( ff)> 
i i Weights on the equal -arm levers (l!) which turn on the fulcra ( oo ) ; each 
arm measures 2 ft. from the fulcrum. 
v r Rollers attached to the levers for greater facility of action. 
A a compound fluid mass consisting of 35lbs. loam 
85lbs. water 
Total 120 
B The hollow beam containing it, worked by the crank rods Of), and raising 
by means ol the lever (mn) =? 2 jt. the weights (ii ) hung to the equal-arm levers 
f it )• 
The above gives a favourable idea of the advantages of the principle which has 
suggested tins invention. Yet as we have a great jealousy of all contrivances for 
duimbutmg more power than has been impressed upon them, we hesitated to receive 
implicitly all that the inventor has advanced in favour of this machine. In fact, we 
1 eared some oversight, though we could detect none; and we therefore suggested, 
as a means of obviating every objection, the substitution within the hollow beam of 
an equal weight of solid matter for the fluid. If the performance of the machine 
Hie hollow beam was loaded with dry loam 601bs. and sanV mvwTVonlh, the 
beam itself being l20lbs. total 3001bs. Actuating weight 2nll,s TV u, „ be 
2 3n, Th w^ht w “ s:^ p,aced by its weight ° f water ’ ■*«*» 
H rp, . . 2d Experiment. 
1 le actuating weight was made 261bs. the levers raised 141 Tt ; m nnssible 
s^&nsEKSsr “ — -*• —» 4r,r,r.«. 
