Transcriber's note:
Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (italics).
The notation "^{n}" means that n is superscript. The notation "_{n}" means that n is subscript.
Text that was in small capitals has been converted to all capitals.
The original page numbers are embedded in square brackets, e.g. "[Pg135]".
More detailed notes are provided in the Transcriber's endnote.
THE STEAM ENGINE EXPLAINED AND ILLUSTRATED;
With an Account of Its Invention and Progressive Improvement, and Its Application to Navigation and Railways;
Including also a Memoir of Watt.
by
DIONYSIUS LARDNER, D.C.L. F.R.S. &c. &c.
SEVENTH EDITION,
Illustrated by Engravings on Wood.
London: Printed for Taylor and Walton, 28. Upper Gower Street.
MDCCCXL.
London: Printed by A. Spottiswoode, New-Street-Square.
TO
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
HENRY LORD BROUGHAM AND VAUX,
FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY,
AND
MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCE,
AS A MARK OF PUBLIC RESPECT
AND
A TESTIMONY OF PRIVATE REGARD,
THIS WORK
INSCRIBED, BY HIS ATTACHED FRIEND,
THE AUTHOR.
ADVERTISEMENT.
The Drawings for several of the Cuts in this Volume have been taken, by the permission of Mr. Weale, from the admirable Plates annexed to the last edition of Tredgold on the Steam Engine and on Steam Navigation. This acknowledgment is especially due for the Illustrations which abound in this Volume.
London, June, 1840.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PRELIMINARY MATTER.
Page
The Steam Engine, a Subject of popular Interest 4
Effects of Steam 5
Great Power of Steam 7
Object of this Work 9
Disputes respecting the Invention 11
Hero of Alexandria's Machine 13
Blasco De Garay's Proposition to propel Vessels by a Machine 16
Solomon De Caus 17
Giovanni Branca proposes to work Mills by Steam 22
Marquis of Worcester 23
Mechanical Properties of Fluids 25
Elastic and Inelastic Fluids 25
Elasticity of Gases 28
Effects of Heat 29
Application of these Principles to the Engines of Hero, De Caus, and Lord Worcester 30
Sir Samuel Morland 34
Denis Papin 36
Atmospheric Pressure 38
Weight of Air 39
Pressure of Air 41
Barometer 41
Elastic Force of Air and Gases 42
Force obtained by a Vacuum 43
Common Pump 43
Rarefaction by Heat 44
Process of filling Thermometers 44
Papin's Method of producing a Vacuum 44
His Discovery of the Condensation of Steam 45
Thomas Savery 47
CHAP. II.
ENGINES OF SAVERY AND NEWCOMEN.
Savery's Engine 49
Boilers and their Appendages 50
Working Apparatus described 51
Mode of Operation 52
Defects of Savery's Engine 58
Newcomen's Engine described by Papin 62
Newcomen and Cawley obtain a Patent for Atmospheric Engine 65
Accidental Discovery of Condensation by Injection 69
Potter's Discovery of the Method of working the Valves 71
His Contrivance improved by the Substitution of a Plug Frame 72
Advantages of the Atmospheric Engine over that of Savery 72
The Power of Savery's Engine restricted 73
It contained no new Principle 73
Its practical Superiority 73
CHAP. III.
EARLY CAREER AND DISCOVERIES OF JAMES WATT.
Atmospheric Engine improved by Beighton 75
Smeaton's Improvements in the Atmospheric Engine 76
Brindley obtains a Patent for Improvement in 76
Invents the Self-regulating Feeder 76
Infancy of James Watt 77
His Descent and Parentage 77
Anecdotes of his Boyhood 78
His early Acquirements 79
Goes to London 80
Returns to Glasgow 80
Appointed Instrument-maker to the University 81
Opens a Shop in Glasgow 81
His Friends and Patrons 81
Professor Robison's Remarks on Watt's personal Character 82
His industrious and studious Habits 82
His Attention first directed to Steam 83
Experiments on High-pressure Engine 83
Repairs an Atmospheric Model 84
Experimental Inquiry consequent on this 84
Its Results 84
Observes great Defects in the Atmospheric Engine 85
His first Attempt to improve it 85
His early Experiments on Steam 87
Discovery by Experiment of the Expansion which Water undergoes in Evaporation 90
Discovers the latent Heat of Steam 91
Informed by Dr. Black of the Theory of latent Heat 93
His Improvement not due to Black 93
CHAP. IV.
EXPOSITION OF PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES.
Construction of Thermometer 98
Method of graduating it 99
Freezing and boiling Points 99
Latent Heat of Water 101
Quantity of Heat necessary to convert Ice into Water, first noticed by Dr. Black 101
Examination of the analogous Effects produced by the continued Application of Heat to Water in the liquid State 102
Process of Boiling 104
Reconversion of Steam into Water 104
Conversion of Water into Steam 105
Latent Heat of Steam 107
Boiling Point varies 108
Different in different Places 109
Inquiry whether a Diminution of Pressure will produce a corresponding Effect on the boiling Point 112
Table showing the Temperature at which Water will boil under different Pressures of the Atmosphere 113
Mechanical Force of Steam 115
Facts to be observed in 117
CHAP. V.
FURTHER DISCOVERIES OF WATT.
Watt finds that Condensation in the Cylinder is incompatible with a due Economy of Fuel 119
Conceives the Notion of condensing out of the Cylinder 120
Discovers separate Condensation 121
Invents the Air Pump 123
Substitutes Steam Pressure for Atmospheric Pressure 123
Invents the Steam Case, or Jacket 124
His first Experiments to realise these Inventions 125
His experimental Apparatus 125
His experimental Models fitted up at Delft House, in Glasgow 128
Difficulties of bringing the improved Engines into Use 129
Watt first employed by Roebuck as a Civil Engineer 130
His Partnership with Roebuck 130
His first Patent 130
Experimental Engine at Kinneal 131
Abstract of the Act of Parliament for the Extension of his Patent 132
Description of his single-acting Steam Engine 133
CHAP. VI.
WATT'S ENGINES.
Correspondence of Watt with Smeaton 145
Failure of Condensation by Surface 146
Improvements in Construction of Piston 147
Method of Packing 148
Improvements in boring the Cylinder 149
Disadvantages of the new compared with the old Engines 150
Greatly increased Economy of Fuel 150
Economy of the Engine 151
Expedients to force the new Engines into Use 151
Correspondence of Boulton 153
Correspondence with Smeaton 155
Efficiency of Fuel in the new Engines 156
Discovery of the expansive Action of Steam 157
Watt states it in a Letter to Dr. Small 157
Its Principle explained 158
Mechanical Effects resulting from it 162
Computed Effect of cutting off Steam at different Portions of the Stroke 163