A NEW COP-WINDER.

In Germany extensive use is made of a cop-winding machine in which the wooden spindle consists of a cone moved by a screw, and the position of which is horizontal. Fig. 1 shows the primitive type of the German apparatus, in which the cone that forms the cop is set in motion by a horizontal screw. It is at first the greater diameter of the cone that moves the tube, and permits the thread to accumulate beneath the narrow extremity. But, as soon as a core of thread has been formed, it is in contact with the entire surface of the cone, and thus revolves with a mean velocity until it is finished.

In the new model (Fig. 2) the arrangement is different. Here A is the paper tube, with wooden base, to which it is freely attached, and C is the cone that moves over the screw, D. The thread passes into a groove which makes one revolution of the cone, and from thence over the paper tube, where it receives the form of a cop by reason of the transverse motion of the cone upon the screw. This transverse motion is at first prevented by the click, F, which falls into the teeth of the ratchet-wheel fixed behind the cone. The shaft revolves continuously, but has, at the same time, a to and fro motion in the direction of its axis, so as to cause the thread to move forward constantly and form a cop. This to and fro motion is obtained by means of a lever and a sleeve, I, the wheel, H, of the shaft being set in motion by the pinion, J, actuated by the transmission of the machine. As the spindle advances, a core is formed; the click, F, is then pushed backward, and the cone is kept in motion by the thread until the cop is finished.

A NEW COP-WINDING MACHINE.

Preference is usually given to the horizontal model; but the system may likewise be applied to a vertical spindle, and the arrangement in this case is simpler, as shown in Fig. 3. A rotary motion of the shaft is useless here, as the click, F, acts in an oblique position upon the ratchet-wheel, O, and pushes it by reason of the to and fro motion of the screw.

[Continued from SUPPLEMENT, No. 513, page 8191.]

THE PRESERVATION OF TIMBER.[2]

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS ON THE PRESERVATION OF TIMBER, PRESENTED AND ACCEPTED AT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION, JUNE 25, 1885.

BOUCHERIE, OR SULPHATE OF COPPER.

The name of Dr. Boucherie is generally applied to the process, which he invented and extensively applied, of preparing wood by forcing a solution longitudinally through the pores of the wood by means of hydraulic pressure. As, however, he also patented the use of sulphate of copper, and his name became attached to the use of that antiseptic, it will be convenient here to classify experiments made with that substance under this head.

Dr. Boucherie was a distinguished French chemist, who between 1836 and 1846 made many elaborate researches and experiments upon the preservation of timber. He tried many substances, and at first recommended the use of pyrolignite of iron, but subsequently used sulphate of copper, which he considered more effective.

His first experiments were conducted by vital suction, that is, by tapping the living tree, and allowing the ascending sap to carry up a preserving solution. This was not found to give uniform or satisfactory results, and Dr. Boucherie then invented the process which bears his name. This was practiced either by applying a cap to the end of a freshly cut log, through which the solution was allowed to flow by pressure, or by sawing a log nearly through in the middle, raising it at the center slightly, so as to open the joint, placing a strip of tarred rope or a rubber band just inside the periphery of the cut log, and letting it spring back, so as to form a tight joint by pressing upon the rope or band. An auger hole bored diagonally into the cavity so formed then served to admit the solution under pressure.

This process, applied with a solution of about one pound of sulphate of copper to one hundred pounds of water, has been extensively applied in France for many years, with satisfactory results. It was found, however, that to be successful it must be applied to freshly cut trees in the log only, and that this involved so much delay, moving about, waste, and annoyance, that it has now been abandoned. These difficulties would be still greater in this country, and in the Northern States the process could not be applied at all during the winter (or season for cutting down trees), as the solution would freeze.

On this page is a list of the experiments which your committee have been able to learn about, as having been made with sulphate of copper in this country.

RECORD OF AMERICAN EXPERIMENTS.

SULPHATE OF COPPER, OR BOUCHERIE.

--+--------------+----+--------+----------+----------+----------+---------------
| | | | Material |Subsequent| |
No| Locality |Year|Process.| Treated. | Exposure.| Results. | Authority.
--+--------------+----+--------+----------+----------+----------+---------------
1|Chili, S.A. |1857|Boucher.|Poplar |R.R. track|Favorable |W.W. Evans
| | | | ties | | |
2|Cleveland, O |1870|Thilmany|Ties | " " |Favorable |J.R. Conrad
| | | | | | to 1875 |
3|Washington |1872| " |Paving |Laboratory|Unfavor. |W.C. Tilden
| | | | blocks | | |
4|Pensacola |1874| " |Live oak |Teredo |Failure |W.H. Varney
| | | | | | |
5|Charleston, SC|1875| " |Pine block| " | " |Q.A. Gillmore
| | | | | | |
6|San Francisco |1876| " | " " | " | " |C.S. Stewart
| | | | | | |
7|Milwaukee |1876| " | " " |Pavement |Favorable,|Schlitz Bg.
| | | | | | 1882 | Co.
8|Norfolk, Va. |1876| " |Hackmatack|Teredo |Failure |P.C. Asserson
| | | | | | |
9|Charlestown, |1877| " |Various |Laboratory|Favorable |J.F. Babcock
| Mass | | | | | |
10|Wabash R.R. |1877| " |Ties |R.R. track|Unfavor. |R.A. Houghton
| | | | | | |
11|Wabash R.R. |1878| " | " | " " | " |W.S. Lincoln
| | | | | | |
12|New York, |1879| " | " | " " | " |C. Latimer
| Pennsylvania,| | | | | |
| and Ohio R.R.| | | | | |
13|Lake Shore and|1879| " | " | " " | " |R.A. Houghton
| Michigan | | | | | |
| Southern R.R.| | | | | |
14|Cleveland and |1879| " | " | " " | " |C. Latimer
|Pittsburg R.R.| | | | | |
15|Charlestown, |1879| " |Spruce |Sidewalk |Success |S.G. White
| Mass | | | plank | | to 1882 |
16|Baltimore and |1879| " |Ties |R.R. track|Too recent|J.L. Randolph
| Ohio | | | | | |
17|Hudson River |1869|Hamar | " | " " |Success |E.W. Vanderbilt
| R.R. | | | | | |
18|St. Louis |1882|Fladd | " | " " |Too recent|H. Fladd
--+--------------+----+--------+----------+----------+----------+---------------