OF
OPEN CANALS,
As Hydraulic Machines.
I have said, and shall still say, much on the desirableness of making use of a greater portion of that gigantic agent—Wind, than has yet been customary. This article is another attempt to urge it’s propriety. But it will be of no use to those who cannot extend their views beyond the present state of things, to that possible state which every successive mechanical improvement appears to anticipate or promise. These speculations of mine, suppose extensive means and extensive necessities: and they promise results still more extensive. In a neighbouring kingdom, where the country is, as it were, redeemed yearly from the ocean’s grasp, what would not it’s inhabitants give for a security against the encroaching tide? or the means of saving several months to agriculture, by the speedy disembarrassment of it’s fields from the common destroyer of health and produce? It is even said, that in the last winter, some dykes in Holland were broken, and many lives lost by inundation: and in our own country there is many a submerged spot, over which there blows wind enough to drink up, or throw out, it’s last particle. I submit then, the present means, as capable, with proper modifications, of forwarding every analogous purpose; and thus as worthy to occupy the attention of every friend to rational improvement.
If my [38th. Plate] were considered as a corner of any inundated country, whose boundary were a dyke contiguous to this chosen spot, I would propose building a long curvilinear canal A B, of which the middle space should receive and contain the lower water; and the two outside spaces the upper: especially the outer circle, which should communicate with a few branches C D, leading to and through the dyke before mentioned. In the two outside canals should float a pair of boats (long and light) E F, joined together by one or more cross-beams G, which would produce the double effect of connecting the boats so as to make them bear much sail, without oversetting; and of carrying along in the middle or lower canal a kind of water-drag H, that should take with it the under water, and raise it’s level nearly to that of the upper canals—into one of which it would enter through it’s lateral valves, and thence flow into the eduction canals C D as before stated. My idea will be better understood by referring to the small [figs. 2 and 3], at the bottom of the [Plate]: for they are, one, the transverse section of the canals with the boats, and the other a longitudinal view of one of the vessels in it’s canal, with the water-drag H in the act of making (what is technically called) a boar, of the lower water; and raising it above the level of the valves I K, which open into the canal.
To recapitulate, E F in [fig. 2], are the two vessels seen sternwise, with their sails supposed very large: G the beam that connects them; H the water-drag; and O one of several valves which open from the lower water, and close when the drag is going over them. In [fig. 3], H is the same water-drag, whose distance from the bottom is regulated by the brace b: it’s beam or shaft, being fixed to the crossbeam G, of [figs. 1], [2, and 3].
Thus then, at one passage of this double vessel along the curved canal A B, all the water in it’s middle compartment will be raised into it’s outer one: and be thrown into the sea through the canals C D, &c. It appears, near E F in this [fig. 1], that the vessels E F, have friction pullies or wheels placed horizontally on their decks, to act against the sides of the canal and prevent the lee-way: thus converting the whole effort of the wind to a useful purpose. And here I observe, that if the wind blows in, or nearly in the direction of the diagonal, then, the vessel would go almost from one end to the other of the main canal without tacking, and thus do an abundance of work at each return: for it is a common thing for ships to sail nine or ten knots an hour! And here note, that the present curvilinear form is given to the canal in order to take all winds, (tacking more or less often) whether coming from the inside of the curve or from the outside. I cannot but add that in this Machine—in that I have already given—or in those I may yet give, there is much to be found that promises useful application in many an important position. An example now strikes me. The reservoir at the Manchester Water Works might furnish room for a floating Machine, capable, on windy days, to do all the work of the steam engine, and thus economize a good portion of the fuel it consumes.