A New Century of Inventions / Being Designs & Descriptions of One Hundred Machines, Relating to Arts, Manufactures, & Domestic Life - James White

To be a little more particular: in [fig. 5] we see a part of the wheel C of [fig. 3], and also a part of the stud bars m m, which geer in the wheel C, and which being conducted by the guides n, follow the motion of that wheel, presenting at f, ([fig. 3]) a stud to raise the lever f e, whenever the pattern requires it. It may be mentioned, that these studs act obliquely on the wing f of this lever, and thus raise it as they pass under it. And further, these stud bars are made and fitted to each other in the manner shewn at [fig. 6]. There is a geering tooth under every stud hole, and the last stud hole of a given bar has, fixed in it, a thin tube a, into which the stud enters the same way as in any other place: but this tube whether studded or not serves to lay hold of the succeeding bar b, by it’s first hole—so, in fine, as to make the bars endless; the attendant having nothing else to do than to hook them to each other as the wheel C draws them in.

Thus then, are the strokes of the hammer frame, g h, conformed to the pattern: for these bars have been studded before hand by one or more readers and setters; and it is a merely mechanical process to put them in while the Machine moves: from which, by the bye, they fall out after the passage into a proper box, and the studs out of them, to be composed again from the succeeding figures of the pattern. A dozen or two of these bars might be prepared at any time and place, and to any pattern, which they will thus transfer to a cylinder at any desired moment, without the further preparation of dies, punches, mills, &c.—as used in other Machines. N. B. The strength of the blows thus given by the hammer frame g h, is lessened or augmented by the position of the point i fixed to the bent lever i e f, and which makes that lift higher or lower as required—which is a mean of shading offered by this Machine. But to mention it’s other properties, the endless screw a, ([figs. 3 and 4]) carries another endless screw o, more or less fine, which turns at the same time the wheel p, and, by that, the long screw s s, whose office it is to shift, slowly, the punch carriers k l, along the Machine, from k by l, towards s. And here an observation occurs: this can only be so, when the pattern permits the action of the punches k or l, to take place spirally on the cylinder; that is, when the sketches are distinct enough not to shew the anomaly that would occur were a straight pattern thus transferred to a set of spiral lines. But should it be desirable to engrave patterns so correct as to require an exact parallel motion round the cylinder, then the motion of this screw must not be continual—but must intermit and be resumed, at every beginning of a new line round the cylinder. I hope, I make myself understood: a pattern drawn on squares, produces lines all parallel to the first; while the spiral motion of the punch causes a slight deviation—which, in a word, can either be suffered or avoided. At all events, this deviation is so much the smaller as the punch motion is slower in both directions; and, in fine patterns, must be very small. One remark will close this part of the subject: although a fine pattern, requires a great number of blows, and thus a certain expence of time, each blow can be so much the lighter and more frequent; so as to compensate, in some degree, for this cause of delay. I add, that the levers shewn above and around [fig. 6], are intended to lift the hammer frame g h, equally at both ends: while the screw Z regulates the depth to which it is permitted to fall.

I observe, finally, that, according to the size of the intended pattern, there are more or fewer of the punch bearers k l, connected, by their nuts, with the screw s s; each of which thus engraves it’s sketch, similar to the collateral ones; and that were it wished to make one pattern of the whole length and circumference of the cylinder, a single punch bearer would be required—since nothing else limits the extent of a pattern engraved by this Machine.

Thus have I gone through my proposed “Century of Inventions,” for every imperfection in which I beg the indulgence of my numerous readers. And here I can truly say I have neglected nothing—although the precarious state of my health may have sometimes veiled the evidence of my descriptions. On the other hand, I did not even attempt many of the lesser details of execution; as I wrote for those to whom they would have been superfluous: but as to the objects themselves, I believe there is not one that is without the pale of practical utility. In a word, many of the subjects have been frequently executed, and are in daily use: and as to those which remain to be tried, I engage, if called on, to give them useful existence. And the better to convince candid minds of the serious attention I have paid to these subjects, I shall add the scales on which they have been executed, or to which they are drawn—those scales expressed by a fraction, shewing what proportion the figures bear to the reality. Thus the scale of one inch to a foot will be expressed by the fraction ¹⁄₁₂; that of two inches to a foot, by ¹⁄₆, &c. that is, the figures, in these cases, will be (nearly) ¹⁄₁₂ or ¹⁄₆ of the size of the Machines. This premised—and also that we shall observe the alphabetical order, the following is the

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

No.		Scale	Page.
1	Adding machine; or Machine to cast up large Sums	¹⁄₂ and 1	[343]
2	Air Pump: Essay to complete the Vacuum	¹⁄₁₀	[374]
3	Barrel Spring, to lengthen the going of Clocks, &c.	1	[26]
4	Boats (serpentine) for lessening the expence of traction, &c.	¹⁄₇₅	[137]
5	Bobbin or Laces, (Machine for making) covering Whips, &c.	circa. ¹⁄₅	[284]
6	Bowking Machine, for Bleachers	¹⁄₂₄	[299]
7	Bucket or Persian Wheels, (a combination of) to raise Water	¹⁄₂₄	[172]
8	Canals (open) as hydraulic Machines	circa. ¹⁄₂₀₀	[307]
9	Canter, or inclined plane for Draymen	¹⁄₂₄	[72]
10	Chain to act equably on my Wheels	circa. 1	[135]
11	Chocolate Mill (rotatory)	¹⁄₁₂	[368]
12	Cocks (equilibrium) to avoid leakage, &c.	ad. lib.	[153]
13	Colour Mill, for Calico Printers	¹⁄₁₂	[175]
14	Compasses (bisecting)	¹⁄₂	[353]
15	Cotton-Machine for batting or bowing	circa. ¹⁄₁₂	[290]
16	Crane (rewarded by the Society of Arts)	¹⁄₆₀	[57]
17	Crank, epicycloidal; or parallel motion (rewarded by Bonaparte)	¹⁄₈ ¹⁄₁₂	[30]
18	Dash, or Wash Wheel, acting with greater rapidity than usual	¹⁄₂₄	[271]
19	Differential Wheels, for gaining great power	¹⁄₄	[54]
20	Doffing Machine, to take cylinders from their mandrels	¹⁄₉	[243]
21	Draw Bench, for my twisted Pinions	¹⁄₂ ¹⁄₆	[133]
22	Dynamometer, for measuring power in motion	¹⁄₄	[15]
23	—— a second kind for do.	¹⁄₃	[177]
24	Engine, for cutting my Patent Wheels	V. [text]	-	[121]
24	Engine, for cutting my Patent Wheels	V. [text]	-	[183]
25	Engine, for cutting large bevil Wheels and Models	¹⁄₁₂	[263]
26	Engraving Machine, being an important application of my Cog or Toothed Wheels	¹⁄₁₂ and ¹⁄₁₄	[317]
27	Engraving Machine, of a new kind, for large patterns	¹⁄₁₄	[389]
28	Essay to derive power from expanding solids	¹⁄₂₀	[280]
29	Evaporation (Machine to promote)	ad. lib.	[78]
30	Eyes (Machine for making rapidly)	¹⁄₂	[166]
31	Fire-Escape, on a retarding principle	¹⁄₂	[364]
32	—— by breaking the fall	ad. lib.	[366]
33	Fires (portable Engine to extinguish)	¹⁄₂₄	[311]
34	—— (watch Engine always ready for)	¹⁄₆	[315]
35	Flax (Machine for breaking rapidly)	¹⁄₂₄	[296]
36	Forging bar iron and steel (Machine for)	ad. lib.	[215]
37	Friction (Machine to prevent)	ad. lib.	[144]
38	—— of another kind	ad. lib.	[150]
39	Grating or cutting Green Roots, &c. (Machine for)	circa. ¹⁄₆	[79]
40	Helico-centrifugal Machine, for raising water	ad. lib.	[212]
41	Horse Wheel, (inclined) to save room and gain speed	¹⁄₆₀	[53]
42	—— (reciprocating) for Mangles, &c.	¹⁄₃₀	[217]
43	Hot Air as power, while heating rooms, &c.	ad. lib.	[203]
44	Lamp (hydraulic) for the table	¹⁄₆	[277]
45	Lithographic, or Copper-plate Press, with curious and useful properties	¹⁄₁₂	[230]
46	Machine to communicate and suspend Motion	ad. lib.	[155]
47	—— to set-on and suspend rapid Motions	¹⁄₂	[158]
48	—— for clearing turbid Liquors	ad. lib.	[305]
49	—— for driving Boats, without disturbing the Water	ad. lib.	[251]
50	—— to assist in taking Medicine	¹⁄₃	[377]
51	Mangle, perpetual or rotatory	¹⁄₁₆	[370]
52	Marine Level (essay on a)	circa. ¹⁄₁₈	[357]
53	—— (other essay on a)	ad. lib.	[362]
54	Micrometer, to measure minute spaces	1	[83]
55	Mirror, (centrifugal) to collect the Solar rays	ad. lib.	[384]
56	—— of a different kind	ad. lib.	[386]
57	Mover, by dropping weights	ad. lib.	[76]
58	Nails (Machine for moulding)	¹⁄₁₂	[200]
59	—— (Machine for forging)	¹⁄₁₀	[226]
60	Parallel Motion (double) for heavy Steam Engines	ad. lib.	[338]
61	Pencyclograph; or instrument for drawing portions of large circles, and finding their centres by inspection	ad. lib.	[51]
62	Peristaltic Machine, for raising water		[69]
63	Pitch Fork for Musicians, with variable tones	circa. 1	[355]
64	Power Wheel, by heated Air, &c.	ad. lib.	[43]
65	Press, direct and differential (power as 52000 to 1)	ad. lib.	[66]
66	Press (excentric bar)—power indefinite	ad. lib.	[174]
67	Printing Machine (two coloured)	¹⁄₁₂	[301]
68	Protracting Motion (Machine for)	¹⁄₄	[49]
69	Pullies (my Patent) much improved	¹⁄₆ ¹⁄₁₂	[33]
70	Pump (equable) proposed 1794, for the Machine of Marly	¹⁄₂₄	[45]
71	—— portable, worked by the hands and feet	¹⁄₂₄	[351]
72	Punch Machine, for Engravers	¹⁄₄	[193]
73	—— Machine (differential) for ditto	circa. ¹⁄₇	[196]
74	—— rotatory, for my Engraving Machine	¹⁄₆	[349]
75	Reciprocating or long Parallel Motion	ad. lib.	[237]
76	Reflector, for Light Houses, &c.	ad. lib.	[234]
77	Regulator (not centrifugal) for Wind and Water Mills, Steam Engines, &c.	¹⁄₄	[223]
78	Retrographic Machine, for Engravers	ad. lib.	[164]
79	Rotato-gyratory Churn	¹⁄₁₀	[210]
80	Screw, with greatly diminished friction	ad. lib.	[81]
81	Screws (Machine for forging)	¹⁄₃	[160]
82	Spinning Machines (my Patent)	circa. ¹⁄₁₇	[329]
83	—— adapted chiefly to Wool	¹⁄₁₂	[334]
84	Spring, to keep a door closed yet open easily	ad. lib.	[131]
85	Steelyard (differential) of great power	¹⁄₈	[162]
86	Syphon (mechanical) to expel part of the Water at the highest point	ad. lib.	[240]
87	Tallow (Machine for cutting and trying)	¹⁄₈₀	[245]
88	Tea Table (mechanical assistant for)	¹⁄₈	[228]
89	Valves (slide) Machine for working	ad. lib.	[255]
90	Ventilator, rotatory, yet by pressure	¹⁄₁₂	[170]
91	Vessel (expanding) for Pumps, Steam Engines, &c.	ad. lib.	[219]
92	Washing Apparatus, for Hospitals, &c.	ad. lib.	[247]
93	Water Wheel (horizontal) probably the best of the impulsive kind	¹⁄₅₂	[326]
94	The same, for high falls	ib.	[326]
95	Water Wheel (inclined) using the weight of the water	ad. lib.	[376]
96	Water (aero-hydraulic Machine for raising)	¹⁄₂₀₀ or ¹⁄₃₀₀	[292]
97	Weaving by Power (manner of driving the shuttle, executed A. D. 1780)	¹⁄₁₂	[372]
98	Wedge Machine (perpetual)	¹⁄₁₂	[74]
99	Wheels (my System of Cog or Toothed)	all dimensions	[90]
100	Windmill of double power	¹⁄₂₂₀	[313]

ERRATA.

Page.
1,	line	27, after System, read of.
4,	„	27, for them, read it.
10,	„	16, for vestuble, read vestibule.
15,	„	10, for parralel, read parallel.
15,	„	13, after centre, read of.
42,	„	7, after was, dele on.
43,	„	1, for Plate 2, read Plate 8.
49,	„	1, after A, read Fig. 4.
70,	„	7, for ionical, read conical.
100,	„	2, after A C for :, read ∷.
102,	„	16, for z/a, read z²/a.
126,	„	4, for on it’s surface, read on it’s pitch line.
126,	„	17, for it’s height f g, read the length required.
129,	„	16, for 2 inches, read 4 inches.
164,	„	10, for other two cases in C & E, read in other two cases C & E.
188,	„	17, after b C twice, for :, read ∷.
196,	„	20, for fig. 2, read Fig. 4.
200,	„	8, for Plate 25, read Plate 24.
203,	„	11, after heat, read for.
208,	„	6, for is, read are.
209,	„	8, for arrangements, read arrangement.
246,	„	19, after which, read last.
272,	„	23, for wheel, read bevil wheel.
273,	„	21, for axis, read axes.
287,	„	19, for z´, read z.
289,	„	1, after down, read twisted.
294,	„	7, for two, read too.
311,	„	8, for carried, read used.
335,	„	10, for bobbin, read bobbins.
340,	„	8, for edged formed, read wedge formed.
350,	„	8, for Fig. 3, read Fig. 6.
357,	„	18, for light, read double.
374,	„	12, after 1/27 read, 1/81, 1/243, 1/729, &c.
375,	„	20, for 1/14641 read 1/1331.
387,	„	9, for makes, read make.