The Century of Inventions of the Marquis of Worcester / from the Original MS., with Historical and Explanatory Notes and a Biographical Memoir

by Marquis of Edward Somerset Worcester

NOTE.

An engine answering the above description may be composed of a series of ladles or buckets, the handles of which being hollow will admit a passage for the water by elevating the bucket end. A number of these, sufficient for the required height, must be fastened in a frame; each ladle being suspended by a fulcrum so balanced that when filled with water, they may remain in equilibrio. The whole of the buckets thus constructed may be connected by rods passing from the top of the machine to the lowest handle, and the continued series so placed, that the handle of the one bucket will empty itself into the reservoir of the succeeding one, so that by alternately raising and depressing the rods the water is raised to the top of the machine.

No. XXI.

How to raise water constantly with two buckets only, day and night, without any other force than its own motion, using not so much as any force, wheel, or sucker, nor more pullies than one, on which the cord or chain rolleth, with a bucket at each end. This, I confess, I have seen and learned of the great mathematician Clavius's Studies at Rome, he having made a present thereof unto a cardinal; and I desire not to own any other man's inventions; but if I set down any, to nominate likewise the inventor.

NOTE.

The construction of an hydraulic engine with powers nearly similar to this, may be thus described: two buckets of unequal size must be first suspended by a flexible chain turning on a double roller or pulley; so that one bucket will be elevated to the required height, while the other reaches the level of the water to be raised; a small stream of water must then be made to communicate with the largest bucket, which will speedily be depressed and descend to the lower level, while the opposite bucket will discharge its contents into a cistern or reservoir at the top of the machine: the larger bucket being likewise emptied by striking against a projecting beam placed there for that purpose.

Mr. Sarjeant has described a very simple and powerful machine for raising water, nearly similar in point of principle to the above. An engraving of Mr. S.'s engine, together with an account of its construction, is inserted in the Trans. of the Soc. of Arts, vol. xix. p. 255.

No. XXII.

To make a river in a garden ebb and flow constantly, though twenty foot over, with a child's force, in some private room, or place out of sight, and a competent distance from it.

NOTE.

The very ingenious canal lock lately invented by Peter Bogaerts, Esq., appears fully calculated for effecting this object. In this lock, which from its simplicity is no less useful than economical, a small portion of water is made to assist in displacing several tons of that element, and there is no doubt but a child's force would raise double the quantity of water described by the Marquis. In the model lately exhibited, a weight of seven pounds was made to raise 10 cwt. of water more than four feet in a few seconds.