The canal-boat has her wheel in the stern. (See [Plate IV].) The motion is given by a cog-wheel upon its axis (g) played upon by another, upon a shaft, at right angles, to which the engine communicates motion. The wheel being divided by a space of two or three inches, into two parts, to allow room for this shaft, and for the support of its end.
Fig. 3, represents the arrangement of the machinery, occupying the after-part of the boat. An engine of twenty horse power may thus occupy half a canal-boat, can tow a number of others at such rate as may be proper on canals.[23] b b, the boilers; c, tar-vessel; d, the cylinder; f, water-wheel.
The supply of water to the boilers is either by a pump, in usual form, or by the supply-chamber of my invention, ([Plate III. Fig. 2].) which consists simply of a pipe having two stop-cocks, one end in a reservoir, the other opening into the boiler at top, sloping downward for a foot or two. The cocks are in the sloping point. The operation commences, by opening the cock nearest the boiler, the steam drives the air out of the pipe through the water into the reservoir; shut the cock, and the water rises from the reservoir to fill it; shut the second cock, and open the first, the water discharges from the chamber into the boiler; repeated by a movement from the engine, when in motion, the supply continues with more certainty than by a pump, because it is difficult to pump hot water, on account of the elasticity of the steam arising from it, which obstructs the operation of the valves. And it is important not to have to pump against the pressure of high steam.[24]
[Plate III. Fig. 4]. The mode of changing the passage of the steam to the opposite sides of the valves, in order to get a reversed motion of the engine. a a, the fixed part, or valves; c d, the pipes; f g, the cross pipes; e e, the cocks, which are represented open, to pipes c and d—turn them half round, they close c and d, and open f and g. Fig. 1 shows the side-rudders, d, e, &c.
To this engine is conveniently applied the gas-fire, in the following manner.
The boilers being cylindrical, with an inside flue for fuel, two or three are placed close together, and set in the following manner: First, cross-bars of iron are laid on the timbers, a platform of sheet-iron is laid on these bars, coated over with clay mortar, or cemented, to keep out the air. Upon the sheet-iron, and over the bars below, are placed cast-iron blocks in shape to fit the curve of the boiler, so as to raise it three or four inches above the platform. The sheet-iron is continued up the outsides of the outer boilers, so as to enclose them; and at one end, between the boilers, there are small grates for coal or other fuel.
The tar vessel or vessels, as the case may be, are lodged in the space between and upon the boilers, and a small fire may be made under them, if necessary. A pipe leads steam in at one end, two pipes at the other; one near the bottom, and one near the top, lead out the tar and steam. These pipes unite below; the steam and tar, thus mingled in suitable proportions, flow to the main fire, or the flues of the boilers, as well as to the coal-fire below, where the gas and tar are ignited. The fireman judges of the proportion of each, by the effect; the object being to produce a nearly white flame without appearance of tar. Thus flame is applied to the greatest possible surface, and the apparatus adds very little to the cost of the engine.
There are also two improvements in the boiler, which I deem it important to mention. First, the lining or covering of the flue within with sheet-iron or copper, perforated with small holes, reaching down its sides, nearly to the bottom. [Plate III. Fig. 2]. a the boiler; b the flue; d the grate; c c the lining.
This causes the water to circulate rapidly between them to the top of the flue, and protects it from being run dry, or heated red hot, when the water gets, by accident, too low. The lining also causes the steam to form much faster, in consequence of this circulation.
The other is the interior boiler. A vessel occupying the back part of the flue. [Plate II. Fig. 8]. (d) communicating downwards with the water, and upwards with the steam of the main boiler. The fire acts upon it very forcibly, surrounding it on all sides.