The Life, Times, and Scientific Labours of the Second Marquis of Worcester: To which is added a reprint of his Century of Inventions, 1663, with a Commentary thereon.Dircks, Henry
History
The Life, Times, and Scientific Labours of the Second Marquis of Worcester: To which is added a reprint of his Century of Inventions, 1663, with a Commentary thereon.
Dircks, Henry
Industrial arts -- History; Inventions; Worcester, Edward Somerset, Marquis of, 1601-1667
A double Water-scrue, the innermost to mount the water, and the
outermost for it to descend more in number of threds, and
consequently in quantity of water, though much shorter then the
innermost scrue, by which the water ascendeth, a most
extraordinary help for the turning of the scrue to make the water
rise.
[_A double Water-scrue._] The arrangement of this simple invention is
so clearly and amply set forth, that it is a wonder it could ever have
been misunderstood; yet it so baffled Mr. Partington, that he classes
it among “extraordinary sleight of hand discoveries.”
M. Pattu, a French engineer, in 1815, published his account of a double
water-screw of this description which he had invented, capable of
being applied in three different ways, the construction, however, in
all being the same. In one arrangement, the enlarged end of the screw
is about one-eighth part that of the entire length of the internal
or lesser screw, and it surrounds the “innermost” screw, the spirals
winding in a reversed direction. The top of the shorter or “outermost”
screw may be on a level with a stream of water “for it to descend”
therein, to promote “the turning of the screw” (of greater length and
smaller diameter) “to make the water rise,” from a lower stream.
In a second application, the long screw may be used to propel the
short one, to raise water a moderate height.
Or, thirdly, the enlargement may form the upper end, and be used to
propel from above, instead of from below, as at first described.
56.
To provide and make that all the Weights of the descending side
of a Wheel shall be perpetually further from the Centre, then
those of the mounting side, and yet equal in number and heft
to[7] the one side as the other. A most incredible thing, if not
seen, but tried before the late king (of[8] blessed memory) in
the _Tower_, by my directions, two Extraordinary Embassadors
accompanying His Majesty, and the Duke of _Richmond_ and Duke[9]
_Hamilton_, with[1] most[2] of the Court, attending Him. The
Wheel was 14. Foot[3] over, and 40. Weights of 50. pounds apiece.
Sir _William Balfore_,[4][K] then Lieutenant of the _Tower_,[5]
can justifie[6] it, with several others. They all saw, that no
sooner these great Weights passed the Diameter-line of the
lower[7] side, but they hung a foot further from the Centre, nor
no sooner passed the Diameter-line of the upper[8] side, but they
hung a foot nearer. Be pleased to judge the consequence.
Footnotes
[7] of--for to. MS. and P.
[8] of happy and glorious. MS. and P.
[9] of, omitted.
[1] and--for with.
[2] most part.
[3] feet. P.
[4] Belford. MS. and P.
[5] and yet living can.
[6] testify--for justify. P.
[7] upper--for lower. MS. and P.
[8] lower--for upper. MS. and P.
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