Mechanics' magazine and register of inventions and improvements . surrounding incrustation, thus present-ing the appearance of a vast collection of smallcolumns. 35. Amongst natural operations perpetuallyaltering the surface of our globe, there are somewhich it would be advantageous to wearing down of the rocks which impedethe rapids of navigable rivers is one of this very beautiful process for accomplishing thisobject has been employed in America. A boatis placed at the bottom of the rapid, and kept inits position by a long rope, which is firmly fixedon the bank of the
Mechanics' magazine and register of inventions and improvements . surrounding incrustation, thus present-ing the appearance of a vast collection of smallcolumns. 35. Amongst natural operations perpetuallyaltering the surface of our globe, there are somewhich it would be advantageous to wearing down of the rocks which impedethe rapids of navigable rivers is one of this very beautiful process for accomplishing thisobject has been employed in America. A boatis placed at the bottom of the rapid, and kept inits position by a long rope, which is firmly fixedon the bank of the river near the top. An axis,having a wheel .similar to the paddle-wheel of asteamboat fixed at each end of it, is placedacross the bout; so that the two wheels and theirconnecting axis shall revolve rapidlj-, beingdriven by the force of the passing current. Letus now imagine several beams of wood shodwith pointed iron fixed at the ends of stronglevers, projecting beyond the bow of the boat,as in the annexed representation: FORCES TOO GREAT AND TOO DELICATE. ». If these levei^ are at liberty to move up anddown, and if one or more projecting pieces,called cams, are fixed on the axis opposite tothe end of each lever, the action of the streamupon the wheels will keep up a perpetual suc-cession of blows. The sharp-pointed shoe,striking upon the rock at the bottom, wUl con- the axis, and capable, at pleasure, of being con>nected with or disconnected from the axis it-self, is substituted. The rope which liithertofastened the boat is now fixed to this barrel; andif the barrel is loose upon the axis, the paddle-wheels make the axis only revolve, and the boatremains in its place : but the moment the axisis attached to its surrounding barrel, this beginsto turn, and winding the rope upon itself, theboat is gradually drawn up against the stream,and may be employed as a kind of tug-boat forall the vessels which have occasion to ascend,the rapid. When the tug-boat reaches the svun-mit, t
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectindustrialart, booksubjecttechnology
