The machine here delineated, consists of a windmill-sail, which is placed in an horizontal direction, similar to that of a smoke-jack, and is surrounded by an octagon tower. The diverging rays of such tower, a, b, a, b, if on a small scale, may be made of deals two inches in thickness; but, on a large plan, they should be constructed of brick-work. These upright pillars are connected by means of oblique boards, represented at A, B, which are placed horizontally from pillar to pillar, with respect to their length; and at an angle of 45 degrees, with regard to their breadth; so as to form a complete octagon, including the horizontal windmill-sail near the top:—as the wind strikes against any of such boards, from whatever quarter, it is bent upwards, and then acts upon the horizontal wind-sail. Farther, these boards may either be fixed in their respective situations, or be made to turn upon an axis a little beneath their centres of gravity, so as to close themselves on that side of the octagon tower, which is most distant from the wind.
Below the shaft of the wind-sail, a centrifugal pump is fixed, with two arms, as represented at C, D. It consists, simply, of an erect, bored trunk, or of a leaden cylinder, furnished with two opposite arms, having a valve at the bottom; which is so constructed as to prevent the return of the water; and another valve at the extremity of each arm, for excluding the access of air above the current of the water, while the latter flows out.
c, c, c, c, a circular trough for the reception of the streams from C and D, to convey them to those situations where the water may be required.
In December, 1783, a patent was granted to Mr. Joseph Bramah, for his invention of a water-cock upon a new construction. His privilege is now expired; but, as the principle on which he proceeds could be explained only by the aid of an engraving, we refer the reader to the 1st vol. of the "Repertory of Arts," &c.
Another patent was obtained, in January, 1791, by Mr. Joseph Brooks, for his invention of a buoyant machine, calculated to raise water from a lower to a higher level, without the aid either of fire or of wind, and without taking any water from the uppermost level:—the curious reader will find a particular description of this contrivance, in the 7th vol. of the work above quoted.
In the year 1801, the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. adjudged their silver medal to Mr. H. Sarjeant, of Whitehaven, Cumberland, for a Machine for raising Water, of which we have given an engraving.
This engine was erected at Irton-Hall, which is situated on an ascent of 60 or 61 feet perpendicular height: at the foot of this elevation, about 140 yards distant from the offices, there runs a small stream of water; and, in order to procuie a constant supply of that necessary fluid, the object was to raise such stream to the house, for culinary and domestic uses. With this view, a dam was formed at a short distance above the current, so as to cause a fall of about four feet: the water was then conducted through a wooden trough, into which a piece of leaden pipe, two inches in diameter, was inserted, and part of which is delineated at A.
