Address of Sir John Rennie, President, to the Annual General Meeting [Of The] Institution of Civil Engineers, January 20, 1846 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1846. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... application of the steam-engine for pumping water much more general. In 1781 he invented the means of producing rotatory motion by the steam-engine, first by the crank, and afterwards by the sun and planet wheel, thus rendering it applicable for the purpose of driving all kinds of machinery, which was a grand step towards the improvement of manufactures. In 1777-82 he invented the application of steam, with expansive action and with double action, alternately above and below the piston. In 1784 he invented the parallel motion, or working gear and valves, the governor, and other important details. All these improvements or inventions were carried into effect in an engine made by Boulton and Watt, in 1784, for one of the London breweries, and in 1785 in others for the Albion mills, which were the first steam-mills, now become so general; thus steam power was rendered available for working machinery of every kind, by following the best examples of this most wonderful and useful of all machines, which has so deservedly immortalized the name of Watt. The account of the extraordinary labours and inventions of Watt and his successors is well given by our valuable member, Farey, in his excellent work on the steam-engine, to which I would refer you, and also to the treatises by Tredgold, Arago, Scott Russell, and others. About this period (1716), Brindley, who may be justly called the father of inland canal navigation in England, was born. He commenced his career as a millwright, and was withdrawn from that occupation by the Duke of Bridgewater in 1758, for the purpose of executing his great canal. Pound locks had been introduced long before on river navigations, and on the Exeter and Topshatn Canal, which was commenced in 1581, and terminated about 1695; they were also ...