an autobiography-第72章
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I do not know what may be the case in other classes of businesses or professions； but as regards engineer mechanists and metal workers generally； there is an earnest and frank intercommunication of ideas an interchange of thoughts and suggestionswhich has always been a source of the highest pleasure to me； and which I have usually found thoroughly reciprocated。 The subjects with which engineers have to deal are of a wide range； and jealousy in intercommunication is almost entirely shut out。 Many of my friends were special 〃characters。〃 For the most part they had made their own way in the world； like myself。 I found among them a great deal of quaint humour。 Their talk was quite unconventional； and yet their remarks were well worth being treasured up in the memory as things to be thought about and pondered over。 Sometimes they gave the key to the comprehension of some of the grandest functions in Nature； and an insight into the operation of those invariable laws which regulate the universe。 For all Nature is； as it were； a grand workshop； ruled over by an ever present Almighty Master；of whose perfect designs and works we are as yet only permitted to obtain hasty and imperfect glimpses。
To return to my own humbler progress。 From an early period of my efforts as a mechanical engineer； I had been impressed with the great advantages that would result from the employment of small high…pressure steam…engines of a simple and compact construction。 These； I thought； might suit the limited means and accommodation of small factories and workshops where motive power was required。 The highly satisfactory results which followed the employment of steam…engines of this class； such as I supplied shortly after beginning business in Manchester； led to a constantly increasing demand for them。 They were used for hoisting in and out the weighty bales of goods from the lofty Manchester warehouses。 They worked the 〃lifts；〃 and also the pumps of the powerful hydraulic presses used in packing the bales。
These small engines were found of service in a variety of ways。 When placed in the lower parts of the building the waste steam was utilised in warming the various apartments of the house。 The steam was conveyed in iron pipes； and thus obviated the risk of fire which attended the use of stoves and open fire…grates。 I remember being much pleased with seeing a neat arrangement of a 〃hot…closet〃 heated by the waste steam conveyed from the bottom of the building。 This was used for holding the dinners and teas of the minor clerks and workpeople。 Another enclosed place； heated by waste steam； was used for drying wet clothes and jackets during rainy weather。 Much attention was paid by the employers to their workpeople in these respects。 The former exhibited a great deal of kindly thoughtfulness。 But men and master were alike。 It was a source of the greatest pleasure to me； when looking round the warehouses and factories； to see the intelligent steady energy that pervaded every department； from the highest to the lowest。
I never lost sight of the importance of extending the use of my small steam…engine system。 It was the most convenient method of applying steam power to individual machines。 Formerly； the power to drive a machine was derived from a very complicated arrangement of shafting and gearing brought from a distant engine。 But by my system I conveyed the power to the machine by means of a steam pipe； which enabled the engine to which it was attached to be driven either fast or slow； or to be stopped or started； just as occasion required。 It might be run while all the other machines were at rest； or； in the event of a breakdown of the main engine of the factory； the small engine might still be kept going or even assist in the repairs of the large one。
An important feature in this mode of conveying power by means of piping in place of gearing and shifting belts and belt pulleyswas the ease with which the steam could be conveyed into intricate parts of the building。 The pipes which I used were of wrought…iron； similar to those used in conveying gas。 They could be curved to suit any peculiarity of the situation； and when the pipes were lapped with felt； or enclosed in wooden troughs filled with sawdust； the loss of heat by radiation was reduced to a minimum。 The loss of power was certainly much less than in the friction of a long and perhaps tortuous line of shafting。 With steam of 50 lbs。 to the inch； a pipe of one…inch bore will convey sufficient steam to give forth five horse…power at a distance of two or three hundred feet from the boiler。* ＇footnote。。。 In the case of rambling premises； such as iron shipbuilding yards； the conveyance of steam by well…protected pipes put underground for the purpose of driving engines to work punching and plate…shearing machines （which have to be near at hand when the work is required）； has very great practical advantages。 。。。＇
I adopted the same practice in working the refined and complex machines used in printing coloured patterns on calico。 A great variety of colours has to be transferred by a combination of rollerseach carrying its proper colour； these are printed on the calico with the utmost exactness； and result in the complete pattern。 My system of having a separate engine to give motion to these colour…printing machines was found to be of great service； and its value was recognised by its speedy and almost universal adoption。 Every connection with the main shaft； with its gearing and belts and pulleysby which colour…printing had before been accomplishedwas entirely done away with； because each machine had its own special engine。 The former practice had led to much waste； and the printing was often confused and badly done。 The power was conveyed from a great central steam…engine； the printing machines were ranged by the side of a long gallery； and by means of a 〃clutch〃 each machine was started at once into action。
The result of this was a considerable shock to the machine； and an interference with the relative adjustments of the six or eight colour rollers； which were often jerked out of their exact relative adjustment。 Then the machines had to be stopped and the rollers readjusted； and sometimes many yards of calico had been spoiled before this could be done。
These difficulties were now entirely removed。 When all was adjusted； the attendant of the print…machine had only to open gradually the steam admission valve of his engine； and allow it to work the machine gently at its first off…go； and when all was seen to be acting in perfect concert； to open the valve further and allow the machine to go at full speed。 The same practice was adopted in slowing off the machine； so as to allow the attendant to scrutinise the pattern and the position of the work； or in stopping the machine altogether。 So satisfactory were the results of the application of this mode of driving calico printing machines； that it was adopted for the like processes as applied to other textile fabrics； and it is now； I believe； universally applied at home as well as abroad。 I may also add that the waste steam； as it issued from the engine after performing its mechanical duty there； was utilised in a most effective manner by heating a series of steam…tight cylinders； over which the printed cloth travelled as it issued from the printing machine； when it was speedily and effectively dried。 In these various improvements in calico printing I was most ably seconded by Mr。 Joseph Lese； of Manchester； whose practical acquaintance with all that related to that department of industry rendered him of the greatest service。 There was no 〃Invention；〃 so to speak； in this almost obvious application of the steam…engine to calico…printing。 It required merely the faculty of observation； and the application of means to ends。 The main feature of the system； it will be observed； was in enabling the superintendent of each machine to have perfect control over it；to set it in motion and to regulate its speed without the slightest jerk or shock to its intricate mechanism。 In this sense the arrangement was of great commercial value。
I had another opportunity of introducing my small engine system into the Government Arsenal at
