CHAPTERLXVII.THE PROCESS OF INFLATION.Process of Inflation on the Day of Ascent, viz. on Thursday the 8th Sept. 1785.Sect. 339. Art. 1.THREE cylindric wooden Vessels were sunk more than half their Depth into the Ground: two of them, each, 5 Feet Diameter, and 5 Feet high: the third, 8 Feet in Diameter, and 8 Feet high.An oblong Hole, 4 Inches by 3, was made in each Vessel: and each Hole was furnished with a solid wooden Plug (made tapering) 6 Inches in Length: throu’ these the Vitriol was poured.Besides which, there was an oblong Opening in each Vessel, large enough to admit a Workman, to distribute the Iron equally over the Bottom, and to pour in Buckets of Water: whichOpenings were well stopped, as soon as the Iron and Water were poured in.As the vitriolic Acid iscorrosive, burning the Skin or Cloaths; the following Precautions were taken.An occasional moveable Tub was provided, 3 Feet high, and 3 wide: in the Center of whose Bottom was an oblong Aperture, equal to that in each of the Vessels: a corresponding Tin Tube, 6 Inches long, and narrowing to the Bottom, was nailed by its Border on the Inside of the occasional Tub; so as to go easily into any of the oblong Holes.A Bottle of Vitriol being brought in its Basket by two Men, and made to rest on the Top of one of the fermenting Vessels; a third Assistant held the occasional Tub in his Hands, with the Plug-Staff fastened in the Aperture of the Tin Tube; and the Instant a fourth Person opened the Hole in the fermenting Vessel; the Assistant placed the Tin Tube in the Hole, keeping the Plug tight, to prevent the Escape of Gass.The Bottle of Vitriol was then immediately poured into the occasional Tub: and the Bottle being removed, the Plug-Staff was taken out, and the Vitriol suffered to run into the fermenting Vessel: the Assistant watching for the Instant when the Vitriol was run out, in order toforce inthe Plug-Staff again, and prevent the Escape of Gass: after which, the Tub was rinced with a few Quarts of Water, let also into the Vessel.The same Tub was then removed: the oblong Hole in the fermenting Vessel instantly covered; and, by driving down the solid wooden Plug,continuedAir-tight; by Means of moist Clay, and a little Water, kept purposely on the Tops of each Vessel, to discover by the Bubbles, whether Gass escaped.20 Hundred Weight of Iron-Turnings.In these Vessels, early on the Morning of the Inflation, were distributed 20 Hundred Weight, at 120lb. Averdupoise to the Hundred, consisting of cast Iron-Filings, and of a Mixture of Cannon-Borings.The Borings were bright and fresh when thrown into the Water: and any Bits of Wood that swam, were skimmed off.RustyIron emits Gass, that is heavier than common Air, and therefore is improper.16 Bottles of Vitriol.At the same Time, 16 Bottles of concentrated vitriolic Acid, or as it is improperly called Oil of Vitriol, were brought in their Packages near the Place, to be ready for Use: each Bottle at an Average containing 112 Pounds Averdupoise, of Vitriol: each full Bottle and Package together weighing from 136 to 148 Pounds.4 Pints of Water to a Pound Averdupoise of Acid.339. 2. To the Iron in each Vessel, was then poured a Quantity of Water, which was measured in the Proportion of about 4 to 1: i. e. 4Pintsof Water to onePound, of the vitriolic Acid.The Height of Water and Iron in each Vessel, being then gaged, was about 14 Inches.In a Line with the two smaller Vessels, and between them, was fixed another wooden Vessel or Cistern, filled with Water.Improvements suggested.(N. B. Fresh Water ought to have flowed continually into it, and to have run over the Top of the Cistern: for the same Quantity being oncesaturated, can no longer absorb the alcaline and fixed Air to be separated from the Gass before the latter enters the Balloon.)In the Cistern was fixed a Stage, consisting of 4 long Feet, (reaching to the Bottom of the Cistern,) nailed at their upper Ends to the Inside of an inverted Tub or Funnel, so placed over the Center of the Cistern, that 3 Inches of the lower Part of the Rim of the Funnel were under the Surface of the Cistern-Water: the Funnel wascylindric, 3 Feet across, and 2 Feet high.An Open was cut, 1 Foot Diameter, in the Bottom of the inverted Funnel: on the Circumference of which was nailed a Tin-Cylinder or common Conductor, 2 Feet high: and at acertainAngle, as most convenient, was soldered a cylindric Arm, of equal Diameter, and 1 Foot long; having a Lip, Ring or Rim, on its outward circular Edge.Round this Rim was fastened a varnished Linen Tube, of equal Diameter with the Cylinder.At a small Distance, about a Yard from the Cistern, stood a slender Stillage, 3 Feet high; on which was supported a detached Tin-Cylinder or Connecter, 1 Foot long and 1 Foot Diameter, made with a Rim at each End: in the Center of whose lower Side was soldered, at right Angles, another Tin-Cylinder or Evacuatory, 6 Inches long and 6 wide: its Use is to let out any Water, that the Heat of the Mixture might cause to boil and rise up out of the fermenting Vessels: and thus beevacuated, without entering the Balloon: or, if condensed in the Balloon, might run out by the same Orifice.The opposite End of the varnished Linen Tube was fastened round one End of the detached Cylinder on the Stillage: and round the other, was tyed the Neck or Bottom-Opening of the Balloon.Each of the 2 smaller fermenting Vessels was furnished with a cylindric Tin-Tube; each Tube 4 Inches and a half Diameter, nailed on the Outside of a circular Opening in the Top or Head of each Vessel; communicating by additional rectangular Bends under the Funnel and Water in the Cistern: the great fermenting Vessel had 2 Tubes, each 4 Inches and a half Diameter; communicating with the Funnel.Improvements suggested.340. The Process woud have been more complete, if the fermenting Vessels had been sunk till their Tops were even with the Ground: and plaistered round their Outsides with soft moist Clay, six Inches thick, to keep them Air-tight.Also, if the common Conductor had been only 1 Foot high: its horizontal or rectangular Arm only 6 Inches long: the Linen Trunk but 3 Feet, joining the Connecter on the Stillage 1 Foot high, to communicate with the Neck of the Balloon; which Neck shoud be 3 Yards in Length, and its circular Opening 1 Foot, at least in Diameter.
CHAPTERLXVII.
Process of Inflation on the Day of Ascent, viz. on Thursday the 8th Sept. 1785.
Sect. 339. Art. 1.THREE cylindric wooden Vessels were sunk more than half their Depth into the Ground: two of them, each, 5 Feet Diameter, and 5 Feet high: the third, 8 Feet in Diameter, and 8 Feet high.
An oblong Hole, 4 Inches by 3, was made in each Vessel: and each Hole was furnished with a solid wooden Plug (made tapering) 6 Inches in Length: throu’ these the Vitriol was poured.
Besides which, there was an oblong Opening in each Vessel, large enough to admit a Workman, to distribute the Iron equally over the Bottom, and to pour in Buckets of Water: whichOpenings were well stopped, as soon as the Iron and Water were poured in.
As the vitriolic Acid iscorrosive, burning the Skin or Cloaths; the following Precautions were taken.
An occasional moveable Tub was provided, 3 Feet high, and 3 wide: in the Center of whose Bottom was an oblong Aperture, equal to that in each of the Vessels: a corresponding Tin Tube, 6 Inches long, and narrowing to the Bottom, was nailed by its Border on the Inside of the occasional Tub; so as to go easily into any of the oblong Holes.
A Bottle of Vitriol being brought in its Basket by two Men, and made to rest on the Top of one of the fermenting Vessels; a third Assistant held the occasional Tub in his Hands, with the Plug-Staff fastened in the Aperture of the Tin Tube; and the Instant a fourth Person opened the Hole in the fermenting Vessel; the Assistant placed the Tin Tube in the Hole, keeping the Plug tight, to prevent the Escape of Gass.
The Bottle of Vitriol was then immediately poured into the occasional Tub: and the Bottle being removed, the Plug-Staff was taken out, and the Vitriol suffered to run into the fermenting Vessel: the Assistant watching for the Instant when the Vitriol was run out, in order toforce inthe Plug-Staff again, and prevent the Escape of Gass: after which, the Tub was rinced with a few Quarts of Water, let also into the Vessel.
The same Tub was then removed: the oblong Hole in the fermenting Vessel instantly covered; and, by driving down the solid wooden Plug,continuedAir-tight; by Means of moist Clay, and a little Water, kept purposely on the Tops of each Vessel, to discover by the Bubbles, whether Gass escaped.
20 Hundred Weight of Iron-Turnings.
In these Vessels, early on the Morning of the Inflation, were distributed 20 Hundred Weight, at 120lb. Averdupoise to the Hundred, consisting of cast Iron-Filings, and of a Mixture of Cannon-Borings.
The Borings were bright and fresh when thrown into the Water: and any Bits of Wood that swam, were skimmed off.
RustyIron emits Gass, that is heavier than common Air, and therefore is improper.
16 Bottles of Vitriol.
At the same Time, 16 Bottles of concentrated vitriolic Acid, or as it is improperly called Oil of Vitriol, were brought in their Packages near the Place, to be ready for Use: each Bottle at an Average containing 112 Pounds Averdupoise, of Vitriol: each full Bottle and Package together weighing from 136 to 148 Pounds.
4 Pints of Water to a Pound Averdupoise of Acid.
339. 2. To the Iron in each Vessel, was then poured a Quantity of Water, which was measured in the Proportion of about 4 to 1: i. e. 4Pintsof Water to onePound, of the vitriolic Acid.
The Height of Water and Iron in each Vessel, being then gaged, was about 14 Inches.
In a Line with the two smaller Vessels, and between them, was fixed another wooden Vessel or Cistern, filled with Water.
Improvements suggested.
(N. B. Fresh Water ought to have flowed continually into it, and to have run over the Top of the Cistern: for the same Quantity being oncesaturated, can no longer absorb the alcaline and fixed Air to be separated from the Gass before the latter enters the Balloon.)
In the Cistern was fixed a Stage, consisting of 4 long Feet, (reaching to the Bottom of the Cistern,) nailed at their upper Ends to the Inside of an inverted Tub or Funnel, so placed over the Center of the Cistern, that 3 Inches of the lower Part of the Rim of the Funnel were under the Surface of the Cistern-Water: the Funnel wascylindric, 3 Feet across, and 2 Feet high.
An Open was cut, 1 Foot Diameter, in the Bottom of the inverted Funnel: on the Circumference of which was nailed a Tin-Cylinder or common Conductor, 2 Feet high: and at acertainAngle, as most convenient, was soldered a cylindric Arm, of equal Diameter, and 1 Foot long; having a Lip, Ring or Rim, on its outward circular Edge.
Round this Rim was fastened a varnished Linen Tube, of equal Diameter with the Cylinder.
At a small Distance, about a Yard from the Cistern, stood a slender Stillage, 3 Feet high; on which was supported a detached Tin-Cylinder or Connecter, 1 Foot long and 1 Foot Diameter, made with a Rim at each End: in the Center of whose lower Side was soldered, at right Angles, another Tin-Cylinder or Evacuatory, 6 Inches long and 6 wide: its Use is to let out any Water, that the Heat of the Mixture might cause to boil and rise up out of the fermenting Vessels: and thus beevacuated, without entering the Balloon: or, if condensed in the Balloon, might run out by the same Orifice.
The opposite End of the varnished Linen Tube was fastened round one End of the detached Cylinder on the Stillage: and round the other, was tyed the Neck or Bottom-Opening of the Balloon.
Each of the 2 smaller fermenting Vessels was furnished with a cylindric Tin-Tube; each Tube 4 Inches and a half Diameter, nailed on the Outside of a circular Opening in the Top or Head of each Vessel; communicating by additional rectangular Bends under the Funnel and Water in the Cistern: the great fermenting Vessel had 2 Tubes, each 4 Inches and a half Diameter; communicating with the Funnel.
Improvements suggested.
340. The Process woud have been more complete, if the fermenting Vessels had been sunk till their Tops were even with the Ground: and plaistered round their Outsides with soft moist Clay, six Inches thick, to keep them Air-tight.
Also, if the common Conductor had been only 1 Foot high: its horizontal or rectangular Arm only 6 Inches long: the Linen Trunk but 3 Feet, joining the Connecter on the Stillage 1 Foot high, to communicate with the Neck of the Balloon; which Neck shoud be 3 Yards in Length, and its circular Opening 1 Foot, at least in Diameter.