CHAPTERLXVIII.Inflation began about X. in the Morning.Section 341.THE Process of inflating the Balloon began about X. in the Morning, by pouring 4 Bottles of Vitriol, immediately one after the other, into the occasional Tub, properly placed over one of the smaller fermenting Vessels: the Tub being instantly rinced with a few Quarts of Water, which was suffered to fall into the same Vessel.The oblong Hole was left purposely open for a Minute, till the strong Smell of the Gass was perceived above the Orifice: i. e. till the Gass had pressed out all the common Air that remained floating over the Surface of the Mixture in the fermenting Vessel: which Smell beingplainly perceived, thesolidPlug was immediatelydrivendown.And presently the Gass was known to press forward with an elastic Force throu’ the Tin Conductor, by the Motion it communicated to the Surface of the Water in the Cistern: thence upwards throu’ the common Conductor: at its Departure from both of which throu’ the Linen Trunk, and Neck into the Balloon, the Gass makes a guggling obtuse Sound by quick Intervals according to the Quantity of Gass protruded.And as the Intervals encreased, a Judgment was formed, that the Operation began to be less vigorous: and consequently that it became necessary, either to renew it by an Addition of more Vitriol and Water in the same Vessel, or to set the other small Vessel in Fermentation, the latterof which Mr. Lunardi preferred: this happened about half an Hour after the Vitriol was poured into the first Vessel.342. After the second half Hour, eight Bottles were poured, by four at a Time, into the great Vessel.And at one o’Clock, the Balloon, without any farther Trouble was beautifully inflated.No Iron Rods were used to stir up the Borings or Filings at the Bottom of the Vessels: the Vitriol being found so heavy as to penetrate them as fast as the Iron, contiguous to the Vitriol, had parted with its Gass.At each of the two former Inflations, a similar Accident happened which may be imputed to the same Cause.343. During the first Inflation, the solid oblong wooden Plug fell into one of the fermenting Vessels: the hot Vapour, forcibly issuing from the Orifice, was condensed in the Form of awhiteSmoke; which being mistaken by the Company, a Cry was immediately heard of Fire, Fire: on which the Workmen retreated. Mr. Lunardi incautiously thrust his Arm into the Orifice to extract the Plug: at the same Time being much burnt, and failing in the Attempt; the Gass continued to escape, till a new Plug was prepared.344. During the second Inflation, one of the Plugs being driven too forcibly; it was with Difficulty extricated, by the Strokes of a Hammer against the Sides of it, which tended at the same Time to displace the Boards forming the Top or Head of the Vessel: and, a little afterwards, occasioned it to burst, unexpectedlyinwards,[115]rendering the Vessel useless for the Purpose of Inflation.Observation.Therefore instead of the solid oblong wooden Plug, a circular Hole, 4 Inches Diameter shoud be drilled in each Vessel: and a corresponding solid wooden Plug 8 Inches long, 5 Diameter at the upper Part, and tapering to near 3 at the Bottom, shoud be prepared by the Turner.In the upper Part of the Solid shoud be turned an inside Screw, to which an outside Screw of the circular Plug-Staff, made of Oak, Ash, or other heavy Wood, 4 Feet long, and 4 Inches Diameter, shoud be adapted: the Worm of the Screw to be 5 Inches long.A wooden Peg of Ash, about a Quarter of an Inch Diameter, may be put throu’ a Hole near the Top of the Staff, as a Handle.A Lever of such a Length and Weight will probably answer every Intention, as no sudden Blows will be required tofasten or extract it.The occasional Tub, Tube, Plug, and Staff, shoud be fashioned after this Model.345.The Price of the Iron and Vitriol for Inflation.2000lb. of Iron Filings or Borings[116]delivered on the Spot, at 6s. a Hundred,£. 60016 Bottles of Vitriol, at an Average 38s. a Bottle3080Concomitant Expences,3120———£. Total4000Observation 1.A great Saving might be made by conducting the Process in a different Manner.The Author making two Journies to Manchester, purposely to observe the Process by Mr. Sadler; found that his Balloon was inflated in two Hours each Time; by Means only of the two smalleridenticalfermenting Vessels which Mr. Lunardi afterwards purchased; but the Levity procured by the former, tho’ he also expended 16 Bottles, was by no Means so great as that gained with the Assistance of the great Vessel.It has likewise been remarked by the Author, who has made several Experiments to this End, that the Vessels always continued in Fermentation and Ebullition, with aquick Pulsation, for at least 24, and commonly during 48 Hours, after the Inflation was completed.And, that not more than the Depth ofhalf an Inchof Filings had beencalcinedduring the Operation: the rest being perfectlybright, and untouched by the Acid.Observation. 2.If therefore one Inch in Depth of Filings, be spread over the Bottom of each of thesmallerVessels only; the proper Quantity of Water poured in; andnot morethan two Bottles of Acid used at once, in each Vessel; also, as soon as the Fermentation begins to decline; other two Bottles, and a proportionable Supply of Water be added; if suffered to work double, triple, or quadruple the Time;—the Inflation will be as great, if not greater, for Instance, in six Hours with eight Bottles, and two smallTubs, as it woud in three Hours, with 16 Bottles, in thesame Vessels.The small conducting Tin Tubes ought instead of four and a half, to be nine Inches Diameter: by which Means there will be no violent Pressure of Gass to endanger the Bursting of the Vessels: particularly if the Gass is not suffered to descend; but, on the contrary, according to Instructions already given, either to rise, or move, in an horizontal Direction, past the Evàcuatory, into the Balloon.346. The Workmen may begin the Operation at twelve at Night, or at six in the Morning: and the Time previously fixed for the Exhibition, may be eight or ten Hours after the Operation has commenced.The Necessity of a Current of fresh Water, throu’ a Pipe of at least half Inch Bore, the larger the better, to supply the overflowing Cistern, cannot be too muchinsistedon: as the Levity of the Gass almost wholly depends upon so trivial a Circumstance, as that of having a plentiful Supply ofcold freshandsoftWater.347.Observation 3.Supposing the Balloonair-tight, near half the Expence is thus saved in the Inflation.Besides the greater Probability ofcalmWeather for the Inflation, if completed before X. in the Morning, more Time is given to remedy Accidents, and rectify Mistakes: the Warmth of the Air likewise encreases.But above all; if an upper Current carry the Balloon to Sea, the Aironaut may, (as before mentioned) drop into the Sea-Breeze, which will waft him safe back till IV. in the Afternoon, or even later.
CHAPTERLXVIII.
Inflation began about X. in the Morning.
Section 341.THE Process of inflating the Balloon began about X. in the Morning, by pouring 4 Bottles of Vitriol, immediately one after the other, into the occasional Tub, properly placed over one of the smaller fermenting Vessels: the Tub being instantly rinced with a few Quarts of Water, which was suffered to fall into the same Vessel.
The oblong Hole was left purposely open for a Minute, till the strong Smell of the Gass was perceived above the Orifice: i. e. till the Gass had pressed out all the common Air that remained floating over the Surface of the Mixture in the fermenting Vessel: which Smell beingplainly perceived, thesolidPlug was immediatelydrivendown.
And presently the Gass was known to press forward with an elastic Force throu’ the Tin Conductor, by the Motion it communicated to the Surface of the Water in the Cistern: thence upwards throu’ the common Conductor: at its Departure from both of which throu’ the Linen Trunk, and Neck into the Balloon, the Gass makes a guggling obtuse Sound by quick Intervals according to the Quantity of Gass protruded.
And as the Intervals encreased, a Judgment was formed, that the Operation began to be less vigorous: and consequently that it became necessary, either to renew it by an Addition of more Vitriol and Water in the same Vessel, or to set the other small Vessel in Fermentation, the latterof which Mr. Lunardi preferred: this happened about half an Hour after the Vitriol was poured into the first Vessel.
342. After the second half Hour, eight Bottles were poured, by four at a Time, into the great Vessel.
And at one o’Clock, the Balloon, without any farther Trouble was beautifully inflated.
No Iron Rods were used to stir up the Borings or Filings at the Bottom of the Vessels: the Vitriol being found so heavy as to penetrate them as fast as the Iron, contiguous to the Vitriol, had parted with its Gass.
At each of the two former Inflations, a similar Accident happened which may be imputed to the same Cause.
343. During the first Inflation, the solid oblong wooden Plug fell into one of the fermenting Vessels: the hot Vapour, forcibly issuing from the Orifice, was condensed in the Form of awhiteSmoke; which being mistaken by the Company, a Cry was immediately heard of Fire, Fire: on which the Workmen retreated. Mr. Lunardi incautiously thrust his Arm into the Orifice to extract the Plug: at the same Time being much burnt, and failing in the Attempt; the Gass continued to escape, till a new Plug was prepared.
344. During the second Inflation, one of the Plugs being driven too forcibly; it was with Difficulty extricated, by the Strokes of a Hammer against the Sides of it, which tended at the same Time to displace the Boards forming the Top or Head of the Vessel: and, a little afterwards, occasioned it to burst, unexpectedlyinwards,[115]rendering the Vessel useless for the Purpose of Inflation.
Observation.Therefore instead of the solid oblong wooden Plug, a circular Hole, 4 Inches Diameter shoud be drilled in each Vessel: and a corresponding solid wooden Plug 8 Inches long, 5 Diameter at the upper Part, and tapering to near 3 at the Bottom, shoud be prepared by the Turner.
In the upper Part of the Solid shoud be turned an inside Screw, to which an outside Screw of the circular Plug-Staff, made of Oak, Ash, or other heavy Wood, 4 Feet long, and 4 Inches Diameter, shoud be adapted: the Worm of the Screw to be 5 Inches long.
A wooden Peg of Ash, about a Quarter of an Inch Diameter, may be put throu’ a Hole near the Top of the Staff, as a Handle.
A Lever of such a Length and Weight will probably answer every Intention, as no sudden Blows will be required tofasten or extract it.
The occasional Tub, Tube, Plug, and Staff, shoud be fashioned after this Model.
345.The Price of the Iron and Vitriol for Inflation.
£. 6
0
0
30
8
0
3
12
0
———
£. Total
40
0
0
Observation 1.A great Saving might be made by conducting the Process in a different Manner.
The Author making two Journies to Manchester, purposely to observe the Process by Mr. Sadler; found that his Balloon was inflated in two Hours each Time; by Means only of the two smalleridenticalfermenting Vessels which Mr. Lunardi afterwards purchased; but the Levity procured by the former, tho’ he also expended 16 Bottles, was by no Means so great as that gained with the Assistance of the great Vessel.
It has likewise been remarked by the Author, who has made several Experiments to this End, that the Vessels always continued in Fermentation and Ebullition, with aquick Pulsation, for at least 24, and commonly during 48 Hours, after the Inflation was completed.
And, that not more than the Depth ofhalf an Inchof Filings had beencalcinedduring the Operation: the rest being perfectlybright, and untouched by the Acid.
Observation. 2.If therefore one Inch in Depth of Filings, be spread over the Bottom of each of thesmallerVessels only; the proper Quantity of Water poured in; andnot morethan two Bottles of Acid used at once, in each Vessel; also, as soon as the Fermentation begins to decline; other two Bottles, and a proportionable Supply of Water be added; if suffered to work double, triple, or quadruple the Time;—the Inflation will be as great, if not greater, for Instance, in six Hours with eight Bottles, and two smallTubs, as it woud in three Hours, with 16 Bottles, in thesame Vessels.
The small conducting Tin Tubes ought instead of four and a half, to be nine Inches Diameter: by which Means there will be no violent Pressure of Gass to endanger the Bursting of the Vessels: particularly if the Gass is not suffered to descend; but, on the contrary, according to Instructions already given, either to rise, or move, in an horizontal Direction, past the Evàcuatory, into the Balloon.
346. The Workmen may begin the Operation at twelve at Night, or at six in the Morning: and the Time previously fixed for the Exhibition, may be eight or ten Hours after the Operation has commenced.
The Necessity of a Current of fresh Water, throu’ a Pipe of at least half Inch Bore, the larger the better, to supply the overflowing Cistern, cannot be too muchinsistedon: as the Levity of the Gass almost wholly depends upon so trivial a Circumstance, as that of having a plentiful Supply ofcold freshandsoftWater.
347.Observation 3.Supposing the Balloonair-tight, near half the Expence is thus saved in the Inflation.
Besides the greater Probability ofcalmWeather for the Inflation, if completed before X. in the Morning, more Time is given to remedy Accidents, and rectify Mistakes: the Warmth of the Air likewise encreases.
But above all; if an upper Current carry the Balloon to Sea, the Aironaut may, (as before mentioned) drop into the Sea-Breeze, which will waft him safe back till IV. in the Afternoon, or even later.