href="@public@vhost@g@gutenberg@html@files@42602@[email protected]#Pg076" class="pginternal" tag="{http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml}a">76
Invents the Self-regulating Feeder 76
Infancy of James Watt 77
His Descent and Parentage 77
Anecdotes of his Boyhood 78
His early Acquirements 79
Goes to London 80
Returns to Glasgow 80
Appointed Instrument-maker to the University 81
Opens a Shop in Glasgow 81
His Friends and Patrons 81
Professor Robison's Remarks on Watt's personal Character 82
His industrious and studious Habits 82
His Attention first directed to Steam 83
Experiments on High-pressure Engine 83
Repairs an Atmospheric Model 84
Experimental Inquiry consequent on this 84
Its Results 84
Observes great Defects in the Atmospheric Engine 85
His first Attempt to improve it 85
His early Experiments on Steam 87
Discovery by Experiment of the Expansion which Water undergoes in Evaporation 90
Discovers the latent Heat of Steam 91
Informed by Dr. Black of the Theory of latent Heat 93
His Improvement not due to Black 93
CHAP. IV.
EXPOSITION OF PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES.
Construction of Thermometer 98
Method of graduating it 99
Freezing and boiling Points 99
Latent Heat of Water 101
Quantity of Heat necessary to convert Ice into Water, first noticed by Dr. Black 101
Examination of the analogous Effects produced by the continued Application of Heat to Water in the liquid State 102
Process of Boiling 104
Reconversion of Steam into Water 104
Conversion of Water into Steam 105
Latent Heat of Steam 107
Boiling Point varies 108
Different in different Places 109
Inquiry whether a Diminution of Pressure will produce a corresponding Effect on the boiling Point 112
Table showing the Temperature at which Water will boil under different Pressures of the Atmosphere 113
Mechanical Force of Steam 115
Facts to be observed in 117
CHAP. V.
FURTHER DISCOVERIES OF WATT.
Watt finds that Condensation in the Cylinder is incompatible with a due Economy of Fuel 119
Conceives the Notion of condensing out of the Cylinder 120
Discovers separate Condensation 121
Invents the Air Pump 123
Substitutes Steam Pressure for Atmospheric Pressure 123
Invents the Steam Case, or Jacket 124
His first Experiments to realise these Inventions 125
His experimental Apparatus 125
His experimental Models fitted up at Delft House, in Glasgow 128
Difficulties of bringing the improved Engines into Use 129
Watt first employed by Roebuck as a Civil Engineer 130
His Partnership with Roebuck 130
His first Patent 130
Experimental Engine at Kinneal 131
Abstract of the Act of Parliament for the Extension of his Patent 132
Description of his single-acting Steam Engine 133
CHAP. VI.
WATT'S ENGINES.
Correspondence of Watt with Smeaton 145
Failure of Condensation by Surface 146
Improvements in Construction of Piston 147
Method of Packing 148
Improvements in boring the Cylinder 149
Disadvantages of the new compared with the old Engines 150
Greatly increased Economy of Fuel 150
Economy of the Engine 151
Expedients to force the new Engines into Use
