Abstract
Ericsson's Caloric Engine In 1833 John Ericsson, the famous Swedish engineer, patented a form of hot air engine and his invention formed the subject of a lecture by Faraday on February 14, 1834, at the Royal Institution. Referring to this lecture, the Mechanic's Magazine said that "after the very favourable opinion we expressed of this invention it gave us no ordinary pleasure to hear it so well spoken of by so eminent authority, in all matters of science, as Dr. Faraday. He pronounced the theory on which the engine was constructed to be philosophically correct, and the arrangements for turning it to a practical account to be at once novel and ingenious, but expressed some doubts as to whether sufficient provision had been made for preserving that regular alternation of pressure which is necessary to keep the pistons in motion". In Church's "Life of John Ericsson", (vol. 1, p. 75) it is said: "Just as Faraday was preparing to appear upon the platform he came to the conclusion that he had made a mistake as to the principle of the expansion of air upon which the action of the machine depended. He accordingly commenced his lecture, greatly to the disappointment of Ericsson, by the announcement that he was unable to explain why the engine worked at all". According to the Mechanic's Magazine, Ericsson was not at the lecture owing to illness.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Science News a Century Ago. Nature 133, 225 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/133225a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/133225a0