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alve by the rod； the weight； by being inside the boiler； is placed out of reach from any attempt to tamper with it。
The entire arrangement of this Safety Valve is quite simple。 It is free from all Lever Joints and other parts which might become clogged； and as there is always a slight pendulous motion in the weight by the action of the water in the boiler； the spherical surfaces of the valve and its seat are thus ever kept in perfect order。 As soon as the desired pressure of steam has been reached； and the gravity of the weight overcome； the valve rises from its seat； and gives perfectly free egress to any farther accumulation of steam。 It is really quite a treat； in its way； to observe this truly simple and effective Safety Valve in action。 After I had contrived and introduced this Safety Valve； its valuable properties were speedily acknowledged； and。 its employment has now become very general。
1847。 A Machine for cutting out Cottar Slots and Key…Groove Recesses in Parts of Machinery by a Traversing Drill。
One of the most tedious and costly processes in the execution of the detail parts of machinery is the cutting out of Cottar Slots in piston rods； connecting rods； and key recesses in shafts。 This operation used to be performed by drilling a row of holes through the solid body of the object； and then chipping away the intermediate metal between the holes； and filing the rude slot； so produced； into its required form。 The whole operation； as thus conducted； was one of the most tedious and irksome jobs that an engineer workman could be set to； and could only be performed by those possessed of the highest skill。
What with broken chisels and files； and the tedious nature of the work； it was a most severe task to the very best men； not to speak of the heavy cost in wages。
In order to obviate all these disadvantages； I contrived an arrangement of a drilling machine； with a specially formed drill； which at once reduced the process to one of the easiest conducted in an engineer's workshop。
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The。 〃special〃 form of the Drill consisted in the removal of the centre portion of its flat cutting face by making it with a notch O。 This enabled it to cut sideways； as well as downwards； and thus to cut a slit or oblong hole。 No labour； as such； was required； but only the intelligent superintendence of a lad to place the work in the machine； and remove it for the next piece in its turn。 The machine did the labour； and by its self…action did the work in the most perfect manner。
I may further mention that the arrangement of the machine consisted in causing the object to traverse to and fro in a straight line； of any required length； under the action of the drill。 The traversing action was obtained by the employment of an adjustable crank； which gave the requisite motion to a slide table； on which the work was fastened。 The 〃feed〃 downwards of the drill was effected by the crank at the moment of its reversing the slide； as the drill reached the end of the traverse； and； as there is a slight pause of the traverse at each end of it； the 〃feed〃 for the next cutting taking place at that time； the drill has the opportunity given to perfect its cut ere it commences the next cutting traverse in succession。 This action continues in regular course until the drill makes its way right through the piece of work under its action； or can be arrested at any required depth according to the requirements of the work。 Soap and water as a lubricator continues to drop into the recess of the slot； and is always in its right place to assist the cutting of the drill。
As before said； the entire function of this most effective machine tool is self…acting。 It only required an intelligent lad or labourer to attend to it； and； as there was ample time to spare； the superintendence of two of these machines was quite within his ability。 The rates of the productive powers of this machine； as compared with the former employment of hand labour； was at least ten to one； to say nothing of the superior quality of the work executed。
Such were the manifold advantages of this machine； that its merits soon became known and appreciated； and although I had taken out no patent for it； we always had an abundance of orders； as it was its own best advertisement。
1848。 A Steam Hammer Form of Steam…Engine。
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This engine is of great simplicity and get…at…ability of parts。 It is specially adapted for screw…propelled steamships； and many other purposes。 It is now in very general use。 The outline is given above。
1848。 Application of Hydraulic Power to the Punching of Large Holes in Iron Bars； and Plates of Great Thickness。
Dr。 Faraday having applied to me to furnish him； for one of his lectures at the Royal Institution； with some striking example of the Power of Machinery in overcoming the resistance to penetration in the case of some such material as cold malleable iron； it occurred to me to apply the tranquil but vast power of a hydraulic press to punch out a large hole in a thick cake of malleable iron。 Knowing that my excellent friend John Rick had in his works at Bolton one of the most powerful hydraulic presses then existing； contrived and constructed by his ingenious father； the late Benjamin Hick； I proceeded to Bolton； and explained Dr。 Faraday's requirement； when； with his usual liberal zeal； Mr。 Hick at once placed the use of his great hydraulic press at my service。
Having had a suitable cake of steam…hammered malleable iron given to me for the purpose in question； by my valued friend Thomas Lever Rushton of the Bolton Ironworks； we soon had the cake of iron placed in the great press。 It was 5 inches thick；18 inches long； and 15 inches wide。 Placing a cylindrical coupling box of cast…iron on the table of the press； and then placing the thick cake of iron on it； and a short cylindrical mass of iron （somewhat of the size and form of a Stilton Cheese） on the iron cake； the coupling box acting as the Bolster of the extemporised punching machine；the press was then set to work。 We soon saw the Stilton Cheese…like punch begin to sink slowly and quietly through the 5…inch thick cake of iron； as if it had been stiff clay。 The only sound heard was when the punched…out mass dropped into the recess of the coupling below。 Such a demonstration of tranquil but almost resistless power of a hydraulic press had never； so far as we were aware； been seen before。 The punched of iron； together with the punched…out disc； were then packed off to Faraday； and great was his delight in having his request so promptly complied with。 Great also was the wonder of his audience when the punched plate was placed upon the lecture table。 This feat of Benjamin Hick's great hydraulic press set me a…thinking。 I conceived the idea that the application of hydraulic press power might serve many similar purposes in dealing with ultra thick plates or bar iron；such as the punching out of holes； and cutting thick bars and plates into definite shapes； as might be required。 I suggested the subject to my friend Charles Fox； head of the firm of Fox； Henderson； and Co。 He had taken a large contract for a chain bridge； the links of which were