John May, a shipbuilder, and John Meres (referred to as John Meyer in French sources) erected the first Newcomen Engine in France, at Passy, in 1726.[1]
The machine at Passy was erected at May's own expense, with a view to obtaining the exclusive privilege (privilège exclusif) for the use of such engines in the Kingdom of France. It was a requirement that the Académie Royale des Sciences must examine such machines to determine whether they were "new and useful". The following information is extracted from their report following examination of the machine: It had three pump main pumps, two of 12 pouces (approx 12 inches) diameter and the third 9 inches, and another small pump of 4 to 5 inches which served the engine itself (and the boiler?). The pistons of the first three pumps were suspended from the end of the beam, while the 4th piston was suspended some distance inboard of the end. The beam was 24 feet long. The steam engine's piston was nearly 2 feet in diameter, and the stroke was approx 5.5 ft. The fuel was wood rather than coal. It was observed working at the rate of about 10.5 strokes per minute, lifting water over 30 ft, and apparently burning 5 'voyes' of wood per day. [2]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ [1] French Industrial Policy under the Ancien Regime and the Pursuit of the British Example, by J. R. Harris: Histoire, économie & société, 1993, 12-1, p.97
- ↑ [2] e-Phaïstos VI-1 2017 | 2018: Newcomen à l’Académie La machine à vapeur et l’Académie royale des Sciences (1699-1750) (Newcomen Steam Engine and the Royal Academy of Sciences (1699-1750) ) by Bernard Delaunay: Appendix: Compte rendu de l’examen technique de la machine à élever l’eau par le moyen du feu. Source : Académie des Sciences AADS, R 11 mai 1726 (Report of the technical examination of the machine for raising water by means of fire).