PREFACE. THE author, having heard a desire expressed by many for a practical treatise upon Hydraulic, Steam, and Hand Power Lifting and Pressing Machinery, has been induced to undertake the task. The work is addressed to engineers whose practice has not been in this branch of engineering. Also to architects and users of such machinery, to give them an insight into the same, and to afford some help, either in the design or as a guide to the adoption of machinery suitable to the special requirements of the particular case. Most of the machinery and work described, except some cases specially mentioned, are from the author's own experience. Assuming that practical men are chiefly addressed, he has not gone into any rudimentary descriptions, but has mentioned only such details as may be useful for the purpose. Very little discussion is entered into relative to the value of certain machines, for the same reason; but the few results given from practice may prove more useful. He trusts that the work may be acceptable to those who are seeking information in this branch of practice. The work has been written in a concise form, as it was thought it would be more acceptable to those addressed to have practical facts and data expressed in as few words as possible. The author fears, owing to the want of time at his disposal, that the work is not in such a perfect form as he would have wished; he, however, trusts all shortcomings in this respect will meet with lenient judgment from his readers. The author has to express his thanks to Messrs. Clark and Standfield, Mr. R. H. Tweddell, Mr. J. B. Ellington, Messrs. Thornewell and Warham, and Mr. H. Adams, for their courtesy in affording information on the specialities designed and made by them. Also to the Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers, for their courtesy in allowing the author to use Drawings Nos. 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 15, and 17, from the Transactions of the Institution, vol. 50. FREDERICK COLYER, M.INST.C.E., M.INST.M.E. 18, GREAT GEORGE STREET, WESTMINSTER, S.W. July, 1881. |