PILE-Engine, a very curious machine invented by Mr Vaucluse for driving the piles of Westminster-bridge. It is represented Plate CCXCIII. A is a great upright shaft or axle, on which are the great wheel B, and the drum C, turned by horses joined to the bars S, S. The wheel B turns the trundle X, on the top of whose axis is the fly O, which serves to regulate the motion, and also to act against the horses, and to keep them from falling when the heavy ram Q is discharged to drive the pile P down into the mud in the bottom of the river. The drum C is loose upon the shaft A, but is locked to the wheel B by the bolt Y. On this drum the great rope HH is wound; one end of the rope being fixed to the drum, and the other to the follower G, to which it is conveyed over the pulleys I and K. In the follower G is contained the tongs F, that takes hold of the ram Q by the staple R, for drawing it up. D is a spiral or foul fixed to the drum, on which is wound the small rope T that goes over the pulley U, under the pulley V, and is fastened to the top of the frame at 7. To the pulley-block V is hung the counterpoise W, which hinders the follower T from accelerating as it goes down to take hold of the ram; for as the follower tends to acquire velocity in its descent, the line T winds downwards upon the foul, on a larger and larger radius, by which means the counterpoise W acts stronger and stronger against it; and so allows it to come down with only a moderate and uniform velocity. The bolt Y locks the drum to the great wheel, being pushed upward by the small lever 2, which goes through a mortise in the shaft A, turns upon a pin in the bar 3, fixed to the great wheel B, and has a weight 4, which always tends to push up the bolt Y through the wheel into the drum. L is the great lever turning on the axis m, and resting upon the forcing bar 5, 5, which goes through a hollow in the shaft A, and bears up the little lever 2.

By the horses going round, the great rope H is wound about the drum C, and the ram Q is drawn up by the tongs F in the follower G, until the tongs come between the inclined planes E; which, by shutting the tongs at the top, opens it at the foot, and discharges the ram which falls down between the guides b, b upon the pile P, and drives it by a few strokes as far into the mud as it will go; after which, the top part is sawed off close to the mud by an engine for that purpose. Immediately Immediately after the ram is discharged, the piece upon the follower G takes hold of the ropes a a, which raise the end of the lever L, and cause its end N to descend and press down the forcing bar 5 upon the little lever z, which, by pulling down the bolt Y, unlocks the drum C from the great wheel B; and then the follower being at liberty, comes down by its own weight to the ram; and the lower ends of the tongs slip over the staple R, and the weight of their heads causes them to fall outward, and thus upon it. Then the weight 4 pushes up the bolt Y into the drum, which locks it to the great wheel, and so the ram is drawn up as before.

As the follower comes down, it causes the drum to turn backward, and unwinds the rope from it, whilst the horse, great wheel, trundle, and fly, go on with an uninterrupted motion; and as the drum is turning backward, the counterpoise W is drawn up, and its rope T wound upon the spiral flyer D.

There are several holes in the under side of the drum, and the bolt Y always takes the first one that it finds when the drum stops by the falling of the follower upon the ram; until which stoppage the bolt has not time to slip into any of the holes.

This engine was placed upon a barge on the water, and so was easily conveyed to any place desired. The ram was a ton weight; and the guides b b, by which it was let fall, were 30 feet high.

A new machine for driving piles has been invented lately by Mr S. Bunce of Kirby street, Hatten street, London. It will drive a greater number of piles in a given time than any other; and can be constructed more simply to work by horses than Mr Vauloué's engine above described.

Fig. 1 and 2 represent a side and front section of the machine. The chief parts are A, fig. 1, which are two endless ropes, or chains connected by cross pieces of iron B (see fig. 2) corresponding with two cross grooves cut diametrically opposite in the wheel C (fig. 1), into which they are received; and by which means the rope or chain A is carried round. FHK is a side-view of a strong wooden frame moveable on the axis H. D is a wheel, over which the chain passes and turns within at the top of the frame. It moves occasionally from F to G upon the centre H, and is kept in the position F by the weight I fixed to the end K. Fig. 3. L is the iron ram, which is connected with the cross pieces by the hook M. N is a cylindrical piece of wood suspended at the hook at O, which by sliding freely upon the bar that connects the hook to the ram, always brings the hook upright upon the chain when at the bottom of the machine, in the position of GP. See fig. 1.

When the man at S turns the usual crane-work, the ram being connected to the chain, and passing between the guides, is drawn up in a perpendicular direction; and when it is near the top of the machine, the projecting bar Q of the hook strikes against a cross piece of wood at R (fig. 1); and consequently discharges the ram, whilst the weight k of the moveable frame instantly draws the upper wheel into the position shown at F, and keeps the chain free of the ram in its descent. The hook, while descending, is prevented from catching the chain by the wooden piece N. For that piece being specifically lighter than the iron weight below, and moving with a less degree of velocity cannot come in contact with the iron till it is at the bottom and the ram stops. It then falls and again connects the hook with the chain, which draws up the ram, as before.

Mr Bunce has made a model of this machine, which performs perfectly well; and he observes, that, as the motion of the wheel C is uninterrupted, there appears to be the least possible time lost in the operation.

Pile-Worms, are a kind of worms found in the piles of the sea-dikes in Holland. They are of very various sizes; for some of the young ones are not above an inch or two in length, while others have been found thirteen or fourteen inches long. The heads of these creatures are covered with two hard shells or hemispheres, which together form a figure resembling an auger; and with which they bore the wood. The best remedy against them is, to perforate the pile with many small holes about an inch asunder; then it must be done over with a varnish in the hottest sun; and, while the varnish is hot, brick-dust must be screwed over it; and this being several times repeated, the pile will be covered with a strong crust absolutely impenetrable to all insects.