Friction Wheel
in machinery, a wheel, the motion of which is caused by the friction of a moving body, or, conversely, which communicates motion to a body by frictional contact. In one variety, one wheel being driven becomes a motor to the other, their perimeters being in contact. The surface is usually clothed with leather, rubber, or some sufficiently elastic material which does not polish too readily, and thus induce slipping. By grooving the perimeters of the wheels, the contact may be made more intimate, as the surface engaged is increased, and the elastic material of the respective faces caused to bind. In another form a collar fastened to the central shaft has four pivoted arms. When the rim turns in one direction, the arms turn on their pivots, leaving the rim and failing to transfer the motion to the shaft. When the rim turns in the contrary direction, the arms catch against it and are rotated by the contact, turning the shaft also. Another form has an upper india-rubber wheel with Vedge, clamped between two metallic plates. By screwing up the nut which holds the parts together, the disk is made to expand radially, and thus increase the tractive power on the lower driving wheel. The term friction wheel is often, but erroneously, applied to wheels which diminish friction; these are properly called anti-friction wheels. FRIENDLY ISLANDS. See TONGA.
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Frictional Escapements
Those escapements in which the balance is never free or detached from the escapement. In contra-distinction to the detached escapement. The duplex, cylinder or verge are examples of frictional escapements. FRODSHAM, CHARLES. A skillful and successful watchmaker of London and the author of several valuable works on watchmaking. He was born in 1810 and died in 1871.
Only in American Watchmaker and Jeweler
Friday
the sixth day of the week. The name was given by the Anglo-Saxons in honor of their goddess Freya, who corresponds in Teutonic mythology to the Roman Venus or goddess of love. Among the Turks, Arabs, and other Mohammedans, Friday is the Sabbath or day of assembly. According to their traditions this was the day of the week on which Adam was created and received into Paradise. Also the day on which he was driven from Eden and the day on which he died. Among Christians Good Friday is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday. There is a popular superstition that Friday is a day of ill luck. Until of late Friday was considered the proper day to set for the execution of criminals; hence it is sometimes called Hangman's Day. See Freya
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Friendly Societies
societies formed with the view of assisting any one of their members who may be sick, infirm, or old, or who may have to meet the expense of a funeral in his family; or for providing a certain amount of support for his widow and family on his death. To obtain money for those objects, there is a fixed scale of contributions binding on all the members. Friendly societies existed among the Anglo- Saxons. An act for the encouragement of such institutions was passed by the English Parliament in 1793. See FRATER- NAL SOCIETIES.
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Friends of God
A mystical society founded in Germany in the fourteenth century, for the purpose of ministering to the poor by preaching and sacrament. Its members included men and women of every rank and station; not only monks and nuns, but knights, farmers, artizans, merchants. Their law was: "That universal love, commanded by Christ, and not to be gainsaid by his vicar." Their prophecies and warnings roused the ire of certain of the clergy, and they were charged with sectarianism.
Only in An Encyclopaedia of Occultism
Frieze
in architecture, that portion of the entablature which is between the architrave and the cornice. It was generally adorned with triglyphs in the Doric order, the intervening spaces, called metopes, being filled with sculptured figures in alto-relievo, or with the skulls of oxen and wreaths alternately; while in the Corinthian and Composite orders it was ornamented with figures or scroll work in low relief, extending along its entire length. The term frieze was also applied to a broad band of sculpture, in low relief, that was frequently placed round the cella of a Grecian temple, immediately under the ceiling of the portico, and completely surrounding the exterior. In modern domestic architecture a frieze is frequently introduced immediately below the cornice of an apartment.
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Frigate
originally a Mediterranean vessel propelled by sails and oars; afterward a ship of war, between a sloop or Such vesbrig and a ship of the line. sels generally carried from 30 to 50 guns on the main deck and on a raised quarter deck and forecastle. They were usually employed as cruisers or scouts. The name is now given to a vessel of war having an upper flush deck, and one covered gun deck. The armament is from 28 to 44 guns. The grade is below a ship of the line and above a corvette. The rating of ironclads is different, the guns being larger and fewer in number. A double-banked frigate is one carrying guns on two decks and having a flush upper deck.
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Frigate Bird
tachypetes, a genus of natatorial birds, family Pelecanidæ, and specially Tachypetes aquilus. They have a long and forked tail, and an expansion of wings sometimes reaching 12 feet. They abound on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of tropical America. They are called also man - of - war birds.
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Frigento
or FRICENTO (fretshen'to), a town of south Italy, province of Avellino, 17 miles E. N. E. of Avellino. It has a fine cathedral, containing some excellent paintings. Its inhabitants subsist by the sale of sheep, hogs, and corn. Near it is a valley, supposed, apparently on good grounds, to be identical with the Amsancti valles of Virgil. In the lowest part is an oval pool in which water boils and spouts up, at irregular intervals, accompanied by strong sulphurous mephitic exhalations. It and was through this orifice that the Fury Alecto descended to Tartarus.
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Frigg
or Frigga, in Scandinavian mythology, the wife of Odin and queen of the gods. Half the fallen in battle belong to her. Frigg is frequently confused with Freya, but they are two distinct goddesses. Frigg is the mother of Baldur the Beautiful. She spins with a golden distaff. She knows the future, but never reveals it. She understands also the language of plants and animals. She presides over marriages and love in its highest form. Frigg's chariot is drawn by cats. She has two maids, one to guard her jewels, one to befriend the needy. Gna, her messenger, rides on a winged horse. See Freya I fly not, nor do drive, but hurry fast, Hoof-flinger swift thro' clouds and mist and sky. --Eddas.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia