The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-08-03
GAS TO REPLACE STEAM AS MOTIVE
POWER


The Paris correspondent of the Boston Travelter
sends the following account of the new invention
by Frenchman of gas engine, which is now ex-
citing considerable attention in the French me-
tropolis-
al believe the machine recently invented by
Mons Denois, Ga gentleman quite well known by
his galvano-plasc copies of altorelieyo sculpture
and engraving,) | mean his gas engine, which he
looks upon as destined to take the place of the
steam engine in great many places where mo-
tive power is required, occupies the chief share of
the Academy's attention at this present moment.
This gas engine is good deal like the steam engine
in its external appearance. There is the same cy-
Under with its piston, the same fly wheel, eccentric
and slide box-but no boiler and no furnace. 1t
has gas metre and very small inductiVe appara-
tus. There is tube leading from the gas metre,
and conductors leading from the electrical appara-
tus to the cylinder, or rather to the organs of dis
tribution which Immediately precede the cylinder.
When the gas enters the slide box it is mixed with
large proportion of ordinary air, introduced first
on one and then on the other side of the piston,
anu where it meets electric spark which fires it;
the moment this takes place the aperture through
which the gas enters is closed, so that the combus
tion takes place in sealed chamber and determines
in the mixed gas and air force OF expansion
which acts Immediately upon the surface of the
piston.
ssThe motion of the slide-box and electric dstrbu
tor is so arranged that the moments of introduc-
tion, inflammation and expulsion took place in
succession and at proper times. When the piston
has its motion in direction the same phases of
the introduction and combustion of the gaseous
mixture take place at the other extremity of the
cylinder. You see it utilities and transforms into
labor portion-but only portion-Of the heat
produced by the combustion of the gas, which is
the ordinary gas used for lighting the Streets
When the combustion takes place the heat, which
is suddenly disengaged by an explosion, contained
in a rigid chamber is communicated to all the elias
tic fluid in the chamber, which fluid is the mouve
power which acts upon the surface OF the piston,
and if its expansion could be carried further all the
heat would disappear in the champer, ana the
transformation would be complete. Unfortunately,
before this refrigeration takes place the fluid has
lost its excess of elastic force, and it is necessary to
force it to retain high temperature to enable 1t to
escape into the atmosphere, and which high tempe
rature it carries away with it, thereby causing an
inevitable loss to the machine The perfection of
this machine consists in this that all the heat pro-
duced by the combustion Is really brought into
play, which is very far from taking place In the
steamer CINE: but as in all machines, only small
portion of the heat developed is used, the greater
part escapes all attempts to transform 1t into mo-
tive power. This machine is thirty per cent. more
economical than the steam-engine, and it only
costs 5000, and can be used wherever gas is used.
call the attention of your mechanics to it, if they
ever stand in need of a small motive power. 1t is
cheap, it is convenient, and it is free from danger
AE OPEN YET MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF
WFE.-The Providence Post says that DR.. Kasson,
of Canton, Conn, who recently came in possession
of a second wife, of some beauty and considerable
spirit, was much surprised last Thursday, ON re-
turning from drive among his patients, to find
tine house empty; the wife gone. bag and baggage;
and the most marvellous tales afoat among the vii
lage gossips. The latter have it that swift, fine
carriage drove up TO the Doctor's then away; then
returning with two or three more; then followed
the packing and lading of trunks exit the lady;
crack of whips; clouds Of dust in the distance;
clouds of mystery over the village and over 'ne
whole transaction.
The Tribune of Yesterday says: Do the gentlemen
OF the Common Council imagine tbat sney can Ca IL
| through the Japanese robbery with impuhlty =
they DO, thew are mistaken. We warn them that
an awful retribution in store for every scoundre,
whose hands take hold of that plunder. They snali
never be forgiven nor forgotten.