Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-01-15
A Useful Invention How to chcapea Fuel

US0Iul Invention How TO CncapeH Fuel
An invention is heralded through the col
umns of the New York World that presages
revolution in domestic economy, and ex-
cites the hope that fuel may be economical
to the lowest point. Should it turn out
what it is represented to be, the labors Of
the coal digger and wood getter will be great
ly diminished and the expenses Of every
household considerably reduced. Professor
JoHN JoHNsoN, Of Saco, Maine, has obtain
ed papers from the patent Office securing the
Inventors right to this discovery, which
threatens destruction to stoves, furnaces and
CRATES. Mr.. JonNseN's heater promises to
s.enable the housewife to warm her apart
ment in few moments by lighting q match
and giving herself no further trouble about
fuel, dirt or damage. She may, indeed,
take the continuance under her arm and car
~ it to any room in the house, having only
to place it on the floor, and, without any
supervision, it begins at once to bring the
atmosphere of the room up to an agreeable
degree of heat by steady currents Of warm,
wholesome air" "a - r. -. -
This heater consists Of an air-tight sheet
iron cylinder with cluster of tubes running
throug III it from top to bottom, and which are
open at both ends. The bottom Of this
heater is, in the centre, cup shaped, and
holds a little water, and just below it is a
gas burner or lamp This constitutes a full
description of the invention. The water put
into the cup at the bottom is just sufficient
to fill the inner space Of the cylinder with
steam at ordinary atmospheric. pressure; in
the smallest size Of heater this quantity
amounts to kttle more than tablespoonful
it being an accepted axiom that cubic
inch Of water will make cubic foot Of steam
(saturated) at barometric pressure. The
water is sealed up hermetically when the
cylinder is made, and nothing remains for
the owner but to light the gas jet under it.
Immediately the steam rises into the cylin-
der, heating all the radiating surface, and
the excess passing into the little condenser
at the top is reconverted into water and runs
back into the eup Thus goes on, self reg
ulating, process as simple as the operation
of solar heat If the hand is placed over
the apertures at the top, distinct currents Of
warm air will be feltissuing from the tubes,
caused by the heat of the surrounding va
Dor. This is diffusion. If. the hand be
held at the distance of foot from the exte-
rior jacket, pleasant radient heat will be
felt. This, then, is radiation, and the two
agencies are cooperating in the work of
changing the atmosphere of the apartment,
and will so continue at IN. fnttun.,iso long as
the fame or other source of heat is supplied. !"
Should this invention fulfill the, expecta-
tons it has raised. it will prove one Of the
most valuable discoveries of modern times.
Its beneficial effects will be felt and enjoyed
by every household. Heat will be as cheap
and abundant as water and gas. We see no
! more reason to doubt the success ofimprove-
ments and advances in the direction named
than in any other direction. If Professor
JOHNSON has really achieved the success
claimed for him, he will not only grow rich
and deserve his wealth, but he will take a
high rank among the benefactors humankind.
Wing. ~ asss4la1. &C.