The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-04
E1fsenss Lafesf.

4O0 1SSo0s m1IVel OF memo fatK !!
tho "tasimeter," or instrument for tn.
measurement of pressure, which Prof
Edison has just completed. Il is to b.
used in the scientific experiments to b.
made BY astronomers from all parts o.
tho world at Denver, Col, next month
during the total eclipse of the sun, visi
bio ct that place. Prot. Edison starts
for that State on the 9Th of July, accom-
panied by Prot. Baker and::other scient
lists from this section OF the country
The result thus far obtained from the
tastimeter have been almost incredible
Used in connection with the galvano
meter of Sir William Thompson, it ha.
been found to record the pressure of one
6ve-hundred thoussndth part OF an
inch.
Hitherto the most delicate instrumen,
knewn to science tor determining the
hest in the different parts of the sola,
spectrum has been the thermopile. The
great improvement of the tasimeter over
the thermopile is illustrated in q simple
manner by Professor Edison. A few
inches from the former he placed no,
iron. 1t detected the needle of an or.
binary galvanometer one degree then
he held his little finger four inches from
the tasimeter with the same galvano.
meter, and it swung the needle around
six degrees. In explaining the work.
ings Of his invention to . Herald report.
or in his laboratory at Menlo Park, the
inventor said: eve now study chem.
istry by means Of the sun. We have
found BY aid Of the spectroscope that
there are metals in the sun which are
unknown on earth, as well as metals
here the existence of which in the sun
has thus far not been discovered"
The professor next explained the meth.
cd proposed to be adopted in the as
Economical experiments to be maao with
his tasimeter. Instead of vuicanized
rubber, platina will be used, the latter
having been found to gain and lose heat
much moro readily than tho former.
The tasimeter will DO enclosed in a re-
ceptacle of tin, which in turn is placed
in q second receptacle of tho same ma
terial. Between the two will be kept
boiling water for the purpose of preserv-
ing evenness OF temperature, "a boiling
water attains no higher temperature
than 2l2 degrees Fahrenheit. The spec
troscope will then DO made to concen-
trate the heat into small opening in
the tasimeter, where, falling on the
platina, 1t will cause expansion and cor
pressure OF tho small car
bon button, allowing the passage of the
electric current in q degree commensu-
rate with the pressure. Attached to and
forming part of the tasimeter is an ap-
pliance for measuring the degree of ex-
pansion or contraction Of different met
tails under similar temperatures. Prof.
Edison found the heat of his hand ex-
banded the platIna one five tn ousandth
part of an inch.
The great inventor has already taken
steps to use his new discovery for
The protection of vcssles at sea. He
stated to the writer bis method as fol-
ows: al arrange tho carbon button as
\ highly sensitive barometer, and, in
closing it in q case, connect it with the
Keel of ship. then run wire to the
captains room into an ordinary galvan-
,meter. Any change of temperature, as
you see, is ct once Indicated. Goodness
If water will contract and warmth ex-
BAND, and the corresponding reflections
70 placed at once before tho eye Of tho
captain. The approach of an iceberg
will, therefor, be known long before
here is any danger Of collision. 1t may
Ilso be used to indicate any abnormal
,oat in any part of tho ships hold, thus
living timely notice of the breaking out
Il fire.-From the New York Herald.