The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-18
THE PNEUMATIC MOTOR.

CAN THE AIR POWER BE APPLIED TO THE 81"
RoAps-rHE sMoKE, GAS AND DUST NUS
ANcE-wHAr THE INVENTORS AND THE RAIL
ROAD PEOPLE sAy-ECoNoMY AND CLEANII-
NESS.
None but people who rode in the horse cars
thirty forty years ago can have any idea OF the
Improvement that has taken place in the mode
81 transit frcm the lower to the upper portions Of
TIE elty since that time. In the ohlen times 1t
thought Journey of considerable length to go to
the Harlem River. but now it is mere matter Of
about tnrce-quartcrs of an hour. The building of
tho elevated railroads demonstrates the superiority
of horse power regards speed. but
still the former has many defects that in de-
gree counterbalance its advantages. Any sitting
in either OF the two foremost cars Of an elevated
railroad train IN the summer time will find this to
be too true The fearful smell OF the gas that
from tho engines smokestack and oven the smoke
itself porvadcs the interior of the cars rendering
respiration almost Impossible. and cindcrs come
showcring In in such quantities to make 1t ncces-
sary TO brush the seats OF before using them.
Again, tho noise made by tho steam locomotive is
very great. The kissing and putting sound of tho
escaping steam Is very dsagreeabo to people rcsid-
Ing along the line OF the road. and is of tho
causes of the many objections of property owners
was between the horse lines and tho
elevated railroads for supremacy. in which tho latter
gained partly because the lower districts were be-
coming crowded that many found it necessary to
locate further up town, and tho horse cars were
not able to bring them to their places of business in
short u space of time they were compelled to
the elevated trains Another means of transit has.
however come to notice. which bids fair to do away
with both horse and steam. 1t is al invention OF
two Scotch engineers. who have given the subject OF
cheap safc and rapid transit great deal Of attcn-
ton. The following In "a description of the engine,
or motor. rs 1t is called that liz now in opera
ton between 10Th and l27th streets, on Second
1t Ia car some what longer than tho ordi-
nary horse car, having underneath the flooring
ceptace for tho necessary machinery. Parallel with
the sides two. aud under tho front and
platforms four cylinders or tanks for containing the
compressed air. ut pressure OF $50 pounds per
square inch or twenty four atmosphercs nearly. To
place this air in the reservoirs there Is 1O0horsc
power condensing engine stationed at lz7th street,
by which tho AIR Is reduced in volume In tho
following manncr:-Tho engine has two steam
cylinders, twelve inches In diameter and thirty
six inches stroke. operating two double acting
compressors of same stroke. OF which has q
diameter of thirteen inches and the other diameter
six and one half inches. Tho number of strokes
per minute in charging car are seventy-six At tho
com and seventy at the end the difference
being caused by the difference in work to be per-
formed. The air cylinders are jacketed md q cur
rent of cold water rculates continually around
them. Tho air is compressed ia the hrst compress
to about Ave atmospheric or sevonty-nve pounds
per square inch. 1t then passes into u tank of
water in which the water is kept cold, and thoncc
into tho second compressor. where 10 reduced in
volume fifth q second time. making one twenty
NTH of its original volume. Strange to say. the pass
ing the from the rst compressor through tho
water not only cools it, but also dries it, This Is be-
cause air In its normal state contains less
water and by tho reduction of its temperature be-
low dew point 1t is made to deposit certain amount
of its moisture. In compromising twenty-five cubic
feet OF into aud cooling IL with water 1t is
estimated that twentyfour parts out of twenty
of the water viii be absorbed and removed The air
is then forced into the tanks of the car through a
strong hose. by this machine car can be filed
and be ready to start on a nine mile journey
in seven minutes Whom working the mir Is not APP
piled directly to the motor cylinders at the pressure
OF $50 pounds, experience having shown that the
best practical results secured at sixteen atmos-
phercs, or about $40 pounds per square inch. The
IN admitted to tank OF placed ON the front