The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-12-18
Tho TasiIneter at Sca,

10 ascertain the relation of the tasimeter
: 70 the detection of iccbcrgs at distance at
sea reporter called on Mr.. Edison the in.
Vehtof OF That instrument, at his laboratory
III MEMO Park, N. J. The renowned
scientist was hard at work in room on the
iloor of which were ranged benches and
tables filled with scores Of curious cleo.
trlcal implements and whose walls were
lined with hundreds of walls of chemicals
OF all solts and descriptions.
"Ihcn its about tho tasimeter and not
the electric light that you come to interview
mer' qucricd the inventor, doubtingly.
after the reporter had announced the object
OF his visit The man Of the pen repeated
the announcement, and assured the man Of
science that the tasimeter and that only
should be the Object Of the interview.
'Im glad of that" said the inventor.
with a sigh of relief, US he seated himself
on huge volume On electricity that Law
conveniently on low wooden stand near
by. II thought you came about tho light
but I'm not ready quite yet to undergo ex-
animation rs to that"
"Will the tasmeter indicate the ap,, coach
OF icebcrgs at sea long before there Is dam
ger of collision7" asked the reporter.
Certainty it will. 1t can be made 90
sensitive that 1t will detect and show tho
''ih"'So' FtAutiou Ill tno temperature OF
| the water. But for practical purposes on
ships at sea such delicaoy is not needed.
1t can be adjusted to meet the proper re.
qnircments
'.How is 1t applied OH ships2''
ut Is very simple. The tasimeter itself
is small instrument placed in a little case
ABOUT foot long, and attached to the ves-
sci 80 rs TO be under water all the time. II
IS then connected by wire with a couple
or cells OF battery and a galvanometer
lhe galvanometcr can be in the wheel
house, the captains cabin, or anywhere else
desired. at every change of tho tempera.
ture the needle Of tho galvanometer de-
nects. The colder the water becomes tho
more detection there will be. AS O further
prccaution, at n certain temperature, which
can be arranged to suit, the needle will
cause q little bell to ring to warn the cap
tain that danger is at hand"
Tho inventor then explained in detail tho
construction of the tasimcter. Its dcscrip-
tion is briefly this: A thin strip of zinc is
placed horizontally in clamp at ono end,
with its, other end pressing lightly on
small carbon button. AS heat expands and
cold contracts the metal there will be more
or less pressure upon the carbon button, ac-
cordlng as the temperature is hot or cold
Now, the property of the carbon button Is
such that when current of electricity Is
passed through 1t the slightest change in
the degree Of pressure upon the carbon will
vary the resistance which it offers to tho
passage Of the electrical current so that the
effect produced on tho galvanomctcr in tho
captains cabin (Which Is connected with
the tasimctcr by wire, as before stately
will be commensurate with the degree Of
pressure produced on the carbon by tho
strip RRt 9b PgESptRt5, PgESptRt5,so ,no u"v..vn. ,..s
ter to the galvanometcr should be accident
ally cut" queried the reporter, after having
copiously imbibcd tho scientific drught
show could tho captain know it2''
mo trouble about that," readily ro-
spondcd the inventor. t'Any arrangement
of tho apparatus, from whatever cause,
would instantly be shown by tho galvan-
ometer needle falling back to zero"
"Thcn you think that the tasimcter would
bc infallible in foretclling the approach Of
lcebergs?"
al certainly do," said the inventor, with
emphasis. ~.
'And would an electric light also add to
ships sccurity2" Ea#
'NIost undoubtedly. A powerful olec-
trio light, 1t rays concentrated would light
up the sea for ahead IN tho darkest night
or denscst fog and show the approach Of
any danger"
At this point the deliver in science arose
from his book and resumed his labors by
attaching complicated net work Of glass
tubes, through some of which mercury was
softly flowing, the apparatus, he explained,
being one for obtaining vacuums for use In
his incandcsccnt system of Lighting.
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