, 1880-02-01
EXHAUSTING AIR.
A New Pump for eliminating the At
H1n8uheFR.

A new Eump lot AtlU11I1AtAnS kAo AZ"
moaphere.
Prof. J. ". Powers, a respectable appear
ing gentleman OF the little Town of Portage,
Wis, has for, two years been engaged In per-
fecting an air-pump upon new principle,
for which he has at last obtained q patent,
and claims that he has practically arrived at
perfection with his apparatus, or to point
where but one-millionth Of the original cir
will be left in the vacuum, which he main
tains is nearly onetenth more than the best
air-pump ever invented can do, the latter
only extracting nine-tenths OF the air in the
bell-glass or receiver. ....
The Professor has been in Chicago for
some time past exhibiting his apparatus to
friends. He makes his headquarters at No.
274 Fulton street, and a TRIBUNE reporter
called upon him at that place last evening to
affable and willing to exhibit his prize, but he
was by no means importunate OF immodeSt
in his pretensions. He illustrated all that be
claimed. ..,
The apparatus which he brought out and
placed upon the parlor centre-table vas
simple in the extreme. It was yalyeless
pump, consisting Of metallic cylinder or
barrel, capable Of resisting an external at
mospherie pressure Of fifteen pounds to the
square inch. Within this cylinder Al An Z
H.
plates, clasping at their periphery an
elastic packing, SO constructed that by reach
ing the piston-rod two piston plates are
drawn toward each other, COMPRISING the
packing in vertical direction and distending
It horizontally. The piston-rod Is provided
double-acting lever and two poWls, which
alternately attach themselves to the ratchet,
the lever being provided with trunions, rest
ing upon the Cover. In operating the device,
is lowered to the bottom Of the cylinder, the
air therein escaping around its outer Pc
riphcry; then, by revolving the piston,
rod, the elastic packing is distended
horizontally, filling completely the cylinder.
Then, BY it's upward movement, It removes
chamber between the piston and the bottom
Of the vessel or cylinder. BY this construc-
ton Of the piston, no valves are needed.
Prof. Powers, having exhibited and ex-
planned the x9rnF q Ct ms 81 SmRe anpa-
lie first called for an egg, which he placed
in q large glass goblet, nearly filed with
water, stating that be put the water in the
glass to enable the reporter to better observe
the air IS it was drawn from the egg, Then
elastic band at its periphery, thus making i
air-tight, upon the receiver. a small
rubber tube connected the cover WITH
the bottom Of the cylinder. The Professor
then appI1eQ MS StTenEtQ W lNt uOuO!E 4efCAs
and In moment the egg was completely COY,
cred with small air bubbles, which increased
in size as the power was increased, until they
separated from the eEg, and rose to p the :, sur; ";
face of the water. The exhibito then placed
In the bell-g1aBs OF receiver a large hickory,
nut, a piece Of iron, piece Of steel, and
three or four solid agates or marbles, and ex-
tracted the air from all, the nut being By far
the most susceptible, the iron next, and the
steel next, while the glass marbles were the
last to succumb, as matter of course.
The Professor then said he would make
scientific test He brought forward large
vial Of mercury, which hepon1ed into glass
goblet. He dropped into the silvery liquid the
bit Of iron and the piece Of steel, both Of
which floated as lightly as two pieces Of cork
would upon water: He then raised his cyl
Under upon box, sat the glass Of quicksilver
upon the floor, applied long glass tube
open at either end to 1t, and attached the
other extremity to the rubber tube Of the
cylinder, thus forming simple barometer.
Having exhausted the air, be operated his
lever, and the mercury instantly mounted ia
twenty-nine inches, exactly: where the
weather barometers Of the city stood yestcr.
day. This, the Professor claimed, sniff
ctently demonstrated the success OF his in
Tention.
4 great deal more might be written upon
this interesting subject, but space torbldS