The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-01
ELECrRIoIrY FROM MACHINERY.
A simple Device 10 Get Rid Of q Danger
af Friction. -tH .'l "

A simple Device 10 Get Rid of a Danger
of Friction. '.'' W.
Boston Advertiser
Mr.. F. W. Writings clerk in the Bos
ton Manufacture Mutual Insurance Com
pany, has, as a result Of number Of ex
periments, conducted under the direction
Of Mr.. Edward Atkinson, the President Of
the company, found way to obviate the
trouble caused by the generating Of cleo
trlcity in cotton and wooden mills by the
friction OF the belts on the pulleys. This
electricity being carried into the spinning
machine affects the cotton, especially II
it is in loose condition, before II Is wrap.
ped, aud causes it TO lily apart and stick TO
the machinery, thus causing an i'm
mense amount oftrouble. Inprintiug press
es also, where the roll.paper is used, pass
ing rapidly over the rollers in semi dry
condition, unless the press is on a iounda.
ton in direct communication with the
earth, so that the electricity can escape,
there is so much electricity collected in the
paper in short time that it flies oil the
roller and becomes entangled in the press;
and in the case Of flour mills, in addition
to many other troubles, there Is danger Of
setting fire to the floating mass OF finely
powdered -four, which, acting as kind OF
conductor, draws the electricity from the
betting and causes an explosion. The cleo
tricity being generated by friction
is static electricity, which Is Of great
pctentiality, and, therefore, danger
Gus 10 the life OF an employe
II the machinery is accidentally touched
when highly charged. When Mr.. Whit
ing first began his experiments at the Arm
Dry mill at Manchester, N. H., he found
that the principal belt, which made 400
revolutions per minute, generated so much
electricity that when the oiler attempted to
oil the machinery he was almost paralyzed.
Strange as il may appear, II only required
the application OF n very simple principle
OF electricity to remedy the entire evil.
The earth is the great reservoir OF electro
city, and whenever there are proper con.
ductors the current finds its way by the
shortest path to the ground. Going into
the cardingroom, Mr. Whiting attached
wire to one OF the carding machines and
carried the other end TO the gas.pipe TO
which 1t was fastened. Instantly the
trouble ceased, much 10 the delight OF that
gentleman. While this probably would
have been sufficient, he thought 1t best
to draw off the electricity as rap
idly as it was generated without its
passing through the carding.machine
therefore he brought rod oil iron down
from the ceiling 10 within few inches Of
the betting, the upper part OF the iron rod
being connected with the gas or water
pipes by a wire. AT the lower end OF his
rod he fastened brass bar, to which were
attached number Of brass knobs, each an
inch apart, they being brought up almost
| in contact with the betting. AS last as the
electricity was formed most Of It passed
through these knobs, and thus through the
iron rod wire, and water pipes harmlessly To
the ground; what little did not do so, after
being transmitted through the machinery,
passed through the first mentioned wire.
Thus, with two ground wires, all the cleo
tricity wasygotten rid Of, and the serious
difficulties It occasioned were obyiated.
No patents wi be asked for on the liscov.
cry, and it Is expected all cotton and other
mills will soon take advantage Of it.