The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
USES FOR COMPRESSED AIR.

Its Especial Advantage DescTib6d BY AL
Expert-Washington Aqueducs.
sWhat are some of the uses of COM
pressed aiz as motor?" asked q re-
porter of leading dealer in rook-drilis
and compressed air machinery recently.
ut is especially well adapted" ives
the reply "for rock-drills, pumps, hoist
ing engines, and other machines used in
mines, shafts, tunnels, and underground
work in general, where the direct use
of steam would be very inconvenisnt,
and in most cases entirely impractical
BILE. The fact is that the compressed air
is 8 motor for an the essential purposes
of steam, without the loss Of power due
TO condemnation and without the heat
and many other inconveniences attend
ing the use Of steam as motive power,
especially in confined places and at q dis
tance fror, the source Of supply. It lie,
therefore, applicable to all engines that
can be operated by the expansive power
os ssaanl, either at high or low pressures,
and one O.. it's principal advantages over
cssa1n is Saat 1t can be stored and tTans-
united through pipe to any distance
without material loss of pressure or
din,inutioa Of volume, the only requis-
ites being pipe and ample area, VITA
tight Joints and laid with the least pos
sbie number of sharp turns. In min
ing work particularly it has the addi-
tional advantage that, upon exhaustng
from the ,r;lls or other machines used,
1t FURNISHES to the workmen constant
and abundant supply Of pure, fresh, and
cool air, thus IN many cases cbviating
ehe necessity of providing other and e1-
pensive means Of ventilation"
us it applied to other kinds OF work
SUCCESSFULLY"
..Quite so. For, instance, in siRking
bridge caissons; driving tunnels through
soft material by the pneumatic process;
for refrigerating and venhlating pur-
poses; transmitting messages, packages
and passenger cars in pneumatic tubes;
vnlcanizing wood; in the manufacture c6
rubber goods and nitro-glyoerine eIplo-
ives; fo- elevating liquids, purifying
water fox city and town use, driving
street cars, mine locomotives, and for
supplying a very convenient and per
fectly safe motor for running elevators
and factory and shop machinery, The
feasibility of COMPRISING air either by
steam or water power, at any conven-
lent point for economical production, and
then conveying it by iron pipes along
the streets (exactly as gas or water Is
carried), to be tapped and used wherever
required, furnishing power for use IN
towns and cities, has already been prae-
tically demonstrated, and 1t is only u
question Of time when this plan viii be
extensively adopted, owing to its eoon-
omy and nafety. By this system power
may be transmitted to a great distance at
Q comparative small expense.
"At the tunnel being driven for the
Washington, D. c., aqueduct, the COM
pressor plant Is located at o central
point for economical operation, and the
air distributed over distance of five
miles over ground, through ten, twelve
and. six-inch pipe, to the four shafts
where it is received by four, inch pipe
and supplied to the drills, hoisting en-
gines, and pumps. When the tunnel is
completed the air will have been con-
veyed through ten miles Of pipe. This is
the longest distance air has been con-
Quoted, and the loss by friction and radi-
alton does not exceed 2per cent. It can
Just as readily be conducted much
longer distance without higher per-
centage of loss.-New York Mail and Ex-