Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-01
THE POWER OF AIR.
In Compressed Form 1t Is Already a
Rival of Electricity. y
APPLICATIONS OF 1T In PARIS.
Machinery and Railway Cars Run by It,and
Clocks Regulated
OTHER WONDERS OF THE NEW SCIENCE,

his observations compressed air will shortly
he in the field in opposition to electricity
as one of the revOlutionizing forces of this
century. He has Just returned from an ex,
tended soiourn in Paris, where he made 8
thorough study of the compressed air sys.
TEN of that metropolis.
The stories that Mr.. Gillham brings back
border upon the marvellous. The new DIV.
mamie agent, according to his report, has
within an almost incredibly short time
fairly reyolutionized many lines of industry
in the gay French capital 1t is at this
moment propelling surface cars with un-
eoualed ease, furnishing motive power for
a multiplicity of uses running 10, 900 clocks
with absolute simultaneity and preserving
meats of all kinds.
Of the multiplied uses to which the inge-
uious and inventive Frenchmen have ap-
piled compressed air, and of the develop
ment thew have made in means of creating
and distributing it, Mr.. Gillham speaks as
an enthusiast
WONDERS OF THE SCIENCE.
Il was simply amazed, y said he in talk
ing Of his work, sat the progress made in
the application OF the comparatively new
science Why, in a refrigerator about Is
feet square [ found the bodies of man and
woman who had lain there Is months, and
in both the flesh OF the body and face were
in rs good condition as Immediately after
death. [ was informed that the bodies were
being kept for the medical university"
One fact of importance noted bv Mr.. Gill
ham on his visit was the preparation Paris
engineers are making by means of COM
pressed air with a view to averting the ter
7ors of another seige such as was expert
enced in 1871. Refrigerator sta ions can in
an emergency be made to contain enough
food to last Paris for over year.
Before accepting the invitation of Mr..
Victor Popp to visit the great central sta
tion, - said the engineer, ''my time was Oc-
cupied by personal visits to numerous con-
sunerS. with the view of discovering the
various uses of compressed air in Paris, its
advantages and disadvantages, and
especially to learn how the consumers felt
regarding its use after having much eX-
perience with 1t.
ENGINES RUN BY AIR.
AT a yerv large cafe on Avenue de
loDera / saw some interesting applications.
A p horsepower engine, which was for
mCrlv operated by steam, is now run by
compressed air. The pressure in the street
main at this point registered six atmos-
l.hereS. Near the engine in the pipe is ar
ranged a pressure-reducing valve, which
can be adjusted to any pressure. In this
case The air was reduced from six atmos-
yhercs TO four atmospheres From the re-
GJction valve the air is conducted to small
coke radiating device made from cast-iron,
is inches in diameter.
The heater is a hollow cylinder, having
vertical divisions the central hollow space
being L inches in diameter, with small
cover on top. Around and outside this
space in which the coke is burnt, is ar
ranged a series of vertical spaces between
the fire space and tile outside she'll.
The air is introduced into this space at
normal temperature OF air in the street
mains, Is carried upward through the first
vertical division or chamber TO the top of
the heater, where it passes into a second
chamber or division, then downward
through this to the bottom of the heater,
where it passes into the third chamber or
division, and thus the process of leading the
air up and down through the various verti-
cal divisions of the heater, numbering ten
divisions in this case, is continued until the
air has secured a greatly increased tempera-
ture, due to contact with the interior heated
surface of the divisions or chambers OF the
heater, the degree Of temperature depending
upon the character Of the fire maintained in
The heater.
THE MODE OF OPERATION.
f'The air is then conducted TO the engine,
where il operates exactly as steam. The
crgiIe Is connecIed with a dynamo, which
generates all the electricity used in lighting
the premises of one or two neighbors. Elec-
Jric accumulators are ar. anged in an adioin-
ing room next the engine room of capacity
sufficient to furnish light for two days. In
ease anv failure occurs in the engine, dyn-
amo or air light can be provided.
The exhaust air is taken from the engine
and conducted to a refrigerator of consider
able size, in which are arranged meats of all
kinds, game and vegetables. The tempera-
lure in the refrigerator is never above 400.
it is however, arranged in two compart-
ments. In one the temperature is main
tanned at or near the freezing point and the
other above il.
4 was informed that bv increasing the
air pressure and using the same pressure in
the engine as that maintained in the street
IIain-siI atmospheres-he had with the
exhaust air manufactured 80 pounds of ice
per day. Table bottles filled with water
were arranged in order in the refrigerator
and the water frozen solid, and whep ice
water Is needed in the cafe they are placed
on the table. Here is list of the various
applications Of compressed air IN the city
of Paris:
APPLICATIONS OF THE AIR.
Force-40I motors, representing ,s37 horse
power and l, IO8 kIlogrameters.
Reirigerators and cold rooms-1s5 horse
power.
Electricitv-I7,5 $50 incandescent lamps and
so arc lamps.
Clock service-About l001O clocks.
Canalized public roads for distribution of
,i,- T,-1,- I Of
pipes, 125 miles. Up to April !, 1891, there is
pressed air for power purposes of 60 miles
and for clock service 65 miles.
Motive Power-Medical applications. air
baths, medical electricity, electric light
dental apparatus. elevators, grinders, pipes,
raising Of liquids manipulation of wines and
drawing OF beer wringing machines, sewing
1Hschines. en- Dr0lderv machines, machines
for hashing meats etc, ice machines, saws,
CTinCstones. printing and press machines,
circular SAWS for ivory, cabinet making,
marble, etc. Lathes-Saw. polish
in" lathe, repulsinE lathe. crystal lathe, cork
lathc, mearschaum manufacturing and bill
lizard balls, etc.
ing machine. tapping machines, card boards,
machines clipping machines,
furnace blowing pump. paper wafers, stitch
ing rachine. g1aveiing machines, conee-
burning machines. lace-Inaking machines, |
steam pumps, gliding machines, niCkeilng |
lnachiaes, umbrellas, chains, boring !
lpaCHiu-s, cleansing machines, weaving |
Dill press, seltZer-water machines, |
nlvcrsisellents coffee grinders. copper !
,Eith's works, transmission OF teiegrams, |
combs, cylinder manufacturing, stamping, |
sTL.ue. caTding. etc
RcCrige:at!or. Ventilation and Cold Rooms |
p. eservatioB of the dead, ierCtherapy, |
,.seat ,f'l-trIticu. etc.
ioesrioit1-Municipal service, electric |