Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-05
A MOTOR IN EACH HOUSE.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COM
PRESSED AIR SYSTEM
His Observations Abroad, Where Com
pressed Air is Running Machinery.
If Engineer Robert Gillian, of Aldrich

If Engineer Robert Gillian, of Aldrich
court, be correct in his observations, COM
pressed air will shortly be in the field in
opposition to electricity as one of the revo-
lutionizing forces of this century. He has
returned from an extended sojourn in
Paris, where he made thorough study of
the com pressed air system of that metrop-
oils. The stories Mr.. Gillian brings back
border upon the marvellous.
The new dynamic agent, according to
his report, has within an almost incredi-
bly, short time fairly revolutionized many
lines of industry at the gay French CAPT
tai. 1t is at this moment propelling sur
face cars with unequaled ease, furnishing
motive power for a multiplicity of uses,
running 10000 clocks about the city with
absolute simultaneity and preserving meats
of all kinds.
II was simply amazed" said he in talk
ing OF his work, at the progress made in
the application of the comparatively new
science Why, in refrigerator about
fifteen feet square found the bodies of a
man and woman who had lain there thr
teen months, and in both the flesh of the
body and face were in as good condition as
Immediately after death. l was informed
that the bodies were being kept for the
medical university"
One fact of Importance noted by Mr.
Gillian on his visit was the preparation
Paris engineers are making, by means of
compressed air, with view to averting the
terrors of another siege such as was ex-
perienced in 1871. Refrigerator stations
can in an emergency be made to contain
enough food to last Paris for over year
Mr.. Gillian thinks that both the smoke
and steam nusances will be obliterated by
the entertainment of the compressed air
system in every line of dynamic applica-
ton.
IN A CAFE.
Before accepting the invitation of Mr.
Victor Popp to visit the great central sta
tion," said the engineer, my time was &C.
cupied by personal visits to numerous con-
sumers.
AT a very large cafe on Avenue de
POpera | saw some interesting applica-
tions. A twenty-five horse power engine,
which was formerly operated by steam, is
now run by compressed air. The pressure
in the street main at this point registered
six atmospheres. Near the engine in the
pipe is arranged pressure reducing valve,
which can be adjusted to any pressure In
this case the air was reduced from six at
mospheres to four atmosphere. From the
reduction valve the air is conducted to a
small coke radiating device made from
cast iron, eighteen inches in diameter
"The heater is hollow cylinder, having
vertical divisions, the central hollow space
being twelve inches in diameter, with a
small cover on top. Around and outside
this space, in which the coke is burned, is
arranged a series of vertical spaces between
the fire space and the outside shell.
1.-THE air is introduced into this space at
normal temperature of air in street mains,
is carried upward through the first vertical
division of cham Der to the top of the heater
where it passes into second chamber or
division, then downward through this to
the bottom Of heater, where it passes into
the third chamber or division, and thus the
process of leading the air up and down
through the various vertical divisions of
the heater, num- ering ten divisions in this
case, is continued until the air has secured
a greatly increased temperature 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 fire maintained in the
heater.
AIR ENGINES.
''The air is then conducted to the engine,
where it operates exactly as steam. The
engine is connected with dynamo, which
generates all the electricity used in light
ing the premises of one or two neighbors.
Electric accumulators are arranged in an
adjoining room, next the engine room, of
capacity sufficient to furnish light for two
days. In case any failure occurs in the en-
CINE, dynamo or air, light can be provided.
1.-THE exhaust air is taken from the en-
CINE and conducted to a refrigerator of
considerable size, in which are arranged
meats of all kinds, game and vegetables.
The temperature in the refrigerator is
never above 40 dogs. 1t is, however, ar
ranged in two compartments. In one the
temperature is maintained at or about the
freezing point and the other above it.
Il was informed that by increasing the
air pressure and using the same pressure
in the engine as that maintained in the
street main-six atmospheres-he had with
the exhaust air manufactured $50 pounds
of ice per day. Table bottles filed with
water were arranged in order in the refrig-
orator and the water frozen solid, and
when ice water is needed in the cafe they
are placed on the table.
I'm a medical application of compressed
air very elaborate rooms have been ar
ranged by an eminent doctor, who OBJ
served that liver and ear diseases could be
better treated under air pressure up to
one-half an atmosphere. These pneumatic
baths are quite popular.
AIR CLOCKS.
Compressed air is unquestionably q
INV ~, IF
indications and records, because in this ap-
plication the pulsation of a centrally To-
Gated clock can be transmitted to an in
definite number of clocks in different parts
of the city with rapidity and accuracy,
which pulsations aotuate the local clocks
by means of most simple devices. There
are two central pendulum clocks, one in
use; the other is used only in case of acct
dent, and the operating clock.
'.These are operated by means of self
winding gears and weights; thus there is
no possibility of forgetting to tend the CEN
trail clock.
Twice every minute-at twenty seconds
and at sixty seconds-the clock automat-
issilssssaaa9sL attAs syalys communicating
ssith the receiver described, permitting the
disehaxSe of the contained air in the re-
ceiver t0sa pounds. In less than twenty
seconds theeRir thus liberated has reached
10000 clocks, Ad forced upward spsaazI
valve a0&ach cloSk. by which the han6S of