The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-25

eighth street. in which Is the plant where
the anhydrous ammonia will be prepared
and the cars charged Herewith.
The invention is based on the principle
of the evaporation of anhydrous ammonia.
which Is simply ammonia containing no
water. AS the liquid is evaporated, the
pressure of the gas operates the piston Of
an engine placed under an ordinary street
car.
p. j. Mcmahon, who Is experimenting
the work of construction at the eOmpany's
plant in West Twenty-eighth street, gave
me this description of how the ammonia is
prepared:
Ordinary aqueous ammonia is whitish
liquid. containing about 10 per cent of water
and 30 per cent ammonia. a quantity of
this fluid Is placed liz solution boiler or
still and is heated. AT temperature of 122
degrees Fahrenheit the ammonia leaves the
solution as gas and passes through con-
densing coils over which very cold water Is
sprayed.
In these coils the gas Is condensed and
passes of into heavy tank. This is how
anhydrous ammonia is obtained. The fluid
is volatile and has to be subjected TO press
ure to be kept in its fluid state. Its boiling
point under atmospheric pressure is 3SH
degrees Fahrenheit below zero At tenn
perature of so degrees Fahrenheit it exerts
pressure OF nearly 100 pounds 10 the square
inch. With each increase OF one degree the
pressure is increased little less than two
pounds for each square inch.
1.-The motor machinery of each ear con-
slsts or an ordinary small engine and
tank, inside or which is an ammonia reser-
vor of great strength. This apparatus is
placed under the car, between the wheels.
The car is run into the house alongside the
solution boiler, where the outer tank is
charged with the weakened aqueous am
m0nia left in the solution boiler after the
ammonia had been expelled. Then the
inner reservoir under the car is charged with
the anhydrous ammonia at a temperature of
80 deg.
From this reservoir" continued Mr.. Nc
Mahon, "a pressure-pipe leads to the en-
CINE. An eXhaust-pipe leads into the bot
tom OF the solution in the outer tank,
where the exhaust gas is immediately
absorbed. The latent heat OF the gas is
given cut Ia the absorbing liquid, and this
heat being transmitted through tie metallic.
sides of the reservoir keeps the ahhydrcus
ammonia at the temperature at which il
will exert sufficient pressure TO run the en-
CINE.
when the energy Of the charge in the.
reservoir has been expended the contents
OF the outer tank viii have become a saiu-
rated solution OF aqua ammonia. This Is
withdrawn when the car is recharged aud
the ammonia is again separated therefrOm
Thus the material is used over and over
again.
This power can be used for almost any
purpose. but it is peculiarly adapted to the.
propulsion of street cars. Each car caa
nave lis own motive power or one may BE-
equipped to draw number Of ordinary
streetcars.
Zone motor now liz course of construc-
ton In BROOKLYN" said Mr. McMahon
will be finished on Saturday. We hope 10
| have everything ready 10 give the public
practical demonstration during Christmas
| week."
Mr.. Mcmahon was chief engineer on the
Nemaskac in the United States navy dur
| ing the civil war.
Henry Graham, secretary Of the Railway
Ammonia Motor Company, which is the
name OF the new organization, told me the
| exclusive right had been purchased to oper-
ate the system in New England, aud in five
OF the Middle States, including all right Of
anufacture and sale of machinery and
equipment to street railway companies
The original owner of the patent is the
Standard Fireess Engine Company of Iii
| n0lS.
An ammonia motor has been operated in
Jackson Park, Chicago.
Joseph Gardam, an expert engineer OF the
hrm OF William Gardam s. Son of 9S John
| street. investigated the operation of this
motor, which is known as the Mcmahon
motor. Mr. Gardam reported that the me.
| chanical and chemical principles on which
the invention was based were correct.
Tests OF the ammonia motor have been
made also IN Manchester. England. a COM
pany. was told, is now organizing in that
city TO operate On an extensive scale.
The motor is to be used by the Broadway
cablP-ilne in moving cars in and cut of the
building at Fiftieth street.