The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-19
IN THE ELECTRICAL World.
Lighting OF Trains md Other Advances In
the Wonderful Science.


The electric lighting Of railway trains is re-
cevinz considerable attention at present. and
1. is predicted that progress in that direction
will lie rapid and substantial within q few
years Three systems have been tried direct
driving OF dynamos by small engines: dis
charge from nccumulators without engines or
dynamos: driving OF dynamos by connections
with the aXles OF trucks. The first method has
received the most attention In this country.
Tho bugie truck is used here exclusively. and
attempts to drive dynamos by connections
with it have failed because no provision was
made for maintaining the armature shaft and
axle parallel at ell angles Of the truck.
and because sand and dirt damaged tho mech
anism under the car The problem has not
been al andonei |. however. Trials under the
fist system have been successful to a certain
extent In England the rigid wheel base Is
used and the third system seems to DO the
most promising there. according to a compe-
tent authority. Accumulators are necessary
to suIpy the lights MT only whilo the train Is
at rest. but when it Il running at a speed too
slow to drive the dynamos at a useful voltage.
The difficulties are peculiar and the mechan-
icaI and clectr cal details are com picat-d. and.
as 1t ia said that the light presents no advan-
tages to passengers. the whole thing Is simply o
question OF relative cost.
varying success. Until recently the failures
wer. due to the insufficient capacities of the
batteries and tho deterioration OF the batter
les. 1t is said. improved methods Of manu- ac-
tUre and moro Intelligent care In handling
have. to q great eXtent, overcome objections
and increased the life VI a battery. Operations
under the arst system have been improved
gradually In this country during the past Two
years. vertical single.str1ke engine In the
by u tnree-cy lind or recl rocating en- zine with
thiee-inch c, lind trs and four-inch 'troIe. Tha
iron ed Plate umd steam is furnished by tho
locomotive. Batteries are used IN connection
WITH the dynamo. eacn cnr having thi'ty-tw?
lamps Tor a slx.ra train is l72. and the wiring
Is arrange 10 that the batteries will supply
dynamo . broken. Running the dynamo ny
Connection vita the axle OF the truck Is con-
believe that relianle connection with tho
boge truck will he made within year.
IN. use OF ELECTRIC lights in searching for
tne Austrian Medical suryce under conditions
woud d' Occur n in actual Warfare The Value .a a
pnwe:f9l search llEnta has been proved IN
onen ground. In a.; experiments reFerrel to
the soldiers carried knapsacks containing
electric lanterns ied 10y storage batteries.
applications Of the, use Of. electricity. in,
Gu, met Of the usual size OF vnpor Lntns the
body is enclosed exc, pt tho head The inrnn-
de.cen, lam.s are arranged IN sroups around
lsltt |. ref cted by the polished nickel sides Of
the caiuet. In the an tie temperature Of
put ent il raise t. l4S' in ten minutes and
Inc erleet q the strong light /. t., brown the
SIX n ~ II 1t had been expo ed to the sun. 1t
Il said that the effects q the light and yanor
aths com nincd are without the usual d"prsss-
ing efIec, Of the Va. or oath alone Ii has uean
suggested a!so that the summer girl. after re-
turning from the 'uutfy. can utilize tine light
BATH in tanning her shoulder. to corres p md
IN shade. thu line If contrast having been OBJ
jectonR' lie heretofore.
I'll latest electric launch Is ore ated by tho
motive power OF srventy-Pight Storage Gel lis,
mni,r the soat. AMI floor. and u four-horse
! over motor tnat Gun be increased to tweye.
horse power on u stretch. Her length is "a
ieet ten 9 feet. irauEht ~ inches shc can
carr twenty-five to thirty pass"ngors. and
she j. Intended or the pas eager trnIilc on the
enclosed waters OF the Worlds Fair.
In new form Of resistance q very fine wire
is laid on an iron sheet and ho.d thereto ty y
re,, ptlrn and OF iad,atng surface com med
is en- nous, it IA reported. 1t can he adapted
Tor m,tor rho stats. street cars stage regula-
tors iiatirons. heaters. and small kettles.