The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-08-19
VOTES ON SCIENCE AND 1NDUsrRr.

II Ia thought that the recently c~ontrived ap-
paratus called the formenephone. designed
70 trace in air the presence Of any gas having a
different density. will serve an important prac-
tical purpose In the detection Of the quantity OF
coal gas in mines. The construction Of this
instrument is based upon the well-known
acoustic principle that, II two organ pipes Of the
same pitch are sounded simultaneously by
means OF blowers. fed by pure air, q simple
sound is heard. hut II there I've forced through
is thrown into vibrations by means OF =
mixture Of air and gas, the sound OF
the latter pipe is corresIpndinsly modi-
fled. and consequently, when the two pipes are
sounded simultaneously, a certain number OF
interference beats will be heard, depending upon
the quantity OF gas contained in the air with
with which the pine l. fed. The. fnrmenephone,
the apparatus by IN ans OF which this operation
two pipes precisely alike. One 81 the blowers
and it's appropriate pipe Is inclosed y an air
tight box containing pure air, and the 1sacr pipe
is fed ny II mixture OF air and gns. The whole
proceeding involves only a very brief time, per.
haPs "A Few seconds.
in an address before the British Association
Mr.. Bramwei asserts that neither bright iron
nor steel will rust in pure water or pure air.
The presence Of carbonlc acid or some similar
agent seems necessary, although the final prod
uct may be destitute of carbon and even when
oxy gen. moisture, and carbonic acid are all
present. rusting will not take place unless the
moisture cuudensCs on the surface Uf the metal.
When ,ustinR d0cs take place under ordinary
circumstances, the first stage appears to be the
formation % ferrous carbonate. this carbonate
uc.nS next dissolved In c%arbonlc acid water To
inriI. ferrous bical Donate. which latter is
then ~decumposcd in presence OF air and
moisture 10, form .hydrated ferric oxide,
magnetic OK lie being found rs an intermediate
product. IN regard TO the progress OF corrosion,
n poll he'd bar will resist oxidation for u com
n sySr + III d"nS ii, mNs. I Snt once %eef the sT rmst Eas com mn-
mcncrti only n short zine IL required for il. to
cover the whole. bar. One reason assumed for
this Is the fact that M rust electro-positive
to the iron; and II Is partly attributable 70
the nnul product, the hydratcd ferric oxide,
being formed only at the end NJ several inter
mediate stages W the oxidation, and also to its
hydruscopic properties. which favor the absurp-
ttou OF the moisture from the air. In certain
situations other acids besides carbonlC may take
part In the ,orrosion of iron.
The real danger involved in the proposed in
creased speed of railway trains say ninety or
ole hundred miles an hours not, according to
kuniows, In Incidental risks, hut, rather. In the
curves OF the existing lines. which render any
such speed impossible. unless the weight Of the
engines and trains be also increased Ear beyond
what The bridges and permanent way would
bear that Is, nc the first sharp curve, the one
hundrc,I.tniic train would lily uff III" rail. The
necessary relation of these curves to speed il
accurately known. and this 1t Is. and not
the lack OF power. or novel dangers from
wind pressure or boiler explosions, which sets
the limit to mufcrn train speed. Kuhlows fur
ther renarSS that, rs the force tending to throw
of the line u train running at the speed OF loo
miles AN hour would hc about six and II half
times greater than that which u steam ex-
press rain resists at a curve when running at
sixty.tw2 miles an hour. IL Is plain that the
present lines could not he used for the " light
ming express" even though the e~lectro-motOr
were substituted for the steam engine: the lines
must not only be stronger, but strnighter than
would be possible by any notifications OF their
present forms.
The value of heating surface In the fire-box
tubes and smoke box OF n locomotive may. ac-
cording to a recent writer, be considered to di-
minish very nearly proportionately as 1t is re-
moved from the front end, where the fire is
situated, to the smoke box and chimney. Cor
rugated fire boxes are used on the marine type
of boilers, mainly to allow OF expansion and
ventor now proposes to build rectangular loco
motive fire boxes, either Of copper or of mild
without diminishing the CRATE area by means
OF corrugations these to be made quite deep
sheets, the fianges being in n direct line across
the box, so that there shall he no
BY the adoption OF this arrangement the strain
is on a direct line Of rivets. which Join the crown
capacity OF the boiler and an enlarged heating
surface being secured; the side sheets are CORFU
tERe crown ON ws sheet S% and M reduced to SrS Sot thin Rv al o n
near the CRATE bars, the, end accomplished by
this means being that OF an increased heating
surface without loss of CRATE area.
According to the reports made from different
quarters the paper tires for bicycles rs made at
present are acknowledged To possess some de-
cided advantages as compared with the rubber
article, proving fully as substantial and elastic,
ingredients being put into the paper stock to in
sure the requisite elasticity. durability, and
firmness. The method of drawing out a paper
tube, whether II be the size needed to circle
around a bicycle wheel or something smaller,
and well known to manufacturers Of paper. In
this new application the uniting OF the two
simple method. one end being enlarged and
shaved Off on the interior for several inches,
put into the other half. and IA special adhering
glutinous substance Is used in making the joint
ployed in place OF interior Innings and air. and is
forced into the hollow of the tube before the
nn, ion, !. I'M made de, a S special y u inisstrgmeRwS b Sein th si SeSs:
of a rubber tire H. two seasons, as many as five
are claimed for those made o. paper: Il Is ar
gued, too. that thousands of bicycles which are
now supplied with hard or cushioned tires be-
cause, Of the expense OF pneumatic. and which
would be fitted with pneumRttcs II a cheap and
dura BILE one were available, will md the paper
tire To I'LL the need.
Something Of an industry has been established
In Italy In the production Of fuel bricks of crude
petroleum., the size and form being similar To
the coal briQuettes extensively used in France
and Germany. The mixture is made in the pro-
portion Of one liter OF petroleum, 10 per cent. of
resin, $50 grammes OF powdered soap, and 333
grammes OF caustic soda. The mixture Is heated
and stirred a, the same time. Solidincation be-
gins in about ten minutes, and the operation Is
then watched with special care. II there Is a
tendency TO remain liquid, IA little. more soda Is
added. the mixture being stirred continuously
until the mass becomes nearly solid. After this,
the thin paste IL poured into the moulds, these
being placed for ten or fifteen minutes in a dry
ing stove, the briquettes are then cooled. and are
ready for use in "A few hours. As a matter 81
economy. AS well rs 10 insure greater ~solidity,
the addition OF 20 per cent. of wood sawdust and
20 per cent. of clay or sand Is practised In some
cases. The advantages of these for marine use,
as compared with coal, are the absence of smoke
and a large reduction in the bulk OF fuel which
must be carried.