The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-11
A HoRsELEss FIRE ENGINE.
A Machine to Be Tried by the London
Fire Department.
The Automotor.

The Automotor.
Steam fire engines as used up to the pres
ent time have not enabled firemen to COM
pete with fires either effectually or rapidly,
although the volume of the jet is infinitely
more considerable than that of the hand
fire engine.
Unfortunately, too. owing to the crude
methods employed, the working of steam
engine requires unexpectedly not less
than fifteen to eighteen minuteS-to obtain
q full head of steam. Harvesting the
horses, etc. also takes a considerable time
and one must reckon on half an hour at
least between the time the alarm is given
end the engine is ready to work-at least
this is the London experience. With a
petroleum automotor fire engine Qhe first
idea of which is said to be due to Leon
P0rteu lieutenant of the Rennes firemen)
the numerous inconvenience of the steam
engine drawn by horses are considera bly,
some years old, but, thanks to his energy
and perseverance, he has at length sue
motor fire engine which is likely to have a
big future before it. This engine is COM
posed of frame in steel sections. mounted
as usual on wheels, with this difference,
that the front axle is director as with
nearly all the automotor carriages. Behind
the drivers seat is the motor. with four
cylinders of Gambler * Co.'S make placed
longitudinally. The main shaft drives by
means of mitre and bevel wheels an inter-
mediate shaft on which is mounted gear,
snaTt also gears with the pump shaft. The
water for cooling the motor cylinders is
carried IN a tank, ana Wnen the pumps are
running a connection from the pump
former
The power developed by the motor is Bob
horsepower; this projects a stream OF water
the volume OF which is about four hundred
10 i've hundred gallons per minute. under 2
pressure Of a hundred and fifty pounds per
square inch. For igniting the charges in
the motor cylinders. and also for giving a
powerful light on the scene OF the oper L
tons a small storage battery is carried,
which. when charged. suffices for an eighs
hours expedition 1t is easy TO see the great
Fines If kent in perfect condition they can
be set in motion in a few seconds after the
alarm has been given. The starting occupy
Ing but minute or so. the ARRIVAL on tne
sce6le Of the fire can be erected III nItesn
minutes sooner than the most rapid steam
engines. The run can be made at an aver
axe speed of nine to ten miles per hour I'M
mediately on arrival at the scene or tne
lire the vehicle is brought TO standstiIl.
and the motor which has been stopped. SETS
The pumps in motion, and. as soon as tne
hose is unroled and connected with the
water pipes the pumping engine can give OUT
us greatest duty This sort or engine. az
tested by trials. can attack nre twenty
minutes quicker than an ordinary Steam
engine we'll kept and well worked. ms
difference I'm time can in almost every case
prevent an extension of the fire, ana: tnanNs
10 the Porteu system, considerable disasterss
can be avoided in future We commend
this notice TO the London County Council
publicly that there are no efIscient aNto-
motor fire-engines. and make this statemehs
an excuse for the ~Iaissex-faire, ppnNN q
ghe council in The matter or fire prevention.