Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-03

molecules to their former axis Of arrange
ment.
Experiments with the Rasor.
But rest from vibration is not remedy |
that can be applied to bridges and machinery |
and tall buildings. To effect anything in |
the nature OF useful discovery the expert |
menter must find something that will either |
prevent crystallization or rapidly destroy it |
where 1t has set in.
Faelli got possession OF the Pavia BARRIERS |
unruly razor and took 1t home with him for
series of experiments. For long weeks he
worked by the aid Of the vibrations of tun-
ing forks to destroy capitalization and also
to set it UP in fresh steel. His efforts met
with but slender success until finally he
bethought himself of the possibilities of cleo
tricity in the matter
He tried an electrical current trayersing
solenoid placed around the tired razor"
the current being controlled by the inter-
calation OF a tuning fork. In moment he
realized that discovery was made On
trying the razor he found It In a relatively
| good condition for its ordinary work. This
was proof that the capitalization had
been partially nulifed. But work as he
might with his solenoid he did not reach
| complete success. His solenoid was one of
| perfect tubal curve.
| He was about to abandon the undertaking
In despair when 1t occurred to him to try
an interrupted spiral curve
| solenoid, the coil OF which rolls steadily
In one direction, carries votative electrical
| current running In an unchanging course
| and symmetricaly magnetizng any soft iron
that may be placed in its center. A soen-
old, on the contrary, whose curve is inter-
| rupted, carries a current which changes
with the frequency Of the Interruptions and
| has peculiar effects on metal placed within
| it. 1t induces in the metal independently
Of the extreme poles. as many Interior poles
as there are alterations in the COIL These
| alterations are called by electricians CON
secutive points" They are alternately of
opposite electrical denominations, and these
at the extremity are of the same or Of con-
trary denominations according as the num-
ber Of alterations was odd or even./
One Of these coils placed around his razor
gave perfect satisfaction to the experiment
ing Italian, and he saw that his discovery
was complete.
His Electrical Theory.
He perceived that steel and wrought iron
must have a normal node of molecular vi
bration to retain their utilitaran proper
erties-tenacity, resistance etc., and that
another node Of vibration produced crystal
| lLdliou, VI d segregation OF Inc atomic
masses with little or no cohesion.
Over and over again he repeated his ex-
perimenting, inducing crystalization into
the razor by means of tuning forks, and re-
storing the lost qualities of the steel by the
combination Of the tuning fork with the
interrupted curved solenoid.
| Then he went abroad and tried his discov-
cry on railway bridge. With his hammer
he tried the steel rods until he found one
which under the stroke yielded brittle
note and so gave evidence OF unsoundness.
His combination solenoid restored it to its
true metallic ring, and his efforts to smash
1t were unavailing.
There wae no defect in his discovery and
he at once began to study the best means OF
it's practical application.
He proposes soon visiting the United
States to have it taken up on a large scale
The adoption of it. he states. will prove ar
immense economy, independently of the fac
that it will preclude serious disasters.
The point of crystallization of steel roc
is at its center of chief vibration, and thl
Is generally its point of crossing with othe
| rods or it's center of unsupported weight
, The coil will only be neefeda at this point.
!, The practical meaning Of the discovery |
that on the Brooklyn bridge, for instance. in
stead Of perpetually trying and replacing tn
d steel rods and bars it will be sufficient t
8 run a slight coil of wire round the cente
v joints and to establish an electric curren
8 in these coils by connecting them with tn
9 lighting power of the bridge
e For lofty buildings into which steel largel
j. enters, and for ordinary mechanical machin
FL cry, the device can be applied withou
e trouble.
Signor Faelli is sure to be greeted b
,r American scientists with all the enthusiasts
Is and encouragement which they lavish o
re those who do great things for the progres
y of civilization.
s. What American Engineers Think.
II William Kent M. E., associate editor {
= the Engineering News. was asked for h
10 opinion concerning Signor Faellis discover
- Of q method for counteracting crystallizatio
of steel. Mr.. Kent said:
~ 81 am not acquainted with Signor Faell
40 but his invention is certainly within tt
~ ~ bounds of possibility. 1t is so very simp
~ that a trial could easily be made of it. Whe
he comes to this country ! could suggei
several very interesting experiments whio
es he could make with his process. If It is a
ee he claims for it 1t will be Of the utmost in
g. portance."
ct Frederick Hobart. associate editor Of Il
en- Engineering and Mining Journal, express'
r himself In almost precisely the same tern
tn as Mr.. Kent. He did not think it impossib
OF and is very desrous OF seeing 1t tried, b
er cause, as he said. IL its principle was a tr
nc one 1t would have wide application in Il
nd Industrial arts. He suggested obtaining t
'ly opinion Of the engineering department
Columbia university
II How Bridges Collapse.
on This was done A Columbia professor W
ba would not allow his name to be mentione
ba however, said that the phenomenon OF cry
a. tailization was one which was the subject
~. a great deal of painstaking study on the pa
= of the iron constructors. He pointed out
Zoo great disasters of the Tay bridge In Sct
20. land and the Ashtabula bridge in Ohio as
nm stances of how important 1t is that no fla
,n be present in bridge work. That each
a. these was due to some such effect was U
~ doubtedly true. and that the constructors
ion each of the bridges thought so themselN
tha was evinced by the remarkable coincideI
noI that each of them committed suicide sc
III, after the two disasters took place,
ar But he said, in the first place, that
rho large iron contract should be carried throu
90 unless the contractor was perfectly sure