Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-12
of the engineering plant of Columt
versity. New York.
Mr.. AIden's Theme.

a paper by George ]. Alden of Worcester.
Mass. The plunger is an elevator operated
with hydraulic power through the medium
Of a piston and cylinder as long as the
run of the car. this piston supporting the
car from below and extending into the CYL
inder which is sunk in the ground Mr.
Alden said:
elevator. is we'll known. As a passenger
elevator for short runs 1t has been used
more or less for some time, both in this
country and in Europe. 1t has always been
characterized as safe, durable and eco
nomical machine. but 1t has generally been
assumed that it had limitations which pre-
vented 1t from meeting the requirements
for passenger service. except for short
runs ard slow speeds. The suggestion of
IT'S use as high-speed passenger elevator
would until recently have been regarded
as indicating serious misconception of its
possibilities
indicate that the piunger elevator is a sat-
lSlactory solution of one of the most inn
portant engineering problems connected
with the special and complicated equipment
OIL modern office building"
Describes Construction,
MI Alden described the construction of
Ihe operating machinery. The plunger is
Hade or steel tubing. which is Strengthened
turned to uniform size and polished. The
sections are united by a special joint This
Joint has a strength to resist cross-breaking
or buckling fully equal to the strength of
the piunger at cross section between the
joints. The top end of the plunger is fang
ed into steel casting, which is securely
po'ed TO steel platen, which in turn is
elevators a rod or, better a loop of gal
Vanized wire rope passing inside the
piunser has an independent connection with
the car, which would securely attach the
weight of the plunger to the car if the reg
uiar fastening should fail.
In conclusion Mr.. Alden said:
III an analysis of the fatal accidents due
70 failure of elevators should be made, and
the cause Of each accident determined, and
II IL We're considered what would have hap
pened II, with no other change in condi-
lions. plunger elevator. as at present con-
structed. had been in use at the time of
the accident. I venture to suggest that it
would be difficult to escape the conclusion
that the accident would in nearly every
case, have been avoided.
The EssentfaIs.
The modern office building must, from
its height and weight, be constructed in a
very thorough and substantial manner.
Often II Is enthusiastically beautiful, and no
expense is spared to secure the best ma
terial and most elaborate ornamenIation.
1t IS built to attract tenants, and to com
pete with other buildings in giving its occu-
pants comfort, safety and convenience.
Nothing is more essential to the physical
safety and the mental comfort Of those
who are obliged to use the elevators sew
eral times a day than that these elevators
should be the safest it is possible to make,
and that they should also be of such sub
stantial appearance and such smooth and
quiet motion as inevitably TO impress the
passenger with a sense Of security. Too
often the elevators are a secondary con-
sheraton Money is spent IayshIy on
~ NJ hos 1lar
Gus snowy architectu features and when
II comes TO the means of safe and quick
access to the offices and stores there is
thought to be only money enough left 10
pay for the cheapest elevators. This prac-
tice is. however, being slowly bandoned,
FOR two reasons: First, it proves in a few
years to have been the most costly method
and. second, tenants are becoming more
regarding the relative merits of
different elevators, and more strenuous in
their demands for the best. Thu successful
renting of large office buildings or apart
ment houses is aided by having type Of
elevator that has good record"
Address by Mr.. Pratt
MT. tharles X. Pratt of Montclair, n. J.,
followed with paper on Elevator He
said:
There is little to interest the engineer in
the early history of elevators. Virtruvius
describes elevator built by Archimedes
,236 B-CD, operated by man-power applied
to a capstan revolving drum on which
the hosting ropes We're wound. Very little
advance in the art was made from that
time until George II. Fox & Co. of Boston
Dulit W0rm-gear elevator, in 1880 That
his vertical form of railway did not follow
he advance of horizontal RAILWAYS is of
course. due to lack of demand for that
lass Of transportation during the early
application of steam power. LocaliZation
II commerce has filed its great centers of
llStrlDution with merchants and merchan-
Use to an extent that has added story upon |
story 10 our buildings until primitive hoist
ng apparatus and stairways can no longer |
accommodate this vertical traffic.
Means for raising freight or passengers
lare always been adequate TO the demands
II the times, and the elevator engineer has
never hesitdted for ar instant to furnish |
greater speed, travel or lifting capacity |
when called upon to do so. Mechanical |
with line shafting. direct-con-
lecteI steam hosting engines hydraulic or |
electric hosting machines operated by iso- |
ated plant or from outside source of power |
are all capable of operating elevator cars
II any desired speed or load with perfect
safety and comfort
Too Many Types.
There are. however, so much elaborate |
md Interesting detail in an elevator sys-
lem. and such Il variety of types, as to
merit the consideration of this society. es-
'eeialy as there is very little literature.
aside. alas, from voluminous amount of
'ituperous and Improbable discussions, up
IN this subject Let me state at the begin
ling that no treatise on elevators can be
written in the space permitted in a paper
before this society; there are too MANY
different types"
Mr.. Pratt gave an interesting account of
The evoiVement of the present type of the
electric elevators. with a description of the
iariOus safety appliances.
Other papers presented prior to adjourn
ncnt We're:
The Allen Valve for Locomotives" by
:. H. Quereau. Denver. Col.
"A New System of Valves for Steam En-
sines, Air Engines and Compressors' by
Fred. W. Gordon. Philadelphia, Pa