The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-01
NEW IDEA
In Air Motors is
Advanced.
MERRILL E. CLARK
Advocates Use of Brake
Energy for Compression.


business men listened attentively to a
Lecture in Board of Trade hall last eve
hlng on Compressed air as motive
force, delivered by Merrill E. Clark
of the Worcester Manufactur-
ing Company. The lecture was illus
trated by numerous diagrams, and the
lecturer showed by his exposition Of
the subject that he had given it his
careful study, and that he was familiar
with and had confidence in compressed
ar as the coming motive power.
President Irving E. Comins and MANY
members of the Board of Trade were
among the audience, and at the con
clusion of the lecture asked many
questions, which showed that the sub
Ject is interesting the business men
ana capitalists of the CITY. In tha
course OF his remarks, Mr.. Clark said.
That there is weight and force in
air, is best illustrated by
Inc ract that a cubic foot of air as
contemplated for use in the high pres
sure storage system, weighs about 10
pounds, and exerts an influence on ire
SURFACE OF something over two mil
hon pounds pressure If used in a
dynamlte gun it would throw a shell
several miles, the longest distance re-
corded being about ten miles.
compressed air is a strong competitor
Tor 1lrst place in transmission of mower
Electricity is but a transmission with
room Tor Improvement. AT the Hoosac
TUNER compressed air was used dur
ing long period. 1t was here that the
compressed air rock drill was first in
pna
largest compressed air plant in
america is at the Calumet and
Hecla mines, in Michigan, where the
ar is used at moderate pressure very
successfully. Compressed air was used
quite extensively in the excavations
under the river at Hell Gate and in
laying the foundations of the BroolSlvn
bridge. =
Nearly every successful installation
oI compressed air for mechanical pur-
poses is where the compression is car
ried to the working pressure only. This
is the case at Baldwin locomotive
works, Cramps shipyards and numer-
Gus other industries, where the use of
compressed air is daily increasing in
volume and variety of work The prac-
tlcal use of compressed air in operating
pneumatic tools is demonstrated in
worcester, as we'll as other leading.
cities. Compressed air adapts itself
readily to all the various demands of
elevator service, and is worthy of care
ful consideration. One very notable
and successful system of compressed
ar transmission is the Papp system,
established at Vienna and Paris SAout
1870. This system was first introduced
TO regulate clocks. It's adaptability TO
other uses soon enlarged its sphere of
operation, until now there are many
thousands of air motors, or engines.
varying from one-quarter to fifty horse
power, operated by this system. Re-
port says the proprietors are about to
make extensive additions. The air is
carried through the streets in large
mains, and delivered by a system sim
liar to our water and gas.
The air pressure has always been
kept within 100 pounds to the square
inch. Those desiring to use the air in
the most economical manner reheat it.
thereby increasing its efficiency very
largely. The heaters used vary from
small cast iron cylinders to boiler plan. s
formerly operated by steam. This en-
terprise has proven a financial success
from its early beginning.
Compressed air is not only a com
petitor in transmission, but has a field
of its own, where electricity is not
practical, at least in any present ap-
plication. One very prominent and
practical application is the caisson
used for excavations under water, not
only is the water excluded but soft
material is expelled through tubes
with properly-arranged valves, to pre-
vent the escape of air when the mate
rial is exhausted
The cleaning of cars or coaches is
effected very successfully by a Jet of
air from a suitable nozzle. The dyna-
mite gun is operated the most success
fully in throwing high explosives with
this agent. We cannot only sink our
enemies ships but raise them after
ward, if enough 10 left to make it
worth the effort.
The air brake is becoming more nee
essary for complete control of street
cars. Railway commissioners have
taken this matter in hand, recogniz-
ing that the increasing weight and
sped of street cars demand something
more effectual than the crank and
chain mechanism, whereby not only
the skill but disposition of the motor
man finds ample opportunity for ex-
preston.
In 1890 the Mekarski system was in
troduced at Berne, Switzerland. Here
the air was compressed to 400 pounds
to the square inch, the cars having a
60 feet being necessary to make the
trip of nearly five miles. About three
years ago the Rand Drill Company of
New York introduced the Mekarslxi
system at Westfield, Mass. Two cars
We're operated for several months. The
air pressure here was advanced to $50
pounds to the square inch. Hot water
tanks were carried on the front plat
form for the purpose OF relocating the
air on its way to the motors. Within
few years several companies have
been organized to introduce compressed
air upon street cars on the storage
plan in the city of New York. A large
stride forward over the original Me-
karski system has been made. I'M
proved motors and means for operat
ing them have been introduced. The
hot water tank has been transferred
to the under side of the car, and the
operating mechanism resembles very
much that used upon electric cars.
The production of what is known as
the Manesmann tubes, or steel bot
ties, has made it possible to again ad
vance the air pressure from $50 to $500
pounds per square inch. The air is
now compressed in what is known as
the three stage compression. First to
moderate pressure, then to higher
pressure and finally to the full storage
pressure. The air cylinders are pro-
vided with water jackets, and inter
coolers are arranged at the several
stages whereby a flow of cold water
is kept up to relieve the air as II
passes through them, of the heat gen
Grated during compression.
This heat which represents a large
part of the work pf fha nOf11nraeoinr is