The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-17
LIQUID STEAM
IS A SUCCESS.
Given a Test by the New York
Central Railroad Co.
A RIVAL TO COMPRESSED AIR.
Invention Is Based on The Utilization Of Su-
psrhedted Water
GREAT CLAIMS ARE MADE For IT.
II Is Asserted BY Mr.. Prall, The Inventor, That II
Is Superior 10 Compressed Ar-What
Was Accomplished al Test
Invention Is Based on III, Utilization Of Su-
psrhedted Water
GREAT CLAIMS ARE MADE For IT.

New York, June 17.-Liquid steam, a
| discovery made in the development OF
the new motive power, compressed air.
has had public semi-official test on
the Putnam division of the New York
Central railroad, and is declared to be
| a success.
The test was made with the permis-
sion of the New York Central and the
understanding is that large motors will
be built and the new power will be
| tried by the Central for hauling it's
ears through the tunnel under Park
avenue
The experiments were conducted .un-
der the agreement that the Central
should have the privilege of using the
motors II successful for the tunnel, as
Well as for the entire Putnam division,
Liquid steam is the rival of COM
pressed air and is the invention OF w.
Il; Prall He was formerly associated
with Joseph II. Hoadley, who, with
Richard Croker and Joseph Letter, have
undertaken the exploitation of the
compressed air motor
Mr.. Pralls invention is based on the
utilization of superheated water as u
motive power, and he and those inter-
ested with him claim for IL all the
ed air and assert that ii is in many
ways superior.
Henry l.. Sprague OF the law firm of
Setson, Jennings and Russell is the
president OF the Prall company, known
as the Storage Power company.
Another company is forming TO ex-
ploit Mr.. Prall's invention and rival the
Croker-Leiter syndicate. 1t will have
for its obpect the construction of en-
glnes and motors for the use of yachts
and steamships, ears, carriages, trucks
and vehicles of all kinds and TO be
operated by compressed air and super.
heated water, working together or sep
arately
For two months a tall tower has been
building at High Bridge. The tower
was composed of thirty eight-inch pipea
twenty-five feet high. This was the
generator. for charging the tank to sup
ply the motor which was subjected to
the test
A fat car weighing twelve tons was
equipped with the motor and in a run
OF hfteen miles from High Bridge 10
Van Cortlandt and return developed a
speed of 25 miles an hour
superintendent Currier of the Put
nam division, who was present when
the test was made, expressed himself
as highly satisfied with the result.
Mr.. Prall said of his invention: INV
proved method of using compressed air
with view OF obtaining increased ef-
nciency by more perfect method Of
heating IL before il went into the en-
gine. In compressing air power is alb
sorbed, and as a necessary result heat |
is produced. In compressing air for
high pressure such as are required To
store power for motor vehicles the heat |
generated becomes so great that wero |
1t not absorbed or removed it would |
damage the compressor
This cooling lis effected by circulate
ing cold water in Jackets around the
cylinder This heat represents the en- |
tire power stored I'm the air. Unles,
the heat is resupplied TO the air when
IL is run into the motor absolutely no
work can be done.
ITO overcome this difficulty every
system has some means OF heating the
air. Some use hot coils and others a
tank of heated water. In using the
water IL has generally been the prac-
lice To force the compressed air through
the water i'm order 10 heat It,
I'm my system the water is used not
)nly TO heat the air, but is itself raised
TO so high temperature that it con-
tains enough heat to evaporate one
quarter oc It's own volume.
'Heo' .lg the water until II is raised
20 n p' .ssure of 500 pounds TO the
square inch or temperature of 467
legrees viii expand one cub,c inch of
water 10 4f2 cubic inches of team.
These principles are utilized and ad-
'antage is taken Of the high initial
PRESSURE by employing quadruple ex-
,ansion engine, capable OF e.t .nllng
| working fluid more than 210 times.
"I found that | was able 20 use the
water alone without the
air. but now believe that
he best results are to be obtained by |
he use Of compressed air and hot wa
er Jointly"