The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-02
NOTES or ELECTRICAL PROGRESS.

EVERYDAY Is familiar with tho electric fan motor.
which Is one Of the greatest comforts In these
days Of troplcal heat Few realize, however, that this
comfort making machine does not cool the air al all.
II only moves II and makes a breeze which produces
evaporation q, the surface Of the skin and thereby
coois on the ~persplring mortal who happens 10 be In
the path OF the breeze. a new device has Just been
brought forward which will remove this reproach
from the electric fan. as IL actually cools the air as
well as moves II. The machine consists OF an uprght
part. resembling a cylinder stove. on top Of which IL
mounted an electric fan In a tight case. This Is 80
arranged that II draws the air up through the lower
part OF the machine. which Is nlled with ice, aud then
blows II out into the room. not only cooled but In
large measure purlned as well In passing over the
Ice the air Is chilled. depositing Its humidity in the
form Of moisture or dew and leaving behind much Of
Its dust and bacteria Such machines have been In
stalled In a hotel In Boston. where they have given
excellent service. reducing the temperature several
degrees The amount OF cooling. as we'll a. the con-
sumption Of Ice, Is regulated BY the speed OF the fan
motor, which. 10 turn. Is adjustable al will
In the Prusslan Government ~dockyard al Kiei cleo.
triety is to supersede steam power. All the great ma.
chine shopsafe To be electrically driven from a cen.
trail power plant OF a capacity OF $500 horse power,
The same plant will also supply energy for the power
full ~dockyard pumps.
In the plsn,o OF the United Electric Lieh, and Power
/ company OF NcW DIN II sNcdm luIOlnt tNtT
built is about to be installed The normal output Of
the turbine will be $500. horse power. butt II will have
capacity ~sunncent to carry a 5000 horse power load.
The turbine lisa rotary steam engine having neither
plstons nor cylinders. the steam being blown under
pressure in Jets against blades on the circumference
Of the rotating part. These machines have proved
themselves surprisingly efncient and economical.
and are capable OF generating very large power In
small space and weight The famous vessel, Tur-
binis. which broke all established speed records. was
equipped with turbines in lieu Of the ordinary recipro-
eating engine. The new British torpedo destroyer
Wiper. credited with a speed OF t~hirty-SK knots,
Il also a turbine vessel In the new machines men.
toned the speed win be ! 900 revolutions a minute
under 100 pounds steam pressure. The turbine will
be direct. coupled to an alternating current generator
rated at 800 kilowats, or capable of supplying
so. 900 sixteen. candle power incandescent lamps
The largest electric power scheme yet promoted
halls from Port Arthur and Port Williams In Canada.
where the falls Of the Kamlnistiqua River are to be
utilized and no less than 600. 900 horse power de.
veloped. A canal nfteen miles long will be required.
In driving machine tools by electric motors there
has been consider able difference Of opinion as to
whether each tool should have an independent motor
or whether they should be grouped in gan Is OF several
tools, each gang operated by a motor Of medium size.
The former method is, Of course. ideal from the
| points OF view OF convenience and nexibil-
iy and the complete suppression OF betting
and shafting. but the small individual motors
are costly and not 30 encient as the larger motor
Each dde OF this question has been well discussed.
A recent issue OF a German technical paper says
that experience in that country has shown
that. after all. the individual motor Is best The ii.
ference In .fnciency is coun,erbalsnced By the low
economy OF the larger motor when running light asst
often Is. The increased handiness OF the whole plant
practically compensates for It's extra cost. Particu-
lar success has been had with Alternating current
motors OF about two horse power for this purpose, as
these machines have no commutAtors or brushes or
regulating resistance, or other small parts to get ou,
Of order or broken.
Some children At Macon, Mo-. are TO have an eI
pensive but highly instructive toy In the thar OF q
complete miniature trolley line about a mile long
Each car will eight passengers and is
com plete In all detail. including electric lights. The
railway is 10 be located In a private park.
a curious telephone phenomenon has been reported
10 a Belgian scientific society BY N. r. Pitrard. He
found that II a metallic diaphragm II vibrating under
the action Of the human voice. for example and q
platinum point touched a small platinum plate sol
defed TO the middle Of the diaphragm. the apparatus
acted as a telephone transmitter. even II no battery
were employed with II by carefully eliminating all
possibility Of any action analogous To that OF the
string telephone. and by introducing an induction coil
between the t%ransmltter and receiver. the action Of the
apparatus was clearly shown to be electrical. The
only .ouro. Of electricity possible in such an ABBA
ratu, Wa, IN. contac, Of dis,lmil.r metal, a, the point
where IN. platinum disk wa, .oldered to the back OF
IN. diaphragm. Careful Invests. alton showed that
,hI, e,plan.tion solved the mystery. The discovery
Is OF no practical value. except as another means Of
showing the exquisite constituencies Of the telephone
-
A simple and ingenious telephone Sc, for use in
L SrA.AaA laNtaNIAA kaa Ka@sRsN SSp RlazSA ON NJ
market The bell Ringing apparatus and battery are
incosed In a case which can be screwed to the ceiling
or wall and from this the transmitter and receiver.
which are mounted on q hook SHAPED handle so that