New-York tribune., 1900-07-01

air and water do, and it cannot actuate safety
ooor' even to a small extent at the wrong time
II either does or does not work. The appara tus
thar utilizes electricity is more simple too in
us character. And, finally, the work which an
electric motor is capable of performing in emer-
sehcy Is not limited by its nominal horsepower.
TOT few seconds its ouput may be five or ten
uInes as great. This, Of course, is an immense
advantage
Al hrst these arguments were more or less
theoretical You can never tell how even the
'iiosI beautiful of inventions are going 10 work
uh'H you try them. Consequently practical
TEST was undertaken. An experimental door was
constructed at the Brooklyn yard last year and
subjected to long and thorough series of trials
Inc result was so satisfactory that the Depart
i.'I1' d " washington authorized the Introduction
OF Two Of Mr- BowIes's doors on the Atlanta
These were put in about six months ago and
"heh they have been in service long enough to
develop Unforeseen defects. if there are anv to
De developed II viii be feasible to determine
"hetheT more extensive application of the sys-
1eIl IS wise In the mean time il is obvious that
-le invention is of as great value to the rner-
0Haht marine as 10 the Navy. and the transatlau-
IL 9NealIship companies are showing a lively
interest IN the matter Already one of these
electric doors has been built for the ST Paul and
"hen she lies of for repairs this month the
device viii be installed A model Of AIr BowIes's
apparatus has been placed on exhibition in the
ar Material Building al Paris
BY a suitable arrangement of connecting wires
MI Bowles makes it possible for an officer on
the bridge or elsewhere 10 operate these safety
doors singIy or il groups at any distance It is
as easy, by means OF a push button, 10 switch a
current into half dozen motors at once as into
one Beside the button is a tiny lamp which
indicates TO the officer the condition OF the door
So long as the latter is partially entirely open
the current VIII fow through the lamp and keep
It agIow. When the door is closed the current
IS automatically cut off and the lamp goes out
It is thus shown that the door is shut.
The wiring IS so arranged. by the way. that if
man wants TO go through a door he can open
and close il by hand, and thus automatically
disconnect the deck. Local control takes prece-
dence over the emergency service. But when the
man has executed his commission the electric.
connection IS automatically restored. No care
lessness his part Will interfere with the work
Ing Of the system. Indicators and push buttons
may be established at different parts Of the shin
TO facilitate operations at q critical time
The time required 10 close a door with this
apparatus varies according to circumstances
L ranges from ten seconds 10 a minute and q
half. With . foot of coal on the sill the door has
been shut IL & minute and twenty-five seconds.
With less obstruction nine seconds have suf-
feed Il has been demonstrated that neither
ccaI nor 4 rush Of water and coal viii prevent
the operation Of the mechanism. Wooden boxes
and paper have also been interposeG in vain.
The motor employed has nominal capacity of
one horsepower but il can develop much more if
necessary The doors may be closed sinEly OF
together. or in rapid succession. They will stay
ii any desired position without the expenditure
OF further power. They cannot creep" The
mechanism IS not affected by changes Of tenn
perature. In short. after many severe tests it
seems TO meet all Of the requirements which
have been prescribed by experts for a thoroughly
serviceabIe door.