The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1902-12-26
Compressed Air Is = 1raus-
portatinn Agent.

The Scientific American contains
in it's special Transportation num-
Der an article by Mr.. Walden Fawcett
on<cumpressed air locomotives from
which thesfollowing has been taken:
"ANith a more extensive use Of COM
pressed air for power PURPOSES has
tcome a corresponding broadening: Of
the scope of its employment as a trans
portation agent, and indeed it has
been conclusiyely proven that pneE-
matte traction has Observation-Disclosures
over all other forms Of mechanical
haulage for a large variety Of opera
tions. Prominent among. these are
the various. phases Of haulage. For
coal mines where~there is danger from
mine gas its utilization is almost essen
tial. whereas the advantages which
commend its employment insnpn-gase-
GUS mines are almost as potent. A
rather unique field has been opened
by the introduction Of compressed air
locomotives in railway tunnels, where
the smoke, vapor and gas from steam
locemitives are Objectionable.
For the ordinary compassionate
haulage plant there are five essential
features. namely, thelocnmotiyeS. con-
structed to carry store..-up energy in
the shape of compressed air. a charg-
ing station, Il stationary reservoir,
usually consisting of me or more
storage tanks in which the air is
compressed. an air compressor capable
OF COMPRISING any desired number of
cubic feet per minute to any pressure
desired, and power for operating the
compressor. either steam or water
power being applicable for this pur-
poe.
".he general machinery of an air
locomotive. cylinders, frames, wheels,
etc. is usually very similar to that OF
Il steam locomotive. save that the
Weights greater. the hearings larger
and the details OF construction strnn-
ger than iE a steam machine of the
Same power. The main points OF diff
ference are found in the fact that in
stead of the usual boiler with its fuel
and water accessories for developing
power. the air locomotive is equipped
with one or more strongly constructed
main storage tanks. which are charged
with compressed air at high pressure,
a combination regulator and auto
matte stop-valve and an auxiliary low
pressure reservoir in which the air is
carried at q uniform working pressure
for distribution to the cylinders.
The cubic capacity and the pressure
of air in the main storage tanks on a
motor are determined, CT couvse, by
the amount OF stored energy required
by the length of the run which such
locomotive is to make and the weight
OF the train which it is called upon to
draw. Not infrequentlY locomotives
are built to carry an air pressure of
500 or 1000 pounds, but relief valves
it impossible to charge the
motor tanks to a higher pressure than
is required. The initial storage press
ure decreases, of course, while the
is working. AS illustrate
ing the capabilities of the compressed
air motors, it may be mentioned that
there are in service in this country a
few locomotives which are fitted with
seamless steel tubes and carry a pres
sure OF from 1900 to $500 pounds per
square inch.
For charging the locomotive stnr.
age tanks previously referred to. there
are provided the charging stations.
which are connected with the stanton
airy receiver or reservoir by a nine
Is customary, when the reservoir or
storage system is a pipe line, to have
. charging station at each end Of the
line, SO that the motor may take =
charge OF air at the end Of each single !