Omaha daily bee., 1911-08-06
INVENTORS TACKLE BIG TASK
Westinghouse and Edison Working
Out improvements on Pneu-
matte Tires.

1t is a curious coincidence that upon the
day when the announcement was made
that George Westinghouse had perfected
an air spring for use on automobiles,
whereby the peumatic tire may be dis
carded, there also came private but au-
thentic announcement that under the sup
ervision of Edison there has been perfected
an automobile pneumatic tire which is
planned to be immune from any pune
ture. 1t is said TO be practically indie
structible until at last the rubber itself
wears out. How long Mr.. Edison's sub
ordinates have been working upon this tire
is not known. nor is there any authOrita-
tive report OF the manner In which they
have made the pneumatic tire immune
from puncture.
Some time ago this order came from
Europe. II is the largest order that Edison
has ever received for his storage batteries
how large may be inferred from the fact
that the contract calls for something like
$4,000 worth OF these batteries. Appar-
emily the makers OF submarine boats in
Europe are placing these orders.
In midsummer OF last year there was
published q statement that Mr.. westing-
which would take the place of the pneu-
something. OF a sensation among automo-
bile manufacturers. partly because all
manufacturers have learned that Mr.. West
inghouse never lets announcement OF his
inventions be made until he is assured of
their success.
This announcement. however, was pre-
maturely made, somewhat to Mr.. westing-
houses annoyance In conversation with
him in July OF last year. he said to the
writer that he was not the inventor OF the
air spring; that had been the achievement
of a clergyman and a mechanic, whose
homes were at Troy. N. Y. They brought
the apparatus TO him in the hope that he
could suggest some manner OF perfecting
It He discovered the defect in the APP
paratus, having at once recognized the
commercial value OF the fundamental prin-
ciple OF the apparatus as IL had been
brought TO him In crude form by the in
Ventor.
During the summer Mr. Westinghouse
perfected, as he thought, the air spring.
although there were some details, prin-
cipally respecting the manner OF attaching
the springs to the aIles and to the body
Of the car. to be worked out. His own
automobiles were equipped with the air
springs. He drove with his chauffeur
over very difficult and rough roads many
miles: he learned that the air spring
could be so used as TO supplement the
pneumatic tire or. on the other hand, II
could be so adjusted Is to make only a
solid and thin rubber band upon the steel
tire necessary. In fact. his own machine
was run without any rubber band upon
the steel tire and with perfect ease 70
himself and to his chauffeur.
The air spring is q simple enough de-
vice II is in effect double cylinder. the
upper cylinder being attached to the
chassis form and the lower cylinder at
tached 10 the axle. The cylinders tele-
scope. Mr. Westinghouse chief part IN
this invention IL q method OF utilizing oil
In the cylinders and valves so that the
piston action working in a wen of oil can
be absolutely certain. Every motion OF
the car is transmitted TO these cylinders
and to the piston. resulting in constant
compression Of the air in the cylinder
The Air receives practically all OF the
shock II is an air cushion adapted
TO trying conditions II the air cushion.
therefore. receives the shock TO the car
occasioned by the passage OF It over any
surface. it practically absorbs all OF thai
shock. and II Is for this reason that the
use OF the pneumatic tire viii. II Is ex-
pected. be supplanted.-Philadelph Led.
ger