The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-13
A SA7CHEL FULL OF DAYLIGHT

cheney. But the daylight tube has
solved the problem conclusively.
1t is characteristic of this manufac-
tured daylight that while other light
ing equipments are sold by the light
this is sold by the window
This daylight is a vacuum tube
electric light produced by the passage
of alternating electric current through
highly rarefied carbon dioXide gas
confined within the continuous clear
glass tube.
The most typical form of daylight
window is about the size of a suit !
case and rests upon a transformer
contained in a box about a foot square, |
from which the window" is readily !
separable. The rectangular sheet
metal case contains the vacuum tube
and its mechanism.
The 1% inch tube is of glass bent
back and forth upon itself in uniform
lengths, and Immediately upon closing
the switch of the supply circuit the
tube is filled with a pure white light
of about 20O-candle power that is re-
markedly soft and that yet possesses
an amazing illuminating power.
Its mechanism is designed to utilize
carbon dioxide gas as the gaseous CON
ductor within the glass vacuum. A
simple but extremely ingenious cleo
>tric valve automatically feeds the car
bon dioxide gas from it's container to
the light-giving vacuum tube as it is
needed. The two electrodes of the
vacuum tube also extend into this
compartment
The air transformer is Of the shell
type, steel incased and especially de
signed to supply the proper voltage tc
the terminals of the tube.
There IS a beautiful regularity III
the automatic operation OF the gas
feed valve. The feed valve consists OF
a solenoid acting upon a small ,ror
core within glass tube.
When the core is raised ma gnetical
ly from the pool of mercury IN which
it rests there is exposed above the
mercury a tiny carbon plug through
which the gas permeaates and thus
! which the gas permeates and thus
finds its way to the lighting tube.
T. This operation of breathing" Of
feeding occurs about once every mia
ute. There is a cylinder at the righ'
! of the feed valve which is the gas
L generator. This generator is also auto
matte in that is generates extremely
small quantities of gas, and only a
= the moment when it is required q;
= either side are the electrodes.
g The standard windows" are design
f ed for sixty cycle alternating curren
r, circuits at 22O volts, but may 'b'
d modified to suit any desired frequenc,
g or voltage.
The daylight window is of simpl
4. operation and peculiarly durable cor
d. struction The gas generator will Z
e quire renewal with the acid and ca
IS cuim carbonate when the light ha
d. been used about 1000 hours. TIL
Is light-gi tube has a life which Co
{: responds to about a years time
k normal operation, and new window
h. are furnished at nominal rates in e.
We change for the old ones, as needed,
W. The artificial daylight is manufa
"a tured in a factory in the outskirts {
1t. ! Newark It is on the Jersey fiat
1t, this factory and of brick, and cor
ng monplace on the outside; but on Il
by inside il is as curious a laboratory
ut any wizard worker might wish.
Is II is wired and tubed and fitted o.
lis with throbbng dynomos and all Il
it trappings of an electric labOrator
ar and il is a strange place Of shiniI
of and twisted glass. In these wor
to rooms white flames and blue pl;
nd against transparent bubbles of gle
that grow and grow shaping out
ic- thin air into the tubes of strange for
a and fashioning for which no alchemi
IN or maker of black magic in an EARL
re age could have conceived uses.
on These tubes are to hold dayfigl
op The man of the factory will not &
de, nit any romance of invention in
,fi- the story of artificial daylight