The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1915-03-06
BELL RINGS WHEN
STORM is ON way
Approach Of Atmospheric Dis
tuTDanCG Told by Electricity.
FORECASTS ARE ACCURATE.

Machine of Such Delicate Arrange
ment That II Is Affected From Two
to Seven Hours Before Storm Arrives.
Most Effective In Summer-Reliabie
ms Government Bureau.
A remarkable machine has been in
stalled upon the roof of the New York
Edison companys Waterside station
in New YORK city for the purpose of de-
tecting the approach of storms. This
ingenious instrument, which is said TO
surpasS even the United States wealth
er bureau in the general accuracy of
its forecasts, is n brand new device.
which has such delicate perceptions
that it can feel the coming of n storm
while the disturbance is still from two
to seven hours of.
"The Importance of such n precau-
ton Is appreciated when one senses
the sudden and at times tremendous
demand for light in both office and
residence buildings on the descent of
storms" says the Edison Monthly. "Oc-
casions have arisen when this demand
has boosted the summer day normal
Of 10000 kilowattS to 100000 kilowatts
in less than twenty-five minutes.
"The device in question is not COM
plicated and will no doubt meet with
ready acceptance by central stations
generally. Its principle rests on the
fact that summer storms are almost
invariably associated with electrical
disturbances. Detection therefore is
brought about by what virtually
amounts to a wireless telegraph re-
ceiving circuit. To n certain extent
such apparatus is effective during win
ter weather, though storms at that
time of year exhibit but comparative
ly weak electrical manifestations.
The Detector Plan.
1.-THE plan provides for the following
features: An aerial frame spark gap.
coherer and condenser. Il ground
connection. Il combined bell and de-
coherer, togethc- with relay, two
batteries and Il short circuiting switch.
"In receiving messages from storm
headquarters due regard has TO bo
given potential interference by wire
less messages on their way between
political and commercial hcadquar-
ters. The spark gap provides secu1ely
against any such unneighborly pro-
ceeding, as the spherical terminals are
one-sixteenth of an inch apart.
"In common with earlier specin ems
in wireless telegraphy the coherer con-
sists OF q short small bore tube OF
glass containing nickel silver filings
between German silver plugs. The
bell. one of single stroke connection.
Is so mounted that its clapper will
back strike the coherer tube. The
high resistance of the coherer impulse
is lost upon a storm passing, whereat
steady current flows through from its
battery, causing the tap. High resist
ance is then promptly restored by the
return of the clapper jarring the
filings, and everything is in readiness
to announce another storm impulse.
Short Circuit System.
'In the present case the inserting OF
condenser was made to prevent the
flowing of direct current, though In
other instances it could be left out.
The necessity of short circuiting ar
rangement appears in the protection of
the set when the storm Is about to
break.
1.-The action of the device is most In
teresting to watch. Experience shows
that a storm q few hours distant causes
the bell to tap every fifteen to five min
utes. On coming nearer, say two hours
before breaking, the storm records it
self in minute or half minute taps
For full hour before the climax the
bell rings continually, then stops
abruptly as the set on the breaking or
the storm is short circuited.
"Ry this time not only the vast resi-
Dental and theater section, but every
Office and loft building is a-sparkle
with lights through the rain. Long
before, however, everything at the gen.
Grating station was in readiness. boil
ers firing up and turbines throbbing,
provisions making these little emergen-
cies mere incidents in the round of CEN
tral station routine"