The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-10-25

'he cnaln GanBl1nR by one end from
the truck and thought he would pos
sibly save the truck from being
wrecked through fouling the chain in
one Of the weels
The man didn't know the chain
was hanging there for a purpose.
He didn't know that gasoline, unlike
water, is a nonconductor of electrici-
ty. Possibly he didn't even know that
moving gasoline, especially when
/ strained through such materials as
chamois skin filters, sets up consider
able charges of frio.ional or static
electricity. But that was what caused
the trucks destruction. Usually when
the big tank truck hacks up to the nil
ing plug at a service station or other
Storage place, the metallic nozzle from
the truck touches the metallic intake
pipe and thus forms a ground for any
charge OF Stath electricity that may
correct IN the truck. Sometimes, how
ever, the nozzle does not touch a
/ ground point, and with no orner me-
dallic ground from the truck the car
is perfectly insulated standing as it,
does on rubber tires. Sometimes. also
the nozzle of the truck outlet pipe
rests against a wooden piece in the in
take Dipe and is thereby likewise in
sulated, for dry wood is also an insu-
lator
While the gasoline is poured into
the storage tank a certain amount or
vapor arises, and there is certain to
be some about the intake and the
truck The flow Of the liquid will set
up a static charge in the truck. AS
the charge increases, it may become
strong enough to leap the gap to the
nearest ground, or the two points may
be brought into contact There is a
spark, flash, an explosion and untold
damage may result.
Consequently tho careful tank driv-
er always has a metallic part hanging
from the truck to the ground, a rod or
chain, to drain off the electric charge
as it collects, as long as the gasoline
Is being drawn off.
The same basic fact has been the
cause Of numerous smaller fires and
explosions in garages, both private
and public. In one instance, car
was being filled with gasoline from n
can. While the emoloye ran the gas
into the can he strained it through a
chamois filter in funnel. To make
the funnel sit up straight in the hole
In the tank a wooden ring was placed
in the hole and the funnel was placed
in that. Thus the can was isolated |
After pouring some gasoline into the |
tank, the man brought the can spout
into contact with the tank. There was
plosion.
A man was pumping gasoline into
can in his own garage. He hung
the pail on the hook over the spout Of
the pump. He did not notice that the |
pail had wooden handle. BY reason
of the wooden handle the pail was in
sulated from the pump. The flowing |
gasoline set up a static charge in the
pail which leaped the gap to the pump
and another fire was started.
Friction Of silk cloth will produce
static electricity, and fires have been
caused, it has been reported to gov
ernment agencies, when silk cloths
soaked with benzine or gasoline were
used to rub the CRIME off mechanics
hands. Sparks are prolific course
Of gasoline fires, especially sparks
from open flames, broken electric
lights, and from friction. Even the
clash on concrete pavement of the
nails in shoes have been known to
form sparks which resulted in fires
when gasoline yapor was present.
If gasoline is stored in an open
States bureau Of mines reports, the
room in which the pail is left will
shortly be filled with an easily eX-
plosiye mixture. The limits of eXplosi-
bility are between l5 per cent and 81
per cent Of gasoline vapor in air. In
other words, only little gasoline
yapor is needed to render air explo-
sixe--one and one-half feet Of gaso-
line yapor for each 81 l2 feet Of air.
One gallon Of gasoline can under per-
feet condition, render 2,100 feet Of air
explosive.
LONG RISE MARKS
THE COTTON MARKET