Evening star., 1927-10-14
ELECTRICAL MAN"
| PERFECTED HERE.
Invention of RiverdaIe Man
I ANNOUNCES" Reservoir
Water Levels.

An electrical "man," which tele'
phones the height of the water in'the
new reservoirs Of the Daleearlia
water plant on Conduit road, has just
been put int operation by Govern
ment engineers.
This amazingly intelligent device,
the invention of Dewey NJ. Radclihe
of Riverdale, Md, associate engineer
of the plant, lifts the receiver of thA
hook when the bell rings upon IN
Quiry as to the water level, automati'
cally plumbs the depth OF the water
and instantly replies by buzzing a
number Of signals to indicate the
depth OF water in feet.
Thirs to Be Installed.
Tn +tis wav of4fcials interested in
tne water Level may cali from any
part OF the city al any time OF the
day or night and learn without delay
the exact level of the water in the
reservoirs. Two of the mechanical
''men" already have been placed in
service at two of the reservoirs and
a third is to be put into operation
shortly.
To ascertain the water depth Of
particular reservoir the official needs
only to call a certain telephone num-
ber. known only to a small circle in
terested, and the automaton does the
rest. AS soon as the operator plugs
in on the number specified the bell
is set ringing in an office of the plant
through regular telephone equipment.
The ringing of this bell automatical'
ly starts an electromagnetic device.
lifting the receiver and hook by means
OF an extension arm.
At the same time a float on the
surface Of the water in the reservoir
operates by means of a chain and cog
wheel q regulation type selective
switch, which regulates the number
of buzzes. This float, made Of copper,
is as large as a small bucket, and the
Selective switch, contained in sheet
iron box, comprise the transmitting
end of the mechanism. The wires run
from this switch to the noise-m making
unit, which is in an office. The latter
device resembles a small iron box with
hinged door alongside and fastened
to which IS q regulation set telephone.
Hook Lifted at Ring.
Through a small aperture in the
box extends narrow iron arm, which
lifts the hook and its receiver when
the bell rings. Directly over the trans
mitter of the telephone extends an
other and longer iron arm, on the
end Of which is attached a small loud
speaker facing the transmitter.
when the water. for example, is
six feet deep in the reservoir" 1t was
explained today by P. o. Macqueen,
superintendent of the Daleearlia plant,
''the float sets the selective switch so
as to register six electrical impulses.
These impulses are made to operate
a tiny buzzer, and. by means Of
radio transformer, are amplifled and
made audible through the loud speak.
er. Thus the person calling on the
other end hears six buZzes, indicating
that the water is six feet deep. The
signal is repeated twice, so that there
can be no mistake. Any change in
the water level is registered on the
switch and results in a different mum.
Der of signal buzzes.
Mr.. Radcliffe. the young civil engi-
neer, worked out the plans and speci-
fications for the device in his office
at the plant, and the apparatus was
constructed from these plans by the
Westinghouse Electric Co.
Assisting him in the development Of