Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
MACHINES ARE STILLED
TO AID In HEALTH FIGHT
Builders and Engineers Do Part in Help
ing Public Agencies to Reduce
Noise Menace.

! One of the most remarkable improve
ments in the elimination Of operating
noise in trolley cars is the new double
reduction gear unit The important
feature of this development is the use
of helical gears. submerged in a bath OF
Running OIL which eliminates the clash
| of gear teeth.
| have been swung from suspension
| springs, eliminating the jolting clank
! which accompanied the old type of troll
| ley when the wheels passed over uneven
! places. This nerve jolting vibration was
| caused by resting a heavy propulsion
motor on the nonresident axle. Also
! trolley car gears have been gagged" by
welding ring of steel to the side sur
| face of gears This deadens the ring
| ing noise when the gears mesh.
In New Kensington, Pa, an inge-
nious noise elimination idea was intro
duced when several trolley cars we're
insulated with cork to deaden vibration
and sound. This insulation was lined in
the trucks. Rubber has been placed I'M
der trolley bases in other cities so the
ringing of the wheels will not be trans
mitted to the body.
West Likes Trolley Bus.
The Middle West is seeking a more
QellIllIe SYSTEM Vi IlO4SeltSS puUllC uIAl
ity transportation in order to provide
needed quiet in the residential sections.
Chicago and Detroit see the trolley bus
as an effective method Of silent trans
portation These vehicles afford noise
less operation by electrical motors, IL
sulated bodies and balloon tires and
the ability to save through congested
traffic. Chicago has recently installed
IS trolleys powered by electrical ma
chinery. Detroit has followed with six
of this type, while New orleans and
Brooklyn are experimenting with this
form of transportation.
Salt Lake City has become one of the
most ardent opponents of trackless troll
ley transportation, because of its elini-
nation of gases, vibration and noise in
city traffic Judge Corfman. chairman
of the Utah State Utilities Commission.
says: I'VE think the big question of
urban transportation is solved with
modern trolley buses. 1t is quiet and
the most popular service we have ever
had"
The industrial engineer has subject
ed the automobile to rigorous tests in
order that another traffic noise element
may be thrcttled. Motors now purr
where they formerly snorted; chassis
are insulated to drive out vibration and
noise. Attention is at present centered
on removing the clash from automatic
gears.
Micarta Gear Teeth Adapted.
AS a partial solution of this trouble
the phenolithic-fabric compound has
proved highly adaptable in manufac-
turing noiseless gears. This laminated,
chemically treated cloth is as hard as
steel and as soundlesS as wood. Micarta
nf ie -in1 wit
very little noise. The material is used
in manufacturing timing gears in many
types of cars. Also. 1t is to be noted
machinery of nearly every industry
has adapted the micarta gear TO my
RAIDS of uses on machinery, because
of its lightness and noiseleSsness. Many
automobile companies are using helical
and herringbone gears for quiet and
vibrationless transmission.
The fight against noise has also en-
tercd the field of electrical machinery.
Manufacturers and public utility opera
tors are demanding that producers of
electrical apparatus eliminate throbS
and roars of machinery so that these
elements may not impair workmens
efficiency. j. P. FoltZ, an engineer, has
perfected a device which measures
noises in large electrical transformers
where normally there is little audible
sound.
Device Traces Faults.
The device locates the exact spot
where any disturbance may originate.
These faults are then remedied. It has
made 1t possible for engineers to design
transformers which operate with a
number that is scarcely audible.
Thus physicians, scientists and civic
leaders have, sounded the war cry
against the insidious menace-metro-
politan noise. But it has fallen upon
the industrial engineer to devise ways
and means to combat the evil before
it becomes unbearable for millions of
city jewellers as our machine age ex-
pands. Without hsmpering progress
these men are striving steadily to in
corporate silence into nearly every me-
chanical activity and are confident of
nanratii Q LIZ alir,ai ting Ianisn