112

10814.

"Improvements relating to lanterns for electric lamps, and to posts for supporting the same and for similar purposes.' R. E. KEEN. Dated July 4. (Complete).

10821. "Improvements in or relating to electrical apparatus partly for curative purposes." C. F. AIRD. Dated July 4. 'Improvements relating to electric telephones." D. B. MORISON. Dated July 5.

10878.

10896.

"A new and improved form of support for insulators used for electrical purposes." P. WALTERS. Dated July 6.

10897. "Improvements in the methods of distributing electricity from central stations." T. PARKER and E. S. G. REES. Dated July 6.

10933. "" Improvements in secondary electric machines.” M. VON DOLIVO-DOBROWOLSKY and THE COMPANY ALLGEMEINE ELEKTRICITATS-GESELLSCHAFT. Dated July 6.

10940. 66

Improvements in electrical couplings used in electrically lighting railway trains and for other purposes." F. T. HOLLINS. Dated July 8.

11049. Improvements in dynamo-electric machines, in part applicable to electro-motors." J. J. WOOD. Dated July 9. 11054. 66 Improvements in electric fittings." Dated July 9.

H. T. LYON.

11067. "6 Improvements in insulation for electric conductors." C. T. SNEDEKOR. Dated July 9. (Complete.)

11070. "Manufacture of elements or plates for secondary batteries." J. Y. JOHNSON. (Communicated by A. L. Riker, United States.) Dated July 9.

11075. "Dynamo-electric machines." S. C. C. CURRIE. Dated July 9. (Complete.)

11179. "An electric meter." SIEMENS BROTHERS & Co., Limited. (Communicated by the firm of Siemens & Halske, Germany.) Dated July 11.

11191. 66 Improvements in roses for supporting electric lamps." W. A. S. BENSON. Dated July 11.

(JULY 26, 1889.

gradually, substantially as described. 2. The process of preparing such solution consisting in the dissolving of the mercuric sulphate in water and adding common salt to it gradually, such mercuric sulphate being preferably prepared in the manner set forth, and the whole process being carried out substantially as described.

759.

1889.

"Improvements in switches for electric railways." C. H. WELLS. Dated January 15. 8d. In electric railway systems the particular exigencies of the case frequently require that for a portion of its length the same conductor be employed for trolleys supplying motors upon cars travelling in opposite directions. In such case it is obvious that in order for the two oppositely moving trolleys to pass each other without interference, one of them must pass out upon a branch from the main conductor, and that a movable switch must be provided at the point of meeting of said branch and main conductors. The purpose of the invention is to obviate the loss of time and inconvenience consequent upon the use of manually operated switches, by providing a switch of such a character that the trolley or trolleys advancing toward it automatically shift said trolley or trolleys upon one of the branches, said switch also permitting the passage of a trolley or trolleys past it from the other branch, both operations being effected without manual intervention of any kind whatever. 9 claims.

1103. 66 Improved system of distributing-pipes or conduits for containing the supply conductors for electric lighting." W. LOWRIE and C. J. HALL. Dated January 21. 6d. Claims :—1. A system of distributing-pipes or conduits for containing conduc tors for electric lighting, comprising the combination of a main line of pipes provided at intervals with street boxes, branch pipes leading therefrom having a branch box at the other extremity thereof, and groups of house or separate installation pipes of varying lengths converging upon and connected to the branch lines at the said branch boxes, substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and described. 2. A system of distributing. pipes or conduits for containing conductors for electric lighting, comprising the combination of a main line of pipes provided at intervals with street boxes, branch pipes leading therefrom having a branch box at the other extremity thereof, a supply or distributing pipe line embracing a small group of separate installation with a short house pipe leading directly therefrom to each installation, substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and described.

1162. "Improvements in and relating to electric governors for steam or other motive power engines." R. KENNEDY. Dated January 22. 8d. Claims:-1. In steam or other motive power engines the combination of a centrifugal governor with a core of soft iron and a solenoid of thick wire in series circuit with a shunt wound dynamo, driven by the engine carrying said governor, substantially as described in reference to and shown in the drawings. 2. In steam or other motive power engines the combination of s centrifugal governor with a core of soft iron, and a solenoid of fine wire in shunt circuit with a constant current dynamo or series wound dynamo driven by said engine, substantially as described in reference to and shown in the drawings. 3. In steam or other motive power engines the combination of a centrifugal governor with a core of soft iron, and a solenoid having a coil of thick wire in series circuit with a shunt wound dynamo, and another coil of wire in shunt circuit with same dynamo driven by said engine, substantially as described in reference to and shown in the drawings.

ABSTRACTS

OF PUBLISHED SPECIFICATIONS, 1888.

12858. Improvements in the distribution of electrical energy." C. ZIPERNOWSKY and M. DERI. Dated September 5. 8d. In an electrical installation with alternating current generators, it is of the greatest importance, from an economical point of view, to be able to utilise the motors, electrical machines and apparatus for other purposes besides illuminating purposes; for instance, for driving stationary and movable motors, actuating clocks, telegraph apparatus and the like. The present invention has for its object to comply with this condition in the simplest and most practical manner. 6 claims.

18220. (Under International Convention.) "Improvements in electricity meters or coulomb meters." E. BATAULT. Dated December 13. 8d. Relates to clockwork mechanism regulated by a pendulum and released by the action of the current; a number of teeth are gathered up proportional to the current strength. 8 claims.

CORRESPONDENCE.

Barking Road Electric Cars.

On Monday evening a defective driving switch on one of our Barking Road cars short-circuited the battery of accumulators (100 volts) just as the driver, after putting down the passengers at Green Gate, Plaistow, was taking the car on to the stand, previous to leaving for Canning Town. The instantaneous combustion of the insulation of the cable, and evolution of gases from the passage of so great a current, produced an explosion which lifted the seats and shattered the glass of all the windows on each side of the car. No damage was done to the electrical equipment, save the destruction of the insulation of 20 feet of cable (19 18), as it is protected by suitable cut-outs; an additional one has now been put in each car, which will prevent any possible excess of current.

Th. Frazer.

THE ELECTRIC TRACTION COMPANY, LIMITED.

July 24th, 1889.

COMMUNICATION WITH LIGHT

VESSELS.

THE report of the Committee which was appointed in February, 1887, to enquire into and report on the desirability of electrical communication between light vessels and lighthouses and the shore has been issued, as we announced in our last. With the constitution of the Committee considerable fault has been found, and, we think, with a certain amount of justice, as but two out of the nine were men possessed of pure technical knowledge, and these two were not men who have had experience of submarine cables. Others of the Committee were, we believe, known to have a bias against the general scheme; altogether, therefore, the unfavourable report which is now published might almost have been anticipated. The general substance of the opinion of the Committee is that as regards the Sunk lightship, the expenditure involved in maintaining electrical communication with the shore is not cominensurate with the advantages gained, and that therefore it is recommended that the service be discontinued, and that electrical communication should not be established with outlying lighthouses or islands for the special service of saving life at sea. As regards the Sunk lightship possibly the opinion is justified; but it seems very unsatisfactory that a general condemnation should be based on a solitary experiment, made, probably, at a not entirely suitable place. The great bugbear appears to be the question of cost of maintenance, for the scheme does not appear to be entirely condemned, except on the score of expense. This might be heavy, but to base it on what the actual cost has been whilst the experiment was being conducted is hardly a satisfactory way of arriving at a conclusion. To estimate the cost of an Atlantic cable from the money expended on the first two or three cables laid, which eventually had to be abandoned, would not be considered sound logic. No doubt the cost would be great at first until experience had been gained, and pos

sibly this would not be attained for some years; but in view of the general desirability of the venture, which is insisted upon from many quarters, a large grant by Parliament for the purpose would be amply justified, and would, we believe, be approved of by the public. It should be mentioned that the Danish Government is moving actively in the question, and has established communication, in many cases, with lighthouses and life-saving stations, and nothing is said about the expense of maintaining the cables which are used. That the matter will be allowed to drop we can hardly believe, and the whole question, not only as regards lightships, but as regard coast lighthouses and coastguard stations must eventually be pressed to the front, and be thoroughly discussed by competent authorities.

THE PAYMENT OF EXPERT WITNESSES.

MR. LANE-FOX, speaking at the meeting of the AngloAmerican Brush Company last week, said his services. as witness in the recent litigation in which he was interested had been refused because he would not accept a retainer. These remarks will, no doubt, set many men thinking. The retaining of experts has become a common practice of late years. This, to a certain extent, is necessary, owing to the many technical points that now arise in the various causes brought forward for decision. But there has been a steadily growing system which has now reached the dimensions of a great evil. One of our leading Judges strongly commented upon this in a technical case brought before him recently. There cannot be the slightest doubt that good causes have been absolutely ruined by the dissembling of professional men, and another important result of this is that the statements many scientific men make will be met with a certain amount of discredit. At many of the sittings of the Board of Trade enquiry into the electric light provisional orders, the halting, hesitating manner in which some witnesses

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gave evidence left no room for doubt that they were wavering between half truths and whole truths.

Such being the case, we are practically at the mercy of unscrupulous experts. Scientific men called in to assist a great work willingly and knowingly mislead those who are unacquainted with technical details, and this hideous injustice is done for a mere trifling sum of money. There is a great future for science, and day by day we draw nearer to the ultimatum of our hopes; why, then, should men who are capable of good work sacrifice their position as scientists and gentlemen when in so short a time every one will obtain his due? We have, indeed, come to a sad pass when men who might hold a high place in a great profession, stoop so low that they may be induced to enter the witness-box and make misleading statements.

REGARDING that latest American lunacy, i.e., the Weems railway system, incorporated under the name of the Electro-automatic Transit Company, of Baltimore, with its speed of 180 miles an hour and its 143 patents, what can one say? Any engineer at any time can design a. arrangement to prevent the loco. jumping the track, but it is the tendency to jump and the consequent friction and grinding that cannot be stopped and which in consequence wastes power. Of course by telescoping the carriages and making the front of the loco. pointed they get over a good deal of wind pressure, but we doubt if ever they run at 180 miles an hour, not even though they have demonstrated the success on a practical scale (sic.) in a shed. At any rate power proportional to about the square of the speed will be required, and for long distance traffic we know steam will never be surpassed in economy. One passage is significant. Says Science: "This cigar-shaped car, painted a bright red and moving sharp end foremost, at first sight does not seem a wonderful thing as it goes quietly along the track; but later, when the engineer at the dynamo puts on more power, or, as a steam-car man would say, more steam, and the creeping thing on the ground hastens its movement until it fairly flies and becomes a moving speck of red, spectators feel the progress being made in applied science, and talk of the wonders of electricity, and the great things it will accomplish in the active affairs of life in the near future." We have no doubt they talk. We have little doubt that later they will invest their money in it. Later still they will lose it, and while they gnash their teeth with rage the inventor will most probably quietly retire to an estate purchased in sunny Virginia.

[AUGUST 2, 1889.

that terrible charge in his body." To the enquiries which are now being made in the States into the practicability of using electricity as a means of execution, we would suggest that experts should be examined with the view of ascertaining the exact candle-power necessary to cause death.

THE readers of our excellent contemporary, the Electrician, have much to be thankful for. Sir John Pender, one of its proprietors, and a gentleman whose philanthropic motives are unimpeachable, stated at the last meeting of the Eastern Telegraph Company, that the paper was not started with the object of making money but for the benefit of the staff of the cable companies in which Sir John is interested, and not so much to enlighten the public. This latter confession was surely unnecessary! Furthermore, we are informed on the same unquestionable authority, that all the earnings of the journal are returned to the men who write the scientific articles; if this is the case the profits may be readily gauged. But the "autocrat of the cable ring" is not consistent for many days at a time, for the modest disclaimer above mentioned is entirely upset by a remark attributed to him on the occasion of our contemporary's "wayz-goose." Said Sir John, as reported in the Weekly News and Chronicle, They could not boast of the Electrician being a big property, but they were pleased to know it was a useful property, it being, indeed, the real representative of electrical science in Great Britain" It is indeed a useful property, for there is only one Sir John and the Electrician is his prophet (we had almost written profit); but until now we had no conception that electrical science in the United Kingdom was at such a low ebb.

66

IT has been suggested that the sparks which Mr. Crighton has witnessed from overhead wires in Old Broad Street may be due to the crossing of conductors belonging to the Exchange Telegraph Company. Indeed, one City electrician has told us that he does not believe there are any electric light wires traversing that classic neighbourhood. Can anybody inform us positively? The Exchange Telegraph Company's mains are worked. at a difference of potential of 150 volts and carry a heavy current, so that it is quite possible that the coruscations which have so alarmed Mr. Crighton were caused by these. Accumulators are mainly used to supply the current to 600 or 700 printing telegraph instruments, and about 17 electrical horse-power is daily absorbed in carrying on the service.

THE Newcastle Daily Chronicle, basing its opinion upon a statement in our contemporary Iron, whose knowledge of electrical matters appears to have reached its zenith in the time of John Banting Rogers, thinks that electricity is likely, after all, to prove a very questionable substitute for the gallows, because a Mr. H. M. Stevens, of Boston, received a shock which did not make him shuffle off this mortal coil. We read that "a circuit was completed with his body as a medium, and a force of electricity equal to 50,000 candle-power, shot instantly through him," and that from that day to this "he has carried the reminders of

A WELL known electrician in a letter to us says: “I quite sympathise with him (Lane-Fox) re the EdisonSwan matter, and I wish some of the company mongers could be experimented upon with 2,000,000,000 volts." Mr. Stevens, of Boston, would probably think "50,000 candle-power" quite enough at one time.

IN our next issue we hope to publish the regulations of the Imperial Physico-technical Office, of Berlin, for testing apparatus for electrical measurements. It is possible that the promoters of the proposed standardis

AUGUST 2, 1889.]

ing laboratory in London may find in these some hints worthy of attention.

THE paper of Mr. Leo Daft, which formed the theme of our leading article on the 19th ult., is, in our opinion, of such value that we shall reproduce it in full, and we therefore publish a portion of the article on another page. Now that several important electric traction schemes are being seriously considered in this country Mr. Daft's experiences may be found very useful.

WE have not seen until recently Mr. Edison's name prominently brought forward in connection with inventions for warlike purposes since the account of a trial of his electric gun, published in a New Orleans paper on the first of April, 1882. This gun, it may be remembered, to outward appearance was a long tube of glass with sundry handles and gearing attached to its breech end, but giving little external indication of the deadly nature of its discharge. For fear of doing damage inadvertently to life or property, the range of the gun was restricted to 2 miles. A number of usedup mules and horses from the City of New York were turned out to graze, the animals being restricted from wandering by a barbed-wire fence. All being ready, the gun was discharged, when an immense volume of flame issued from the glass tube, rushing up the range towards the doomed animals. The ground over which the flame had passed, excepting that the grass was somewhat scorched, presented no visible signs of devastation, and the animals were still grazing. It was not until the spectators proceeded up the range that the murderous and destructive character of the fire was made manifest. It was found that every tree, shrub, or animal in a track about 100 yards wide was utterly consumed, and, although retaining its natural shape, collapsed into dust at the slightest touch, while the barbed wire fencing had entirely dissipated and vanished. As nothing more has been heard of the invention, we conclude that Mr. Edison considered its capabilities too fiendish to be introduced into warfare, and has therefore never divulged the secret. Torpedoes, however, are used by all nations, and are accepted as a legitimate form of weapon. In conjunction with Mr. Sims, Mr. Edison has brought out an electric torpedo, consisting of a submerged portion attached to a float having the form of a boat. The submerged portion is a spindle-shaped copper shell containing the propelling machinery, a cable by which the current is conveyed to the electric motor and steering apparatus, and a charge of dynamite or other explosive. This spindle-shaped shell is connected to the float at the bow by a triangular steel frame, and at the stern by a post. The float is of copper, made air-tight and filled with buoyant material, so that it may not sink if perforated. The triangular part at the bow is intended to clear away obstructions in the path of the torpedo, and acts either by lifting up light ones bodily or enabling the torpedo to slide under those of a more massive kind. The torpedo proper is divided into four compartments, the most forward contains the dynamite, from 250 to 500 lbs., the second is empty, the third contains the electric cable for conveying the currents, and the fourth compartment has a motor of 40 H.P., as well as the steering apparatus and shaft to the propeller. The cable, of which some 6,000 to 11,000 feet are carried, is paid out as required, and by this means saves the wear and tear of dragging it over

115

the bottom. It is said this torpedo can travel at the rate of 20 miles an hour, that it is under perfect control, and that the machine can be kept in action for any time until a favourable opportunity occurs to explode the dynamite charge. Many other advantages are claimed for this pattern of torpedo.

MR. F. L. POPE, to whose evidence on execution by electricity we referred in our last issue, was caught napping by District Attorney Quinby. When asked if death by electricity would be painful or not, the Westinghouse representative said: "I believe it is very painful." He then, in answer to a question as to whether the velocity of electricity was not greater than that of nerve sensation in the human body, replied that he thought it was. In that case, said Mr. Quinby, would not death by electricity be painless? Whereupon Mr. Pope said he supposed it would. His remarks upon the measurement of the resistance of living organisms also shows that his knowledge of the whole question at issue might be more profound.

OUR contemporary, Invention, is in error, but that is nothing new. We do not seize every opportunity to run down the phonograph, which, as a marvellous instrument, we fully appreciate, but we should decidedly object to a wonderful scientific discovery being made the medium for extracting money from the pockets of gullible investors, on the strength of claims which cannot now and never will be substantiated in this country. The story of the abandonment of the electro-motor for the treadle was given us as a fact by the attendant at the Gainsborough Gallery, where the phonograph has recently been exhibited, and the particular apparatus which had just then arrived from America, minus the electro-motor, was shown to us as the improved form, the previous arrangement for turning being open to many objections. Even assuming that the King-of-King's phonograph has an electro-motor attached why is an "enterprising electrician" required to dance attendance upon a simple arrangement like this which even the editor of our contemporary might, with a little coaching, easily manage to control without the fear of being bowstrung?

We understand that Mr. Gisborne, of the Canadian Government Telegraph Service, is now en route to the Straits of Belle Isle, in the Government ss. Napoleon III, for the purpose of selecting cable landings, &c., in connection with the gulf telegraph extensions. He is accompanied by Mr. R. R. Dobell, of Quebec, the chief promoter of the Canada-Atlantic enterprise, and by Dr. Selwyn, the Director of the geological Survey of Canada. It is believed that the Canada-Atlantic cable will be an accomplished fact in the near future. A paper on transatlantic cable routes may be seen in our other pages.

"Now, Mr. Gibbens, what is the greatest electrical resistance you have any experience of ?"-"The resistance of the companies to putting their wires underground," replied the ready Commissioner, with an unmoved face and a merry twinkle of the eye.-Enquiry on Electrical Execution, N. Y.

116

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN BRIDGE

CONSTRUCTION.

[BY A CORRESPONDENT.]

NEAR Tokay-what English connoisseur in wines is not familiar with the name of this little Hungarian town?-there is at present a great railway bridge in course of erection, and in order to illuminate the building ground there is employed a small transformer installation which presents some interesting features owing to the structural peculiarities required by the local conditions. In order to make the reader acquainted with these circumstances we will first give a brief description of the construction of the bridge.

The new iron bridge has to be erected below the present wooden one, but without in any manner interfering with the regular traffic on the line.

The fixing of the pillars is effected by means of caissons of sheet-iron of approximately the same form as the pillars, and which are put together on the spot.

To this end piles of about 20 metres in length were driven into the bed of the river; upon these was erected a platform, and upon this again was set the caisson.

In the cover of each caisson there are two round openings, large enough to allow two workmen to descend simultaneously. The tubular shafts which are placed above these openings contain two ladders for the ascent and descent of the persons employed. These shafts terminate in a so-called sluice for the purpose of raising up the material excavated in the bed of the river without interfering with the pressure of air in the caisson.

As soon as it is put together the caisson is suspended by very strong chains to a scaffold erected above it, the platform is removed, and the lowering begins.

When it has arrived at the water-level it is anchored to the shore with chains in order that when being let down it may not be swept from its place by the current.

At the same time the operations of the masons commence, and to preserve the recent masonry from damage screens of sheet-iron are affixed to prevent the access of the water.

Unfortunately the caisson, with a wall of 8-10 metres, stands upon very uneven ground, so that it takes a slanting position, and there is danger of damaging the entire masonry. There is a confused noise of orders given and of the running of many hundred workmen with tools. The tube is affixed to the sluices in order to pump in air and to drive out the water so that the workmen may as soon as possible enter the shaft and remove all unequalities.

As soon as the pillar stands upright the chains are removed. The workmen descend through the shaft into the caisson and draw out the bolts by which the chains are secured to the caisson. The bolts are simply inserted without being secured from without by a female screw; the head of the bolt is fitted with a ring of rubber and is held on so firmly by the pressure of air in the caisson so that there is no fear of its becoming detached.

There is great difficulty in drawing out such a bolt, and as soon as this is effected, the ears are saluted by a fearful roaring and whistling, occasioned by the escape of the air through the hole. For the moment respiration becomes difficult by the rarefaction of the air, and the caisson is filled with a dense mist, which obscures even the electric light within. This lasts for three or four minutes, during which a workman who stands ready secures the aperture with a wooden plug. In this manner about 12 bolts are removed, and after all the temporary fittings required have been taken away, the excavations in the bed of the river begin to secure a good foundation for the pillar.

As the operations have to be completed with great rapidity, the work goes on day and night with the aid of the electric light, and as the works are very extensive, an installation of transformers has been arranged, the leads (primary and secondary inclusive), consist of about 5,000 metres of copper wire. The light is given out from 6 arc lamps and 80 glow lamps. The former

[AUGUST 2, 1889

serve for lighting up the ground outside and the bridge, whilst the glow lamps are distributed in the caissons, the dwelling houses, the stores, and the watchman's box. The transformers are placed in wooden cages, supported upon special wooden pillars, from whence the leads branch out in order to supply the arc and glow lamps of the various secondary distribution stations. The arc lamps give a splendid effect, and light up the ground so well that the stonemasons can continue their work in the night without difficulty.

The leads in the caissons are conveyed in a peculiar manner, to suit the circumstances of the locality. Close to the sluices there are passed down two gas pipes, which open into the caissons below, and are there well closed. Within these pipes the leads taking the current to and from the glow lamps in the caissons are conveyed. The pipes are filled with tar, grounded above with a stuffing-box, through which the wire is passed. Close to the scaffold there are two reels of wire, so arranged that on lowering the caisson the necessary length of wire is unwound automatically.

To produce the electric current there is a self-exciting alternating current machine, capable of yielding 15,000 watts, driven by a locomotive. As various work machines are driven by the same engine, the strain is very variable, wherefore a compensator is employed, which compensates the fluctuations of the current so completely, that all the arc and glow lamps give a surprisingly steady light.

As the work inside the caissons has to be carried on, even in the daytime, by artificial light, the electric installation is in continuous action.

ON THE ELECTROLYSIS OF DISTILLED WATER.

Note by M. E. DULER.*

IN these researches I employed distilled water contained in glass tubes with two branches, which, at the end of several months, imparted no alkaline character to the water. The electromotive force that I employed was very considerable, and always about 100 volts.

I took as electrodes: (1) an anode and cathode of platinum; (2) anodes of very different metals, principally nickel, cobalt, iron, copper (in this second case the cathode was of platinum); (3) the anode being of platinum, the cathode was of tin, bismuth, copper, lead, mercury, aluminium, &c.

In the first case, if the cathode is formed of fine wire, whilst the anode is a large plate, the electrolysis of the water gives off only hydrogen for several days; at the end of this time, the oxygen begins to appear at the positive pole, but its volume is always less than half the volume of the hydrogen liberated; the water subjected to this electrolysis acquires a somewhat acid reaction.

In the second case, the anodes are attacked, and, during the first few hours, give off protoxides; a substance is formed at the positive pole which is green with nickel, pink with cobalt, and blue with copper .; then, at the end of several hours, the protoxides change, take a more or less dark colour, and change into peroxides. Leaving the electrolysis to continue for several months, I found that, generally speaking, the oxide surrounding the positive pole ends by being partially reduced; thus, the peroxide of nickel passes back into the form of protoxide, becoming green; that of cobalt, which was maroon, becomes pink; and that of iron loses its reddish colour, and turns almost white. This transformation requires about two months for nickel and cobalt; for peroxide of iron it only commences at the end of seven or eight months. It seems to me that these deoxidisations might be compared to those produced on certain peroxides by oxygenated water.

*Comptes Rendus