- Email: [email protected]
Franklin Institute
March, 1885.]
Proceedings, etc.
Franklin
239
Institute.
[ Proceedin.qs of the £'tated J)feetin.q, held Wednesday, February 18, 1885.] H A L L t)F THE INSTITUTE, F e b r u a r y 18, 1885. MR. WILLIAM P. TATI-IAM, P r e s i d e n t , i n t h e C h a i r . P r e s e n t , 103 m e m b e r s , a n d 3 visitors. F i v e p e r s o n s w e r e r e p o r t e d as h a v i n g b e e n elected m e m b e r s a t t h e last m e e t i n g of t h e B o a r d . T h e u n a n i m o u s election of MR. HERBERT L . I-IEYL, as A c t u a r y , in place of Mr. D. S. H o l m a n , w h o d e c l i n e d a re-election, was r e p o r t e d b~y tile Secretary. Mr. B a r n e t L e V a n read t h e p a p e r of t h e e v e n i n g on " T h e E c o n o m y i n t h e Use of H i g h - P r e s s u r e S t e a m . " T h e p a p e r was discussed b y Messrs. Orr, B i l g r a m a n d t h e a u t h o r , a n d , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e discussion, h a s b e e n referred to t h e C o m m i t t e e on P u b l i c a t i o n . The Secretary's report embraced comments on the World's Fair at New O r l e a n s ; t h e last a n n u a l r e p o r t of t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r of P a t e n t s ; t h e failure of t h e N i c a r a g u a .Treaty a n d its i n f l u e n c e o n t h e projected c a n a l across t h a t p o r t i o n of t h e I s t h m u s ; t h e r e c e n t d i s a s t e r s f r o m t h e e x p l o s i o n of n a t u r a l gas i n P i t t s b u r g h , a n d t h e n e c e s s i t y of t a k i n g s t r i n g e n t m e a s u r e s to p r o v i d e a g a i n s t t h e m ; a n d t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of several i n t e r e s t i n g novelties. A m o n g t h e s e t h e r e w a s s h o w n o n t h e screen a n d described, a projected t o w e r 100 m e t e r s h i g h , w h i c h i t is p r o p o s e d to erect i n Paris, i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e U n i v e r s a l E x p o s i t i o n of 1889, w h i c h it is proposed to h o h l i n t h a t city. T h e d e s i g n of t h i s t o w e r is b y M. G. Eiffel, a n d its d e t a i l s are d e s c r i b e d in t h e Annales des Travaux Publics, ~ o v e m b e r , 1884. A v i e w of a n e w r o t a r y s t o n e - c u t t i n g m a c h i n e , h a v i n g some n o v e l features w a s s h o w n . The machine has a circular cutting-disk furnished with insertable teeth ; the d i s k is d r i v e n f r o m t h e periphery, b e i n g s i m p l y j o u r n a l e d loosely on t h e a x l e ; is fed s l o w l y ; a n d m a k e s its c u t b a c k w a r d s a n d u p w a r d s . T h i s m a c h i n e is t h e i n v e n t i o n of Messrs. J o h n If. C r u m p a n d R i c h a r d B r e r e t o n , of P h i l a d e l p h i a , a n d is f o u n d specially s e r v i c e a b l e for q u a r r y i n g slate. A d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n of t h i s m a c h i n e h a s b e e n r e f e r r e d for p u b l i cation. T h e S e c r e t a r y described, o n b e h a l f of Mr. R u s s e l l T h a y e r , C. E., of P h i l a d e l p h i a , a p l a n of a v o i d i n g t h e e x p l o s i o n of oil t a n k s f r o m l i g h t n i n g , b y " i n t r o d u c i n g s t e a m i n t o t h e t a n k b e t w e e n t h e roof of t h e s a m e a n d t h e surface of t h e oil." T h e t h e o r y of t h e a u t h o r is t h a t s u c h e x p l o s i o n s are caused b y c o n c u s s i o n , a n d t h a t if t h e gases g e n e r a t e d f r o m t h e oil a r e s a t u r a t e d w i t h w a t e r vapor, s u c h m i x t u r e of gas a n d w a t e r v a p o r is n o t explosible b y c o n c u s s i o n or o t h e r w i s e . T h e r e w e r e also s h o w n , on b e h a l f of Messrs. Jas. ~V. Q u e e n & Co., several a n a l y t i c a l b a l a n c e s of i m p r o v e d c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d of g r e a t d e l i c a c y a n d a c c u r a c y ; a n d a m i n e r ' s s a f e t y - l a m p , e m b o d y i n g several s u b s t a n t i a l i m provements.
240
Proceedings, etc.
[flour. Frank. Inst.
A new method of producing manifold copies of wr i t i n g was shown and described. I t is called the " C y c l o s t y l e , " and permits of the reproduction of several thousand p e r m a n e n t ilnpressions in black ink. The process is briefly as follows : A sheet of oiled, or tracing, paper is fixed in a rectangular frame, the bed of which is a smooth surface of metal. The circular or other matter is then written on this sheet of paper with the eylostyle pen. This consists of an ordinary wooden holder, at the end of which is a small spindle at right angles with the holder, on which spindle i s pivoted a minute circular disk of platinum, with a sharp milled edge. This wheel revolves in the direction of the w r i ti n g and cuts a stencil in the oiled paper. The copies produced closely resemble ordinary writing, the m i n u t e dots appearing to the unaided eye as a continuous line. I m m e d i a t e l y after the writing is finished, the p r i n t i n g may, if desired, be comme'nced. A n y paper m a y be used for printing, though unglazed paper is preferred for the reason that it dries more rapidly than one that is h i g h l y glazed. Tim printing is done by laying the sheet to be printed on the metal bed, placing the stencil down over it and passing an i n k i n g roller over the face of the stencil. Tim stencil is then raised, the printed impression re. moved, a fresh blank sheet substituted, and the operation is repeated. A n y error can be rectified by simply rubbing the stencil with the t h u m b nail, when the holes will be found to close and any other word or words can then be written in substitution. The original m ay be left for an y length of time, and further copies taken w h e n required. Copies can be obtained at the rate of several hundred per hour, and it is said that as m a n y as 2,000 copies can be made from a single stencil. The President named the following standing committees for the year : JLibrary.--Charles Bullock, J. Howard Gibson, Frederick Graft, Win. D. Marks, S. H. Needles, Isaac Norris, Jr., A. E. Outerbridge, Jr., T. D. Rand, Charles E. l¢onaldson, Lewis S. Ware. Minerals.--Clarence S. Bement, Persifor Frazer, F. A. Genth, E d w i n J. Houston, George A. Koenig, Otto Liithy, E. F. Moody, H. Pemberton, Jr., Theo. D. Rand, Win. H. Wahl. Modcls.--Edward Brown, H. L. Butler, C. Chabot, L. L. Cheney, 7N. H. Edgerton, J o h n Goehriug, Morris L. Orum, Chas. J. Shain, J o h n J. Weaver, S. Lloyd Wiegand. Arts and Jlanufactures.--J. Sellers Bancroft, George B u r n h a m . Cyrus Chambers, Jr., George V. Cresson, Wnl. Hehne, W m . B. Le Van, Alfred Mellor, J. ~V. ~Nystrom, H e n r y Pemberton, J o h n J. Weaver. ~)[eteorology.--David Brooks, J. B. Burleigh, W i l l i a m A. Cheyney, J. A. Kirkpatrick, F. B. Maury, Isaac Norris, Jr., Hector Orr, Alex. Purves, Win. H. Wahl. ]leetings.--Chas. H. Banes, H u g o Bilgram, A. B. Burk, G. M. Eldridge, Fred~k Graft, H e n r y R. Heyl, W a s h i n g t o n Jones, H. Pemberton, Jr., E. Alex. Scott, Coleman Sellers. After the transaction of some formal business, the meeting was adjourned. WM. H. WA . . . . gecreta~q.
Proceedings, etc.
Franklin
239
Institute.
[ Proceedin.qs of the £'tated J)feetin.q, held Wednesday, February 18, 1885.] H A L L t)F THE INSTITUTE, F e b r u a r y 18, 1885. MR. WILLIAM P. TATI-IAM, P r e s i d e n t , i n t h e C h a i r . P r e s e n t , 103 m e m b e r s , a n d 3 visitors. F i v e p e r s o n s w e r e r e p o r t e d as h a v i n g b e e n elected m e m b e r s a t t h e last m e e t i n g of t h e B o a r d . T h e u n a n i m o u s election of MR. HERBERT L . I-IEYL, as A c t u a r y , in place of Mr. D. S. H o l m a n , w h o d e c l i n e d a re-election, was r e p o r t e d b~y tile Secretary. Mr. B a r n e t L e V a n read t h e p a p e r of t h e e v e n i n g on " T h e E c o n o m y i n t h e Use of H i g h - P r e s s u r e S t e a m . " T h e p a p e r was discussed b y Messrs. Orr, B i l g r a m a n d t h e a u t h o r , a n d , t o g e t h e r w i t h t h e discussion, h a s b e e n referred to t h e C o m m i t t e e on P u b l i c a t i o n . The Secretary's report embraced comments on the World's Fair at New O r l e a n s ; t h e last a n n u a l r e p o r t of t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r of P a t e n t s ; t h e failure of t h e N i c a r a g u a .Treaty a n d its i n f l u e n c e o n t h e projected c a n a l across t h a t p o r t i o n of t h e I s t h m u s ; t h e r e c e n t d i s a s t e r s f r o m t h e e x p l o s i o n of n a t u r a l gas i n P i t t s b u r g h , a n d t h e n e c e s s i t y of t a k i n g s t r i n g e n t m e a s u r e s to p r o v i d e a g a i n s t t h e m ; a n d t h e d e s c r i p t i o n of several i n t e r e s t i n g novelties. A m o n g t h e s e t h e r e w a s s h o w n o n t h e screen a n d described, a projected t o w e r 100 m e t e r s h i g h , w h i c h i t is p r o p o s e d to erect i n Paris, i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e U n i v e r s a l E x p o s i t i o n of 1889, w h i c h it is proposed to h o h l i n t h a t city. T h e d e s i g n of t h i s t o w e r is b y M. G. Eiffel, a n d its d e t a i l s are d e s c r i b e d in t h e Annales des Travaux Publics, ~ o v e m b e r , 1884. A v i e w of a n e w r o t a r y s t o n e - c u t t i n g m a c h i n e , h a v i n g some n o v e l features w a s s h o w n . The machine has a circular cutting-disk furnished with insertable teeth ; the d i s k is d r i v e n f r o m t h e periphery, b e i n g s i m p l y j o u r n a l e d loosely on t h e a x l e ; is fed s l o w l y ; a n d m a k e s its c u t b a c k w a r d s a n d u p w a r d s . T h i s m a c h i n e is t h e i n v e n t i o n of Messrs. J o h n If. C r u m p a n d R i c h a r d B r e r e t o n , of P h i l a d e l p h i a , a n d is f o u n d specially s e r v i c e a b l e for q u a r r y i n g slate. A d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n of t h i s m a c h i n e h a s b e e n r e f e r r e d for p u b l i cation. T h e S e c r e t a r y described, o n b e h a l f of Mr. R u s s e l l T h a y e r , C. E., of P h i l a d e l p h i a , a p l a n of a v o i d i n g t h e e x p l o s i o n of oil t a n k s f r o m l i g h t n i n g , b y " i n t r o d u c i n g s t e a m i n t o t h e t a n k b e t w e e n t h e roof of t h e s a m e a n d t h e surface of t h e oil." T h e t h e o r y of t h e a u t h o r is t h a t s u c h e x p l o s i o n s are caused b y c o n c u s s i o n , a n d t h a t if t h e gases g e n e r a t e d f r o m t h e oil a r e s a t u r a t e d w i t h w a t e r vapor, s u c h m i x t u r e of gas a n d w a t e r v a p o r is n o t explosible b y c o n c u s s i o n or o t h e r w i s e . T h e r e w e r e also s h o w n , on b e h a l f of Messrs. Jas. ~V. Q u e e n & Co., several a n a l y t i c a l b a l a n c e s of i m p r o v e d c o n s t r u c t i o n , a n d of g r e a t d e l i c a c y a n d a c c u r a c y ; a n d a m i n e r ' s s a f e t y - l a m p , e m b o d y i n g several s u b s t a n t i a l i m provements.
240
Proceedings, etc.
[flour. Frank. Inst.
A new method of producing manifold copies of wr i t i n g was shown and described. I t is called the " C y c l o s t y l e , " and permits of the reproduction of several thousand p e r m a n e n t ilnpressions in black ink. The process is briefly as follows : A sheet of oiled, or tracing, paper is fixed in a rectangular frame, the bed of which is a smooth surface of metal. The circular or other matter is then written on this sheet of paper with the eylostyle pen. This consists of an ordinary wooden holder, at the end of which is a small spindle at right angles with the holder, on which spindle i s pivoted a minute circular disk of platinum, with a sharp milled edge. This wheel revolves in the direction of the w r i ti n g and cuts a stencil in the oiled paper. The copies produced closely resemble ordinary writing, the m i n u t e dots appearing to the unaided eye as a continuous line. I m m e d i a t e l y after the writing is finished, the p r i n t i n g may, if desired, be comme'nced. A n y paper m a y be used for printing, though unglazed paper is preferred for the reason that it dries more rapidly than one that is h i g h l y glazed. Tim printing is done by laying the sheet to be printed on the metal bed, placing the stencil down over it and passing an i n k i n g roller over the face of the stencil. Tim stencil is then raised, the printed impression re. moved, a fresh blank sheet substituted, and the operation is repeated. A n y error can be rectified by simply rubbing the stencil with the t h u m b nail, when the holes will be found to close and any other word or words can then be written in substitution. The original m ay be left for an y length of time, and further copies taken w h e n required. Copies can be obtained at the rate of several hundred per hour, and it is said that as m a n y as 2,000 copies can be made from a single stencil. The President named the following standing committees for the year : JLibrary.--Charles Bullock, J. Howard Gibson, Frederick Graft, Win. D. Marks, S. H. Needles, Isaac Norris, Jr., A. E. Outerbridge, Jr., T. D. Rand, Charles E. l¢onaldson, Lewis S. Ware. Minerals.--Clarence S. Bement, Persifor Frazer, F. A. Genth, E d w i n J. Houston, George A. Koenig, Otto Liithy, E. F. Moody, H. Pemberton, Jr., Theo. D. Rand, Win. H. Wahl. Modcls.--Edward Brown, H. L. Butler, C. Chabot, L. L. Cheney, 7N. H. Edgerton, J o h n Goehriug, Morris L. Orum, Chas. J. Shain, J o h n J. Weaver, S. Lloyd Wiegand. Arts and Jlanufactures.--J. Sellers Bancroft, George B u r n h a m . Cyrus Chambers, Jr., George V. Cresson, Wnl. Hehne, W m . B. Le Van, Alfred Mellor, J. ~V. ~Nystrom, H e n r y Pemberton, J o h n J. Weaver. ~)[eteorology.--David Brooks, J. B. Burleigh, W i l l i a m A. Cheyney, J. A. Kirkpatrick, F. B. Maury, Isaac Norris, Jr., Hector Orr, Alex. Purves, Win. H. Wahl. ]leetings.--Chas. H. Banes, H u g o Bilgram, A. B. Burk, G. M. Eldridge, Fred~k Graft, H e n r y R. Heyl, W a s h i n g t o n Jones, H. Pemberton, Jr., E. Alex. Scott, Coleman Sellers. After the transaction of some formal business, the meeting was adjourned. WM. H. WA . . . . gecreta~q.