- Email: [email protected]
Hot water supply from sunshine
476
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
H o t W a t e r Supply from Sunshine. ANON. (Scienti/~c American, vol. cxv, No. 7, August I2, I g ~ 6 . ) - - T h e hot water used by one-half of the residents of Monrovia, Calif., is heated by the sun; and many other establishments, domestic and otherwise, in other localities along the Pacific Coast are at the present time supplied with sun-heated water. The sun imparts its warmth to water exposed in a coil on the roof or at some other favorable location ; and, as the temperature of the water in the coil becomes greater than that of the supply source, a circulation is set up and the warmed water moves along through the coils to a storage tank, from which it is drawn for use. The sun coil in which the operation of heating the water takes place consists of a shallow box about four inches deep, with a copper bottom; and back and forth through this box is an arrangement of pipes through which the water passes. Copper is selected as it is the best conductor of heat, and the pipes are secured in intimate contact with the copper bottom, being soldered to it so as to secure the greatest efficiency. The box is covered with glass and placed at some point where it will receive the greatest amount of exposure to the sun's rays. The California coast seems to be the ideal place for the sunshine water heater, and most of those in use are to be found on the Pacific slope. But there is no reason why they should not be used in other sections of the country, especially through the South, where the sun is regarded as reasonably reliable in the matter of its daily visits. Gasoline Switching L o c o m o t i v e . ANON. (Railway Age Gazette, vol. 6I, No. 6, August II, I 9 1 6 . ) - - T h e Erie Railroad has adopted a unique plan for taking care of its business in the vicinity of its Erie Street freight station in the city of Chicago. A gasoline locomotive with a hauling capacity of 500 tons distributes cars brought up the Chicago River on barges to the team and horse tracks for loading and unloading. The engine was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and is of the following dimensions: Weight in working order, 44,00o pounds ; wheel base (4-wheel coupled), 6 feet 6 inches; length over all, I8 feet 8 inches; number of cylinders, 4; cylinder diameter and stroke, 9 inches by I6 inches; diameter of driving wheels, 42 inches. The engine is equipped with a Kingston carburetor. It has both magneto and battery ignition, two speeds, 3 ~ and 8 miles per hour, chain drive, the Hele-Show multiple disc type clutches for the main clutch and jaw clutches for the transmission clutch. The capacity of the gasoline tank is 35 gallons. The locomotive is equipped with an electric self-starter, headlight, and the various safety devices prescribed by the Interstate Commerce Commission for switching locomotives, modified to suit the special construction of this engine.
CURRENT TOPICS.
[J. F. I.
H o t W a t e r Supply from Sunshine. ANON. (Scienti/~c American, vol. cxv, No. 7, August I2, I g ~ 6 . ) - - T h e hot water used by one-half of the residents of Monrovia, Calif., is heated by the sun; and many other establishments, domestic and otherwise, in other localities along the Pacific Coast are at the present time supplied with sun-heated water. The sun imparts its warmth to water exposed in a coil on the roof or at some other favorable location ; and, as the temperature of the water in the coil becomes greater than that of the supply source, a circulation is set up and the warmed water moves along through the coils to a storage tank, from which it is drawn for use. The sun coil in which the operation of heating the water takes place consists of a shallow box about four inches deep, with a copper bottom; and back and forth through this box is an arrangement of pipes through which the water passes. Copper is selected as it is the best conductor of heat, and the pipes are secured in intimate contact with the copper bottom, being soldered to it so as to secure the greatest efficiency. The box is covered with glass and placed at some point where it will receive the greatest amount of exposure to the sun's rays. The California coast seems to be the ideal place for the sunshine water heater, and most of those in use are to be found on the Pacific slope. But there is no reason why they should not be used in other sections of the country, especially through the South, where the sun is regarded as reasonably reliable in the matter of its daily visits. Gasoline Switching L o c o m o t i v e . ANON. (Railway Age Gazette, vol. 6I, No. 6, August II, I 9 1 6 . ) - - T h e Erie Railroad has adopted a unique plan for taking care of its business in the vicinity of its Erie Street freight station in the city of Chicago. A gasoline locomotive with a hauling capacity of 500 tons distributes cars brought up the Chicago River on barges to the team and horse tracks for loading and unloading. The engine was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works and is of the following dimensions: Weight in working order, 44,00o pounds ; wheel base (4-wheel coupled), 6 feet 6 inches; length over all, I8 feet 8 inches; number of cylinders, 4; cylinder diameter and stroke, 9 inches by I6 inches; diameter of driving wheels, 42 inches. The engine is equipped with a Kingston carburetor. It has both magneto and battery ignition, two speeds, 3 ~ and 8 miles per hour, chain drive, the Hele-Show multiple disc type clutches for the main clutch and jaw clutches for the transmission clutch. The capacity of the gasoline tank is 35 gallons. The locomotive is equipped with an electric self-starter, headlight, and the various safety devices prescribed by the Interstate Commerce Commission for switching locomotives, modified to suit the special construction of this engine.