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extreme bottom of hydraulic main, allowing the heavy tar to pass off and accumulate in this pipe. This tar is drawn off in barrels or tar sewer once a day, water being admitted in the main at the time it is drawn off. The overflow of main is drawn off by a 2-inch pipe connected with large tar pipe at proper height to maintain the desired seal in dip pipe.

Down-Blast Arrangement for Water Gas Apparatus.-An arrangement for down-blast, that has been in successful operation in Johnstown, Pa., for some time, is shown in Fig. 5 (sections AA and BB), and Mr. A. Walters writes in regard to it as follows:

"Our plant is a Granger-Collins setting, remodeled after plans submitted by Mr. W. H. Wade, who designed the down-blast arThe generators and superheaters were lengthened, and a carburetor added. There was not sufficient room for the regulation down-run arrangement, and Mr. Wade was instructed to design a down-blast.

"Mode of operating our down-blast arrangement is as follows: In regular up-blast operation, valve on down-blast vent pipe is closed. When down-blast is used, superheater stack-valve is closed, all regular up-blast valves closed, and down-blast admitted through valve opening into connection between generator and carburetor, escaping through down-blast vent pipe connection at bottom of generator. The down-blast vent-pipe is carried outside of building. We have no regular periods for using down-blast, its use depending upon condition of generator fire, heat in carburetor and superheater, etc. With the use of this arrangement, deep and equally heated fuel beds are easily maintained, and checker work in carburetor and superheater can be prevented from overheating, preventing burning of oil, etc."

Scheme for Removing Tar or Other Deposits from Pipe Leading to Seal-Pot in Water Gas Apparatus.-Mr. W. H. Odiorne furnishes plan of a contrivance to accomplish this purpose. It is shown in Fig. 6, and described as follows:

It consists of a small hand-hole in take-off pipe in water gas machine. It is placed near the operating floor just above the sealpot. My idea in placing it there was to facilitate the removal of any tar or soot that might deposit and clog up the pipe where the gas entered the seal-pot, this being the point where we were most bothered with the old machine, and it has proved very convenient for removing any obstruction at that point, but we discovered another use for it. About every other day we open it, after we are through making gas, shut the stack valve, and blast through it, the intense heat and flame being carried from top of superheater

down the pipe and out through the hand-hole, completely removing any collection of whatever kind, leaving the pipe as clean as

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when it was put up. The hand-hole is fitted with cover, clamp and screw, and the operation occupies but a few minutes.

Simple Apparatus for Testing Carbureted Water Gas During Operation of Machine.-Mr. Donald McDonald, of Louisville, Ky., furnishes a sketch, as shown in Fig. 7, and gives the following explanation of it:

"On a water gas apparatus it is easy to tell by the test light when the carbureted gas is good. It is, however, impossible to tell whether this result is being achieved by making good blue gas and enriching it with a moderate amount of oil, or whether it is achieved by making bad blue gas, and using an excessive quantity of oil. All authorities agree in saying that an excess of steam produces carbonic acid instead of carbonic oxide, and an analysis of the gas will show when this has occurred. It is, however, worth very little to go to the gas maker and tell him that at II o'clock the day before yesterday he was putting too much steam into his generator. My 'Wrinkle' is intended to enable the gas maker to see at a glance when this is going on. In order to do this, I take advantage of the fact that the presence of an excessive quantity of carbonic acid extinguishes a flame, and any quantity makes it more or less tender. The flame must, however, burn at a uniform pressure, otherwise the indications would be valueless. I therefore take a stream of gas just after it leaves the generator, and before it has been enriched. I bring it up under the small bell A, floating in the cup B. A has four holes in the top, ranging in diameter from 1-32 to 1-16 of an inch. It has also several openings down the side opposite the four holes, and a stop-cock on the inlet pipe to govern the amount of gas entering. The result is that, whenever gas is being made, the bell A is afloat, and four streams of gas are issuing from the top at a uniform pressure. These are lighted. If all four of them burn, the gas is good; if one or more of them go out, it shows the presence of carbonic acid. Also, when gas is being made rapidly, the bell floats high up in the cup. If it is being made slowly, it settles down until it submerges all of the holes in the side. A pilot light keeps it burning, and we find it quite a valuable aid in making water gas. Of course a conical valve, like the one in a governor, would be better than the four holes in the side of the float."

Test to Determine Condition of Oxide Bed While in Use.—Fig. 8 on following page illustrates an easy method of determining whether the bed of oxide is doing service or not.

Mr. Byron E. Chollar, of St. Louis, describes the arrangement as follows:

"It frequently happens that both the inlet and outlet sides of a purifying bed will show an equally foul test with lead paper while

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the bed may yet be doing work. The illustration shows how this condition may be ascertained. A pipe and stop-cock leading from each side of the bed, rubber tubes with glass nozzles of equal size attached, and a weak solution of permanganate of potash are all that is required. Put equal quantities of equal strength of the solution in the test tubes, insert the glass tubes, and turn on the gas in both at the same time. Foul gas will make the solution clear almost immediately. If the bed is doing work, the inlet side will clear up quicker than the outlet side.

"Two or three grains, or, perhaps, less, of permanganate to the quart of clean water is sufficient. Keep the solution in a well stoppered bottle, and don't make up too much at a time."

Electric Hand Lamp for Dangerous Places.-Mr. Frederick Egner calls attention to the electric glow lamp, arranged in a case 94 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. The lamp will give from 6,000 to 8,000 flashes, and is a very useful thing for a gas man who is obliged to go into places where a light is desirable, but where, on account of the presence of gas, it would be dangerous to use a match or ordinary oil lamp. These lamps are useful in purifying houses, and in street work, when one has to make gas connections, or repair a break after dark.

Old Trays for Oxide Revivification. Mr. S. F. Hayward, of New York city, suggests the use of old trays for revivifying oxide, by putting them on scantling, and raising them from the floor or ground, 4 or 6 inches. The oxide is revivified in one-half the time, as the air is drawn through from underneath, and seems to work up faster than it does where the material is placed on the floor, and the air is only exposed from the top. The only care necessary is to see that the action does not go on too rapidly, and the material take fire. The floor should also be of cement, brick or stone, so as to eliminate this danger. There should also be a floor underneath the trays, as considerable material sifts through in putting on and taking off.

Guide for Operator in Charge of Street Main Pressure.-Fig. 9 shows plan described by Mr. O. O. Thwing, of St. Louis, as follows:

"It consists simply of marking with a blue pencil, on the pressure sheet, the pressure line that is to be carried each day. This is done before the sheet is placed upon the pressure register. Our practice is to make a template of cardboard, corresponding to the sheet and the pressure order. The man who has charge of the pressure has simply to follow the blue line, and can have

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