SMOKE ABATEMENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 1 December 1927, Page 8

SMOKE ABATEMENT

AUSTRIAN INVENTION SAVING IN FUEL. AUTOMATIC DEVICE. Vienna, Nov. 16. The elimination of all smoko and cinders, at the same time providing complete combustion and effecting a 14 per eent saving in the fuel of steam locomotives has been achieved by a new Austrian patent which promises to revolutionise every type of steam generating fireboxes. burning every gtado of coal from anthracite to peat. The principle of tho patent was applied to steam locomotives several years ago as part of the regular equipment, but then it was so complicated it required an extra «iigiaeer for operation. The inventor, Iheodore Langer, before he died a month ago. perfected the original device «o that it works automatically and after the most exhaustive tests by Austrian railroad experts it has been adopted as standard equipment and work already has been begun on tho installation of tho apparatus in 400 locomotives.

The German. Polish. Italian und other Governments have scut com missions of experts to investigate the apparatus preliminary to adopting the patent for their respective railways. Besides tho importance of elimln ating tho danger of forest fires, discomforts and annoyances to travellers from the smoke and cinders, Iho patent alreadv has been installed in factory boilers and fireboxes in apartment houses with success In the city of Budapest, whore it first was used and adopted in an uidinunce requiring installation on all coal burning factories and apartment heating plants. “While Ml the installations here have not vet been made, the results already are so marked as to encourage the belief that Budapest, although one of the greatest industrial cities in central Europe, will be entirely free from the smoke nuisance, which is tho curse of most great cities to-day ” says a Budapest manu facturer.

The principle of tho invention provides for a bank of team shot up in the centre of the firebox, blocking tho normal escape of the sparks and combustible gases which keep circulating around the sides until they are completely burned. Tho steam and a certain amount of the gases arc caught by an air draft converter in the chimney which stops the particles from escaping through falling down to remain with the asnes and other residue. The Austrian federal railway experts in their report, after trials of two years, give tho following results: A reduction in fuel consumption of l 14 per cent. _ | Absolute freedom from smoke, I dust and sparks. i The possibility of utilising low j, grade fuel, even with locomotives of [ the highest capacity. i Simplification of stoking, elimination of clinkers allowing extended runs without necessitating breaking down tho fire or cleaning the firebox.

Nothing required for upkeep or repairs in its lifetime which for all practical purposes, is unlimited. The installation of the apparatus requires only two days. The fuel bod remains intact during stops, and with a normal fire a locomotive can be ready for instant service for twelc.ve hours.