242 THE BATHYSPHERE OF 1^34 



ing the atmosphere wholesome, and for this purpose the 

 engineers of the Air Reduction Company designed and 

 constructed a device that functioned perfectly. This ma- 

 chine consists of four wire-bottomed brass trays tightly 

 fitted together into which the chemicals are placed, and an 

 electrical blower that sucks up the bathysphere's air and 

 passes it over and through the trays. Iron supports for the 

 trays and blower are welded to the bathysphere immedi- 

 ately to the left of the door. 



As first designed the blower was below the trays and 

 sucked air from the bottom of the sphere, but tests showed 

 this to be unwise, as the calcium chloride precipitated the 

 condensed moisture into the motor. Consequently the en- 

 tire apparatus was turned over so that the blower is now 

 on top of the trays, and a small pan is fastened below the 

 trays to catch the liquid. 



The blower operates at a speed sufficient to circulate the 

 entire atmosphere through fully charged chemical trays 

 once every minute and a half. 



Chemicals: The chemicals used in 1934 are the same as 

 those used before: — calcium chloride (No. 8 mesh) for 

 absorbing the moisture and Wilson Soda Lime (Sodasorb, 

 4-8 mesh) for taking care of the carbon dioxide. During 

 this year's preparations other chemicals were suggested 

 in place of these, but our earlier use showed that these had 

 functioned perfectly and there was no good reason for 

 changing them. 



