586 TRANSACTIONS OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



to dispense with the use of them as steam locomotives altogether, 

 substituting another power of at least equal value for the pur- 

 poses of propulsion. 



Such a power is that of compressed air. 



I am not now prepared to exhibit models or drawings to illus- 

 trate the mode of its application, because it needs only to be 

 stated to be comprehended, and models or drawings would prove 

 nothing. Nothing short of actual demonstration in practice will 

 determinately prove anything. 



The car or locomotive designed to be propelled by compressed 

 air, is made to contain within itself a receiver capable of holding 

 it, which receiver may be composed of cap welded iron tubes. 

 These tubes may be laid on the bottom of the car under the floor, 

 and in that case if they be of six inch diameter and 30 feet long, 

 will have a capacity of 65 feet. If more are required they may 

 be laid in double tiers, and may also be incorporated into the 

 sides and top of the car. The cost of such tubing will be $1.65 

 and weigh about 12 pounds to the foot. The receiver will be 

 charged before starting, and recharged at the points necessary 

 on the route. The compressed air is then admitted to a small 

 air cylinder, as in the case of steam, which is connected with the 

 driving wheel. The tubes forming the receiver are connected 

 with each other and with a vertical tube which extends through 

 the top of the car, there turning in the direction of the route at a 

 right angle, with an air-tight valve. Into this projecting arm 

 the charge of air when required is admitted to fill the receiver. 

 The time consumed in charging and recharging, will not proba- 

 bly exceed six seconds. The car will be recharged on the route 

 w^ithout necessarily stopping for that purpose, by erecting over 

 the track a simple device to hold a charging vessel, mounted 

 on a track of its own, independently of the track of the car. 

 This charging vessel is furnished within an open bell mouth, in 

 the throat of which is a valve, and into which the projecting arm 

 of the receiver of the car is made to enter. The concussion 

 opens both valves together, — that of the charging vessel and that 

 of the car receiver — establishing thereby a complete communica- 

 tion between the two motors, and allowing the free passage of 

 the compressed fluid from the one to the other. 



The distance which may be run between supplying stations 

 •will of course be governed by the size of the receiver, and the 

 grade to be traversed^ The air will be compressed by the aid of 



