Popular Science Monthly 



907 



Bird Protection for Electric Lines 



SOCIETIES for the protection of 

 birds have insisted with particular 

 emphasis that central station managers 

 should provide suitable safeguards to 

 prevent the electrocution of birds which 

 perch on high-tension lines. These 

 endeavors have generally been wel- 

 comed by the power companies, not 

 because they pity the birds, but because 

 short-circuits might be produced and 

 great damage caused. The arcs pro- 

 duced through the body of a bird, 

 between the line and grounded iron 

 parts, are a serious menace for electric 

 plants. Fluctuation in voltage is caused 

 and .worse still may happen if two birds 

 should produce short-circuits. For this 

 reason the system illustrated in the ac- 

 companying figures was evolved by one 

 of the large German electric companies. 

 In order to prevent the production of 

 electric arcs between a grounded pole- 

 arm and live conductors, an insulat- 

 ing button is fixed wherever there 

 is a risk of such bridging. These 

 insulating buttons are either 

 pointed or flat. A bird can 

 perch upon them with 

 impunity. Such arrange- 

 ments will be welcomed 

 by all bird lovers. 



A convenient lifter for hot dishes 



It Saves the Cook's Hands 



NO modern cook need make a burnt 

 offering of her fingers on baking 

 day, for it is no longer necessary to draw 

 hot, handleless pie-pans and pudding- 

 bowls from the oven with hands poorly 

 protected by dish towel or apron. For 

 a few cents she can buy a simple 

 mechanical lifter which solves the 

 difficulty. This consists of wire 

 loops to hold the hot dish, and 

 a safe wooden handle with a 

 thumb latch for adjusting 

 the lifting loops. To re- 

 lease the dish simply 

 requires a slight 

 pressure on the lever. 



Inclined arms are an 

 effectual safeguard 



The production of electric arcs 

 between a grounded pole-arm 

 and a live conductor is avoided 

 by means of an insulating button 



Wooden poles only re- 

 quire insulating supports 



