SCIENCE 



LEntered at the Posi-Offlee of New Yoi-k, N. Y., as Second-Class Matter.J , 



A WEEKLY NEWSPAPER OF ALL THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. 



Eighth Year. 

 Vol. XV. No. 362. 



NEW YORK, January 10, 1890. 



Single Copies, Ten Cents. 

 $3.50 Per Year, in Advance. 



AN IMPROVED STEAM-DRIVEN FAN. 



The accompanying illustration shows a new design of fan 

 driven direct by a vertical steam engine, making a compact and 

 direct-acting piece of machinery. There is no question but that 

 the direct attached engine affords far superior advantages in fan 

 propulsion, there being no slipping or wearing of belts, the rate of 

 speed being easily increased or diminished as occasion requires, 

 perfect control of the fan as to starting and stopping instantly be- 



The engine shown is for either high or low pressure steam, and 

 runs with very little friction, as it has balanced valves. It is made 

 in sizes ranging from two to fifty horse-power where high-pressure 

 steam is used. 



By reference to the engraving, it will be noted that while doing 

 its work, the engine acts as a brace to the blower, the base of 

 which is made of the best angle steel. The amount of bearing 

 surface also deserves comment, being one of the engine's strong 

 points, considering its compact build. In a one-hundred-inch fan 



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STEAM-DRIVEN FAN. 



ing secured. Where economy of space is an object this combina- 

 tion possesses great advantages, as but little more room than that 

 taken up by the fan itself is required, which is less than that used 

 with a pulley and belt. In some makes of fans with direct attached 

 engines the engine has been attached so as to leave no space be- 

 tween it and the blower, but where perfectly noiseless action is im- 

 perative, some space should be left. And when the fan is required 

 for continuous use, the latter is the more satisfactory plan. 



the shaft is three inches and a quarter in diameter, and the bear- 

 ings are fifteen inches and three-quarters long. 



There can hardly be a doubt that the great variety of uses to 

 which blowers may be readily adapted was never realized in the 

 earlier periods of their manufacture; but when one reviews the 

 substantial growth each year in this one branch of the manufact- 

 uring business alone, it is no marvel that neither pains nor expense 

 are spared to produce patterns which in design, durability, and 



