Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 10, 1917)
7 D INVENTOR PLANS DRIVE ONGASOLINE Combination of Electricity and Water Properly Placed is Said to Co the Things That Gasoline Does. MAXWEIX SUBMARINE MANEUVERS Omaha Maxwell car plowing its way through the street of Council Bluff re cently flooded. ' THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: JUNE 10, 1917. Gasoline formj the nucleus of power in practically all automobile engines of the present day, and many inventors and chemists have expend ed considerable energy and money in an effort to find a satisfactory substi tute for this all-important commodity, which has been rapidly and con stantly increasing in cost. One of the latest attempts in this direction is that of Mr. Ernest E. Punches, who nans trom Detroit, Mich. "Give me a suitable tank contain ing a set of plates submerged in water sna a source ot electric current, and I will drive your automobile engine without any gasoline whatsoever at reduced cost," says this sanguine in ventor. The secret of this remarkable in vention lies in the fact that if an elec tric current is passed between two plates submerged in water it decom- poses the water, evolving two gases, oxygen and hydrogen; the oxygen iccruing from this process is liber ated, while the hydrogen is collected Mid when suitably mixed with proper amount of air it forms a highly ttplosive mixture when ignited in the lutomobile engine cylinder. ihe proposed water-electric gas- generating plant would be fitted to a motor-car, the special dynamo, to gether with the decomposing cham ber and gas storage tank, being placed witn the engine under the same bon net The small Unipolar tvDe dvna- mo is connected by suitable gears or driving cnain to the timing gear on the crank shaft of the engine, and supplies a low voltage direct current. This current is passed through the electrolytic cell, alternate plates be ing charged positively and negatively. The plates are preferably perforated so as to promote circulation in the gas-generating cell, and by the close arrangement of the positively and negatively charged electrodes the gas feneration is both rapid and efficient. How the Combination Works. As before mentioned, the oxygenis liberated by suitable automatic valves, and the hydrogen is retained and passed through a mixing valve, sim ilar to the usual carburetor used on all gasoline engines, and which can be controlled from the driver's seat, following the standard practice in motor-car equipment. A suitable quaintity of air is taken in through the mixing valve, and which, when combined with the proper quantity oi nyorogen, tjrms a highly explosive gaseous compound. When this is fed into the engine cylinders and ig- nuea Dy an electric spark it produces a force many times more powerful than that obtained when gasoline vapor is used, some ot the hydro- gen gas produced by the electrolytic " cell (decomposition ot water) is stored in a suitable tank under pres sure, which makes it available for starting the car and emergency. The entire combination unit fits the car buretor side of the engine and is sup ported by the former manifold hold ing means ana also by the frame of the auto chassis. It has been found by Mr. Punchts from trial, and also by calculation, that the hydrogen gas generating outfit here described, and which it is proposed to substitute for gasoline, will require up to 5 per cent of the horsepower developed by the engine, this S per cent of the total engine horsepower being used to drive the decomposing current dy namo. Gas in Water. There are 1,257.52 cubic feet of hydrogen gas in one cubic foot of water, the gas at atmospheric pres sure, zero degree Centrigrade, and it will require 1,728 watts of electricitv to decompose a cubic foot of water in one hour. Compare this with the following data, obtained from a maimers Motor Car company: The maximum revolutions of the Chalmers motor is 3,000 per minute under full load. The motor develops i3-norsepower on an average at this speed, and under full load, with a well worked in motor. The suction displacement per revolution is 244-2 equals 112 cubic inches; equals .0648 cubic teet. men at J.uuu revolutions per minute and assuming 100 per cent volumetric, efficiency, the number of cubic feet drawn into the motor per minute is 3,000 times .0648, or 194.5, and 60 times 194.5, or 11,670, is the number of cubic feet drawn into the motor, of mixture each hour, run ning at maximum speed and under full load. The gasoline entering Into that mixture is 7 per cent by weight, and the amount by volume will not depart far from the 7 per cent, as there is no great difference between the weight of air and gasoline vapor. So, in face of the fact that an explosion of hydrogen in a pure state, when mixed with air, is a thousand times as powerful, as is the same per cent of gasoline vapor and air, we shall be way above in figuring a 10 per cent mixture of hydrogen gas with air. As 10 per cent of 11,670 is 1,167. the num ber of cubic feet of hydrogen, we must generate in an hour. Bearing in mind that there are 1,257.52 cubic feet of hydrogen in a cubic foot of water, and that 1,728 watts will de compose the cubic foot of water in an hour, land also that 746 into 1,728 goes about 2'A times, it is apparent that we will generate 90.52 cubic feet of gas per hour more than the Chalm ers motor can use at maximum speed, and under full load, taking less than 5 per cent of the 45-horsepower to drive the decomposing current gener ator. The inventor has demonstrated his invention before the entire engi neering staff of the Tecla Electrical laboratory of Detroit, Mich. Electri cal Experimenter. Mammoth Contract Is Made For Cars for New York The largest automobile contract ever made was closed recently by the Detroiters Motor company of Detroit, Mich., with the Carl Page company of New York City. The contract amounts to $7,925,000 and covers a period of five years for the sale in the metropolitan district of the Detroiter automobile. Many other large orders have been received by the company from established agencies, including a big order from Buffalo, N. Y., and from Denver, Colo. The company is also shipping a great many cars to foreign countries, Harvard Eccentric Piston Ring Now on Local Market A piston ring that promises to elim inate most of the engine troubles due to leakage has made its appearance on the market, and is being distributed in this state by J. H. Vandiver, 1419 Capitol avenue. Mr. Vandiver says the rine lies in a groove in the piston and is so constructed that it will ex pand freely against the cylinder wall, thus preventing the escape of gas; the interlocking, underlapping joint is an exclusive feature of the ring, preventing leakage of gas from the compression chamber. "Another patented feature of the HarWard ring is the oil pockets that tend to give flexibility, since they les sen the amount ot material in the ring, the bearing surface is also re duced, which makes the ring lighter. These oil pockets gather the oil from the surface where there is too much and distribute it to the dry surface, where it is needed. Ihey overlap so that the cylinder is completely en circled with oil. The eccentric groove inside the ring gives to it the flexi bility of the ends attained by the thin ends of plain rings. The uniform thickness of the edge prevents the ring from wearing the groove more at the outer edge than at the inner part." Careful Advertising Factor In Readjusting Business It is the patriotic duty of every business man to readjust his business to meet war conditions, so that the country will be able to give the men at the front every possible support," says Edward S. Babcock, advertising manager of the Firestone Tire & Rubber company. "American industries are mobile and should be able to readjust their methods and forces to meet these new conditions. Advertising campaigns carefully and wisely planned, will be one of the prime factors in this read justment, becoming more of a force in modern business than ever. They will be of greater assistance to the salesmen and with a well organized sales force, business will go on as usual." NOW WITH THE WESTERN MOTOR CAR COMPANY. Automobile One of World's Most Important Utilities "Physicians, real estate dealers, traveling salesmen, municipal depart ments and public service corporations are a few classes to whom the motor car is indispensable," says Joe Ger spacher of the Toozer-Gerspacher Motor company "Tens of thousands of automobiles are required each year to satisfy de mand from these sources, yet they are but a fraction of the cars bought wholly or principally for business purposes. The automobile is one of the world's most important utilities." ( Harrold G. Bell, who has recently joined forces with the Western Mo tor Car company, is showing sure enough signs of speed as a salesman, asserts E. V. Abbott, secretary of the company. Bell was tormerly with Pease Brothers, and although he is new on the auto row. he is delivering the goods. Auto Row Gossip R. B. Tracv of Chicago, branch manager of the Michelen Tire com pany of Milltown, N. J., spent Friday in umana. H. C. Bradfield. advertising man ager ot the King Motor Car compan; of Detroit, spent several davs witi the Noyes-Kiily Motor company last week arranging the route of the King tight test car which will be here during the week. G. F. Bailev. formerly automobile editor of the New York Globe, now western sales manager of the Redden truck company, spent several davs in umana last wee. ttailey reports a marked awakening in the west to mo tor truck possibilities. Advice regarding the first shimnent of Harroun cars into this section has been received by the Western Motor Car company and arrival is expected not later than luesday ot this week. Clean and Polish Your Car "The Wonder-Mist Way" Spray On-Wipe Off-That's All Removes mud, dust, dirt, grease and road oil with out the use of water and at less cost Leaves no wax deposit to collect dust. Apply with a spray which dis tributes a fine mist evenly over the entire surface. Wipe dry with cheese cloth. looking like new. keeps your car always A quart will clean your car about fifteen times. Quart can, complete with sprayer, $1.25. On sale at your dealers or call. 6 fffiraS POWELL SUPPLY COMPANY OMAHA Automobile supplies 2051 Farnam St. Phone Douglas 921 The photograph it that of Mr. "Bill" Frazier, the well known Omaha stockman. Concerning his new KING 8, Mr. Frazier writes as follows:' "There's a new arrival in the Frazier household. "All are doing nicely, thank you. "Say, you never taw anything to active in your life, and naturally we are all proud of it. It hat a marvelous appetite, fairly eats up the country roads. And quiet 1 You wouldn't guess there was one around if you didn't see it. It's easily han dled and requires very little care, but if you step on it wowl "It's never been peevish, cross, nor had the croup, and never keeps us up nights without our con sent. "What is it? "A KING 8, of course. UNFAILING SERVICE ON THE FARM, IN THE CITY OR BATTLEFIELD We are making immediate deliveries on all models. Series EE, 7 Passenger Touring $1650 Series EE, 4 Passenger Foursome. . . .$1700 Series EE, 3 Passenger Roadster $1585 Series EE, 7 Passenger Sedan $2300 (f. o. b. Detroit) King Motor Car Company, Detroit. The Studebaker Car A Car of Proved Economy ECONOMY is measured by value received. The man who studies and analyzes and compares usually gets the most for his money. Economy means wise buying. In Detroit, where thousands of people are directly connected with the production of auto mobiles, where people know from daily contact the organizations producing 80 of all Ameri can cars, there are more Studebaker cars registered than any other car selling at over In other words, where automobile materials are studied and automobile workmanship analyzed and compared, where practically everyone is motor-wise, Studebaker cars are bought in greatest numbers because they are known to be the best values on the market dollar for dollar of their prices. Detroit's judgment of Studebaker Value is vin dicated by the performance of Studebaker cars on the roads of America. In the Far West, on the stage routes of the Rocky Mountains, on the hardest, hilliest drives in the United States, Studebaker cars stand up and give the service at a minimum expense for upkeep and repairs. Four-Cylinder Models FOUR Roadster . ... $9SS FOUR Touring Car . . 985 FOUR Landau Roadster . 1 150 FOUR Every-Weather Car 1185 Alipncn l.o.b. Detroit STUDEBAKER-WILSON, Inc. Farnam Street and 25th Ave. OMAHA, NEB. This is proved by the official registration figures of California, which show that in California there are more Studebaker cars registered than any other car selling at over $500. Although Studebaker cars are probably the most powerful cars on the market in ratio to their weight, they are very economical in their consumption of gasoline. Their weight is so perfectly balanced that Studebaker owners frequently get from 8,000 to 10,000 miles on a single set of tires. Their remarkable accessibility reduces adjust ment and repair expense to a minimum. For these reasons Studebaker cars are distinctly economical to operate. Due to their high quality and mechanical per-' fection Studebaker cars have uniformly high values in case of a re-sale or trade-in. For this reason a Studebaker car is, very eco-, nomical to own. " Therefore, if you want to get the most for your money if you want to practice true economy' by purchasing wisely, follow the example of those who know by study, and by service rendered buy a Studebaker. Six-Cylinder Models SIX Koadater SIX Touring Car . . SIX Landau Roadster . SIX Touring Sedan s SIX Coupe . 61X Limousine . , . Allprk4t.a.i.DttnU $125 125 135S 170 17i 2i0t