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1054 RECORD AND GUIDE December 26, 1914 USEFUL APPLIANCES Novelties, Kew AppUcations of Familiar Devices and the Trend of Invention, Designed to Aid the Architect, Builder and Building Manager, Described Without Regard to Advertising Consideration. Why Things Bum. WE all know that certain substances will burn and others will not. Why this is so is explained in a comprehensive way by Howard D. Minchin, Ph.D.. in a pamphlet issued by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. When chemical union of substances takes place with sufficient energy to de¬ velop heat and light the process is called combustion. In a restricted sense com¬ bustion is understood to mean the union of any substance with oxygen with the evolution of heat and light, but the term is used in this article to mean the chem¬ ical union of such substances. The tem¬ perature at which this union occurs is known as the kindling, or ignition tem¬ perature, which is dependent upon the kind of material involved, the condition of the material, the pressure, etc. An inspection of a candle, oil or gas flame will show three principal regions. The interior region is dark and consists of cold gas, the next region is where oxygen is being united whh the gas—the lum¬ inous part. The third is the oxidizing region, the hottest part of the flame. The tongues of flame seen in the burning of wood or coal have the same structure. In order that substances may unite chemically it is necessary that each be brought to an active state, known as the nascent state. When this condition obtains the molecules are broken up into their atoms, and the substance as a whole is in a gaseous form. The discussion involves botli the kinetic theory of heat and the kinetic theory of gases. Thc kinetic theory of heat explains heat as a mode of molecular mo¬ tion, the heat being due to the continuous impact of the mole¬ cules against each other. The kinetic theory of gases considers that in a gas the molecules are in continuous motion, darting in various directions. The pressure of an enclosed gas is explained as being due to the impact of these molecules upon the walls of the enclosure. Anything that increases the velocity of the molecular motion of a mass increases its heat, and if this heat is not carried off the temperature rises. When the ig¬ nition point is reached chemical union takes place with the evolu¬ tion of heat and light. This increase of velocity may be brought about by: The di¬ rect addition of heat. The heat may be added by means of a lighted match or torch brought in contact with the material. The fric¬ tion of a belt on a pulley or of an axle in its bearings may furnish the cause. By chemical action. We have as an example the heat generated in a pile of dirty waste. The process here is that of oxidation. Heat is generated and. not being allowed to escape, the accumula¬ tion causes the rise of temperature until the point of ignition is reached and union takes place. The condition is known as spontaneous combustion. The conditions necessary to produce spon¬ taneous combustion are: Production of heat, an environment which is a non¬ conductor of heat, and material with a relatively low ignition point. Some substances possess the property of absorbing oxygen to a very high de¬ gree. This is known as occlusion and considerable heat is always generated. Some of these substances are finely di¬ vided coal, charcoal, coal containing iron pyrites, carbon bisulphide, and phos¬ phorus palladium and platinumate, two metals that occlude hydrogen so ener¬ getically that they will glow in the air and produce combustion. Some other conditions favoring spon¬ taneous combustion are: Wood near a hot steam pipe, wood in contact with coal, tow, flax, hemp, rags, leaves, cocoa- nut fibre, straw in manure heaps, saw¬ dust upon which oil has been spilled. Very dry wood has been known to ignite by spontaneous action. Built-in Kitchen Garbage Receiver. HERE is a device manufactured by the Majestic Company, of Hunting¬ ton, Indiana, and consists of a cast-iron circular front and hopper, which is fin¬ ished with a flat white primer to be fin¬ ally enameled by the decorator, when the kitchen is completed; or, in the event of installing in a residence already built, it can be given two coats of a good grade white enamel which will cause it to present a sanitary and neat appear¬ ance in the kitchen. The outside door and frame are also made of cast iron. The receiver can be installed in an old wall, as well as in a new one, by simply cutting an opening in the wall 18 inches wide and 29 inches high. It is a very simple matter to install it in an old brick wall, as there is sufficient flange to cover up any roughness caused by cutting the opening. The galvanized iron can is 15 inches in diameter and 18 inches in height. Just above the can is a mechanical device for holding a can of disinfectant, which is so arranged that when the hopper is opened to de¬ posit garbage, a small amount of dis¬ infectant is discharged into the garbage can, which prevents unpleasant odor and keeps the can in a sanitary condi¬ tion. There is also a 2-inch pipe con¬ nection on top of the steel body, and if the owner desires a vent pipe can be attached and conducted to the attic or to the vent stack from the bath room. In some cities an ordinance provides that the garbage can must be delivered to the alley, or in case of no alley, to the front curb line. In this case, two cans and an underground container are furnished with a flat lid, so that the can may be buried in the ground, and the garbage can may always be in position for the garbage man to collect it, as described in the Record and Guide Aug. 8, 1914. Smoke Waste. ]\/IaNY articles have appeared in ^•*' this department describing the different appliances available for pre¬ venting waste through smoke. The No¬ vember issue of the Technical World Magazine contained an interesting ac¬ count of how large companies have been forced to curtail smoke waste. George H. Cushing, the author, says: "Wounded in its pride, this country has at last awakened to its opportunity. The story of this awakening one day will make one of the biggest chapters in America's industry. "It is to go far too minutely into the chemistry of steel-making to tell why this is so, but it is true that when the war began, the steel business of the L'nited States cam^ very near to stop¬ ping. One of the elements in Bessemer steel is feorromanganese. We had ob¬ tained this mainly from Europe, or Ger¬ many, to be exact. With fresh supplies shut off and with small stocks on hand, we were in a bad way. *'Then we got one cargo and ar¬ ranged for others from South America. This eased the steel mind and estab¬ lished closer relations with our neigh¬ bor to the south, but it did not salve the wound to the national pride. In fact, we were stung to the quick when we learned from the Department of the Interior that these elements are available in quantity in this country and have been all along. "Our steel-makers give the as¬ surance that, before the war is •^ over, they will have developed 1^^ the deposits which yield those el- -^^^^ ements. This will make for the real independence—and hence the greater riches—of this country. This is the beginning of our home program. "Another shock to commercial and self-contained America came when it discovered that while the tin can is the emblem of cheap¬ ness, and while tin is the founda¬ tion of some-of our richest in¬ dustries, we mine no tin. All of it that we have and use comes from 'the other side.' The stipply was interrupted for a time and we were in a panic. 'Tt was with a sensation akin to pain that we learned that we have tin here and should have been working in it years ago. To wipe out this national disgrace— enterprising citizens of Cincin¬ nati have said they intend to pro¬ duce our tin. That will add to our riches. Surely, it will help to complete our home-trade pro- grain. "These things hurt, but 'the unkindest cut of all' came in con¬ nection with the thing which, with us, is almost as common as dirt. The United States produces about 40 per cent, of the total coal output of the world. This giant coal pile is a mine of rich¬ es. After two weeks of study 117 separate articles were found to pass off in smoke. All of these things we have burned, or thrown through the chimney in smoke in order that we might obtain the three element¬ ary things, light, heat and power. "For example, all of the anilin dyes are by-products of coal. Chicago, Pitts¬ burgh, Cincinnati and Cleveland belch great vats of gorgeous colors into the air daily and then send all the way to German^' to buy a supply. "Creosote oil is a by-product of coal. This is used to preserve wood and adds from 200 to 500 per cent, to its life. We buy between fifty million and sixty mil¬ lion gallons of it each year from Ger¬ many. This' element in the coal we either burn to make heat or spill it into the air as smoke.'* Smoke in New York City is not as serious a destructive agent as in some other cities, but the constantly increas- inq- cost of upkeep of buildings encour¬ ages more extended use of soft coal and the smoke evil is destined to grow worse rather than improve, unless means are taken to stop excessive chimney smoking.