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ing of dynamos driven by internal-combustion engines, or they may take their power from a trolley or lighting system. In either case, an auxiliary storage-battery installation insures absolutely reliable service, even in event of failure of the main source of current. This is of special value where a bridge is over a widely used stream. The main principles of operation and the requirements are practically the same as obtain when storage batteries are used for stand-by service. A typical installation, where the movable span of the bascule pattern is 186 feet long and weighs 1,100,100 pounds itself, in addition to a 3,000,000-pound concrete counterbalance, consists of two batteries, one to furnish power for the bridge motors, the other for signals and lighting. The larger battery consists of 120 type F11 "Chloride Accumulator" elements in lead-lined wooden tanks. Each element has a normal capacity of 400 ampere-hours at 240 volts. The general arrangement of the tanks in the battery-room is shown at Fig. 87. The views at Fig. 88 show the bridge in open and closed positions.

Edison Storage-Battery Mine Lamp.-The greatest danger in mines to-day is from the use of unprotected flames wherever the deadly fire damp is likely to be encountered. Artificial light is an essential which formerly could not be obtained with safety unless provided in such minute quantity as to seriously curtail production. The Davy safety oil lamp is well known and has been widely used, but electric lighting gives much superior results. Much ingenuity has been shown in trying to adapt portable electric lamps to this work, but the stumbling-block always has been the production of current for their operation. The only practical source of energy is naturally some sort of battery, and many attempts have been made to modify the old types of cells so that they would serve the purpose satisfactorily. The advocates of the primary battery soon found that the inherent defects of this type were greatly magnified when an endeavor was made to produce a portable form of small size and weight with sufficient capacity to keep an electric lamp burning any considerable time. Aside from this, the electrical energy is produced in a primary battery by the consumption of the zinc plates, so that there was constant expense and trouble for their renewal. The primary cell was early elimi

nated from serious consideration, and experiments made with secondary or storage batteries have until lately been far from successful. The Edison mine lamp, shown at Fig. 89, is considered a practical solution of this problem, because of the "meddle-proof" qualities of the Edison alkaline battery. The cells used are the same in principle as the nickel-iron alkaline batteries developed for other purposes, but are small and very light.

The cells fit snugly into a light case of rust-proof steel, which is primarily a box in which to carry the battery. There is no insulation between the cells, and the case and the contact springs on the cell poles hold the battery securely when the cover is in place.

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Fig. 89.-The Edison Storage Battery Mine Lamp Outfit and

How It is Used.

The cover has a separable hinge, which permits its entire removal when open and facilitates charging the batteries in "banks." Covers and cases, equipped with self-contained locks, are interchangeable. The two cells are connected in series, the positive pole of one and the negative of the other being grounded to their containers, and the containers connected together. The free terminals carry the spiral contact springs, which press against nickeled-steel contact plates in the cover. The contact plates are insulated from the cover and receive the cable terminals. A twin-conductor, rubber-covered cable connects the battery to the cap lamp. At each end the cable is thoroughly armored, preventing injury from sharp bending. While lamp and reflector are being carried in the hand or at other times the armor takes up all the weight, so there is no possibility of strain coming upon the wires at the terminals. An ingenious arrangement permits the easy replacement of the cable should it be cut or otherwise injured in service. The cap lamp consists of a nickel-plated brass reflector provided with a hook to fit into the regulation miner's cap. A tungsten lamp is forced into a spring socket by means of a clip at its tip in such a way that if the lamp be broken the base is immediately disconnected and the lamp extinguished. This safety feature has been thoroughly tested by the Bureau of Mines and unqualifiedly approved under Schedule 6A.

CHAPTER VI

GLOSSARY OF STORAGE BATTERY TERMS

Acid. As used in this book refers to sulphuric acid (H2SO4), the active component of the electrolyte.

Acidometer. A hydrometer for testing specific gravity of acid, and specially graduated for that purpose.

Active Material. The active portion of the battery plates; peroxide of lead on the positives and spongy metallic lead on the negatives of lead-plate types.

Alternating Current.-Electric current which does not flow in one direction only, like direct current, but rapidly reverses its direction or "alternates" in polarity so that it will not charge a battery.

Alloy.—A mixture of two or more metals produced by fusion, i. e., brass is an alloy of copper and zinc melted together; German silver is an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc.

Ampere. The unit of measure of the rate of flow of electric current. Ampere-Hour. The unit of measure of the quantity of electric current; thus, 2 amperes flowing for 1⁄2 hour equals 1 ampere-hour.

Anode. The opposite plate to the cathode as the carbon plate of a primary battery. The anode is the terminal the current passes into from the solution.

Antimony.-A bright, bluish-white, brittle and easy-pulverized metal combined in small quantities with lead to form a harder alloy suitable for storage-battery plate grids.

Arc-Burning. Making a joint by means of electric current, which melts the metal of the parts to be joined together.

Asphaltum.—A natural, tarry substance, not affected by acid, and also an electrical insulator, widely used as a basis for cell-sealing compounds.

Battery. Any number of complete cells assembled in one set.

Battery Terminals.-Devices attached to the positive post of one end cell and the negative of the other, by means of which the battery is connected to the outer circuit.

Buckling.-Warping or bending of the battery plates.

Burning-Strip.-A convenient form of lead, in strips, for filling up the joint in making burned connections.

Busbar.—A main conductor, usually of heavy section, to which a number of circuit ends having the same characteristics are attached, to save wiring. All positive plates of a storage cell may be said to be attached to a busbar, the negative plates likewise. Instead of having a 190

separate conductor coming from each plate and joined to the outer circuit, the plates of a given polarity are grouped by attaching to a busbar. Carbon. One of the chemical elements. A black solid, that may exist as coal, charcoal or graphite, or, after it has been subjected to intense heat and pressure, as a white diamond. A conductor of electricity, having considerable resistance. It is used as a neutral plate in primary batteries, for lead-burning electrodes and for rheostat work. It is not affected by acid. Most of the carbon used in electrical work is manufactured and is not a natural product, as graphite.

Carboy.-A large glass bottle carried in a wooden case for easy handling. Used to hold acid, electrolyte or water.

Cathode. The terminal of an clectric circuit from which the current passes into the solution. The zinc plate of a primary battery is a cathode. The cathode is always the element of a battery most acted upon by the electrolyte.

Case. The containing-box which holds the battery cells.

Cell. The battery unit, consisting of an element complete with electrolyte, in its jar with cover.

Cell Connector.—The metal link which connects the positive post of one cell to the negative post of the adjoining cell.

Central Station.-A complete power plant equipped with large dynamos for supplying electric energy to an entire district.

Charge. Passing direct current through a battery in the direction opposite to that of discharge, in order to put back the energy used on discharge.

Charge Rate. The proper rate of current to use in charging a battery from an outside source. It is expressed in amperes, and varies for different-sized cells.

Chemical Change. The uniting of certain primary or basic substances to form secondary ones, or the breaking apart of complex substances to determine their essential elements. Chemical combination is when elements form a new substance. For instance, hydrogen and oxygen gases combined in the proper proportions will form the liquid we know as water. Decomposition is the reverse of combining elements, Water may be decomposed and hydrogen and oxygen gas liberated by electrolysis.

Chemical Element. These are basic substances, of which everything in the universe is composed. They may be solid, such as iron, zinc, lead or carbon; they may exist as a gas, such as hydrogen and oxygen, or as a liquid, such as bromine. Some elements combine rapidly with nearly all the others, and some cannot combine except with certain ones. Oxygen is the most active element, and will combine with many of the rest. There are about seventy-five of these elements, though practically everything on earth may be made by various combinations of less than twenty

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