NOTES ON SCIENCE, MECHANI-CAL INVENTIONS, ETC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10127, 9 May 1896, Page 4 (Supplement)

NOTES ON SCIENCE, MECHANICAL INVENTIONS, ETC.

GUNNING WITH COMPRESSED AIR.

A new army rifle has been constructed by Paul Brand, of Berlin. It differs in its construction from all other guus in that no provision is made for the firing of a discharge, since the shooting of the projectile is caused by the sudden expansion of compressed gas. The greatest advantages claimed for the new .system are :— First, the trifling heat generated in the gun barrel; second, the absolute absence of smoke; and third, the impossibility of the formation of dross in the gun. The cartridges are also entirely differently constructed from the present style since there is nothing but the projectile itself, there is no danger handling it, and considerable space and weight are saved to the soldier and hunter. The reservoir carried with the gun contains a quantity of compressed gas, sufficient for 2500 discharges.* The force of a shot surpasses that of the present repeating army rifle one and ono-half times. About fifty shots may be delivered without interruption. The development of heat within the barrel amounts to o'o3, which is equivalent to the heat occasioned by the friction of tho ball alone when forced through the barrel. The new gun has been patented in all countries, and its manufacture in great quantities is now being provided for.

modus 0¥ motion. The theory that electricity, magnetism and chemical action are modes of motion, either of tho molecule or tho other, is held by Walker, an English physicist. He claims that this view, which he published three years ago, is confirmed by the Rontgen experiments. An electric current, according to this author, is a series of waves of greater length than the largest of the invisible heat waves, and of a transmission rate lower than those waves, electric magnetism, a series of, waves shorter than the ultra-violet) waves, and with a higher rate of transmission; magnetism, a wave motion imparted to the molecules of iron at their formation or to the ether surrounding tho molecules ; chemical action, a motion probably between the wave length of tho highest sound wavo and the waves of electricity. RSntgon rays, ho belioves, may be very short electro-magnetic waves.

TREATMENT OF STEEL. The cold-drawn process is now largely resorted to in the production of steel tubing and is a great factor in tho construction of tho bicycle, and involves machinery both ponderous and powerful. One of the methods employed consists in taking a pieco of steel in the shape of a bar or ingot. This is bored through the centre and it is then passed through a die, after which it is heated and treated to 11 bath in a secret preparation, which removes the temper which the drawing process imparts. This is repeated a number of times, each die used being smaller than its predecessor, with the result that tho tube grows smaller and longor. This is continued until the tubo is of tho right diameter and gauge, The drawing out of a pioce of steel in this manner, without beating it, is regarded as a notable example of the perfection of modern machinery.

MEASURING THE WIND,

How ib is possible to measure wind by its sound has been told by Prof. Curl Barus to tho National Academy of Sciences. The whistling of tho wind as it crosses a wire varies with the velocity, and this can bo computed from pitch of tho note obsorved in case of a given diameter of wire and for a given air temperature. A special micromotor attach can bo raado to convey the sound, isolated from other noises, to tho observer at a distance Every gust and variation of tho wind can bo studied in this way, and an idea of the direction of the list can be had from tho sounds obtained from t-hreo wires placed at right anglos to one another. Micro-aulmometry is the namo proposed for observations by this method.

USES OF OZONE.

Ozoni. is becoming an important industrial agent. It artificially ages liquors, removes tho effect of oily beans in coffee, and improves tobacco. In its late application to the rapid seasoning of wood for sounding boards and musical instruments, it increases tho resistance of the wood to temperature and moisture, and adds to its acoustic qualities. It thickens linseed oil for linoleum in a fow days, whereas tho old method of oxidation often took several months. It bleaches linon in less than a third of the time required by sunlight. It is also valuablo in chemical and technical processes, especially in purifying starch derivatives from undesirable colour, odour, and tasto.

TUB KIEL CANAL.

A definite official statement of the cost of that groat engineering work, the Kiel Canal, shows the reaching point to have been soma 30,000,000 dollars. It is about Gl miles long, 'JO feet deep at dead low water, and 229 feet wide, in numerous places the width increasing to soma 428 foot, to allow the largest vossols to pass each other, and work will bo continued until vessels of any depth can pass at. low water. The embankment is stoneliuod to a depth of six feet below the water, and the locks at the North Sea end of the canal aro said to be the largost in tho world, with tho exception of that at Breinerhaven. Two bridges span it at a hoight of 137 feet above the water, and there are also six opening bridges and 16 ferries.

MINE SURVEYING.

The mine surveyor, before making magnetic observations with delicate instrument?, is recommended to carefully test his lamp. Composed of various metals, the lamp, in a hob condition, sots up thermoelectric currents which acton the magnetic needle. In order to settle this point six mine surveyor's safety lamps, free from iron, wero first placed, one at a timo, first in a cold condition, and then heated at the pole of a sonsitivo magnetometer. Two of the instruments had no action on the noodle when cold, but all acted on it whon hot. The deviations observed amounted to from 30 to 160 seconds. A new benzine lamp caused a deviation of as much as five minutes. The deviation increased with the temperature of the lamp.

HOUSELESS CARRIAGES. The London Pall Mall Gazette says :— "Horsolo3S carriages have run into the market ab last. The Daimlor Motor Company (Limited) has been formed to carry on the manufacture and sale in this country of the Daimlor motor, used for carriages, launches, stationary engines, light locomotives, and the like. The capital is £100,000, in 10,000 £10 shares, all now offered for subscription, and of which 6000 aro to bo allotted for the provision of money for working purposes. The prico of the right to use all or any of the Daimler patonts hero, together with tho benefits of further improvements, is 4000 shares, or cash in liou thereof, and the option of subscribing at par for any unallotted shares of this issue."

THIS GAS QLOBES FOR LIGHT.

Holophano glass globes, for use on either electric lamps, Welsbaeh incandescent lights, or ordinary gas lights, are being introduced into England. As the name implies, they make all the light manifestin other words they disperse it, and make a " globe" of light of what would otherwise be a mere spot, which would irritate oho eye. Professor V. B. Lowes, who is an expert, writes in favour of the holophane, which is an adaptation of the Fresnol system used in lighthouses to domestic purposes. Tho tulip-shapod " globe" is said to increase the light by over 12 per cent., and the coneshaped " globe" by a little over 13 per cent., bub whatevor the percentage may be the " holophane" globes will be appreciated by the householder.

MISCELLANEOUS. lb is said that the wild lettuce is " one of two well-marked compass plants," and that it has the property of twisting its leaves until they point straight upward, with the edgos directed north and south. Experiments recently mado show that soapsuds will reduce a sea almost as well as oil.

The ancient idea that wo owe our digostion chiefly to the stomach i 8 being discarded, Kooning having shown that this organ may bo completely removed from the living animal. Other German physiologists suggest that the proper function of the stomach is to render harmless all substances injurious to the bowels, the real digestive

organs. The greatest depth, writes Prof. Seeley in his "Story of the Earth," at which earthquakes are known to originate is about thirty miles. It has also been calculated that a heat sufficient to melt granite might occur at about the same depth. •