Scientific American Supplement, No. 388, June 9, 1883Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement, No. 388, June 9, 1883
Various
Science -- Periodicals
The process, as it actually is, may be clearly exhibited by a very
simple means. Let anyone take a tube, say an inch in diameter--a roll
of paper will do as well as anything--and, applying it closely to his
mouth, try the whole force of his lungs through it upon any light
object. The amount of effect will be found surprisingly small; and
unless the tube is a short one, it will be so far absorbed by friction
and atmospheric resistance as to be almost imperceptible. Then let him
hold the same tube near to the mouth, but not in contact, and repeat
the experiment. With the best adjustment, the effect may be described
as tenfold or fifty-fold, or almost any fold--the effect of the simple
blowing being merely nominal as compared with the induced current
added by blowing _into_ the tube instead of _in_ it. The blast enters
the free and open orifice with all the contiguous air which its
surface friction and the vacuum of its movement can involve in its
rolling vortex. While the entrance is thus crowded with pressure, the
exit is free; and the result at the exit is a blast of well sustained
velocity and _magnified volume;_ ready itself to repeat the miracle on
a still larger scale if provided with the apparatus for doing so. To
test this, now place a second and larger tube in such position as to
prolong the first in a straight line, but with a slight interval
between the meeting ends; so that the blast, as magnified in volume in
entering the first tube, may enter in like manner the second tube and
be magnified again. With correct adjustments this experiment will
prove more surprising than the first. Put on a third and still larger
tube in the same way, and still larger surprise will meet a still
larger volume and force of blast, like a stiff breeze set in motion by
the puny effort of a single expiration. Of course, the prime impulse
must bear a certain proportion to the result; and the inductive or
tractional friction of the initial blast, of flame or breath, will be
used up at length unless re-enforced. In ventilating practice, there
_is_ such re-enforcement, from an excess of gravity in the cooler
atmosphere outside the flue in which the flame is operating with its
heat as well as its ascensional traction; so that there has been found
no limit to the extensions and fresh inductions that may be added to
the first or trunk flue, with increase rather than diminution of power
at every point. But the terms on which such extensions must be made
have been referred to in our illustration, and must be accurately
ascertained and observed. They constitute what is, in effect, the
third factor in the phenomenon of a roaring draught, and also,
therefore, ineffective ventilation. That is, the entering or induced
current of air must always find its channel of progress and exit
certain correct degrees larger than the opening by which it entered.
Every one knows that a stove or chimney wide open admits of but little
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account