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Compressed Air Engine

an engine which is actuated by air under pressure, which air has been compressed by mechanical means. Air under pressure is able to act as a piston of an engine in the same manner as steam, and an ordinary steam engine is capable of being operated by compressed air by merely changing a few connections. The average compressed air engine is small in size, and usually designed for some special use, and is generally located in some distance from the source of power, or in place where the discharge of exhaust steam would be objectionable, as in a mine. Air under pressure can be COMPRESSED AIR LOCOMOTIVE 95 more easily transported a distance than can steam, which loses some of its power a locomotive in which the power is fur- COMPRESSED AIR LOCOMOTIVE, motives resemble a steam locomotive, exlocomotive in which the power is furnished by air under pressure. These locomotives resemble a steam locomotive, exunder pressure, which tanks have to be ing apparatus they carry tanks of air under pressure, which tanks have to be plosive plants, textile works, mines, lumprincipal use is in chemical works, explosive plants, textile works, mines, lumhas to be taken. where that every precaution against fire The mining locomotive may be taken has to be taken.

The mining locomotive may be taken as a typical example of a compressed air locomotive. The air is carried in one or two steel tanks, the capacity of which is determined by the use: load, length of haul, etc., which is to be made of the locomotive. These tanks are placed in the same position that the boiler would occupy on a steam locomotive, and the air is conducted to an auxiliary tank, the pressure in which can be controlled, from which tank it is conducted to the engine cylinders. The ing and a stop valve.

For a number of years an attempt was made to operate street railway motor cars with air. In New York City several cross-town lines were equipped with cars carrying tanks under the floor of the car or under the seats.

In most cases modern engineering uses some form of electric vehicle such as the storage battery locomotive, in place of the compressed air locomotive.