OCR Text |
Show Inventions to Protect Firemen. ' A novol flrc-onglne has recently bt fih constructed for tho fire department o' 1 m ) Manchester, Kngland, which contolnj h Btv addition to the usual features of an o'rdl-nary o'rdl-nary steam llro-onglno. a number of add). ? tlons designed to facilitate the operatlctj 4 of the llrfcinen and to provide IncreatM iti safoty. V Tho first of those Is an air-pump, ct. Jtf nected by gearing with the crank shaft It V tho engine, which furnishes air through a ! itr llexlblo metallic ho?e to firemen workkrii in In dense smoke, or placed where theyajf iW subject to gas, or fumes of acids oroth-' f,c chemicals. This flexible hoso Is connect Et with a protective helmet worn by the rjrs- tfl man, which Is made of heavy leather, tending down over the shoulders and dun piled with an opening for the eyes and cs- Still per part of the face. The air enters at ti t,,n back of tho helmet and flows around thij l face, passing out of this opening, kotr.jf i??3. tho eyes and nose freo from smoke Tho m helmet contains a telephone receiver anoj w transmitter, whereby communication cnil bo maintained with the officer at the flrff'iS5 engine, and by means of a switchboard, k dtSf necessary, with a chlof official. The m- ffer glno has a small dynamo, located overtht W front wheels, nnd connected with the tj- c3 wheel by means ot a lelt. This furnUbti. $S a current for eight 32-candlc-power Incar.-descent Incar.-descent lamps through a flexible cable, jj 111 that, provided with a hand lamp, a Are- o man can penetrate dark and smoky apart- f'1 ments. whore It Is necessary often to cot off gas or oil supply. & The entire equipment. Including the pre- il tcctlvo helmets for the firemen, Is stoirl No In the forward part of tho flre-tnsrlw, t which Is of the usual English pattern, ad' oj adds comparatively little to Its weight- QT1 Harper's Weekly. i B |