Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 138, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1912 — MADE INTO VACUUM CLEANER [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MADE INTO VACUUM CLEANER

Simple Device by Which a Locomotive Adds Greatly to its Term . of Usefulness. An ingenious apparatus by means of which a locomotive is converted into a vacuum-cleaning plant is shown in the accompanying illustration. It comprises simply a suction chamber attached to the injector valve of the locomotive, a steam trap for the condensation of water, a dust collector, which is kept partially filled with water, and the necessary amount of hose types of suction tips or nozzles. Tfie steam trap and dust col-

lector are connected by means of a hose of large diameter, and the suction hose is attached to the bottom of the dust collector. When the injector valve is opened the live steam passes the opening of the suction chamber and creates v a vacuum therein, which produces the suction drawing the dust and dirt into the dust collector where it is retained by the water. The air, after unloading Its burden of dirt, then passes into the steam trap and is exhausted into the atmosphere. With a sufficient length of hose, several passenger coaches can be vacuum cleaned by simply back; Ing the locomotive up to one end. The apparatus is used on one of the German railways.—Popular Mechanics.