TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1950
Prof Parlays Pittance
Into Many . Millions
It required only ten minutes—and ten cents—for Dr. M. It.
Cannon, professor of chemical engineering at the College, to prove
the original hypothesis of a research discovery that may mean
millions in savings to industry.
Many industries, particularly the chemical manufacturing in
dustries, use distillation processes in making their products. The
process depends on the reaction
Of a gas and a liquid, the liquid
usually entering the top of the
distillation column and the gas
entering the base of the - column.
To speed the reaction, packing,
consisting of any material rang
ing from metal to marbles, is
used in the column, providing a
large surface area. One of the
problems encountered in distil
lation is that of keeping the pack
ing material wet.
Self-wetting Packing
Aware that a packing that was
self-wetting would hold advan
tages over a type that required
flooding, Dr. Cannon looked to
capillary action. as an answer. But
a method of utilizing capillary
action without the disadvantage
of completely encircling the liquid
column, as in a capillary tube
had to be found
Going to the nearest dine
store, Dr. Cannon bought a ten
cent compass and with it punched
a pattern of small holes into a
scrap piece of nickel. He dipped
it into a beaker of petroleum and
the liquid, defying the laws of
gravity, climbed on the metal
strip.
Since that time, Dr. Cannon has
perfected his "metal blotter" so
that he now punches 1024 tiny
holes per square inch of metal.
The metal is cut into small strips
which are wrapped into cylinders
so that each piece looks something
like a thimble, except that the
holes pierce the metal and form
burrs on one side. Thousands of
these tiny cylinders, now known
as Cannon Packing, are poured
into 'the distillation columns.
This new protruded packing,
already in use in petroleum and
chemical laboratories, holds great
promise for industry and unlike
much research which is costly in
time• and money, it started with
a ten-cent investment and 'a ten
minute experiment.
Eleven Drill—
(Continued from page four)
first one then another looking like
the man to beat.
"We'll use all three of them
Saturday," Engle said yesterday,
"and if one doesn't go, we'll try
the others until we find out who's
hot." Engle did, however, praise
the running of Shattuck, who has
been improving rapidly in the
past two weeks.
MIDFIELD MUTTERINGS: Lou
Bell, director of public informa
tion at the College, tells how
George Donovan, manager of the
Student Union, gave ex-Lion
coach Bob Higgins a play several
years ago that was guaranteed to
score every time. After George
drew the play on a slip of paper
for Hig, or Bob looked it over
and said, "But George, there are
13 men on our team!"
"Look, Hig," George is said to
have replied, "I just made up the
play. YOu're the coach, you figure
out how to get 13 men on the
field!"
Booters' Card
(Continued from page four)
Temple, Navy, and North Caro
lina. These three will again be
the chief hurdles for the Co-Na
tional Collegiate Champions. Ad
ditional difficulty may be encoun
tered with the West Chester
eleven. --
State College fans will have
only four opportunities to see the
inbooters in action, the bulk of
the games being on the road.
The 1950 schedule:
Oct. 7 Bucknell at Lewisburg
Oct. 14 Western Maryland
Oct. 21 Navy at Annapolis
Oct. 24 Gettysburg at Gettysburg
Oct. 28 Colgate
Nov. 4 North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Nov. 6 West Chester at West Chester
Nov. 11-Syracuse
Nov. 18 Maryland
Nov. 25 Temple at Philadelphia
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN, STATE COLLEGE, PENNSYLVANIA
Plane To End
Fire Hazard
The hazard of fire, which often
follows the crash of an airplane,
would be almost eliminated in
the type of plane dreamed up by
Dr. H. H. Simons, director of
the Flourine Laboratories at the
College.
Dr. Simons, leading authority
on flurocarbone, which won't
burn and are almost indestruct
ible in other ways, admits we're
far from the airplane of his dream
but considers it a very real possi
bility in the distant future.
Plans Plastic
To eliminate combustible ma
terials, Dr. Simons would use
fiurocarbon plastics, still to be de
veloped; tires to be made of fluor
ocarbons; and either glass or as
ye t undeveloped fluorocarbon
fabrics to replace present fabrics.
Fluorocarbon oils and lubri
cants, now a very real possibility,
would be used and non-combust
ible paints, also made from fluor
ocarbons would protect any com
bustible material remaining in
the plane.
Instead of the gasoline engine,
Dr. Simons visualizes a turoine.
He has a fluorocarbon that has a
molecular weight in the vapor of
25 times that of water, which will
make possible the use of a small
vapor turbine. For fuel, Dr. Si
mons would use an oil with a
much lower flash point and vola
tility than gasoline.
But just in case a fire should
begin on this fireproof 'plane, Dr.
Simons points out the fluorocar
bon used as the turbine impellent
would be an excellent fire extin
guisher.
Trustees Name-
(Continued from page one)
took over larger quarters in Old
Main, and in 1903 was moved
into the , $150,000 Carnegie Li
brary, presented by Andrew
Carnegie. The building is now
known as Carnegie Hall. In 1940,
the library was moved into its
present building, which was built
by the General State Authority
and the Public Works administra
tion. A new unit is scheduled to
be built by the General State Au
thority.
Dr. Pattee, born in 1863, was
a graduate of Dartmouth and
came to the College in 1894 as a
professor of English and rhetoric.
In 1918 he received the title of
professor of American literature,
and was probably the first in the
country to hold the title.
Accepts Post
In 1928 he retired, but later ac
cepted a position at Rollins Col
lege, Winter Park, Fla. He died
at his home there on May 6.
Many of Dr. Pattee's works are
now in the library which will
bear his name. Dr. Pattee donated
his collection to the library, which
includes rare volumes, magazipes
and manuscripts that took him
a lifetime to collect.
Beside the first editions in
cluded, the collection contains
many lesser known books of the
better known authors, and many
minor volumes that are not read
ily available in most libraries.
While at the College, Dr. Pat
tee's interests were many. In 1895
he became a charter member of
the Literary club, and in 1897,
was one of two men who founded
the Penn State Thespians. In 1901
he wrote the lyrics for the Alma
Mater.
AIM Sponsors Dance
The Association of Indepen
dent Men will sponsor the second
all-College dance .of the year in
Recreation Hall from 8 p.m. to
12 p.m. this Saturday after the
football game with Georgetown.
Ray Evert and his Artists in Mel
ody will provide the music and
admission will be free.
Steidle Names
MI Dean's List
Thirty-three students in th e
School of Mineral Industries were
cited by Dean Edward Steidle
for scholarship during the Spring
semester.
Seniors on the Deans' list were
William Bates, 2.85; Rob e r
Brumberg, 2.70; Louis Carswell,
2.50; Stewart Claypoole, 2.88;
John Dickson, 2.62; Walter Fris
bie, 2.80; Donald Gasper, 2.33;
Arthur Kantor, 2.64; Norman
Kapko, 2.60; Curtis Keenan, 2.83;
Frederick Krug, 3.00; Vance
Moyer, 3.00; Paul Nickola, 2.68;
David Reehler, 3.00; David Skel
ly, 2.81; Paul Wallace, 2.52; and
Clarence Whitlow, 2.80.
Juniors included Herschel
Browne, 2.88; Homer Harris, 2.63;
Richard Higgs, 2.72; John Kraft,
2.66; Robert Messinger, 2.50; Ro
bert Thomson, 2.83; Lewis Tom
linson, 2.66; Peter Urka, 2.50; and
Isaac Van der Hoven, 3.00.
Sophomores on the honor list
were Paul Barton, 2.65; John Har
rison, 2.66; Robert Huber, 2.68;
Robert Igou, 2.57; Albert Ludilr,
2.83; Walter Showak, 2.81; and
George Spalding, 2.83.
Mail Distribution
Of Handbook Set
The new Student Government
Handbook, recently added to the
long list of carrzus publications,
will be distributed through the
mail to all new students by the
end of next week.
Copies will also be sent to all
student organizations, fraternities,
sororities, resident advisors, stu
dent organization faculty advis
ors, college dignitaries and offil
cials, and deans of the various
schools.
Distribution points for addi
tional copies will be located at
the Student Union, the Dean of
Women's office, and the Dean of
Men's office.
. The handbook was compiled by
Ralph Lewis, and Richard Cur
to, co-editors; Richard. Evans,
cartoonist; and Clarke Young who
conducted the research.
Appropriations for the hand
book were granted by All-Col
lege cabinet. Tentative plans call
for yearly publication of the
handbook.
. //---
--
~,\.i
se
y
t
_M ,
.. z..
\ 14
Up to 9 Lbs. Washed and Dried 60c
DRY CLEANING SERVICE
Cash
and
Carry
Suits and Dresses
Slacks, Skirts, Sweaters
Sport Jackets
Evening Gowns
Any Raincoat (waterproofing)
Overcoats and Topcoats
No Better Cleaning Available
OPEN—Mon. 8 A.M. to 9 P.M. Tues. Thru Sat. 8 A. M. to 9 P. M.
Student Union
(Continued from page one)
gap" measure until a permanent
structure could become a reality.
The project gained momentum
last year when student leaders
proposed and All-College cabinet
passed a plan whereby students
could purchase life insurance and
assign the first $lOO of benefits
from the policy to a Student
Union fund. The plan continues
in operation.
Later last year, student leaders
circulated petitions to speed ac
tion on the building of a perm
anent structure. All-College cabi
net, acting on the proposal on
May 25, passed a plan for a stu
dent fee to help finance the build
ing.
The plan provides for an asses
ment of $7.50 per semester this
year for each student and $lO
per semester beginning next year.
This action was approved by the
trustees last June.
Architects' sketches and floor
plans for the new structure are
currently on display in the lobby
of Old Main. The plans incor
porate the features reauested by
the students on the Student
Union 'committee. The architects
have made provision for future
expansion of the building if so
desired at a later time.
The building will consist of
social areas, including a ball
room and lounges; cultural areas,
including space for art exhibits,
hobby crafts shops, music room,
and browsing library; food area,
including a coffee shop, dining
rooms, and soda bar; and also
meeting rooms.
Offices for student organiza
tions and offices for the adminis
tration of the building will be in
cluded in the structure. There
will also be game areas and the
necessary facilities for mainten
ance and operation of 'the build
ing and the food services.
latbicMai,
Automatic
Shirts Laundered 2 for 35c
* * * *
20%
(hand finished)
ANNOUNCING
THE EDDY KAYE TRIO
Hammond Organ, Accordion, Guitar
• * Dinner Music = Organ Solo or Trio
* Dance Music
Direct from Jersey Shore Resort
Call Eddy Kaye, 4177'
(trade mark)
Laundry
210 W. College Ave.
* * *
OFF
DELIVERED
$1.50 up
Council To Show
Series Of Films
On North Rhodesia
Mineral Industries stu dent
council is showing a series of
films on northern Rhodesia.
The film "Copper Mining in
Northern Rhodesia" will be pre
sented at 7:30 tonight in room 10
Sparks. This one-hour film will
show the methol3 of prospecting,
shrinkage stoping, sub level
bench stoping, diamond drill stop
ing, caving method of stoping,
and drainage and ventilation
-4 "Hatmen /
•••••I
(Continued from page one)
Robert Davis, All-College presi
dent, was one of the men who was
bombe . d by the eager frosh.
Freshmen Opinions
Many freshmen seem to enjoy
living under customs. As one said,
"When you think of college, you
think of customs." They think
the name-cards look silly, and
they wish they knew when cus
toms will be lifted, but most of
them are looking foreward to
their upperclass years with great
anticipation.
Although there are some upper
classmen who are not in favor of
customs, some apparently are
being convinced by the spirit
frosh are showing. One hatman
said, "This weekend rebellion
is great. It'll be lots of fun next
week—if I live that long." •
See Us For . . .
YARN (all colors)
WRITING PAPER
Nittany Card & Gift Shop
Opposite Atherton Hall
Service
aas %es- -
ve,tralevter
PRICES
6.t1-
li , : k,-._-
,v 0
A
$l.OO
PAGE SEVEN