The Osceola times., 1881-07-02
THE ZERO. MOTOR,
Steam Possibly TO be superseded by Ar,-
m mi a"d Water.
Washinaton Letter

steam Possibly To De sdp'rscded BY An
m mi. a"d Water.
Washington Letter.
There is at the navy yard here an ap-
paralus knowa as the Gdmgeeice ma.
chine. In fact, it has no stinct name
yel, but hen it shall oe compl, ted, some
three mouths hence, it will be known as
the zero-motor. The machine has ex-
cited much interest among various per-
sons, but Prof. Gimgee has only exhib.
tied IT in motion to President Garfield,
Secretaries Hunt and Window and few
prominent officials.
The primary idea of the inventor was
to secure a machine for the economical
manufacture of ice, and he constructed a
compound ammoniacal engine, TO which
was attached small engine OF peculiar
construction and an ammoniacal pump.
all three OF which are connected by the
same shaft. The affair represents a large
turning lathe mounted on iron boxes,
the latter serving as boilers or genera
tors. The fuel consists of gaseous am
monia, generated from liquid ammonia
by the heat in hydrant water of the or
dinary temperature. So lar as making
ice is concerned the apparatus has prov
en- a success. While making these ex.
periments. Prof. GLmgte discovered
that in his mpound-ammonia ensine
he could generate great power, and with
out any trouble it could be controlled 30
as TO be used for driving machin, ~.
Therefore he has determined to cut of
the steam attachment, anu will make
Improvements by which he hopes in he
near future TO mpletely revolulionize
the enIire motive power ofthe orld and
dispense with steam.
Chief Engineer Isherwood of the Navy
department was detailed TO invesliga gate
the machine, and he made a report to
Secretary Hunt, in which he stated that
the scheme had an entirely practical
look about it and that he doubted no bu
that, il short time should be allowed
Gamgee, he would produce a motor Ca.
pabe OF furnishing power without the
combustion of coal. 1t was for this rea.
son. and with view to securing 10 the
government the use of this motor, that
the President interested himself in il.
Prof. Gamgee exhlbiled his drawings
ana explained all the details, and when
the President with a critical and me-
chanical eye, desired to know the use of
some mysterious looking tubes which ex.
tended about the engine, it was shown
that they carried water TO the joints and
bearings, the acQueous fluid beng used
for lubIicating pur poses instead of oil,
which becomes heated. To the ordin-
ary reader scientific explanation of the
details would be on.y bewldering, and
is therefore Unnecessary. The only ingre-
dients fJr generating the gas were liquid
ammonia and pure water from bydrant
near the machine shop. In short time
the pipes were covered with hoar frost,
which accumulated In great quantities.
The power OF the vapor could be dis.
tinctly felt when one placed his hand
near gauge wh ch was suddenly OPEN
ed. A small volume shot out, SO cold as
TO send a chill through the = hole body
by mere contact with the hand, and OF
such force as to push it from in front OF
the clond. No attempt has been made
as yet TO utilize the power for motive
purposes, but the inventor asserts that
he will be able to run steamships and
cars ana machinery without the use of
coal, and that the day for boilers is fast
approaching an end. When Kelley first
starred it was claimed that his engine
was an ammonacal one, but he dsprov-
ed this by drawing off the water and al
lowing 1t to be tasted. The present en-
CINE shows foriy-horse power, requires
the services of one man, some hydiant
water and small quantity of ammonia.
Gamgee has been employed on it only
few years, and has expended only
small amount OF money. The power Of
expansion and contraction possessed by
ammonia has already been applied-by
the aid Of other mechanism than Prof
Gamgee's-to the running of light ma
ehiAery, but whether it is a practical
motor IN actual use or not is a matter
tor future experiment