The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-06-04
The ZerO.MOtor-Steam Superseded by
Ammonia and Water.

AhihVAlih anu Water
A late Washington letter says There
is at the Navy Yard here an apparatus
known as the Gamgee ice-machine In
fact, it has no distinct name as yet, but
when it shall be completed, some three
months hence, it will be known as the
zero-motor. The machine has excited
great interest among various persons,
but Prof. Gamgee has only exhibited it
in motion to President Garfield. Secre-
taries Hunt and Window and few
prominent officials.
The primary idea of the inventor was
to secure machine for the economical
manufacture of ice, and he constructed
compound-ammoniacal engine. to
which was attached steam engine of
peculiar construction and an ammonia
cal pump, all three of which are con-
nected by the same shaft. The affair
represents large turning-lathe mount
ed on iron boxes, the latter serving as
boilers or generators. The fuel con-
sists of gaseous ammonia, generated
from liquid ammonia by the heat in
hydrant water of ordinary atmospheric
temperature. So far as making ice is
concerned the apparatus has proved
success. While meking these expert
ments Prof. Gamgee discovered that in
his compound-ammonia engine he could
generate great power, and without any
trouble it could be controlled so as to be
used for driving machinery. Therefore
he has determined to cut off the steam
attachment, and will make improve
NV ;nh he IN tho
future to revolutionize the entire motive
power of the world and dispense with
steam.
Chief Engineer sherwood, of the
Navy Department, was detailed to in
vestigate 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 he doubted
not that if but a short time should
be allowed Gamgee he would produce
motor capable of furnishing power with
out the combustion of coal. 1t was for
this reason, and with view to securing
to the Government the use of a motor of
this sort, that the President interested
himself in it.
Prof. Gamgee exhibited his drawings
and explained all the details, and when
the President, with a critical and me-
chanical eye, desired to know the use of
some Notwithstanding tubes which
extended about the engine, it was shown
that they carried water to the joints and
bearings, the aqueous fluid being used
for lubricating purposes instead of oil,
which becomes heated. To the ordinary
reader scientific explanation of the de-
tails would be bewildering, and is there
fore unnecessary. The only ingredients
for generating the gas were liquid am
monia and pure water from hydrant
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 q guage which was suddenly
opened. A small volume shot out, so
cold as to send a chill over the whole
body by mere contact with the hand,
and of such force as to knock it from in
front of the cloud. No attempt has
been made as yet to utilize the power
for motive purposes, but the inventor as
serts that he will be able to run steam
ships and cars and machinery without
the use of coal, and that the day for
boilers is fast approaching an end.
When Kelley first started, it was claimed
his engine was an ammoniacal one, but
he disproved this by drawing off the
water and allowing it to be tasted. The
present engine shows forty-horse power,
requires the services of one man, some
hydrant water and a small quantity of
ammonia. Gamgee has been at work
only few years, and has expended but
a 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
machinery, but whether it is practical
motor in actual use or not is matter
for future experiment.