Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-01-04
Utilizing Sun Rays.

M w llhdih tdlftIt u mining tApStb
living in Washington, has just patented
a new discovery which promises large
results. 1t is very simple, consisting
of an arrangement by which the rays
OF the sun are reflected from any mum.
Der OF mirrors upon common focus.
by accident Mr.. Calyer directed the
light from two ordinary looking
glasses upon the same surface, and he
Immediately observed that the result
ant heat was about doubled. COntinu-
ing his experiments in this direction,
he succeeded in reducing wood 20
ashes; and metal to a liquid state,
merely by concentrating upon them
the reflected rays Of the sun from
twenty small mirrors with fat sur
faces. Mr.. Calyer does not pretend TO
explain the principle, he has simply
pursued his experiments until he has
brought the process TO point where
1t can be patented.
A reporter of the Washington Post
has seen the model in the Patent
Office, and has witnessed some Of the
experiments. The model patented by
Mr.. Calyer consists Of number Of
small looking glasses arranged in rows
upon frame 50 fixed that they can be
conyerged upon any one point. A
working model, of which he has a
number, was exhibited TO reporter In
the yard in the rear OF his residence.
Forty innocent, guileless-loOking, If
teen-ccnt, gilt-framcd mirrors, each
three and three-quarters by five and
three-quartcr inches, were arranged
upon a frame propped up like an ar
lists easel, and bearing a striking
resemblance thereto. Facing the east
was the fragment Of what was once a
barn-door, also propped up, and partly
covered with a worn and faded sheet
Of zinc that bore Observation-Disclosures
Of having been burned through in
several places. II was but the
work Of a minute % converge the forty
mirrors upon space three and three
quarter inches by FIVE and thrce-quar-
ter inches upon the barn door, and
then the revelations began. As each mir
ror cast its quota Of sunshine upon the
common store, the parallelogram Of
light grew white and more dazzling,
until at last II looked like a patch Of
electric light. But little patience was
required TO await results. In less than
thirty seconds thin curling puff of
smoke gave evidence Of the progress Of
the experiment In a minute the
board was bursting out in flames The
focus was then shifted upon the zinc,
In few minutes il began 70 turn color:
then shrink. as If anxious to get away
where it was cooler: and then. in less
'i'''aa N'AA'' iait4iNA'1t Nllf 'Ataif SUI Af.f,
covered hy the focus. was literally
melting, drop hy drop, To melt zinc
requires temperature Of zoo degrees
Fahrenheit.
The light projected upon the focus is
wonderfully white and brilliant. Each
mirror adds its quota. not only Of heat
hut light, until the effect produced is
more dazzling taan that Of the electric
light. Mr.. Calycr has produced more
than four hundred degrees Of heat with
his mirrors. and il is shown hy calcu-
lations that 1000 mirrors. each a foot
square. will melt iron and steel almost
Immediately. Even this heat can br
condensed and made 10 produce re-
markahle results. The mirrors will
project more heat in winter than in
summer, and they may be utilized for
producing power chcaply by doing away
with coal and wood. Indeed. the mir
rors. II they will do all that Mr.. Calvcr
expects, may be regarded a. the employ
mcnt Of a new force to minister 10 the
necessities Of man.