The herald., 1894-05-27
GtRlACH'S NEW WAVE MOTOR.
A Proposition to Utilize til
Ocean in Manufactures
And Cheaper Local Transportation
by Aid of Old Neptune.
The Paddle Wheel La to Accom-
plish This Desideratum with
out tho Aid Of Res
ervoirs.

Mr.. E. Gerlach OF Santa Monica has
been for long time at work on thu
question OF wave motion as q generator
OF electric power. For some time h.
contemplated the idea of q wheel 10
be driven by incoming waves, which
wheel should work a pump, by which
the sea water was to be pumped into
reservoir at sufficient elevation to
work turbine, and the turbine to
work dynamo. But this seemed,
though practical enough, like making
two bites OF the cherry, so Mr.. Gerlach
has recently taken hold Of the PROPOSE
ton in an entirely different way.
When one visits the power houses
OF our electric cable systems, he sees
monster flywheels and counter-shafts in
operation and revolving about rs tim
per minute on the main shaft. This ia
done to prevent dwell in the motion
OF the cable, caused bv the engines
crank catching on the center. BY
means of these counter-shafts the power
is evenly distributed and the motion is
made continuous and free. from any
hitch or jerk of the cable.
1t therefore became Mr.. Gerlach's
aira to adopt something on this plan, 80
as to take advantage of all the in-ehore
motion of the waves and yet lose moth
ing through their irregular volume. 1t
frequently happens in calm and stormy
weather alike, that every fourth and
fifth wave lie higher than its predeces
sors; and this OF itself, means irregular
ity Of the initial generating force, which
could only be equalized by series OF
counter shafts and large fy-wheels.
Hence these will be used for that pun
pose with two enormous paddle wheeie
OF DO feet in diameter and 20 feet face,
the main shaft being set between these
two paddle wheels the drums of which
will be checked against lost motion
(through the receding waves) by rachets
on the drum OF the main shaft.
By use of a wheel OF go feet diameter
and 20 feet face a horsepower of at
least 800 indicated will easily be gained,
even in the calmest of weather. The
counter.shaiting will guarantee against
any break OF gear that could be caused
by irregular wave motion. The wheels
are fitted with but three paddles and
hence do not make a complete revo-
luton. The center bucket will be en-
tirely submerged when the outer buckets
are from 8 10 10 feet in the water, ac
cording to the height OF the wave. The
moment the center bucket passes out of
perpendicular position the water
passes from under it and Joins the i'm
pact of the next wave. On the top OF
the wheel are placed three heavy
spokee. weighted for purposes of coun-
terbalance, so as to remove the strain
from the arms of the wheels.
1t is impossible, at this early day, to
compute accurately the value OF euch an
invention to the city OF Los Angeles,
granting that it realizes all. that its in
ventor claims for it. The geographical
position OF Los Angeles is such that che
should become great and important
manufacturing city but against that
there are two serious drawbacks. The
first of these is the entire absence of
water power and the other is the high
price of coal which comes chiefly from
Puget Sound or British Columbia. The
Wellington coal, which has more com
bustive principle than any other coal
found weet OF the Rocky mountains, is
never sold at less than $40 per ton and
from that to $13, and even at those
figures it is deemed cheaper than the
Goals obtained from Tacoma, Seattle or
Bellingham bay.
Should Mr.. Gerlach be able to gener-
ate electricity in the manner above
given it would afford cheap electric
power for almost any imaginable enter
prise. He claims it to be cheaper
than coal at 81 per ton. Such
being the case an electric railway could
be built to carry passengers to
Pasadena for 10 cente the round trip and
to Santa Monica for 20 cents. The beauty
OF the invention is the fact that its first
cost Is about its only cost. After that,
all that is needed is the oil for the bear
ings and the services OF a man to oil the
gears from time to time. The cost of the
machine, all ready to attach TO the dy-
namo. will not exceed that OF the dyna-
mo itself.
1t is claimed by those who are in q
posltlonto know whereof they speak,
that the Electric Consolidated Railway
company disburse over 5000 600 anLu-
ally for fuel alone which they could re-
duce to $50 900 by the adoption of this
wave motion principle il it will stand
all practical tests. Like all other inven-
tors, Mr.. Gerlach is very sanguine of
the success and value Of his invention
and some allowance must BIO made for
the enthusiasm OF comparatively
young man. But if it will accomplish
one half of what he clsims for it, Los
Angeles ia destined to become the rich
est manufacturing city in the state. No
city ever yet grew wealthy through the
mere expectation OF crude staples. 1t is
the wages paid out for skilled labor and
the saving OF such wages by the working
classes, that makes great towns and vast
commercial centers.