The times., 1897-05-03
INVENTOR PRALl s MOTOR
Little Affair, But He Expects Great
Things From 1t.
Inventor Expects to Make Marvel.
Gus Trip Upon ItsFrom This
City to Gotham.

Mr.. w. Edward Prall, young inventor
of this city, states that he can and will
travel between this city and New York
in practically continuous trip, at high
rate Of speed, in motor carriage of his
own make. This is a large boast for
man to make, even in these days Mr.
Prall, however, is confident that he can
carry out his assertion, and claims speed
of not under twenty miles per hour
The experimental tests OF his motor indi-
cate that his dream may be realized and
the engineering authorities who have wit
messed the operations of this small mac Chine
feel confident that the problem OF AN
inexpensive rotary motor has been solved
The motor TO be used on the trip weighs
slightly over eighteen pounds, exclusive
OF gearing, etc The inventor states
that the entire propelling machinery Will
not weigh over fifty pounds. In shape
the motor is cylindrical, and very com
pact, measuring only eight inches from
edge to edge, and five and one-halG inches
in diameter over all. This baby motor
during the test was bolted to the heavy
flooring and belted to the big dynamo,
which requires ten horsepower To de-
in size was comical, but it ran the big
machine with terrific force. The belt
was too small to run the big dynamo
steadily. and slipped badly when run at
too high speed, and once or twice it
slipped the track and promised to cause
general destruction, as it flew about the
shop, but the smaller machine continued
ON undisturbed. The inventor expects
velop six horsepower, but as it was
supplied in this instance from the great
boiler in the shop under q pressure of
$50 pounds TO the inch, the horse power
was greatly exec ,ded.
Mr.. Prau describes his motor by sa wing
that on the disk-.ike compartment which
forms the steam or vapor chest four and
one-half inches in diameter, are four vanes
or fans, one and seveI-eighths inches wide,
the each opposite two being separate
solid castings ATTACHED in u straight line
to a center hollow axle, and the outer
edges fastened to a thin band of metal To
give them rigidity. Both yanes would work
freely on a solid steel driving axle thrust
through their hollow centers were lt not
for the doublo-groove clutch wheels at
each end. which prevent their moving IN
but one direction
The pressure works expandvely after
one-fifth stroke in this new device, and
when the load is light or the carriage
running down hill the clutches release
themselves centrfrugally, and the vanes
do not travel, but remain stationary On
their dead Centers
The gas generator, from which the in
ventor expects to get the necessary pres
sure to make this marvellous trip between
the Capitol and the metropolis, is as
startling in new scientific features as the
motor Itself
1t is constructed on what is known as
the Constant PRESSURE principle and Is
expected TO furnish IN unvarying pressure
to the motor by quietly burning a spray
of gasoline In connection with jets or
fresh air n a combustion chamber
The big sensational feature OF the entire
outfit, however, is the horseiess carriage,
on which the inventor is now working
This vehicle is a marvel in itself, nothing
like it having ever been built for scientific
purposes. The body is built on the buck
board lines, with double seat. and fitted
with twenty -eighti inch ball-bearing bicycle
wheels, which in turn are fitted with the
latest puncture-proof tires. The steering
is accomplished by means of rod moving
back toward the seat.
This wagon, W hica is called the Bessie
is really dream of beauty, being decorated
in black, gold and red, and upholstered
in black ribbon velvet. 1t weighs, with
out the motor, only $50 pounds. but is
sufficiently strong and rigid TO carry the
full equipment and two heavy men.
The small motor and gas generator will
be 5olted underneath and near the rear
axle, aud will not be visible To the passerby.
The motor is geared centrallyto revolving
axle in reducing ratio of one to five, and
again geared to the wheels in the sane
ratio, thus making ten revolutions of the
motor to one Of the wheels, and giving the
high speed of twenty-five miles per hour.
Mr.. Prall has no doubts as TO the success
of the trip, weather aud roads permitting
He will carry with hitn one companion 10
assist in the management of this modern
winged Pegasus.