The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-07
L.ASTOR'S PATENTS PUBLIC.
ANY ONE NAY Use HIS MARINE
TURBINE INVENTIONS.
Gives Up His Right 70 Reserve Them for
II Years--His Ideas suggested for
Tee in the Rapid Transit Power
House--Not Vet Practically Tried.

Col. John Jacob Aston has given TO the
world his patents on marine turbines.
Although he might have enjoyed a mo-
nopoly OF them for seventeen years. he has
formally turned over his inventions for
public use.
Col. Aston makes his announcement in
the current issue Of the Scientific American,
in the form Of a letter to the editor of that
publication, in which he says:
All my patents on marine turbines hav-
ing been granted I hereby dedicate them
TO the public. in the hope that the develop
ment Of the ideal turbine may he fastened
thereby"
As yet no engine has been built to utilize
Col Astor's patents. but engineers and
critics have expressed themselves a. shar-
ing the Colonel's belief that his theories
will work out practically
Col Astor's invention contemplates twin
screws set tandem instead of side by side.
and revolving in opposite directions. In
his letter he gives this description OF his
tur bine:
comprises an outer she'll or drum and an
inner shaft running axiallythrough II. these
ing oppostely set spiral blades The steam
L. admitted into the outer shell AT the small
end and passes through the turbine. EXPAND :
ing into the large end of the shell and acting
on the spiral blades TO rotate the shell and
shaft simultaneously and in opposite direc-
Ry allowing both the inner turbine and the
outer case TO revolve, the speed necessary
TO insure efficiency, which in ord inary turbines
As a result OF this construction the weight
l. reduced practically 50 per cent.
Pointing out the advantages of his twin
screw arrangement, the Colonel says:
BY passing the inner solid solid shaft hat ,hIoush
post Of the ship Is obtained this being the
incssed and protected for almost their en-:
tire length without changing the shape Of
me hull K'tain'ns al me advah ,is; OF
posed to danger in docking as in ship with
a single screw
axis. in opposite directions. but little power
Is wasted n Importing rotary motion TO
necessary reaction resulting from driving
the ship ahead
Summing up the chief advantages Of his
turbine. Col. Aston mentions
First reduced weight. second, higher steam
efficiency. third. higher mechanica efc iency.
by rea of the reduced size ens bling the part
70 be fitted more, perfectly, permitting the
the leakage loss f. nth. such turbine would
seem to be particularly suitable In central
station work for Eeneraa'ins electricity: in
driven in opposite directions. This would
improve the efficiency OF the dynamo and in
crease its output for a given weight This
principle is obviously also applicable to gas
engines.
In view OF Col. Astors references to the
possibility OF the use of his turbine for
dynamo purposes, one man pointed out
yesterday that the giving Of the Aston
patent to the public would make it possible
Tor the rapid transit company's engineers
to use the Colonel's ideas for the turbine
at the central power station OF the under
ground road as il has been decided already
that a turbine will be used there.
Col Aston In his letter informed the public
that detailed information as TO his patents
may be obtained from the Patent Office
by ordering a copy of patent No. 600 .s?l