Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-20
POWER FROM THE SUN
Value of a Huge Solar Motor
Near Boston.
SMALL sAwMILL OPERATED BY IT


paratus, Which Focuses the SUMS
Rays and Thus Produces Power.
Some Interesting Features of the
Machine.
A huge solar motor recently finished
and now i'll operation is attracting an
immense amount of attention at Hyde
Park, near Boston, says the New York
Herald. The motor, which looms up in
the distance like a Ferris wheel on a
reduced scale, has been in actual work
ing order for several weeks, and by
means of the powerful heat rays re-
Elected from its great battery of flash
ing mirrors its builders have been en-
abled to generate sufficient steam to
operate a small Sawmill.
Since the coal famine wood has I'M
doubtedly been sawed in this part OF
the country in many different ways,
but this is the first time such feat
has ever been accomplished through
the indirect action of the sun.
The motor consists of an immense
cOncave reflector, mounted on two tow
erS of iron, the rear one about thirty
six feet from the ground and the front
one about eight. The top rim of the
reflector itself is about fOrty-five feet
above the ground and has Il diameter Of
thirty-siX feet on the outside and mar
rows to a diameter of IS feet inches
on the inside or bottom.
1t is lined with $50 mirrors made by
German process and backed with
wire netting and cloth. These mirrors
are arranged in six horizontal rows.
and the rays of the sun are reflected
by them upon large boiler, supported
in the center of the reflector.
This boiler has a capacity of about
ninety gallons, is fed by an automatic
pump and is tested to 200 pounds to
the square inch. 1t weighs about eight
tons and is of peculiar construction,
the lower part being composed of Il
series of three copper coils, upon which
the heat rays concentrate. To prevent
radiation and protect them from the
action of the wind these coils are COW
cred by an isinglass jacket. 1t is 50
arranged that the influence of the six
rows of mirrors is evidently distributed
among the coils, two rows concentrat-
ing upon each of them.
In a recent test made upon a bright
day, which was not, however. especial
ly warm, the 1000 square feet of mir
rors when squarely exposed to the ac-
ton of the sun produced an intensity of
heat equal to LOOP degrees Fahrenheit
and caused the boiler to blow off at
200 pounds
Those in charge of the construction
of this powerful natural heat collector
are confident that even a greater de-
gree OF caloric can be generated. The
depth of the reflector from top TO bot
tom is about ten feet. Steel wire
braces and steel spokes span it in Il
sort of network to keep il firm.
One of the most interesting features
of the machine is the automatic cleo
fiector continually in focus with the
sun. This automatic scheme works on
about the same principle that keeps
many of the large telescopes in focus
The building of this solar motor was
started last June, and now that it has
been tried out and proved a success IL
is soon to be sent away to California
and work has already been started up
on several others.
To ]. NJ. Bruins of Canton. who has
had charge of the construction of the
mirror, is due much credit. and he is
very we'll pleased with the results. The
one now at Hyde Park is about fifteen
horsepower, which can be generated at
practically no expense save that of at
tendance. Water for steam is cheap,
and Old Sol does the rest.