The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-02
POWER FROM THE sun
Value Of a Huge Solar Motor
Near Boston.
SMALL sAwMILL OPERATED BY IT

Successful Tests Of the Gigantic APP
paratus, Which Focuses the SUMS
Rays and Thus Produces Power
Some Interesting Features CT the
Machine.
A huge solar motor recently finished
and now in operation is attracting an
immense amount of attention at Hyde
Park. ear 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-
flected from it's great battery of fash
ing mirrors it's builders have been en-
abled to generate sufficient steam to
operate Il small saWmill.
Since the coal famine wood has un-
doubleday been sawed in this part of
the country in many different ways,
but this is the first time such a feat
has eve been accomplished through
the indirect action of the sun.
The motor consists Of an immense
"a ANhNSSOA ~ wv WV
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-fve feet
above the ground and has a diameter of
t%hirty-six feet on the outside and nar
rows to a diameter of Is feet 5 inches
on the inside or bottom.
1t is lined with 800 mirrors made by
a 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 a 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 a
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 Gov
cred by an isinglass Jacket. 1t is so
arranged that the influence of the six
rows of mirrors is evidently distributed
among the coils, two rows co%ncentrat-
ing upon each of them.
In a recent test made upon a bright
day, which vas not, however. especial
ly warm, the 1900 square feet of mir
rors when squarely exposed to the ac-
ton of the sun produced an intensity of
heat equal to 1902 degrees Fahrenheit
and caused the boiler to blow off at
200 pounds.
Those in charge of the construction
of this powerful natura! heat collector
are confident that ever 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 a
sort of network to keep it firm.
One of the most interesting features
of the machine is the automatic cleo
trio clockwork. which keeps the re-
flector 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 1t
is soon to be sent away to California.
and work has already been started up
OH 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 well 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.
A New Use For an Automobile.
In Santa Rosa Il new use has been
found for an {: tomobile, says the San