The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-01
KEE WONDER OF GYROSCOpE
TESTS Snow TT WILL STOP TRE
ROLLING or SHIPS ar SEA.

LoNIooN, Nov. @.-Whsu Louie Brennan
asD0nished the scientific world a few months
by his demonstrations OF the practical
value Of the yroscOps a. applied TO rail-
reading he by nj means exhausted the
wonders of this newly discovered but very
old mechanical principle.
A German inventor announced &C about
the same tirne hat the gyroscope had re-
msrkable powers OF impsrtine rightly to
ships at sea in heavy weather. His claims
met with far greater incredulity among
practical mariners than was aroused by
Mr.. Brennan's demonstration at the Royal
Society. But seeing 10 believing IN most
cases. and In this one the sceptical have
been forced to conviction.
On three days Of last week series OF tests
Of the gyroscope apparatus was made IN
ths North Sea oG T~yuemouth under the
direction Of the inventor, DIR. Schlick. The
vessel used was a boat Of the torpedo boat
cIaee. the See-bar Representatives OF many
OF the cross Channel and English coastwise
linee attended the trials.
The weather on each of the days was
sufficiently rough 10 enable the s~tesdying
sfcct Of the gyroscope TO be demonstrated.
This Sce-har is Ild feet long. about lI%
feee broad and Of 80 tons displa cement, 80
that a moderate amount ~ sea for q vessel
Of her dimensions represented the action
~ waves If considerable magnitude upon
ships or large size.
nn Wednesday last the conditions we're
most severe. \ gale had been blowing
during The night and the waves encoun-
tered Ivy the See-bar had heights Of from
eiK 20 eight feet and lengths OF from % TO
100 feet. Vessels of much larger dimensions
than the Sec-bar were rolling through con-
siderable angles at the time when the tests
were made.
They we're conducted in the following
manner The vessel was placed broadside
On TO the waves. or nearly so, with the gyrO-
scope fixed. and was allowed 70 roll freely.
The maximum incIinaticns to tho vertical
attained we're on several occasions IS de-
Erees on each side.
The motion Of the vessel was very quick:
the period Of oscillation for a double roll
with the gyroscope fixed slightly exceeded
four seconds. When a considerable oscilla-
ton had been attained the gyroscope sp-
psrstue was act free by releasing the hrskea
By which il had been previously held and
~ss permitted 10 osciTIste longit'ldinslly
about transverse horizontal axis. the bear
iugs OF which were attached to the hull Of
the veeeel.
The effect upon the rolling was most re-
g~nsrkahle. u vas "damped" immediately.
and after a few oscillations was practically
satinxStshea. the Asck remaining alNmoet
horizontal. while the vessel heaved up and
down.
Some OF the nautical representatives On
hoard we're Of the opinion that II the rolling
could be extinguished in this manner and
the deck kept nearly horizontal there would
Ia n rfaL 0f Tho Eawaa hrGaLinn nm hOuVH
70 greater extent than when the vessel vas
rolling. Observation, however. proved that
tire contrary was true; the deck kept per
fectIy dry rs the vessel hesved ny and down
Nth the gyroecopc in action. and the con-
d.tious were much more comfortable than
they we're when the gyroscope was fiSed and
the vessel permitted to roll broadside on to
the waves.
These results absolutely confirmed those
previously obtained in Germany. and they
greatly impressed he representatives of The
steamship lines who Witnessed them. II il
anticipated that The reauIt ~ the demon
ztration will be the practical adoption u the
system in certain steamships almost imme-
diately.
Mesers. Swan Hunter and Wigham Rich
srdson have decided tn make Tho first
sppIcations Of the system in vessels Of the
Coasting and cross Channel type. whore iia
advantages win IN greatest. and for this
purpose. in conjunction with DIR. Schlick, are
working oUt a standard pattern Of gyrO-
srope which wOuId he applicable to such
vessels, Of which the displacement ranges
from about 1890 to 2yOOD tons.
The advantages in regard to cost and
ssecd Of production Of having a STANDARD
Vattern 81 gyrOscOpe will be obvious. All
thai will be needed is to vary the rate Of
revolution appropriately in order to secure
Sufficient stsadyins effect in vessels OF
different sizes and weights,
Even in the smaller vessels to be dealt
With the weight and space required for an
effective gyroscope will be but moderate
in amount. and the comfort Of passengers
in veseels which from their small dimen-
sione must have q quick period Of rolling
iRthey are endowed with adequate stability
will he very great. Already the Hamburg
American company ~ constructing a SyrO-
scope 10 be fitted in It's pleasure steamer
Silvans. which Tuns between Hamburg and
HeliRolsnd.
premature perhaps in assuming that the
days ~ NAL de MGR are over. but they
cap ut. less, hope that their distress will
be greatly mitigated. II IL impossible, OF
course, 10 do away With the up and down
uotien in a heavy sea, but ON big liners this
amounts 70 almost nothing when the roll
ing has been eliminated.
The constant announcements m the news
pApers OF cabmsn who are giving up bust
nsss and are offering their cabs for sale at
bargain counter prices make one realize
more than ever that the day OF the hanson
cab. 40 long a feature Of London life. is
rast. Underground railroads Snd above
ground motor buses have Helped TO bring
rbout is downfall. hut Of courss It's worst
enanoy is the motor taxicab.
.sndoners wonder nov why the old one
Aasu .s.Ss= hanson has reizusd 20 long.
n ths nTst place IL IL most c;rioult OH in
Arees and egress. and there is always the
muddy wheel 20 be avoided. Then in bed
weather one must choose between being
..nh-vSaaad or raceivinR In ones faca the