The Cairo bulletin., 1909-04-22
TO GAN SUNS RAYS
BOSTON MAN CONVERTS THEM
INTO ELECTRIC ENERGY.
lnvents Simple Apparatus with Which
He Lights Workshop - Device
Entirely Automatic and
Cheap to Build.

| Boston That he has successfully
| solved the problem of storing up the
SUMS rays and converting them into
electrical energy is the claim made by
a Boston inventor.
He is George s. Cove and he demon
strates the success of his invention by
lighting his workshop at ass Somer-
vile avenue. Somerville, with cleo
tricity generated from a simple appa-
ratus on the roof.
No electric wires of any sort enter
his buildings from outside lighting
sources. vet the iucandescent globes
twinkle merrily day and night and
electricians from the Institute OF Tech
HelosY who have watched his expert
nen;s with interest have declared
themselves enthusiastic over his sue
cess.
Cove has demonstrated that his sim.
ple mechanical device will store up
sufficient electricity for an entire
house. He also says the machines.
which can be built at a cost of 500
aech, when incased in glass, will last
for Sen years without repair or alter.
ltion.
Coye's invention will be known as
the solar electric generator and Is
iesigned to generate electricity direct
~ from the rays of the sun and to
store it for lighting and for small pow.
er plants.
1t consists of framework to be
placed in an opening where it will
receive the direct rays of the sun,
Short Plugs of a metal composition are
set into this frame The framework
is of thin steel divided into squares.
each one foot square, containing 10
plugs. The plugs project from the CO.
ment in which they are set and come
in contact with a thick glass which
the sun strikes.
In the whole frame there are 976
plugs. Filled in around these plugs
is a body of notwithstanding material.
The plugs are about an inch apart and
are connected in series by strip of
metal.
The difference of the temperature
Of the two ends Of the metal plugs, one
being in the sun, the other in the
open with a circulation of air around
Il. generates TIE current of electricity. |
Il the sun goes under a cloud and the |
voltage drops below that of the stor.
age batteries, an automatic cut-out |
breaks the circuit between the genera. |
% and the batteries. The device is |
thus entirely automatic. When the |
sun sets at night it automatically |
shuts off the storage batteries and be |
gins again with the rising sun in the |
morning.
This machine generates through a |
lay of sunshine enough electricity to |
tight five lights of 20 -eaHdIe-PeweF /
each TO last from three to four days |
If continuous lighting.
In two days of sunshine the device
generates and stores up sufficient cleo
richly to last six days. This allows
or bad weather. Mr.. Cove says add
ng to the glass in front of the device
heavy glass of a concaye surface, the
,ost OF which is very small, will in.
rcase the power Of the apparatus.
Storage batteries as large as are de-
tired may be used, the additional
quipment making greater strength
or the lights and giving also greater
ength Of service from the charging.
T the expected success comes with
- |
sufficient electricity to light
house week
In view Of the great waste in coal,
imber and OIL of which there is so
much complaint Just at present, Mr.
owe believes that the natural powers
f the sun will have to be utilized
more and more as the years go on.