Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-02-23

ease and rapidly OF repairs. and small ratio of
weight and space occupied to the power delivered
on the SHAFT. Mr.. Tesla maintains that In the tur.
bine which forms the subject OF this article he
has carried the steam and gas motor a long step
forward toward the maximum attanable eficien.
/ ey both theoretical and mechanical That these
i claims we'll founded Is shown By the fact that
IN The plant where Mr. Tesla carried out his ex
I periments. he is securing output OF 200 II p
from singie-stage steam turbine with atmos
pheric exhaust weighing less than pounds per
I HIP which Ia contained within space measuring
feet by feet. by feet In height and which
sccomplishes these results with thermal fall OF
only 1870 BTU. that is about one-third OF the to-
tai drop available Furthermore considered
from the mechanical standpoint the turbine is
nstontshingly simple and economical In construc-
ton ami by the very or it's construction
should prove TO possess such durability and
freedom from wear and breakdown az TO place II
In these respects far In advance of any type of
steam or gas motor OF the present day.
Briefly stated. Tesla's steam motor consists OF
a set NJ fat steel disks mounted on a shaft and
rotating within casing. the steam entering with
high velocity at the periphery OF the disks flow
ing between them IN free spiral paths and finally
escaping through exhaust ports at their center
Instead of developing the energy of the steam
by pressure. reaction. Impact series OF
blades or vsnes Tesla depends upon the fluid
properties OF adhesion and vIscosity--tho attrac,
ton OF he steam 10 the faces OF the disks and
the resistance OF It's particles To molecular sepa-
ration combining In transmitting the velocity en-.
eygy OF the motive fluid to the plates and the
SHAFT
BY reference to the accompanying photographs
II viii be seen that the turbine has rotor which
In the present case consists OF % fiat steel disks
ono one thirty second OF ach In thickness. OF
hardened and carefully tempered steel The
rotor AZ assembled is ~ inches Wide the face
by rs inches Ia diameter and when the turbine
Is running at It's maximum working velocity. the
material IS never nader tensile stress exceeding
$1,000 lbs per square inch The rotor Is mounted
In 3 casing which Is provided with two inlet
xies for use in running direct and for reversing
Openings are cut out at the central portion OF
the disks and these communicate directly with
exhaust ports formed In the side OF the casing
in operation. the sfcam or gas ~ the case may
be. " directed the periphery OF the disks
through The noxxles (which may be diverging
straight or consergingl where more or less OF Its
expansive energy 10 converted into velocity en-
ergy When the machine is at rest the radis
and tnngentisl forces due the pressure and velo
city OF the steam il TO travel In rather
short curved path toward the central exhaust
opening. but IA the disks commence TO rotate
and their speed increases. the steam travels in
spiral paths the length OF which Increases until
IN the case OF the present turbine. the particles
OF the fluid corpste number OF turns around
the shaft before reaching the exhaust. covering
ia the meantime lsneal path some ~ TO ls feet +
IN length. During It's progress from inlet to ex
haost The velocity and pressure Of the steam are