The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-02-03

and rapidity of repairs. and small ratio OF
weight and space occupied TO the power delivered
the shaft. Mr., Tesla maintains that in the tur
bine which forms the subject of this article he
has carried the steam and motor long step
forward toward the maximum attanable eiiicien-
cy. both theoretical and mechanical. That these
claims well founded is shown by the fact that
in the plant where Mr.. Tesla carried out his ex-
periments. he is securing output OF 200 HIP.
from singlestage steam turbine with atmos-
pheric exhaust, weighing less than pounds per
HIP. which is contained within space measuring
2 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet in height and which
accom- pshes these results with thermal fall OF
only 30 u. that is about one-third OF the to-
tai drop available. Furthermore considered
from the mechanical standpoint. the turbine is
astonshingly simple and economical in construc'
tion. and by the very nature of Its construction
should prove possess such durability and
freedom from wear and breakdown to place 1t
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 of fat steel disks mounted shaft and
rotating within casing, the steam entering with
high velocity at the periphery of the disks, how-
ing between them in free spiral paths and hnally
escaping through exhaust ports at their center
Instead of developing the energy of the steam
by pressure. reaction. impact on a series OF
blades vanes. Tesla depends upon the hud
properties of adhesion and viscosity-the attrac-
tion Of the steam to the faces of the disks and
the resistance of its PARTICLES TO molecular sepa
ration combining in transmitting the velocity en-
ergv of the motive fluid to the plates and the
shaft
BY reference to the accompanying photographs
II vii! be seen that the turbine has rotor which
in the present consists of 25 fiat steel disks
one one thrty-second of inch in thickness, or
hardened and carefully tempered steel The
rotor as assembled is Y inches wide on the race
by Is inches In diameter and when the turbine
is running at its maximum working velocity. the
material Is never under tensile stress exceeding
so 900 lbs per square inch. The rotor is mounted
in a casing which is provided with two inlet noz
zles for use in running direct and for reversing
Openings are cut at the central portion OF
the disks and these communicate directly with
exhaust norts formed in the side OF the casing
be- is directed on the periphery of the disks
through the nozzles (Which may be diverging,
straight or convergingl where more or less of its
exhaustive energy is converted into velocity en-
ercy When the machine is ar rest the radial
and tengential forces due to the pressure and velo
city of the steam 1t to travel in rather
short curved path toward the central exhaust
opening but as the disks commence to rotate
and their speed increases. the steam travels in
snjral maths the length Of which increases until
in the case OF the present turbine. the particles
of the fluid complete number OF turns around
the shaft before reaching the exhaust, covering
in the meantime lineal path some IL 70 10 leel
IN length During its progress from inlet to ex-
haust the velocity and pressure OF the steam are