Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-09


- by anyone who knows anything about
baseball, is the trick that underlies the new
'Rotor" ship invented by Anton Flettner,
according to German engineers and scientists
who have examined the sensationaI-causing
craft The smooth surfaces of the great
cylindrical ''rOtors," spinning in the wind,
increase pressure on one side and decrease
it on the other, just as the surface of the
rapidly rotating BASEBALL piles up a differ
ence, Of pressure on its two sides and causes
it to drift into a curve.
That say the scientists, is all there is to
it. The persistent stories of a windmill
ship" whose towers are somehow turned by
the air current, or which contain inside their
smooth walls paddlewheels that are 50 turned
and which drive underwater propellers
are all imaginative and incorrect attempts
to explain a very simple thing that looks
mysterious just because it is unfamiliar in
its present application.
The two tall, cylindrical objects that look
like immense smokestacIls, are the only pro-
pellers the ship needs. They are spun on
thir axes by small electric motors-20 horse
power is all the present ship employs. AS
hthey spin, they tend to carry layer of air
around with them In calm weather, this
air would simply keep rotating about with
the rotors, and nothing would happen. But
when wind is blowing, which would split
and flow equally on both sides of the TOtOrS
/ if they were stationary, more of the air is
/ turned with the direction of rotation than
against it. That is, the wind is split I'M
equally. The part that travels along with
the surface Of the rotor blows faster, mo-
mentarily, than the part that travels az inst
the direction of motion of the other side!
The wind that has it; motion slowed down
naturally tends to pile up pressure at the
point where the slowing occurs, While the
wind that is helped to flow faster tends to
lower pressure at the point where the
( ''bOOSt' 10 ic
ing across the ship, the rotOrs reyoIyed
in such a direction that the pressure will
be built up behind them and lowered in
front, so that the craft moves forward.
This effect is known various as the
''Magnus" and the "Bernouli" principle,
from the scientists who first made critical
examinations Of the phenomena, in the mid
die of the nineteenth century. 1t has been
Rnoted in the drift down the wind Of rapidly
rotating rifle bullets and artillery probe -
tiles, and all army range tables allow for it.
But Herr FIettner is the first. so far as
known, to attempt a commercial applica-
ton.
One incidental advantage is claimed for
the rotor ship that sets it ahead of either
steam or sailing vessels. 1t can be turned
on its own center by rotating the towers in
opposite directions. 1t is claimed also that
the ship can be stopped very quickly by re-
yersing the direction of rotation Of the tow
ers This is somewhat analogous to the
and is a feature absent from sailing ships
There has been considerable question as to
the stability of a rotor ship in storm. but
the inventor claims that the surface exposed
to the tempest by the rotOrs is not so great
as that exposed by he bare rigging Of a close
sailing ship.
Since rotor ships must have wind IN order
to move, they would be competitors only q
sailing ships. Since the pressure difference
must always be built up by a wind blowing
commands of Fenzileh than TO those of the
Basha himself.
Then she drew her son to the fretted
lattice commanding the courtyard a screen
from behind which they could see and hear
all thta passed out yonder Asad was speak
ing, informing Sakr-el-Bahr of what he had
learned and what there was to CO.
How soon canst thou put to sea again?"
he ended.
as soon as the service of Allah and thy
self require was the prompt answer.
1t is we'll my SON
Asad laid hand affectionately upon the
corsair's shoulder, entirely conquered by this
readiness.
Best set out at sunrise tomorrow. Thoull
need so long 10 male thee ready for the
sea"
Continued Thursday. Renew your sub
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