A NEW MOTOR.?? Prof. GAMGEE (who, improbable as he seems, is a real man) has invented a new motor, which is apparently much superior to the Keely motor. It is true that Prof. GAMGEE (who will perhaps excuse the suggestion that Gamboge would be in every way less exasperating) uses ammonia instead of a tumblerful of water, and hence requires more capital to work his engine at the outset than his rival; but, on the other hand, he uses the same ammonia over and over again, and his motive power does not? require to be “vivified.” In this latter respect his new motor is vastly superior to Mr. Keely’s. The latter will find that the public will consider any motive power which has to be vivified with a cornet dear at the price, and that the quiet and inoffensive operation of the Gamgee (which is probably a mere corrup?tion of Gamges) motor will commend the invention to all quiet and well-bred people. Then the new motor is expected to work at a temperature of zero, the engine being, in fact, called a zeromotor. This will give it a great advantage over all engines which are set in operation by means of intense heat. ?At present the engine-room of a steamer is one of the most uncomfortably hot places this side of purgatory, and we can imagine with what joy firemen and engineers will welcome an engine-room where the temperature is zero, and where the boiler acts as an immense refrigerator. It is not always easy to explain without the use of scientific terms the working of a new engine, but it is due to the public that an attempt should be made to describe in plain language the wonderful machine invented?by Prof. Gamgee, (and even he must admit that Gamgy would be simpler, if not more elegant.) The boiler of the engine is filled with liquid ammonia, which is expected to boil the moment the furnace raises the temperature of the ammonia to zero, When a sufficient pressure of ammoniacal gas—say? a pressure equal to the atmosphere of three livery-stables—is obtained, the gas is let into the high-pressure cylinder, where its heat is partially converted into motion, and the piston is moved to the extent of one stroke. The gas then passes into the low-pressure cylinder, where its heat is so completely? converted into motion that it once more becomes liquid ammonia. The services of a pump and an injector are now called in, and the liquid ammonia is drawn off from the cylinder and forced back into the boiler, where it is once more converted into gas, and resumes duty in the high-pressure cylinder. Thus we see that a given ammonia may be used and used again in the new motor, in sæcula sæculorum. In other words, Prof. GAAMGEE (and it is to wished that he could himself see how much more probable Gamble or even Gambier would be) has discovered perpetual motion. His engine once set in motion in a region where the temperature never rises above zero and never falls greatly below it would run on forever, or, to speak more accurately, until the machine itself should wear out. It is thus the cheapest and best motor that has ever been devised, and the unfortunate Mr. Keely will soon find that his half-a-glass-of-water motor will be looked upon as a well-meaning invention, but one which is greatly behind the times. But there is one thing concerning which Prof. GAAMGEE (and if he will only look at it seriously he must see that Gamp would be better) is by no means as clear as could be wished. Perhaps this want of clearness is intentional, and perhaps it is not. In either case it is seriously objectionable. He does not tell us what sort of fuel he uses to bring his ammonia up to the temperature of zero. Can it be that, instead of an ordinary boiler, with its fire-box and grates, he uses a common furnace such as is to be found in most of our dwelling-houses? Such a furnace will, as everybody knows from experience, often bring the temperature of a house up to zero, provided coal enough is used, and, doubtless, the same sort of furnace would raise ammonia to a like temperature. If Prof. Gamgee (and if he doesn’t like Gamp what would he say to Goomtee, which is a good East Indian? name ?) really intends to heat his ammonia with a New-York dwelling-house furnace, he must know that the amount of coal thus consumed will be frightful. No motor using this furnace could compete with a steam engine, for the former would require at least twice as much coal as the latter. Of course, it is not certainly known what kind of furnace the Professor intends to use, but before he can expect the public to buy shares in his invention he must fully and clearly explain this matter.? Has the distinguished Professor (it is perhaps unnecessary to mention his name again) seriously thought of combining his motor with the Keely motor? Suppose the result should be an engine driven by ammonia heated with an accordion? Would not this be in some respects an improvement upon either motor? The playing of an accordion develops a great deal of heat among the listeners, and at a minimum expense; and the constant use of the same ammonia would avoid the labor which Mr. KEELY now undertakes every time he pours a half a glass of water into his motor. The only thing in the way of such a combination would be the name of the combined motor. A Smith-Keely motor would be unobjectionable, but a Gamgee-Keely or a Keely-Gamgee motor is simply unthinkable.??
[Published: May 6, 1881?Copyright © The New York Times]