ANOTHER REMARKABLE MOTOR. SOMETHING VERY LIKE THE KEELY HUMBUG IN BROOKLYN — RESULT OF AN INVESTIGATION BY A PRACTICAL MECHANIC — STRENUOUS EFFORTS TO SELL SHARES TO THE PUBLIC
What looks very much like an attempt to repeat the Keely motor swindle is now being made in this City. The pretensions and methods of operating are almost precisely similar, and the alleged invention itself appears to be equally without substance. A Mr. Winter has, during the past few weeks, been? giving private exhibitions at No. 8 Columbia street, Brooklyn, of a so-called wonderful machine, which? he claims is capable of producing not only a power far exceeding that ascribed to Keely’s, but also by ?the same operation a rich illuminating gas, at a cost of 2 cents per 1,000 feet. Mr. Thomas B. Fogarty,? a practical engineer of this City, who was invited to one of these exhibitions, thus describes his experience: “The machine proper consisted of a direct-action steam-pump, arranged so as to be driven by water pressure from the street mains. I was satisfied that the pump was selected with a view to effect, for it was of a peculiar construction, the steam valve being operated by a queer outside rigging, which gave the pump an odd appearance, calculated to mislead the superficial observer, and make it pass for a special machine. I remained in the building about half an hour, and during that time the pump was operated for about 10 minutes, at a very low rate of speed at most 12 strokes per minute. I have since ascertained that the Brooklyn water pressure in the neighborhood of Fulton Ferry is at least 60 pounds ?to the square inch; but during the exhibition Mr. Winter informed those present that this pressure was cut off, so as not to exert more than 112 pounds pressure in the pump cylinder. We were told that the secret of the performance lay in the valve chambers of the pump, where water was mysteriously decomposed by mere pressure through the simple action of the piston, at the rate of a quart at each stroke enough to fill the building with gas in five minutes. The gauge indicated 300 pounds. Hydraulic machines are sometimes operated with a pressure as high as 10,000 pounds without decomposition of the water. The gases - oxygen and hydrogen - were said to pass from the generator in to a series of seven tanks, and to be stored in them at the pressure indicated on the gauge. In proof of the great power produced a one horse power Baxter steam engine and a small rock drill were connected with the tanks and were run for one or two minutes at a high rate of speed. Part of the vapor gas contained in the tanks was also allowed to pass through a series of smaller ones, when it was carbureted or enriched by petroleum vapors, and thence to the side of the room, where it was burned a little while. “On looking closely, I found a valve through which air was pumped into the tanks before the exhibition began, and it at once became evident that it was by this compressed air the Baxter engine and the rock drill were operated. The appearance of the gas flames, which resembled air gas or carbureted air, with which I am well acquainted, confirmed this conclusion. I also ascertained that a valve placed between the first and second tanks was kept carefully closed, so that the air pumped into the first tank, a - very small one - could not pass beyond it, and, consequently, a few strokes of the pump caused the gauge, which was connected with this tank, to indicate a pressure of 300 pounds. There was no such pressure in the other six tanks, for I saw Mr. Winter open the valve before referred to, between the first and second tanks, a little for an instant, and I heard the compressed air pass from one tank to the other with a loud, hissing noise, which satisfied me that there must have been a very great difference between the pressure in them. If there were oxygen and hydrogen gases in the tanks, I have no hesitation in saying they were brought there. Two of the tanks were evidently those in which the gases are usually sent to exhibitions.?“To make assurance doubly sure, I carefully noted the size of the steam cylinder of the pump, its? length of piston stroke, and the speed at which it was run, as from these and Mr. Winter's statement of the water pressure used I could calculate exactly the power used, and compare it with the work alleged to be done. Both of these, according to the law of the correlation and conservation of forces, which is a primary law of physics, and holds that the power produced cannot be greater than that expended in its production, should correspond within reasonable limits. I found the working conditions of the pump to be as follows: Piston area, 78.50 square inches; piston stroke, 1 foot; piston speed, 1 stroke per minute; water pressure, 115 pounds to the square inch. Therefore, 78.50 x 1 x 12 x 115=1,400 foot pounds, or about 1.23 of a horse power - the total force expended in one minute. Prof. Tyndall estimates the mechanical value of nine pounds of water, by the combination of its elementary gases, as being more than 53,000,000 foot pounds. 'Twelve quarts of water weigh 25 pounds. Therefore, 53 multiplied by 25, and divided by 12, equals 132,500,000 foot pounds, or 4,015 horse power, which it is claimed is generated by the expenditure of 1.23 of a horse power. This law, if applied to Keely's motor, would have demonstrated it to be a fraud inside of half an hour.” Mr. Winter's “inventlon” can have no practical value in a pecuniary sense, as it cannot be patented. Patents are issued only on the filing of specifications defining in precise terms the nature, scope, and objects of the invention. Mr. Winter says that he stumbled upon his “power,” and that he cannot tell how it operates. Keely could never get a patent on account of similar ignorance. Yet it is reported that shares in the new invention are being freely bought and sold, and strenuous efforts are being made to float the enterprise. It Is given out that a 60-horse power machine is being built, and that as soon as this is finished the press will be invited to a grand exhibition. Meantime the projectors do not seek newspaper notoriety. Messrs, Jordan L. Mott and Charles F. Woerlshoffer are said to have invested liberally, and a Mr. Lawrence, of No. 17 Broad Street, is credited with being deeply interested. Messrs. Shirley & Ryan, of No. 52 Broadway, are the financial agents for the company that is forming. Prof. Doremus’ name is freely used as having given a favorable opinion of the invention, presumably with his consent. [??Published: April 14, 1878? Copyright © The New York Times]
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