WAVE TRANSMISSION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 98, 20 January 1920, Page 2

WAVE TRANSMISSION

BIG ENGINEERING ADVANCE NEW PRINCIPLE IN MECHANICS 'Utilisation of the elasticity of water is a new principle in mechanics—practical and of great commercial importance," states a leading onginijering expert. Through Die discovery that water and other fluids «uo capable of transmitting power-impulses in waves with phases like thoso of an electric current, mining, shipbuilding, and other industries will bo ablo to discard costly and wastefi'l pneumatic tools in favour of cheap, portable, and-efficient appliances .worked by wave transmission.

Tho principle of wave transmission is simplicity itself, ami in oho of its applications was the engineering marvel of tho year. It conquered theFokker aeroplane, by enabling our airmen to file straight ahead 200(1 bullets <i minute, right IHroufch the blades. • A machinegun fitted with tho "interrupter gear' could be fired with such accuracy that every bullet just "missed" the propeller blades—but did not. miss tho enemy. The interrupter Bear demonstrated the precision of wave transmission; but its engineering value lies in economy. Pneumatic tools, by which riveting ami rockdrilling can be done at a distance from tho power plant, have been a great boon to shipbuilding and mining. Compressed air is a handy way (o carry power, but it is very wasteful. A compressed air rock-drill' utilising 10 per cent, of the ■horse-power generated is considered to bo doini: remarkably well. By wave transmission, fully S(i per cent, of-the power is made available, with, of cour.se, a corresponding economy of coal. If Ibis were all. it would be enough to ensure the future of wave transmission. But it is not all. .The gwiowlcrs and tools used are lighter, more compact, and simpler in construction than those required with compressed air. They cost less, and are sturdier and more easily kept in order. Power is convoyed to them bv waves set up in any fluid, but preferably water, the cheapest of all fluids. .Those waves travel at about (ho speed of sound, and have a varying length. They are carried out in a pipe. lin» which can have any desired numbor of turns and kinks iii.it, and the power can be "tapped" near any desired point, being utilised as percussion or rotary motion.

Ti' <!cck drilling, the stream of water .always ..required to clear away chips is itself used In carry the waves ot powerimpulse. Electricity—much more efficient than compressed air as a powercarrier—can bo used for this portion in currier—ran lie used for this purpose in' only what are called "safe" mines. Sparking, would ignil" • gas and cause explosions in most.. There are lire ond shock risks everywhere when high-ten-sion electric currents are used. Wave transmission makes no sparks, and '.rnye motors can be used under water (as in shipbuilding), where electric motors would lie out of the question;