Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II: Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Volume 27 Number 3, Publication 1948, 1911Langley, S. P. (Samuel Pierpont)
History
Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II: Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Volume 27 Number 3, Publication 1948, 1911
Langley, S. P. (Samuel Pierpont)
Aeronautics; Flight
These results can lead to but one conclusion; that for the
development of the same amount of power when that amount shall be
1 horse-power or more, rubber weighs enormously more than a steam
engine, besides being less reliable [p024] for a sustained effort,
and, therefore, cannot be used for propelling aerodromes intended for
a flight that is to be prolonged beyond a few seconds.[18]
It may be desirable to present a tabular view of the ‹theoretical›
energy of available motors, which it will be noticed is a wholly
different thing from the results obtained in practice. Thus, we
represent the weight of rubber only, without regard to the weight
of the frame required to hold it. In the steam engine, we consider
the theoretical efficiency per pound of fuel, without regarding the
enormous waste of weight in water in such small engines as these,
or the weight of the engine itself. We treat the hot-water engine
in like manner, and in regard to carbonic acid and compressed air,
we take no note of the weight of the containing vessel, or of the
cylinders and moving parts. In the same way we have the theoretical
potency of electricity in primary and storage batteries, without
counting the weight of the necessary electromotors; and of the
inertia-engine without discussing that of the mechanism needed to
transmit its power.
Foot-pounds of energy in one pound of
Gasoline 15,625,280
Alcohol 9,721,806
Gunpowder 960,000
Hot water, under pressure of 100 atmospheres 383,712
Air, under pressure of 100 atmospheres, isothermal
expansion 120,584
Liquid carbonic acid, at temperature of 30° and pressure
of 100 atmospheres 78,800
Electric battery; short-lived, thin walled; chromic acid
and platinum 75,000
Steel ring, 8 inches in diameter, at speed of 3000 turns
per minute 19,000
Storage battery 17,560
Rubber, pulled 2,000
Rubber, twisted 300
It may be interesting to consider next, in even a roughly approximate
way, what may be expected from these various sources of energy in
practice.
STEAM ENGINE
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account