The Tesla Disk Turbine by W.M.J. Cairns.pdf

THE TESLA
Best remembered for his work with AC electricity, the Croatian born ;nventor NikQla Tesla was also responsible tor a whole host of other ideas and Patents, one of which, the Qisc Turbine, is the subject of this book.
Patented in Britain in 1910, like many ofTesla's ideas the Disc Turbine was ahead of its time in that none of the smilll number of development turbines built were successful, more due to 1l1,aterlaI problems as much as other factors, and development ceased qUickly, with turbine development being concentrated on the Curtis and Parsons types of Impulse and Impulse Reaction pattern. machines. .
Tesla's aim had been to make a25 hp. machine.which could fit illside a bowler hat and it is this extremely high potential power to size ratio, as well as the fact that it can be made: i'lS a compressor or a pump, which has te-awaken dint rest in the Disc TLU:bine concept.
In this book John Cairns describes the concept in detail as well as the history of the original engine . He then propos s a numb r of uses such turbines could be used for, induding powering cars and light aircraft, aU of which illustrate tbe extraordinary flexibility oJ Tesla's concept. Finally, he prOVides drawing and construction details of a small Tesla Disc lbrbine for the model engineer to construd.
THE AUTHOR
W.M.J. Cairns spent some 55 years in engine ring design, commencing with an apprenticeship in the design office of the former machine tool bu'lders Alfred Herbert, and was educated at Burton-on-Trent and Coventry technical colleges.
Several years were spent with Automotice Products of Leamington Spa, on hydraulic and mechanical equipment for automotive and aircraft applications, and with English Electric on turbine design, then with Rolls-Royce.
His main experience is in hydraulics, air compressors and turbine design with a particular interest in rotary engine and machines. and he is the author of three papers and a dissertation on such machines.
FOREWORD
This book describes the concept of the Disc Turbine as originally patented by Nikola Tesla, and provides concept designs for modern versions of the engine, incorporating the Disc Turbine as a power unit for applications in Automobiles and Light Aircraft and also give descriptions of the original Turbines and the prototype machines.
It also provides designs for other machines operating on the principle of a disc turbine: an Air Compressor, an Air Motor, and a Vacuum Exhauster. The facility of the principle to operate in either a clockwise or anticlockwise
direction of rotation, in a single machine, using only a two-way valve, is described, and applications where this fea ture can be applied to advantage are suggested.
Data is given on the performances attained by the original engines, together with stress and performance information.
Finally, we give a design for a modernised version of the original turbine, to one half scale, complete With working drawings and manufacturing instructions to enable the model or experimental engineer to construct a fully operational engine, using such tools and equipment as are usually available to model makers.
W.M.J. Cairns,
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CONTENTS
Tesla's original machine
The Disc Turbine Operating Principle
The first experimental Turbine
The 9.75in. Disc Prototype Turbine
Larger Turbines to 60 in. disc diameter
Future developments
Other Rotary Engines
The Automotive Disc Turbine
Air Compressor, Vacuum Pump, Air Motor, Light Aircraft Engines
The Dual Direction Facility
Stresses in the discs and performance calculations
Building a model Disc Turbine
Drawings for a model Disc Turbine
Photographs