This repulsive effect is utilized in the Bachelet system ([Plate XV].). There are no rails in the ordinary sense, and the track is made up of a continuous series of electro-magnets. The car, which is shaped something like a cigar, has a floor of aluminium, and contains an iron cylinder, and it runs above the line of magnets. Along each side of the track is a channel guide rail, and underneath the car at each end are fixed two brushes with guide pieces, which run in the guide rails. Above the car is a third guide rail, and two brushes with guide pieces fixed on the top of the car, one at each end, run in this overhead rail. These guide rails keep the car in position, and also act as conductors for the current. The repulsive action of the electro-magnets upon the aluminium floor raises the car clear of the track, and keeps it suspended; and while remaining in this mid-air position it is driven, or rather pulled forward, by powerful solenoids, which are supplied with continuous current. We have referred previously to the way in which a solenoid draws into it a core of iron. When the car enters a solenoid, the latter exerts a pulling influence upon the iron cylinder inside the car, and so the car is given a forward movement. This is sufficient to carry it along to the next solenoid, which gives it another pull, and so the car is drawn forward from one solenoid to another to the end of the line. The model referred to has only a short track of about 30 feet, with one solenoid at each end; but its working shows that the pulling power of the solenoids is sufficient to propel the car.
PLATE XV.
Photo by
Record Press.
BACHELET “FLYING TRAIN” AND ITS INVENTOR.
To avoid the necessity of keeping the whole of the electro-magnets energized all the time, these are arranged in sections, which are energized separately. By means of the lower set of brushes working in the track guides, each of these sections has alternating current supplied to it as the car approaches, and switched off from it when the car has passed. The brushes working in the overhead guide supply continuous current to each solenoid as the car enters it, and switch off the current when the car has passed through. The speed at which the model car travels is quite extraordinary, and the inventor believes that in actual practice speeds of more than 300 miles an hour are attainable on his system.
CHAPTER XXX
ELECTRICITY IN WAR
One of the most striking features of modern naval warfare is the absolute revolution in methods of communication brought about by wireless telegraphy. To-day every warship has its wireless installation. Our cruiser squadrons and destroyer flotillas, ceaselessly patrolling the waters of the North Sea, are always in touch with the Admiral of the Fleet, and with the Admiralty at Whitehall. In the Atlantic, and in the Pacific too, our cruisers, whether engaged in hunting down the marauding cruisers of the enemy or in searching for merchant ships laden with contraband, have their comings and goings directed by wireless. Even before the actual declaration of war between Great Britain and Germany wireless telegraphy began its work. At the conclusion of the great naval review of July 1914, the Fleet left Portland to disperse as customary for manœuvre leave, but a wireless message was dispatched ordering the Fleet not to disperse. As no state of war then existed, this was a precautionary measure, but subsequent events quickly proved how urgently necessary it had been to keep the Fleet in battle array. Immediately war was declared Great Britain was able to put into the North Sea a fleet which hopelessly outnumbered and outclassed the German battle fleet.
At the outset Germany had a number of cruisers in the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. Owing to the vigilance of our warships these vessels were unable to join the German Home Fleet, and they immediately adopted the rôle of commerce destroyers. In this work they made extensive use of wireless telegraphy to ascertain the whereabouts of British merchant ships, and for a short time they played quite a merry game. Prominent among these raiders was the Emden. It was really astonishing how this cruiser obtained information regarding the sailings of British ships. It is said that on one occasion she called up by wireless a merchant ship, and inquired if the latter had seen anything of a German cruiser. The unsuspecting merchantman replied that there was no such thing as a German warship in the vicinity. “Oh yes, there is,” returned the Emden; “I’m it!” and shortly afterwards she appeared on the horizon, to the great discomfiture of the British skipper. An interesting account of the escape of a British liner from another notorious raider, the Karlsruhe, has been given in the Nautical Magazine. The writer says: