Di Bella 



The results of these tests do not allow us to predict the immediate practi- 

 cal applications of the devices for air navigation, since here also we dedicated 

 a rather limited amount of time to the tests. 



Tests in Rarefied Air 



These tests were carried out with the aim of observing the influence of air 

 on the functioning of the device. We set up an airtight iron case, in the form of 

 a cube, each side 60 cm long. The vacuum within the case was created with a 

 pump, and was measured by means of a column of mercury. A vertical pole 

 with a metallic tip was attached to the bottom of the case. Around it could ro- 

 tate a horizontal pole, carrying a device at one end and electric piles at the 

 other. The center of gravity G of the device-transversal-piles complex falls 

 on the vertical w passing through the tip (Fig. 22). 



The result of the tests was that 

 the device was not influenced by the 

 absence of air. In fact, the device, at 

 the same motor power, made the hori- 

 zontal pole rotate the same number of 

 turns (24 at first) with atmospheric 

 pressure as with a 98.4% vacuum. 



In place of the device we substi- 

 tuted a small propeller with dimen- 

 sions equal to those of the device. We 

 found that the propeller, with its mo- 

 tor power used for the device, makes 

 the pole rotate at 74 rpm with atmos- 

 pheric pressure; but in the vacuum 

 indicated above, the propeller acquires a very high number of revolutions with- 

 out generating thrust, and the pole remains still. 



Fig. 22 - 

 device for 



Transversal - 

 rarefied air 



piles 

 tests 



The device makes the pole rotate, even if the center of gravity G does not 

 fall on the vertical w. In fact, if Yq is the distance of G from w, the pole for 

 Yq = 0, 0-1, 6-3, and 2 cm completes 31, 31, and 26 rpm respectively. 



The maximum number of revolutions reached with the pole was 61 rpm. 

 Since the distance of the device from the axis of rotation was 0.25 meters, it 

 follows that the maximum speed reached by the device was 1.6 m/sec. 



Tests With the Device Suspended from a Thread 



Figure 23 shows the horizontal pole t having a device (Aj) and the piles 

 (Aj). a vessel R having a circular section contains water in which is placed 

 a float G, which also has a circular section. A thin thread f suspends the 

 pole to the float. By operating the motor of the device, the pole begins to ro- 

 tate, and by means of the thread, also sets the float rotating. In such a way 

 both the pole and the float turn slowly in the same direction with continuity. 



1388 



