Tales From the Mermaid and Tiger by Kevin H. Evans

Author:Kevin H. Evans [Evans, Kevin H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Michael's first attempt to remedy the loss of wind seemed obvious to him. Michael simply thought he could make the windmill taller. He hurried downstairs shouting for Gustav. “I know, let's make the tower taller. That way the sails of the windmill will be above the house and we will be able to collect the wind just like before.”

Gustav's face fell and Michael knew there was a problem with his brilliant solution. Gustav said. “That’s the first thing one thinks. Indeed if we could build the tower taller we would be able to catch the wind as before. We even ordered some long timbers to extend everything. The single largest problem, though, is the bearing at the base of the main shaft, which runs the entire height of the tower up to the squirrel cage there. That transfers the movement of the sails to the shaft. Come, let me show you.

They climbed down into the basement of the mill and Gustav pointed to a metal plate at the base of the main shaft. “Look here. When this plate was installed, it was flat. But see the distortion? That’s from the weight of the main shaft. If we install a taller main, this metal cup at the bottom will burst and possibly bring the whole mill down on our heads.”

Michael frowned, staring up into the center of the mill. But Gustav wasn’t finished. “The other problem is almost as bad. If we add any more sections into the shaft, we lose power. The more the length there is to twist, the more the shaft takes power away from the machinery. To be sure we get a little bit back as it untwists, but the longer the shaft, the less real power we get. Your great-great-grandfather built the tallest windmill on the coast. So taller is less efficient. And if that isn’t enough, that Swedish noblemen, when he saw the wood that we were gathering to extend the height of the tower, stormed over here in a fit. He threatened a lawsuit because, as he put it, he didn't want any ugly windmill sail fluttering in the windows of his house.”

Michael was crestfallen. “Are you sure? It seemed such an elegant solution.”

Gustav took Michael back to the office and pulled down a roll of plans. “Here is what we tried. See for yourself.”

When Michael saw the mathematical calculations, he immersed himself. It didn't take very long at all for him to see that first, making the tower taller would be difficult because they would need more land at the bottom to spread out the supports. Secondly, the strain and stress was already at the maximum capacity of the materials on hand.

After about an hour, Michael surfaced from the calculations and went back to Gustav. “There has to be an answer. Perhaps I could find something from that place in Germany, the Ring of Fire. They have so much knowledge, four hundred years worth or so.”

Gustav stood, wiping his hand on a rag.

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