The engine for the Wright brothers was finally ready, a 12-horsepower, aluminum four-cylinder. Although this engine will not be used in cars in the future and its application is relatively limited, it can still be regarded as a success for several engineers in his laboratory and Zou Zhou.
Wait until the new students gain some experience.
Li Yu immediately sent a telegram to the Wright brothers in North Carolina. The engine is a key component of the aircraft. After receiving the news, the Wright brothers came to New York to pick up the goods in person.
Brother Wilbur Wright weighed it first and said with satisfaction: "Perfect weight!"
His younger brother Orwell Wilbur said: "Sir, do you really don't accept money?"
Li Yu smiled and said: "We have agreed, if you don't want it, you don't want it. Just let me see it during your test flight. I also want to see the process of you flying into the sky."
The Wright brothers were excited again: "Thank you so much! We will definitely let your engine fly into the sky."
This is the best answer for Li Yu.
However, the Wright brothers still have half a year to test flight, until the end of this year.
During this period, Li Yu naturally still has to be busy with his own affairs.
There must be no problem with the current people in the laboratory, including the three engineers hired. Zou Zhou also learned quickly and was able to cooperate in the preliminary manufacturing of the electronic starting system, but the efficiency was still low.
If he wanted to set up a small factory, Li Yu could buy an old one in Detroit. Anyway, there are many small automobile factories and workshops in Detroit.
What Li Yu is making is not a complete vehicle, so the area required will not be very large; raw materials and accessories are also relatively convenient to obtain in Detroit.
When he came to Detroit again, Li Yu quickly took a fancy to a factory not far from David Buick, and decisively asked Sierra to buy it.
——It would be a lot less troublesome for an American from Sierra to come forward in this matter.
The price tag wasn't high either, it only cost less than $10,000.
Definitely not using fund money, but fortunately Li Yu had funds on hand by selling patents.
Li Yu had other plans for buying here, and his target was obvious: Buick.
It's not the Buick company, it's Buick the person.
Because Li Yu saw him again in Buick's company (workshop), his brows were full of sorrow.
Li Yu went up to greet him: "Hello, Mr. Buick."
"Oh, Mr. Li Yu, you're here again." David Buick said.
"In a bad mood?" Li Yu asked.
Buick sighed: "I have already negotiated with Mr. Durant, and my company will be sold to him in the future. But the contract is very unfriendly to me. Even if I want to hold a technical position, I may not be able to do it."
The history of Buick was indeed very miserable thereafter.
Li Yu said: "I'm just about to set up a factory. Although I don't know how to make complete vehicles, the products are related to automobiles. If you don't mind, you can come to me and become a technical director, and you will also get original shares."
Buick wondered: "You also make cars? Is this the reason you bought an engine last time?"
Li Yu said: "Last time it was to help people make an aircraft engine. Within half a year, it was in the sky."
"Aviation? Engine?" Buick has obviously never heard of such a concept.
"Let's not mention that first," Li Yu waved his hand, "The factory I set up is right next to it, you can come and try it first. The remuneration I will give you will definitely not be low, at least 800 US dollars per month, and when it becomes bigger in the future, the original shares will
The benefits it can bring will be even greater.”
In other words, there is a guarantee of US$800, followed by a pie, but this pie is still very likely to be realized.
"$800?" Buick was a little tempted. He really didn't have anything good to go to now.
Calculated in one year, it is close to ten thousand US dollars. According to subsequent calculations by the US Department of Labor, this income can definitely enter the top 1% to 3% of high-income people in the United States, and at this time, the purchasing power of the US dollar has begun to become stronger.
Li Yu continued: "If you feel it's inappropriate in the future, it's okay for you to leave again."
Li Yu really wanted to recruit Buick, but at least he didn't have to worry about his technical level. Even if he didn't make complete vehicles, Li Yu's industry would not be small in the future, let alone his talent.
Buick thought for a while and finally said: "I accept your invitation."
Li Yu hugged him happily and said, "It's such an honor to have you join us!"
There are many technical experts who can save Li Yu a lot of trouble in the future.
Buick said: "I still have some procedures to complete for Mr. Grant. It won't be long before I can join your company."
"Looking forward to your arrival, Director Buick!" Li Yu said with a smile, "I have been on Fifth Avenue in New York during this period. You can come to me when you are done with your work."
——
Tesla has almost completed the conversion of alternating current and direct current, and what is more worrying is the radio receiving device.
This is a rather difficult question.
Nowadays, transmitting radio is no longer a technical problem. The more troublesome one is the transmission of effective information, which is the so-called modulation; the other is how to receive.
Fortunately, Li Yu is familiar with this issue.
First of all, the simplest solution for receiving radio is to use a mineral radio, which is the simplest of all radio receiving devices.
Not only is it simple in structure, it also does not require the use of batteries. Almost any amateur radio enthusiast can make it by himself.
However, this thing can only be listened to by one person, and the reception performance is relatively poor.
Then a more mature solution is to use electronic tubes.
But historically, no one will apply for an electronic diode patent until next year, but diodes are obviously not of much help to radios.
What really works is the triode. The modification is very small, that is, a grid is added between the filament and the plate of the diode, that is, a vacuum triode.
But this small change not only makes the triode more responsive and able to emit music or sound vibrations, but also integrates the three functions of detection, amplification and oscillation.
Therefore, many people in later generations regard the invention of the triode rather than the invention of the diode as the real starting point of the electronic industry.
However, it is obviously better to walk on two legs at this time.
So Li Yu prepared to apply for patents on diodes, transistors, and mineral radios.
It is said that the invention of the electron tube is also related to Edison. It was he who discovered the so-called "Edison effect" in the laboratory and applied for a patent. However, he did not know the principle, so he did not pose much hindrance to later generations of electron tube patent applications.
.
Many people are already very unfamiliar with electron tubes, which is normal. After all, later generations are already dominated by semiconductor material transistors and even integrated circuits.
However, at the beginning of the 20th century, the role of electronic tubes must not be underestimated.
Compared with transistors, electron tubes are much simpler, and can even be completed in the same time as patenting an expansion screw.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, although the scientific level of the United States was far behind that of Europe, it could already be said to be a country of great inventions.
Therefore, the right path is to make more inventions in the United States and apply for patents.
In mathematical sciences, the United States still follows Europe's lead.
With three patents in front of her, Sierra no longer knew what to say and asked in shock: "Is your brain any different from others?"
Li Yu smiled and said: "This is difficult to explain. Anyway, I have to leave it to you again. These three patents are much more important than the previous two."
Isn’t that very important? It can be said to have ushered in the electronic age.
——The advent of the electronic triode promoted the vigorous development of wireless electronics.
Sierra works quickly and the patent is applied for quickly.
Once I get this thing, the obstacles in radio hardware are basically cleared.
Li Yu brought the triode to Tesla with great ambition.
Tesla was extremely shocked when he saw this thing, and said in surprise: "What a terrible creativity!"
It is not easy for the arrogant Tesla to say this.
After the demonstration, Tesla felt even more wonderful, "I almost lost interest in radio, but I didn't expect that it still has so much content to explore."
"Of course," Li Yu said, "the future of radio is much better than wireless power transmission."
"It can only be said that they are evenly matched." Tesla is still obsessed with his wireless power transmission and refuses to give up.
Still, he added: "But my interest in radio was definitely rekindled."
After Westinghouse owner Westinghouse learned about it, he immediately prepared to leave Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for New York.
Also riding in the car with him was the rich man Carnegie himself.
Carnegie's second hometown is Pittsburgh. His giant Carnegie Steel Company was in Pittsburgh, and the Carnegie Institute of Technology (the predecessor of Carnegie Mellon University) established a few years ago is also in Pittsburgh.
Carnegie has become famous all over the United States. They were both in the luxury carriage. Westinghouse took the initiative to say hello to him: "I didn't expect to meet the distinguished Mr. Carnegie here."
Since Carnegie sold his property, he has become lighter and does not need any airs. He knows Westinghouse, who is also a great inventor. Carnegie said friendly: "Hello, you are the founder of Westinghouse Electric."
Westinghouse said humbly: "Exactly."
Carnegie asked casually: "Why are you going to New York too?"
Westinghouse said: "I got a telegram from Mr. Tesla - oh, you know him, the Tesla who invented alternating current."
Carnegie nodded: "Of course I know."
Westinghouse continued: "Tesla told me that he and Li Yu completed the construction of a radio receiving device, which could immediately receive information from the United States even on ships far away in the Atlantic or in castles in Europe.
,and……"
"Wait a minute," Carnegie interrupted, "you mentioned Li Yu?"
Westinghouse said: "Yes, it is the Li Yu who discovered Pluto and recently completed three consecutive feats of astronomy at the Harvard Observatory."
Carnegie continued to ask deliberately: "Is he very capable?"
“It can be said to be unbelievable,” Westinghouse said. “I once met him at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and I didn’t expect that in addition to his understanding of advanced mathematical sciences, he also had a very high level of talent in invention.
Before long, seven patents had been obtained, two of which were patents for electronic tubes, which were probably great achievements in non-transmission lamps and alternating current."
"Oh?" Carnegie was also a little surprised, "Is it so powerful?"
Westinghouse said: "Not only is he awesome, I'm afraid he will become the next Mr. Edison."
"Very good." Carnegie looked at the scenery outside the train with interest. It seemed that he had chosen the right person for his fund.