Astor, the owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, did prepare a free room for Li Yu: "With your achievements in mathematics, physics and astronomy, I think the hotel should provide you with this kind of treatment." Li Yu said gratefully: "It's an honor. To." Astor said: "When Prime Minister Li Hongzhang of your country came, he lived in that room. Originally, we wanted to keep it to him, but who knew that the Prime Minister had passed away. After that, Mr. Kang Youwei went to New York and learned that the Prime Minister had lived there. , I must ask to live in that room." Li Yu said: "There is really a story." Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao had different attitudes towards Li Hongzhang.
Kang Youwei spoke highly of Li Hongzhang and said that he
He is a comrade of the reform who "understands what is right and what is wrong, and knows what is right and what is wrong." He is grateful for his help in the reform cause.
However, when Kang Youwei praised Li Hongzhang, on the one hand, he really agreed with Li Hongzhang; on the other hand, to some extent, he wanted to win Li Hongzhang to his side and get his help politically.
Liang Qichao's evaluation of Li Hongzhang was much more profound. Regarding Li Hongzhang, Liang Qichao had a very famous comment: "Heroes created for current events are not heroes who created current events."
In this great change that has not happened in three thousand years, although Li Hongzhang can be called the mainstay, he cannot turn the tide after all.
Astor said: "I don't understand the situation in your country, but I heard that Kang Youwei is quite famous now and is a powerful figure." He also thought that Kang Youwei was a saint. After all, Kang Youwei is quite famous in America.
Li Yu smiled and said: "Even more powerful people will come in the future." Astor said: "We will welcome you as always." After the dinner, everyone returned.
Tesla was still struggling with how to take time off from his wireless power transmission experiments to do current conversion and so-called
"Mobile radio receiving device" test. Although he still thinks about wireless power transmission in his heart, now that he has the opportunity to obtain investment, he has to do it first.
Sierra submitted a small patent on zippers. The value assessment of the patent will come out soon, and it is worth at least US$100,000. The follow-up will depend on who pays more to buy it.
Sierra was very surprised when she learned the result and almost wanted to open a zipper factory. But Li Yu obviously doesn't really do the clothing business, so he just wants to make some extra money.
Nowadays, the United States has attached great importance to patent rights or intellectual property rights. GDP has been rising steadily, residents' consumption power has greatly improved, and sales of various industrial products are very good, so practical patents can indeed sell for a lot of money.
Not long after, the approval for Li Yu's new company came through, and he didn't have to do any errands himself. Sierra is really quick to do these things. Sure enough, no matter what era, money is easy to use.
Everything is ready, now we can leave for Detroit.
Although the "Car City" Detroit later became the largest bankrupt city in American history due to skin color issues and urban strategic planning errors, Detroit in the early 20th century was really prosperous, and relying on the automobile industry would soon become the same as New York. It was one of the four largest cities in the United States in the first half of the twentieth century, along with Chicago and Philadelphia.
Ford's factory is not large now, and its scale is not comparable to that of Cadillac and Henry Leland's engine factory.
Li Yu showed them the stable and reliable electronic ignition system and four-wheel drive system. After being installed on the prototype vehicle, the operation was extremely stable.
Ford and Henry Leland grew more and more satisfied. Mr. Leland has been working on the engine, because it is the core of the current car, so his evaluation of the ignition system is very important.
"I dare say that no one can apply electric systems to cars so skillfully now." Mr. Leland said excitedly.
It's true that cars today have almost no electronic components, which is completely different from later generations. And no one thought of designing a starter motor for a fuel vehicle. Historically, it did not appear until around 1913, ten years later.
So although it seemed like a simple electric ignition system, it was truly high-tech in 1903.
As for the four-wheel drive system, it is more advanced than the electronic start system. At present, there are no standards for vehicle testing. There are no escape tests, hill climbing tests, cross-axle tests, etc. But with the current road conditions, you can just find a wasteland.
Whether there is a four-wheel drive system or not, you can tell whether it is good or bad at once.
"have" and
"No" can be understood to mean that there is a generational difference. The passing performance of a vehicle with a four-wheel drive system is basically crushing.
Ford was convinced and immediately said: "I will order both systems, and they will be added to my cars in the future." Mr. Leland was also very interested: "My engine factory and Cadillac factory will also use yours." Plan." Ford also had his own considerations: "An electronic starting system is a must, because it can greatly enhance the gentlemanly demeanor of driving a car." This point may not seem important, but it really makes it a lot easier at this time. Many people don't choose a car - a manual joystick is simply too inelegant.
Leland nodded: "That's right." Ford added: "But the previous quotation for the four-wheel drive system was too high. A system costs nearly three hundred dollars or more. Our products cannot afford it, unless it is a luxury car." Cadillac will continue to increase prices in the future, but the current price is still around US$750, and you will definitely not spend that much money on a four-wheel drive system.
Li Yu knew their considerations: "The price is easy to say, because I have patented these two systems, and I also know how to produce stably, so the price will never be as high as in the past, let alone the two gentlemen's cars. The cost will have too big an impact." Price is a sensitive factor, and Li Yu can't explain it too clearly, but he can still do it if it's low enough.
"If the cost can be controlled, I can totally accept it." Mr. Leland really wanted such a good thing.
"In my opinion, you don't want to sell the patent, but want to produce it yourself, right?" Li Yu said with a smile, "That's true." Mr. Leland said, "I hope that you will come up with the electronic ignition system as soon as possible. We will have a few This batch of cars may still be usable." Ford said: "Yes, at least we can make it in time for the next New York Auto Show." Li Yu said: "It's in time." The electric ignition system can currently be priced at at least 30 US dollars, and it will be available later. Prices can be reduced as the scale expands.
Its development requires people who understand both cars and electrical appliances, and there will not be many such people in the United States in a short time.
This is a cheap and profitable project, because it is actually not difficult to manufacture and the cost is not high. People who buy cars currently value it very much. It is an excellent project that can make money efficiently.
The price of the four-wheel drive system needs to be adjusted depending on the size of the factory. Fortunately, Li Yu still has time to make allocations.
Because the mass production of best-selling cars such as the Model T is still early, there is enough time. The electric ignition system is a project that urgently needs to be launched, but fortunately it is not difficult.
Comparatively speaking, what is more likely to get stuck at this time is the electrical aspect. Li Yu can recruit employees from Edison Electric Light Company and Thomson-Houston International Electric Company who were dismissed when Morgan merged with General Electric.
Tesla also established an electrical company a few years ago, but it has declined, and the employees there can also be poached.
Edison used to have a night school to train engineers. Now that the lighting company has been merged, Edison has long given up the night school, but he has also trained a group of technicians in a few years.
In short, as long as the price is right, people can still be recruited from the east. Although these people don't understand cars, Li Yu has the drawings, so it's not troublesome.
The most critical thing is to recruit some Chinese with some knowledge, train them into technicians and bring them back to China as the backbone.
Fortunately, there are such people now. After all, Chinese people have been coming to the United States for half a century. You can find some knowledgeable people in the gathering areas, but most of them are now concentrated in San Francisco.
Taking advantage of the current small scale of the car, it is building a reputation. In the future, when the scale of production and sales increases, more people will still have to be trained through education in the country. And as the sales volume increases, setting up factories in the country can also greatly reduce transportation costs.
I was thinking far ahead all of a sudden. Mr. Leland's son Wilfred walked into the room at this time and said: "Father, those two people still haven't left. Why don't you go and have a look?" Leland took a puff of his pipe: "I told you that we don't want to leave at all." "But they said the best engine manufacturers are in Detroit, and they can't find anything better elsewhere," said Wilfred. : "Then there's no other way. Who can build an aircraft engine? It's just a joke! If something happens, my engine factory will be in trouble." Wilfred said: "Well, since my father doesn't agree, Then I will find a way to let them go.”
"Wait!" Li Yu said in surprise,
"Did you just talk about aircraft?" Wilfred said, "Yes, we thought it was incredible when we heard it. How could there be such a thing that can fly to the sky with its engine." Li Yu quickly asked: "I found it What are their names?" Wilfred said: "They seem to be two brothers, both named Laite."
"Brothers Laite?!" Wilfred said: "Why, are they famous? They said they used to make bicycles, so it's nothing special." Li Yu said: "Can you take me there too? Meet them?" Wilfred said: "They are in another office. You still have time to meet them before I reject them."
"Take me to see it quickly!" Li Yu said. At this time, the Laite brothers were still very young, only in their thirties.
After entering the office, the two men immediately stood up and asked eagerly: "Mr. Leland agreed to manufacture engines for us?" Wilfred spread his hands: "Unfortunately, no. Our company cannot take such a big risk for us." Making an engine with something that is still in the experimental stage and can even be called a fantasy." His elder brother Wilbur Wright sighed and said, "It's such a pity." His younger brother Orwell Wright also wanted to fight for it: "Please Please tell Mr. Leland that our aircraft is stable enough and there will be no casualties." Wilfred said: "Father's meaning is very clear, we will not take such a big risk. Please understand, Because our factory has also just started and has just received stable orders, it is impossible to make any rash business advances." Brother Laite said dejectedly: "We understand."
"Well, I'm sorry." After Wilfred left, the two brothers were very frustrated: "If there is no power, our aircraft cannot take off relying only on wind power."
"Let's find someone else."
"We are about to search all over Detroit. I'm afraid there won't be any results." Li Yu suddenly said: "Maybe I can help a little." The Laite brothers thought that Li Yu was an engineer from Leland Company: "Mr. ?" Li Yu introduced himself: "I am Li Yu."
"Black hair, yellow skin...are you Li Yu, the scientific giant in the newspaper?" Brother Laite said. Li Yu said: "That's me."
"It's such an honor to meet you! Why are you in Detroit, ordering a car?" Brother Wright said.
"No," Li Yu said,
"Actually, I was discussing some technical matters with Mr. Leland and Mr. Ford, which also involved engines. By the way, do you need an engine that can be placed on the plane?"
"You actually know the word 'airplane'?!" said brother Wilbur Wright,
"This is just our private title." Li Yu said airne, but since then it has basically been simplified to ne.
Li Yu smiled and said, "This term is very appropriate, isn't it?"
"You also know about our flight tests?" said his brother Orwell Wright.
"Of course, this is not an easy task." Li Yu said. There has been some news about the Wright brothers building a biplane glider for experiments, but no one paid attention at all.
Orwell Wright said: "After thousands of wind tests and more than 200 wings, we have designed a wing cross-section shape that can provide sufficient lift. A glider equipped with this wing can achieve The taxiing distance is more than 1,000 meters. But we have no energy and do not understand engines, but we know that it is impossible without power." Since 1900, through continuous research, the Lett brothers have made great achievements in aircraft structure and aerodynamics. A huge breakthrough has been achieved, and now this juncture has indeed reached the stage where they are about to conduct real powered aircraft tests.
The two have begun building the first real airplane in human history
"Aviator One". This aircraft is a biplane glider, but a powered aircraft naturally requires an engine, and there is no such engine on the market.
——It seems a bit nonsense to say this. The plane didn’t show up yet, so how could there be plane engines in advance?
But this problem really stumped the two brothers, and no engine manufacturer was willing to take the risk to provide it.
Historically they were built by Taylor, a mechanic in his own bike shop. The Wright brothers have been running a business called the Wright Brothers Bicycle Company.
This is not surprising. Later, a tractor factory became a top sports car company-Lamborghini.
The engines of the early 20th century were far less complex than those of later generations, and many sophisticated technologies were not used.
The "original" ones are much less difficult to manufacture. Of course, it cannot be created casually.
Li Yu knew about engines. He said, "I can help you find a way to build an engine."
"You?" Brother Laite asked in surprise,
"You can also make engines?" Li Yu said, "It shouldn't be a big problem if you try it." Li Yu happened to be studying the transmission system now. Li Yu continued, "I think what you need is a low-weight, capable An engine that is chain-linked with the propellers on both sides of the fuselage, right?" Orwell Wright exclaimed: "You are so familiar with the structure of our aircraft!" Li Yu smiled and said: "If you weren't familiar with it, I wouldn't dare. Say this." It's also a coincidence. Many people may have seen photos of the Lett Brothers aircraft, but what many people don't know is that the aerodynamic layout used by the Lett Brothers, the first aircraft in human history, is a canard. layout.
You must know that U.S. aircraft have always adopted a conventional layout. Various U.S. fighter jets have also adopted a conventional layout, including commercial airliners produced by Boeing and other companies.
Later, in the early days of World War II, Soviet engineers discovered that if the horizontal tail was moved to the front of the wing, a smaller wing surface could be used to achieve better control efficiency.
This is the so-called canard layout, and the horizontal tail moved to the front is called a canard. It is called a canard because people think this aircraft looks like a flying duck.
But Li Yu really couldn't see anything that looked like a flying duck. Could it be because he had never seen a flying duck before?
We are familiar with this layout! Many of our fighter design concepts are inherited from Soviet design ideas.
And before Li Yu traveled through time, it could already be said that he was better than his predecessor. For example, the J-10 and J-20 use a duck layout.
In short, although the canard layout is very useful on fighter jets, the corresponding design is very difficult. The aviation theory of later generations was so advanced, and it was only after the mature conventional layout was first established that Soviet engineers began to develop the duck layout.
The Laite brothers used a duck layout when they first came up, which was indeed more difficult to do. But after all, it is in the early experimental stage, so there is nothing much to say.
No matter what the layout is, if it can fly, it is a success.
