The engine for the Wright brothers was finally ready, a 12-horsepower, aluminum four-cylinder. Although this kind of engine will not be used in cars in the future and its application is relatively limited, it can be regarded as a gain for several engineers in his laboratory and new students such as Zou Zhou.
Li Yu immediately sent a telegram to the Laite 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 engine.
The elder brother, Wilbur Wright, weighed it first and said with satisfaction: "Perfect weight!" The younger brother, Orwell Wilbur, said: "Sir, are you serious about not accepting money?" Li Yu said with a smile: "It's all agreed upon. , If you don’t want it, you just 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." Brother Laite said excitedly again: "Thank you so much! We will definitely let your engine fly. Go to the sky." This was the best answer for Li Yu.
However, there is still half a year left for the test flight of the Laite brothers, which will not be until the end of this year. During this period, Li Yu naturally still had to be busy with his own affairs.
There must be no problem with the current people in the laboratory, and the three engineers poached. Zou Zhou is also a fast learner and can cooperate in the preliminary manufacturing of the electronic start system, but the efficiency is 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 more 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 if an American from Sierra came forward to do this. The price tag wasn't high either, it only cost less than $10,000.
It was definitely not possible to use the fund's money. Fortunately, Li Yu had funds on hand by selling patents. Li Yu had other plans for buying here, and his target was obvious: Buick.
Not the Buick company, but Buick the person. Because Li Yu saw him again in Buick's company, his brows were filled with sadness.
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." Historically The Buick was indeed miserable thereafter.
Li Yu said: "I just want to set up a factory. Although I won't make complete vehicles, the products are also related to automobiles. If you don't mind, you can come to me and become a technical director, and you will also have original shares." Buick He asked doubtfully: "You also make cars? Is this why you bought an engine last time?" Li Yu said: "Last time it was to help people make an aero engine. In less than half a year, it went to the sky."
"Aviation? Engine?" Buick had 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 out 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 income from the original shares 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 not suitable in the future, it's okay for you to leave." Li Yu really wanted to recruit Buick, but at least he didn't have to worry about his technical level.
Even if he doesn't make complete vehicles, Li Yu's industry will not be small in the future, let alone his talents. Buike thought for a while and finally said, "I accept your invitation." Li Yu happily hugged him.
"It's such an honor to have you join me!" Several technical experts will 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 finished." - 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 more 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 does not require batteries, and 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 has applied for a patent for an electronic diode until next year, but diodes obviously don't do much for radio.
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 can 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.
But at this point it was obviously better to walk on two legs. So Li Yu prepared to apply for patents on diodes, transistors, and mineral radios together.
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", and also applied for a patent, but he did not know the principle, so it did not pose much hindrance to later generations of electron tube patent applications.
Many people are already unfamiliar with electronic 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, vacuum tubes are much simpler, and can even be completed in about 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 and apply for patents in the United States. In mathematical sciences, the United States still follows Europe's lead.
With three patents in front of him, Sierra no longer knew what to say. He asked in astonishment: "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 worked quickly and the patent was applied for quickly.
Once you get this thing, the obstacles in radio hardware are basically cleared. Li Yu found Tesla confidently with his triode.
Tesla was extremely shocked when he saw this thing, and said in surprise: "What a terrible creativity!" It was not easy for the arrogant Tesla to say this.
After the demonstration, Tesla felt even more wonderful.
"I had almost lost interest in radio, but I didn't realize there was so much more to discover."
"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.
However, he still added: "But my interest in radio was indeed 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 Technical Institute established a few years ago was 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 light and does not need any airs. He knew Westinghouse, who was also a great inventor.
Carnegie said friendly: "Hello, you must be the founder of Westinghouse Electric." Westinghouse said humbly: "Exactly." Carnegie asked casually: "Why are you going to New York?" 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: "Special Silla told me that he and Li Yu completed the construction of a radio receiving device. Even on ships far away in the Atlantic or in castles in Europe, messages from the United States can be received immediately, and..."
"Wait a minute," Carnegie interrupted.
"Did you mention Li Yu?" Westinghouse said, "Yes, it's the Li Yu who discovered Pluto and recently completed three consecutive feats of astronomy at the Harvard Observatory." Carnegie continued to ask deliberately: "He Are you very capable?"
"It's unbelievable," Westinghouse said.
"I once met him at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. I didn't expect that in addition to his understanding of profound mathematical sciences, he was also highly skilled in inventions. Not long after, he had already obtained seven patents, including two for vacuum tubes. I’m afraid it’s a great achievement without the need for electric light and alternating current.”
"Oh?" Carnegie was also a little surprised,
"Is he that powerful?" Westinghouse said, "More than that, 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.
