Biography:
Nikola Tesla was born in 1856 in the midst of a Serb family living in a southern Croatian town of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father abandoned his military career to become a priest of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Although his mother did not receive any formal education, was bright and had an exceptional memory. Tesla always said that his mother was the source of their intellectual capacities.
His favorite subject in school was math. If given to solve a problem, did not need a blackboard or a sheet of paper. Tesla had the extraordinary ability to record in his mind all the steps necessary to solve the problem, as if he himself had invented. This ability to solve mathematical and engineering designs display was very useful at different stages of his life. Nikola
had a prodigious memory and was an avid reader. He also learned several languages. This allowed access to texts written in different languages. From an early age, Tesla arming complex mechanical devices with any material he had available.
During his youth was devoted to the study so that his family feared for his health. His father said that engineering, a discipline that requires years of intense study, and which aspired Nikola, could compromise their physical and mental. He tried to convince him, then, to take the religious habit. Throughout his career Tesla suffered various illnesses caused by their extremely hard work.
Despite their physical weakness and to have contracted malaria, Nikola successfully completed three years in the engineering program (usually demanded four years), Upper Gym Royal Croatia. It was during this period that Tesla decided to devote his life to the electrical testing.
Upon returning home, his parents expressed their concern for their eagerness to demand and accelerated steps in the study. His health was still weak, and insisted again to pursue a religious career. Then, Nikola received other disincentives to cholera and receive the call of his country's army.
Tesla was discouraged to the point of bringing his health and be on the verge of death. He knew that to survive the wrath, join the army should then pursue a religious career. It is hopeless and his sickbed was grumpy all the time. Perceiving his state, his father relented and gave permission to continue the race in electrical engineering.
Tesla was slowly regaining his health. His father sent him to a place of rest to recover completely. During this time, used his influence to prevent your child reaches the military.
Study and Development of AC
In 1875 Tesla went to Gratz, Austria, to study electrical engineering. There he continued to work tirelessly putting your health at risk again. At this stage he discovered the inherent limitations of DC motors and generators due to arcing associated with collecting action (termination of polarity of current in a motor to protect the movement of the armature winding). This discovery Tesla convinced of the need to develop motors and alternating current generators that do not require collectors.
In the following years Tesla set about this task. He rejected the idea of \u200b\u200bthe teacher, who taught his students that it was impossible to develop AC motors and generators.
His "instinct" told him that the teacher was wrong. Tesla never failed when it came to solving scientific problems. However, it took longer to develop his theory.
after scoring on remedial courses in engineering in Prague, Tesla moved to Budapest in 1881. Some friends offered him a job at the telephone station was about to inaugurate. Mathematical abilities and Tesla design soon caught the attention of their supervisors. When the station was completed, Tesla took his operation. Again, the overworked damaged their health. Exhaustion forced him to quit my job.
AC Key Concept
In February 1882, after recovering again, Tesla found a solution to the problem of alternating current. Clearly perceived how to use alternating currents to create a rotating magnetic field. This was the fundamental concept that needed to produce an AC motor.
rotating magnetic field created by using two circuits in which currents were mutually offset. Other engineers had tried to develop engines using only an AC circuit, but could not produce a rotation Continuous engines. The two-stage system of Tesla eliminated the need for a collector.
Anyway, his work was far from complete. Immediately designs developed dynamos (generators), motors, transformers and other devices needed for power systems, alternating current. Tesla expanded the idea of \u200b\u200brotating magnetic field to include current three, four, and six phases. Systems able to develop true multi-phase power. He also promised to build a phase AC motor-simple.
The telephone company in Budapest, which Tesla wanted to return, was sold. The same family that helped him get the job, again helped him to secure a spot in the Continental Edison Company in Paris, which produced motors, generators, DC lighting equipment under Edison patents.
Tesla tried to convince their colleagues that they could develop multi-phase AC systems, but no one expressed interest in his ideas.
Tesla was assigned to a special project in Germany. Here he had time to build a two-phase generator and a two-phase motor. Tesla did all the mechanical work of tolerance alone. No representations of their schemes. It had all the details in mind. When in 1883 the first test your AC machines, worked perfectly. His theory was correct.
After successfully completing his mission in Germany, Tesla fell out with their supervisors. He had promised a special reward for the work they ever gave. Outraged, he decided not to show the directors of the Company its two-phase system in operation, and quit his job.
Meeting with Edison
manager of Continental Edison, Charles Batchelor, was a partner and friend of Thomas A. Edison. From the beginning, he was impressed by the character of Tesla and urged him to move to the U.S. to work directly with Edison. Tesla
accepted his suggestion and asked him to make a letter. The letter read: "I know two geniuses and you are one of them, the other is this young man." Tesla sold all his possessions to pay for train tickets and boat, and went to New York in 1884. During the trip
Tesla lost his wallet and some suitcases. Some U.S. arrived penniless, with nothing but the clothes they wore. Fortunately, I had a friend in New York that I could hold temporarily.
Edison did not cause a good impression the young Croatian. Edison had little formal education, and his inventions were the result of an empirical method of trial and error, while Tesla solved all technical problems mentally, without doing experiments. Perhaps one of the biggest disagreements was that Edison promoted DC power systems strongly and firmly opposed to the development of AC systems. Tesla was thoroughly convinced of the superiority of the AC. Despite their differences, Edison, upon the recommendation of Batchelor gave Tesla work. Quickly
Tesla Edison warned that progress in their work, while making valuable contributions. When Tesla suggested that could improve efficiency and reduce the cost of operating the DC dynamos that produced Edison, the plant manager said, "We'll give you fifty thousand U.S. dollars if you succeed."
During the following months, Tesla designed 24 new types of DC dynamos. Replaced the large field magnets for other smaller, more efficient, adding important automatic controls. Tesla machines functioned as predicted, and the company acquired Edison and many new patents.
mid-1885, when Tesla claimed fifty thousand dollars promised, Edison's response was: "Tesla, you do not understand the American humor." Furious, in addition to not receive a penny extra for their productivity, beyond his salary of $ 18 per week, Tesla quit his job with Edison.
The Tesla Electric Company
Not finding a job as an engineer, Tesla was forced to work as a laborer. In early 1887, comments on their projects with AC events attracted to his foreman. The foreman was also forced to perform work below their abilities, and soon he sympathized with the situation of Tesla. AK Brown decided to recommend to the Western Union Telegraph Company. In April, Brown and a friend brought the money to create the "Tesla Electric Company." Coincidentally, the new Tesla's lab was located inside a building that belonged to Edison. Soon
Tesla built a two-phase AC generator, the induction motor was built in Europe and other machines I had in mind design from his stay in Budapest. Not only focused on single phase systems, bi-phasic and tri-phasic, but also experimented with devices 4 and up to 6 stages. He also developed the mathematical theory needed to explain the operation of AC systems in order to show and to understand their work to other scientists. Proven
efficiency AC systems, Tesla set about developing a series of fundamental inventions. In 1888 the patent. His great creations and achievements spread quickly. On 16 May this year was invited to give a presentation on "A new system for engines and Alternating Current Transformers" on the AIEE New York. It was then recognized and accepted as a member of the Association of Electrical Engineers.
For that time, George Westinghouse was a famous inventor who had made a fortune in Pittsburgh manufacturing air brakes for trains and a variety of electrical devices. Recognized the advantages offered by the AC power systems with respect to DC and saw the commercial potential of the work of Tesla.
Edison's DC systems could not distribute power more than half a mile of the generator due to excessive voltage drops caused by the resistance of high voltage lines and the large current flowing through the lines. Voltages AC, however, rise in the generator using transformers, reducing power and transmission losses. The result is a substantial increase in range. Transformers convert AC voltages to safe levels at the point where the power is used.
An Alliance with Westinghouse
After his presentation at the AIEE, Westinghouse and Tesla were contacted to see in person your AC equipment. Both had common interests and immediately struck up a good relationship. Tesla Westinghouse offered a million dollars for his AC patents. Also invited him to Pittsburgh for a year and offered a high salary as technical advisor. Tesla accepted the offer. I gave half a million to AK Brown and partner that financed their work. Had agreed to a wealth undreamed.
Problems arose when engineers tried to use Westinghouse Tesla designs to produce single-phase motors small. In addition, priorities and for making emergency AC power systems by Westinghouse, dependent on exclusive sale, were different from the objectives to be his research Tesla. Tesla was sure that their AC machines operated more efficiently at a frequency of 60 Hz (then "cycles per second), while Westinghouse's engineers used frequencies of 133
Hz Dissatisfied with working for others, Tesla returned to his lab in New York. Had already been settled by himself and wanted to return to their projects. Rejected a lucrative offer from Westinghouse to stay in Pittsburgh. After leaving this city, was granted U.S. citizenship.
High Frequency AC
Knowing that the electromagnetic spectrum extends beyond visible light, Tesla investigated the behavior of circuits at higher frequencies. Part of his work is devoted to their processors, known today as "Tesla coils". Another part of his work was devoted to tuned circuits.
In developing his mathematical theory of AC circuits, Tesla said the functions that met the inductance and capacitance in the production of electrical resonance. Found he could produce extremely high voltages at frequencies measured in tens of hundreds of kHz by adding the appropriate amount of capacitance to the primary air core transformer. (While the iron cores make the 60-Hz transformers have a good performance, degrade the performance of the transformer at high frequencies.). Explosive shock away connected to the transformer primary winding is an oscillator capable of producing high-frequency discharges, and high-voltage. Such
as predicted theoretically, and subsequently confirmed by experiments, Tesla decided that an AC high-frequency flows along the surface of the human body rather than through it. It is for this reason they do not feel electrical shocks permanently. As early as 1890 recognized the therapeutic value that had the electric fields of high-frequency applied to the human body. The effect is known as "diathermy.
In May 1891, Tesla made the first reading and public demonstration of his theory of high-frequency in the AIEE. In addition to elective sparks long with the tips of his fingers, Stove created and caused flame tubes Sealed gas (Geissler tubes) is switched on without a direct electrical connection to them. The spectacular display, combined with his outstanding presentation on AC power systems poly-phasic, established him as one of the great scientists of his time.
Tesla demonstrates wireless telegraphy
The Convention of the National Association of Electrical Lighting St. Louis, 1893, Tesla demonstrated the first transmission of electrical energy without wires, and therefore the possibility of wireless communication. In one part of his statement, Tesla presented a circuit consisting of a battery of Leyden vibrant capacitors and a coil. The tuned circuit is connected to an explosive distance and a distribution transformer power-of-5-kVA. A vertical wire (antenna) coil extended from the ceiling. This device shaped their "transmitter."
In another phase of their exposure Tesla filed its "receptor", which consisted of a tuned circuit identical with a vertical wire extended to the ceiling. Geissler tube hit a full-of-gas to the circuit tuned to the site of explosive distance used with the transmitter.
There was no cables between the transmitter and receiver. When Tesla applied power to the transmitter, the Geissler tube the receiver is lit. This demonstration took place two years before Marconi was going to London with his wireless telegraph equipment. Tesla soon turned to gas lighting tubes in a manner that announced the further development of neon and fluorescent lamps.
At the same time, attempted to carry out an experiment to demonstrate the value of poly-phase AC system Tesla. Discussed the concept of hydroelectric power, and the ability to harness the power of Niagara Falls. Currently the technology to achieving this goal. If power is used to generate DC Falls, the potential area over which it could distribute electricity would be very small. Buffalo still is only 22 miles, would be off if you tried to generate DC.
In 1893, both the Westinghouse Electric Company as the General Electric Company (successor to the Edison General Electric Company) submitted proposals to Tesla to install its poly-phase system. GE, which encouraged the AC when Edison failed to control the company, obtained a license to use the Tesla patents of Westinghouse.
Westinghouse won the contract for power plant at Niagara and GE was chosen to build the transmission line to Buffalo, and its internal distribution system. In 1895 the plant began generating power and the line transmission is completed next year. It rose again the hero fame Tesla technology.
From 1891 to 1893, Tesla became a celebrity. His services were required by scientists and senior officials of various countries. He was invited to London and Paris to give lectures and demonstrations spectacular. Europe started to recognize the magnitude of his accomplishments. Tesla gave up his active social life to return to the research he loved. Anyway, always had interest in retaining his image as a man famous.
Their shows, which ignited gas cylinders near high-frequency transformers and high-voltage tested it was possible to transmit power over short distances. Tesla tried to develop the concept. I was unsure about the possibility of transmitting wireless energy, not only for communication but also for lighting and other systems worldwide.
In early 1895, Tesla built a transmitter in his laboratory with a portable receiving station to test his latest project. Succeeded in establishing a wireless transmission over short distances. Then came a tragedy. In preparation for its first public demonstration, a fire completely destroyed his lab, all equipment and records. Tesla discouraged. There invested all his money in this work, without taking the precaution to secure previously.
With money provided by the man who organized the project of the Niagara plant, Tesla was able to rebuild his laboratory. In 1897 he resumed the wireless transmission tests with your transmitter and portable receiver. The receiver was operated on a boat that sailed the Hudson River, and demonstrated the possibility of wireless transmission to 25 miles away. The two key patents for transmission of electrical energy without wires (645,576 and 649,621) were registered in September 1897. In 1943, the Supreme Court of the United States established that the work of Tesla, together with the independent achievements of Oliver Lodge and John Stone, anticipated the work of Marconi. As a result, the important patent declared invalid on the 1904 Marconi wireless.
The first Boat RC (Remote Control)
Tesla in September 1898 surprised the audience at the Electrical Exhibition held at Madison Square Garden in New York, introducing the world's first boat driven by remote control, using his system Teleautomático "or" power-to-mind. " Every night of the week-long remote controlled Tesla display a boat battleship-to-iron 3-feet long by a variety of maneuvers. To demonstrate the simplicity of its operation, Tesla volunteers invited the public to operate the controls. In this invention was granted patent 613,809. His goal was to sell a similarly powered submarine for the U.S. Navy use in its war against Spain. Tesla was opposed to the war and believed that his invention would save many unnecessary deaths. The Navy was not interested. Tesla
enjoy her fame and made the press coverage of their actions to try to convince the public about the need for Navy use his invention. The written announcement of promoting their submarine Tesla "power-to-mind" and their answers in the convferencias were too great, even for the sensationalism of the press at that time. As a result, Tesla was criticized by some newspapers, and many journalists categorized as frivolous and search-flat owners at first. However, Tesla's activities were of public interest. As proclaimed ever more ambitious plans, the press began to be taken with skepticism. Tesla
continued its project to beat Marconi in the establishment of a wireless communication system, as a global distribution of electrical power. Again faced financial problems until a wealthy friend loaned him $ 10,000. Tesla built a high-frequency oscillator generating 4 million volts, but the sparks produced were too large and violent for its lab in New York. Needed more space. Towards
Colorado
Leonard E. Curtis, a former lawyer associated with the Westinghouse Electric Company Colorado Springs, invited him to move to Colorado. He promised the use of land located east of Colorado Springs and all the needed electricity. John Jacob Astor, owner of the Waldorf-Astoria, where Tesla lived and dined for several years, provided the $ 30,000 necessary to make the move and build the lab.
Tesla arrived in Colorado Springs in May 1899. In three months, a laboratory built complete with a tower and mast area covered by a 3-foot copper measuring 200 feet tall. He also erected a high-frequency oscillator giant, Tesla named "transmitter power." This transmitter incorporated a resonant transformer designed to excite the electrically grounded, and optimized for wireless power transmission maximum distances. Tesla had to carry tons of equipment from New York, and it used many attendees.
Using a receiver connected to the ground to handle the effects of the large number of glow discharge in the region occurring daily during the summer, Tesla came to a conclusion final. He was certain that the earth was filled with loads of power. He believed then that when electricity is disrupted by repeated electric shocks, occurring at appropriate time intervals, could cause electric waves of low-frequency resonance of tremendous magnitude. Tesla
produced effects similar resonance in electrical circuits. He thought he could cause resonant waves on earth with high-voltage shock. He also argued that these waves could provide large amounts of electricity that could be distributed and connected throughout the world.
Initial testing of its transmitter night was successful. Glimmers mast lighting of 135 feet in length, and thundering explosions were heard at 15 miles away. Then came the silence and darkness.
Initially, Tesla believed that his audience had turned off the power. Then make sure that this was not the case, the power company phoned to request that restore your energy. He then replied that his experiment had destroyed the generator. All Colorado Springs was dark. A standby generator light returned to the city, but Tesla was told that would restore your electric service only once repaired the damage to your generator.
One afternoon, when you connect the receiver to ground monitoring to listen to distant storms, Tesla heard three pulses in quick succession. He knew that these sounds were not characteristic of storms, and said they should have an extraterrestrial origin. Then he said that the signals coming from Mars!
On January 7, 1900 Tesla moved back to New York. Had spent $ 100,000 in just 8 months and was bankrupt. His plan was to return to Colorado to conduct further experiments, but never managed to restore its finances.
While in Colorado, Tesla conducted many experiments, and learned a lot from them. However, there is no evidence that has succeeded in passing a number significant power over long distances without using cables.
Tesla was ridiculed by journalists on arrival in New York, especially his statement about the extraterrestrial signals. Soon after, wrote a fantastic article in a journal of metaphysics entitled "The problem of increasing human energy, which contributed little to the credibility of the public, but made no outlandish predictions. In one part of the article referred to systems of "radar" that developed then 40 years later.
During this period, Tesla patented several inventions related to the use of techniques for underground transmission cryogen high voltages. These inventions anticipated by the devices developed in the 70s throughout the world.
Wardenclyffe Project Tesla
urgently needed to raise money for what would be his most ambitious project: a giant tower and a laboratory in which he planned to establish a global wireless communication. Also thought to refine their plans to build an electric power distribution. Neither Westinghouse nor Astor wanted to make the money. J. Plerpont Morgan provided $ 150,000 to build the tower and other facilities required at Wardenclyffe, Long Island, in exchange for control of patent that Tesla still retained. While Tesla
aspired to a higher tower, available finances amounted to build a 187 feet tall, with hemispherical dome 68 feet in diameter. In December 1901 the project was still under construction Wardenclyffe when Marconi succeeded in sending wireless telegraph signals across the Atlantic Ocean using a much simpler equipment than that proposed by Tesla, Marconi who accused of violating several of its patents. In any case, Tesla's plan was becoming increasingly bizarre.
Soon, escalating prices and overly ambitious design made it possible to complete the project as planned Wardenclyffe. Creditors harassed him constantly, and despite their efforts, failed to further financial assistance. Negative rumors about the status of its patents and skepticism that were taken with its fantastic they are reluctant predictions will help. Tesla collapsed morally.
In 1906 it completely stopped construction Wardenclyffe by the insolvency of Tesla. The high-voltage oscillator had been completed but the lack of funds prevented him from testing. When he did, however, all the inhabitants of the area that includes Long Island to Connecticut could see lightning in the night sky. Anyway, never made any wireless transmission from Wardenclyffe, nor could develop distribution system of electricity.
Finally, in 1915 Tesla had to give Wardenclyffe to your creditors. That same year he blew up the tower for its scrap value. Despite this setback, Tesla never left his thoughts on wireless power transmission for global communications. Coincidentally, in 1915 was nominated for the Nobel Prize, and in 1917 received the Edison Medal mentioned earlier. Even
guard
While Wardenclyffe failure discouraged him, Tesla continued to develop long-range ideas. During 1907-08 he designed an aircraft VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing). A turbine placed in the center of the ship had a propeller mounted on top, like a helicopter for takeoffs and landings. In air, the pilot operated a lever that moved the drive to the front of the ship, like a conventional airplane. Tesla did not build a prototype of this VTOL, but patented his design. In 1908, publicly described the limitations of the aircraft conducted with propellants and predicted the development of jet aircraft (jets).
Tesla patented in 1909 a powerful light "without propeller turbine" that had the potential to revolutionize the design of the first transport in terms of horsepower per pound produced. The Tesla turbine consisted of a series of discs stacked horizontally and spaced at a minimum distance, connected to a shaft and enclosed in a sealed chamber. A fluid (liquid or gas) under pressure entered the sealed chamber at the periphery of the discs. The viscosity was causing girasen discs as the fluid flowed in circular way to the left where the turbine shaft.
successful models were constructed small turbine, but that time inadequate materials, and Tesla serious financial problems, prevented larger designs were developed. Several companies paid rights to develop the design of the Tesla turbine, but their efforts failed. Even today its 1909 patent turbines are carefully studied by engineers trying to build long-range design.
Gernsback Connection
Shortly before the demolition of the tower Wardenclyffe, Hugo Gernsback, an old friend of Tesla, he resumed his relationship with the inventor. Gernsback was editor of The Electrical experiment (The Electrical Experimenter), the sequel to the earlier publication Modern Electrics. Both magazines were similar in many respects to Popular Electronics and Electronics Now, magazines currently published every month by Gernsback Publications, Inc. Throughout his life, Gernsback published a variety of journals devoted in electrical technology and related topics.
In his youth spent in Luxembourg, Gernsback first heard news about Tesla, and was fascinated with their accomplishments. He never forgot a photo showing Tesla's high frequency arc current flowing through the body's electrical inventor. His admiration for Tesla continued throughout his life. Gernsback emigrated to the United States in 1903, at age 19, after studying electronics in Europe. The two met for the first time in 1908, and then Gernsback continued in the press reports on the activities of Tesla. As a scientist and inventor
power itself received 37 Hugo Gernsback patents throughout his life. Many people recognize him as the "father of modern science fiction" as Gernsback published several science fiction stories. But he is best known as editor of science fiction works of other authors popular in several publications that led between 1910 and 1967, when he died. In 1916 Gernsback
Tesla invited to publish an article on the transmitter power and Wardenclyffe project. The article was published in the March 1916 edition of The Electrical Experimenter. Tesla needed Gernsback the modest remuneration offered for their work. Gernsback was proud to publish an article about a project which, if carried, Several predictions have turned science fiction into reality.
In 1919, Tesla wrote a 6-part series entitled "My inventions", also published in The Electrical Experimenter. Articles by and about Tesla still fascinate readers Gernsback. Tesla
still had to develop ideas in mind. With the evolution of time, some of them entered the realm of science fiction, while others appear to violate the laws of nature. Among their most fantastic ideas include a machine to capture and use energy cosmic rays, a technique to communicate with other planets and a particle gun-for-rays to destroy an army of 10,000 aircraft to 250 miles away.
Many of his ideas were more practical, and occasionally sold the rights to third parties to develop their concepts. Particularly innovative are the designs for a car speedometer and a locomotive headlight. With these sales obtained small amounts of money, but given its many debts, lived in a state bordering on poverty for the rest of his days. Despite its chronic financial problems, Tesla always intended to provide a sophisticated and stylish personal image.
the Westinghouse Corporation in 1934 prevented that ended in the street to pay their rent and a monthly stipend as a consultant. In return, dismissed Tesla his allegation that Westinghouse had violated its patents on wireless. In 1937 the Yugoslav government Tesla rewarded with a monthly pension of $ 600. Avid creditors waited anxiously sending these funds.
Towards the end of his life, Tesla became a hermit and be eccentric. Only pigeons established relationship with the same care and feeding. Tesla died alone in a small hotel room on January 7, 1943 at age 86.
Cathedral in New York where he conducted his funeral was attended by over two thousand people. Tributes arrived notable political figures and scientists around the world, including three Nobel laureates.
Hugo Gernsback, a great admirer of the famous scientist and inventor, was among the first to be notified of his death. Gernsback built a copper death mask with the image of scientific wisdom that is still preserved in their offices as a personal memory.
Gernsback believed that Tesla was the greatest inventor of all time.
Here is a video about its history:
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