Document mmoVEe5o3464gvvL4QQe1rkBd

Fig. I. Th* nw Kom* of th Gnr<l Electric Research Lab* oratory locatad at tha Knolls near Schanaetady. N. Y. Fiva stories high (two stories balow ground) it houses 107 laboratory rooms, -jju an auditorium, a panthousa for executive offices, and shop araas RESEARCH is a magic word. It write his own ticket. Thus, there - suggests the thrill of explora was established the principle of in tion, the power of new knowledge,dividual initiative that characterizes and the manifold benefits that ac the work of the laboratory to this crue from a fuller understanding of day. nature. Fundamentally, research is Thus, in Steinmetz's barn Willis the lamp of progress. Most of the Whitney established himself and set arts and sciences owe their present about surveying the electrical field stature and hope of future develop for unsolved problems that might ment to the revealing light of re appeal to his boundless curiosity. He search. Modem industry derives its found plenty of them--enough to very lifeblood from research and our provide stimulation and excitement national security depends upon it. for a long and fruitful career. In Yet, only a few decades ago, that pioneer laboratory there was research was confined to the com inaugurated a research program that parative seclusion of university has grown with the years until its laboratories. The first industrially- impact is now felt in every American sponsored laboratory in America home. dedicated to fundamental research Soon, after the laboratory was was established by the General Elec established, the barn was destroyed tric Co. in 1900, just fifty years ago. by fire, and in the spring of 1901 That first home of the G-E research the laboratory was transferred to a laboratory was an exceedingly small building in the Schenectady humble one--a barn back of Dr. Works. This was the first of a num Steinmetz's Residence. Dr. Stein- ber of moves that came with the metz, indeed, was one of the pro growth of the Laboratory, culminat motors of the idea. He, together with ing in the new 18 million dollar lab A. G. Davis, manager of the Patent oratory formally dedicated on Octo Department, conferred with E. W. ber 9. Rice, Jr., who was then technical director of the^ompany. The pro Details of Design posal met with a hearty reception This great new laboratory has and immediate steps were taken to been in the making since January make the plan a reality. The first 1945, when the project of co-ordi move was to find a man to organize nating the planning for new build the laboratory and to direct its ac ings and facilities began. The job tivities. This man, they found in Dr. was first to ascertain requirements Willis R. Whitney, then a young in terms of types and quantities of chemist at MIT. He was hesitant to services and structures needed, and accept the offer because he feared then to help convert plans and new that industrial research would not ideas into the buildings which the provide the range of interests and staff began to occupy this autumn. freedom for investigation that made The choice of the site, an estate academic research so attractive to called "The Knolls," about 5 miles him. Mr. Rice reassured him as to from the Schenectady Works was the rewards of industrial research in based upon a number of factors of the form of scientific achievement which the natural beauty of the site and so far as his own interests were was perhaps least important. The concerned told young Whitney to Mohawk River on which the Lab oratory is located can provide prac tically unlimited quantities of cool ing and process water; also it furnishes means for disposing of ^ liquid wastes after they have been properly neutralized and purified. The River furthermore permits barge transportation for fuel oil or for bulky or heavy equipment. It is close to good residential areas and has a branch line of the New York Central Railroad running through the site. The largest item in a research lab oratory budget is pay for the re searchers' time. Consequently a large capital investment in special ized buildings is justified if it pro vides convenient services to make experimentation easier and faster. Therefore, the main building is so designed that in any room there is available any or all of the follow ing services: hot and cold water, distilled water, laboratory drain, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, city gas. compressed air--high and low pres sure, rough vacuum, and 125 lb steam. Furthermore, experience teaches that the level of demand for electric service for experimental work is continually increasing so that the following electric services are available in any room: 120/208volt. 3-phase, 4-wire, 60-cycle power; 265/440-volt, 3-phase, 4wire, 60-cycle power; and 125/250- volt direct current. An important part of the labora tory are the shops where special experimental tools and apparatus are made. While certain known items of equipment can be pur chased as stock items, innumerable special tools and gadgets become necessary and these are more quick ly made in the laboratory's own shops. These are located on the lower floors of the buildings. Here 68 November. 19S0--POWER ENGINEERING--Chicago. M. PLAINTIFF'S ,, exhibit Dedicates a LABORATORY General Electric celebrated the 50th anniversary of the nation's first industrial research laboratory by the formal dedication of the G-E Laboratory's new home at the Knolls near Schenectady, on October 9. This new laboratory which has been built during the last few years at a cost of 18 million dollars is, without doubt, the most complete and finest laboratory in the world the scientists can have the invaluable aid of good craftsmen either in "hay wiring" together a "quick and dirty" gadget if that is all that is desired or in designing and constructing ap paratus of considerable complexity. These shops are as nearly as pos sible in the physical center of the research space. As already mentioned the site was not chosen primarily for its natural beauty but it is one of unusual charm. As the visitor approaches the main building he is impressed by u. S the avenue of fine old trees leading to the main entrance. These trees were planted by a former owner of the property and have been left undisturbed. Nearing the entrance, one can look into and even through the lobby, for the near and far walls are entirely of glass panels. The building has roughly the shape of the letter T, the upright part forming the first wing of the building, which was completed in the autumn of 1948. The cross wing was completed during the past sum mer and is now fully occupied by members of the laboratory staff. The lobby is 32 ft wide and 60 ft deep. Through the glazed wall, one obtains a magnificent view of the Mohawk River with the Adirondack Mountains in the distance. At the left of the lobby is an auditorium, seating over 300 persons, fully equipped with modern protection equipment. The back of the stage is normally closed by two large panels of light wood, but these can be rolled back by a motor to expose the pro jection screen. On the floor below the auditorium, at ground level because the build ing is on a ridge, is the cafeteria. From this one can go out to a ter race, and thence to the gardens. To the right of the reception room one enters a corridor to one of the laboratory floors. Most of this floor, at the entrance level, but which is known as the third floor, is devoted to the Metallurgy Division. This floor also has on it the library, where a scientist about to embark cn a new research may look up in books or technical journals earlier work which may have a bearing on his problem. The central wing of the fourth floor is devoted to electronics re search. including the development of high-power tubes for the production Fig. 2. Thresholds to science and some of the scientists who have crossed them. Right, front to rear: Dr. Willis R. Whitney, founder and first director of the laboratory; Dr. Albert W. Hull, inventor of the magnetron and other electron tubes; and Dr. Saul Dushman, expert on high vacuum, {.eft, front to rear: Dr. Vincent J. Schaefer and Dr. Bernard Vonnegut, who with Dr. Irving Lang muir are famed for discovery of methods of producing snow and rain from clouds; Dr. James Cobine, expert on high frequency tubes; and Dr. Katherine B. Blodoett, known for her work on invisible films Fig. 3. Typical laboratory room in the new laboratory. Part of the Metallurgy Division, this room is devoted to the investigation of the properties of metals lit < imperfect. Likewise, three-phase? plugs without neutral would be* four-prong so as to carry thej protective ground wire. Further-1 more, four-wire three-phase circuits! in which the neutral is also carried' through so that line-to-neutral volt-' age is available would require a fifthJ wire for the independent protective' ground. ' of short radio waves. Other elec tronic research, much of it con cerned with television, is conducted on the fifth floor of the central wing. The fourth and fifth floors of the cross wing house the Chemistry Division. On the second floor of the build ing, there are research rooms for the division of mechanical investiga tions. devoted to the studies of rockets, combustion, refrigeration, vibration, etc. In addition to the main laboratory work may be done. If the room is so small that it is not convenient to have two doors, escape hatches into an adjoining room have been pro vided at the end of the room far from the door. For fire fighting, portable 3-, 5-, or 10-lb C02 hand extinguishers are provided, at least one in each room. In addition at each stairwell on each floor 50-lb C02 carts are located in cabinets off the corridor. The ex perience of the laboratory staff is that all but extremely unusual fires building, there are a number of others on the 180-acre tract. To the East is the Radiation Laboratory, in which a new type of accelerator known as the non-ferromagnetic synchrotron is installed. This appa ratus. which is expected to yield 300.000. 000-v x-rays is nearing com pletion. This building also houses an 80.000. 000-v'synchrotron, and x-ray equipment for one. two and ten- million volt radiation. Early in the planning of the new laboratory it was necessary to decide whether a building with windows was desired or one without windows. A building without windows could be built cheaper than one with win dows but a canvass of the technical employees indicated that many would not want to work continuous ly in a windowless building. Hence, a building with windows was built. can be put out quickly with hand C02 extinguishers. In standard research space ther mostatic-type fire detectors have been installed on the ceilings with zoned drop-type indicators in the The exterior pilasters are made electrical control room where an 6% ft wide so as to allow three pos operator will be stationed at all sible partitions, the preferred one at times. Basement and shop areas are the center or if desired 3 ft either protected with standard water side of that point. This makes pos sprinklers. sible rooms having widths which are (3) All electrical and pipe serv multiples of 3L Room widths which are multiples of 12 ft are repetitive; the others can be arranged only in certain specific sequences. ices can be turned off in the shafts where they take off from the ver tical feeders. Thus in the event of trouble in any room the services to Laboratory doors open outward the room can be turned off from the from the rooms into the corridors corridor without entering the room. for ease of egress. Each 4-ft wide (4) For many years safety com doorway has a 1-ft-wide hinged mittees have been urging the use of panel which is normally bolted solid protective grounds in addition closed and a 3-ft-wide active leaf to normal neutral wires on all elec opening into a vestibule between tric systems. For example, single service shafts. The arrangement is shown in Fig. 4. This door has a clear glass panel to provide visibil ity. Also, the door, when open, does not protrude into the corridor. In general, two means of egress have been provided from each labo phase lines would use three-prong plugs and sockets with the third or protective ground wire providing a means for connecting .machine frames or equipment chassis solidly to ground independent of the elec trical neutral or of the metal con ratory room in which hazardous duit whose continuity might be Dedication The dedication of this great new-3 laboratory was attended by leaders % in science and industry from all parts of the country and by some j| from other countries. Honored guests^ at the ceremonies included Dr. Willis'^ R. Whitney, founder of the labora-ja tory in October 1900. and its first 4 director, and Dr. William D. Cool- 3 idge, x-ray pioneer and director.3 emeritus. Now 82, an honorary vice 4 president of General Electric, Dr.`3 Whitney is still active in research. j| Also in attendance were the mem- P bers of the National Academy of Ji Sciences, holding its autumn meet- 3 ing at the laboratory. In the prin- Z cipal address, Charles E. Wilson, President of General Electric, re viewed the accomplishments of the laboratory in the past half century, and cited the necessity of industrial research to the nation's economy. Following his speech, Mr. Wilson formally dedicated the new home of the laboratory to the advancement of scientific knowledge and presented golden keys to Dr. C. G. Suits, G-E vice president and director of re search. In his acknowledgment. Dr. Suits paid tribute to Mr. Wilson's contin ued interest in the Research Labo ratory and then unveiled a bronze plaque, at the entrance of the main building, which expresses the appre ciation of the people of the Research Laboratory to the company presi dent. Dr. Suits also unveiled two heroic glass portraits of Dr. Whitney and Dr. Coolidge. These are panels, each 33 by 57 in., set into the glass wall which forms the front of the entrance lobby to the main buildingThey were made by a new process developed by the Corning Glass Works in which the photographic image is formed through the glass itself. 70 November. 1950--POWER ENGINEERING--Chicago, l:!.