Ancient Engineers' Inventions

Precursors of the Present

By: Cesare Rossi, Flavio Russo, Ferruccio Russo

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Hardcover | 23 March 2009

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Hardcover
356 Pages

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23.39 x 15.6 x 2.06

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We live in an age in which one can easily think that our generation has invented and discovered almost everything; but the truth is quite the opposite. Progress cannot be considered as sudden unexpected spurts of individual brains: such a genius, the inventor of everything, has never existed in the history of humanity. What did exist was a limitless procession of experiments made by men who did not waver when faced with defeat, but were inspired by the rare successes that have led to our modern comfortable reality. And that continue to do so with the same enthusiasm. The study of the History of Engineering is valuable for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it can help us to understand the genius of the scientists, engineers and craftsmen who existed centuries and millenniums before us; who solved problems using the devices of their era, making machinery and equipment whose concept is of such a surprising modernity that we must rethink our image of the past.

Industry Reviews

From the reviews: "A lovingly compiled catalogue of engineering achievement, prepared most especially for young engineers, and dedicated to the appreciation of the works of pioneers. The reader is shown the problems and guided to their solutions, via all the technical detail needed to command attention. The target reader is thus served, under these terms of reference, well. ... All in all, we have a collection of ingenious devices, well-described, frequently 'reconstructed' and lovingly commemorated." (Michael A. B. Deakin, Metascience, Vol. 19, March, 2010)

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Non-Fiction Archaeology Science Science in General History of Science Engineering & Technology Technology in General Technical Design Mechanical Engineering & Materials Mechanical Engineering Engines & Power Transmission Engineering in General

History of Engineering & Technology

Preface	p. xiii
Measuring The Environment	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Ancient Greek units	p. 1
Length units	p. 1
Area units	p. 3
Volume units	p. 3
Weight/mass units	p. 3
Roman units	p. 4
Length units	p. 4
Area units	p. 4
Volume units	p. 5
Weight/mass units	p. 6
Measuring Mass	p. 7
Introduction	p. 7
The balance scale	p. 8
The steelyard balance	p. 9
Observations	p. 11
Measuring Distance	p. 13
Introduction	p. 13
Jacobs' staff, Astrolabe	p. 14
Range finders	p. 14
Groma	p. 15
Surveyors' cross	p. 16
Chorobate	p. 17
The dioptre by Heron	p. 18
The ancient odometers	p. 21
The odometer by Vitruvius	p. 21
The odometer by Heron	p. 22
Observations	p. 25
Measuring Time	p. 27
Introduction	p. 27
The sundial	p. 28
Fixed sundials	p. 30
Equatorial sundials	p. 30
Horizontal sundials	p. 31
Vertical sundials	p. 31
Non-planar sundials	p. 31
Portable sundials	p. 32
Water clocks	p. 34
Early water clocks	p. 34
The water clock by Ctesibius	p. 36
Observations	p. 39
Ancient Computation Devices	p. 41
Introduction	p. 41
The abacus	p. 41
The mesolabio	p. 43
The mesolabio of Heratosthenes	p. 43
The solution by Hippocrates and the mesolabio by Düet;rer	p. 44
The mechanism of Antikythera	p. 46
The history of the finding	p. 47
Description of the mechanism	p. 48
Technological aspects	p. 53
Planetariums in ancient literature	p. 54
A recent interesting finding	p. 55
Observations	p. 56
Using Natural Energy	p. 61
Wind Motors	p. 63
Introduction	p. 63
The wind mills	p. 64
The Afghan mill	p. 64
The Cretan mill	p. 67
Wings on the sea: The sails	p. 70
Evolution of the sail rig	p. 74
The Chinese junk	p. 76
The Flettner rotor	p. 77
Observations	p. 79
Hydraulic Motors	p. 81
Introduction	p. 81
Water wheels with vertical axis	p. 81
The Greek mill	p. 82
Vertical axis rotor with oblique blades	p. 83
Water wheels with horizontal axis	p. 86
Undershot water wheels	p. 87
Overshot water wheels	p. 88
The wheel of Venafro	p. 89
The floating mill	p. 92
Water wheels in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance	p. 94
Observations	p. 96
Using Water	p. 97
Lifting Water	p. 99
Introduction	p. 99
The early devices	p. 100
The Archimedes' screw	p. 101
Norias	p. 102
Scoop wheel	p. 103
Chain norias	p. 105
Pumps	p. 107
Chain pumps	p. 107
Reciprocating pumps	p. 109
Observations	p. 118
Adduction and Distribution of Water	p. 119
Introduction	p. 119
Open ducts	p. 119
Penstocks	p. 121
The great cisterns	p. 122
The Piscina Mirabilis at Miseno	p. 124
Water distribution systems	p. 125
Piezometric turrets	p. 126
Pipes	p. 128
Dimensions of the lead pipes	p. 130
Valves	p. 130
Shut-off valves	p. 131
Single control mixers	p. 132
Hydraulic mining	p. 133
The technique of "ruina montium"	p. 135
Historical references	p. 136
Observations	p. 140
Underwater Activities	p. 143
Introduction	p. 143
Scuba divers	p. 143
Diving bell	p. 146
Communication and Telecommunication	p. 149
Introduction	p. 149
The capstan	p. 149
Telecommunication devices	p. 151
Lift and Transports	p. 153
Introduction	p. 153
Cranes and tackle	p. 153
Gravity driven elevators	p. 155
Roman carts	p. 156
Railed cargo	p. 162
The rails of Pompei	p. 165
Ancient self propelled vehicles	p. 167
Early ball bearings	p. 170
Transport on water	p. 172
Early paddle wheeled boats	p. 173
Pneumatic boats	p. 175
Cableways	p. 179
The dawn of flight in antiquity	p. 182
Legends and tales	p. 182
Ancient gliders	p. 184
Ancient rockets	p. 185
Observations	p. 188
Telecommunications	p. 189
Introduction	p. 189
Acoustic	p. 189
Carrier pigeons	p. 191
Optical telecommunication systems	p. 192
Systems based on image modification	p. 193
Systems based on brilliancy modification	p. 197
Lighthouses	p. 199
The water telegraph	p. 202
Observations	p. 205
Towards The Modern Age	p. 207
Secondary Motors	p. 209
Introduction	p. 209
Flexion elastic motors	p. 211
Metal spring flexion elastic motors	p. 212
Torsion elastic motors	p. 214
Pneumatic motors	p. 218
The air spring ballista	p. 219
Small spring motors	p. 222
Locks and padlocks	p. 223
Counterweight motors	p. 226
The trebuchet	p. 227
Ancient steam engines	p. 228
Heron's steam turbine	p. 228
The Architronitro	p. 229
Observations	p. 231
Spinning And Weaving	p. 235
Introduction	p. 235
The dawn of spinning and weaving	p. 235
The spinning wheel	p. 238
The mechanical spinning wheel	p. 239
The spinning jenny	p. 239
The spinning frame by Arkwright	p. 241
The mule by Crompton	p. 242
The ring frame	p. 243
Automatic weaving	p. 243
The first programmable loom	p. 244
The programmable looms of the 18th century	p. 245
The automatic loom	p. 246
Observations	p. 247
Some Applications of Fire	p. 249
Introduction	p. 249
Fire ignition	p. 250
Optical flints	p. 251
Marine fire-the Roman candle	p. 253
Wind lanterns	p. 255
Fire for warming	p. 256
Domestic heating	p. 257
Thermal heating systems	p. 257
Ancient samovar	p. 260
Fire for warfare	p. 262
Burning mirrors	p. 262
Flamethrowers	p. 263
The flamethrower by Thucydides	p. 263
A probable single cylinder pump flamethrower	p. 264
Incendiary projectiles	p. 266
Protection from fire: Asbestos	p. 268
Automata (Towards Automation and Robots)	p. 269
Introduction	p. 269
The Hellenistic Age	p. 270
Heron of Alexandria	p. 270
The Roman Empire: The repeating catapult	p. 273
The Middle Ages	p. 280
A1 Jazari and the Arabs	p. 281
The astronomic clock of Strasbourg	p. 282
The Renaissance	p. 283
The 18th century	p. 289
The 19th century	p. 295
Automata of the Far East	p. 298
Between the 2 millenniums	p. 298
Observations	p. 300
Ancient Building Techniques	p. 303
Stone buildings	p. 303
Opus siliceum-opus poligonalis	p. 303
Opus quadratum	p. 304
Concrete buildings	p. 304
Opus caementitium	p. 304
Opus incertum	p. 305
Opus quasi reticulatum	p. 305
Opus reticulatum	p. 305
Opus latericium	p. 306
Opus spicatum	p. 306
Opus mixtum	p. 306
Opus vittatum-opus listatum	p. 307
Considerations on Some Ancient Building Techniques	p. 309
Introduction	p. 309
Polygonal work	p. 309
Construction criteria	p. 310
Theories on the reasons for polygonal work	p. 317
Concrete	p. 319
Bibliography	p. 327
Index	p. 335
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Ancient Engineers' Inventions

Precursors of the Present

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

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