Rossi / Russo Ancient Engineers' Inventions

Precursors of the Present
2. Auflage 2017
ISBN: 978-3-319-44476-5
Verlag: Springer Nature Switzerland
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, Band 33, 425 Seiten

Reihe: History of Mechanism and Machine Science

This book describes the inventions and designs of ancient engineers who are the precursors of the present. The period ranges mainly from 300 B.C. to 1600 A.D. with several exceptions. Many of the oldest inventions are documented by archaeological finds, often very little known, mainly from Pompeii, Herculaneum and Stabiae and reveal a surprising modernity in their conception.Most of the inventions presented in the first four parts of this book were conceived up to the late Roman Empire and may be considered as milestones, each in their respective field. The fifth part concentrates on more recent centuries. The sixth part deals with some building construction techniques.
Generally, for each of the presented inventions, three elements of research and reference are provided: written documents (the classics), iconic references (coins, bas-reliefs, etc.) and archaeological findings.
The authors did not write this book for engineers only; hence they describe all the devices without assuming wide technical knowledge. The authors' main aim is to try to communicate their enthusiasm for the inventions and the inventors of the past and to contribute to the fascinating study of the History of Engineering.
This second edition includes new topics and chapters that are of special interest to engineers.



Cesare Rossi received the Mechanical Engineer Degree cum Laude at the University of Napoli - 'Federico II' in 1979; in the same year his doctoral thesis received the Asmeccanica (Italian Mechanical Engineering Association) award.He participated in many International Conferences, often with invited lectures and as Chairman. His research activities where carried on mainly in the topics of Tribology, Rotor Dynamics, Mechanical Vibrations, Chaotic Motions of Mechanical Systems, Robot Mechanics, Video Applications for Robotics. Since several years he is interested in studies and researches on the History of Engineering and presently he cooperates with researchers (also on the field) mainly in which the Classic Age is concerned. He is a member of the A.I.S.I (Italian Society for the History of Engineering). Flavio Russo holds a degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Rome.Has been studying military architecture and military history in general for the past thirty years, focusing especially on military technology. For ten years he was member of Scientific Councils of the Italian Institute for the Castles and of National Committee for Studies of Fortified Architectures at the Italian Cultural Heritage Department.Currently he is working at the reconstruction of a roman water wheel, starting from archaeological finds.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Rossi, Cesare

Russo, Flavio

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Preface to the Second Edition;6
2;Preface to the First Edition;8
3;Contents;11
4;1 Representing and Measuring the Environment;18
4.1;Abstract;18
4.2;1.1 Elevations, Plan and Sections;19
4.3;1.2 Protohistoric Drafting Machine for the Clay Tablets Engraving;21
4.4;1.3 Examples of Planimetries from the IV Millennium B.C. to the 1st Century A.D.;23
4.4.1;1.3.1 Plan of Egyptian Fortress, IV Millennium B.C;23
4.4.2;1.3.2 Plan View, Front View and Sections: Inventions Over the Time;24
4.4.3;1.3.3 Planimetries on Sumerian Tablets of the III Millennium B.C.;25
4.4.4;1.3.4 Plan of a Sumerian Retaining Wall, on Stone, 2150 B.C. Time;26
4.4.5;1.3.5 Plan for the Mausoleum of a Rural Roman Home, I c. A.D.;27
4.4.6;1.3.6 Anthropometric and Mathematical Units of Measurement;28
4.5;1.4 Ancient Units;30
4.5.1;1.4.1 Ancient Greek Units;31
4.5.2;1.4.2 Ancient Roman Units;33
5;2 Measuring Mass;36
5.1;Abstract;36
5.2;2.1 The Balance Scale;36
5.3;2.2 The Steelyard Balance;38
6;3 Measuring Distance and Slope;41
6.1;Abstract;41
6.2;3.1 Jacob’s Staff;42
6.3;3.2 Range Finders;42
6.3.1;3.2.1 Groma;42
6.3.2;3.2.2 Surveyor’s Cross;43
6.3.3;3.2.3 Chorobate;45
6.4;3.3 The Astrolabe;45
6.5;3.4 The Dioptre by Heron;46
6.6;3.5 The Ancient Odometers;48
6.6.1;3.5.1 The Odometer by Vitruvius;48
6.6.2;3.5.2 The Odometer by Heron;50
7;4 Measuring Time;54
7.1;Abstract;54
7.2;4.1 The Sundial;55
7.2.1;4.1.1 Fixed Sundials;57
7.2.1.1;4.1.1.1 Equatorial Sundials;57
7.2.1.2;4.1.1.2 Horizontal Sundials;57
7.2.1.3;4.1.1.3 Vertical Sundials;58
7.2.1.4;4.1.1.4 Non Planar Sundials;58
7.2.2;4.1.2 Portable Sundials;58
7.3;4.2 Water Clocks;60
7.3.1;4.2.1 Early Water Clocks;61
7.3.2;4.2.2 The Water Clock by Ctesibius;62
8;5 Orientation;66
8.1;Abstract;66
8.2;5.1 The Sundial Compass;66
8.3;5.2 The Chinese South-Pointing Chariot;68
8.4;5.3 The Windrose and the Magnetic Compass;70
9;6 Ancient Computation Devices;75
9.1;Abstract;75
9.2;6.1 The Abacus;75
9.3;6.2 The Mesolabio;77
9.3.1;6.2.1 The Mesolabio of Eratosthenes;77
9.3.2;6.2.2 The Solution by Hippocrates and the Mesolabio by Dürer;78
9.4;6.3 The Mechanism of Antikitera;79
9.4.1;6.3.1 The History of the Finding;80
9.4.2;6.3.2 Description of the Mechanism;82
9.4.3;6.3.3 Technological Aspects;86
9.4.4;6.3.4 Planetariums in Ancient Literature;87
10;7 The Natural Energy Used in Antiquity;93
10.1;Abstract;93
10.2;7.1 Energy from Man;93
10.3;7.2 Energy from Animals;94
10.3.1;7.2.1 Two or More Animals Together;94
10.4;7.3 The Capstan;95
10.5;7.4 The Treadwheel;96
10.6;7.5 Rough Evaluation of the Power from a Wind Motor;97
10.7;7.6 Rough Evaluation of the Power from a Waterwheel;99
10.7.1;7.6.1 Undershot Waterwheel;100
10.7.2;7.6.2 Overshot Waterwheel;100
10.7.3;7.6.3 Breast Waterwheel;100
10.7.4;7.6.4 Power from a Waterwheel;101
11;8 Wind Motors;102
11.1;Abstract;102
11.2;8.1 The Wind Mills;103
11.2.1;8.1.1 The Afghan Mill;103
11.2.2;8.1.2 The Cretan Mill;106
11.3;8.2 Wings on the Sea: The Sails;108
11.3.1;8.2.1 Evolution of the Sail Rig;111
11.3.2;8.2.2 The Chinese Junk;114
11.3.3;8.2.3 The Flettner Rotor;114
12;9 Hydraulic Motors;118
12.1;Abstract;118
12.2;9.1 Water Wheels with Vertical Axis;118
12.2.1;9.1.1 The Greek Mill;119
12.2.2;9.1.2 Vertical Axis Rotor with Oblique Blades;121
12.3;9.2 Water Wheels with Horizontal Axis;123
12.3.1;9.2.1 Undershot Water Wheels—The Wheel of Venafro;123
12.3.2;9.2.2 Overshot Water Wheels;126
12.4;9.3 The Floating Mill;129
12.5;9.4 Water Wheels in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance;130
13;10 Refrigeration and Heating;133
13.1;Abstract;133
13.2;10.1 Air Cooling with Wind Towers;133
13.3;10.2 The Production of Ice;139
13.4;10.3 Nero’s Sherbert;141
13.5;10.4 Wheat Pits;143
13.6;10.5 Heating and Thermal Baths;148
13.7;10.6 Energy Saving: The Sun Chimney Heating and Thermal Baths;150
14;11 The Production of Water;153
14.1;Abstract;153
14.2;11.1 The Air Well;153
14.3;11.2 The Dew Basin;155
14.4;11.3 The Qanat;157
14.5;11.4 Distillation;160
15;12 Lifting Water;162
15.1;Abstract;162
15.2;12.1 The Early Devices;163
15.3;12.2 The Archimedes’ Screw;164
15.4;12.3 Norias;165
15.4.1;12.3.1 Scoop Wheel;165
15.4.2;12.3.2 Chain Norias;167
15.5;12.4 Pumps;170
15.5.1;12.4.1 Chain Pumps;170
15.5.2;12.4.2 Reciprocating Pumps;171
16;13 Adduction and Distribution of Water;181
16.1;Abstract;181
16.2;13.1 Open Ducts;181
16.3;13.2 Penstocks;183
16.4;13.3 The Great Cisterns;183
16.4.1;13.3.1 The Piscina Mirabilis at Miseno;185
16.5;13.4 Water Distribution Systems;186
16.5.1;13.4.1 Piezometric Turrets;187
16.6;13.5 Pipes;189
16.6.1;13.5.1 Dimensions of the Lead Pipes;191
16.7;13.6 Valves;191
16.7.1;13.6.1 Shut off Valves;192
16.7.2;13.6.2 Single Control Mixers;193
16.8;13.7 Hydraulic Mining;193
16.8.1;13.7.1 The Technique of “Ruina Montium”;195
16.8.2;13.7.2 Historical References;196
17;14 Underwater Activities;202
17.1;Abstract;202
17.2;14.1 Scuba Divers;202
17.3;14.2 Diving Bell;205
18;15 Transports;208
18.1;Abstract;208
18.2;15.1 Roman Charts;208
18.2.1;15.1.1 Horse Shoeing;214
18.3;15.2 Railed Cargo;215
18.4;15.3 The Rails of Pompeii;218
18.5;15.4 Ancient Self-propelled Vehicles;219
18.5.1;15.4.1 Hero of Alexandria;219
18.5.2;15.4.2 Giovanni Fontana;221
18.5.3;15.4.3 Francesco Di Giorgio Martini;222
18.5.4;15.4.4 Leonardo Da Vinci;222
18.6;15.5 Early Ball Bearings;223
18.7;15.6 Transport on Water;226
18.7.1;15.6.1 Early Paddle Wheeled Boats;226
18.7.2;15.6.2 Pneumatic Boats;228
18.8;15.7 Cableways;231
18.9;15.8 The Dawn of the Flight in the Antiquity;234
18.9.1;15.8.1 Legends and Tales;235
18.9.1.1;15.8.1.1 Daedalus and Icarus: Legend or Reality?;235
18.9.1.2;15.8.1.2 Daedalus and Icarus in the Far East;235
18.9.2;15.8.2 Ancient Egypt;236
18.9.3;15.8.3 Ancient Greece and Hellenic Civilization;237
18.9.4;15.8.4 The Middle Ages;237
18.9.5;15.8.5 The Renaissance;239
18.9.6;15.8.6 Ancient Rockets;241
19;16 Telecommunications;245
19.1;Abstract;245
19.2;16.1 Acoustic;246
19.3;16.2 Carrier Pigeons;247
19.4;16.3 Optical Telecommunication Systems;248
19.4.1;16.3.1 Systems Based on Image Modification;249
19.4.2;16.3.2 Systems Based on Brilliancy Modification;251
19.5;16.4 Lighthouses;254
19.6;16.5 The Water Telegraph;257
20;17 Medicine and Health;261
20.1;Abstract;261
20.2;17.1 Medical Assistance Provided to Legionaries;261
20.3;17.2 Reconstructive Plastic Surgery;262
20.4;17.3 Early Penicillin;263
20.5;17.4 The Beginning of Biological Warfare;263
21;18 Secondary Motors;265
21.1;Abstract;265
21.2;18.1 Cranes and Tackle;267
21.3;18.2 Gravity Driven Elevators;269
21.4;18.3 Siege Towers;270
21.4.1;18.3.1 Possible Internal Motors;272
21.4.1.1;18.3.1.1 Capstan;273
21.4.1.2;18.3.1.2 Threadwheel;273
21.4.1.3;18.3.1.3 Counterweight Motor;274
21.4.2;18.3.2 The Motion of the Tower;275
21.5;18.4 The Trebuchet;278
21.6;18.5 Flexion Elastic Motors;280
21.6.1;18.5.1 Metal Spring Flexion Elastic Motors;281
21.7;18.6 Torsion Elastic Motors;283
21.8;18.7 Throwing Machines Operated by Torsion Motors;285
21.8.1;18.7.1 The Ballista;286
21.8.1.1;18.7.1.1 The Euthytone Ballista;286
21.8.1.2;18.7.1.2 The Palintone Ballista;286
21.8.2;18.7.2 The Catapult;287
21.8.3;18.7.3 The Onager;288
21.8.4;18.7.4 The Cheiroballistra;289
21.9;18.8 Mechanics of the Throwing Machines;291
21.9.1;18.8.1 The Torsion Motor;291
21.9.1.1;18.8.1.1 The Elastic Energy;294
21.9.1.2;18.8.1.2 The Stress in the Hairs;294
21.9.2;18.8.2 The Models and the Performances of the Machines;297
21.9.2.1;18.8.2.1 The Ballista and the Catapult;297
21.9.2.1.1;Euthytone;299
21.9.2.1.2;Palintone;301
21.9.2.2;18.8.2.2 The Catapult;304
21.9.2.3;18.8.2.3 The Onager;306
21.9.2.4;18.8.2.4 The Cheiroballista;310
21.10;18.9 Pneumatic Motors;311
21.10.1;18.9.1 The Air Spring Ballista;312
21.11;18.10 Small Spring Motors;315
21.11.1;18.10.1 Locks and Padlocks;316
21.12;18.11 Ancient Steam Engines;318
21.12.1;18.11.1 Heron’s Steam Turbine;319
21.12.2;18.11.2 The Architronitro;320
22;19 Spinning and Weaving;326
22.1;Abstract;326
22.2;19.1 The Dawn of Spinning and Weaving;326
22.3;19.2 The Spinning Wheel;329
22.4;19.3 The Mechanical Spinning;330
22.4.1;19.3.1 The Spinning Jenny;330
22.4.2;19.3.2 The Spinning Frame by Arkwright;332
22.4.3;19.3.3 The Mule by Crompton;332
22.4.4;19.3.4 The Ring Frame;333
22.5;19.4 The Automatic Weaving;335
22.5.1;19.4.1 The First Programmable Loom;335
22.5.2;19.4.2 The Programmable Looms of the 18th Century;336
22.5.3;19.4.3 The Automatic Loom;337
23;20 Some Applications of the Fire;340
23.1;Abstract;340
23.2;20.1 Fire Ignition;341
23.2.1;20.1.1 Optical Flints;342
23.3;20.2 Marine Fire—The Roman Candle;344
23.4;20.3 Wind Lanterns;345
23.5;20.4 Fire for Warming;347
23.5.1;20.4.1 Domestic Heating;347
23.5.2;20.4.2 Thermal Heating Systems;347
23.5.3;20.4.3 Ancient Samovar;349
23.6;20.5 Fire for Warfare;351
23.6.1;20.5.1 Burning Mirrors;352
23.6.2;20.5.2 Flamethrowers;353
23.6.2.1;20.5.2.1 The Flamethrower by Thucydides;353
23.6.2.2;20.5.2.2 A Probable Single Cylinder Pump Flamethrower;355
23.6.3;20.5.3 Incendiary Projectiles;356
23.7;20.6 The Protection from Fire: The Asbestos;357
24;21 Automata (Towards Automation and Robots);359
24.1;Abstract;359
24.2;21.1 The Hellenistic Age;359
24.2.1;21.1.1 Heron of Alexandria;360
24.2.2;21.1.2 The Roman Empire: The Repeating Catapult;363
24.3;21.2 The Middle Ages;369
24.3.1;21.2.1 Al Jazari and the Arabs;370
24.3.2;21.2.2 The Astronomic Clock of Strasbourg;371
24.4;21.3 The Renaissance;373
24.5;21.4 The 18th Century;377
24.6;21.5 The 19th Century;382
24.7;21.6 Automata of the Far East;384
24.8;21.7 Between the Two Millenniums;385
25;22 Some Ancient Building Techniques;387
25.1;Abstract;387
25.2;22.1 Stone Buildings;387
25.2.1;22.1.1 Opus Siliceum—Opus Poligonalis;387
25.2.2;22.1.2 Opus Quadratum;388
25.3;22.2 Concrete Buildings;388
25.3.1;22.2.1 Opus Caementitium;388
25.3.2;22.2.2 Opus Incertum;389
25.3.3;22.2.3 Opus Quasi Reticulatum;389
25.3.4;22.2.4 Opus Reticulatum;389
25.3.5;22.2.5 Opus Latericium;389
25.3.6;22.2.6 Opus Spicatum;390
25.3.7;22.2.7 Opus Mixtum;390
25.3.8;22.2.8 Opus Vittatum—Opus Listatum;391
25.4;22.3 Considerations on the Polygonal Work;391
25.4.1;22.3.1 Construction Criteria;393
25.4.2;22.3.2 Theories on the Reasons for Polygonal Work;398
25.4.3;22.3.3 Polygonal Bridges;400
25.5;22.4 Earthquake-Resistant Buildings with Wooden Ribs;402
25.6;22.5 Seismic Isolators;405
25.7;22.6 Consideration on Ancient Concrete;409
26;Bibliography;415
26.1;A;415
26.2;B;416
26.3;C;416
26.4;D;417
26.5;F;417
26.6;G;417
26.7;H;418
26.8;I;418
26.9;K;418
26.10;L;418
26.11;M;418
26.12;N;419
26.13;P;419
26.14;R;419
26.15;S;421
26.16;T;421
26.17;U;421
26.18;V;421
26.19;W;421
27;Index;422