Inventions Through Time Part Two

GERMANY

1. Diesel Engine

Inventor: Rudolf Diesel

Description: A diesel engine (also known as a compression-ignition engine) is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber. This is in contrast to spark-ignition engines such as a petrol engine (gasoline engine) or gas engine (using a gaseous fuel as opposed to gasoline), which uses a spark plug to ignite an air-fuel mixture.

Year Invented: 1893

2. Toepler Pump

Inventor: August Toepler

Description: A Toepler pump is a form of mercury piston pump, invented by August Toepler in 1850.

     The principle is illustrated in the diagram. When reservoir G is lowered, bulb B and tube T are filled with gas from the enclosure being evacuated (through tube A). When G is raised, mercury rises in tube F and cuts off the gas in B and T at C. This gas is then forced through the mercury in tube D into the atmosphere. The end of tube D is bent upward at E to facilitate collection of gas (or vapor). By alternately raising G, a pumping action results. Clearly tubes F and D must be long enough to support mercury columns corresponding to atmospheric pressure (76 cm at sea level). Instead of using mercury to provide a valving action at C, it is possible to use a glass float valve.

Year Invented: 1850

3. Tachometer

Inventor: Dietrich Uhlhorn

Description: A tachometer (revolution-counter, Tach, rev-counter, RPM gauge) is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute (RPM) on a calibrated analogue dial, but digital displays are increasingly common. The word comes from Greek Ταχος, tachos, "speed", and metron, "to measure". The first mechanical tachometers were based on measuring the centrifugal force, similar to the operation of a centrifugal governor.

The Scuderi Engine is a split cycle, internal combustion engine invented by Carmelo J. Scuderi (1925 - 2002).Scuderi Group, an engineering and licensing company based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and founded by Carmelo Scuderi’s children, is testing a working prototype of the engine that was officially unveiled to the public on April 20, 2009.

Year Invented: 1817

ITALY

1. Scuderi Engine

Inventor: Carmelo J. Scuderi

Description: The Scuderi Engine is a split cycle, internal combustion engine invented by Carmelo J. Scuderi (1925 - 2002).Scuderi Group, an engineering and licensing company based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and founded by Carmelo Scuderi’s children, is testing a working prototype of the engine that was officially unveiled to the public on April 20, 2009.

Year Invented: 2009

2. Barometer
Inventor: Evangelista Torricelli and Gasparo Berti
Description: A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather. Numerous measurements of air pressure are used within surface weather analysis to help find surface troughs, high pressure systems, and frontal boundaries. Although Evangelista Torricelli is universally credited with inventing the barometer in 1643,historical documentation also suggests Gasparo Berti, an Italian mathematician and astronomer, unintentionally built a water barometer sometime between 1640 and 1643.
Year Invented: 1643

EGYPT

1. Paper

Inventor: not available

Description: Paper was made out of papyrus, a plant very abundant in the Nile area. First they had to slice the core of the stalk into very fine pieces. These pieces get submerged in water to remove sugar. The they are pounded to drain the water. The strips are  then lay side by side and are weaved into each other. The end result is papyrus paper.

Year Invented: not available

2. Ox-Drawn Plow
Inventor: not available
Description: Using the power of oxen was a great technological advancement in the world of Egypt. They attached ropes from their plows onto the oxen, usually their horns.
Year Invented: 2700 BC

3. Condom
Inventor: not available
Description: Egyptians used a linen sheath during
intercourse for protection against diseases among other things.
Year Invented: 1000BC

INDIA

1. Button, Ornamental

Inventor: First used in  Indus Valley Civilization

Description: Some buttons were carved into geometric shapes and had holes pieced into them so that they could attached to clothing by using a thread.

Year Invented: 2000BCE

2. Crescograph

Inventor: Bengali Scientist Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose

Description: A device for measuring growth in plants.

Year Invented:  Early 20th Century

3. Prefabricated Home and Movable Structure

Inventor: Akbar

Description: Prefabricated homes, often referred to as prefab homes, are specialist dwelling types of prefabricated building, which are manufactured off-site in advance, usually in standard sections that can be easily shipped and assembled.

Year Invented: 16th Century