Ancient Engineers' Inventions (eBook)

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.

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