The Roman water pump : unique evidence for Roman mastery of mechanical engineering / Richard Stein
| Signatura | Copia | Colección |
|---|---|---|
| 43/66 | 9957 | Libros modernos desde 1900 |
The study presents the history, use, design, operation and performance of Roman water pump, It appears that these machines were used in small numbers to raise water from Wells; and more commonly, and very importantly, as portable pumps to fight fires. the water pump is attributed to Ctesibius (f. ca. 270 D.C.). The earlier exemples were made in bronze, but the original design was cleverly re-engineered in Roma times to make pumps easier and cheaper to make and mantain, by cutting apertures in a large block of Wood, and making internal spaces pressure proof by plugging their extremities. Eighteen wooden pumps have been found, mostly in Wells, and remains of thirteen survive. This study is based on examination of the remains, and of the record of all eighteen made when they were found; it also considers four other relevant finds, ancient texts, and the known metal pumps. It discusses sources of water and how it was raised, and the concept of water pump, first in bronze, and later in Wood. It describes the finding, location, use, and dating of the known wooden pumps, and explains their generic design, the features of each part, the method of driving the machine, and its operation cycle. Calculations are shown of the posible performance of a pump of typical dimensions, and of the manpower required to drive it. Technical considerations affecting construction, operation and performance are discussed.
SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION: Purpose of this study; Focus of this study; Previous scholarship; Contents of this study; Basis of description
SECTION 2. BACKGROUND: Sources of water and methods of supplying it; Methods of raising water; Historical background: The design of the bronze pump in ancient texts; The concept of the wooden pump
SECTION 3. THE KNOWN WOODEN PUMPS: Finding
Distribution: Locations; Survival; Availability of materials; Availability of knowledge; Summary
Use: Ancient texts; List of ancient texts; Features in ancient texts, relevant to pumps; Discussion of ancient texts; Provenance and use; Fighting fire; Dewatering
Depth of Wells and lift of water
Dating: Date of each pump; Summaty of dates; Date of development of the wooden pump; Conclusión on dating
SECTION 4. DESIGN, INSTALLATION, AND OPERATION OF THE WOODEN PUMP: Design
Summary of the generic design
Description: Block; Cylinders; Valve chamber and connecting passages; Outlet passage; Void in the block; Liners; Pistons; Valvers; Inlet valve seats; Delivery pipe; Legs and filters
Differences in design; Submerged operation; Driving the pump: Use of a rocker; Power; Stroke; Driving linkage
Installation
Repair
Operating cycle
Performance: General; Configuration of a pump it fixed or portable; Strokem abd diameter of liner; Calculations of performance; Power and forcé produced by operators; Performance of a representative pump of typical dimensions
Other calculations of performance
SECTION 5. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Valves: Construction; Placement; Opening and closing; Chamfers on valve plates; Alignment of valve plate along hinge line; Extra valve; The Castrum Novum bronze pump; Leakage; Cleaning
Are voids in blocks manufactured?: Uneven flow; Air chambers to smooth the flow; Voids in Roman wooden pumps; Vitruvius'catinum; Conclusión
Using two valve chambers
Operation as a suction pump
Preventing buckling of the driving linkage
Methods of transmitting power to the pump: General; Pump at the bottom of a well; Fixed installation at ground level; Portable pump
Number of operators required to drive a pump
SECTION 6. CONCLUSIONS
NOTES TO THE GENERAL TEXT
APPENDICES TO THE GENERAL TEXT: Metal pumps
References for ancient texts
Suction
Calculation of performances
Comparative performances - all pumps
Wells
Comparative features - all pumps
Changes for Stein 2004
Glossary
References
Reports on individual pumps
Contents
Names of pumps
Salient features of each pump
| Localización permanente | Código de barras | Signatura | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundación Juanelo Turriano | 9957 | 43/66 |
The study presents the history, use, design, operation and performance of Roman water pump, It appears that these machines were used in small numbers to raise water from Wells; and more commonly, and very importantly, as portable pumps to fight fires. the water pump is attributed to Ctesibius (f. ca. 270 D.C.). The earlier exemples were made in bronze, but the original design was cleverly re-engineered in Roma times to make pumps easier and cheaper to make and mantain, by cutting apertures in a large block of Wood, and making internal spaces pressure proof by plugging their extremities. Eighteen wooden pumps have been found, mostly in Wells, and remains of thirteen survive. This study is based on examination of the remains, and of the record of all eighteen made when they were found; it also considers four other relevant finds, ancient texts, and the known metal pumps. It discusses sources of water and how it was raised, and the concept of water pump, first in bronze, and later in Wood. It describes the finding, location, use, and dating of the known wooden pumps, and explains their generic design, the features of each part, the method of driving the machine, and its operation cycle. Calculations are shown of the posible performance of a pump of typical dimensions, and of the manpower required to drive it. Technical considerations affecting construction, operation and performance are discussed.
SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION: Purpose of this study; Focus of this study; Previous scholarship; Contents of this study; Basis of description
SECTION 2. BACKGROUND: Sources of water and methods of supplying it; Methods of raising water; Historical background: The design of the bronze pump in ancient texts; The concept of the wooden pump
SECTION 3. THE KNOWN WOODEN PUMPS: Finding
Distribution: Locations; Survival; Availability of materials; Availability of knowledge; Summary
Use: Ancient texts; List of ancient texts; Features in ancient texts, relevant to pumps; Discussion of ancient texts; Provenance and use; Fighting fire; Dewatering
Depth of Wells and lift of water
Dating: Date of each pump; Summaty of dates; Date of development of the wooden pump; Conclusión on dating
SECTION 4. DESIGN, INSTALLATION, AND OPERATION OF THE WOODEN PUMP: Design
Summary of the generic design
Description: Block; Cylinders; Valve chamber and connecting passages; Outlet passage; Void in the block; Liners; Pistons; Valvers; Inlet valve seats; Delivery pipe; Legs and filters
Differences in design; Submerged operation; Driving the pump: Use of a rocker; Power; Stroke; Driving linkage
Installation
Repair
Operating cycle
Performance: General; Configuration of a pump it fixed or portable; Strokem abd diameter of liner; Calculations of performance; Power and forcé produced by operators; Performance of a representative pump of typical dimensions
Other calculations of performance
SECTION 5. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Valves: Construction; Placement; Opening and closing; Chamfers on valve plates; Alignment of valve plate along hinge line; Extra valve; The Castrum Novum bronze pump; Leakage; Cleaning
Are voids in blocks manufactured?: Uneven flow; Air chambers to smooth the flow; Voids in Roman wooden pumps; Vitruvius'catinum; Conclusión
Using two valve chambers
Operation as a suction pump
Preventing buckling of the driving linkage
Methods of transmitting power to the pump: General; Pump at the bottom of a well; Fixed installation at ground level; Portable pump
Number of operators required to drive a pump
SECTION 6. CONCLUSIONS
NOTES TO THE GENERAL TEXT
APPENDICES TO THE GENERAL TEXT: Metal pumps
References for ancient texts
Suction
Calculation of performances
Comparative performances - all pumps
Wells
Comparative features - all pumps
Changes for Stein 2004
Glossary
References
Reports on individual pumps
Contents
Names of pumps
Salient features of each pump
