Innovations of the centuries
...NG JENNY The Flying Shuttle The flying shuttle was invented in the year 1733 by John Kay. In May 1733, Kay patented his "New Engine of Machine for Opening and Dressing Wool". John Kay received his experience as a machinist and an engineer when he was made manager of one of his father’s mills. He made significant improvements to the machines in the mill and this is what put him in the position to build the flying shuttle. This machine was a significant break through because in the days prior to the invention cloth could only be as long as the width of your body because it was hand operated and with this knowledge he set out to change history and to make a deep profound mark. The person operating the machine (usually a weaver) pulled a cord which was attached to the driver. When the operator pulled the cord to the left, the driver made the shuttle to shoot or ‘fly’- {hence the title the Flying a Shuttle} through the warp in the same direction. When the operator pulled the shuttle to the right it caused the shuttle to be sent back. This flying shuttle was so efficient that it was able to do the work of two people in a very quick period. Weavers who considered this a threat to their business and so they mobbed his house and destroyed his invention -similar to what was done to Hargreaves except that he already had the patent for the invention. Despite this, it made no difference. Manufacturers in the textile industry soon adapted his invention since it performed the amount of work which two people would do within a very short period. These other manufacturers formed a group and determined not to pay Kay any royalties. Kay lost all his money in legal battles. He moved to France and it is strongly believed by historians that he died a poor man. The Steam Engine Steam Engine of 1698 The Industrial Revolution was characterized by constant inventions which replaced inefficient machines and human labor and this is exactly what the Steam engine did. It can be said that the Steam Engine has three inventors: Thomas Savery, Thomas Newcomen, and James Watt. The initial Steam Engine was invented by Thomas Savery in 1698 and was a crude steam engine. Mr. Savery was an English Military Engineer who based his design on Denis Papin’s Digester or the pressure cooker of 1679. He was trying to solve the problem of pumping water out of coal mines. His machine was made up of a closed vessel filled with water into which steam under pressure was introduced. This forced water up and out of the mine while a cold water sprinkler was used for condensation which made a vacuum that sucked the water out of the mineshaft through a bottom valve Mr. Savery also worked with Thomas Newcomen in the creation of the enhanced steam engine. THOMAS NEWCOMEN Thomas Newcomen was an English blacksmith who invented the atmospheric steam engine, which was a significant improvement to the Steam Engine of 1968 by Mr. Savery previous design. Mr. Newcomen used the atmospheric pressure’s force to power the steam engine. The engine pushes steam into a cylinder and the steam is then c...