The pneumatics of Hero of AlexandriaHero, of Alexandria
History
The pneumatics of Hero of Alexandria
Hero, of Alexandria
Discoveries in science -- History; Inventions -- History; Pneumatics
A figure stands upon a pedestal having a trumpet in its mouth: if it
be blown into, the trumpet shall sound. Let A B C D (fig. 49), be an
air-tight pedestal on which a figure stands, and within the pedestal
let there be a hollow hemisphere, E F G, covered over at the top and
having small holes in the bottom. From the hemisphere a tube, H F,
extends upwards into the figure in the direction of the trumpet, which
is provided with a mouthpiece. Pour liquid into the pedestal through a
hole which must be afterwards stopped again by means of [a valve or tap
called] a smerisma. Now, if we blow into the bell of the trumpet, the
air passing from us will force out through the holes the water in the
hemisphere, which will mount up into the pedestal: but when we withdraw
the breath, the water will enter the hemisphere again and force out the
air, which, passing out through the mouthpiece, will produce the sound
of a trumpet.
50. _The Steam-Engine._
[Illustration: Diagram of apparatus as described in text]
Place a cauldron over a fire: a ball shall revolve on a pivot. A fire
is lighted under a cauldron, A B, (fig. 50), containing water, and
covered at the mouth by the lid C D: with this the bent tube E F G
communicates, the extremity of the tube being fitted into a hollow
ball, H K. Opposite to the extremity G place a pivot, L M, resting on
the lid C D; and let the ball contain two bent pipes, communicating
with it at the opposite extremities of a diameter, and bent in opposite
directions, the bends being at right angles and across the lines F G, L
M. As the cauldron gets hot it will be found that the steam, entering
the ball through E F G, passes out through the bent tubes towards the
lid, and causes the ball to revolve, as in the case of the dancing
figures.
51. _A Vessel from which flowing Water may be stopped at pleasure._
[Illustration: Diagram of apparatus as described in text]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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