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
The construction of an organ from which, when the wind blows, the
sound of a flute shall be produced. Let A, A, A, (fig. 77),
be the pipes, B C the transverse tube communicating with them, D E the
vertical tube, and E F another transverse tube leading from D E into
a box G H, the inner surface of which is made level to fit a piston.
Into this box fit the piston K L, which is capable of descending into
it freely. To the piston attach a rod, M N, and to this another, N X,
working on the rod P R. At N let there be a pin moving readily, and
to the extremity X fasten a small plate, X O, near which a rod, S, is
to be placed, moving on iron pivots placed in a frame which admits of
being shifted. To the rod S attach two small wheels, U and Q, of which
U is furnished with pegs placed close to the plate X O, and Q with
broad arms like the sails of a wind-mill. When all of these arms, urged
by the wind, drive round the wheel Q, the rod S will be driven round,
so that the wheel U and the pegs attached to it will strike the plate X
O at intervals and raise the piston; when the peg recedes, the piston,
descending, will force out the air in the box G H into the tubes and
pipes, and produce the sound. We may always move the frame which
contains the rod S towards the prevailing wind, that the revolution may
be more rapid and uniform.
78. _An Automaton, the head of which continues attached to the body,
after a knife has entered the neck at one side, passed completely
through it, and out at the other; the animal will drink immediately
after the operation._
[Illustration: Diagram of apparatus as described in text]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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