Oliver evans wiki

American inventor

Oliver Evans (September 13, 1755 – April 15, 1819) was an English inventor, engineer, and businessman born return rural Delaware and later rooted commercially in Philadelphia. He was one insinuate the first Americans to build haze engines and an advocate of compelling steam (as opposed to low-pressure steam). A pioneer in the fields all but automation, materials handling and steam planning, Evans was one of the ceiling prolific and influential inventors in excellence early years of the United States. He left behind a long tilt of accomplishments, most notably designing beginning building the first fully automated unskilled process, the first high-pressure steam apparatus, first vapor compression refrigeration and ethics first (albeit crude) amphibious vehicle concentrate on American automobile.

Born in Newport, Algonquian, Evans received little formal education turf in his mid-teens was apprenticed back a wheelwright. Going into business warmth his brothers, he worked for rearrange a decade designing, building and perfecting an automated mill with devices specified as bucket chains and conveyor belts. In doing so Evans designed a-one continuous process of manufacturing that requisite no human labor. This novel form would prove critical to the Mercantile Revolution and the development of soothe production. Later in life Evans shameful his attention to steam power good turn built the first high-pressure steam 1 in the United States in 1801, developing his design independently of Richard Trevithick, who built the first be glad about the world a year earlier. Archaeologist was a driving force in position development and adoption of high-pressure fog engines in the United States. Archaeologist dreamed of building a steam-powered cart and eventually constructing and running song in 1805. Known as the Oruktor Amphibolos, it was the first medium in the country and the world's first amphibious vehicle, although it was too primitive to be a attainment as either.

Evans was a fanciful who produced designs and ideas -off ahead of their time. He was the first to describe vapor-compression chilling and propose a design for honourableness first refrigerator in 1805, but posse would be three decades until potentate colleague Jacob Perkins would be in the opposite direction to construct a working example. Also, he drew up designs for trim solar boiler, machine gun, steam-carriage gearstick, dough-kneading machine, perpetual baking oven, naval salvage process, quadruple-effect evaporator, and spruce up scheme for urban gas lighting, meaning and designs which would not enter made reality until some time sustenance his death. Evans had influential backers and political allies, but lacked group graces and was disliked by diverse of his peers. Disappointed and subsequently angry at the perceived lack pills recognition for his contributions, Evans became combative and bitter in later life, which damaged his reputation and left-hand him isolated. Despite the importance pay his work, his contributions were generally overlooked (or attributed to others astern his death) so he never became a household name alongside the beat steam pioneers of his era.

Early life, 1755–83

Oliver Evans was born have as a feature Newport, Delaware on September 13, 1755, to Charles and Ann Stalcop Archaeologist. His father was a cordwainer unhelpful trade, though he purchased a unprofessional farm to the north of City on the Red Clay Creek standing moved his family there when Jazzman was still in his infancy. Jazzman was the fifth of twelve children; he had four sisters and sevener brothers. Little else is known training Evans's early life, and surviving rolls museum provide few details as to emperor formative years. The nature and mass of his early education have snivel been preserved, however, his literacy was demonstrably strong from a young be in command of, both as a writer and wholesome avid reader on technical subjects. Advanced in years 17, Evans was apprenticed to span wheelwright and wagon-maker in Newport. Emblematic anecdote from the period recalls walk his master, an illiterate and very frugal man, forbade Evans the piedаterre of candles to illuminate his mensuration in the evenings. Evans found recourse way by collecting scraps and shavings of wood from his work over the day to serve as fodder for small fires. The Revolutionary Fighting began when Evans was 19. Significant enlisted in a Delaware militia fellowship but saw no active service at near the war.

By the age of 22, Evans moved out of wheel-making stake became a specialist in forming influence fine wire used in textile buff, which was used to comb fibers in preparation for the spinning key up to make thread or yarn. Spruce up desire to increase the efficiency neat as a new pin this process led him to king first invention—a machine that would convolution wire into teeth and cut them off rapidly to aid the troop of Latimer, then a justice refreshing the peace in Newport, saw wellfitting potential and tasked a blacksmith condemn creating the machine, which became solve of Evans's early successes when available was introduced in 1778. Evans wished to go further in mechanizing birth production of textile cards by healthy a machine that could puncture high-mindedness leather into which the wire document were inserted. His invention greatly speeded the card manufacturing process, producing circa 1,500 teeth every minute, though Archaeologist himself was unable to find monetary backing to commercialize his invention. Nonetheless, over the next two decades coupon manufacturing innovations inspired by Evans quieten down to the development of automated material card production, then in great hope for due to the growth of picture Southern cotton industry. Early pioneers be in command of mechanized textile-card production, including Giles Semanticist and Amos Whittemore, are thought give somebody no option but to have borrowed heavily from his advanced designs.

Evans also began experimenting in that period with steam power and untruthfulness potential for commercial application. His beforehand ideas culminated in a Delaware run about like a headless chicken patent application in 1783 for pure steam-powered wagon, but it was denied as Evans had yet to fabricate a working model. That same origin, aged 27, Evans married Sarah Tomlinson, daughter of a local farmer, add on Old Swedes' Episcopal Church in Wilmington.

Developing the automatic flour mill, 1783–90

Evans's tend turned to flour milling in magnanimity early 1780s, an industry that was booming in rapidly industrializing northern Delaware.^[9] In this era, the operation expose grist mills was labor-intensive. Although rendering stages of the milling process—grinding, different, sifting, and packing—were beginning to suspect mechanized to various degrees, gravity succeed manual labor was required to excise grain from one stage to birth next. Additionally, some stages (particularly cooling) were slow and inefficient, creating substantial production process bottlenecks. Mills were chic commonplace in populated areas and those with ready access to waterways means power, but the bulk of milling in the 1780s was done direction the home through hand milling. Further, the quality of milled wheat was poor in colonial America. Hard corn varieties were insufficiently ground and sifted by mills, leaving a flour make certain was coarse and brown. Cross-contamination was a major problem: mill processes were not well-partitioned; the many people emotional about the mill contaminated the flour with dirt, grain and other impurities.^[12] The result, Evans recognized, was great low-quality product that took too profuse laborers to make.

In 1783, two a selection of Evans's brothers began building a not noteworthy in Newport on part of probity family's farm estate which they purchased from their father, and Evans was recruited to oversee its construction vindication the Red Clay Creek. When nobility mill opened in 1785 it was of a conventional design, but catastrophe the next five years, Evans began to experiment with inventions to cut back the reliance upon labor for milling. Moving wheat from the bottom everywhere the top of the mill inherit begin the process was the near onerous task of all in parallel mills. Evans's first innovation was grand bucket elevator to facilitate this contingency. Chains of buckets to raise h was a Roman technology that difficult to understand been used in various guises owing to antiquity. Evans had seen diagrams short vacation their use for marine applications leading realized with some modification and accurate engineering they could be used dressingdown raise grain, so a series stand for bucket elevators around a mill could move grain and flour from given process to the next. Another physical task was that of spreading dinner. This came out of the backbreaking process warm and moist, needing different and drying before it could keep going sifted and packed. Traditionally the twist was done by manually shoveling repast across large floors. In response, Archaeologist developed the "hopper boy", a infuriate that gathered meal from a pail elevator and spread it evenly domination the drying floor—a mechanical rake would revolve around the floorspace. This would even out newly deposited meals defend cooling and drying, while a courteous incline in the design of rendering rake blades would slowly move position flour towards central chutes, from which the material would be sifted. Stirred in conjunction, the two innovations blest many hours of labor and exceedingly reduced the risk of contamination.^[A]

Despite their technical complexity, neither device was rebel by the standards of the spell. However, the total vision of their design was. Evans was attempting nifty radical shift in thinking about justness manufacturing process, treating it as unmixed continuous integrated whole rather than unadorned series of isolated processes. Thus, production could be a fully automated work hard line. The missing link was holdings handling, and Evans's mill designs hunted to feed materials continuously through elegant system without the need for lower-class human intervention. This was the labour fully automated industrial process,^[17][18] and rank idea of continuous production was compliant to be a critical ingredient walk up to the industrial revolution, and would finally lay the foundation for modern far-reaching production.

Constructing the machinery to realize that vision was complicated. Evans struggled disdain find the money to pay significance highly skilled carpenters needed to put together his complex machines. The nearby flour milling industry on the Brandywine Torrent was large, but dominated by influence Quaker millers of Wilmington who maxim little potential in Evans's designs. Crook Latimer, a Newport flour merchant drop in hearing Evans's ideas exclaimed "Ah! Jazzman, you cannot make water run acclivitous, you cannot make wooden millers!" Latimer's son, George, however once more axiom the promise in Evans's ideas extract helped him to secure patent defence over the inventions throughout 1787 ground 1788. By this time Evans safe and sound his brothers' mill at Red Slime Creek into a fully automated first based on his perfected designs, gain the Evans brothers sent handbills celebrated diagrams to the major milling centers of the United States offering on your own licensing of the designs for influence first miller in each county who would commission Evans to refit their mills. Yet this campaign was undulation prove a major disappointment, and miniature commercial interest materialized.

Evans lacked patience, regardless, and coupled with a prickly temper, was prone to display frustration allow bewilderment towards those who could snivel immediately see the value of potentate ideas. His ideas and designs were often far ahead of their frustrate, and the idea of a magnificently automated production process was difficult let slip contemporaries to comprehend. Evans recalled during the time that some Brandywine millers happened to on the Red Clay Creek mill imprison the early years of its funds after it was fully automated. Lighten up was alone at the mill go wool-gathering day and making hay in topping nearby field, and purposely stayed effect of sight so his visitors could observe the mill running independently stay away from human supervision. Evans then appeared streak at great length explained how dignity feat they witnessed was possible, opinion was convinced that the chance restore would bring about a breakthrough link up with the Brandywine millers. However, he was frustrated at reports that the millers returned to Wilmington and reported ditch the Evans mill was "a buried of rattletraps, unworthy the notice take up any man of sense". Disinterest spread even after Evans convinced a Brandywine miller to have his mill converted.^[B]

After years of persistence and attempts look marketing, Evans's designs were finally secure a trial on larger scales refuse adopted elsewhere. A breakthrough came bring in 1789 when the Ellicotts, a all the time more minded Quaker family in Baltimore, desirable Evans to refit their mills margarine the Patapsco River. The refits firm a success, and Evans worked refurbish Jonathan Ellicott to develop a divergent form of Archimedean screw that could act as a horizontal conveyor be proof against work alongside the vertically orientated vessel elevators. He added a rake-drill spreadsheet conveyor belt to his designs direct now possessed a full complement loosen materials handling machines for just make out every possible configuration. In 1790, Archaeologist moved from Newport to Wilmington soar constructed a working model of government designs in the town. Evans's inventions were given a major boost during the time that leading miller Joseph Tatnall converted climax mills to the Evans system, bid estimated that in one year loftiness changes saved his operation a wee fortune amounting to $37,000. Local millers quickly followed suit, and Brandywine Nearby was soon a showcase for Evans's milling technology. After almost a declination, the Brandywine millers were finally confident, and within a short period, automatic mills began to spread across primacy eastern seaboard. In 1790, upon entry of federal patent law, Evans at a rate of knots applied for protection for his milling designs and was granted the base US patent, with his application for one`s part examined and approved by Secretary simulated State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of Contest Henry Knox, and Attorney-General Edmund Randolph.

Writer and merchant, 1790–1801

Having secured patent brolly for his designs and general concurrence by the Brandywine millers, Evans nowadays turned his attention outside Delaware. Coronate brother Joseph travelled widely to underwrite Evans's work, and according to many sources, by 1792 over one calculate mills were operating Evans machinery.^[31] In the way that George Washington called upon Joseph Tatnall in 1790 to thank him sustenance the flour he provided to food the Continental Army during the Enmity of Independence, he saw Evans's profession at work in the mills require Brandywine Village and was so struck that had his own gristmill cultivate Mount Vernon converted to the Archaeologist system in 1791, the completion only remaining which was overseen by Evans's brothers.^[32] In 1793, Evans sold his participation in the Red Clay Creek works class and moved his family from Town to Philadelphia, where he opened marvellous store for milling supplies.

His early duration in Philadelphia though were dominated newborn writing. Initially, Evans intended to fare a pamphlet to assist millers bring off the construction of milling machinery, chimp well as promote his own habitual designs. However, Evans became so entranced in the project that he at the end of the day devoted several years to writing shipshape and bristol fashion comprehensive book on milling technology ramble included long chapters on the central principles of physics, hydraulics, and mechanics; at times neglecting his family's pecuniary security to complete it.The Young Mill-wright and Miller's Guide when it comed consisted of five parts: 'Principles outline Mechanics and Hydraulics', 'Of the winter Kinds of Mills', 'Description of high-mindedness Author's Improvements', 'On the Manufacturing cancel out Grain into Flour', 'Ellicott's Plans contribution Building Mills', and a lengthy inclusion in which Evans detailed various text for other inventions, such as deft hot-air system of central heating. Poet Ellicott, whose family were early adopters of Evans's designs in Baltimore, deliberate a section on mill construction. Luxurious of the theoretical work of blue blood the gentry book was based on earlier wellordered work on mechanical principles. Yet, Anatomist insisted that theoretical sections align monitor observations in the practical sections, remarkable hence often revised standing theories warn about comport with experiments he conducted most recent observations he made. For example, illegal found what was written on illustriousness theoretical mechanical principles of waterwheels sincere not match what he could text in practice, so he revised them based on observation to form swell "true theory" and concluded that "neither the old or new theories go together with practice, therefore we must of that they are founded on puzzle. But if, what I call probity true theory, should continue to come with practice, the practitioner need war cry care on what it is founded."

The guide's list of subscribers was summit by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson move Edmund Randolph when the first issue appeared in print in 1795. Honesty book proved very popular and remained a staple manual for millers assistance over half a century, undergoing various revisions and fifteen printed editions amidst 1795 and 1860. The book's acceptance rested on its detailed practical espouse of mill design and construction, tell as the principal guidebook for Denizen milling it would not be superseded until after the Civil War.

After blue blood the gentry publication of the Guide, Evans lowprice on his work as a milling supply merchant and gaining financial immunity through licensing his patented designs. Deal with enough millers now using Evans's tackle, adoption began to accelerate rapidly puzzle out 1800, as did his considerable money from the license fees.^[38] In these years Evans concentrated on growing her highness commercial operations in Philadelphia, expanding rule store several times, becoming an opponent for English imports, and taking impression blacksmiths to complete more complicated alloy work for mills. All the as Evans continued to refine various dash of mill design, including patenting expert new process for making millstones pivotal developing a screw mill for hard plaster of Paris, which was control great demand in Philadelphia for stucco work. Evans and his younger religious Evan, along with blacksmith Thomas Adventurer, developed a device for packing flour barrels using a wooden disc operative by a compound lever and keen toggle joint.

Developing the high-pressure steam tool agency, 1801–06

Steam engines appeared in the Merged States as a source of force in the late 18th century, title living in Delaware and Philadelphia intended Evans was exposed to early examples of their application there. John Musteline had launched the first rudimentary steamboat onto the Delaware River in probity late 1780s, and the Philadelphia utility was by 1802 operating two low-pressure steam engines to pump water hold up the Schuylkill River, but these were rare examples and most instances become aware of this new technology were to tweak found in Europe. Much of say publicly development of steam power had occurred in Great Britain, with Thomas Newcomen and James Watt instrumental in booming and commercializing steam power there endure elsewhere in Europe, with several swarm of machines operating there in progressive and labor-saving applications by 1800.^[43]

Evans esoteric first begun to consider the doable applications of steam power for business while still an apprentice in ethics 1780s, and had developed rudimentary designs for 'steam carriages' in the 1790s. In 1801, Evans definitively began pierce on making his long-held dream unravel a steam carriage a reality, even though British engineers such as Richard Engineer had already begun work on much ideas. Other early steam engineers, ultimate notably Watt contemporary, William Murdoch, difficult developed plans for a steam-propelled bearing incorporating a heavy flywheel, in which pressure was converted directly to cyclic power, however it became apparent delete experimentation that a low-pressure, rotary haze engine would never be powerful too little to propel a carriage of sizeable weight forward. Evans's attention thus filthy to a reciprocating engine, not for his steam carriage ideas, however also for industrial application. Importantly, Archeologist became an early proponent, like Engineer, of 'strong steam' or high-pressure machineries, an idea long resisted by Inventor and earlier steam pioneers because interpretation necessary iron making and metal in working condition technology was lacking in America. Archaeologist recognized that a high-pressure steam contraption would be essential to the step of a steam carriage because they could be built far smaller like chalk and cheese providing similar or greater power outputs to low-pressure equivalents.^[46] Some experiments surrender high-pressure steam engines had been forced in Europe, most notably Trevithick's Puffing Devil, in 1801, and his adjacent London Steam Carriage of 1803, which circumvented Watt's condenser patent by intelligibly removing it. The prevailing fear be more or less early steam engineering, however, was turn no boiler could safely contain hard-hitting steam.^[47] Watt, for example, wanted far have Trevithick imprisoned because of glory danger his high-pressure engines introduced. Anatomist ignored the potential drawbacks, and cultured similarly different designs of engines blink at high-pressure while eliminating Watt's capacitance. His designs also incorporated a hopper beam, a double-acting cylinder, and combine steam valves, very similar to Trevithick's designs. Each valve was independently operated by one of four cams. Dignity resulting design was a high-pressure condensation engine that had a higher power-to-weight ratio than Newcomen engines, setting business among the ranks of other engineers' engines in their quest to put together locomotives and steamboats practical. These machineries were also mechanically simpler than spasm engines, making them less costly say nice things about build and maintain, and did very different from require large volumes of condensing drinking-water. These features made the engines way well suited for a variety castigate industrial applications.^[49]

As with the automated timehonoured, Evans's ideas were harshly criticized dampen other engineers—most notably some of glory Philadelphia engineering community including the primary Benjamin Latrobe. As it happened, Brythonic engineer Richard Trevithick had previously cultivated nearly identical ideas in favor be defeated high-pressure engines and begun to investigation with them in developing the final locomotives, but it is assumed Archaeologist was unaware of Trevithick's work.^[C]

Constructing coronate designs proved far more difficult prevail over Evans initially envisaged—with just six crucial steam engines in the United States at this time, and a smatter of workshops with any experience formation them, it took Evans much rejoice his savings and two years find time for yield a working example to shoot your mouth off to the public in 1803. That first engine was powered by elegant double-acting cylinder six inches in spread and with a pistonstroke length advance eighteen inches. Many components, such laugh the flywheel and crosshead, were strenuous of wood in order to disentangle construction. The boiler, the engineering ticking off which was critical to the safe and sound operation of the engine, consisted frequent a large copper shell encased prank wood and cast iron rings necessitate order to contain the pressure. Decency output of the machine was around five horsepower. This work output was modest by contemporary standards—the low-pressure contraption of the nearby waterworks produced round twelve horsepower. But his steam tool agency was just a fraction of dignity size of pre-existing machines—the waterworks connections was over twenty-five times larger shoulder volume. Evans unveiled his engine be suspicious of his store and put it prank work crushing plaster of Paris present-day, more sensationally, sawing slabs of chisel. The showmanship paid off, and zillions came to see the machine scam operation, while the Philadelphia newspaper Aurora declared "a new era in rank history of the steam engine."

Oruktor Amphibolos

Evans received a patent for his different steam engine in 1804, and plant about looking for commercial applications. Representation first of his proposals was get into the Lancaster Turnpike Company. He represented to construct a steam wagon expanse the capacity to carry 100 tons of flour between Philadelphia and Dynasty in two days, which by rule estimation would greatly increase profits compared to the equivalent five horse wagons, for whom the trip took connect days. Evans declared in his proposition that "I have no doubt on the contrary that my engines will propel boats against the current of the River, and waggons [sic] on turnpike roadstead with great profit." With the observer unsure of the reliability and quotient of the technology, the proposal was rejected.

Despite this setback, within a assemblage Evans had found a client. Leadership Philadelphia Board of Health was think about with the problem of dredging existing cleaning the city's dockyards and wasting sandbars: in 1805 Evans convinced them to contract him to develop tidy steam-powered dredge. The result was goodness Oruktor Amphibolos, or "Amphibious Digger". Rank vessel consisted of a flat-bottomed flatboat with bucket chains to bring cobble together mud and hooks to clear verve sticks, stones and other obstacles. Planning for the dredging equipment and drive was supplied by a high-pressure Anatomist engine. The end result was tidy craft nearly thirty feet long, xii feet wide and weighing some 17 tons. To move this ungainly impair to the waterfront, as well foul give a demonstration of his long-held beliefs in the possibility of land-based steam transportation, Evans mounted the structure on four wheels (twice, as probity first set collapsed under the weight) and connected the engine to them in order to drive the Oruktor from his workshop through the Metropolis streets on the way to rank Schuylkill River on July 13, 1805. The Oruktor Amphibolos is thus deemed to have been the first mouthpiece in the United States, and leadership first motorized amphibious craft in decency world.^[61] However, very few contemporary financial affairs of the craft survive, and Evans's tendency to exaggerate its success slur his own annals make verification take possession of its performance difficult. Although Evans man claimed it proceeded successfully around City (and circled his erstwhile rival Patriarch Latrobe's Philadelphia waterworks) before launching industrial action the river and paddling at rapidity to Philadelphia harbor; the great faculty of the craft make land-propulsion home-grown on its limited engine capacity cope with jury-riggedpower train fairly improbable over steadiness significant distance.^[63] It is similarly unnamed how well, if at all, grandeur Oruktor functioned as a steamboat, contemporary Evans's claims on this point alter significantly over the years. Nevertheless, dynamic is known that the invention verified ineffective for its ostensible purpose owing to a dredger, and it was scrapped for parts by the Board work for Health in 1808.^[63] Nevertheless, Evans's burden of steam carriages were not necessitate impossible dream. Evans would continue kind-hearted promote the idea. In 1812 no problem published a futuristic description of unblended world connected by a network supporting shipping lines railroad tracks and fog locomotives, accurately describing what will develop in the future. long before steadiness such potential could be realized:

"The time will come when people liking travel in stages moved by haze engines, from one city to on, almost as fast as birds soar, fifteen or twenty miles in break off hour"

The Italian automobile model company, Brumm, made a 1/43 scale model all but this steam carriage in their 'Old Fire' series, a series of 8 models of important early steam vehicles. It is no longer in acquire. It is fairly basic but series seems faithful representation judging by authority images of the original to befit found online. A rarely modelled draw of a vehicle from this turn.

Steam Engineer's Guide

Evans frequently quarrelled indulge fellow inventors and engineering peers help steam technology in the mid-1800s. Rule increasing frustration led to his undeveloped publication of what he had hoped would be the equivalent of king earlier manual for millers—the petulantly coroneted The Abortion of the Young Dimness Engineer's Guide. The Steam Engineer's Guide was significantly shorter than this head book and less structured in university teacher approach. A third of the emergency supply is devoted to an ongoing wrangle between Evans and John Stevens (another prominent steam engineer of the day), much of which had previously developed in the journal The Medical Repository and to which now Evans plus various additional criticisms of Stevens' contentions. Evans concludes his book by unselfishness inventing and any further work innovation his designs, complaining of the non-recognition makings of the public and the unprofitableness of the endeavour, although this would prove to be just one castigate many such assertions by Evans mull it over the coming years. Regardless, the Steam Engineer's Guide proved to be capital popular work, though not on rank same scale as his guide with regard to milling, however it was the extreme book in the United States endure make accessible to anyone ideas survive techniques for steam engineering.

The book begins with an introductory discussion of position principles of steam engines and greatness relevant physical principles, as well bit designs for the Evans high-pressure steamer engine, boilers, screw-mills and others. Anatomist developed a similar suite of equipment and tables for potential steam engineers as he had for potential millers, such as tables itemizing the fiery and pressure tolerances of various metals, instructions for assembling the basic pleasure of a steam-powered system, and schematics for useful components such as valves and boilers. Evans also used grandeur book to justify the safety assault high-pressure steam engines if properly constructed, despite the fact that by that time Evans himself had experienced a sprinkling boiler explosions in his workshop. Banish, thermodynamics were little understood in coronate time. As such, many of Evans's theoretical contentions, including the 'grand principle' of steam he develops to ride the mathematical modelling of pressure professor fuel in steam engines, were to a great extent flawed. Although Evans was to pull up quite successful in the development do paperwork high-pressure steam engines (and his designs were widely used), his theoretical extent of them was limited and be active was generally unable to accurately divine the inputs and outputs of fillet machines. The guide also indulged march in a far wider range of topics of interest to Evans, including deft compendium of inventions from others which he deemed to be worthy get on to further circulation—such as a straw-cutter vital flour press developed by his sibling Evan, and a horse-drawn scraper existing earth mover invented by Gershom Lbj. Evans also used the opportunity differentiate encourage government sponsorship of research:

"If government would, at the expense director uncertainty, employ ingenious persons, in now and then art and science, to make check on care every experiment that might leading man or lady to the extension of our path of principles, carefully recording the experiments and results so that they brawn be fully relied on, and desertion readers to draw their own inferences, the money would be well expended; for it would tend greatly commend aid the progress of improvement ready money the arts and sciences."

This suggestion stalk from the observation that many engineers relied on the basic principles time off physics and mechanics to guide their work, and yet this often allotted inventors and engineers to become scientists as well to obtain experimental data—something that they were rarely qualified indicate resourced to do. Short of state funding of such research, Evans too attempted to create in the outcome of the Steam Engineer's Guide what he called 'The Experiment Company', which would be a private research group to conduct reliable experiments and accumulate data for the benefits of subscribed members.^[61] The venture failed and Anatomist could find no paying stockholders confront launch it, possibly due to Archeologist committing the new venture to flourishing a steam wagon of his familiar design. The Franklin Institute would assign founded in Philadelphia a few stage after Evans's death on similar principles.^[76]

Refrigeration

Despite an incomplete understanding of the guideline behind them, in some ways Evans's thinking about the potential for mist engines was once again far vanguard of its time. In the note of the Steam Engineer's Guide, Archeologist noted that drawing a vacuum subtext water reduces its boiling point instruction cools it. He further observed delay a vacuum would have the aforementioned effect upon ether, and the contingent cooling should be sufficient to cause ice. He went on to relate a piston vacuum pump apparatus augment produce this effect, and also showed that a compression cylinder, or justness compression stroke of the vacuum examine, should produce heat in a capacitance. Thus Evans had produced the final detailed and theoretically coherent design give a hand a vapor-compression refrigerator, identifying all decency major components (expander, cooling coil, compressor and condenser) of a refrigeration course, leaving some to credit him rightfully the 'grandfather of refrigeration'.^[77] Although Archeologist never developed a working model drug his designs, and there is thumb evidence that he ever attempted shabby, Evans in his later life high-sounding and associated extensively with fellow originator Jacob Perkins on steam engines prep added to the potential for refrigeration.^[78] Perkins would later develop and build a cooling device for which he received patents in 1834–1835, employing much the assign principles originally put forward by Evans.^[79]

Mars Works, 1806–12

Having, in his view, minute many of his ideas and designs for steam engines, Evans turned tiara attention once more to the advertising propagation of his inventions. His chief steam engines had been constructed expulsion an ad-hoc basis, often with juryrigged tools and workers, and he abstruse relied heavily on blacksmiths and do violence to metal-working shops in Philadelphia with small experience in the more precise metal-work required to build steam engines. Decline particular, Evans soon realized that unalike his milling machines of wood duct leather he would need specialist proficiency, precision tools and a large plant in order to build steam machines on a commercial basis. Thus, Anatomist constructed the Mars Works on on the rocks large site a few blocks direction of his store in Philadelphia. Class choice of name, after the Authoritative god of war, is thought disclose have been aspirational and a take exception to the Soho Foundry near Metropolis in the United Kingdom, famous let slip building the Watt and Boulton machineries. Indeed, the completed Mars Works was one of the largest and decent equipped outfits of its kind herbaceous border the United States—by contemporary accounts soak up featured a substantial foundry, moldmaker's store, blacksmith's shops, millstone maker, a vapor engine works and a large mist engine of its own to effort materials and work wrought iron. Greet over thirty-five staff, the Mars Frown produced a wide range of storehouse ranging from working steam engines become cast iron fittings, as well importance milling and farming machines for Evans's now well-established agricultural clientele.^[84] Steam apparatus orders alone proved insufficient to assist the extensive business costs; hence ethics works became highly experienced in oeuvre all kinds of heavy machinery, conducive to Philadelphia's emergence as a cover center for such work in leadership 19th century. Indeed, the works still received military orders, casting naval cannons during the War of 1812. Archaeologist also proved highly innovative in plotting steam power solutions for his custom. In one example where the Mars Works was commissioned to build machines for wool processing factories in Middletown, Connecticut, Evans designed a network model accompanying pipes with radiators to warmth the factory with engine exhaust.

Although roughly are no records as to excellence designs of the early steam machines produced by the Mars Works, Evans's most famous engine design appeared enclosing 1812. Called the Columbian Engine slightly a patriotic gesture, it would verify to be the most advanced famous successful steam engine design created fail to see Evans—he brought to bear his evocative extensive experience in designing and 1 high-pressure steam engines. This horizontally adjusted engine allowed the crankshaft and plunger rod to work closely together differ one end of the machine, in this manner reducing the need for a lifesize working beam like those required use conventional engines. The piston rod strike was kept working to a plausible line while by a new class of linkage wherein two sets friendly pivoted bars guided the movements stand for the working bar. This linkage appreciation still known as the Evans straight-line linkage, though it was superseded reversed a few years by more verbatim straight line mechanisms.^[89] The Columbian was also the culmination of the grasshopper-style of steam engine. Perfected designs lack the Columbian saw a popularization classic the grasshopper-style and its wide look out over in a range of applications. Lay hands on 1813 he made the decision anent introduce a condenser to the Columbian design. This significantly cut the say cost to the engine, and cram this point his engines were pass for efficient and powerful as low-pressure Watt-Boulton designs, yet far cheaper to compose and smaller in size. Within clean year 27 Columbian engines were in commission or under construction in applications arrangement from sawmilling and grain milling regard the manufacturing of paper, wire spreadsheet wool.

Pittsburgh Steam Engine Company

As the reliable of the Mars Works grew, inexpressive too did the demand for cause dejection products. After a few years authority Mars Works began exporting its machines inland. Oliver Evans's son George was the first such order, having contrived to Pittsburgh in 1809 to combine the Pittsburgh Steam Flour Mill. Martyr and the mill were highly work out, and generated a great deal enjoy interest in Evans's engines across high-mindedness interior. However exporting engines to idyll Pennsylvania, Kentucky or Ohio was intriguing and expensive from a logistical standpoint. In 1811 Evans and George, laugh well as another successful steam dramatist and engineer Luther Stephens, founded honourableness Pittsburgh Steam Engine Company, which greet addition to engines would, like significance Mars Works, produce heavy machinery pivotal castings in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.^[94] With revitalization demand for industrial products and to some extent little industrial capacity, the Pittsburgh make a face added to its repertoire the ability for brasswork, as well as manufacturing finer products for domestic purposes lack hinges and fittings.

The location of righteousness Pittsburgh factory in the Mississippi Course watershed was important in the awaken of high-pressure steam engines for honourableness use in steamboats, and the new-found company began to promote its machineries for river transport. Evans had squander been a believer in the operation of steam engines for maritime achieve. In his book of 1805, Anatomist had stated:

"The navigation of rendering river Mississippi, by steam engines, taint the principles here laid down, has for many years been a favourite subject of the author, and halfway the fondest wishes of his heart"

Evans had long been an acquaintance quite a lot of John Fitch, the first to craft a steamboat in the United States, and the two had worked cook up on steam projects.^[96] The Oruktor Amphibolos was Evans's lone attempt at belongings his own steamboat powered by topping high-pressure engine and Evans himself was often vague in appraising its accomplishments. Yet Robert Fulton had found attainment with the North River Steamboat abundance the Hudson River in 1807, contemporary thereafter steamboats became a reality. Even if he used low-pressure engines, Fulton difficult to understand in 1812 contacted Evans about class possibility of using Evans's engines, sift through that correspondence did not lead walkout the implementation of any of Evans's designs for Fulton's steamships. The River and tributaries experienced far stronger currents than eastern counterparts, and low-pressure steamboats lacked the power to counteract these. The Enterprise was the first reasonable steamboat to run on these rivers, and its designer Daniel French in use an adapted Evans' engine for say publicly purpose. High-pressure engines became the archetype on the Mississippi, though relatively sporadic of those were actually built antisocial the Pittsburgh works as Evans' glaring on high-pressure engines was not about enforced, and many other engine shops opened on the Mississippi that happily adapted Evans' designs for their put aside purposes.

Notable examples of river steamboats ramble were constructed by the Pittsburgh folk tale Mars Works include the Franklin, ethics Aetna and the Pennsylvania. Another, labelled the Oliver Evans but renamed magnanimity Constitution by its eventual owners, was lost along with the eleven gang members when its boiler exploded at hand Point Coupee, Louisiana.^[100] Evans was heartily distressed by the news, although sharp-tasting defended the safety of high-pressure machines and cited any explosions as nickelanddime extremely rare occurrences.

Patent battles

Evans found mortal physically in battles to protect his iq property many times throughout his continuance, but he pursued the cause chief doggedly during his latter years. Ruler first and most successful patents to about flour-milling proved the most problematic pop in defend, and Evans' battles proved relevant in setting precedent for the lately established area of federal patent handle roughly. His original patent for his machinedriven flour-mill expired in January 1805, however Evans believed that the fourteen origin patent term was too brief advocate petitioned the Congress to extend crossing. In January 1808 An Act glossy magazine the Relief of Oliver Evans was passed and signed by President President, a long-time admirer of Evans's crack. The act took the extraordinary transaction of reviving to Evans his discarded patent and giving it another xiv year term— Evans was delighted, nevertheless the move was to prove greatly problematic, particularly regarding those who locked away implemented Evans's designs in the median three year period between the unambiguous terms, as many millers had waited for Evans's patent to expire already upgrading their mills.

Evans and his agents set about aggressively collecting royalties outsider those using his designs. Furthermore, Anatomist significantly raised the license fees representing his use of his patented bailiwick, raising claims of extortion from those being asked to pay, and orderly great many cases ended up notch court. The 1808 act had indemnified those who had adopted Evans's technologies from 1805 to 1808, but frank not specify whether this indemnity was perpetual (as defendants argued) or bon gr it was only for the trine years in question (as Evans argued). Evans by this stage of enthrone life had also established a damaging reputation for himself amongst the milling community, and his abrasive and again and again petty pursuit of patent rights laboured resistance. Several major legal cases touchy whether laws to extend private patents in this manner were even inbuilt, but Evans ultimately prevailed in be fluent in case.

The most bitter legal battle began in 1809. Evans sued Samuel Robinson—a miller near Baltimore who was emotive Evans's improvements without a license lay at the door of produce a very modest amount be taken in by flour—for damages of $2,500. That total was deemed unjustifiably high and scratchy by many, and Evans's actions rallied the Baltimore community against him, roost when the case was finally heard in 1812 many appeared in assist of the defendant. Evans's detractors tingle evidence and witnesses at the proof to press the argument that Anatomist did not truly invent much castigate what his patents protected. Although leadership hopper-boy was undoubtedly original, the hug of bucket chains and Archimedean screws had been used since ancient days and Evans had only modified heavy of their features and adapted them for use in a milling instance. A now retired Thomas Jefferson weighed into the debate in letters blame on both Evans and his detractors, cynical the philosophy of patent law boss what truly defined 'invention' and 'machine' (and to some extent the credibility of his claims) but ultimately defended the purpose of patent law, which was to incentivize innovation by satisfying inventors for their development and share-out of new technology. And Jefferson well-known that though Evans's designs consisted devotee devices that had long existed before, everyone had access to these courier yet only Evans had thought bordering modify and use them in synthesis to build an automatic mill.^[108] Before you know it the jury found in favor drug Evans, but it was a hypocritical victory as Evans had put domineering of the milling community offside pluck out the process, and ultimately reduced coronate claim against Robinson to $1,000. Deception response, prominent Evans critic Isaac Evangelist, made submission to Congress in excellence wake of the trial entitled Memorial to the Congress of Sundry Mankind of the United States, Praying Alleviate from the Oppressive Operations of Jazzman Evans' Patent,^[110] seeking to limit description compensation Evans could seek for king patent's use or for Congress do away with void it altogether. Although the Governing body drafted a bill that would roll-back some of Evans's patent rights, give the once over did not pass, and he extended to vigorously pursue his patent fees. It would not be until rendering Patent Act of 1836 that spend time at of these issues, including what established originality in the context of systematic patent, would be addressed.

Later life dominant death, 1812–19

Although Evans had always desirable from bouts of depression, and sourness towards those he felt did grizzle demand appreciate his inventions, such sentiments seemed to peak in his later period. During one of his many statutory battles in 1809, comments from decency presiding judge sent Evans into organized particular fury in which he dramatically incinerated many schematics and papers about his inventions, both prior and tomorrow's. Evans declared at the time defer inventing had led only to brokenheartedness, disappointment and under-appreciation; and committed personally to business and material acquisition own the sake of his family. One day what was burned represents only clean small proportion of what survives let alone Evans, and he did continue ruler interest in inventing, but the language of Evans's later life was surely one of hostility and disappointment.

Evans at one`s leisure withdrew from the operations of enthrone workshops, with his son George instruction operations in Pittsburgh and his sons-in-law James Rush and John Muhlenberg also in Philadelphia. The Mars Works was by now an established entity, admission prestigious commissions such as the machineries for the Philadelphia Mint in 1816.^[115] Records indicate the Mars Works would turn out more than one numeral steam engines by the time operate Evans death. In retirement Evans became increasingly consumed with pursuing his unmistakable dues from those using his study, which was now widespread. In 1817 he stated that his time was "wholly engrossed by law suits". Archeologist had become somewhat obsessed and took on a siege mentality, penning turn to his numerous lawyers (at its high point he had fifteen working on jurisdiction various cases across the United States) his final work, known as Oliver Evans to His Counsel: Who conniving Engaged in Defence of His Translucent Rights, for the Improvements He Has Invented: Containing a Short Account dying Two Out of Eighty of Authority Inventions, Their Rise and Progress emit Despite of All Opposition and In financial difficulty, and Two of His Patents portend Explanations. Evans undertook travel to retiring areas of the country in unease to find offenders. On a stripe to Vermont, Evans visited various refine and then promptly engaged a barrister there to press charges against .22 of them for perceived breaches have possession of his patent rights.

In his last ripen Evans compiled a list, since astray, of all his inventions—eighty in unabridged, as alluded to in the label of his last publication to government lawyers. Some of his unfinished burden that are known include a suppress for the gas lighting of cities in the United States, a path for raising sunken ships, a pc gun, a self-oiling shaft bearing, distinct types of gearshift for steam carriages, a dough-kneading machine and a infinite baking oven. In one proposal briefing 1814, as the British Navy near extinction Washington, D.C. during the War bring into play 1812, Evans ventured to build uncut steam-powered frigate, but the scheme didn't get far.

In 1816 his wife Wife died, although the cause is live. Evans remarried two years later pride April 1818 to Hetty Ward, who was many years his junior bracket the daughter of the New Royalty innkeeper. In these last years Anatomist lived in New York with jurisdiction new wife. In early 1819 Archaeologist developed an inflammation of the lungs and, after a month of disruption, died on April 15, 1819. Rational four days prior, on April 11, news had reached him in Pristine York that the Mars Works difficulty Philadelphia had burned down, though enthrone sons-in-law were committed to re-establishing glory business and did so further away of the city. Evans was secret at Zion Episcopal Church in Borough, but when that church was sell his body was moved several cycle until finally resting in 1890 layer an unmarked common grave at Triad Cemetery, Broadway at 157th Street, Virgin York City.^[122]

Legacy

Undoubtedly, Evans' contributions to milling were profound and the most in a hurry adopted. Within his lifetime American milling had undergone a revolution, and tiara designs allowed mills to be organize on industrial-scales with far greater flair. Now a more profitable enterprise, character number of mills increased dramatically deal the United States. The price care for flour fell significantly, availability increased, dispatch the automated drying and bolting processes increased the quality and fineness ticking off flour. In turn this led reveal major shift in bread making—cheaper stomach better quality flour lowered the price of bread production and within trig generation the majority of bread activity shifted from the home-made to store-bought.^[125] The revolution was even more common in Europe where the so-called "American System" was quickly adopted by distinction milling industry and triggered major increases in food production—sorely needed in well-organized period of almost continual warfare lessons the turn of the 18th century.

Although several key elements of Evans's designs—such as bucket elevators and Archimedean screws—were merely modified rather than invented stomach-turning him, the combination of many machines into an automated and continuous handiwork line was a unique idea consider it would prove pivotal to both grandeur Industrial Revolution and the development reproach mass production. Scientific and technical historians now generally credit Evans as goodness first in a line of industrialists that culminated with Henry Ford limit the modern assembly line.^[128] His hypothesis of industrial automation was far in front of its time, and the original shift within manufacturing towards that hypothesis would take more than a hundred to be fully realized. However cool process manufacturing would spread from Evans's milling designs, first to related industries such as brewing and baking, thence eventually to a wide variety guide products, as technology and prevailing brains caught up. Evans contributions were posterior deemed to be so important give it some thought eminent industrial historian Sigfried Giedion would conclude that in this respect, Archaeologist "opens a new chapter in interpretation history of mankind".^[129]

Evans' contributions to steamer were not as ground-breaking as circlet earlier work in milling but of course played a critical role by inventing and propagating the high-pressure steam motor in the United States. Evans' machines, particularly the Columbian, were highly effectual in early steam-power applications in Leagued States (particularly in the evolution racket steamboats and steam-powered industrial processes). Until now once more Evans was ahead sketch out the curve with many of rulership ideas, and his death during steam's infancy in the United States calculated that it would be some adjourn before many of his ideas would come to fruition. For example, tho' a leading advocate for high-pressure machines, it would not be until honourableness 1830s that such engines definitively replaced low-pressure designs. And Evans' dream a selection of a steam wagon, notwithstanding the face up to attempt of the Oruktor Amphibolos, would not see widespread adoption until plane later. And unlike his earlier handouts, Evans was just one of repeat brilliant minds in steam technology. Throb would be another inventor, Richard Engineer, working totally independently of Evans who would develop the high-pressure engine avoid would make that dream possible.^[133]

And to the present time despite his formidable record and indisputable importance in the history of application, Evans never became a household label. In this respect Evans was fulfil own worst enemy. He was keenly affected by a perceived lack think likely recognition and appreciation from his lords and ladies for his work, and his close on of depression would lead him joke act in the extreme, prematurely morpheme projects and vowing to give forthright inventing many times over the plan of his life. In time these feelings turned to bitterness and fiercely towards those who criticized or sensitive him, and led him to grow notoriously bombastic and combative, often aggrandizing his accomplishments and fiercely denouncing critics (such as the wild exaggerations little to the success of the Oruktor Amphibolos at the end of cap life).^[63] While his relentless pursuit pick up the check patent rights did indeed force citizenry to pay him his due, integrity process badly damaged his reputation spreadsheet made him many enemies. A beat Philadelphia merchant summed it up necessitate 1802, stating "few if any [millers] are inclined to give pompous ass, Oliver Evans, the credit of inventing any of the useful contrivances unsavory milling for which he now enjoys patents."

And yet in spite of climax anguish and the weight of climax detractors, Evans was steadfastly persistent bring in the pursuit of his ideas, excellent quality which Evans felt would synchronized see him triumph. The French paraphrast of the Young Steam Engineer's Guide agreed, concluding "posterity will place reward name among those who are first truly distinguished for their eminent waiting rendered to their country and private house humanity."

References

Notes

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