steam engines of 18th century

[katmonster]

Did a ..... newton ever invent a steam engine? Or was that newcomen. The engine before James Watt........?

[Hippy]

I think you are right in mentioning Newcomen. His engine was rather inefficient, even by the standards of the day and relied upon the expansion of the steam and contraction when it condensed. More a kind of suction or atmospheric engine than raw steam power.

As an aside have a look at http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/hero/sectio
n50.html for a drawing and description of Hero of Alexandria's design of about 62 A.D.

Isaac Newton was a grand physicist and mathemetician who, while being aware of the possibility of steam power did little to develop a credible steam engine. It could be argued that his publication of mathematical principles was a guide to others in this sphere as in many others.

[Hippy]

I just found this when delving into Newton's weighty tome. in 1680 he proposed this brilliant idea to demonstrate a practical application of action and reaction. Its a sort of jet of steam powered personal transport. Try this to scald all passers by and set fire to the countryside as you go by!!

http://212.126.144.55/1024/NewtonCarriage.gif

[sft42]

Depends entirely on your definition of steam engine....the ancient greeks had a brass sphere with two angled spouts which was mounted on legs when placed over a fire and filled with water would generate steam but actually did nothing but revolve on it's own......various others mentioned can lay claim to making the first engine but Watt was the first to properly harness the power efficently and use it well.

[sft42]

Indeed....the very thing in the link Hippy provided.....D'oh.

That'll teach me to read the other replies before I post a response.

[katmonster]

thanks guys