Non-weapons of war, weapons of war

PeterZ wrote:I'll take your word for it, Sabre964. I would wonder though, if the weight and complexity of the transmission required in a diesel engine would make using the less efficient kerosene viable compared to using kerosene in a flashboiler steam engine. Not sure whick option would be optimal.

AirTech wrote:

PeterZ wrote:I'll take your word for it, Sabre964. I would wonder though, if the weight and complexity of the transmission required in a diesel engine would make using the less efficient kerosene viable compared to using kerosene in a flashboiler steam engine. Not sure whick option would be optimal.

The bigger problem is the pressures produced in an internal combustion engine, at a minimum you need to be able to hold 300psi (2100kPa) which requires a good medium strength steel with minimal defects as this is well above the pressures in a typical single stage steam engine. So to make diesels you need to be able to make compound steam engines first as the manufacturing technologies are directly transferable. (Triple compound steam engines typically have inlet pressures of 150 to 300psi). (Modern steam turbines take 2000psi steam at the inlet - much higher than the equivalent power output gas turbines and are more compact and efficient as a result).

Henry Brown wrote:I vote for punch cards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_card

They would be useful in controlling textile looms and other industrial processes. And they would be the best bet for data storage and processing till the electronic computer becomes available.

PeterZ wrote:I wonder if it is possible to have a powered gyroscope without electricity? Heck, even if the gyro had to be powered on and off before action, it would offer a huge range advantage for naval guns. Especially when combined with multi-stage propellants.

I suspect that a limited 3D movement freedom powered gyro would be possible using pneumatics. I'm not sure but if so, the advanatge to naval artillery would be huge.

Whingnut wrote:Marine chronometer to find the longitude. For greater accuracy in sea transportation. Actually knowing your longitute (latitude is relatively wasy) would lower the need for dead reckoning. A chronometer would require less information than celestial navigation (think of all those stars, planets, lunar cycles and their relative location on every night) It's invention would require the application of bimetallic springs. I know that safehold has some textev about watches I just forget where I read it (anyone know where). .

Of note. Failing to wind the chronometer on a ship was a mastable and keelhaulable offense.

PeterZ wrote:I wonder if it is possible to have a powered gyroscope without electricity? Heck, even if the gyro had to be powered on and off before action, it would offer a huge range advantage for naval guns. Especially when combined with multi-stage propellants.

I suspect that a limited 3D movement freedom powered gyro would be possible using pneumatics. I'm not sure but if so, the advanatge to naval artillery would be huge.

Henry Brown wrote:I vote for punch cards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punch_card

They would be useful in controlling textile looms and other industrial processes. And they would be the best bet for data storage and processing till the electronic computer becomes available.

in Machine Tools to Start an Indusrital Revolution, pokermind wrote:


The contraption above is a Pratt & Whitney Screw machine an early automatic lathe. The slowly rotating drums and disks below are programed analog fashion to preformed repeated machining.

Starting at the left the first drum handles automatically feeding stock to the machine's collet[? sp.].

The disk controls the 'T' shaped thing that moves the drive belts forward and reverse from the two idler pulleys to the drive pulley in the center.

The next disk controls the right and left tools that shape the outside of the work. the left side of the disk controls the tool on the far side of the machine while the right side of the disk controls the tool on this side of the machine. Special tool bits are ground to make the outside shape in one pass, and the far side tool usually is the cut off tool.

The next drum controls the tool turret's depth of cut. Up to six operations. The turret holds drills, taps, dies, knurling tools etc. the things on the spoked wheel indexes the turret.

When each rotation finishes, ie the cut off tool cuts off the part the stock is automatically fed and clamped for the next part.

Machines like this were the backbone of the Industrial Revolution until replaced by computer controlled machines starting in the 1960s.

alj_sf wrote:

PeterZ wrote:I wonder if it is possible to have a powered gyroscope without electricity? Heck, even if the gyro had to be powered on and off before action, it would offer a huge range advantage for naval guns. Especially when combined with multi-stage propellants.

I suspect that a limited 3D movement freedom powered gyro would be possible using pneumatics. I'm not sure but if so, the advanatge to naval artillery would be huge.

yup, including gaz lubricated bearings and track locking.
http://www.google.com/patents/US3451289

More, throw in fluidic gates and components and I think even the pickups can be pneumatics without introducing follower torque in the system