Topic Actions

Topic Search

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests

New inventions

This fascinating series is a combination of historical seafaring, swashbuckling adventure, and high technological science-fiction. Join us in a discussion!
New inventions
Post by Maldorian   » Fri Dec 04, 2015 5:24 am

Maldorian
Captain (Junior Grade)

Posts: 251
Joined: Thu Aug 27, 2015 5:54 am

Like the Topic said: "what should the carisians or someone else invent?"

I start with:

1.) the can. Food supply was a log time a big problem for armies. The can and the technics to put the food inside was the solution for that problem.

2.) The gogwheel or gearwheel, whatever you know what i mean. It is a important part of the mechanic but we don´t notice how complicated the Background is. An important part is the mathematic behind it.

3.) Torpedos. What is a Torpedo? It is nothing else than an selfdrived underwater grenade, and all sides use grenades!
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by Weird Harold   » Fri Dec 04, 2015 7:52 am

Weird Harold
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 4478
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:25 pm
Location: "Lost Wages", NV

Maldorian wrote:Like the Topic said: "what should the carisians or someone else invent?"


I think you have a low opinion of Safehold Tech prior to Merlin kickstarting innovation. The Writ specifies a lot of things that are only mentioned in passing or implied by tech mentioned in passing.

Maldorian wrote:1.) the can. Food supply was a log time a big problem for armies. The can and the technics to put the food inside was the solution for that problem.


We know that the Writ has instructions for building and using pressure cookers; the primary use for pressure cookers is for canning -- whether using jars or actual cans.

Maldorian wrote:2.) The gogwheel or gearwheel, whatever you know what i mean. It is a important part of the mechanic but we don´t notice how complicated the Background is. An important part is the mathematic behind it.


The writ limits Safehold to Wind, Water, and Muscle power. The first two are virtually useless with gearing. The mathematics of gearing is pretty straight forward; even for something as complicated as a clock that can deal with "Langhorne's Watch" and keep reasonable accurate time.

Maldorian wrote:3.) Torpedos. What is a Torpedo? It is nothing else than an selfdrived underwater grenade, and all sides use grenades!


I'm relatively certain that Charis could build a powered torpedo, even with the limitation of a ban on electricity for the guidance system. The don't particularly need torpedoes and definitely don't need to give the CoGA any help in that direction.

I'm less certain the CoGA can build powered torpedoes in the foreseeable future. I don't think there is enough time left in the current war for that kind of development anyway.

There has been several threads about Machine Guns, Tanks, Railroads, Sewing Machines, and other possible innovations. Some have quietly been introduced off-screen and others are too far in the future of Safehold before they're practical (or necessary.)
.
.
.
Answers! I got lots of answers!

(Now if I could just find the right questions.)
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by n7axw   » Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:09 am

n7axw
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 5997
Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2014 8:54 pm
Location: Viborg, SD

Weird Harold wrote:
Maldorian wrote:Like the Topic said: "what should the carisians or someone else invent?"


I think you have a low opinion of Safehold Tech prior to Merlin kickstarting innovation. The Writ specifies a lot of things that are only mentioned in passing or implied by tech mentioned in passing.

Maldorian wrote:1.) the can. Food supply was a log time a big problem for armies. The can and the technics to put the food inside was the solution for that problem.


We know that the Writ has instructions for building and using pressure cookers; the primary use for pressure cookers is for canning -- whether using jars or actual cans.

Maldorian wrote:2.) The gogwheel or gearwheel, whatever you know what i mean. It is a important part of the mechanic but we don´t notice how complicated the Background is. An important part is the mathematic behind it.


The writ limits Safehold to Wind, Water, and Muscle power. The first two are virtually useless with gearing. The mathematics of gearing is pretty straight forward; even for something as complicated as a clock that can deal with "Langhorne's Watch" and keep reasonable accurate time.

Maldorian wrote:3.) Torpedos. What is a Torpedo? It is nothing else than an selfdrived underwater grenade, and all sides use grenades!


I'm relatively certain that Charis could build a powered torpedo, even with the limitation of a ban on electricity for the guidance system. The don't particularly need torpedoes and definitely don't need to give the CoGA any help in that direction.

I'm less certain the CoGA can build powered torpedoes in the foreseeable future. I don't think there is enough time left in the current war for that kind of development anyway.

There has been several threads about Machine Guns, Tanks, Railroads, Sewing Machines, and other possible innovations. Some have quietly been introduced off-screen and others are too far in the future of Safehold before they're practical (or necessary.)


Gear wheels are already present, mentioned in textev.

Don

-
When any group seeks political power in God's name, both religion and politics are instantly corrupted.
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by Louis R   » Fri Dec 04, 2015 5:07 pm

Louis R
Rear Admiral

Posts: 1298
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2015 9:25 pm

I'm pretty sure - at the 98% confidence level - that WH meant to say "useless with_out_ gearing", which would be the more correct statement.

In fact, IIRC, early horizontal water wheels were used in direct drive applications without gears, but not often nor for very long. [nor, I believe, were horizontal wheels themselves common before the 19th century] So, useless isn't completely accurate, but where you see wind or water in any relatively sophisticated application you can safely bet on gears in the works someplace.

n7axw wrote:
Weird Harold wrote:I think you have a low opinion of Safehold Tech prior to Merlin kickstarting innovation. The Writ specifies a lot of things that are only mentioned in passing or implied by tech mentioned in passing.


We know that the Writ has instructions for building and using pressure cookers; the primary use for pressure cookers is for canning -- whether using jars or actual cans.



The writ limits Safehold to Wind, Water, and Muscle power. The first two are virtually useless with gearing. The mathematics of gearing is pretty straight forward; even for something as complicated as a clock that can deal with "Langhorne's Watch" and keep reasonable accurate time.


I'm relatively certain that Charis could build a powered torpedo, even with the limitation of a ban on electricity for the guidance system. The don't particularly need torpedoes and definitely don't need to give the CoGA any help in that direction.

I'm less certain the CoGA can build powered torpedoes in the foreseeable future. I don't think there is enough time left in the current war for that kind of development anyway.

There has been several threads about Machine Guns, Tanks, Railroads, Sewing Machines, and other possible innovations. Some have quietly been introduced off-screen and others are too far in the future of Safehold before they're practical (or necessary.)


Gear wheels are already present, mentioned in textev.

Don

-
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by Weird Harold   » Fri Dec 04, 2015 11:39 pm

Weird Harold
Fleet Admiral

Posts: 4478
Joined: Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:25 pm
Location: "Lost Wages", NV

Louis R wrote:I'm pretty sure - at the 98% confidence level - that WH meant to say "useless with_out_ gearing", which would be the more correct statement.


You can up that to 100%. Stupid Fingers strike again. :(
.
.
.
Answers! I got lots of answers!

(Now if I could just find the right questions.)
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by Expert snuggler   » Sat Dec 05, 2015 12:22 am

Expert snuggler
Captain of the List

Posts: 491
Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 2:15 am

You don't need electricity for refrigeration, speaking of logistics.
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by Jeroswen   » Sat Dec 05, 2015 1:40 am

Jeroswen
Lieutenant Commander

Posts: 109
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 4:09 pm
Location: Nampa, Idaho

There is one thing that is key for manufacturing that is so common nobody thinks about it.

That thing is a weight scale and a set standard for weights.

I am sure scales are in use already. But I doubt there are strict standards in place, can't really have any without a roman numeral system in place. Because there were only limited mathematics in place it is doubtful anything more than a simple balance beam was being used.

All scales were lever balance beam types (similar to the one at a doctor's office) until the mid 70's. These are more useful than the simple balance beam because they reduce the upward force on a scale lever to a set fraction of the downward force on the scale. With the right levers you can easily get any reduction you need. They are incredibly accurate. I have seen 80ft long truck scales that are 100 years old weigh a truck within 5 to 10lbs out of a 100,000lb load. They are also very simple to construct, operate and maintain. Mathematics will make creating these possible.

As important as scales are, having accurate weights to check them with is vital. As an example most states require companies that repair scales to have their weights (all of them) re-certified on a yearly or bi-yearly basis. All vendor's that sell items off of their scales are checked yearly by the state. Private companies perform all repairs, installations, and adjustments to calibration.

One example:
Mixing chemicals by weight increases consistency. If you are dealing with smokeless powder its down right necessary if you want bullets that are consistent throughout their manufacture. Both the bullet and the amount of powder need to be accurately measured so every bullet flies the same as those before or after it.

Example 2: Weigh freight carts to keep the loads from either being too heavy or too light. Reduction in both loads too light or two heavy will greatly increase efficiency.
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by evilauthor   » Sat Dec 05, 2015 2:37 am

evilauthor
Captain of the List

Posts: 724
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:51 pm

Jeroswen wrote:There is one thing that is key for manufacturing that is so common nobody thinks about it.

That thing is a weight scale and a set standard for weights.

I am sure scales are in use already. But I doubt there are strict standards in place, can't really have any without a roman numeral system in place.


Have you... actually READ the Safehold series?

Creating a universal standard of measurements has been going on in the series since BOOK ONE. An entire chapter of A Might Army is devoted to the Dohlarans (and the Church) discovering that the Charisians have done just that. And more chapters are devoted to people on the Church side discussing how to implement universal standards of their own and coming up with stop gaps to try to come as close as possible.
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by Expert snuggler   » Sat Dec 05, 2015 2:52 am

Expert snuggler
Captain of the List

Posts: 491
Joined: Sun Jul 05, 2015 2:15 am

We've read a lot about standardizing length measurements. I can't remember textev about weight standards but if they're making explosives they probably have it down.

One of my favorite Merlin tricks was when he ran a covert operation to replace a factory's measurement standards with more accurate ones.
Top
Re: New inventions
Post by evilauthor   » Sat Dec 05, 2015 12:36 pm

evilauthor
Captain of the List

Posts: 724
Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2014 8:51 pm

Expert snuggler wrote:We've read a lot about standardizing length measurements. I can't remember textev about weight standards but if they're making explosives they probably have it down.


Exactly. Standardizing weights (and everything else) would be happening besides standardizing lengths. If you're doing one, you'd almost have to do the rest almost by default.
Top

Return to Safehold