Inventions

The Bessemer Process of Steel Production Sir Henry Bessemer patented the Bessemer process in 1855. This process was the manufacture of steel from molten pig iron. Air is blown through the molten iron causing the heat from oxidation to raise the temperature of the mass and keep it molten during use. This takes place in the Bessemer converter, which is a large egg shaped container. The iron is first poured into the top of the converter and then also comes out the top when it is finished. The bottom of the converter has small pores in which the air can be forced up into the container. The oxygen combines with other impurities to form oxides while carbon monoxide is burned away. The process takes about 15 to 20 minutes and was the first inexpensive process for the mass production of steel. The process was quick and easy.

Electricity and the Telegraph Electricity comes from the word "elektron" which is the greek word for amber. Most progress made with electricity started in 1600 by the English scientist William Gilbert. Although 70% of electricity is generated using fossil fuels, when using electricity you are also usually using coal. Electricity is the foundation for many of our inventions and contributes greatly to our way of life. As years passed, physicists expanded our knowledge of electricity. In 1650 German physicist Otto von Guericke experimented with generating electricity and in 1729 English physicist Stephen Gray discovered electrical conductivity. One of the first great uses for electricity began around 1840 with the invention of the telegraph by Samuel Morse. The telegraph was a device that transmitted electric signals over wires from location to location that translated into a message. Samuel Morse proved signals could be transmitted by wires, using electricity. He was the creator of “Morse code” – a series of dots and dashes used to produce a written code. The telegraph increased the growth of business by allowing businessman to communicate more easily when they were not together and further profit their companies. Following the telegraph were the creations of the telephone, radio, and television. In 1880, Thomas Edison came up with lighting, followed by electronic motors and electric heating.

Railroads The first common carrier railroad in the United States was created in 1830. Called the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, it was the first in the United States to transport people, goods, and services. Railroads were faster ways to get people and things from place to place and were a main source of economic growth during the Second Industrial Revolution. The tracks were made from iron and locomotives ran on them. In 1821 Julius Griffiths was the first to patent a passenger road locomotive.

Our Invention - The Snowblower 5000 Our invention is a snowblower that runs off of snow or water, and essentially moves itself. As it collects snow, it melts it and uses the water as fuel. As it collects the snow, the blower blows the snow into cups which melts the snow into water. Warm air is produced and blown on the cups to make them warm. As the water enters the cups it propels the tires forward. The more snow that is collected the faster the snowblower will move. You can set the blower to run by itself while you stay warm inside. As the Snowblower 5000 moves it sprays salt and chemicals that help melt and soften the snow to make the process quicker and easier. This saves one's time and energy, but does an efficient job of clearing any driveway.

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