The Origin of the Suction Pump
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4022372 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Sheldon Shapiro (corresponding author) |
| Year | 1964 |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 566 |
| Publication date | 1964-01-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Technology and Culture (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0040-165X • E-ISSN: 1097-3729 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/3101219 |
| OpenAlex | W2319156460 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
How TO RAISE WATER is a central problem of technology. Solutions have ranged from the ancient Egyptian shaduf, or counterpoised scoop, to modern electrically powered rotary pumps. One of the most significant solutions has been the suction or lift pump, which long provided the best means of draining ever deepening mines. The need to provide power for suction pumps was a major stimulant to the invention of the steam engine, and the presence of these pumps throughout the United States, in the form of the town pump and the windmilloperated farm pump, further testifies to their importance. Yet the origin of the suction pump has not been explored; indeed, few historians of technology are aware that the problem exists. Their lack of awareness stems from confusion between the older Hellenistic
Suction · Engineering · Mechanical Engineering · Mechanics and Biomechanics Studies
| Citations per year | 0.09 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2004 - 2020 (17) |
| Highly cited | No |