2007-02-28 13:32:49 · 8 answers · asked by marc b 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Heron (or Hero) invented the first steam engine in around AD 52 in Alexandria, Egypt. He is best known as a mathematician and geometer but was also a visionary inventor and his 'aeolopile' or 'wind-ball' was the first working steam engine. Using the same principle as jet propulsion, a steam driven metal sphere spun around at 1,500 RPM. Unfortuanately, no-one could see a practical purpose for it and it was regarded as nothing more than an amusing novelty.
2007-03-03 07:08:33 · answer #1 · answered by myishisan 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
South_Cheshire_Cat is quite right, it was the Greeks ... in fact Hero of Alexandria ... that invented the first proper steam engine. This consisted of a boiler which was connected to a suspended, hollow metal ball which 'vented' through two angled pipes on opposite sides. A fire was lit under the boiler forcing steam into the ball. The steam then escaped the ball through the metal tubes causing the ball to rotate. This action is similar to many modern lawn sprinklers and the device subsequently became known as a steam turbine.
2007-03-01 06:08:06 · answer #2 · answered by Nige B 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The first fully functioning Steam Engine was invented by the Englishman Thomas Savery in approx' 1680. He used the the designs of the Frenchman Denis Papin who conceived the idea of a piston and cylinder engine, and, by improving on those designs, made the worlds first operational steam engine.
2007-03-01 01:23:50 · answer #3 · answered by ☞H.Potter☜ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answer given by H.Potter is correct,but the first answer that was given about George Stevenson fails to take into account the difference between a steam engine and a steam locomotive,neither of which was invented by him.The steam road locomotive (1801),and the steam rail locomotive (1804),were both invented by Mr.Richard Trevithick;(lovely old Cornish name).
2007-03-01 02:27:00 · answer #4 · answered by MICHAEL BRAMOVICH 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually I think it was those pesky greeks again.
They had a very simple steam engine that was basically a ball with two pipes coming from it.
When water in the ball was heated, steam came out of the pipes and spun the ball around....a very early steam and jet engine.
But you have to first define what you mean by 'engine'
2007-03-01 05:49:01 · answer #5 · answered by south_cheshire_cat 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Robert Louis Stevenson invented the the first Locomotive
Was called The Rocket!
2007-02-28 21:39:29 · answer #6 · answered by Chris W 4 · 1⤊ 4⤋
in resonse to chris... did he build a train on "Treasure Island" or while he was "Kidnapped" it was Robert Stephenson that produced "The Rocket".............. IDIOT
2007-03-01 05:15:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_engine#Invention_and_development
2007-02-28 21:41:16 · answer #8 · answered by Renee 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋