Ancient China was outstanding in mechanical technology before the 15th century. Numerous ingenious machines were invented. However, due to incomplete documentation and loss of finished objects, most of the original machines cannot be verified and many of the inventions did not pass down to later generations. This book, based on the authors research and teaching experiences over the last 20 years, is devoted to presenting an innovative methodology in the area of mechanical historiography for the systematic reconstruction design of ancient Chinese machines that have been lost to time. Its purpose is to generate all possible design concepts of lost machines. If the defined and/or concluded design specifications, topological characteristics, and - sign requirements and constraints are feasible, one of the resulting rec- struction designs should be the original design. Such an approach provides a logical tool for historians in ancient mechanical engineering and techn- ogy to further identify the possible original designs according to proven historical archives. However, this work will not deal with the credibility of historical literary works. It supposes that the lost machines existed, and tries to demonstrate the feasibility of reconstructing the lost designs. The book is organized in such a way that it can be used for teaching, research or self-study. Chapter 1 introduces the study, classifications, and process for the reconstruction design of ancient machinery.
Recenzijos
From the reviews:
Always based on original sources, with a wealth of illustrations and translations of difficult Chinese classical texts, this outstanding book is particularly original. a wide extant of difficult topics belonging to the history of technology has never been covered in such a systematic way and by using a unified methodology. (J.-C. Martzloff, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1181, 2010)
Preface; 01 Introduction; 01.01 Study ofAncient Machines; 01.02
Classifications ofAncient Chinese Machines; 01.02.01 Classifications based on
applications; 01.02.02 Classifications based on historical archives; 01.03
Reconstruction Design ofAncient Machines; 01.03.01 Study ofhistorical
archives; 01.03.02 Reconstruction analysis; 01.03.03 Reconstruction
synthesis; 01.04 Scope ofthe Text; References; 02 Mechanism and Machine;
02.01 Definitions; 02.02 Mechanical Members; 02.03 Joints; 02.04 Mechanisms
and (Link-) Chains; 02.05 Constrained Motion; 02.05.01 Planar mechanisms;
02.05.02 Spatial mechanisms; 02.06 Topological Structures; 02.07 Mechanism
and Machine Design; 02.08 Structural Synthesis of Mechanisms; References; 03
Ancient Chinese Machines; 03.01 Historical Development; 03.02 LaborSaving
Devices; 03.02.01 Wedge; 03.02.02 Inclined plane; 03.02.03 Screw; 03.02.04
Lever; O3.02.05.Pul1ey; 03.03 Linkage Mechanisms; 03.04 Cam Mechanisms; 03.05
Gear Mechanisms; 03.06 RopeDrives; 03.07 ChainDrives; References; 04
Reconstruction Design Methodology; 04.01 Introduction; 04.02 Procedure
ofReconstruction Design; 04.03 Design Specifications; 04.04 Generalized
Kinematic Chains; 04.05 Specialized Chains; 04.06 Reconstruction Designs;
References; 05 Zhang Hengs Seismoscope; 05.01 Ancient Seismometers; 05.02
Development ofWestern Seismoscopes; 05.03 Zhang Heng the Man; 05.04
Historical Records; 05.05 Central Pillar (Dii Zhu); 05.06 Design
Specifications; 05.07 Reconstruction Design; 05.08 Linkage Mechanisms with
Five Members; 05.09 Linkage Mechanisms with Six Members; 05.10
Rope-and-Pulley Mechanisms with Six members; 05.11 Remarks; References; 06 Su
Songs Escapement Regulator; 06.0 1 Su Songs Clock Tower; 06.02 Su Song the
Man; 06.03 Su Songs Escapement Regulator; 06.04 Reconstruction Design;
06.04.01 Design specifications; 06.04.02 Generalized kinematic chains;
0604.03 Specialized chains; 06.0404 Reconstruction designs; 06.05 Escapement
Regulator andModemMechanical Clocks; 06.06 Remarks; References; 07 South
Pointing Chariots; 07.01 Ancient Literature; 07.02 Historical Development;
07.03 Recent Development; 07.04 Topological Structures; 07.05 Representations
ofJoints and Members; 07.06 Reconstruction Design; 07.07 Differential-types
with Four Members; 07.08 Gear Train Differential-types with Five Members;
07.09 Differential-types with Various Elements;
07. 10 Fixed-axis-types with
Three Members;
07. 11 Fixed-axis-types with Two Members; 07.12
Fixed-axis-types with Various Elements; References; 08 Walking Machines;
08.01 LuBantheMan; 08.02 Literary Works related to Wooden Horse Carriage;
08.03 Literary Works related to Wooden Ox and Gliding Horse; 08.04 Other
Walking Machines; 08.05 Reconstruction Design; 08.06 Design Examples; 08.07
Remarks; References; Symbols; Index.
Professor Hong-Sen YAN received his BS degree from National Cheng Kung University (Tianan, Taiwan) in 1973, MS degree from the University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky, USA) in 1977, and PhD degree from Purdue University (Lafayette, Indiana, USA) in 1980, all in mechanical engineering.
He previously served as a mechanical engineer at China Technical Consultants Co. Ltd. (Taipei), an Associate Professor at National Cheng Kung University (Tainan), a Sr. Research Engineer at General Motor Research Laboratories (Michigan), an Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Book (New York), and the Director-general of the National Science and Technology Museum (Kaohsiung). Currently, he is a Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (Tainan, TAIWAN) and an Associate Editor of both the International Journal of Mechanism and Machine Theory and ASME Transactions Journal of Mechanical Design.
Dr. Yan s areas of interests are creative mechanism and machine design and ancient Chinese machinery. He has published more than 275 papers, holds 48 patents, and is the author of 3 books. Dr. Yan received many honors and academic awards inside and outside Taiwan, and he has a hobby of collecting ancient Chinese Locks.
