Reconstruction Designs of Lost Ancient Chinese Machinery

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 author’s 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.

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 Heng’s 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 Song’s Escapement Regulator; 06.0 1 Su Song’s Clock Tower; 06.02 Su Song the Man; 06.03 Su Song’s 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.