Suspension Bridges

Irish immigrant, James Finley was born in 1756. He became involved in numerous roof building projects. He reviewed bridge design proposals. He used the knowledge of ancient bridges to design efficient models after years of experimenting built suspension bridges in 1801. His bridge spanned 70 feet. Suspension bridge: good strength to-weight ratio. Two main forces: compression and tension. Three loads: dead, live, dynamic. Finley published his patented design in a magazine, many others began using his design. His design spread to Britain through publications, the first suspension bridge in 1820. They spread to continental Europe. 

Fire Hydrant 

Frederick Graff invented the modern fire hydrant. He became friends with its design. He designed an iron “fire plug”. Fire hydrants provide convenient access to fire water. It supplies more water than old mathoods. The water starves a fire. It also cools the fuel. Hydrants can be color coded. Other towns installed hydrant neworks. The wet barrel designs froze in the winter. New designs were devised to overcome this limitation. The dry barrel design arrived by 1812. In 1812,  towns began installing dedicated fire water neworks.

Locomotive

Richrd Trevithick, was born in 1771 in England. Newcomen invented steam engines (1712) and Watt improved. He spent time observing steam engines in mines. In 1801, he built the first high pressure steam locomotive. The locomotive powers the train. Rail transport is energy efficient. The locomotives used fine-tube boilers. They vaporize water which drives the pistons that turn wheels. The steam also provided passenger heat and braking power. Trevihick’s puff devil broke. But on public demonstrations to publicize his locomotives. George Stephenson built a highly refined locomotive in 1814. He participated in locomotive trials for a new railroad company  in 1829.