Arthur Woolf (1766, Camborne, Cornwall – 16 October 1837, Guernsey) was a Cornish engineer, most famous for inventing a high-pressure compound steam engine. In this way he made an outstanding contribution to the development and perfection of the Cornish engine.[1]
Woolf left Cornwall in 1785 to work for Joseph Bramah's engineering works in London. He worked there and at other firms as an engineer and engine builder until 1811 experimenting with high pressure steam and a much improved boiler. He then returned to Cornwall. Michael Loam, inventor of the man engine, was trained by him.
When he returned to Cornwall, beam engine designs were crude, shackled by outdated Watt patents and poor engineering, struggling to compete with large water wheels, even used underground. He learned from Bramah that to move forward meant adopting much improved engineering techniques, for it was Bramah who invented quality control. Woolf was chief engineer to Harvey & Co of Hayle, the leading engineering and foundry works, at this time the largest in the world. They eventually swallowed up the rival Copperhouse Foundry run by Sandys, Carne and Vivian. For very many years they were the leading firm worldwide for drainage engines, even supplying three eight-beamed pumping engines to the Dutch government to drain the Haarlemmermeer (see Museum De Cruquius). By the time Woolf retired in 1836 the Cornish engine, owing largely to his efforts, was a thing of magnificent beauty and efficiency.
In 1803, Woolf obtained a patent on an improved boiler for producing high pressure steam. In 1804, he patented his best-known invention, a compound steam engine.
Woolf's engine was a parallel compound engine[note 1] with two cylinders in which the steam worked in succession.[2] These were both coupled to the same end of the beam of the engine. The operation of the engine can be described as being a high-pressure cylinder of Trevithick's high-pressure simple expansion engine, followed by a condensing cylinder of Watt's design.[2] Woolf had worked as an engine erector for Hornblower and was familiar with his earlier work on compound engines. As a Cornishman, he was also familiar with Trevithick and his newly developed high-pressure 'puffer' engines that were then entering service. He recognised that, even with the new principle of expansion, the exhaust from a Trevithick engine was still of a pressure comparable to the inlet pressure of a Watt engine. From this step, it was a relatively simple matter to couple the two.[2]
For most uses, the cylinders of the engine were double-acting. Opposing sides of the high- and low-pressure cylinders were cross-connected to each other. Where engines were used for pumping,[note 2] Woolf engines were also built with paired single-acting cylinders.[2]
arthur, woolf, 1766, camborne, cornwall, october, 1837, guernsey, cornish, engineer, most, famous, inventing, high, pressure, compound, steam, engine, this, made, outstanding, contribution, development, perfection, cornish, engine, woolf, compound, beam, engin. Arthur Woolf 1766 Camborne Cornwall 16 October 1837 Guernsey was a Cornish engineer most famous for inventing a high pressure compound steam engine In this way he made an outstanding contribution to the development and perfection of the Cornish engine 1 Arthur WoolfWoolf compound beam engine of 1858Born1766Camborne Cornwall England UKDied16 October 1837GuernseyNationalityBritishOccupationEngineerSpouse s wife no 1Emblin VincentParentArthur WoolfEngineering careerDisciplineMechanical engineerSignificant designhigh pressure compound steam engineWoolf left Cornwall in 1785 to work for Joseph Bramah s engineering works in London He worked there and at other firms as an engineer and engine builder until 1811 experimenting with high pressure steam and a much improved boiler He then returned to Cornwall Michael Loam inventor of the man engine was trained by him When he returned to Cornwall beam engine designs were crude shackled by outdated Watt patents and poor engineering struggling to compete with large water wheels even used underground He learned from Bramah that to move forward meant adopting much improved engineering techniques for it was Bramah who invented quality control Woolf was chief engineer to Harvey amp Co of Hayle the leading engineering and foundry works at this time the largest in the world They eventually swallowed up the rival Copperhouse Foundry run by Sandys Carne and Vivian For very many years they were the leading firm worldwide for drainage engines even supplying three eight beamed pumping engines to the Dutch government to drain the Haarlemmermeer see Museum De Cruquius By the time Woolf retired in 1836 the Cornish engine owing largely to his efforts was a thing of magnificent beauty and efficiency In 1803 Woolf obtained a patent on an improved boiler for producing high pressure steam In 1804 he patented his best known invention a compound steam engine Contents 1 Woolf s compound engine 2 See also 3 Notes 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksWoolf s compound engine edit nbsp Woolf s engine was a parallel compound engine note 1 with two cylinders in which the steam worked in succession 2 These were both coupled to the same end of the beam of the engine The operation of the engine can be described as being a high pressure cylinder of Trevithick s high pressure simple expansion engine followed by a condensing cylinder of Watt s design 2 Woolf had worked as an engine erector for Hornblower and was familiar with his earlier work on compound engines As a Cornishman he was also familiar with Trevithick and his newly developed high pressure puffer engines that were then entering service He recognised that even with the new principle of expansion the exhaust from a Trevithick engine was still of a pressure comparable to the inlet pressure of a Watt engine From this step it was a relatively simple matter to couple the two 2 For most uses the cylinders of the engine were double acting Opposing sides of the high and low pressure cylinders were cross connected to each other Where engines were used for pumping note 2 Woolf engines were also built with paired single acting cylinders 2 Examples of Woolf compound rotative beam engines may be seen at Abbey Pumping Station Blagdon Lake Claymills Pumping Station The Hamilton Museum of Steam amp Technology and the Western Springs Pumphouse now part of the Museum of Transport and Technology Auckland New Zealand See also edit nbsp Cornwall portalBenjamin HickNotes edit Like the tandem compound engine the two cylinders worked in phase Mine pumping engines commonly used single acting plunger pumps where their load was required to be driven in only one direction References edit Anon April 1872 Spring Meeting 1871 Journal of the Institute of Cornwall XIII a b c d Farey John 1971 1851 unpublished XI A Treatise on the Steam Engine Vol 2 David amp Charles pp 43 45 ISBN 0 7153 5004 8 Bibliography editT R Harris Arthur Woolf The Cornish Engineer 1766 1837 Truro Bradford Barton Ltd 1966 Edmund Vales The Harveys of Hayle Truro D B Barton 1966 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Woolf compound steam engines Britannica Online entry subscription required Cornish Mining World Heritage Engineers and Inventors A Navolari and G Verbong The Development of Steam Power Technology Cornwall and the compound engine an evolutionary interpretation Eindhoven University 2001 Try searching ECIS research centre at Eindhoven University of Technology Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur Woolf amp oldid 1135561589 Woolf s compound engine, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
