Water-raising engine
Date
23 March 1687
Creator
Unknown, Artist
Object type
Archive reference number
Manuscript page number
p2
Material
Dimensions
height (page): 297mm
width (page): 189mm
width (page): 189mm
Subject
Content object
Description
A figure of a water-raising engine designed by Denis Papin. It was published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, vol. 15, nos. 173 and 178 (1685). Objections to the design had been printed in Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres (December 1685) and read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 23 March 1687. Papin's reply was printed in Philosophical Transactions vol. 16, no. 186 (1687).
Object history
At the meeting of the Royal Society on 23 March 1687, ‘There were read out of the Nouvelles de la Republique des Lettres for Dec. 1686, the objections of Mons. Nuis against Dr. Papin’s engine of raising water, grounded on the unequal lengths of pipes, whereby the waters should rise faster in the one than in the other; and secondly from the great quantity of air, that must be rarefied to raise water to a considerable hight, especially if it lie upon a great inclination. Dr. Papin’s answers to these objections were read, wherein he endeavoured to obviate those difficulties, by shewing how to avoid the former: and as to the latter, he computed what force and pipes are necessary to make the rarefaction requisite to carry water to the distance of 12000 feet; though he remarked, that he proposed so great a distance with some diffidence, using the word perhaps’ (Birch 4:529).
The account was registered at RBO/6/348-51 with the legend, but without the image.
Printed in D. Papin, ‘Answer to several objects made by Mr Nuis against his engine for raising water’, Phil. Trans., vol. 16, no. 186 (January, February and March 1687), pp. 263-67, fig. 2.
The account was registered at RBO/6/348-51 with the legend, but without the image.
Printed in D. Papin, ‘Answer to several objects made by Mr Nuis against his engine for raising water’, Phil. Trans., vol. 16, no. 186 (January, February and March 1687), pp. 263-67, fig. 2.
Related fellows
Denis Papin (1647, French) , Natural philosopher
Associated place