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The "Famous Engineers" Series
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The Prolific Inventor |
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By simply flicking a switch, you can turn on a
light in your house, watch a show on television or toast bread
in a toaster. For that we can thank a determined
engineer from New York - one of the most prolific inventors in
U.S. history. |
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Born in 1846, he ran away to join the Union
army at the age of 15. After the end of the Civil War in
1865, he studied engineering at Union College. It was
here that he obtained a patent for a rotary steam engine - his
first of 361 patents. |
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After witnessing a train accident, this son of
a Schenectady, NY factory owner obtained a patent in 1869 for
the world's first air brake system - the system that is still
in use today in trains and trucks. At the young age of
22, he formed a company to sell his air brake invention - the
first of more than 60 companies that he founded. |
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However, his most profound impact on society
came from his work with AC power, which competed directly with
Thomas Edison's low-voltage DC power distribution system.
His battle with Edison's DC systems, called "The War of
Currents", was ruthless. It would eventually lead to the
use of electrocution as a means of executing prisoners in the
state of New York. |
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His many accomplishments included developing:
the first long distance electrical distribution system
(between Niagara Falls and Buffalo NY), the first city-wide
telephone switching system, the world's first radio station,
and the world's first practical induction motor. |
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Just as impressive as his technical and
business accomplishments, he began in 1871 to give his
employees a half day-off on Saturdays - the first step towards
a five-day work week. |
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Who was this brilliant engineer and inventor?
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And how did the "electric chair" figure into
his battle against Edison's DC systems? |
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read more |
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Find Answers to Your
Questions |
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There's never a fee to access PDHengineer courses. |
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9/30 |
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LA |
30 PDH |
Based on Date of Licensure |
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NH |
30 PDH |
Based on Engineer's Birthdate |
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NY |
36 PDH |
Based on Engineer's
Birthdate |
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OK |
30 PDH |
Based on Date of Licensure |
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SD |
30 PDH |
Based on Date of
Licensure |
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TN |
24 PDH |
Based on Date of Licensure |
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TX |
15 PDH |
Based on Date of
Licensure |
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