The Pneumatics of Hero of Alexandria

THE PNEUMATICS OF HERO OF ALEXANDRIA FROM THE ORIGINAL GREEK TRANSLATED FOR AND EDITED BY BENNET WOODCROFT PROFESSOR OF MACHINERY IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON LONDON TAYLOR WALTON AND MABERLYUPPER GOWER STREET AND IVY LANE PATERNOSTER ROW1851 Contents Editors Preface. Translators Preface. A Treatise on Pneumatics. 1. The bent Siphon 2. Concentric or inclosed Siphon 3. Uniform discharge Siphon 4. Siphon which is capable of discharging a greater or less quantity of Liquid with uniformity 5. A Vessel for withdrawing Air from a Siphon 6. A Vessel for retaining or discharging a Liquid at pleasure. 7. A Vessel for discharging Liquids of different temperatures at pleasure 8. A Vessel for discharging Liquids in varying proportions 9. A Water Jet produced by mechanically compressed Air 10. A Valve for a Pump 11. Libations on an Altar produced by Fire 12. A Vessel from which the contents flow when filled to a certain height 13. Two Vessels from which the contents flow, by a Liquid being poured into one only 14. A Bird made to whistle by flowing Water 15. Birds made to sing and he silent alternately by flowing Water 16. Trumpets sounded by flowing Water 17. Sounds produced on the opening of a Temple Door 18. Drinking horn from which either Wine or Water will flow 19. A Vessel containing a Liquid of uniform height, although a Stream flows from it 20. A Vessel which remains full, although Water be drawn from it 21. Sacrificial Vessel which flows only when Money is introduced 22. A Vessel from which a variety of Liquids may be made to flow through one Pipe 23. A Flow of Wine from one Vessel, produced by Water being poured into another 24. A Pipe from which flows Wine and Water in varying proportions 25. A Vessel from which Wine flows in proportion as Water is withdrawn 26. A Vessel from which Wine flows in proportion as Water is poured into another 27. The Fire-Engine 28. An Automaton which drinks at certain times only, on a Liquid being presented to it 29. An Automaton which may be made to drink at any time, on a Liquid being presented to it 30. An Automaton which will drink any quantity that may he presented to it 31. A wheel in a Temple, which, on being turned liberates purifying Water 32. A Vessel containing different Wines, any one of which may be liberated by placing a certain Weight in a Cup 33. A self-trimming Lamp 34. A Vessel from which Liquid may be made to flow, on any portion of Water being poured into it 35. A Vessel which will hold a certain quantity of Liquid when the supply is continuous, will only receive a portion of such Liquid if the supply is intermittent 36. A Satyr pouring Water from a Wine-skin into a full Washing-Basin, without making the contents overflow 37. Temple Doors opened by Fire on an Altar 38. Other intermediate means of opening Temple Doors by Fire on an Altar 39. Wine flowing from a Vessel may be arrested on the Introduction of Water, but, when the Supply of Water ceases, the Wine flows again 40. On an Apple being lifted, Hercules shoots a Dragon which then hisses 41. A Vessel from which uniform Quantities only of Liquid can be poured 42. A Water-Jet actuated by compressed Air from the Lungs 43. Notes from a Bird produced at intervals by an intermittent Stream of Water 44. Notes produced from several Birds in succession, by a Stream of Water 45. A Jet of Steam supporting a Sphere 46. The World represented in the Centre of the Universe 47. A Fountain which trickles by the Action of the Sun's Rays 48. A Thyrsus made to whistle by being submerged in Water 49. A Trumpet, in the hands of an Automaton, sounded by compressed Air 50. The Steam-Engine 51. A Vessel from which flowing Water may be stopped at pleasure 52. A Drinking-Horn in which a p