People:Ericsson, John
Published: September 24, 2008, 4:48 pm
Updated: September 24, 2008, 4:48 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Tom Lawrence
John Ericsson.
John Ericsson (1803-1889), a Swedish engineer noted for his invention of the screw propeller, the main form of marine propulsion to this day. He is also known for his early version of a solar-powered hot air engine. Ericsson designed and built the Monitor for the Union Navy in 100 working days. It featured his screw propeller with revolutionary features: a revolving gun turret, and iron (instead of wood) construction. The Monitor defeated the Confederate Merrimac in an epic U.S. Civil War maritime battle.
Patent for Ericsson's screw propeller, patented February 1, 1838.
Ericsson demonstrated his engineering genius in many other areas. He improved transmission of power by using compressed air; he designed new types of steam boilers and condensers for marine steam engines; he designed and constructed an early steam locomotive; and he created an apparatus that made salt from brine. Around 1872, Ericsson built a displacer type (or Stirling) engine powered by a solar parabolic reflector, and a related thermodynamic cycle is named for him. Ericsson envisioned that Californian agriculturists would use his sun-motor for irrigation purposes, but this did not come to fruition.
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Tom Lawrence (Topic Editor) "Ericsson, John". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth September 24, 2008; Last revised Date September 24, 2008; Retrieved June 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Ericsson,_John?topic=49502>
The Author
Cutler J. Cleveland is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University, where he also is on the faculty of the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies. Professor Cleveland is Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Energy (Elsevier, 2004), winner of an American Library Association award, the Dictionary of Energy (Elsevier, 2005), Handbook of Energy (Elsevier, forthcoming), and is the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Earth. He is the recipient of the Adelma ... (Full Bio)
John Ericsson.
John Ericsson (1803-1889), a Swedish engineer noted for his invention of the screw propeller, the main form of marine propulsion to this day. He is also known for his early version of a solar-powered hot air engine. Ericsson designed and built the Monitor for the Union Navy in 100 working days. It featured his screw propeller with revolutionary features: a revolving gun turret, and iron (instead of wood) construction. The Monitor defeated the Confederate Merrimac in an epic U.S. Civil War maritime battle.
Patent for Ericsson's screw propeller, patented February 1, 1838.
Ericsson demonstrated his engineering genius in many other areas. He improved transmission of power by using compressed air; he designed new types of steam boilers and condensers for marine steam engines; he designed and constructed an early steam locomotive; and he created an apparatus that made salt from brine. Around 1872, Ericsson built a displacer type (or Stirling) engine powered by a solar parabolic reflector, and a related thermodynamic cycle is named for him. Ericsson envisioned that Californian agriculturists would use his sun-motor for irrigation purposes, but this did not come to fruition.
Further Reading
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