Kettering, Charles
Published: January 26, 2009, 3:32 pm
Updated: January 26, 2009, 3:32 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
Peter Saundry Charles Kettering (1876-1958), an American inventor, designed the first electrical ignition system for the automobile in 1911. The invention of the electric starter by Kettering eliminated the need for use of the hand crank, an arduous and sometimes dangerous task. The electronic ignition helped make automobiles practical and safe, allowing the expansion of the market. Kettering became the founder of Delco (Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company), a major automotive corporation. His other inventions include quick-drying automotive paint; shock absorbers; safety glass; automatic transmission; the electric railway gate, and the first synthetic aviation fuel. In 1928, Thomas Midgley, Jr. and Charles Kettering invented a "miracle compound" called freon that revolutionized refrigeration technology. Freon was later identified as a principal source of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), one of the primary chemicals responsible for depleting the Earth's stratospheric ozone. In 1945, Kettering helped establish the Sloan-Kettering Institute, a cancer research facility located in New York.
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Citation
Cutler J. Cleveland (Lead Author);Peter Saundry (Topic Editor) "Kettering, Charles". 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 January 26, 2009; Last revised Date January 26, 2009; Retrieved May 24, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Kettering,_Charles>
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)
Charles Kettering (1876-1958), an American inventor, designed the first electrical ignition system for the automobile in 1911. The invention of the electric starter by Kettering eliminated the need for use of the hand crank, an arduous and sometimes dangerous task. The electronic ignition helped make automobiles practical and safe, allowing the expansion of the market. Kettering became the founder of Delco (Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company), a major automotive corporation. His other inventions include quick-drying automotive paint; shock absorbers; safety glass; automatic transmission; the electric railway gate, and the first synthetic aviation fuel. In 1928, Thomas Midgley, Jr. and Charles Kettering invented a "miracle compound" called freon that revolutionized refrigeration technology. Freon was later identified as a principal source of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), one of the primary chemicals responsible for depleting the Earth's stratospheric ozone. In 1945, Kettering helped establish the Sloan-Kettering Institute, a cancer research facility located in New York.
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Charles Kettering (Source: Kettering University)
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