101-MT6 Mason Topics Engineering - Recently Updated Pages

fiosfiosof

mdupuy — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:38:04 CDT

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Group Write-ups

gayers — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:27:07 CST

George Westinghouse - The Man

Lahlou, Tarek:
Westinghouse’s experience as a young business entrepreneur was extremely important to the growth of alternating current throughout the country. He was shocked early on in his career to have his first invention to the railroad industry not be as successful as it possibly could have been. Westinghouse learned something from dealing with businesses and securing patents. This changed him to always keep extreme control over his patents, as to not allow other companies to take his ideas without him being a beneficiary. Westinghouse was extremely important to the improvement of technology in his era. He was more of a business leader than he was an engineer. He had teams of engineers that worked for him, and he left a lot of the technical work to them. He took care of business proposals and financing, which came very naturally to him. Westinghouse was a business leader every day. He often hosted parties at his home that big business leaders and influential people of the day. By doing this he found ways to get the big contracts, and always have cliental for his innovative projects. He was always open to new ideas and looking for ways to improve his already existing inventions. In contrast to other major leaders in the field at the time, Westinghouse’s flexibility allowed him to deviate from Direct Current and work with Nikola Tesla on Alternating Current, eventually making him one of the richest businessmen in the nation. Westinghouse made more contributions to the field of electricity with his leadership style than his technical skills, which allowed other great engineers of the time to have funds appropriated to them to create the works that they created.

Ayers, Gabe:
George Westinghouse was a genius when it came to recognizing the economic power of emerging techonologies. He was lucky enough to be in his prime at the turn of the 20th century as the foundation of the electrical world we live in today was being laid. He saw the new technologies and knew that with the right pushes in the right places these technologies could change the world drastically. The credit of each of the inventions of the era is given to the men who did the work but part of that credit is due to George Westinghouse. He gave the right men the right tools to get the job done and in the end was successful in most of his endevours.

Miller, Chris:
Westinghouse did the most on improving the railroad and electrical power. He was the largest private employer in industrial history. He installed the first multiple-voltage ac system.

http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/membersonly/october96/features/westingh/westingh.html

Westinghouse invented the railroad air brake. "Westinghouse system used a compressor on the locomotive, a reservoir and a special valve on each car, and a single pipe running the length of the train (with flexible connections) which both refilled the reservoirs and controlled the brakes, applying and releasing the brakes on all cars simultaneously. It is a failsafe system in that any rupture or disconnection in the train pipe will apply the brakes throughout the train." Westinghouse and William Stanley were the first to install a multiple-voltage power system using AC. The multiple-voltage system was used to step-up voltage to 3,000 volts for the transmission and stepped down to 100 volts for electric lights.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Westinghouse

Long, Zack:
George Westinghouse Jr. was born on October 6, 1846 in Central Bridge, New York, and became one of the greatest engineer,industrialist,inventor that did more than anyone else to modernize railroads and electric power industries. Most of Westinghouse's patents were for rotary steam engines, air brakes, and natural gas pipes. In the "Battle of the Currents" Thomas Edison built the first electric utility system with direct current, but Westinghouse saw that large transmission losses that Edison's ultily system had and Westinghouse's solution was his natural gas transport system. Westinghouse's natural gas system helped because he needed wasa higher voltage to transport efficently, but a low voltage tht is safe to use. This brought forth the invention of the transformer.

http://ieee-virtual-museum.org/collection/people.php?id=1234674&lid=1
http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/membersonly/october96/features/westingh/westingh.html

Power, Conor
Westinghouse had a huge impact on the railroad industry by inventing the air brake. The invention of these breaks allowed the trains to travel at faster speeds safely. The development of the air brake also lead to new and better inventions such as the electro-magnetic break. By 1905, over 2,000,000 freight, passenger, mail, baggage and express cars and 89,000 locomotives were equipped with the Westinghouse Quick-Action Automatic Brake. The Westinghouse air-brake invention used compressed air to evenly and quickly stop trains. This made transportation a lot safer and more reliable.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/papr/west/westair.html

Littleton, Andrew

George Westinghouse was a brilliant businessman with an open mind. His invention of the airbrake for the railroads had a huge impact on the industry and made him extremely rich. Westinghouse managed to use his success to attain even greater levels of achievement. An engineer himself, and willing to listen to new ideas, Westinghouse became interested in Nikola Tesla and AC current. He became so convinced by Tesla that he had the confidence to fund a company and develop the AC motor and transformer for commercial application. This brought him into conflict with Thomas Edison’s electric company in “The War of the Currents”, which Westinghouse eventually emerged victorious after the successful lighting of the Chicago World’s fair with AC power.

Wilkins, Ryan:

George Westinghouse was born October 15, 1846 and died March 12, 1914. He was an American entrepreneur, engineer and pioneer of the electrical industry, who also invented the railroad air brakes. Westinghouse was main rivals with Thomas Edison (who used DC systems, where as Westinghouse used AC systems) in the electrical industry. Westinghouse was born the son of a machine shop owner and became very talented at machinery and business. At the age of 19, he had created his first invention, the rotary steam engine. By the age of 21 he invented a "car replacer", which was a piece developed to guide derailed railroad cars back onto the tracks, and a reversible frog, a device used with a railroad switch to maneuver trains onto one of two tracks. It was about this time in Westinghouse's life that he witnessed two trains wreck because two engineers both saw the other coming, but could not stop their trains in time using the brakes. Brakemen used to have to run from car to car, even on top of the cars, to pull the brakes by hand. Because of this impacting experience, he devoted the next several years of his life to railroad safety devices. When he was 22, he invented a railroad braking system that used compessed air. The system used a compressor on the locomotive, a special valve and reservoir on every car, and a single pipe running the length of train. These flexible connections refilled both the reservoirs and controlled the brakes, applying and releasing the brakes on all cars simultaneously. It ended up being patented by Westinghouse on March 5, 1872. Soon after Westinghouse decided to organize WABCO (Westinghouse Air Brake Company) to manufacture and sell his invention. Todays modern trains use brakes similar to these, just in various forms based on design. After that endeavor, Westinghouse pursued improvements in railroad signals, which at the time were oil lamps. In 1881 he founded the Union Switch and Signal Company to produce his signaling and switching inventions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Westinghouse

George Westinghouse - rwilkins

gayers — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:25:49 CST

George Westinghouse was born October 15, 1846 and died March 12, 1914. He was an American entrepreneur, engineer and pioneer of the electrical industry, who also invented the railroad air brakes. Westinghouse was main rivals with Thomas Edison (who used DC systems, where as Westinghouse used AC systems) in the electrical industry. Westinghouse was born the son of a machine shop owner and became very talented at machinery and business. At the age of 19, he had created his first invention, the rotary steam engine. By the age of 21 he invented a "car replacer", which was a piece developed to guide derailed railroad cars back onto the tracks, and a reversible frog, a device used with a railroad switch to maneuver trains onto one of two tracks. It was about this time in Westinghouse's life that he witnessed two trains wreck because two engineers both saw the other coming, but could not stop their trains in time using the brakes. Brakemen used to have to run from car to car, even on top of the cars, to pull the brakes by hand. Because of this impacting experience, he devoted the next several years of his life to railroad safety devices. When he was 22, he invented a railroad braking system that used compessed air. The system used a compressor on the locomotive, a special valve and reservoir on every car, and a single pipe running the length of train. These flexible connections refilled both the reservoirs and controlled the brakes, applying and releasing the brakes on all cars simultaneously. It ended up being patented by Westinghouse on March 5, 1872. Soon after Westinghouse decided to organize WABCO (Westinghouse Air Brake Company) to manufacture and sell his invention. Todays modern trains use brakes similar to these, just in various forms based on design. After that endeavor, Westinghouse pursued improvements in railroad signals, which at the time were oil lamps. In 1881 he founded the Union Switch and Signal Company to produce his signaling and switching inventions.

Citations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Westinghouse

trash

gayers — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:25:25 CST

There is no abstract available for this page revision.

Alternating Current

spatelg — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:52:44 CDT

The AC motor was an integral part of Westinghouse's AC power system. It was the final piece of the AC puzzle that he needed to be able to compete with Edison's DC system. It not only matched the capabilities of the DC motor but in many ways exceeded them. It had a longer life expectancy as it was an induction motor that required no brushes to transfer electricity to the coils of the motor. The one thing that was more difficult with the AC motor was controlling the speed due to polyphase properties of AC current. Luckily Westinghouse had invested in Tesla and held the patents to this AC motor which gave him a great upper hand in his battle against Edison.

The Chicago World's Fair was "held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' 'discovery' of the New World" ("World's Columbian Exposition"). Over 200,000 light bulbs were illuminated by the poly phase AC proposed by Nikola Tesla, and it proved superior to the existing DC. The lights were empowered by Westinghouse's generators that were designed by Tesla to run on alternating current. Westinghouse, with the use of his abundant amounts of money, was able to outbid Edison, and in-turn was able to prove to not only those in Chicago, but the entire world, that alternating current was superior to direct current ("Opening Ceremony").

History of Chicago's World Fair
Nicola Tesla was responsible for the lighting of the Chicago World’s Fair. He was able to out bid Edison with the backing of Westinghouse. Westinghouse’s support at the time for Tesla was an undying breed. It seemed to people as an adoration for the sciences, but it may also be perceived as a meal ticket off of Tesla’s genius. A quote from the site The UnMuseum speaks of the reason of Westinghouse and Tesla winning the bid “Competitors had bid a DC system for the fair, but lost the job because the huge amount of copper needed for such a DC system (because of its low effiencey) was too high.” We learn that the efficiency and the distance capability from this form of power, won Tesla the right, and was a major turning point in the battle of the currents. The Fair was the first to be operated with the use of electricity, and through this achievement brought the support of the people for the ability to use A.C. currents. People were amazed by the brilliance of the light bulbs Tesla was forced to design after Edison refused to sell them for the Fair. With the World’s Fair a success the business of A.C. roared into action. Edison could no longer try to discredit Tesla with the use of A.C. as being harmful, and Tesla was soon recognized as one of the single most famous scientists and inventors of the time.

Backing of the Transformer
The Transformer was essential to Westinghouse's AC electric system. The transformer essentially stepped electricity either up or down. This meant the transformer amplified the voltage when the voltage was stepped up and it reduced the voltage when the voltage was stepped down. This was very important as the AC electric system runs on very high voltage in order to efficiently send electricity over long distances. The transformers then step down the electricity before it enters houses and businesses. And in some cases the transformer steps up the electricity for intense machinery and equipment. Westinghouse backed the transformer for his electric system and even redesigned it and “in 1886 he installed the first multiple-voltage ac power system.” The same year, 20 multiple-voltage ac power systems were installed and were set running. The transformer enabled Westinghouse's AC system to work and provide consumers and businesses the power they needed and it enabled The Westinghouse Electric Company to efficiently distribute electricity at a low cost. This eventually was the reason Westinghouse won the War of the Currents.

One of Westinghouse greatest contributions to the world is the provision of a alternating current system.Westinghouse's AC system was cheaper, lower-maintenance, and more efficient than Edison's DC (direct current) system. AC current used high voltages that could be transmitted with minimal power losses and then could reduced by transformers to usable voltages. In 1886, Westinghouse completed the first practical AC network.In 1893, the Westinghouse system was chosen to provide AC power to the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. In the following years, the Westinghouse's electric company completed the first long-range AC power network, transmitting electricity 40 miles from generators at Niagara Falls to Buffalo, New York. The AC system eventually ovetook Edison's DC system and is the system we use today.

Contributions made by:

1)Mike Dupuy,
2)Teddy Kwalwasser,
3)Jason McCall
4)Colin Edwards
5) Sheel Patel

References:
1) Opening Ceremony: http://www.teslasociety.com/columbia_expo2.htm
2) World's Columbian Exposition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Columbian_Exposition
3)Cowen, Katie. SCIENCE HERO: NIKOLA TESLA . 6 June 2004. 3 November 2007 <http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=nikolaTesla>.
4) Krystek, Lee. Sorcerer of Lightning: Nikola Tesla. 2002. 4 November 2007 <http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/tesla.htm>.
5) Jill Jones, Empires of Light, Random House publishing, New York 2003
6)Westinghouse: http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/membersonly/october96/features/westingh/westingh.html

Group 1 on Westinghouse

spatelg — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:52:08 CDT

Westinghouse's Greatest contribution to the History of Engineering

1. Alternating Current

2. Westinghouse's Work Environment

Created By:
Ehsan Qaium
Colin Edwards
Mike Dupuy
Sheel Patel
Teddy Kwalwasser
Jason McCall

Sheel Patel

spatelg — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:42:59 CDT

Backing of the Transformer

The Transformer was essential to Westinghouse's AC electric system. The transformer essentially stepped electricity either up or down. This meant the transformer amplified the voltage when the voltage was stepped up and it reduced the voltage when the voltage was stepped down. This was very important as the AC electric system runs on very high voltage in order to efficiently send electricity over long distances. The transformers then step down the electricity before it enters houses and businesses. And in some cases the transformer steps up the electricity for intense machinery and equipment. Westinghouse backed the transformer for his electric system and even redesigned it and “in 1886 he installed the first multiple-voltage ac power system.” The same year, 20 multiple-voltage ac power systems were installed and were set running. The transformer enabled Westinghouse's AC system to work and provide consumers and businesses the power they needed and it enabled The Westinghouse Electric Company to efficiently distribute electricity at a low cost. This eventually was the reason Westinghouse won the War of the Currents.

sources:

http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/membersonly/october96/features/westingh/westingh.html

Empires of Light by Jill Jonnes

Air Brakes

malie — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:41:57 CDT

Background on George Westinghouse’s Air Brake (Railroad) System

Why was there a need for the “Air Brake”? Imagine stopping a two-ton train with only the power of steam. Does that sound like a difficult task? Well, it certainly was. Before the Air Brake, the engineer would stop the train by reversing the steam flow to the cylinders. This is similar to reversing the propellers on a boat in order to apply more force in the opposite direction. This tedious task became more of a problem as the United States began to industrialize. The need to meet the supply and demand of businesses called for larger quantity supply. As a result, trains extended over a short period of time. Trains also increased their speeds so that they could meet deadlines. These adding factors made stopping a train, the old fashioned way, nearly impossible. Locomotives could be stopped, however, not within reasonable distances. This became a danger, especially in mountainous areas. As a solution, a man by the name of George Westinghouse invented the “Air Brake.” This allowed for better stopping ratios. It was implemented that these brakes be placed on every car. However, these brakes needed to be manned individually. Although employment went up in the rail industry, the fact that individuals had to stop each car separately caused problems. Often, people would receive the wrong signals. Results would be catastrophic. Cars would derail and crash into one another. Westinghouse improved his system, overtime. Eventually, it became safer for trains to run at faster speeds.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_brake_(rail)
Carley, Larry W. "Brake (device)." Microsoft® Student 2008 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2007.
Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2008. © 1993-2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
Marcus Coates

Basic Design of Air brake System: Westinghouse invented an airbrake system, which was far more efficient than any other brake system. The basic design of the device is complicated. The Air brake System is equipped with an air reservoir and a control valve. The reservoir stores the air and applies to the brake system with the help of a control valve. The control valve “applies the brake, and releases them”. The pressure in the reservoir and train line should be in the equilibrium so that brake cylinder can be maintained at a proper level. The control valve then has no function to perform. Train comes to a stop by a low line of pressure applied to the brakes, and it starts when the pressure is increased. Westinghouse’s airbrake system guarantee the safety that if the train comes apart, it will stop the train by a loss of pressure. It also consists of two types of brakes: Service brakes and emergency brakes. Service brake is used in normal conditions while emergency brake is used when engineer suspects that there is a malfunction in the train or there is a need to stop the train. There is only one problem with Westinghouse’s airbrake’s system that the air reservoir takes time to get recharged. The piping diagram of air brake system is as under:

Compiled by : Muhammad Ali
References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Westinghouse_Air_Brake_piping_diagram.jpg

Importance of George Westinghouse's Air Brake (Railroad) System:

George Westinghouse's production of the air brake was meant to improve braking performance and at the same time increase speed on the national railways. The new brakes would enable the trains to stop in a shorter period of time. As a result of this development, higher speeds could be reached while still maintaining the safety of the passengers.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Air_Brake_Company
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Air_Brake_Companyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westinghouse_Air_Brake_Company
Ryan Morris

Colin Edwards

cedwardd — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 02:56:06 CDT

AC Motor

The AC motor was an integral part of Westinghouse's AC power system. It was the final piece of the AC puzzle that he needed to be able to compete with Edison's DC system. It not only matched the capabilities of the DC motor but in many ways exceeded them. It had a longer life expectancy as it was an induction motor that required no brushes to transfer electricity to the coils of the motor. The one thing that was more difficult with the AC motor was controlling the speed due to polyphase properties of AC current. Luckily Westinghouse had invested in Tesla and held the patents to this AC motor which gave him a great upper hand in his battle against Edison.

Westinghouse's Work Environment

eqaium — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:30:23 CDT

During the 19th century, arguably one of the best companies to work for was the company's owned by George Westinghouse. Hiscompanies were well known for being modern and the progressive treatment of workers. Westinghouse's Air Brake Company was the first company to institute a nine hour work day, and fifty -five hour work week in 1869. Along with that, shortly after his first trip to England, Westinghouse institutes a half-day off on Saturdays the first company believed to have done so. Also besides implementing half days, Westinghouse treated his workers fairly as he gave then a fair percent of the revenues made from sale of new innovative technology, and as a result of this, Westinghouse today is well known as a great engineer, and one of the first progressiveProgressive entrepreneurs who treated his workers fairly.

contributions made by:

1) Ehsan Qaium

Sources:

Jill Jones, Empires of Light, Random House publishing, New York 2003

The Library of Congress Working conditions at the Westinghouse Works, (cited11/2/2007)(about 2 pages).Available from: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/papr/west/westcond.html

Ehsan Qaium

eqaium — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:16:34 CDT

Factories. Treatment of workers, working conditions.

During the 19th century, arguably one of the best companies to work for was the company's owned by George Westinghouse. Hiscompanies were well known for being modern and the progressive treatment of workers. Westinghouse's Air Brake Company was the first company to institute a nine hour work day, and fifty -five hour work week in 1869. Along with that, shortly after his first trip to England, Westinghouse institutes a half-day off on Saturdays the first company believed to have done so. Also besides implementing half days, Westinghouse treated his workers fairly as he gave then a fair percent of the revenues made from sale of new innovative technology, and as a result of this, Westinghouse today is well known as a great engineer, and one of the first progressiveProgressive entrepreneurs who treated his workers fairly.

Sources:

Jill Jones, Empires of Light, Random House publishing, New York 2003

The Library of Congress Working conditions at the Westinghouse Works, (cited11/2/2007)(about 2 pages).Available from: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/papr/west/westcond.html

Teddy Kwalwasser

rkwalwas — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 23:10:04 CDT

History of Chicago's World Fair
Nicola Tesla was responsible for the lighting of the Chicago World’s Fair. He was able to out bid Edison with the backing of Westinghouse. Westinghouse’s support at the time for Tesla was an undying breed. It seemed to people as an adoration for the sciences, but it may also be perceived as a meal ticket off of Tesla’s genius. A quote from the site The UnMuseum speaks of the reason of Westinghouse and Tesla winning the bid “Competitors had bid a DC system for the fair, but lost the job because the huge amount of copper needed for such a DC system (because of its low effiencey) was too high.” We learn that the efficiency and the distance capability from this form of power, won Tesla the right, and was a major turning point in the battle of the currents. The Fair was the first to be operated with the use of electricity, and through this achievement brought the support of the people for the ability to use A.C. currents. People were amazed by the brilliance of the light bulbs Tesla was forced to design after Edison refused to sell them for the Fair. With the World’s Fair a success the business of A.C. roared into action. Edison could no longer try to discredit Tesla with the use of A.C. as being harmful, and Tesla was soon recognized as one of the single most famous scientists and inventors of the time. Works Cited Cowen, Katie. SCIENCE HERO: NIKOLA TESLA . 6 June 2004. 3 November 2007 <http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=nikolaTesla>. Krystek, Lee. Sorcerer of Lightning: Nikola Tesla. 2002. 4 November 2007 <http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/tesla.htm>.

Team Diary

eqaium — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:08:59 CDT

The team diary is a place where the team can place a list of tasks associated with each member. It also records attendance for the meetings:

(Updated as of Wednesday 17 October, 2007)

Ranking:
1 - Most Work, 5 - Least Work

1. Michael Dupuy
2. Sheel Patel and Colin Edwards
3. Jason McCall
4. Ehsan Qaium
5. Robert Kwalwasser
6. Anthony Augustine (?)

Tasks:
Task - Completed By #s

Brainstorming - 1,2,3,4,5
Selecting Alternatives - 1,2,3,4
Electric Terms Wiki Post - 1,2,3,4,5
Edison Wiki Post - 1,2,3,4
Tesla Wiki Post - 1,2
Meeting with Jeff Sears - 1,2,3
Preliminary Report Rough Draft - 1,2,3
Preliminary Report Final Draft - 1,2
Creation of Power Point Document - 1,2

Mike Dupuy

mdupuy — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 16:42:49 CDT

The Chicago World's Fair was "held in Chicago in 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' 'discovery' of the New World" ("World's Columbian Exposition"). Over 200,000 light bulbs were illuminated by the poly phase AC proposed by Nikola Tesla, and it proved superior to the existing DC. The lights were empowered by Westinghouse's generators that were designed by Tesla to run on alternating current. Westinghouse, with the use of his abundant amounts of money, was able to outbid Edison, and in-turn was able to prove to not only those in Chicago, but the entire world, that alternating current was superior to direct current ("Opening Ceremony").

References:
1) Opening Ceremony: http://www.teslasociety.com/columbia_expo2.htm
2) World's Columbian Exposition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Columbian_Exposition

Jason McCall

jmccall4 — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 14:19:10 CDT

One of Westinghouse greatest contributions to the world is the provision of a alternating current system.Westinghouse's AC system was cheaper, lower-maintenance, and more efficient than Edison's DC (direct current) system. AC current used high voltages that could be transmitted with minimal power losses and then could reduced by transformers to usable voltages. In 1886, Westinghousecompleted the first practical AC network.In 1893, the Westinghouse system was chosen to provide AC power to the World's Columbian Exhibition in Chicago. In the following years, the Westinhouse's electric company completed the first long-range AC power network, transmitting electricity 40 miles from generators at Niagara Falls to Buffalo, New York. The AC system eventually ovetook Edison's DC system and is the system we use today.

Rotary Steam Engine

slazo — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:36:22 CDT

At the age of 15, George Westinghouse Jr. began his technological development with the rotary steam engine. On October 31, 1865 at the age of 19 years old, he obtained his first patent for his first invention, the rotary steam engine. Even though the rotary steam engine may be complex, the concept is simple. It is a standard otto cylce engine where the crankshaft remains stationary and the entire cylinder block rotates around it. The otto cycle engine is a a four stroke cycle that refers to the intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust. The cylinder block is a machined casting containing cylindrically bored holes for the pistons to go through to create internal combustion.The crankshaft is part of an engine translates reciprocatng linear piston motion into rotation.

References
http://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/LitMap/bios/Westinghouse__George.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Westinghouse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_engine

Railroad Industry

slazo — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:07:35 CDT

Air Brakes
Ryan Morris, Marcus Coates, Mohammed Ali

Signals
Stephen Hogdahl, Bradley Ham

Group 3 on Westinghouse

slazo — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:02:33 CDT

One of the greatest engineers, industrialists, and inventors of his time, George Westinghouse Jr. modernized the railroad industry with his ideas. He was a businessmen who recieved 360 patents and started 60 companies with 50,000 employees. Some of his greatest contributions and inventions in the railroad industry was the air brake system and the railroad signal.

Aside from contributing most of his ideas in the railroad industry, Westinghouse played an vital role in the electrical world and technological world. One of his major invention in the technological world was the rotary system. At a very young age, Westinghouse invented and obtained his first patent for the rotary system, an invention that still plays a vital role in our modern world.

Railroad Industry
Stephen Hogdahl, Ryan Morris, Mohammed Ali, Marcus Coates, Bradley Ham

Rotary Steam Engine
Camil Boulos, Steven Lazo

Signals

G00570128 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:54:55 CDT

Westinghouse worked on many improvements for railroad signals, which at the time were simply oil lamps, and in 1881 he founded the Union Switch and Signal Company. This company would produce the first automatic electric block signal. This was significant to the railroad industry because it helped to prevent train crashes, increase passenger safety, and allow the trains to be directed and moved more efficiently.

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Westinghouse, http://www.georgewestinghouse.com/timeline.html

Brad Ham, Stephen Hogdahl

Relevant Information

zlong2 — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:33:45 CDT

Dump relevant information along with source here:

George Westinghouse, Jr., born 150 years ago on Oct. 6, 1846 in Central Bridge, New York, became one of the greatest engineers, industrialists, and inventors of his time. He did more than anyone else in his time to modernize the railroad and electric power industries. Westinghouse received 360 patents, and started 60 companies that had a total of 50,000 employees. At his peak, he was the largest private employer in industrial history. As a youth he invented and manufactured an improved car replacer and a compressed-air braking system, later inventing a reverse-acting fail-safe system that remains standard today. He also invented and manufactured a dual pressure system to transmit natural gas safely and efficiently, with high pressure for efficient transmission and low pressure for safe use, and many other devices.

George Westinghouse was a uniquely successful inventor and industrialist. He was chiefly responsible for the spread of alternating current (AC) electricity in the United States, the form of electric current still in use today. In addition, he made huge contributions to the railroad industry, launched the first commercial radio station, KDKA, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and introduced many new appliances into the home.

Work Cited
http://www.memagazine.org/backissues/membersonly/october96/features/westingh/westingh.html
http://ieee-virtual-museum.org/collection/people.php?id=1234674&lid=1