Fig. 11. Ivan Kulibin

Pre-questions:

Do you know the name of Ivan Kulibin? What is he famous for?

9.1. Pre-reading task:

Find the Russian equivalents:

mechanical tools, clock mechanisms, prolific imagination, egg-shaped clock, complex automatic mechanism, to be in charge of, the Academy of Sciences, planetary pocket-clock, miniature clock-in-a-ring, push-cycle cart, one-arch bridge, roller bearing, sailing upstream.

богатая фантазия, часы овальной формы, часовой механизм, механические станки, быть ответственным за что-л., Академия наук, «планетарные» карманные часы, миниатюрные «часы в кольце», механический экипаж с педальным приводом, автоматический механизм, роликовый подшипник, одноарочный мост, плыть против течения.

9.2. Words and words combinations to be remembered:

1.mechanic	механик
2. inventor	изобретатель
3.trader	торговец
4. to display an interest	проявить интерес
5. realization	осуществление
6. to inspire	способствовать,влиять, воздействовать
7. to contain	включать, иметь в своем составе
8. to assign	назначать
9. mechanical workshop	механическая мастерская
10. current moon phase	текущая фаза луны
11. tower clocks	башенные часы
12. to facet	совершенствовать, улучшать, шлифовать
13. span	пролёт (моста), расстояние между опорами (арки, свода)
14. girder	балка, брус
15. cross grate	кроссрешётка
16. to reject	отклонять, отвергать
17. lantern	фонарь
18. to emit	излучать
19. flywheel	маховое колесо
20. brake	тормоз
21. gearbox	коробка передач
22. prosthetic	протезный
23. entrepreneur	бизнесмен
24. screw mechanisms	винтовой механизм
25. feasible	реальный,выполнимый, осуществимый

9.3. Read and translate the text:

Ivan Petrovich Kulibin was a Russian mechanic and inventor. He was born in 1735 in Nizhny Novgorod in the family of a trader. From childhood, Kulibin displayed an interest in constructing mechanical tools. Soon, clock mechanisms became a special interest of his. His realizations as well as his prolific imagination inspired the work of many.

During 1764 -1767 he built an egg-shaped clock, containing a complex automatic mechanism. In 1769 Kulibin gave this clock to Catherine II, who assigned Kulibin to be in charge of the mechanical workshop in the Academy of Sciences of Saint Petersburg. There, Kulibin built a “planetary” pocket-clock, which showed not only the current time, but also the month, day of the week, the season and the current moon phase. Kulibin also designed projects for tower clocks, miniature "clock-in-a-ring" types and others. He also worked on new ways to facet glass for use in microscopes, telescopes and other optical instruments.

During the 1770s, he designed a wooden one-arch bridge over the Neva river with a span of 298 metres, offering to use an original girder with a cross grate. In 1776 a model was tested by a special commission of academics. Kulibin’s project was praised by Leonhard Euler⁹ and Daniel Bernoulli¹⁰, but was never realized. After 1780, Kulibin worked on possibilities for a metallic bridge, but these projects were also rejected by the government. Kulibin designed three projects for wooden and three projects for metallic bridges.

In 1779, he built a lantern that could emit a powerful light using a weak light source. This invention was used industrially for lighting workshops, lighthouses, ships, etc. In 1791, Kulibin constructed a push-cycle cart, in which he used a flywheel, a brake, a gearbox and roller bearing. The cart was operated by a man pressing pedals. In the same year, he also designed "mechanical legs", a prosthetic device, which was later used by a French entrepreneur. In 1793, Kulibin constructed an elevator that lifted a cabin using screw mechanisms. In 1794, he created an optical telegraph for transmitting signals over distance.

In 1801 Kulibin was fired from the academy and returned to Nizhny Novgorod, where he designed a method of sailing upstream and built a ship which he had started to design back in 1782. Tests indicated that such ships were indeed feasible, but they were never used. During the same time, Kulibin had projects on using steam engines to move cargo ships, different kinds of mills, pianos and other projects.

Kulibin died in 1818 after spending his last years in poverty.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-30