Heat, Air and Light: Machines to serve humankind

Heat A. Radiant and hot air systems.

1. Benjamin Franklin's stove. 1744 a. Uses fire to heat air directly. b. With a normal fire "man is scorch'd before while he's froze

behind." c. Concern over the quality of American heating: "a terrible

grievance to persons not accustomed to it, and a fatal misfortune to those who are."

B. Steam/hot water systems1. Uses water or steam as an intermediary between the fire and the space heated.

a. Directly related to using steam as a propellant and for its other properties.

b. 1811 factory heated with exhaust steam in Middletown CN.

c. Hot water heating systems are not found before the 1880s.

Frank E. Kidder, et al. The Architect's and Builders' Handbook, 1921. Page 1311.

Air Conditioning

1. Conditioned air was an important ingredient in modern buildings. 2. Manufacturing processes were early conditions that needed air conditioning. 3. The Stock Market was air conditioned in 1901. 4. The earliest convenience air conditioning came with the Motion Picture theatres of the 1920s. 5. Residences are not air conditioned until World War II. 6. Willis Haviland Carrier was the first engineer to efficiently solve the problems of humidity and temperature.

Gas/Electricity

1. Beyond the development of kerosene and oil lamps the first architectural construction for lighting were gas lighting systems. First installed in Baltimore in 1816. a. "Light came from the incandescent particles of unburned carbon, so the greater the flame the brighter the light." b. Early systems suffered from moisture present in the gas, especially with traces of ammonia that corroded the brass tips. In 1858 the steatite (stone) tip was developed which eliminated this difficulty. c. The ceiling fixture was the most successful use of gas lighting. d. Almost only found in cities, and most often in commercial buildings.

1. wrought iron pipes for delivery, cast iron mains. 2. first gas meter for measuring charge was invented in 1816.

Electricity

Generators supply power to buildings until the 1880s when local communities create steam powered or coal fired electric dynamos. 1. The supply of heat and light without fire. 2. Libraries were early customers of electric light. 3. Rural electrification is very late, usually post World War I.

Rural Electrical Authority sought to bring electric power to rural areas by subsidizing construction

Wiring systems change over time. a. Knob and tube. b. Insulated wire systems.

Telephone

A. The telephone begins as a replacement for the telegraph. 1. First exchange was in New Haven, CT in 1878, 21 phones to switchboard. 2. By 1887, 150,000 subscribers across US

B. Telegraph began in 1845, but was not a home-based infrastructure.

Plumbing

Early use of wells and cisterns. 1. By Civil War most cities are supplying water to homes. Also provided water for fire fighting.

2. 1860 136 municipal water works by 1880 there are 598.

3. Awaited the development of inexpensive metal pipe.

4. Thomas Crapper and the toilet. Problems of trapped gas

PlumbingUntil 1910 most plumbing left exposed to show the engineering in

the home. Built in systems are part of the cult of household technology

demanded clean white surfaces that would lead to healthy families. Galvanized iron pipe. The term refers to the coating of steel or iron with zinc. The pipe is threaded with joining pieces.Copper pipe. This is a drawn metal pipe thinner than iron but less effected by acidic water conditions.Cast iron pipe. Used for sewerage. Thicker wall. Rated by the bursting pressure by a column of water. The pipe is not threaded by has tapered ends that fit a collar and are packed with oakum.

Thermo-plastic pipePVC pipe. Poly vinyl chloride. Either (unplasticized polyvinyl chloride) and CPVC (post-chlorinated polyvinyl chloride)

ABS pipe. (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)