Sci&Tech History

Diesel start his invention with an idea to built a perfect engine working according Carnot’s thermodynamic principles and could occur without an increase in temperature by inventing new ways of injecting and burning fuel. What Diesel did is not as simple as turning paper and patent into a prototype, but also convinces other actors to support his invention. As an allies, Diesel associated with Maschinenfabrik Augusburg-Nurnberg, known as MAN, and Krupp, which interested because of the hope of increased efficiency and versatility of a perfect Carnot machine, the efficiency of the steam engine in the 1890s being pitifully low(Latour, 1987).

For four years, Diesel tried to get one engine working, building it with the help of MAN engineers and tools. A solution of the engine was found, but this made the engine became more expensive and large. Modification has been conducted several times which made the engine drifted away from its original patent.

In June 1897, the engine is presented to the public. In Diesel thought, the engine spread is as simple as buy the licence, pay the royalty, and you will get the blueprints, a few engineers to help you, a few mechanics to tend the engine, and if you are not satisfied you can get your money back. What Diesel thought was different with the buyers’ interest; the buyers want the engine unproblematic. As the result, the licensees returned the prototype to Diesel and asked their money back. Diesel went bankrupts and had a serious breakdown.

In around 1908, Diesel’s patent falls into the public domain. This opportunity was taken by MAN to offer a diesel engine for sale. An engine that was modified from Diesel prototype and offers as an unproblematic, albeit new, item of equipment and incorporated as one piece of industry. When German Society of Naval Architect held a meeting in 1912, Diesel claimed that the new engine is based on his idea, only with some simply modifications from others. This claim was rejected by Diesel colleagues; it is true that Diesel is the one who initiate the engine process production, but the engine final form was based on several modifications from Diesel design.

Diesel committed suicide by jumping from a ship on the way to England just before diesel engine finally spread. He maybe doesn’t get the royalty, but until now, people know him as the father of  diesel engine, a father that have to release his ‘kid’ much faster than he want it to.

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