Paper, 'Problems in mechanism regarding trains of pulleys and drums of least weight for a given velocity ratio' by Henry Hennessy

Description

Hennessy writes: 'Eighty years have elapsed since Dr Thomas Young published a theorem which has since found a place in most of the scientific treatises on mechanism. This theorem states that in order to obtain a given value or velocity ratio by a train of toothed wheels and pinions of which all the pairs are equal, the ratio of the number of teeth in each wheel to the number in each pinion should be as 359 to 100, when the total number of teeth in the train is the least possible. The late Professor Willis has remarked that the rule deduced from this theorem seemed not to have much practical utility, but he illustrates his remarks by referring to the trains of wheels and pinions employed in clockwork.'

Annotations in pencil and ink throughout.

Subject: Physics / Mechanics

Received 7 February 1887. Read 24 February 1887.

A version of this paper was published in volume 42 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'Problems in mechanism regarding trains of pulleys and drums of least weight for a given velocity ratio'.

Reference number

PP/10/14

Earliest possible date

1887

Physical description

Ink and graphite pencil on paper

Page extent

8 pages

Format

Manuscript