Hydraulic Press
Bramah's most important invention was the hydraulic press. The hydraulic press depends on Pascal's principle, that pressure throughout a closed system is constant. The press had two cylinders and pistons of different cross-sectional areas. If a force was exerted on the smaller piston, this would be translated into a larger force on the larger piston. The difference in the two forces would be proportional to the difference in area of the two pistons. In effect the cylinders act in a similar way that a lever is used to increase the force exerted. Bramah was granted a patent for his hydraulic press in 1795.
Bramah's hydraulic press had many industrial applications and still does today. Of the period of time, to which end the things told of here are referring, the field of hydraulic engineering was within the province of an almost unknown science, and Bramah together with William George Armstrong were the two pioneers in this field.
The hydraulic press is still known as the Bramah Press after its inventor.
Read more about this topic: Joseph Bramah
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