Macneill's road indicator
Encyclopedia
Macnaill's Road Indicator was a dynamometer
for ascertaining the force necessary to draw a carriage over different kind of roads and pavements. It was developed by John Benjamin Macneill
in the late 1820s.
, or force of traction
, at different degrees of velocity
.
It was demonstrated in Regent's Park
in presence of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond
and Sir Henry Parnell 18 May 1833, and two days after reported to the select committee of the House of Lords appointed to examine the turnpike returns with description and measured data for the period 1829 - 1832. The experiments showed that the force of traction
was nearly in an exact proportion to the hardness of the road.
In 1835 Macneill gave evidence to the House of Common on the relative advantages of the telegraph, elliptical and other springs as regards the draught of carriages.
Dynamometer
A dynamometer or "dyno" for short, is a device for measuring force, moment of force , or power. For example, the power produced by an engine, motor or other rotating prime mover can be calculated by simultaneously measuring torque and rotational speed .A dynamometer can also be used to determine...
for ascertaining the force necessary to draw a carriage over different kind of roads and pavements. It was developed by John Benjamin Macneill
John Benjamin Macneill
Sir John Benjamin MacNeill FRS was an eminent Irish civil engineer of the 19th century, closely associated with Thomas Telford. His most notable projects were railway schemes in Ireland...
in the late 1820s.
Prototype
Macneill's road indicator was completed according to drawings laid before and authorised by the Parliamentary Commissioners in 1829. It was first used on the road between London and Shrewsbury. A description of and the method of using it was included the Sevent report of the Commissioners(1830).Improved version
Macneill made further improvement in the road indicator enable it to measure bearing, inclination, time and distance travelled. In April 1833 it was used in experiments with an iron boat on the Paddington Canal for the purpose of ascertaining the law of resistanceResistance
- Physics :* Electrical resistance, a measure of the degree to which an object opposes an electric current through it* Friction, the force that opposes motion** Drag , fluid or gas forces opposing motion and flow...
, or force of traction
Traction
- Engineering :*Forces:** Traction , adhesive friction or force in the context of vehicle** Traction vector, in mechanics, the force per unit area on a surface, including normal and shear components...
, at different degrees of velocity
Velocity
In physics, velocity is speed in a given direction. Speed describes only how fast an object is moving, whereas velocity gives both the speed and direction of the object's motion. To have a constant velocity, an object must have a constant speed and motion in a constant direction. Constant ...
.
It was demonstrated in Regent's Park
Regent's Park
Regent's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is in the north-western part of central London, partly in the City of Westminster and partly in the London Borough of Camden...
in presence of Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond
Charles Gordon-Lennox, 5th Duke of Richmond and 5th Duke of Lennox KG, PC , styled Earl of March until in 1819, was a British soldier, politician and a prominent Conservative.-Background and education:...
and Sir Henry Parnell 18 May 1833, and two days after reported to the select committee of the House of Lords appointed to examine the turnpike returns with description and measured data for the period 1829 - 1832. The experiments showed that the force of traction
Traction
- Engineering :*Forces:** Traction , adhesive friction or force in the context of vehicle** Traction vector, in mechanics, the force per unit area on a surface, including normal and shear components...
was nearly in an exact proportion to the hardness of the road.
In 1835 Macneill gave evidence to the House of Common on the relative advantages of the telegraph, elliptical and other springs as regards the draught of carriages.