Common Era	Event
0	Fire piston invented in Southeast Asia (Europe, in early 1800): for starting fires, preceded match. (Asia, southeast)	22
25 ca.	Hypocaust system for building heating used: charcoal furnaces with tile flues in walls. (Roman Empire and Asia, Europe, Japan, and China)	26
50 - 120	Hero writes PNEUMATICA includes 75 devices and MECHANICA includes gear ratio, basic devices, and hoists. (Hero, Alexandria, Egypt)	21
69 ca.	Earthenware, wood, and lead pipes used (cast sheet metal with overcast longitudinal seams). (Romans, Europe)	25
80 - 409	Two-barreled reciprocating pump: cut from a block of wood, lined with sheet lead (0409 ca). (Romans in Britain, Silchester)	22
180	Rotary fan for ventilation: transferred to west 1556. (China)	28
200 ca.	Hot air flues for heating buildings possibly used. (Heliogabalus, Italy)	26
1200 - 1299	Stone stove heating system with chimney flue and slide damper used in German castles. (Germany)	26
1300 - 1400	Fireplaces used to heat homes.	26
1490	First stove of record produced: brick and tile. (Alsace, France)	26
1500 - 1599	Rotary pumps too difficult to make before 16th century, but described by Ramelli in 1588.	22
1500 ca.	Lather foot bellows used by Egyptians (earliest mechanical air pump in west is blowpipe).	23
1511	Bellows pump demonstrated. (Vegetius)	22
1539	Molds made for casting lead pipe. (Brocke)	25
1540 ca.	Bucket pumps for water, driven by waterwheels or animal gears, introduced in Saxon mines. (Georgius Agricola, Germany)	22
1550 ca.	Coal begins to replace wood as fuel: hearth replaced by coal furnace, more chimneys appear. (Britain)	26
1582	Undershot tide-mill pumps installed in London water system (London Bridge Waterworks established). (Morice (Dutch), Britain)	22
1600	Gear pump invented. (Kepler)	22
1600 - 1699	Rag-and-chain pump used to drain Cornish mines. (Britain)	22
1600 - 1699	Centrifugal water pumps not evident until the 17th century.	22
1600 ca.	King James of Scotland accedes to the throne of England and introduces coal to home. (Britain)	26
1629	Water-operated pumps of direct air-pressure type described; also described form of impulse steam turbine. (Giovanni Branca, Italy)	22
1635	Gearwheel pump illustrated by Schwenter. (Schwenter)	22
1642	First manufactured cast-iron stove produced. (Lynn, Mass)	26
1647	Experiments on fluid forces involving syphons, bellows, and tubes published. (Blaise Pascal, France)	21
1650 ca.	Machine-bored pump barrels used, mostly later in century; flanged and bolted pipes used. (Bate, Britain)	22
1652	Air (vacuum) pump devised: steadily improved upon later. (Otto von Guericke)	22
1654	Public demonstration of vacuum: produces vacuum in a fixed cylinder with tight-fitting piston. (Otto von Guericke, Ratisbon)	23
1657	Public demonstration to overcome vacuum: trial of two-horse teams pulling in opposite directions cannot overcome air pressure. (Otto von Guericke, Magdeburg, Germany)	23
1658	Air pump experiments conducted. (Boyle and Hooke)	22
1674 - 1675	Morland's plunger pumps patented: made in sizes up to 10-in-dia by Isaack Thomson (1675). (Moreland, Thomson, Britain)	22
1675 ca.	Suction hose used in Amsterdam for fire engines. (Amsterdam)	25
1680	Simple centrifugal pump invented. (Jordan)	22
1682	Marly waterworks in France erected (100 hp pumping works). (Ranneguin, France)	27
1685	Air compressing pump for high pressures for experiments invented. (Denis Papin, Britain)	22
1689	Centrifugal pump, known as Hessian pump, described: relates to internal combustion engine. (Denis Papin, Britain)	22
1716	Double-acting piston pump described:  not practical. (De la Hire, Britain)	22
1718	Savery's pump improved: later it was automatic. (Desagulier)	22
1720 ca.	Morland plunger pump used in London water supply. (Morland, London)	22
1721	Modern manual fire engine evolves from fire engine:  patented in 1721. (Newsham)	22
1730	Tympanum improved. (De la Faye)	22
1732	Simple centrifugal pump described. (Demour)	22
1732 ca.	Diaphragm pump invented by Gosset and Deville. (Gosset and Deville, Britain)	22
1733	Drawn lead pipes introduced. (Britain)	25
1739	Designs published for semi-balanced valve and brass pump bucket (later evolved into standard). (Belidor, France)	22
1740 - 1744	Franklin stove introduced: used with fireplace to heat buildings (still sold in 1980s). (Benjamin Franklin, Boston)	26
1746	Lifting pump devised using Archimedian screw. (Wirtz)	22
1750 - 1754	Euler's Equation formulated: torque equals rate of influx minus rate of efflux of angular momentum. (Leonhard Euler, USSR)	21
1755	Direct air-pressure mine pump used at Chemnitz	22
1757 - 1759	Tub-blowing machine patented (1757--O4, 1759--E1), for blast furnace: included three cast-iron cylinders and three-throw crank. (Isaac Wilkinson, Britain)	22
1768	First formula for resistance to fluid flow in channels expressed. (Antoine Chezy)	21
1768	Chain pump improved and introduced into ships: more efficient with renewable elements. (Cole)	22
1769	Watt's flyball governor introduced: first automatic feedback controller in industrial process. (James Watt, Glasgow)	24
1770 ca.	Cast iron pipes common in Britain; turns pistons and piston rods used. (Britain)	25
1772	Statical mercury vacuum pump devised. (Swedenborg)	22
1777 - 1845	Egg incubator heated by circulating hot-water system: boiler, tubes, and expansion chamber. (Le Pecq, France)	26
1781	Rope pump introduced. (Vera)	22
1787 - 1788	MECHANIQUE ANALYTIQUE published: a history of fluid mechanics. (Joseph Louis Lagrange, France)	21
1787	Conical pendulum-centrifugal governor applied to steam engine: considered first automatically controlled rotary engine and early application of feedback. (James Watt, Britain)	24
1788	Throttle valve perfected: regulates speed of steam engine. (James Watt, Britain)	24
1788	Centrifugal speed regulator depicted (11/1788) and Lap engine governor depicted (12/1788). (James Watt, Britain)	24
1791	Improved steam heating method (based on Watt's) for buildings patented (first British patent). (John Hoyle, Halifax, Britain)	26
1792 ca.	Cotton factory heated by hot air system, air flow measured with anemometer: wrought-iron furnace. (Wm Strutt, Derby, Britain)	26
1793	Water-tube boiler used on steamboat. (Barlow)	26
1797	Hydraulic studies on fluid flow conducted. (Giovanni B Venturi, Italy)	21
1799	Slide valve invented and patented:  controlled steam flow on beam steam engine, later improved by Matthew Murray 1801. (Wm Murdock, Britain)	24
1799	First practical installation of steam heating system erected: silk and woolen manufactory. (Neil Snodgrass)	26
1800	Cast-iron stove with grates produced. (Isaac Orr, Philadelphia)	26
1807	Mechanical ventilator introduced into British mining: based on exhausting air pump. (John Buddle, Britain)	28
1815	First direct-loaded spring safety valve designed (adopted much later). (Murray, Britain)	24
1817	Steam-heating plant supplies building heat to bank: book published by architect. (Ludwig Catel, Berlin)	26
1818	Massachusetts centrifugal pump introduced. (US)	22
1819	Differential mechanism invented. (Asa Arnold, RI or NH)	24
1819 ca.	Building-heat and cooking-range systems installed in home and factory; published. (Chabannes, Britain)	26
1820	Seamless lead tubes produced from squirting or extrusion process. (Thomas Burr, Britain)	25
1824 - 1826	First theoretical treatise on steam heat for buildings published. (Thomas Tredgold, Britain)	26
1827	Earliest fanner-type coal-mine ventilator introduced in Britain. (Paisley, Scotland)	28
1828	Hot-blast stove invented:  introduces preheated air to blast furnace at ironworks, increases productivity. (James B Neilson, Glasgow, Scotland)	26
1829	Calorifere hot-air furnace described in treatise: heating system in high school in Heilbronn. (C von Bruckmann)	26
1829	Hot-water circulation system for building heating patented in Britain (1834 in France). (Price brothers, Bristol, Britain)	26
1830 ca.	Tympanum improved by use of vanes curved to Archimedean spirals. (Cave)	22
1830 ca.	Bucket-pump system introduced at British colliery to sink shaft. (Britain)	22
1831	Early form of water tube boiler invented. (Jacob Perkins)	22
1831	Perkins' system of high-pressure warm-air heating for buildings patented. (Anger M Perkins, Britain)	26
1833	Base-burner stove using anthracite coal invented. (Jordon Mott)	26
1834	Hydraulic belt pump patented. (Child)	22
1834	Hot-water circulation system for building heating patented in France: water stoves used. (Leon Duvoir, France)	26
1835	Steam trap developed as safety device for building heating systems: flat cylindrical float.	26
1836	Indirect (or relay) governor (Schofield governor) patented: improved in 1857. (N Schofield)	24
1837	Pneumatic regulator patented: for pumping engines (British patent held by Hannuic). (Louis Molinie, Saint-Pons, France)	24
1838	Solid-drawn brass or copper tubes cast then drawn through die. (Charles Green)	25
1839	First shaft governor patented. (Jacob D Custer)	24
1839	Reliable stop valve designed. (James Nasmyth, Britain)	24
1840	Hot-water heaters installed in US. (Robert Briggs, US)	26
1841 - 1901	Navier-Stokes equations formulated: in fluid mechanics (Stokes published 1842-62) (1849-51--W7). (Sir George Stokes)	21
1841	Translation of HOT WATER HEATING published: boiler designs and theoretical work. (Charles Hood)	26
1844	Siemens' chronometric governor patented in Britain by Joseph Woods. (Siemens brothers (German), Britain)	24
1844 - 1845	Lancashire shell-type boilers with two flues patented. (Wm Fairbairn and J Hetherington, Britain)	26
1849	Steam direct-acting steam pump invented: for Simplex pumps. (Henry Worthington)	22
1850 ca.	Constant flow valve invented: journal-bearing friction studies performed in 1877. (H C Fleeming Jenkin, Edinburgh Univ, Britain)	24
1850	Bunsen's burner devised (gas burner 1855--X4). (Robt W Bunsen, Germany)	26
1857	Feathering chain pump patented. (Murray, Britain)	22
1857 - 1859	Duplex steam pump invented. (Henry Worthington, New York)	22
1858	Porter central counterpose governor patented. (Charles Porter, New York)	24
1859	Sectional boiler introduced. (J Harrison, Philadelphia)	26
1860	Duplex water-works engine built: widely adopted. (Henry Worthington, New York)	22
1860 - 1869	Solid-drawn tube process patented: for copper marine tubes, previously seam brazed. (C Green, Elliots, UK)	25
1860 ca.	Lockport water works built: introduces pressurized water-main, fire-hydrant system*. (Birdsill Holly, Lockport, NY)	27
1860 - 1869	Steam-driven centrifugal fan, at top of shaft, used to ventilate mines.	28
1861	Isochronous centrifugal governor patented (demonstrated at London Exhibition of 1862). (Charles Porter, New York)	24
1862	Spring-loaded governor patented: gradually replaces Porter governors. (Thomas Pickering)	24
1865	Mercury vacuum pump invented: solves problem in carbon filament lamp. (Sprengel)	22
1866	Steering engine using feedback patented: used on GREAT EASTERN. (J McFarlane Gray, Britain)	24
1866	Positive displacement invented: ventilated mines. (Root brothers, US)	28
1867 - 1870	Demonstrations and trials of Whitehead torpedos held: advanced servomechanisms. (Robt Whitehead, Austria, Britain)	24
1868	Vertical direct-acting flywheel pump patented. (Thomson and Moreland)	22
1870 ca.	Jet pump devised. (Thomson, Britain)	22
1870	Hydraulic servomechanism patented: developed for steering engine and hydraulic cranes for merchant ships. (Betts Brown, Britain)	24
1870	Shaft governor patented: especially used in flywheels, capable of industrial application. (Dan Woodbury)	24
1871	Differential valve motion for direct-acting pump patented. (Davey)	22
1872	Pulsometer steam pump invented. (Hall, Britain)	22
1872 - 1873	Servomotor discovered by Jean Joseph Leon Farcot, son of Marie Joseph Farcot. (Farcot and Son)	24
1875	Multistage centrifugal pump patented: improved efficiency. (O Reynolds, Britain)	22
1875	Pop safety valve introduced for rail locomotives. (Crosby)	24
1875 ca.	Pipe thread design introduced: later known as American National Taper Pipe Thread. (Robert Briggs, US)	25
1875 ca.	Steel piping available: replaces cast iron and wood for water mains and to transport oil. (Van Sickle, Nobel, US, USSR)	25
1876	Analysis of astatic governor reported to Academie des Sciences in Paris via M Tresca. (J Wischnegradski, USSR)	24
1877	Direct air-pressure pump for sewage: includes Shone's ejector. (Shone, Britain)	22
1877	Overhead downfeed one-pipe steam-heating system designed. (John H Mills)	26
1879	HYDRODYNAMICS published. (Horace Lamb)	21
1880 ca.	Principle of dynamic stability, cavitation, and wave profiles determined. (Raleigh (Strutt), Britain)	21
1880	Vertical direct-acting compound pumping engine introduced. (Moreland)	22
1880	Air-lift pump devised. (Frizzle, Britain)	22
1882	Solenoid-operated valve system applied as first servomechanism to regulate steam to electric generator. (P W Willans, Rugby, Britain)	24
1883 - 1890	Natural gas industry develops when gas is piped from Pennsylvania fields to Pittsburgh. (Pennsylvania)	25
1883	Modulating valve developed for steam heating systems. (Frederick Tudor)	26
1885	Seamless steel tube hot-forged by Reinhard and Max Mannesmann; patented. (Mannesmann, Remscheid, Germany)	25
1886	Vertical triple-expansion pumping engine introduced in US. (Allis, US)	22
1886	Air lift pump improved. (Pohle, Britain)	22
1886	Compensated Duplex compound pump used in England. (Worthington)	22
1886	Inertia governor patented. (Francis M Rites)	24
1887	Water filtration system patented: adopted by cities and paper and woolen mills. (John Hyatt, New Jersey)	27
1888 - 1891	Automatic gas water heater patented. (Edwin Rudd, Pennsylvania)	26
1888 - 1909	Heating and ventilating systems designed: introduces cheesecloth filter, humidostat developed. (Alfred R Wolff)	27
1889 - 1892	Improved water-tube boiler introduced (12,000 lb of steam at 160 psi in pressure). (Allan Stirling, New York)	26
1891	First British vertical triple-expansion pumping engine. (Britain)	22
1893 - 1895	First use of stability conditions in the design of practical control systems. (Stodola, Hurwitz, Zurich, Switzerland)	24
1893	German heat-unit system for ventilation introduced in US: combined plenum and exhaust system, thermostat. (Alfred Wolff, New York)	28
1899	Vapor system for building heating developed. (James A Trane)	26
1900 ca.	Direct air pressure pump. (Harris)	22
1900 - 1910	Pickering centrifugal pendulum or knife-edge suspension governors replace Watt flyball.	24
1900 ca.	Steam-heat systems with fluid-operated thermostatic traps developed.	26
1902	Improved return-line system for venting of building-heating systems developed. (Frederick Tudor)	26
1903	Fluid-filled thermostatic trap for steam heating systems marketed. (C A Dunham)	26
1904 ca.	Kaiser Wilhelm Institute founded for study of fluid flow. (Ludwig Prandtl, Gottingen)	21
1904	Circulating gas hot-water heater patented. (Wm Kane, Philadelphia)	26
1905	Control theory, especially Stodola's methods, published: DIE REGELUNG DER KRAFTMASCHINEN. (M Tolle, Berlin)	24
1905 - 1907	Ventilation theories for removing heat and odors from buildings formed. (Karl Flugge)	28
1907 - 1931	Boiler efficiency increases from 70 to 89 percent: credited to automatic combustion control.	26
1908 - 1928	Corrosion in condenser tubes investigated by Institute of Metals soon after its formation. (Institute of Metals, UK)	25
1908	Panel (radiant) heating rediscovered (from Roman hypocaust heating): used chimneys. (A H Barker, Britain)	26
1909	Humphrey gas explosion pump invented:  uses oscillating column of water in U-shaped tube rather than piston and crankshaft, never achieved general acceptance. (H A Humphrey)	22
1910	Water elevator. (Chaine Helice)	22
1919	Caruelle water elevator. (Caruelle)	22
1920 ca.	Free fall experiments made from Eiffel tower: involves boundary layer approach to fluid machine. (Alexandre G Eiffel, Paris)	21
1920 ca.	Boundry-layer analyses prove basis for heat transfer in furnaces, boilers, evaporators, condensers, and heat exchangers.	21
1920 - 1929	Mechanical engineers abandon hydraulics in favor of fluid mechanics as result of aeronautic advancements.	21
1920 - 1929	Fluid mechanics methods applied to calculate heat transfer surfaces.	21
1920 - 1929	Welded steel pipelines increase production of natural gas in US. (US)	25
1920 - 1925	Unit heaters and unit ventilators developed: convection heating equipment. (US)	26
1920 - 1925	Fuel oil first used for building heat: becomes prominent, displaces coal within years. (US Pacific Coast)	26
1920 - 1927	Holland Tunnel built: prototype ventilation system for underground vehicular tunnels. (US Bureau of Mines, New York, New Jersey )	28
1925	Seamless electrically welded steel pipe makes long-distance transportation of oil and gas economical.	25
1928	Low-carbon tubes for boilers use molybdenum steel (important application).	25
1930	Work on cavitation boundary conditions and dynamicallly loaded bearing pioneered. (Herbert Swift, Britain)	21
1930 - 1939	Boundary layer research continues at California Institute of Technology: after he emigrates from Hungary. (Theo von Karman, Calif, Hungary)	21
1930 ca.	Copper-nickel alloys used in tubing for marine steam engines, especially British warships. (Allen Everitts, UK)	25
1933	Donnell equations for thin, shallow shell theory developed: the study of stress and displacements of thin shells (eg, for airplane fuselage or satellite casings) under any loadings or motions. (Lloyd H Donnell, Calif Inst of Technology)	21
1937	Magma Mine air conditioner* designed for underground use (based on South Africa design). (Carrier, Superior, Ariz)	28
1944 ca.	Baseboard radiators introduced: reduced floor-to-ceiling temperature stratification.	27
1945 ca.	Joint development of pressure vessels withstanding high loads. (Vickers Anderson)	22
1945 ca.	Oil pipelines converted to natural gas lines: processes develop for liquefication, etc. (US)	25
1948	Spot transition from laminar to turbulent flow demonstrated:  early demonstration and no comprehensive theory published yet. (Howard W Emmons, Cambridge, Mass (Havard))	21
1948	Equitable heat pump*: first system in modern-style sealed-window office building. (Oregon)	22
1950 ca.	Vortex flow theory applied to design of turbine blading (vortex generators develop--C1).	21
1950 ca.	Fluid flow phenomena studies lead to gas turbine and hovercraft development.	21
1953	Small, quiet fan designed: forerunner of compact fan heater of 1937. (Bruno Eck, Cologne)	28
1959	Schlieren photography method used to observe flow phenomena in water tunnel.	21
1976	BEAMS, PLATES AND SHELLS published: includes complete theory of general shells (extension of Donnell's work on thin cylindrical shell theory throughout the 1960s). (Lloyd H Donnell, US)	21
1977	Alaskan pipeline opens: oil flows 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. (Alaska)	25