The first invention I learned about this week was the air brake. Westinghouse invented air brakes after seeing a horrible train wreck. This caused the genius inventor Westinghouse to create the airbrakes for safer travel. It also reduces the number of workers on trains. There was a nearby train wreck that happened which lead to a high demand for Westinghouse’s new brakes. Westinghouse’s brakes also changed the automotive business. One example is that trains could now go faster and get places sooner because the brake was able to slow them down much faster then any other.
The second invention I learned about this week was the traffic light. JP Knight invented the traffic light after seeing the traffic with trains in 1868 London. From his interesting in traffic, JP knight was able to come up with the traffic light. The traffic light regulates the flow of traffic and reduces the number of accidents and injuries. They quickly spread across the US in the early 1900s in major city’s. Some of the city’s include Detroit, Toledo, and LA. Traffic lights made highway travel more efficiency.
The third invention I learned about this week was the tape measure. Alvin J. Fellows invented the tape measure in 1868. It easily pulls out for quick measurements, then automatically retracts. It small size makes storage easy. They were advertised through out magazines and newspapers. Large companies manufactured higher ended tape measurers. They are important tools in construction in modern times.
The fourth invention I learned about this week was the pipe wrench. Daniel Stillson invented the pipe wrench in 1869, it worked faster then the monkey wrenches of the day. Pipe wrench are specifically design to grip round pipes, fittings, and generate torque to turn fittings and pipes. Companies advertised the pipe wrench in magazines as it had benefits such as grip and durability. They are modern tools for pluming and helped build the Alaskan pipeline.
The most interesting thing I learned about this week was the tape measure. The reason I found this interesting was because the worlds longest tape measure was 600 ft. long. My family uses tape measures a lot which is why I liked this lesson.
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