biography
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (c.1650–1715)
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| biography:
| Engineer, born in Shilstone, Devon, SW England, UK. He developed and patented a device for pumping water out of mines (1698), using steam pressure admitted to a closed chamber containing water. When the steam had forced the water to a higher level, the steam was condensed, creating a vacuum which drew up more water from below through a valve, refilling the closed chamber for the process to be repeated. This was the first practical steam engine, and he manufactured several until he joined with Newcomen to help develop Newcomen's more efficient and practical steam piston engine. |
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