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Mining engineer.
Arthur WOOLF was apprenticed to a carpenter at Pool, near Camborne, and after the expiry of his indentures he went to London, and entered the service of Joseph Bramah at Pimlico as a millwright. In 1795 he became a master-engineer, and in the next year he assisted Jonathan Carter Hornblower to repair a fault in a two-cylinder engine which he had erected at Meux's brewery. In consequence he was appointed resident engineer in the brewery, where he remained until October 1806. In 1806 Woolf became partner with an engineer named Edwards in a steam-engine factory at Lambeth. His improvements, in fact, consisted of a revival of Hornblower's compound engine, which was rendered possible by the expiry of Watt's patent. Using steam of a fairly high pressure, and cutting off the supply before the end of the stroke in the small cylinder, Woolf expanded the steam to several times its original volume. In engines of this type the steam passed directly from the first to the second cylinder, and in consequence the term ‘Woolf engine’ has since been applied to all compound engines which discharge steam directly from the high to the low pressure cylinder without the use of an intermediate receiver. This type of engine has been more commonly adopted in France than in England. In 1812 Woolf dissolved his partnership and returned to Cornwall to devote himself to improving methods of mining. In 1814, he introduced his compound engine into the mines for the purpose of pumping, erecting engines at Wheal Abraham and Wheal Var in 1814 and 1815. In 1824 he erected engines at Wheal Busy, in 1825 at Wheal Alfred and Wheal Sparnon, and in 1827 at Consolidated mines. His engines were, however, quickly superseded by Trevithick's high-pressure single cylinder engine, which had the advantage of greater simplicity in construction. Until 1833 he acted as superintendent of Harvey & Co.'s engine manufactory at Hayle.
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variant spelling:
WOOLF, Arthur
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History
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* 1766
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Camborne, Cornouailles, England
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born
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1803
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Londres
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He was working for the Meux's Brewery.
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29.07.1803
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Obtained a patent (n° 2726) on an improved boiler for producing high pressure steam.
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1804
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He took out a patent (N° 2772) for his Two Cylinder Engine, working high pressure steam in a small cylinder, and allowing it to expand in a large one.
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1805
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He patented (n° 2863) his best-known invention, a compound steam engine. Later the compound engine was known as machine de Woolf.
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09.06.1810
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Dépôt d'un brevet n° 3346 «améliorations dans la construction et le fonctionnement des machines à vapeur ».
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1816 - 1833
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England
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Superintendent of « Harveys of Hayle engine foundry ».
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1818 - 1830
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England
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Consulting engineer to « Thirty Cornish Mines ».
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1818 - 1830
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England
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Engineer at Consolidated Mines,
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1825
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He erected engines at Wheal Alfred and Wheal Sparnon.
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1827
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He bulit engines at « Consolidated Mines ».
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† 26.10.1837
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The Strand, Guernsey, England
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died
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