Archimedes screw

Archimedes screw

      machine for raising water, allegedly invented by the ancient Greek scientist Archimedes for removing water from the hold of a large ship. One form consists of a circular pipe enclosing a helix and inclined at an angle of about 45 degrees to the horizontal with its lower end dipped in the water; rotation of the device causes the water to rise in the pipe. Other forms consist of a helix revolving in a fixed cylinder or a helical tube wound around a shaft.

      Modern screw pumps, consisting of helices rotating in open inclined troughs, are effective for pumping sewage in wastewater treatment plants. The open troughs and the design of the screws permit the passage of debris without clogging.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Archimedes' screw — was operated by hand and could raise water efficiently …   Wikipedia

  • Archimedes screw — Screw Screw (skr[udd]), n. [OE. scrue, OF. escroue, escroe, female screw, F. [ e]crou, L. scrobis a ditch, trench, in LL., the hole made by swine in rooting; cf. D. schroef a screw, G. schraube, Icel. skr[=u]fa.] 1. A cylinder, or a cylindrical… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Archimedes' screw — or Archimedean screw n. an ancient water raising device attributed to Archimedes, made up of a spiral tube coiled about a shaft or of a large screw in a cylinder, revolved by hand …   English World dictionary

  • Archimedes' screw — Archimedean Ar chi*me*de an, a. [L. Archimedeus.] Of or pertaining to Archimedes, a celebrated Greek philosopher; constructed on the principle of Archimedes screw; as, Archimedean drill, propeller, etc. [1913 Webster] {Archimedean screw}, or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • archimedes' screw — noun Usage: usually capitalized A : a device consisting of a tube bent spirally around an axis or of a broad threaded screw incased by a hollow open cylinder and used to raise water by rotating the apparatus when partly immersed in a slantwise… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Archimedes' screw — noun Etymology: Archimedes Date: 1728 a device made of a tube bent spirally around an axis or of a broad threaded screw encased by a cylinder and used to raise water …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Archimedes screw — noun A screwlike device invented by Greek mathematician Archimedes, ca. 200 , which when twisted inside a cylinder, raises water from a lower level to a higher level, allowing irrigation of fields. Syn: Archimedean screw …   Wiktionary

  • Archimedes'screw — Ar·chi·me·des screw (är kə mēʹdēz) n. See Archimedean screw. * * * …   Universalium

  • Archimedes' screw — a device consisting essentially of a spiral passage within an inclined cylinder for raising water to a height when rotated. Also, Archimedean screw. Also called water snail. [1860 65] * * * …   Universalium

  • Archimedes screw — device for raising water which consists of a spiral passage or a screw encased in a cylinder …   English contemporary dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”