For years there has been a debate about what has been the single most useful invention of man. The answer to this question varies a lot from person to person. Many of the answers link back to the personal and professional background and IQ of an individual. But if there is one answer that almost everyone seems to agree upon, it is undisputedly ‘The wheel’. The wheel is a very uncomplicated thing itself, based on the concept of a round revolving object around a fixed point. But have you ever seen a machinery which does not contain at least one part based on the similar concept? It is quite rare. From the very basic wheel used for animal driven carts to the ones used in a modern luggage cart and portable cart, the founding principle of wheel is still the same.
In present times we see a lot of newer inventions which can replace the wheels as primary transportation mechanism. We see powerful electromagnetic trains and tracks, and we come across hovercrafts and sledges. However, the simplicity of wheel is something that makes it irreplaceable by any modern day wonder.
The oldest evidence of the usage of wheel is found to be of around 3500 BC in Mesopotamia and consecutively in Central Europe. The first wheel was a potter’s wheel made up of clay. The same wheel travelled to Asia about half a century later. Artifiacts and evidences from Indus Valley civilization propose that it was used mainly for traveling carts. Many people think that mechanical and industrial usage of wheels roots back much prior to the usage in vehicles.
The wheel at that time was just a round slab of lumber or clay. Near the 2000 BC, Egyptians used the wheels to make their elegant chariots. The Egyptian, as they did to any invention, enhanced the wheel. They added spoke to make it stronger yet lighter than the slabs.
The wooden spooked wheel was used all across the world to run chariots and carts. With the rise of Bronze and Iron, Age, people started to mold the wooden wheel into much stronger iron and bronze. It is important to note that the usage of wheels was still not much common as the roads were not proper.
It was in the Nineteenth century that the wheels were again revolutionized. In 1802 G.F. Bauer invented the tension spoke. The round tension spokes provide flexibility and strength required. The first ever tire was used to cover the bare rim of the wheel. The tire was nothing but a thick and hard piece of rubber. In 1882, John Dunlop developed the inflatable tire to cushion his son’s bicycle and also patented it. The tires were air filled, therefore lessened the odds of injuries and aches during the ride.
These tires soon became popular but they were not very stable. In only three to four miles, the tire would get puncture or any other problem was likely to occur. Today, the tires we have in our automobiles can travel 50,000 miles before getting puncture or anything. The wheels didn’t end here, today, we see tires which don’t even need air but are more resistant. Conclusively, it is very early to say where the next roll of the wheel might lead to.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.