Drawing of apparatus proposed by Denis Papin, 1690

Drawing of steam apparatus proposed by Denis Papin, 1690

Denis Papin, in 1690, published a proposal for obtaining power by the action of steam. The apparatus was to consist of a thin, open-topped metal cylinder, fitted with a piston provided with a rod on which was a latch. A small quantity of water was to be placed in the cylinder, and be heated by an external fire till the steam generated forced the piston to rise to the top, where it was to be retained by the latch. The fire was then to be removed, so that the steam should condense, thus causing the piston when released to move towards the bottom of the cylinder with such force as to enable it, by the aid of a rope and overhead pulley, to lift a weight.