Gordon Rawcliffe
Encyclopedia
Gordon Hindle Rawcliffe FRS
(2 June 1910 – 3 September 1979) was a British electrical engineer and academic.
clergyman in Sheffield
, was born on 2 June 1910, moving from Sheffield to Gloucester
when he was two. He was educated at the King's School, Gloucester, Hereford Cathedral School
and St Edmund's School, Canterbury before matriculating
at Keble College, Oxford
to study mathematics. After his first-year examinations, he switched to engineering, under Richard V. Southwell
, and obtained a first-class degree in 1932. He worked for the next five years for Metropolitan-Vickers
in Manchester
, initially as an apprentice and then as a design engineer. In 1937, more interested in the science of engineering than production methods, he moved to the University of Liverpool
as lecturer in electrical engineering; four years later, he moved again, to the University of Aberdeen
, as lecturer in charge of electrical engineering and departmental head of Robert Gordon's Technical College (now Robert Gordon University
). In 1944, the University of Bristol
appointed him Professor of Electrical Engineering, a post that he held for the next 31 years. After retiring in 1975, he died in Bristol of a heart attack on 3 September 1979, brought on by the asthma that affected his health throughout his life.
of alternating current machinery
. He developed the principle of pole amplitude modulation, enabling induction motor
s to run at different speeds; with his fellow-researchers, he filed more than 60 patents and wrote many scientific papers. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1972, appointed an Honorary Fellow of Keble College, Oxford
in 1976, and received honorary degrees from the universities of Loughborough
and Bath
.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(2 June 1910 – 3 September 1979) was a British electrical engineer and academic.
Life
Gordon Hindle Rawcliffe, whose father was an AnglicanChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
clergyman in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, was born on 2 June 1910, moving from Sheffield to Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
when he was two. He was educated at the King's School, Gloucester, Hereford Cathedral School
Hereford Cathedral School
Hereford Cathedral School is an independent, co-educational day school, with around 520 pupils aged between the ages of 11 and 18. It has four houses, named Langford , Stuart , Somerset and Cornwall Hereford Cathedral School is an independent, co-educational day school, with around 520 pupils aged...
and St Edmund's School, Canterbury before matriculating
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
to study mathematics. After his first-year examinations, he switched to engineering, under Richard V. Southwell
Richard V. Southwell
Sir Richard Vynne Southwell MA, LLD, FRS was a British mathematician who specialized in applied mechanics as an engineering science academic.- Education and career :...
, and obtained a first-class degree in 1932. He worked for the next five years for Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers
Metropolitan-Vickers, Metrovick, or Metrovicks, was a British heavy electrical engineering company of the early-to-mid 20th century formerly known as British Westinghouse. Highly diversified, they were particularly well known for their industrial electrical equipment such as generators, steam...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, initially as an apprentice and then as a design engineer. In 1937, more interested in the science of engineering than production methods, he moved to the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
as lecturer in electrical engineering; four years later, he moved again, to the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, as lecturer in charge of electrical engineering and departmental head of Robert Gordon's Technical College (now Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University
Robert Gordon University is located in Aberdeen, Scotland. Building on over 250 years involvement in education, it was granted university status in 1992. Robert Gordon University currently has approximately 16,407 students at its two campuses at Garthdee and the City Centre, studying on over 145...
). In 1944, the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
appointed him Professor of Electrical Engineering, a post that he held for the next 31 years. After retiring in 1975, he died in Bristol of a heart attack on 3 September 1979, brought on by the asthma that affected his health throughout his life.
Work
From 1955 onwards, Rawcliffe worked on polyphase windingPolyphase system
A polyphase system is a means of distributing alternating current electrical power. Polyphase systems have three or more energized electrical conductors carrying alternating currents with a definite time offset between the voltage waves in each conductor. Polyphase systems are particularly useful...
of alternating current machinery
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
. He developed the principle of pole amplitude modulation, enabling induction motor
Induction motor
An induction or asynchronous motor is a type of AC motor where power is supplied to the rotor by means of electromagnetic induction. These motors are widely used in industrial drives, particularly polyphase induction motors, because they are robust and have no brushes...
s to run at different speeds; with his fellow-researchers, he filed more than 60 patents and wrote many scientific papers. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1972, appointed an Honorary Fellow of Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
in 1976, and received honorary degrees from the universities of Loughborough
Loughborough University
Loughborough University is a research based campus university located in the market town of Loughborough, Leicestershire, in the East Midlands of England...
and Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
.