Hermann Lemp
Encyclopedia
Hermann Lemp was a Swiss
-American
electrical engineer; he is credited as the inventor of the modern system of diesel electric traction co-ordination and control.
Born and educated in Switzerland, he emigrated to America aged 19, hoping to work with T. A. Edison
. He joined Edison General Electric and worked with Edison on electrical projects, including one of Edison's first electric locomotive
s. A short while later he joined Elihu Thomson
, of the Thomson-Houston Company. That company became part of General Electric
(GE), to which Edison acted as consultant.
He met Rudolf Diesel
on his visit to the USA in 1911, and was an invited observer at the trials of Diesel's direct-drive 1000 hp locomotive in 1912. The diesel engine was too powerful for the mechanical gears. Lemp, with his colleagues, persuaded GE that diesel traction had a future, but that a non-mechanical transmission system was required. The proposed transmission was electrical, using the diesel engine to power a generator that supplied current to the traction motor
s. However, such a system would need a device to coordinate engine and generator output. He invented one, patented in 1914. This patent provided the basis for the systems used by many other locomotive and diesel makers.
GE did not enter the locomotive field then, but did authorize the purchase of Junker's patent for high speed diesel engines,and the manufacture of some small experimental locomotives.
However, GE's later, successful locomotives used Lemp's improved system, patented after World War I
. The first GE diesel electric locomotive was a demonstrator, made to Lemp's specifications by a trio of GE, ALCO
and Ingersoll-Rand, who made, respectively, the electrical equipment, the body and the engine. This machine started trials around New York City
in 1924, sales of similar locomotives starting from 1925.
His system of control is also used in other applications apart from railways, such as on giant earth-moving equipment.
Lemp died at his home in Ridgewood, New Jersey, on March 31, 1954.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electrical engineer; he is credited as the inventor of the modern system of diesel electric traction co-ordination and control.
Born and educated in Switzerland, he emigrated to America aged 19, hoping to work with T. A. Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
. He joined Edison General Electric and worked with Edison on electrical projects, including one of Edison's first electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
s. A short while later he joined Elihu Thomson
Elihu Thomson
Elihu Thomson was an American engineer and inventor who was instrumental in the founding of major electrical companies in the United States, the United Kingdom and France.-Early life:...
, of the Thomson-Houston Company. That company became part of General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
(GE), to which Edison acted as consultant.
He met Rudolf Diesel
Rudolf Diesel
Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel was a German inventor and mechanical engineer, famous for the invention of the diesel engine.-Early life:Diesel was born in Paris, France in 1858 the second of three children of Theodor and Elise Diesel. His parents were Bavarian immigrants living in Paris. Theodor...
on his visit to the USA in 1911, and was an invited observer at the trials of Diesel's direct-drive 1000 hp locomotive in 1912. The diesel engine was too powerful for the mechanical gears. Lemp, with his colleagues, persuaded GE that diesel traction had a future, but that a non-mechanical transmission system was required. The proposed transmission was electrical, using the diesel engine to power a generator that supplied current to the traction motor
Traction motor
Traction motor refers to an electric motor providing the primary rotational torque of a machine, usually for conversion into linear motion ....
s. However, such a system would need a device to coordinate engine and generator output. He invented one, patented in 1914. This patent provided the basis for the systems used by many other locomotive and diesel makers.
GE did not enter the locomotive field then, but did authorize the purchase of Junker's patent for high speed diesel engines,and the manufacture of some small experimental locomotives.
However, GE's later, successful locomotives used Lemp's improved system, patented after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The first GE diesel electric locomotive was a demonstrator, made to Lemp's specifications by a trio of GE, ALCO
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
and Ingersoll-Rand, who made, respectively, the electrical equipment, the body and the engine. This machine started trials around New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1924, sales of similar locomotives starting from 1925.
His system of control is also used in other applications apart from railways, such as on giant earth-moving equipment.
Lemp died at his home in Ridgewood, New Jersey, on March 31, 1954.