Peter Cooper Hewitt
Encyclopedia
Peter Cooper Hewitt was an American
electrical engineer and inventor, who invented the first mercury-vapor lamp
in 1901. Hewitt was issued U.S. patent #682692 on September 17, 1901. In 1903, Hewitt created an improved version that possessed higher colour qualities which eventually found widespread industrial use. Although Hewitt is frequently described as the first to invent the lamp, German physicist Martin Leo Arons also demonstrated a mercury-vapor lamp although no patent was ever issued to Arons.
, the son of New York City Mayor Abram Hewitt and the grandson of industrialist Peter Cooper
. He was educated at the Stevens Institute of Technology
and the Columbia University School of Mines.
in a vapor of mercury
heated by the current passing through the liquid phase. The lamp was started by tilting the tube to make contact between the two electrode
s, with the liquid mercury located on one side at rest. The efficiency was much higher than incandescent lamps
but the emitted light was of a bluish-green unpleasant color, which limited its practical use to specific professional areas, like photography where the color was not an issue at a time where films were black and white.
In 1902 Hewitt developed the first mercury arc rectifier, which was an efficient way of converting alternating current
power to direct current
for use in electric railways, industry, and high-voltage direct current
(HVDC) power transmission.
In 1907 he developed and tested an early hydrofoil
.
In 1916
, Hewitt joined Elmer Sperry
to develop the Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane
, one of the first successful precursors of the UAV
.
. Frances was the great-grandmother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales
.
References Cooper Hewitt's work with hydrofoils.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electrical engineer and inventor, who invented the first mercury-vapor lamp
Mercury-vapor lamp
A mercury-vapor lamp is a gas discharge lamp that uses an electric arc through vaporized mercury to produce light. The arc discharge is generally confined to a small fused quartz arc tube mounted within a larger borosilicate glass bulb...
in 1901. Hewitt was issued U.S. patent #682692 on September 17, 1901. In 1903, Hewitt created an improved version that possessed higher colour qualities which eventually found widespread industrial use. Although Hewitt is frequently described as the first to invent the lamp, German physicist Martin Leo Arons also demonstrated a mercury-vapor lamp although no patent was ever issued to Arons.
Early life
Hewitt was born in New York CityNew 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...
, the son of New York City Mayor Abram Hewitt and the grandson of industrialist Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper
Peter Cooper was an American industrialist, inventor, philanthropist, and candidate for President of the United States...
. He was educated at the Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
and the Columbia University School of Mines.
Career
He fabricated a discharge lampArc lamp
"Arc lamp" or "arc light" is the general term for a class of lamps that produce light by an electric arc . The lamp consists of two electrodes, first made from carbon but typically made today of tungsten, which are separated by a gas...
in a vapor of mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
heated by the current passing through the liquid phase. The lamp was started by tilting the tube to make contact between the two electrode
Electrode
An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit...
s, with the liquid mercury located on one side at rest. The efficiency was much higher than incandescent lamps
Incandescent light bulb
The incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe makes light by heating a metal filament wire to a high temperature until it glows. The hot filament is protected from air by a glass bulb that is filled with inert gas or evacuated. In a halogen lamp, a chemical process...
but the emitted light was of a bluish-green unpleasant color, which limited its practical use to specific professional areas, like photography where the color was not an issue at a time where films were black and white.
In 1902 Hewitt developed the first mercury arc rectifier, which was an efficient way of converting alternating current
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....
power to direct current
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
for use in electric railways, industry, and high-voltage direct current
High-voltage direct current
A high-voltage, direct current electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power, in contrast with the more common alternating current systems. For long-distance transmission, HVDC systems may be less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses...
(HVDC) power transmission.
In 1907 he developed and tested an early hydrofoil
Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil is a foil which operates in water. They are similar in appearance and purpose to airfoils.Hydrofoils can be artificial, such as the rudder or keel on a boat, the diving planes on a submarine, a surfboard fin, or occur naturally, as with fish fins, the flippers of aquatic mammals, the...
.
In 1916
1916 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1916:- Events :* Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft simulate night torpedo attacks for the first time against Japanese fleet units in Tateyama Bay during annual fleet maneuvers, although no torpedoes are dropped....
, Hewitt joined Elmer Sperry
Elmer Ambrose Sperry
Elmer Ambrose Sperry was a prolific inventor and entrepreneur, most famous as co-inventor, with Herman Anschütz-Kaempfe of the gyrocompass.Sperry was born at Cincinnatus, New York, United States of America...
to develop the Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane
Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane
The Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane was a project undertaken during World War I to develop an aerial torpedo, also called a flying bomb or pilotless aircraft, capable of carrying explosives to its target...
, one of the first successful precursors of the UAV
History of unmanned aerial vehicles
Unmanned aerial vehicles, known variously as UAVs, drones, and remotely piloted vehicles , have been a feature of aviation for much of its history, though often overlooked. For the purposes of this article, and to distinguish UAVs from missiles, a UAV is defined as being capable of controlled,...
.
Royal connection
He was married to Lucy Bond Work who was the sister of Frances Ellen WorkFrances Work
Frances Ellen Work was an American heiress and socialite. She was a great-grandmother of Diana, Princess of Wales, and her great-great-grandchildren include The Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, and the American actor Oliver Platt.-Biography:Born in New York City, she was a daughter of Franklin H...
. Frances was the great-grandmother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Further reading
References Cooper Hewitt's hydrofoil work.References Cooper Hewitt's work with hydrofoils.