The nineteenth century was full of people who did not want to live in peace. They supplemented and changed the world with their inventions. One of these engineering geniuses was Etienne Lenoir. Without a special education, he possessed a restless heart and faith in the infinite power of reason.
From Garcon to Mechanics
Jean Etienne Lenoir was born on January 12, 1822 in Mussy-la-Ville (Belgium). His father was a Belgian industrialist. He died when the boy was eight years old.
The young man dreamed of studying at a Parisian technical school, but instead he had to work as a waiter in a restaurant called “Single Parisian”. Frequent visitors to this establishment were mechanics and workshop owners. Etienne Lenoir often listened to the conversations of mechanics and engineers. An idea arose in his head - an improvement in the engine.
Soon the young man left the restaurant and went to work in the workshop, where he was engaged in the compilation of new enamels. A year later, he quarreled with the owner and became a free mechanic. He repaired everything that was required - from crews to kitchen utensils.
Work at Marinoni
Minor repairs were an ungrateful undertaking that did not bring enough money for subsistence. Lenoir decided to go to work for the Italian Marinoni. Thanks to his work, Etienne Lenoir was able to transform the foundry into a galvanoplastic workshop.
In these years, the mechanic led a comfortable life. In addition, he got the opportunity to experiment with his inventions. He managed to create his own versions of such devices as an electric motor, dynamo regulator, water meter. For all his inventions, he received patents.
Lenoir spent much time studying the engineering experience of other inventors to create a double-acting steam engine. His first creation was struck by its noiselessness. In this case, the engine quickly heated up. The inventor could not take care of his invention in legal terms, so his machine was sealed.
Creating your own company
The quarrel with the sponsor, who was Marinoni, pushed the inventor to create his own company. His company launched the production of gas engines. The power of the invention was four horsepower.
In 1860, Etienne Lenoir, whose biography is associated with the development of automobile business, received a patent for his offspring. Two years later, the car was shown at the Paris exhibition. In total, about three hundred engines were produced by such French and German companies as Marinoni, Gauthier, Kun and others.
They were used on ships, locomotives, in road crews. In 1872, the Lenoir engine was installed on an airship. His tests were successful. However, fame ended after a few years. The reason for this was a new invention.
A competitor colleague
In 1860, Etienne Lenoir introduced his German colleague with his engine, who first glorified the work of the author, and later took his laurels. Engineer Nicolaus Otto, together with Langen, created a company for the production of engines from Belgium.
At the same time, a German engineer was working on creating his own version. He succeeded in this in 1878. His car was noisy and bulky. The engine was four-stroke. But he worked with an efficiency of 16%. The Lenoir machine only gave an efficiency of 5%. The record was broken, and the glory passed to the Germans.
The inventor died on 08/04/1900 in France. Lenoir did not become a rich and famous inventor. But he was one of those who brought progress closer. He died as a citizen of France. He received this honor not for his inventions, but for the defense of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War. The inventor is known to many as the creator of a writing telegraph.
