BackReturn Home

How Does It Work? (Contents)

Volume 1

Distillation14
Centrifuge16
Fire Extinguishers20
Temperature Measuring Instruments22
Dry Ice24
Thermostat26
Presses28
Pumps30
Compressors (Piston Compressors)32
Petroleum34
Petroleum Distillation36
Natural Gas40
Town Gas42
Natural Petrol46
Synthetic Petrol48
Steam Boilers50
Steam Engine52
Steam Turbines54
Gas Turbines56
Water Turbines (Pelton)60
Water Turbines (Francis, Kaplan)62
Fuel Cell66
Nuclear Reactor68
Electrostatics I70
Electrostatics II72
Electric Generator (Dynamo)78
Battery, Accumulator (Direct Current)80
Alternating Current, Three-phase Current, Electromagnetic Waves82
Alternating Current, Three-phase Current, Electromagnetic Waves: Transmitters, Receivers88
Thermionic Tube90
Ultra-high Frequency Vibrations92
-Maser, Laser94
Rectifier96
Semiconductors98
Radio Receiver100
Loudspeaker104
Overhead Transmission Lines106
Earthing (Grounding)108
Transformer110
Relay112
Switch114
Short-circuit (Fuse)116
Electric Arc, Arc Lamp118
Photo-electric Cells120
Fluorescent Lamp122
X-rays124
Cyclotrons and Similar Devices126
Telecommunication128
Telephones and Telephone Exchanges130
Telegraphy, Teletypewriter134
Radar136
Photomultiplier140
Magic Eye142
Black-and-white Television144
Television Camera Tubes146
Television Picture Tube148
Image Converter Tube150
Eidophor System152
Stroboscopic Effects154
Reflection, Refraction and Diffraction of Light156
Lenses158
Mirrors160
Spectacles (Eyeglasses)162
Magnifying Glass and Microscope164
Electron Microscope166
Telescopes170
Telescopes: Prismatic Binoculars174
Cameras: General Introduction176
Photographic Lenses178
Focal Distance and Size of Image180
Interchangeable Lenses182
Diaphragm Shutters184
Focal Plane Shutters186
Speed of a Camera Lens188
Automatic Exposure Control190
Depth of Field (Depth of Focus)192
Exposure Meter194
Colour Printing196
Colour Television198
Colour Photography202
Polaroid-Land Colorfilm204
Flash Bulbs and Flash Guns208
Electronic Flash210
Range Finder212
Cine Camera (Motion Picture Camera)214
Cine Projector216
Wide Screen Motion Pictures:
-CinemaScope218
-Todd-AO and Cinerama220
Projectors: Episcope and Diascope222
Electrophotography224
Black-and-white Film226
Noise, Sound Intensity228
Resonance, Echo232
Doppler Effect234
Ultrasonics236
Organ Pipes240
Scales and Weighing Machines242
Clocks and Watches244
Quarts Clock246
Atomic Clock250
Barometer252
Electricity Meters (Energy Meters)254
Gas Meters258
Water Meters260
Thermal Insulation262
Block and Tackle264
Pneumatic Hammer266
Cranes268
Lighting Conductor270
Lift (Elevator)272
Hot-water Heating (Gravity Systems)274
Hot-water Heating (Pumped Circulation Systems)276
Steam Heating278
Gas Heating280
Heat Pump282
Valves, Cocks and Taps284
Door Locks286
Cylinder Lock288
Electric Bell290
Door-closer292
Water Closet (Toilet)294
Air Conditioning296
Fans, Blowers and Centrifugal Compressors298
Room Heating Stove300
Gas-fired Water Heater (Geyser)302
Thermal Electric Domestic Appliances (Hot Plate, Immersion Heater, Toaster)304
Refigerators310
Vacuum Cleaner312
Sewing Machine314
Incandescent Lamp316
Flat-iron318
Match320
Mechanical and Electric Typewriters322
Typing-head System Typewriters - IBM 72324
Cash Register326
Calculating Machine328
Hollerith Punched-card System332
Data Processing: Principles334
-Programme-controlled Electronic Computer340
-Programme for a Computer342
-Translation Programme344
Automatic Letter Sorting346


Volume 2

Fountain Pen10
Ballpoint Pen12
Record Player14
Gramophone Record18
Tape Recorder20
Coin Testers24
Automatic Vending Machines26
Juke Box28
Blast Furnace32
Steel34
Rolling Mill38
-Manufacture of Pipes40
Wire Manufacture44
Glass46
Plexiglas48
Porcelain50
Enamel52
Rubber54
Synthetic Rubber (Buna)56
Vulcanisation58
Timber60
Paper62
Plastics64
Celluloid66
Briquetting68
Cellulose70
Cellulosic Man-made Fibres72
Synthetic Fibres (Synthetic Polymers)78
Spinning80
Fabric Structure86
Preparing Warp and Weft for Weaving90
Weaving92
Hosiery and Knitting94
Hosiery and Knitting Machinery96
Finishing and Dyeing98
Zip Fastener (Zipper)102
Detergents104
Washing108
Washing Machines110
Dry Cleaning114
Starching and Finishing116
Typesetting: Hand Composition118
-Mechanical Composition, Composing Machines122
Letterpress Printing124
Intaglio Printing (Photogravure, Rotogravure)128
Planographic Printing Processes:
-Lithography and Offset130
-Collotype134
Silk Screen Printing136
Copying and Duplicating (Xerographic Method)138
Machine Bookbinding140
Farm Tractor and Attachments142
Combine Harvester and Thresher148
Beet-harvesting Machine150
Pick-up Baler154
X-ray Apparatus and Radiology156
Anaesthetic Apparatus158
Electrocardiograph160
Iron Lung162
Heart-Lung Machine166
Gunpowder170
Explosives172
Detonators174
Automatic Rifle176
Radioactivity178
Gyroscopes and Spinning Tops180
Bicycle: Back-pedalling Brake and Freewheel182
Variable Gear Hub184
Motorcycle186
Internal Combustion Engine:
-Four-stroke Petrol Engine188
-Two-stroke Petrol Engine192
Diesel Engine194
Rotary Piston Engine (Wankel Engine)196
Injection Pump198
Starters200
Carburettor202
Ignition Distributor206
Sparking Plug208
Clutch210
Automatic Clutch212
Gearbox (Transmission)214
Synchromesh Gearbox216
Automatic Transmission218
Differential Gear224
Springing, Axles, Wheel Suspension226
Shock Absorbers232
Steering234
Brakes236
Headlights240
Electric Horn242
Flashing Direction Indicator244
Speedometer246
Steam Locomotive248
Electric Locomotive252
Diesel Locomotive254
Pneumatic Brake258
Railway Safety Devices260
Railway Switches or Points262
Railway Signal Box:
-Mechanical System264
-Electric System268
Escalator270
Why Does a Ship Float?272
Sailing274
Ship's Propeller276
Navigation278
Compass282
Why an Aircraft Flies284
Supersonic Speed286
Glider288
Helicopter290
Jet Engines292
Parachute298
Air Navigation300
Hovercraft306
Rockets312


Volume 3

Aerosols10
Nuclear Fusion14
Nuclear Reactors18
-Pressurized-water Reactor18
-Pressure-tube Reactor18
-Boiling-water Reactor22
-Superheated-steam Reactor22
-Gas-cooled Reactor24
-Advanced Gas-cooled Reactor24
-High-temperature Reactor26
-Sodium Reactor30
-Breeder Reactor32
Synthetic Ammonia Process36
Synthesis Gas and Methanol Synthesis40
Town-gas Detoxication (Conversion of Carbon Monoxide)44
Phosphorus46
Sulphuric Acid48
Nitric Acid50
Foam Plastics52
Tank Trucks56
Plastics Processing58
Prospecting for Minerals62
Deep-drilling Engineering64
Mines and Mining68
Shaft Sinking76
Winding78
Mine Ventilation80
Precautions against Mine Gas82
Mechanization and Automation in Mining84
Peparation of Ores86
-Lead92
-Copper94
-Zinc96
-Aluminum100
Roasting of Ores and Concentrates102
Ingot Casting104
Continuous Casting106
Metal Casting110
-Sand Casting110
-Shell Molding112
-Precision Casting114
-Gravity Die Casting116
-Pressure Die Casting118
-Centrifugal Casting120
-Composite Casting124
Powder Metallurgy126
Forging128
Cold Extrusion of Metals132
Hot Extrusion of Metals134
Cutting and Machining of Metals136
Pressure Welding140
Fusion Welding144
Soldering148
Sheet-metal Work150
Galvanizing154
Metal Spraying156
Electroforming158
Electroplating160
Power-operated Valves162
Screw Threads166
Screw Cutting168
Thread Milling170
Gears172
Gear Cutting178
Ball and Roller Bearings182
Lathe190
Milling Machine198
Couplings200
Clutches206
Mechanical Power Transmission210
Linkages212
Gear Mechanism218
Friction Drives220
Pully Drives222
Cam Mechanism224
Locking and Arresting Mechanisms226
Guns230
Projectiles238
Fuses242
Mines246
Torpedoes248
Tanks252
Road Intersections and Junctions262
Operating an Automobile270
Improving Engine Performance: Principles276
Increasing the Engine's Cubic Capacity280
Increasing Engine Efficiency: Mean Effective Pressure282
Improving Volumetric Efficiency288
Resonance and Engine Efficiency290
Valve Timing and Engine Efficiency292
Fuel Injection and Supercharging294
Improving the Engine's Mechanical Efficiency296
Improving Engine Speed298


Volume 4

Color Television10
Cartography18
Engine Tuning26
Generator (Dynamo)44
-Principles44
-Direct-current Generator44
-Regulator46
-Three-phase Generator48
Present-day Methods of Aircraft Construction50
Wing Geometry52
Airfoils and Airflow Phenomena54
Wind Tunnel58
Hydraulic Power Systems in Aircraft64
Ramjet Propulsion68
Vertical-Takeoff-and-Landing Aircraft (VTOL)72
Yachts74
Submarines78
Ship Stabilizing86
Liquid-propellant Rocket Systems90
Solid-propellant Rocket Systems92
Ion-drive Rocket Propulsion Systems94
Multistage Rockets96
Reentry and Ablation98
Space Suits and Space Capsules100
Inertial Navigation104
Space-flight Orbits and Trajectories106
Landing the First Men on the Moon114
Satellites and Space Probes120
-Space Probes124
-Communications Satellites126
Planetarium128
Medical Applications of the Betatron134
Hearing Aids136
High-speed Turbine Drill138
Incubator and Oxygen Tent140
Gas Mask142
Artificial Heart146
Artificial Kidney156
Packing Technology164
Silos and Silage170
The Modern Cattle Barn (Cow Shed)172
Rotary Haymaking Machine178
Forage Harvesters180
Self-contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA)186
Safety Binding for Skis190
Pianoforte194
Piano Tone and Tuning196
Accordion198
Electronic Organ200
Electronic Music202
High Fidelity214
Cloud Chamber and Bubble Chamber222
Linear Accelerator224
Electric-resistance Strain Gauge226
Slide Rule230
Straight-line Link Mechanisms234
Measurement of Pressure236
Measurement of Flow of Fluids240
Mixing of Materials244
Electromagnets248
Direct-current Machines252
Alternating-current Machines258
Converters264
Ward-Leonard Control266
Overhead Transmission Lines268
Wave Guides276
Displacement Current278
Basic Electronic Circuits280
Carrier Transmission284
VHF Stereophonic Broadcasting288
Time Division Multiplexing292
Telephony and Telephone-exchange Techniques294
Telephone Cables302
Automatic Message Accounting and Circuit Testing306
Current Supply for Telecommunication Systems308
Video Tape Recording310
Teaching Machines316