VIII. Conclusion
Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Next The flourishing of Islamic Studies was attributed to the success of the developing technology, which utilised natural forces within the environment to do work. Islamic technology was branched into Fine Technology and Utilitarian Technology. The Third Water Raising Device incorporated these two branches together, an ingenious invention by al-Jazari. Al-Jazari was an inventor who described in scrupulous detail how each device was constructed. He was also a ‘ra'īs al-a‘māl', which in modern terms is a "Chief Mechanical Engineer'. He reached this superior position on the basis of his extensive experience; having profound understanding of pure science on the one hand, and his mastery of practical skills on the other. In his treatise A Compendium on the Theory and Practice of the Mechanical Arts, emphasises the importance of experimentation and precise observation and will not entertain much faith in findings unsubstantiated by experiment. The Third Water Raising Device is an example of his detailed description with constant reference to the drawing depicting the device. However, on occasions, he tends to be inconsistent in his dimensions, inability to give a coherent record of mathematical or geometrical process and having some vagueness about the positioning of the components. An interesting feature in this machine is the wooden animal that is fixed to the rotating circular disc giving the impression that this machine is driven by an ox. This is, perhaps, a way of avoiding being accused of designing a machine driven by some witchcraft or a jinni. Another explanation is that this machine is designed to work on both modes; automatic or animal driven, although there is no description of the latter mode. Based on al-Jazari's description, the construction of 3D graphics of the device began. However, problems were faced as he fails to state the kind of gears and rudimentary components that he might have used. Furthermore, he fails to mention several dimensions, such as the overall size of the device. In addition, the unit scales that he had used were ancient Arabic units. Thence research work had to be done to answer these queries. A mathematical analysis of the system is also essential to analyse the overall capability of the device. According to the mathematical analysis, the system is capable to produce large force to raise relatively large amount of water. The formulas used are simplified and programmed into Microsoft Excel programmes for variable condition analysis. Based on these findings, 3D graphics and animations were constructed and dimensions that were omitted initially were estimated instead. The 3D graphics and animations brought to life the device in working condition, where the movement of each component was estimated from the mathematical analysis. Furthermore, the 3D graphics and animations were used as visual aids in this report for better understanding of the device. The Third Water Raising Device is relatively small in size as compared to al-Jazari's other water raising devices. Expensive materials such as copper, silk and marble were used for the construction to enhance its appearance. However, the device is designed to raise relatively small amount of water as al-Jazari states that each copper jar would carry only 9 grams of water. One may argue that the device might be unrealistic, with the use of heavy and expensive components such as copper jars that might affect the overall efficiency of the system. Furthermore, it is unrealistic to employ the use of a large amount of water to drive a device that raise a relatively small amount of water. However it is important to state that the device described in al-Jazari's book was a small demonstration model invented for the courtly circle. In conclusion, although the Third Water Raising Device has several doubtful faults in modern engineering terms, it might be considered as a technology breakthrough during the 13th century. Considering that this device incorporates the use of waterpower to drive a series of gears and finally the Sindi Wheel to raise water, an automated process that requires the presence of neither man nor animal. A success attributed to the ingenious inventor and engineer, al-Jazari. Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Next
by: Salim T. S. Al-Hassani and Colin Ong Pang Kiat, Wed 23 April, 2008
| 
