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Environmental Control

Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Environmental ControlEra: 1880-1889DateCreated: 1885507 East Michigan StreetMilwaukeeState: MIZip: 53202Country: USAWebsite: https://www.asme.org/about-asme/who-we-are/engineering-history/landmarks/244-multi-zone-automatic-temperature-controlCreator: Johnson, Warren

he Automatic Temperature Control System was named as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 2008. Warren S. Johnson came up with the idea for automatic temperature control while teaching at Normal School in Whitewater, Wisconsin in the 1880's. Originally, janitors would have to enter each classroom to determine if it was too hot or cold and then adjust the dampers in the basement accordingly. Johnson sought a way to end, or at least minimize the classroom interruptions of the janitors and increase the comfort level of the students.

YearAdded:
2008
Image Caption: Multi-Zone Automatic Temperature Control SystemEra_date_from: 1885
Refrigeration Research Museum
Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Environmental ControlEra: 1890-1899DateCreated: 1890–1960525 North 5th StreetBrightonState: MIZip: 48116Country: USAWebsite: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-a-l/environmental-control/-207-refrigeration-research-museum-%281890---1960%29, https://www.asme.org/getmedia/89cc44f9-113d-4aae-949a-84078904cb6a/207-Refrigeration-Research-Museum.aspx

This collection includes many examples of advances in mechanical refrigeration for residential and commercial applications, dating from about 1890 to 1960. Such devices dramatically improved food storage safety and convenience and set high standards for mechanical reliability. The RRM collection contains products of such pioneers in the refrigeration industry as Frigidaire, Philco, Sunbeam, and Tecumseh. An archive is available to help researchers trace the history of the refrigeration industry.

YearAdded:
2000
Image Credit: Courtesy ASMEImage Caption: Kelvinator refrigerator, 1948Era_date_from: 1890–1960
Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Environmental ControlEra: 1920-1929DateCreated: 1920Hudson River Greenway; ManhattanNew YorkState: NYCountry: USAWebsite: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-a-l/environmental-control/-93-holland-tunnel-ventilation-system-%281920%29Creator: Freeman, Milton
The first long underwater tunnel in the world designed for motor vehicle use was built from 1920 to 1927. The 29.5-foot-diameter, 8,500-foot-long twin tubes of this tunnel were shield-driven by the pneumatic method through extremely difficult river-bottom conditions that were overcome by the ingenuity and determination of its engineers, Clifford M. Holland, Milton H. Freeman, and Ole Singstad. They were the largest in the United States when built.
YearAdded:
1984
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Bill Benzon (CC BY-SA 2.0)Image Caption: Holland Tunnel Ventilation SystemEra_date_from: 1920
Detroit Edison District Heating System
Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Environmental ControlEra: 1900-1909DateCreated: 19032000 Second StreetDetroitState: MIZip: 48226Country: USAWebsite: https://www.asme.org/about-asme/who-we-are/engineering-history/landmarks/105-detroit-edison-district-heating-system, https://www.asme.org/getmedia/c43f3200-c9df-4a17-a3f5-5c1d07c87fa5/105-Detroit-Edison-District-Heating-System.aspxCreator: Holly, Birdsill

The concept of heating a number of buildings in the core area of a city from a single heating plant was introduced into the United States by Birdsill Holly at Lockport, New York, in 1877. The gain in thermal efficiency of a single large steam plant over a series of small isolated boilers led to widespread commercial installation of district heating. Organized by the Detroit Edison Company, the Central Heating Company began service here in 1903, supplying twelve customers with steam piped from the Edison Company's Willis Avenue Plant. Today's greatly enlarged system continues in operation.

YearAdded:
1985
Image Credit: Courtesy ASMEImage Caption: Detroit Edison District Heating SystemEra_date_from: 1903
Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Environmental ControlEra: 1940-1949DateCreated: 1948Commonwealth BuildingPortlandState: ORCountry: USAWebsite: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-a-l/environmental-control/-46-commonwealth-building-heat-pump-%281948%29Creator: Graham, Charles , Belluschi, Pietro

The use of heat pumps for the heating and cooling of the Commonwealth Building, initiated in 1948, was a pioneering achievement in the western hemisphere. The theoretical conception of the heat pump was described in a neglected book, published in 1824 and written by a young French army officer, Sadi Carnot. Its practical application on a large scale is attributable to designers J. Donald Kroeker and Ray C. Chewning, building engineer Charles E. Graham, and architect Pietro Belluschi.

YearAdded:
1980
Image Credit: 1940s postcard featuring the new Commonwealth (Equitable) Building in Portland, OR.Image Caption: Commonwealth Building Heat PumpEra_date_from: 1948
Thermo King© C Refrigeration Unit
Society: ASMEMain Category: MechanicalSub Category: Environmental ControlEra: 1940-1949DateCreated: 1940Thermo King© CorporationMinneapolisState: MNZip: 55420Country: USAWebsite: http://www.asme.org/about-asme/history/landmarks/topics-a-l/environmental-control/-192-thermo-king%C2%A9-c-refrigeration-unit-%281940%29, https://www.asme.org/getmedia/565fee1c-1fa3-49e0-96f4-d5ebc1b499e1/192-Thermo-King-Refrigeration-Unit.aspxCreator: Jones, Frederick M., Numero, Joseph A.

The refrigeration units placed on trucks in 1938 by Thermo King Corp. revolutionized the transportation of perishable foods. Today they are a common sight on streets everywhere. Consumer demand for meat, poultry, produce and dairy products increased at an astounding rate. These installations and subsequent ones on refrigerated vehicles, ships, and railroads have had worldwide impact on the preservation of food and other perishables during distribution.

YearAdded:
1996
Image Credit: Courtesy of ASMEImage Caption: Thermo King© C Refrigeration UnitEra_date_from: 1940
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Innovations

Thermo King© C Refrigeration Unit

The refrigeration units placed on trucks in 1938 by Thermo King Corp. revolutionized the transportation of perishable foods. Today they are a common sight on streets everywhere. Consumer demand for meat, poultry, produce and dairy products increased at an astounding rate. These installations and…

Read More

The use of heat pumps for the heating and cooling of the Commonwealth Building, initiated in 1948, was a pioneering achievement in the western hemisphere. The theoretical conception of the heat pump was described in a neglected book, published in 1824 and written by a young French army officer,…

Read More
Detroit Edison District Heating System

The concept of heating a number of buildings in the core area of a city from a single heating plant was introduced into the United States by Birdsill Holly at Lockport, New York, in 1877. The gain in thermal efficiency of a single large steam plant over a series of small isolated boilers led to…

Read More
The first long underwater tunnel in the world designed for motor vehicle use was built from 1920 to 1927. The 29.5-foot-diameter, 8,500-foot-long twin tubes of this tunnel were shield-driven by the pneumatic method through extremely difficult river-bottom conditions that were overcome by the… Read More
Refrigeration Research Museum

This collection includes many examples of advances in mechanical refrigeration for residential and commercial applications, dating from about 1890 to 1960. Such devices dramatically improved food storage safety and convenience and set high standards for mechanical reliability. The RRM collection…

Read More

he Automatic Temperature Control System was named as a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 2008. Warren S. Johnson came up with the idea for automatic temperature control while teaching at Normal School in Whitewater, Wisconsin in the 1880's. Originally, janitors would have to enter each…

Read More

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