Anthony Michell facts for kids

Anthony George Maldon Michell (born June 21, 1870 – died February 17, 1959) was a brilliant Australian engineer from the early 1900s. He invented many important things, including a special type of bearing that made ships and machines work much better. His ideas are still used today in many areas of engineering.

Becoming an Engineer: Anthony Michell's Early Life

Anthony Michell was born in London, England, on June 21, 1870. His parents were visiting from Australia, where they had moved many years before. When Anthony was two years old, his family moved back to Maldon, Victoria, in Australia. There, he went to one of the new state primary schools.

Later, he returned to England for more schooling. He attended the Perse Grammar School. After finishing school, he spent a year studying at Cambridge University. In 1889, he went back to Australia to study civil engineering at the University of Melbourne. He finished his first degree in 1895.

For the next two years, he worked in structural engineering. This gave him real-world experience. He then went back to the University of Melbourne and earned a Master's degree in Civil Engineering in 1899. After that, he worked as a consultant, helping with projects that involved moving water, known as hydraulic engineering.

In the early 1900s, Anthony Michell started to focus on how parts of machines move smoothly against each other, which is called lubrication.

The Michell Bearing: A Big Invention

This picture shows the parts of a Michell type thrust bearing. See how each pad can pivot, or tilt, on the ridges below it.

One of Anthony Michell's most famous inventions is the Michell bearing. Before his invention, engineers knew about film lubrication. This is when a thin layer of oil or fluid keeps moving parts from touching. However, it was hard to use this idea for flat surfaces that pushed against each other, like in a ship's propeller shaft.

Michell figured out how to make this work. He designed a special bearing where small, tilting pads could create a strong, thin film of oil. This allowed heavy machinery to spin smoothly with very little friction. He got a patent for his invention in England and Australia on January 16, 1905.

Within a few years, his invention completely changed how thrust bearings were made. These bearings are super important in ships, especially those with powerful steam turbines. The Michell bearing helped ships move faster and more efficiently. It was a huge step forward in engineering!

Because of his important work, Anthony Michell was named one of the "Men of Tribology." Tribology is the science of friction, wear, and lubrication. In 1920, a company called Michell Bearings Limited was started in England to make these special bearings.

Designing Strong Structures

In 1904, Michell also wrote an important paper about how to design structures in the best possible way. This is called structural optimisation. He showed how to make structures like bridges or buildings as strong as possible using the least amount of material.

At the time, people didn't fully understand how important his ideas were. But much later, when computers became available, engineers realized how brilliant his work was. Today, structures designed using his ideas are often called Michell trusses or Michell frames.

Crankless Engines: A New Kind of Machine

In 1920, Anthony Michell started a company called Crankless Engines. His goal was to build engines that didn't need a crankshaft. Most engines use a crankshaft to turn the up-and-down motion of pistons into a spinning motion. Michell's design was different. It didn't need the usual connecting rods and bearings. This meant his engines could be lighter and smaller.

Several companies used Michell's crankless design for their products. For example, one company made crankless gas engines, and another made crankless diesel engines.

Michell's own Crankless Engines company had a workshop in Melbourne, Australia. They built at least 55 different crankless machines there. These included steam engines, gas engines, air compressors, water pumps, and even engines for cars and airplanes!

The company closed down in 1945. However, some famous engineers, like Phil Irving, worked there.

Later Life and Awards

Anthony Michell received many honors for his amazing work. In May 1934, he was chosen to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists and engineers.

In 1938, he received the Kernot Memorial Medal from the University of Melbourne. This award recognized his outstanding achievements in engineering in Australia. In 1942, he was given the James Watt International Medal. This award is given to engineers from around the world who have made important contributions.

Even when he was 80 years old, in 1950, Michell published a great book about lubrication. It was known for being clear, thorough, and a good starting point for students.

Anthony George Maldon Michell never married. He lived in Camberwell, Australia, until he passed away in 1959 at the age of 88.

To honor his memory, the Institution of Engineers Australia created the AGM Michell Medal in 1978. This medal is given every year to someone who has done outstanding work in mechanical engineering.

Images for kids

• 

  Exploded view of a Michell type thrust bearing. Note, each sector shaped pad can pivot on the ridges on the lower plate