General science : minority inventors of science and engineering (1987)

events of the past and present shaped tomorrow our vital concern is you today's youth for our future depends on you to untangle today's problems we need to understand yesterday we hope this film series will make you aware of the people places and events which have helped shape our nation and our world manufacturers Hanover is pleased to sponsor this educational film as a special service to schools in the New York City area 1880 Thomas Edison patents the electric light developed in his invention Factory in Menlo Park New Jersey paving the way to the practical use of electric power 1906 the Wright brothers patent their designs for a heavier-than-air flying machine initiating the age of powered flight [Music] 19:14 Robert H Goddard patents his plans for Rockets employing both solid and liquid fuels introducing a method of reaching extreme altitudes much of the history of the United States resulted from fostering its people's efforts at invention innovation and imagination in particular history records numerous individuals of vision many of minority origins whose ideas and discoveries recorded by the United States Patent system have improved the quality of life this program is an introduction to a few of these people [Music] established by Congress and written into the Constitution the United States Patent system was set up to protect inventors by excluding others from making using or selling their inventions the public file of patents now including over four and a half million protects both inventors and business investors from exploitation and so promotes the development of their ideas among these many patents are those by minority inventors which have significantly advanced our nation's technology providing both new jobs and business growth Lewis Howard Lattimer was born in 1848 his father was a runaway slave who managed to obtain his freedom and live in the Boston area Latimer a self-taught draftsman learned his trade while working as a clerk in a patent attorneys office eventually he was promoted to chief draftsman around this time Alexander Graham Bell hired Latimer to prepare diagrams of various patent applications few are aware of lattimer's contributions to the field of electricity he invented and received a patent in 1882 for an improved carbon filament to replace Edison's filament for the electric lamp in 1918 he became a charter member of the Edison pioneers an exclusive association of scientists technicians and inventors who worked closely with Edison [Music] Granville T Woods was an exceptional inventor from Indiana he holds 60 patents related to the railroad industry his patents include a steam boiler furnace a telephone transmitter automatic air brakes to slow or stop trains and overhead wires used by cable cars and streetcars he also created over a dozen devices to improve electric railway cars Grandville woods most noted invention is the third rail system the power source used to keep the trains running this is the same system used in subways today [Music] George Washington Carver was born to slave parents at Diamond Grove Missouri in 1864 but was freed during infancy he is known for his experiments in plant chemistry and agriculture he developed 300 products from Pina 118 from sweet potatoes and 60 from pecans dr. Carver also holds three patents for processing paints and stains of superior color and Sheen and for producing cosmetics he developed such products as bleach shaving soap lanolin paper and ink dr. Carver dedicated his life to his experiments and studies at a school which is now the Tuskegee Institute at Tuskegee Alabama Garrett a Morgan designed and patented the traffic signal a mechanically controlled apparatus that raised and lowered stop and go signals at regular intervals electric lamps illuminated the signals the same principle much developed is used in the modern traffic light an invention that affects people's lives around the world every day Garrett Morgan is also known for his gas inhalator or gas masks various kinds of noxious gases were used in World War one [Music] his gas masks used in trench warfare saved thousands of lives at the start of World War two Charles drew a young doctor from Washington DC was experimenting with ways to preserve blood dr. drew both researched and developed a revolutionary process for separating the plasma the liquid part of the blood from the red blood cells and storing it for later use working with the British dr. Drew helped establish mobile units which provided plasma and emergency aid to those at the front after World War two dr. drew was appointed the first medical director of the American Red Cross blood bank as high technology advances minority inventors continue to play a significant role in science engineering and medicine Philip B Stevens a member of the Oglala Sioux Indian tribes and a kid from the wrong side of the tracks as he describes himself has made major contributions to hi-tech mr. Stevens first patents focused on rocket propulsion after World War two ways were found to steer liquid-fueled rockets such as this space shuttle engine by swinging or vectoring what was needed was a way to similarly control the thrust vector from a solid fuel rocket system mr. Stevens invention permitted solid rocket motors to similarly deflect their thrust vectors to be steered in the same way as a liquid fuel engine his invention was utilized in the Minuteman one-two and free intercontinental ballistic missiles subsequently mr. Stevens formed his own company ultra systems which now employs 1,300 people this proposed advanced wood-fired power plant which uses waste wood materials to generate electricity is one of its several projects in the fields of energy and safety aimed at helping society an idea from the 1950s micro encapsulation has been enhanced and patented by Robert Bayless president of capsulated systems its first use was in carbon escaper a smear 'less form of carbon paper micro encapsulation involves mixing two different substances like oil and water typically when oil mixes with water the oil forms a suspension of tiny droplets but if a polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol is introduced it surrounds the oil droplets and forms protective shells which are hardened by chemical treatment when the water is drained off a powdery residue is left micro encapsulated droplets of oil applications of this process include indicator paper who's sensitive microcapsules turn it blue if water is present [Music] a chemical locking device for nuts and bolts an epoxy which reacts with a carrying agent so they can't be easily separated after 24 hours micro encapsulated dyes in the form of powders can be used to produce inks and other colouring agents Isadora Martinez Martinez after working in missile design turned to medical work designing semi-permanent implants for victims of arthritis his new device minimizes removal of bone and provides the same five types of movement as the original knee joint the design involves linked structural members which form the completely assembled device test implantation Xin primates at Tulane University Medical School held up for five years and reproduced every original function even letting them hang upside down and climb trees dr. Meredith Charles Gordon president of energy innovators holds over 50 patents worldwide and despite recent vision problems he continues his research dr. Gordon went to Cornell University to study engineering physics but was also outstanding in track and field he became team captain and all-american in intermediate hurdles low hurdles and broad jump in the 1952 Olympics he took the silver medal missing the gold by 4 centimeters he found the Olympics a very fulfilling experience but made science his career one of dr. Gordon's newest inventions is a response to the fogging in of airports the cost of diverting flights to other airports is about 300 million dollars a year a way to clear off the fog would obviously lead to great savings dr. Gordon's patent is a fog dispersal system for airport runways small units line the sides of the runway about an eighth of a mile apart each box holds a generator that shoots compressed air about 300 feet into the fog the air charged with negative ions mixes with the neutral fog particles charging them the charged fog particles are then attracted to the positively charged ions on the earth essentially it rains clearing the air of fog allowing the pilot to takeoff and land safely for 200 years the Patent Office has helped American inventors pursue their dreams and they became amazing realities Abraham Lincoln himself a patent lawyer for many years commended the patent system added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius in years to come all segments of society will doubtless continue to contribute ideas aimed at improving our way of life Alexander Graham Bell defined an inventor as a person who wants to improve whatever he sees who wants to benefit the world the new discoveries will provide new jobs and make existing ones easier save lives and reduce human suffering and in some instances alter the course of history [Music] the science green report has been presented to you as a community service of manufacturers Hanover [Music]