When was Thomas Savery born and where did he live?
Thomas Savery was born around 1650 at the manor house of Shilstone near Modbury in Devon. He received a solid education that prepared him for military engineering work.
Questions about Thomas Savery
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What invention did Thomas Savery patent on the 2nd of July 1698?
On the 2nd of July 1698 Thomas Savery patented a steam-powered pump which he called an engine to raise water by fire. The original patent document contained no illustrations or written description of the mechanism.
Why did Thomas Savery's steam pumps fail in some mines?
Savery's pump suffered from four serious problems that limited its practical use including heat waste and high-pressure steam requirements. Soldered joints barely withstood this pressure and needed frequent repair while atmospheric pressure could only push water up about thirty-three feet.
How long did Parliament extend Thomas Savery's patent protection?
Parliament passed an Act the following year extending his protection for another twenty-one years after his original fourteen-year term expired. This legislation became known as the Fire Engine Act and covered all pumps that raised water using fire power.
When did Thomas Savery die and what happened to his patent afterward?
Thomas Savery died on the 15th of May 1715 and his patent vested in a company named The Proprietors of the Invention for Raising Water by Fire. This company issued licenses to others for building and operating Newcomen engines and charged up to four hundred twenty pounds per year in patent royalties.