Felice Matteucci
Encyclopedia
Felice Matteucci was an Italian
hydraulic engineer
who co-invented an internal combustion engine
with Eugenio Barsanti
. It is not known whether they were the first to do so, as the patent in question was lost.
Born in Lucca
, Matteucci studied hydraulic and mechanical engineering, first in Paris
, then later in Florence
. In 1851 he met Father Barsanti and appreciated his ideas for a new type of engine. They had a life-long collaboration developing the primary concept into a manufacturable item.
After the death of Barsanti in 1864, and following the failure of society in their time to promote the engine, he returned to his previous work as a hydraulic engineer. He studied new hydrometer
s (to measure the level of a river), rain gauge
s, and hydraulic operations over rivers.
In 1877 Matteucci argued that he and his partner Barsanti were the originators of the invention of the internal combustion engine
. The patent registered by Nikolaus August Otto was very similar to the Barsanti-Matteucci design
. This frustration contributed to the illness that eventually caused Matteucci's death, in his own home in Capannori
, near Lucca in Tuscany
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
hydraulic engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
who co-invented an internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
with Eugenio Barsanti
Eugenio Barsanti
Father Eugenio Barsanti , also named Nicolò, was an Italian engineer, who invented a form of the internal combustion engine. It is not known whether he was the first to develop such an engine, as the patent request in question has been lost.Barsanti was born in Pietrasanta, Tuscany...
. It is not known whether they were the first to do so, as the patent in question was lost.
Born in Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
, Matteucci studied hydraulic and mechanical engineering, first in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, then later in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. In 1851 he met Father Barsanti and appreciated his ideas for a new type of engine. They had a life-long collaboration developing the primary concept into a manufacturable item.
After the death of Barsanti in 1864, and following the failure of society in their time to promote the engine, he returned to his previous work as a hydraulic engineer. He studied new hydrometer
Hydrometer
A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity of liquids; that is, the ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of water....
s (to measure the level of a river), rain gauge
Rain gauge
A rain gauge is a type of instrument used by meteorologists and hydrologists to gather and measure the amount of liquid precipitation over a set period of time....
s, and hydraulic operations over rivers.
In 1877 Matteucci argued that he and his partner Barsanti were the originators of the invention of the internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
. The patent registered by Nikolaus August Otto was very similar to the Barsanti-Matteucci design
Barsanti-Matteucci Engine
In late 1851 or early 1852 Eugenio Barsanti, a professor of mathematics, and Felice Matteucci, an engineer and expert in mechanics and hydraulics, joined forces on a project to exploit the explosion and expansion of a gaseous mix of hydrogen and atmospheric air to transform part of the energy of...
. This frustration contributed to the illness that eventually caused Matteucci's death, in his own home in Capannori
Capannori
Capannori is a town and comune in the province of Lucca, in northern Tuscany .-Geography:The area is characterized by the number of distinctive towers .-History:...
, near Lucca in Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
.