James R. Robinson
Encyclopedia
James R. Robinson was an industrialist, inventor, and author of a seminal book on mine ventilation (1922). The book documents his invention of a new device for ventilating mines
and preventing the buildup of explosive methane gases underground, thereby dramatically improving mine safety.
He founded the Robinson Ventilating Company, forerunner of today’s Robinson Industries, one of the nation’s leading designers and manufacturers of industrial fans
.
where his father, Samuel B. Robinson, worked as a master mechanic for the English Crown Coal Company. In 1863, when Robinson was three, his family emigrated to the United States, settling in the coal country of western Pennsylvania
.
Upon his arrival in the U.S., Samuel enlisted in the Union Army
to fight in the American Civil War
. When the war ended, he used his coal mining skills to land a job as a designer for the Pittsburgh Coal Company
, eventually rising to the position of plant superintendent.
By the time he was 12, Robinson was helping his father in the coal mine, earning certification as a journeyman machinist by the time he was 20.
at Cornell University
, after which he returned to Pennsylvania. In 1892 he and Samuel co-founded the Robinson Machine Company, which provided machinery and ventilation for the many mines in the region. J.R. served as chief engineer. In that capacity he directed numerous product innovations, including the development of fans
, steam boilers, engines, hoist
s, crushers, and haulers for coal mines and mills.
In 1907 Samuel retired and sold the company. The following year, James founded the Robinson Ventilating Company in Pittsburgh, which sold industrial fans he designed and were manufactured by two other companies.
America’s entry into World War I in 1917 placed heavy demands on the nation’s manufacturers, leading Robinson Ventilating to establish its own manufacturing plant in Blairsville
, Pa. In 1921, Robinson moved the plant to Zelienople, Pa., where the headquarters and main manufacturing facility of Robinson Industries are still located today.
," which meant simply digging large holes above the mines for ventilation purposes. The problem with this was that methane
gases were too heavy to rise through the ventilating holes, and instead accumulated beneath the surface, often triggering explosion
s. He designed and built a ventilating device that could bring fresh air into mines or force out old air. He summarized his work in a technical article and in his 1922 book Practical Mine Ventilation, which quickly became required reading in college mining and engineering classes. The book remained a staple of course syllabi for many years afterward. It is still held in roughly 30 U.S. libraries.
Robinson’s innovations were not limited to the ventilation industry. On a winter’s day in 1927, while driving to Penn State University to visit his son Rodger, he experienced a great deal of difficulty seeing through the snow and ice accumulating on his windshield. Rather than returning home after his visit he stayed at the university and used his engineering expertise to design and create a device for heating windshields.
To ensure that the company would stay in the family, he placed the majority of Robinson Ventilating stock in a trust
for his children. Many of his children and their descendants have remained in the business and have helped to grow it and make technical innovations.
A History of Innovation http://www.robinsonfans.com/media/History_Brochure.pdf
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and preventing the buildup of explosive methane gases underground, thereby dramatically improving mine safety.
He founded the Robinson Ventilating Company, forerunner of today’s Robinson Industries, one of the nation’s leading designers and manufacturers of industrial fans
Industrial fans
Industrial fans and blowers are machines whose primary function is to provide a large flow of air or gas to various processes of many industries. This is achieved by rotating a number of blades, connected to a hub and shaft, and driven by a motor or turbine. The flow rates of these fans range from...
.
Early life
J.R. Robinson was born in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
where his father, Samuel B. Robinson, worked as a master mechanic for the English Crown Coal Company. In 1863, when Robinson was three, his family emigrated to the United States, settling in the coal country of western Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Upon his arrival in the U.S., Samuel enlisted in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
to fight in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. When the war ended, he used his coal mining skills to land a job as a designer for the Pittsburgh Coal Company
Pittsburgh Coal Company
The Pittsburgh Coal Company was a bituminous coal mining company, controlled by the Mellon family. It later merged with Consolidation Coal Company, controlled by the Rockefeller family.-Coal Mines:...
, eventually rising to the position of plant superintendent.
By the time he was 12, Robinson was helping his father in the coal mine, earning certification as a journeyman machinist by the time he was 20.
Education and New Ventures
Robinson studied mechanical engineeringMechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
at Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, after which he returned to Pennsylvania. In 1892 he and Samuel co-founded the Robinson Machine Company, which provided machinery and ventilation for the many mines in the region. J.R. served as chief engineer. In that capacity he directed numerous product innovations, including the development of fans
Fan (mechanical)
A mechanical fan is a machine used to create flow within a fluid, typically a gas such as air.A fan consists of a rotating arrangement of vanes or blades which act on the air. Usually, it is contained within some form of housing or case. This may direct the airflow or increase safety by preventing...
, steam boilers, engines, hoist
Hoist (device)
A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or lift-wheel around which rope or chain wraps. It may be manually operated, electrically or pneumatically driven and may use chain, fiber or wire rope as its lifting medium. The load is attached to the hoist by means of a...
s, crushers, and haulers for coal mines and mills.
In 1907 Samuel retired and sold the company. The following year, James founded the Robinson Ventilating Company in Pittsburgh, which sold industrial fans he designed and were manufactured by two other companies.
America’s entry into World War I in 1917 placed heavy demands on the nation’s manufacturers, leading Robinson Ventilating to establish its own manufacturing plant in Blairsville
Blairsville, Pennsylvania
-External links:* * *...
, Pa. In 1921, Robinson moved the plant to Zelienople, Pa., where the headquarters and main manufacturing facility of Robinson Industries are still located today.
Legacy
As a result of his work with the mining industry, Robinson became a major authority on mine ventilation. Until the early 1900s, the principal method of providing ventilation for miners was through "natural draft ventilationNatural ventilation
Natural ventilation is the process of supplying and removing air through an indoor space without using mechanical systems. It refers to the flow of external air to an indoor space as a result of pressure or temperatures differences. There are two types of natural ventilation occurring in...
," which meant simply digging large holes above the mines for ventilation purposes. The problem with this was that methane
Methane
Methane is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is the simplest alkane, the principal component of natural gas, and probably the most abundant organic compound on earth. The relative abundance of methane makes it an attractive fuel...
gases were too heavy to rise through the ventilating holes, and instead accumulated beneath the surface, often triggering explosion
Explosion
An explosion is a rapid increase in volume and release of energy in an extreme manner, usually with the generation of high temperatures and the release of gases. An explosion creates a shock wave. If the shock wave is a supersonic detonation, then the source of the blast is called a "high explosive"...
s. He designed and built a ventilating device that could bring fresh air into mines or force out old air. He summarized his work in a technical article and in his 1922 book Practical Mine Ventilation, which quickly became required reading in college mining and engineering classes. The book remained a staple of course syllabi for many years afterward. It is still held in roughly 30 U.S. libraries.
Robinson’s innovations were not limited to the ventilation industry. On a winter’s day in 1927, while driving to Penn State University to visit his son Rodger, he experienced a great deal of difficulty seeing through the snow and ice accumulating on his windshield. Rather than returning home after his visit he stayed at the university and used his engineering expertise to design and create a device for heating windshields.
To ensure that the company would stay in the family, he placed the majority of Robinson Ventilating stock in a trust
Trust law
In common law legal systems, a trust is a relationship whereby property is held by one party for the benefit of another...
for his children. Many of his children and their descendants have remained in the business and have helped to grow it and make technical innovations.
External links
Timeline of Robinson Industries, Inc. http://www.robinsonfans.com/index.php?pr=HistoryA History of Innovation http://www.robinsonfans.com/media/History_Brochure.pdf