Molinology
Encyclopedia
Molinology is the study of mills or other mechanical devices which use the kinetic energy
of moving water or wind to power machines for such purposes as hammer
ing, grinding, pump
ing, saw
ing, pressing
or fulling
. Muscle-powered mills (by both animals and humans) are also considered to be part of the field. The term was coined in 1965 by the Portuguese industrial historian João Miguel dos Santos Simões.
More particularly, molinology aims to retain the knowledge of those traditional engine
s which have been rendered obsolete by modern technical and economic trends.
Cultural and scientific interest in molinology is maintained by The International Molinological Society
(TIMS), a non-profit organisation which brings together more than six hundred members, mostly from Europe and the USA. It was founded in 1973 after earlier international symposia in 1965 and 1969.
Kinetic energy
The kinetic energy of an object is the energy which it possesses due to its motion.It is defined as the work needed to accelerate a body of a given mass from rest to its stated velocity. Having gained this energy during its acceleration, the body maintains this kinetic energy unless its speed changes...
of moving water or wind to power machines for such purposes as hammer
Hammer
A hammer is a tool meant to deliver an impact to an object. The most common uses are for driving nails, fitting parts, forging metal and breaking up objects. Hammers are often designed for a specific purpose, and vary widely in their shape and structure. The usual features are a handle and a head,...
ing, grinding, pump
Pump
A pump is a device used to move fluids, such as liquids, gases or slurries.A pump displaces a volume by physical or mechanical action. Pumps fall into three major groups: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps...
ing, saw
Saw
A saw is a tool that uses a hard blade or wire with an abrasive edge to cut through softer materials. The cutting edge of a saw is either a serrated blade or an abrasive...
ing, pressing
Crusher
A crusher is a machine designed to reduce large rocks into smaller rocks, gravel, or rock dust. Crushers may be used to reduce the size, or change the form, of waste materials so they can be more easily disposed of or recycled, or to reduce the size of a solid mix of raw materials , so that pieces...
or fulling
Fulling
Fulling or tucking or walking is a step in woolen clothmaking which involves the cleansing of cloth to eliminate oils, dirt, and other impurities, and making it thicker. The worker who does the job is a fuller, tucker, or walker...
. Muscle-powered mills (by both animals and humans) are also considered to be part of the field. The term was coined in 1965 by the Portuguese industrial historian João Miguel dos Santos Simões.
More particularly, molinology aims to retain the knowledge of those traditional engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
s which have been rendered obsolete by modern technical and economic trends.
Cultural and scientific interest in molinology is maintained by The International Molinological Society
The International Molinological Society
The International Molinological Society has been active since 1965 and is the only organization dedicated to mills and molinology on a worldwide scale. It brings together more than six hundred members, mostly from Europe and the USA. TIMS is a non-profit organization with cultural and scientific...
(TIMS), a non-profit organisation which brings together more than six hundred members, mostly from Europe and the USA. It was founded in 1973 after earlier international symposia in 1965 and 1969.