Episode 405: A short story. (2)
Sejong, who saw the tow truck and road carriage in front of him, looked around the tow truck with sparkling eyes.
“Isn’t it really unusual that the wheels are tied together with large iron bands?”
“It’s called caterpillar.”
“Caterrel?”
“Let me explain the principle…”
When Hyang tried to explain the principle, Sejong raised his hand to stop Hyang from speaking.
“Stop moving. Let me think about it. “It looks kind of fun.”
“yes.”
‘I forgot! Abamama was also a person who had almost nothing left aside from curiosity!’
At Sejong’s command, Hyang immediately stepped back and delivered the command to the tow truck driver.
Cheek!
When the driver who received the command drove the tow truck, the tow truck slowly moved forward. Sejong observed the movement of about 1 sheet (approximately 3 meters) and nodded.
“I see. To put it simply, it’s like moving on an iron road. In this way, even if the ground is soft or stale, it will be possible to ignore it and move to a certain extent, right?”
“Yes that’s right.”
‘As expected, it is outside the standard!’
“Hmm…”
Sejong, who was observing the infinite orbit while listening to Hyang’s answer, asked Hyang a question.
“Is this tow truck being steered by two separate wheels in the front?”
“That’s right.”
At the same time as answering, Hyang explained the steering wheel device installed on the tow truck. While explaining it to Sejong, Hyang added something to herself.
‘You could say it’s a half-track with a steam engine.’
Sejong, who was looking at the missing shaft on the left side of the car body and the steering system using a toothed spiral shaft and chain (Note 1), looked back.
“I can roughly understand how to steer. Now that I see it, among the wheels on that endless orbit, is the largest wheel at the back the one that uses power?”
“That’s right.”
“When I read technical literature from my old lab and Area 51. I read that every time the cart turns, the rotation speed of the inner and outer wheels is different. It is said that there is no problem with a normal cart because the wheels turn separately, but with an iron horse, it is a problem because power is transmitted. “I heard that in order to solve this problem, the power transmitted to the two wheels must be differentiated or the turning radius must be made very large.”
“you’re right.”
Hyang nodded at Sejong’s point and continued speaking.
“The iron horse currently running in Hanseong solved that problem by transmitting power to only one wheel. And we plan to follow the latter method for large iron horses that need to move quickly and with greater force.”
“Then does this tow truck also follow the method of the iron horse that moves in Hanseong?”
Hyang immediately answered King Sejong’s question.
“no. “It’s a new way.”
“New way?”
Hyang took Sejong to the back of the tow truck and pointed to the bottom of the car body.
“You can look here.”
“huh?”
There was a large steel box underneath the rear of the tow truck, and the power axle and wheel axle were connected to the box.
“We named it differential power transmission device.”
The device that Hyang pointed out was a gearbox with a differential gear.
* * *
The part that Sejong pointed out was a problem that was also pointed out while developing the tow truck.
“A solution to this problem has already been found in the process of developing the iron horse, right? “Wouldn’t it be okay to transmit power to only one wheel like that?”
When most of the development team submitted these opinions, Hyang shook his head.
“Hanseong’s iron horse is not a problem as it moves along a dedicated railway in Hanseong, which already has a well-maintained road, and is also slow, but the problem is that the tow truck has to go places that are not on the road.”
“Ah…”
The development team, who had been nodding their heads at Hyang’s explanation, looked despairing when they realized what the problem was.
‘You have to go places that are not on the road.’ This means that power must be transmitted to both wheels.
Hyang muttered to himself as he saw the despairing looks of the development team.
‘Isn’t there a saying like this in some of the famous advertising copy of the 20th century? No matter how long it takes, it goes. Even if it is not a road, it goes.’
To solve this problem, the first thing the developers came up with was to install independent braking devices on both wheels.
“To put it simply, it is the same as the tanks used in World War I and World War II…”
Hyang shook his head as he looked at the development team’s plan.
“It’s still too much… If we apply it as is, we’ll have a transmission device bigger than a steam engine.”
Following Hyang’s point, the development team tried to think of other solutions, but no easy answer was found.
In the end, no answer was found as time went by, and the Ministry of National Defense’s efforts to seize money – it was guilty of stealing the budget under the pretext of development – only worsened, so the government intervened.
What Hyang suggested to the development team was a half-track steering system and differential gear.
“Oh oh! “This way!”
“As expected of you!”
Hyang muttered to herself as she listened to the shouts of developers praising her.
‘thank you! General Motor.’
What Hyang learned about steering systems and differential gears was thanks to a black-and-white video produced by General Motors in the 1930s. (Note 2) After
coming across the unknown algorithm of a famous video site in the 21st century, he watched the video and quickly watched related videos. Hyang (at the time, Jinho) was the person I searched for and looked at.
* * *
“That’s amazing. “Such incredible technology and principles are incorporated into this simple-looking box…”
Sejong was truly impressed as he listened to Hyang’s explanation.
Seeing King Sejong’s admiring appearance, the New Year’s priest who followed him also had a proud look on his face along with the incense.
“The essence of our Joseon’s natural science has been melted into it.”
Hyang, who nodded to Sejong’s evaluation, added.
“It’s not just about principles. The shafts and gears that transmit power are infused with Joseon’s best iron-making and smelting technologies. I dare say that even if other countries learn about that principle, it will take at least 10 years to achieve the same performance.”
‘To put it simply, it is the 15th century version of semiconductor technology.’
Sejong’s face became serious at Hyang’s words.
“I’m proud, but I think we need to pay attention to preventing technology from leaking out.”
“yes. Therefore, steel mills must remain as state-owned enterprises.”
At Hyang’s claim, Sejong nodded with a serious face.
“I guess so…”
* * *
After seeing the tow truck, Sejong and his group boarded the carriages prepared in advance.
Chi-ik! Cheek! Beep!
The tow truck slowly began to move, making the sound of steam escaping and the whistle sounding.
Sejong, who was watching the cavalry moving for protection through the window, turned his head to Hyang.
“You said it was made for the artillery, right? Then, wouldn’t it be okay to move by carrying all the artillery, artillery, and gunpowder rather than dragging the artillery?”
‘Is that a self-propelled gun? By the way, they say that all people think the same….’
As soon as Sejong spoke, Hyang, who thought of self-propelled guns, responded with a bitter smile.
“It’s impossible.”
“why?”
“It’s because of the nature of the steam engine. The fire vent must always be open.”
“Ah…”
Sejong immediately nodded at Hyang’s words.
It would have been a terrible thing if the gunpowder on board caught fire.
But King Sejong did not back down easily.
“Wouldn’t it be okay to create a separate quarantine space for that problem?”
“Gunpowder is dangerous not only because of the fire but also because of the heat. In particular, the most dangerous thing for brain damage entering the detonator tube is heat. Of course, you could create enough isolation space, but then you would have to redesign everything from scratch. “Starting with the engine with the stronger output…”
Hyang stopped talking and turned his gaze to Kim Jeom. Sejong turned his head following the scent and sighed when he saw Kim Jeom’s face, almost on the verge of tears.
“Whoa~. Yes, it will take a lot of time and budget.”
“We may be able to reduce the time, but we cannot guarantee the budget.”
“It’s a shame I have no choice but to plan for later.”
“Yes, the developers also came up with a similar plan, but they had no choice but to give up on that part.”
Concealing his disappointment about the ‘self-propelled artillery’, Sejong asked about other things.
“So what is the towing capacity of the tow truck? Surely we don’t have to put one on each door of the artillery?”
In response to Sejong’s question, Kim Jeom glared at Jo Mal-saeng with a puzzled look on his face.
Jo Mal-saeng, who saw Kim Jeom’s face fighting for his life, hurriedly reported on Hyang’s behalf.
“If you want to move it to its maximum capacity, you can move it by pulling all 5 double-type artillery pieces and a cart loaded with ammunition and gunpowder to be used by the artillery pieces. However, for safety reasons, it is designed to tow only double-type artillery. Gunpowder and coal are transported using horse-drawn carts as before. “Even if we only move our military artillery, we anticipate that there will be a significant increase in power.”
“Hmm… I see… That’s a good solution.”
When King Sejong nodded in the affirmative, Kim Jeom and Jo Mal-saeng shared mixed feelings of joy.
But King Sejong’s imagination did not stop.
“Sejaya, even if we cannot load artillery and gunpowder due to the risk of explosion. How about loading soldiers instead?”
“You mean soldiers?”
“Yes, if it has the power to tow five military artillery pieces and the ammunition and gunpowder for them. “Wouldn’t it be possible to transport soldiers?”
“To do that, of course, we need to redesign it…”
“No, it’s not about making space in the tow truck, it’s about armoring these carriages and connecting them. “What do you think?”
At Sejong’s words, an image appeared in Hyang’s mind.
‘Armed train? No… is there something more similar than that to the BV206? It’s similar, but the power needs to be transmitted to the rear… Would it be okay to use a joint shaft for that part?’
Hyang, who was doing some calculations, answered Sejong.
“I’ll think about it.”
“Oh, I expect good results.”
“But the budget…”
“Make it a long-term project.”
Hyang responded to Sejong’s firm answer in a gloomy voice.
“… yes.”
* * *
While such conversations continued in the carriage, the tow truck steadily moved toward On Su-hyeon.
“The speed is good. Roughly speaking, the speed is similar to that of a horse trotting. “Is this the fastest speed?”
“The fastest speed is slightly behind a horse’s full gallop speed, but running at that speed is prohibited. “It’s because of cargo issues.”
Sejong, who nodded to Hyang’s answer, looked around the inside of the carriage he was riding in and asked Hyang.
“I see. Anyway, isn’t it a very well-made carriage? “There is very little shaking.”
“Yes, we will improve it again and use it as a stagecoach carriage and a railway carriage. “Both will have the same structure, with only a difference in size.”
In response to Hyang’s answer, Sejong looked back at Kim Jeom and said.
“It could save a lot of budget.”
“That’s right.”
“Captain Kim Jeom will have less time to take medicine.”
Kim Jeom responded to Sejong’s joke with a bitter smile.
“It is all thanks to Your Majesty’s kindness. “I am devastated.”
* * *
Thanks to traveling on a tow truck, Sejong and his party were able to arrive at Onsu-hyeon in two days.
After hearing the news of King Sejong’s visit, the officials and people who came to the entrance of the prefecture waited for King Sejong with faces as if they were always there.
Chick chug! Chick chug!
“What do you mean?”
“Well…”
The people and officials, who had been tilting their heads at the sound they had never heard before, widened their eyes and opened their mouths when a tow truck with cavalry appeared at the entrance of the county.
“What is that?”
“Is the piece of metal moving?”
Wow!
When a loud whistle sounded from a tow truck that was approaching, the people who had gathered scattered and screamed.
“Egg money!”
“Human Salyu!”
“It’s a monster!”
* * *
Note 1) It is recommended for your reference.
Note 2) As always, it is good to refer to.
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