Cherepanovs
Cherepanov, Yefim Alekseyevich (1774–1842) and Miron Yefimovich (1803–1849), Russian inventors and industrial engineers, father and son. They were peasants of the Demidovs – a famous family of factory owners. In 1810s, Yefim built a progressive machine-building plant, equipped with a full range of innovative metal-cutting lathes (such as screw-cutters, gear-cutting serrating machines and others). From 1822 until his death, Yefim had been chief mechanic of all the factories in the town of Nizhny Tagil. His son Miron was his apprentice and in 1819 was appointed his deputy and eventually replaced his father after his death.
Contents
Innovations
Industrial machinery
Cherepanovs significally improved the machinery that had been used in blast-furnace and gold-mining industries, iron and copper works, sawmills and flourmills.
Steam engines
The most interesting aspect of the Cherepanovs' work were steam engines which they stubbornly tried to introduce into industrial production. Since 1820, the Cherepanovs had built about 20 steam engines (ranging from 2 to 60 h.p.).
Railroad
In 1833-34 they built the first Russian steam locomotive. They also built a cast-iron railroad from one of their factories to the copper mine. Track gauge was 5 ft 6 in (1670 mm).[1] These are the figures quoted in the reference, although 1670 mm is actually 5 ft 5¾ in. In 1835, a second locomotive was built to be sent to Saint Petersburg.[2] Despite the successful performance and operation of their locomotives, the Cherepanovs' invention found no support outside the factory and, subsequently, their steam locomotive was replaced with horse traction.
