| We all know what a patent is in general, but how | | | | appliances, but he held patents that had to do with |
| much do you really know about patents and how | | | | railroads as well. He held a patent on a system to put |
| they have shaped America? Our advances in | | | | railroad cars back on the tracks after they had been |
| technology here in America have surpassed that of all | | | | derailed. He even held the patent for inventing the |
| other countries combined. Many do not like to hear | | | | first air-brakes. |
| that, but it is a fact, and it has more to do with how | | | | Electricity and Steel Processing are just two of the |
| America moved ahead of other countries | | | | great scientific discoveries that made this country |
| economically than any other factor and still does | | | | great. I only bring those scientific discoveries into this |
| today. | | | | article to show you something about patents. Many |
| In this article, I will cover many of the advances | | | | people know about the significant scientific |
| made by American Inventors throughout our | | | | discoveries like nuclear power, the automobile, the |
| relatively short history compared to other countries. | | | | airplane, electronics, radio and television, agriculture, |
| Not all inventions that helped make America great | | | | computers, the telephone, air conditioning, |
| were originated in America, but even those that | | | | refrigeration, spacecraft, the Internet, and so much |
| were not invented and patented here, were put to | | | | more, most of which was either invented in America |
| better use here, like a way to produce steel in large | | | | or put to the best use here in America. |
| quantities for instance. Originally patented by a British | | | | But those significant scientific discoveries make up |
| inventor named Henry Bessemer. He invented the | | | | only a small percentage of all the patents that are |
| Bessemer Converter or the Bessemer Process. | | | | applied for and granted. Most patents stem from one |
| He obtained his patent in 1855, even though the | | | | or more of the great scientific discoveries, but the |
| process was known in China in the third century. | | | | patents are granted for the unique use of or |
| According to wikipedia.com, ? The key principle is | | | | combinations of the great discoveries. |
| removal of impurities from the iron by oxidation | | | | The genius and inventiveness of the American citizen |
| through air being blown through the molten iron. The | | | | over all others can be attributed to the fact we are |
| oxidation also raises the temperature of the iron | | | | a free society. Free speech also means freedom of |
| mass and keeps it molten.? | | | | thought. Freedom of though leads to great |
| However, ingenious Americans like Andrew Carnegie | | | | knowledge and discovery. |
| put it to use and built everything from tin cans to | | | | While some inventions or great scientific discoveries |
| skyscrapers to railroads and ships. Many American | | | | can be attributed to people of foreign countries, |
| inventions were patented because of the ability to | | | | nowhere are those discoveries and inventions put to |
| process steel faster. | | | | better use throughout history than in the United |
| Many people credit Benjamin Franklin for the | | | | States. |
| discovery of electricity. While that is true, | | | | For each major scientific discovery, thousands of |
| electrification is not quite the same thing. People like | | | | patents are filed that put it into practical use. Today, |
| Thomas Edison had introduced direct-current | | | | patents are still applied for at an extremely fast rate. |
| systems, what we know as DC. Nikola Tesla worked | | | | America has not stopped inventing and patenting |
| toward using AC, or alternating current. | | | | their ideas. As long as the American culture continues |
| Tesla was Slavic, but a citizen of the US when he did | | | | to foster this innovation, America will stay far ahead |
| all of his important work on electricity. At the turn of | | | | in all technological fields, while countries that suppress |
| the century, Tesla was already working in fields like | | | | the freedoms of their citizens will lag far behind. |
| robotics and ballistics. George Westinghouse was a | | | | I hope this article, while we only touched on a few |
| friend of Tesla?s and a major competitor to Thomas | | | | inventions and discoveries, gives you some insight |
| Edison. George Westinghouse put electricity to use in | | | | into why America stays far ahead of the rest of the |
| more practical ways than the inventors. | | | | world through technology. Search through the US |
| Westinghouse also invented things and held many | | | | Patent Office Website and you will discover just how |
| patents of his own. People associate him with | | | | many inventions are patented every day. |