"Water transport instrument platform, water transport, water transport, of course it is inseparable from water power!" Han Du reminded loudly.
"If you want to push the water-operated observatory, you must have enough power. If the water is small, it will have no power at all. If you want to obtain strong water power, you must have a large amount of water flow. You say that the water-operated observatory is too small. Is it possible?"
Sun Xian and Yu Qian both looked suddenly enlightened. It turned out that this was the reason why the Qintian Supervisor built the Water Transport Symbol Tower larger than the attic, rather than because they didn't want to make the Water Transport Symbol Tower smaller?
"So, the student's idea was wrong from the beginning?" Sun Xian was deeply shocked. It turned out that it was not that he was smarter than the people in Qin Tianjian, but that people had long known that it was impossible to build a small water-operated instrument platform.
Yu Qian glanced at Sun Xian who was disappointed, but he didn't think so. Instead, he believed that there must be a way to make the water-operated observatory smaller, otherwise the teacher should have told them that this would not work, instead of having a serious discussion with them enthusiastically.
Things were just as Yu Qian thought. Looking at Sun Xian whose face was full of disappointment, Han Du smiled and shook his head: "No! Your idea is right, but it's just not clear enough."
"Oh? Please give me some advice, sir." Sun Xian was overjoyed and quickly asked for help from his sir.
"Relying on water power can only make the water-operated observatory very large, but what if we don't use water power, but rely on other powers?" Han Du guided Sun Xian's thoughts step by step, watching his expression change, Hopefully he'll be able to think of a solution on his own.
"Not relying on water power..." Sun Xian's heart suddenly became enlightened, and he felt a light flashing through his mind.
I was so excited that I kept clapping my hands and shouted: "Yes, instead of water power, we can also use a steam engine. The power of a steam engine is much greater than that of water power, and the steam engine is also much smaller."
The more he talked, the more excited he became. Before Han Du could speak, Sun Xian said in rapid succession: "The steam engine can be made smaller. Such a water transport instrument platform can be much smaller than the one in Qintianjian... .”
Yu Qian looked at Sun Xian who was full of excitement, and he had to admit that this idea was good. But after seeing the look on the teacher's face that day, I couldn't help but shake my head. I'm afraid this alone won't catch the teacher's eye!
"Wait a minute!" Han Du couldn't listen any more, and quickly waved his hand to stop Sun Xian, who was coming in the endless stream, and asked him, somewhat dumbfounded: "Why do you have to think about the steam engine? Isn't there any other way?"
When Sun Xian heard what his husband said, he immediately understood that his idea was not approved by his husband. He asked in confusion: "Sir, can't the steam engine be used as the power for the water transport instrument platform?"
"No." Han Du sighed helplessly and explained to Sun Xian before he could ask again: "Although the steam engine can also produce power, it is too powerful and can easily be used on a water transport instrument platform. The water transport observatory was destroyed."
Han Du had never seen a clock powered by a steam engine.
No longer waiting for Sun Xian to think about it, Han Du directly reminded: "Since the water transport instrument platform we built is very small, it does not require much power at all. Even the power of a spring is enough."
"Teacher, you mean to use a spring to drive it?" Yu Qian asked curiously, and then raised his doubts: "But although the contraction of the spring can generate force, it can only generate it once."
The water transport instrument platform needs to run continuously, and it is impossible to make it run continuously with only one force pull.
Yu Qian and Sun Xian didn't consider the spring at all. For this reason, it was obvious at first glance that this thing was useless for building a water-moving instrument platform.
"Of course not springs." Han Du nodded slightly, "I'm talking about another thing. It's similar to springs, but completely different."
After saying that, Han Du picked up the pen and paper and started drawing.
While drawing, he explained the rationale: "Ordinary springs are like this, they can only stretch and contract."
Yu Qian and Sun Xian approached each other, one on the left and the other on the right, watching with wide eyes.
Sun Xian's disciples next to him heard that Han Yuanjian taught it in person, and they also stood in front of Han Du. But they didn't dare to be next to the three of them, so they could only stretch their necks and hope that they could see more clearly.
Han Du was not dissatisfied at all. Instead, he couldn't help but smile when he saw these people being so eager to learn. This was the attitude of seeking knowledge.
"Since the spring cannot meet the needs of the water transport instrument platform, why don't we deform it?"
Then Han Du gradually drew circles of lines around a point on the paper.
"Sir, what are you drawing?" Sun Xian stared at the pattern on the paper eagerly. He was keenly aware that all the secrets should be in this pattern.
But for a moment he couldn't understand what the pattern had to do with the spring.
Han Du tapped the spring a few times with the pencil in his hand and said, "Since a spring wound like this can produce force, then it should be able to produce force if it is transformed like this."
After listening to Han Du's words, everyone's eyes turned to the circles of lines again.
"Hiss!" Yu Qian was the first to react. He couldn't wait to look up at the teacher and asked, "If this can really generate power, then it is really possible to provide power for the water transport instrument platform."
Others also vaguely felt something and looked up at Han Du.
Han Du put down the pen casually and said with a smile: "Is it okay? You'll know if you try it?"
Sometimes it's useless no matter how much you say, just make something and try it, and it will be clear at a glance.
Anyway, there is no shortage of anything in the mechanical workshop, and there is no difficulty at all in making this thing with the skills of a craftsman.
"I'll do it." Without waiting for Han Du's instructions, Sun Xian's disciple volunteered, "I'll build one and have a look."
Seeing that there is real hope of realizing his idea, how can Sun Xian still sit still? He also stood up, said "Students, come and have a look", and walked out quickly.
Han Du saw Sun Xian running out the door impatiently, shook his head and smiled, then turned to Qian and said, "Let's go and have a look. If there is any problem, we can correct it directly."
"yes."
...
Making springs is a familiar task for Sun Xian's apprentices. They have already made many springs with their own hands. It's just that this time the springs are different from the ones made in the past, but it's not a problem for them.
Soon, a spring according to the pattern drawn by Han Du was created.
Sun Xian held a spring measuring one foot and five feet square and asked Han Du, "Sir, what should we do next?"
Han Du looked at the spring, shook his head and said, "It's a little big, but it's okay. It's just for testing anyway. It's not too late to find a way to make it smaller after the testing is done."