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Explorations in the History of Machines and Mechanisms pp 21–38Cite as

Franz Reuleaux and the Rhenish Roots of Mechanism Theory

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Part of the book series: History of Mechanism and Machine Science ((HMMS,volume 15))

Abstract

In 2009, the Department of Mechanism Theory and Dynamics of Machines of Aachen University (RWTH) celebrated the 50th anniversary of its foundation. Among the few higher education institutions still active in mechanisms theory in Germany, it is one of the older establishments, but compared with Dresden, for example, it is still relatively young. In a historical retrospective, this article examines whether, through the personal ties of Franz Reuleaux to his Rhenish homeland, there are even older relationships between his Berlin sphere of activity and the still young Aachen University. The result is very likely doubly interesting not only for the young, present day members of the department but also for foreigners to RWTH Aachen University because it sheds an interesting light on an important development phase of mechanism theory and also on the other hand explains the development of RWTH Aachen University during the early years of scientific consideration of mechanical engineering.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz University, Hannover, Germany

    Reinhard Braune

  2. RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

    Burkhard Corves

Authors
  1. Reinhard Braune
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  2. Burkhard Corves
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Mathematics, VU University, De Boelelaan 1081, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, Netherlands

    Teun Koetsier

  2. , Laboratory of Robotics & Mechatronics, University of Cassino, Via di Biasio 43, Cassino, 03043, Italy

    Marco Ceccarelli

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Braune, R., Corves, B. (2012). Franz Reuleaux and the Rhenish Roots of Mechanism Theory. In: Koetsier, T., Ceccarelli, M. (eds) Explorations in the History of Machines and Mechanisms. History of Mechanism and Machine Science, vol 15. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4132-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4132-4_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-007-4131-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-4132-4

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