什麼是威斯丁霍斯

Westinghouse, George

美國發明家和實業家，美國用交流電傳輸電力主要是他倡導的。他的第一個重要發明是空氣制動器（1869年獲得專利），後來規定所有美國火車都必須裝有空氣制動器。後來他開始研發鐵道訊號裝置，研製成一種完整的電氣和壓縮空氣訊號系統。後來還有許多與天然氣輸送管道有關的發明。他最重要的成就是改進美國交流電的電力傳輸。1880年代美國開始發展直流電，但歐洲已發展出交流電系統。威斯丁霍斯購買了臺斯拉的交流電動機專利並請臺斯拉來改進電動機以適用於他的電網。1886年他組成西屋電氣公司。在當時他受到擁護直流電的人們的誹謗，而1893年西屋公司為芝加哥的世界哥倫比亞展覽會提供了照明電。另外他獲得以交流發電機開發尼加拉大瀑布的權利。亦請參閱electric current。

1846～1914年

Westinghouse, George

U.S. inventor and industrialist. Born in Central Bridge, N.Y., he served in the American Civil War. His first major invention was an air brake (patented 1869), which was eventually made compulsory on all American trains. He developed a railway signaling system, and later introduced many innovations in piping natural gas. His major achievement was the adoption by the U.S. of alternating current for electric power transmission. The electrical system being developed in the U.S. in the 1880s used direct current (DC), though alternating-current (AC) systems were being developed in Europe. Westinghouse purchased the patents for Nikola Tesla's AC motor and hired Tesla to improve and modify the motor for use in his power system. In 1886 he incorporated the predecessor of Westinghouse Electric Corp. He eventually prevailed over powerful opposition from advocates of DC power, and in 1893 his company was hired to light the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. He also obtained the rights to develop the great falls of the Niagara River with AC generators. See also electric current.