The first endless chain drive powered a massive astronomical clock in 1092
Su Song's massive astronomical clock, built in 1092, utilized the first endless chain drive to track celestial movements with unprecedented mechanical accuracy.
In 1092, the Chinese statesman Su Song completed a 12-meter-tall clock tower in Kaifeng that represented the pinnacle of Song Dynasty engineering. The heart of the machine was an 'endless' chain drive—the first of its kind—which transmitted power from a waterwheel to a massive 130kg armillary sphere. This chain consisted of bronze links and sprockets that operated with 80% efficiency, allowing the celestial globe to rotate exactly one degree per day.
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