Gears were a logical continuation of the invention of the wheel. It is not at all unthinkable that gears may be called the greatest invention ever after the wheel. In any case, they have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Without gears, there would be no production, no energy and certainly no transport. The use of gears is so obvious that we never stop to think about where they come from. In this article, out of respect for the gear, the interesting history of their origins.
Up until now, the Greeks have been given the credit for the invention of the gear. It is estimated that they first used the mechanism in Alexandria 300 years before Christ. Unofficial writings show that differentials (a system of gears) were made in China as early as 800 BC.
Gear actually a natural product
But were the ancient Greeks really the inventors? Research by biologists at Cambridge University is certain that the ancient Greeks cannot claim that honor. The three-millimeter insect Issus coleoptratus, a lantern bearer-like creature that lives in Europe and North Africa, has been using the mechanism for millions of years. The use of gears is therefore not a human invention of the ancient Greeks, but a mechanism that arose through evolution in nature.
Contemporary gearboxes
At Apex Dynamics, we are very grateful to both the Greeks and this toothed insect. Every day, we provide our customers with gearboxes for the most diverse applications. Gearboxes that guarantee high precision and a long service life. And although we cannot change history, we like to change the future by “running faster!” for our customers today.
Check out the original article about the history of gears here…
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