Ralph Teetor

Ralph Teetor

Ralph Teetor (1890-1982) was a prolific (and blind) inventor who invented cruise control. He was also the longtime president of the very successful automotive parts manufacturer The Perfect Circle Co. Corporation in Hagerstown, Indiana, a manufacturer of piston rings. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1912, which surprised the faculty because they originally thought that he couldn't do the required work.

Ralph's highly developed sense of touch proved its advantage in developing a technique for balancing steam turbine rotors used in torpedo-boat destroyers. Dynamic balancing of large components had puzzled others before Ralph solved the problem.

Ralph was inspired to invent cruise control one day while riding with his lawyer. The lawyer would slow down while talking and speed up while listening. This rocking motion so annoyed Teetor that he was determined to invent a speed control device.

In 1945, after ten years of tinkering, Ralph Teetor received his first patent on a speed cruise control device. Early names for his invention included “Controlmatic”, "Touchomatic”, “Pressomatic” and “Speedostat” and finally the familiar name of “Cruise Control”. However, it wasn't used commercially until Chrysler introduced it in 1958.

Teetor became blind aged five in an accident, but as a grown man he preferred never to discuss his disability. He managed to live his life almost as if it had never happened and went on to become successful as an engineer, manufacturing executive and entrepreneur.

Teetor was posthumously inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1988 for his numerous contributions to the industry.

His other inventions included an early powered lawn mower, lock mechanisms, and holders for fishing rods.

External links

* [http://www.cruise-in.com/resource/cismar08.htm Bio]
* [http://www.waynet.org/waynet/spotlight/2003/030521-perfectcircle.htm History of the Perfect Circle Corporation]
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,847646,00.html Time magazine]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ralph Teetor — (1890 1982) est un inventeur et mécanicien américain. Aveugle dès son plus jeune âge, il est l inventeur du régulateur de vitesse. Également, il a longtemps été le président de The Perfect Circle Co., une entreprise qui fabriquait des pièces… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cruise control — For the software build framework, see CruiseControl. Cruise control mounted on a 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Steering Wheel Cruise control (sometimes known as speed control or autocruise) is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor… …   Wikipedia

  • Control de velocidad — de un Jeep Grand Cherokee de 2000 situado en el volante. El control de velocidad, también conocido como regulador de velocidad o autocrucero (o cruise control en inglés y Tempomat en alemán) es un sistema que controla de forma automática el… …   Wikipedia Español

  • List of University of Pennsylvania people — This is a list of current and former faculty, alumni, and non graduating attendees of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Nobel LaureatesPhysics *Raymond Davis 2002 Nobel Prize in Physics **for… …   Wikipedia

  • Nasser Ashgriz — Dr. Nasser Ashgriz is a professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto. Prior to U of T, he was a Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York …   Wikipedia

  • Hagerstown, Indiana — Infobox Settlement official name = Town of Hagerstown, Indiana settlement type = Town nickname = mapsize = 250x200px imagesize = 250px image caption = Hagerstown from the air, looking northeast. map caption = Location in the state of Indiana… …   Wikipedia

  • Commandeur de vitesses — Régulateur de vitesse Le régulateur de vitesse est un système destiné à stabiliser automatiquement la vitesse des véhicules automobiles et/ou à fixer une vitesse maximale limite (on parle alors de limiteur de vitesse). Le conducteur fixe la… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Cruise control — Régulateur de vitesse Le régulateur de vitesse est un système destiné à stabiliser automatiquement la vitesse des véhicules automobiles et/ou à fixer une vitesse maximale limite (on parle alors de limiteur de vitesse). Le conducteur fixe la… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Limitateur de vitesse — Régulateur de vitesse Le régulateur de vitesse est un système destiné à stabiliser automatiquement la vitesse des véhicules automobiles et/ou à fixer une vitesse maximale limite (on parle alors de limiteur de vitesse). Le conducteur fixe la… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Limiteur de vitesse — Régulateur de vitesse Le régulateur de vitesse est un système destiné à stabiliser automatiquement la vitesse des véhicules automobiles et/ou à fixer une vitesse maximale limite (on parle alors de limiteur de vitesse). Le conducteur fixe la… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”