- Samuel Ruben
Samuel Ruben (
14 July ,1900 -16 July ,1988 ) was an inventor who made lasting contributions toelectrochemistry and solid-state technology, including the founding ofDuracell .Early life
Samuel Ruben got his start in electronics when he became a licensed ham radio operator and built radios with spare parts. Samuel Ruben met Professor Bergen Davis of
Columbia University who tutored him and allowed him to sit in on some Columbia classes.While he had no college degree, leaving withdrawing from college after a short time due to stress, [cite news | first= | last=Smithsonian | coauthors= | title=Papers of Samuel Ruben, 1932-1984 | date= | publisher=Chemical Heritage Foundation | url =http://invention.smithsonian.org/Resources/MIND_Repository_Details.aspx?rep_id=1823 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-20 | language = ] Ruben received several honorary degrees. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Columbia University in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Science where he was a Senior Staff Associate.Fact|date=August 2007
Company history
Samuel Ruben established Ruben Laboratories in the early 1920s, and accumulated over 300 patents. [cite news | first=Glenn | last=Fowler | coauthors= | title=Samuel Ruben, 88, an Inventor Noted for Electrochemical Work | date=1988 | publisher=New York Times | url =http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB071FF6385D0C738EDDAE0894D0484D81 | work =New York Times | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-20 | language = ] Ruben teamed with Phillip Rogers Mallory to create what would become
Duracell International. Ruben developed the mercury button cell in 1942 to replace the zinc-carbon batteries.With over 100 inventions credited to him personally, one of the most important was the dry electrolytic aluminum capacitor, the solid-state magnesium/cupric sulfide rectifier, and the vacuum tube relay, the quick heater
vacuum tube , and the concept of a balanced-cell mercury battery.Ruben worked as a researcher from 1918-1921 for the Electrochemical Products Company.
Samuel Ruben published multiple books, including a unique way to display the elements, titled "Handbook of the Elements", and an autobiography entitled "Necessity's Children: Memoirs of an Independent Inventor".
References
External links
* [http://www.duracell.com/au/main/pages/company-information-duracell-history.asp Duracell History]
* [http://invention.smithsonian.org/Resources/MIND_Repository_Details.aspx?rep_id=1823 The Lemelson Center]
* [http://www.chemheritage.org Chemical Heritage Foundation]
* [http://www.electrochem.org/dl/interface/fal/fal06/fall06_p16-17.pdf Biography on electrochem.org]
* [http://electrochem.cwru.edu/ed/encycl/art-b02-batt-nonr.htm Electrochemistry Encyclopedia, entry: nonrechargeable batteries]
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