中国传入西方的机械技术
Chinese Mechanical Inventions that Contributed to the World
在很多人心目中，传统的中华文化似乎缺乏对科学技术的应用，可事实并非如此。除了对人类社会发展产生了巨大影响的四大发明之外，中国古代在科学技术方面也取得了辉煌的成就。中国古代的很多机械发明为人类社会的现代化提供了必要的条件。从公元6世纪到15世纪，中国一直是世界上科学技术最为发达的国家。从中国传往世界各地的技术发明中，最为显赫的还是活字印刷术、火药、指南针。
A common stereotype is that the Chinese have traditionally lacked scientif-ic and technological ability,despite the four great revolutionary inven-tions of paper making, printing, gunpowder, and compass that have essentially changed the world. However, Chinese people have made a lot of other significant mechanicalinventions besides the famous four, providing the source of many of the prerequisite technologies of modernity. From the 6th to the 15th century, China was the world’s most technologically advanced society.
以下是一些由中国传人其他国家的重要机械技术，它们一经进入了西方，便对西方社会的发展，乃至人类历史的进程都产生了巨大的影响：
Here are some of the most celebrated mechanical inventions from China that have exerted profound influences on the development of other societies, especially when they were passed to the West:
铸铁
Cast iron
活塞风箱
The double-acting piston bellows
手摇曲柄
The crank handle ( used for starting an engine)
平衡环（被中香炉）
The gimbals ( as in the ancient Chinese Incense Burner)
皮带传送
Manufacture of steel from cast iron
水力应用
The belt drive ( or driving-belt)
方板链泵
Water power
蒸气机基本原理
The chain pump
链条传动
Essentials of the steam engine
独轮车
The chain drive (in which an endless wheel transmits power from an engine)
滑动测径仪
The wheelbarrow
机械钟表装置
Sliding calipers ( a kind of compass used for measuring diameters)
永明灯
The fishing reel
纺车
The umbrella
轮式碾磨机
The mechanical clock
船尾舵
“Permanent”lamps
航海磁罗盘
The spinning wheel