埃文斯(1755～1819年)

Evans, Oliver

美国发明家，生於德拉瓦州（Delaware）新港市。他很早开始专心致力於工业问题。他研制改进了使用於新兴的机械化、纺织业中的梳理（carding）装置。1784年创办了一家粮食加工厂，采用传送带、升运机、称重机等机器连续作业，这是他创造的粮食加工生产线。工厂的全部工序都实现了自动化，仅用人力启动，然後由水轮机提供动力；一端填料，由传送带和滑槽组成的系统运送经过碾磨和筛净，另一端则出成品面粉。他制造了高压蒸汽机（high-pressure steam engine，1790年获专利），获得通常仅给予特里维西克（Richard Trevithick）的发明信誉。他的两栖挖掘机（Amphibious Digger）为新型蒸汽机平底驳船，装上轮子後，它便可在陆地上及水上行驶，这就是美国第一辆机动的公路车。埃文斯的马尔斯铁工厂（Mars Iron Works, 1806年创办），制造出一百余台与螺旋压力机配合使用的加工棉花、烟草和纸张的蒸汽机。

English version：

1755～1819年

Evans, Oliver

U.S. inventor. Born in Newport, Del., Evans began early to apply himself to industrial problems. He invented an improved carding device for use in the newly mechanized production of textiles. In 1784 he built a flour mill, for which he created the first continuous production line in any industry: all movement was automatic, power being supplied by waterwheels, and grain was passed by conveyors and chutes through the stages of milling and refining to emerge as finished flour. His high-pressure steam engine (patented 1790) deserves to share the credit for the invention often given solely to Richard Trevithick. His Amphibious Digger (1805), a steam-engine scow that could run on both land and water, was the first powered road vehicle to operate in the U.S. His Mars Iron Works (founded 1806) made more than 100 steam engines for use with screw presses for processing cotton, tobacco, and paper.