Looking at the wheat grains flowing out from the bottom of the threshing machine, Mo Shang finally smiled and then grabbed a handful of wheat grains to check the results of the threshing machine.
"Threshing was successful, but since it wasn't dried, some husk remains... The grains are slightly soft, and many have abrasions..."
As Mo Shang spoke, he walked toward the wheat stalks and chaff on the side.
Picking up a handful of wheat stalks, Mo Shang examined them and frowned: "The wheat ears are not closely separated, with many gaps..."
"Overall, this threshing machine is pretty good; it greatly saves people time in threshing and threshing the grain..."
After carefully checking all the problems with the threshing machine, Mo Shang finally nodded in satisfaction.
Subsequently, the research and development department personnel brought the harvester and threshing machine back to the department to continue the improvement work.
Mo Shang then organized and summarized the various data and issues he had recorded before arriving at Deyang Palace.
Liu Hong frowned as he looked at the data that Mo Shang had sent him.
The concept of bearings already existed in this era, but most of them were similar to the bearings and pins of later generations, and grease was applied for lubrication to reduce friction in the wheel hub.
However, such bearings still have many problems and can only be used in horse-drawn carriages, not in industrial machinery.
Immediately, Liu Hong asked in a deep voice, "Mo Qing, could refined iron be used as a substitute material for this shaft...?"
Mo Shang shook his head: "Your Majesty, metal and wood are incompatible. Refined iron is too hard. Even if it is polished smooth, it will still easily damage the hub, and the loss will be even greater..."
Liu Hong, however, was confident: "I have a method that can solve this problem!"
"Oh? Please enlighten me, Your Majesty!"
Mo Shang's expression shifted, and he looked at Liu Hong with a respectful expression.
"Mo Qing, come and see...!"
Liu Hong smiled mysteriously, picked up two sheets of paper from the table, rolled them into two cylinders, one thick and one thin, and then inserted the thinner paper cylinder into the thicker one.
"Oh, Your Majesty, do you mean... to forge two iron rings using this method, and then fix them in the middle of the hub to prevent wear...?"
Mo Shang suddenly realized what Liu Hong meant.
Liu Hong smiled and nodded: "Mo Qing is indeed a great talent, truly so..."
"Your Majesty's method can indeed prevent wear between the axle hubs, however... the friction between the iron rings will inevitably be extremely strenuous..."
Recalling the resistance between metal and iron, Mo Shang looked at Liu Hong with a bitter expression.
"Please wait a moment, Mo Qing..."
After saying that, Liu Hong took out a few more thinner paper sticks and filled them into the gap between the two paper tubes.
Soon, a simple roller bearing was created.
"Mo Qing, what do you think of this...?"
As Liu Hong spoke, he turned the paper tube inside, and the roller in the middle turned along with it.
"This...this..."
Looking at the roller bearing in Liu Hong's hand, Mo Shang stared in shock, his mouth slightly agape, unable to utter a word.
"Your Majesty's divine skills are truly admirable..."
Shocked, Mo Shang bowed respectfully to Liu Hong.
Having spent so long in the Research and Development Department, he naturally understood that the biggest constraint in the field of machinery was the problem of bearing capacity. Because all machinery, as long as it rotates and exerts force, will encounter bearing capacity problems, and it is this problem that greatly restricts the development of machinery.
Simple items like waterwheels and water forging machines were manageable, but complex and intricate ones were a different story, which is why many of the ideas proposed by the research and development team could not be realized.
Now that the emperor has created such a roller bearing, all the problems will be solved.
Mo Shang could foresee that with this roller bearing, the research and development department's machinery would reach a new level and an unprecedented height.
"Your Majesty, this matter is of utmost importance. I will return immediately to begin its research and development!"
Thinking of this, Mo Shang couldn't contain his excitement and immediately bid farewell to Liu Hong, preparing to go back and study it carefully.
Liu Hong smiled and said, "Mo Qing, don't be in a hurry. This roller bearing looks simple, but it's actually quite difficult to manufacture, especially the rollers, which require very high-quality steel. We still need to work on the steel..."
Mo Shang nodded solemnly: "Your Majesty is right. I will go to the Engineering Academy to study new steelmaking methods with Dr. Gongshu..."
"Very well, I have a 'steel-forging method' that I found in an ancient book. You can take it and study it carefully!"
As they spoke, Liu Hong took out a page of paper that he had treasured for a long time and handed it to Mo Shang.
"The steel-filling method...?"
Mo Shang began to flip through the pages with a puzzled look on his face.
"Pig iron on top, wrought iron on the bottom; the pig iron is first molten and dripped onto the wrought iron, and the middle molten layer is collected..."
As Mo Shang muttered to himself, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Your Majesty, I believe this method is feasible...!"
By the end, Mo Shang's complexion had become slightly flushed.
Liu Hong smiled and said, "In that case, Mo Qing should go and give it a try..."
"Your subject takes his leave!"
After bowing, Mo Shang jogged away from Deyang Palace, and his excitement was evident in his gait.
"These guys...!"
Looking at Mo Shang, who had transformed into a mad scientist, Liu Hong couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.
In fact, Liu Hong had prepared for both bearings and the steel-filling method long ago. However, since agriculture and light industry had not yet developed, rashly promoting heavy industry would only backfire and distort the direction of technological development.
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