巴黎的地下时钟：英语精读讲义

This is Paris on the 21st of January,

这是1月21日的巴黎，

1910,

1910年，

when a flash flood brought chaos to the city. 短語搭配

当时一场山洪给这座城市带来了混乱。

Metros were flooded and buildings were destroyed.

地铁被淹，建筑物被毁。

But more curiously,

但更奇怪的是，

almost all the clocks around the city

城市里几乎所有的钟表

stopped at exactly 10:50,

都准确地停在了10:50，

as if time itself had stopped amidst the chaos. 語法

仿佛时间本身在混乱中停止了。

These clocks were part of a special network of underground pipes

这些钟表是一个特殊的地下管道网络的一部分，

that used bursts of air to synchronize time around the city.

该网络利用气流来同步全城的时间。

This genius system was created in 1880

这个天才的系统创建于1880年，

by Austrian engineer Viktor Popp.

由奥地利工程师Viktor Popp发明。

And just 5 years later,

仅仅5年后，

thousands of these clocks were placed all over the city

成千上万个这样的钟表被安放在城市各处，

in hotels,

在酒店里，

train stations,

火车站，

houses,

房屋，

schools,

学校，

and public streets.

和公共街道上。

We modeled this incredible system and the special machine at the heart of it 習語

我们对这个令人难以置信的系统及其核心的特殊机器进行了建模，

to show you how a series of underground pipes and mechanical clocks

向您展示一系列地下管道和机械钟表

kept an entire city in sync. 短語搭配

是如何让整个城市保持同步的。

Before the invention of accurate electrical clocks,

在精确的电子钟发明之前，

time was hard to keep.

时间很难保持准确。

Mechanical clocks would slowly drift out of sync, 短語搭配

机械钟会慢慢失去同步，

leaving everyone on slightly different times.

让每个人的时间都略有不同。

Business meetings and train schedules were impossible,

商务会议和火车时刻表都无法实行，

since no one would arrive at the right time.

因为没人会在正确的时间到达。

In fact,

事实上，

the idea of there being an exact time wasn't really a thing yet. 講解

存在精确时间的概念当时还未真正成型。

Tower bells around the city

城市周围的塔钟

would ring out to let people know which hour it was. 短語動詞

会敲响来让人们知道现在是几点。

But as cities became more civilized,

但随着城市变得更加文明，

knowing the time to the nearest hour 短語搭配

仅仅知道精确到小时的时间

was no longer good enough.

已经不够了。

There needed to be a way to make sure everyone was on the same time, 語法

需要有一种方法来确保每个人的时间都是一致的，

down to the nearest minute.

精确到分钟。

The idea was to have a master clock in the center of Paris

当时的想法是在巴黎市中心设一个主钟，

that would send out a pulse each minute

它每分钟发出一个脉冲，

to synchronize every clock around the city.

来同步全城的每一个钟。

Sending the signals electronically was far too expensive, 語法

用电子方式发送信号太昂贵了，

so Popp decided that sending bursts of air

所以Popp决定发送气流

would be cheaper and more reliable.

会更便宜且更可靠。

The clocks wouldn't have to be powered. 語法

钟表不需要接电。

The bursts of air would simply move all the clocks

气流只需简单地推动所有钟表

in the system at the same time.

在系统中同时运转。

This idea had been tested out in Vienna 短語動詞

这个想法曾在维也纳进行过测试，

a few years before,

就在几年前，

and it clearly demonstrated that having everyone on the same time

它清楚地表明，让所有人的时间保持一致

was the way of the future. 習語

是未来的发展方向。

So the government of Paris gave Popp and his team

因此，巴黎政府给了Popp和他的团队

a 50-year contract to provide time to Paris.

一份为期50年的合同，为巴黎提供时间。

The pneumatic clock company set up shop 習語

气动钟表公司成立了，

in the center of Paris

就在巴黎市中心，

and began working on the master clock.

并开始研制主钟。

This was an extremely precise clock

这是一个极其精确的钟，

that could run 24/7 without going out of sync. 短語搭配

可以24/7全天候运行而不会失去同步。

Before we look at how this incredible machine worked, 表達脈絡

在我们了解这台不可思议的机器如何工作之前，

we need to understand the general principles of mechanical clocks.

我们需要了解机械钟的一般原理。

In order to run without electricity,

为了在没有电的情况下运行，

a spring or weight was typically used to provide energy.

通常使用发条或重物来提供能量。

By raising a weight, 語法

通过提起重物，

energy is stored in the form of potential energy. 短語搭配

能量以势能的形式储存起来。

When it is released,

当它被释放时，

gravity pulls it down and the wheel spins.

重力将其向下拉，齿轮随之旋转。

Of course,

当然，

a clock that ran out after a couple seconds 短語動詞

一个几秒钟就走完的钟表

would be useless.

将是毫无用处的。

So, an escapement mechanism is added to slow down the weight 用詞

所以，加入了一个擒纵机构来减缓重物下降的速度，

and create a continuous pulse.

并产生持续的脉冲。

As the gear turns,

当齿轮转动时，

the escapement rocks back and forth like a pendulum, 短語搭配

擒纵机构像钟摆一样来回摆动，

moving the gear at constant intervals

以恒定的间隔移动齿轮，

and slowing down its release of energy.

并减缓其能量的释放。

By changing the length of the pendulum,

通过改变钟摆的长度，

the clock can be tuned to run faster or slower.

可以将钟表调快或调慢。

Adding a train of high-ratio gears slows down the system even more, 用詞

增加一组高传动比的齿轮可以使系统慢下来更多，

meaning the weight can power the clock

这意味着重物可以为钟表提供动力

for an entire week without having to be reset.

长达一整周而无需重新设置。

For the Paris master clock,

至于巴黎的主钟，

it was split into two separate sides.

它被分为两个独立的部分。

On the left was a standard pendulum clock 語法

左边是一个标准的摆钟，

that drove the hour, minute, and second hands.

驱动着时针、分针和秒针。

The clock on the right was basically a timer

右边的钟基本上是一个计时器，

that would control when to release the bursts of compressed air

控制何时将压缩空气脉冲

into the network of clocks.

释放进钟表网络。

But what kept the master clock in time? 短語搭配

但是，是什么让主钟保持准确的时间呢？

In the Paris Observatory, 文化背景

在巴黎天文台，

there was another super accurate clock that was updated daily

有另一个极其准确的钟，它每天都会更新，

using observations of stars and planets.

利用对恒星和行星的观测。

A timekeeper would update the master clock if necessary,

计时员会在必要时更新主钟，

using the observatory clock as a reference.

使用天文台的钟作为参考。

In order to see the observatory clock,

为了看到天文台的钟，

which was in a different part of Paris,

这个钟位于巴黎的另一个区域，

the timekeeper used AnyDesk,

计时员使用了AnyDesk，

which gave him remote access to the clock's time.

让他能够远程访问这台钟的时间。

Just kidding. 語氣意圖

开玩笑的。

This entire system wouldn't be necessary 語法

如果1880年有AnyDesk的话，

if AnyDesk was around in 1880.

整个系统就没有必要存在了。

AnyDesk, today's sponsor,

AnyDesk，今天的赞助商，

is a remote access service that allows you to control your device

是一项远程访问服务，可让您控制您的设备，

from anywhere in the world.

无论您在世界何处。

All of the animations in this video

本视频中的所有动画

were made on a MacBook and rendered on a PC.

都是在MacBook上制作并在PC上渲染的。

But when I'm traveling,

但当我在旅行时，

I still need to access my PC.

我仍然需要访问我的PC。

With AnyDesk,

有了AnyDesk，

I can send the animation files directly to my PC

我可以将动画文件直接发送到我的PC上，

and hit render as if I were sitting right in front of it. 語法

然后点击渲染，就像我坐在它面前一样。

With AnyDesk,

有了AnyDesk，

you can directly access and copy files to your device

您可以直接访问并将文件复制到您的设备，

without having to upload them to the cloud. 語法

而无需将它们上传到云端。

They have their own special codec that transfers the video of your computer

他们有自己特殊的编解码器，可以传输您计算机的画面，

at an extremely low bit rate

以极低的比特率进行，

without a noticeable drop in quality. 短語搭配

而不会出现明显的质量下降。

The speed is lightning fast, 習語

速度快如闪电，

and it even works well with poor internet connections.

即便在网络连接不佳的情况下也能良好运行。

AnyDesk works on all platforms,

AnyDesk适用于所有平台，

and best of all, 表達脈絡

最棒的是，

it's free to use for personal use.

它供个人使用是免费的。

And they also have tailor-made plans for businesses. 短語搭配

并且他们还有为企业量身定制的方案。

To get AnyDesk for free and support the channel,

要免费获取AnyDesk并支持本频道，

visit anydesk.com/primalspace.

请访问anydesk.com/primalspace。

In order to synchronize every clock around Paris,

为了同步巴黎的每一座钟，

the master clock had to be extremely precise.

主钟必须极其精确。

Both sides of the clock worked together to send out bursts of air

钟的两侧协同工作，发出气流，

to thousands of clocks connected to the system.

送往连接到该系统的数千个钟表。

At the start of each minute,

在每一分钟开始时，

the left-hand clock would start counting down, 短語動詞

左侧的钟将开始倒计时，

while the right-hand clock would be locked in place by a lever. 講解

而右侧的钟将被一根杠杆锁定在原位。

Once the left clock reached the 60th second,

一旦左侧的钟到达第60秒，

a tooth at the top gear activated the lever,

顶部齿轮上的一个齿就会激活杠杆，

which released the right clock and allowed its gears to start spinning. 語法

从而释放右侧的钟，让它的齿轮开始旋转。

Instead of an escapement to limit the speed,

右侧的钟没有使用擒纵机构来限制速度，

the right clock had a simple fan fly,

只有一个简单的减速风轮，

which used its own drag to slow the gears down. 用詞

它利用自身的阻力使齿轮慢下来。

This would allow the clock to run for about 20 seconds

这将允许钟表运行约20秒钟，

until the lever locked back in place.

直到杠杆锁回原位。

When the gears turned,

当齿轮转动时，

a rod attached to one of the main gears was activated. 語法

连接在其中一个主齿轮上的一根杆被激活。

This opened a valve that would allow compressed air

这会打开一个阀门，让压缩空气

to flow into the distribution pipe.

流入分配管道。

The valve would remain open for the first 20 seconds of each minute 語法

阀门在每分钟的前20秒内保持开启，

and closed for the remaining 40 seconds.

在剩余的40秒内关闭。

This created a 20-second period every minute

这就在每分钟内创造了一个20秒的时间段，

where air could flow to all the clocks in the network.

空气可以流向网络中的所有钟表。

One of the best things about this entire system

这个完整系统最棒的特点之一，

was its ability to reset itself

就是它能够自我重置，

once the weights had fallen.

一旦重物落下之后。

A thin pipe leading off from the distribution pipe

一根从分配管道引出的细管，

fed the compressed air back into two pistons 短語動詞

将压缩空气送回两个活塞中，

at the side of the clock.

活塞位于钟的侧面。

This would raise two levers attached to both clock systems,

这会抬起连接在两个钟表系统上的两根杠杆，

lifting up the weights and resetting both clocks

将重物升起并重置两座钟，

without interrupting the cycle.

而不会中断循环。

But where did the air go

但是离开主钟后，

after leaving the master clock?

空气去了哪里？

From there,

从那里开始，

the air would split into 10 different pipes

空气会分流进10根不同的管道，

that were each assigned to different districts around Paris.

它们分别被分配到巴黎周围不同的区。

These would carry the air into iron pipes

这些管道会将空气输送到铁管中，

that ran for hundreds of kilometers 用詞

铁管延伸数百公里，

through the sewage and metro tunnels of Paris.

穿过巴黎的下水道和地铁隧道。

As the compressed air entered the pipes,

当压缩空气进入管道时，

it would quickly start sending a pressure wave

它会迅速开始通过整个系统

through the entire system,

发送压力波，

taking up to a minute to reach some of the furthest clocks. 語法

最多需要一分钟才能到达一些最远的钟表。

But what actually happened when the air reached the clock?

但当空气到达钟表时，究竟发生了什么？

The clocks themselves were very simple.

钟表本身非常简单。

The minute hand was connected to a gear

分针连接到一个齿轮上，

that had exactly 60 teeth.

该齿轮刚好有60个齿。

As the air reached the clock,

当空气到达钟表时，

it entered into a bellows, 用詞

它进入一个风箱，

which would inflate and push a rod upwards.

随着风箱膨胀，会将一根推杆向上推。

This lifted the main lever,

这抬起了主杠杆，

which pushed the gear along with an articulated tooth.

并随同一个铰接齿推动齿轮。

On the other side,

在另一侧，

another tooth would stop the gear from moving backwards. 語法

另一个齿会阻止齿轮向后移动。

Once the bellows fell back down,

一旦风箱落回原处，

the tooth would pivot and a small weight would keep it engaged with the gear. 短語搭配

该齿便会旋转，而一个小重物会使其与齿轮保持啮合。

This clever mechanism meant that a full inflation of the bellows

这个巧妙的机制意味着风箱的完全膨胀

would always push the gear forward by exactly 1 minute.

总是会将齿轮向前推动刚好1分钟。

The hour hand was connected to the minute gear

时针连接在分针齿轮上，

using a ratio of 1 to 12, 短語搭配

使用1比12的传动比，

meaning that the minute hand would complete 12 rotations

意味着分针将完成12次旋转，

in the time it took the hour hand to complete 1. 語法

在时针完成1次旋转的时间内。

The great thing about this system

这个系统最棒的地方在于，

was that it wasn't just for public street clocks or train stations.

它不仅仅用于公共街道的钟表或火车站。

Anyone could have these clocks installed in their house 語法

任何人都可以将这些钟安装在自己家中，

for a subscription fee of just 30 cents per day in today's money. 用詞

每天只需订阅费30美分（按今天的币值换算）。

Despite being damaged in the great flood of 1910, 語法

尽管在1910年的大洪水中受损，

this incredible system continued to work for almost 50 years

这个不可思议的系统还是持续运作了近50年，

and ended in 1927

并在1927年结束，

when accurate electronic clocks were good enough to keep time. 語法

届时精确的电子钟已经足够用来计时。

By now,

到现在，

these clocks are long gone, 短語搭配

这些钟表早已不复存在，

but signs of where these clocks once stood

但这些钟表曾经屹立之处的痕迹

can be found all around Paris.

在巴黎各处都能找到。

And now,

现在，

time for the Primal Space giveaway.

是Primal Space抽奖的时间了。

The winner of the previous giveaway is Ethan.

上次抽奖的获胜者是Ethan。

Congrats.

恭喜。

In the next video,

在下个视频中，

we'll be giving away another one of our Primal Space Voyager posters.

我们将送出另一张Primal Space Voyager的海报。

All you need to do is sign up at the link below, 講解

您只需在下方链接注册，

like the video,

给视频点赞，

and leave a comment saying what you think

并留言说说您的看法

about this incredible clock system.

关于这个不可思议的钟表系统。

Thank you very much for watching,

非常感谢您的观看，

and I'll see you in the next video.

我们下个视频见。