What did Li-Drum Hodometer / Distance-Measuring Chariot look like?

A two-wheeled chariot carrying a drum and bell, with a wooden figure holding a mallet on each side. At set distances, the figures strike the drum or bell.

How did Li-Drum Hodometer / Distance-Measuring Chariot work?

Wheel rotation transmits through multi-stage reduction gears. At each li, a cam triggers the drumming figure; every ten li, the bell-ringing figure is triggered.

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记里鼓车

Li-Drum Hodometer / Distance-Measuring Chariot

A multi-stage gear reduction mechanism: the chariot automatically beats a drum every li (≈500m) traveled. The world's earliest automatic odometer.

记里鼓车

Scientific Principle

Precise multi-stage gear reduction calibration: wheel circumference × gear ratio = one li of travel.

记里鼓车

Li-Drum Hodometer / Distance-Measuring Chariot

Scientific Principle

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