German Georgievich Kalish (28 June 1895, Moscow — 1965) was a Soviet scientist and engineer in the field of reciprocating internal combustion engines, a Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, laureate of the USSR, and founder of the scientific school of fuel-injection equipment and automatic regulation of internal combustion engines.[1]

Origins and education

German Georgievich was born into the family of an honorary citizen of Moscow, Georgy Germanovich Kalish — an entrepreneur and member of the board of trustees of the commercial school of the Moscow Society for the Promotion of Secondary Education. His mother, Adel Ivanovna Kalish (née Prove), was a hereditary honorary citizen, a trustee of the Bolshevo orphanage, and a member of the mutual aid society council for pupils of the Second Moscow Women's Gymnasium. His maternal grandfather, Ivan Karlovich Prove (born 1833, Torn, Prussia), was invited by I. V. Tsvetaev to the committee for the establishment of the Museum of Fine Arts named after Emperor Alexander III, and the decoration of the museum's Library Hall was carried out with his funds; from 1887 he was a hereditary honorary citizen.[1]

After graduating from the Mikhailovsky Real School in Moscow in 1912, Kalish entered the mechanical faculty of the Moscow Higher Technical School (MVTU). During his studies he simultaneously learned working trades: he worked as a lathe operator at the Mytishchi Railcar-Building Plant, in the MVTU workshops, and in the central automotive section of the Supreme Council of the National Economy (VSNKh). On 15 November 1920 he defended his diploma project and received the qualification of mechanical engineer in the specialty "Internal Combustion Engines."[1]

Scientific and teaching career

Even before completing his studies at MVTU, from 1 July 1919 Kalish began working as a mechanic-fitter in the scientific automotive laboratory of the Scientific-Technical Department of VSNKh, which two years later was transformed into the Scientific Automotive Institute (NAMI). He maintained working and professional ties with this institute practically until the end of his life, successively holding the positions of design engineer, head of the thermodynamics laboratory, deputy head and head of the thermodynamics department; for a long period he was confirmed as a member of NAMI's board.[1]

Alongside his work at NAMI, Kalish carried out teaching activities at MVTU: he supervised all types of coursework in his core specialty, and in the early years also taught drafting, thermodynamics, and other general engineering disciplines. In 1924 he took over from V. Ya. Klimov the leadership of the MVTU internal combustion engine laboratory. In 1927 he continued active research work closely tied to the needs of the rapidly developing domestic engine-building industry. In 1933, together with co-authors V. A. Kolosov and N. M. Levin-Kogan, Kalish published the work "High-Speed Diesel Engines of the Automotive-Tractor Type," issued in the series of works of the Scientific Automotive-Tractor Institute (engine department, issue 25).[2] Kalish's scientific work was focused above all on the study and calculation of processes occurring in the fuel supply system, and on the design of fuel system components and regulators for internal combustion engines.[3][1]

Kalish is considered the founder of the scientific-pedagogical school in the field of fuel-injection equipment and automatic regulation of internal combustion engines, which made a significant contribution to the establishment and development of diesel engine building in the country.[1]

Recognition

For his scientific and engineering achievements, German Georgievich Kalish was awarded the USSR State Prize. The Department of Reciprocating Engines at MVTU (later Bauman Moscow State Technical University) preserves his memory in its "Our Memory" section as one of the outstanding figures of science and technology who devoted himself to domestic engine building.[1]

Sources

  1. piston-engines.ru — Kalish G.G. (archive)
  2. unicat.nlb.by — In 1933, together with co-authors V. A. Kolosov and N. M. Levin-Kogan, Kalish published the work "High-Speed Diesel Engines of the Automotive-Tractor Type," issued in the series…
  3. library.bmstu.ru — Kalish German Georgievich — Kalish's scientific work was focused above all on the study and calculation of processes occurring in the fuel supply system, and on the design… (archive)