--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was working on a heat pump that used…" description: "\"I was working on a heat pump that used water as a working fluid, and I made some jet pumps for it. I accidentally shot a stream of water across a bathr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/lonnie-johnson-16185_great_i-was-working-on-a-heat-pump-that-used-w_1503401.jpg" --- # I was working on a heat pump that used water as a working… ![“I was working on a heat pump that used water as a working fluid, and I made some jet pumps for it. I accidentally shot a stream of water across a bathroom where I was doing the experiment and thought to myself, 'this would make a great gun.'” quote by Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/lonnie-johnson-16185_great_i-was-working-on-a-heat-pump-that-used-w_1503401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/lonnie-johnson-16185_great_i-was-working-on-a-heat-pump-that-used-w_1503401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/380/lonnie-johnson-16185_great_i-was-working-on-a-heat-pump-that-used-w_1503401.jpg) > “I was working on a heat pump that used water as a working fluid, and I made some jet pumps for it. I accidentally shot a stream of water across a bathroom where I was doing the experiment and thought to myself, 'this would make a great gun.'” [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. While experimenting with a heat pump, the inventor humorously imagined turning an accidental water jet into a weapon, showing creative thinking. **In simple terms:** Accidental discovery sparks imaginative ideas. Key Takeaway Embrace serendipity in engineering. Themes innovation serendipity experimentation engineering creativity Mood curious playful Type inspirational technical When to use this quote - lab experiments - prototype testing - brainstorming sessions - design workshops Key Concepts problem solving idea generation Questions to Reflect On - How can accidental findings inspire new designs? - What safety measures are essential in labs? A Different Perspective Practical safety concerns may arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Heat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heat/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [“Was it beautiful? My world? The kids on my block played T-ball and Tetris one accidentally shot a boy in the desert. We did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-young/was-it-beautiful-my-world-the-kids-on-my-block-played-t-ball-and/) Kim Young > [Here lies Captain Ernest Bloomfield Accidentally shot by his Orderly, March 2nd, 1789 Well done, thou good and faithful servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-clare/here-lies-captain-ernest-bloomfield-accidentally-shot-by-his-orderly/) [John Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-clare/) > [I accidentally bumped into my ex today...With my car...at 60mph...on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-accidentally-bumped-into-my-ex-today-with-my-car-at-60mph-on-purpose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [How can I tell you that I love you,when you don't even smile at me when our eyes met accidentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-rala/how-can-i-tell-you-that-i-love-you-when-you-don-t-even-smile-at-me/) [Joy Rala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-rala/) > [Keep in mind that when public figures get in trouble for something they said, it is usually not because they misspoke, but because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/keep-in-mind-that-when-public-figures-get-in-trouble-for-something/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [Accidentally dance-punched myself in the face during 'Livin' on a Prayer.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-dennings/accidentally-dance-punched-myself-in-the-face-during-livin-on-a-prayer/) [Kat Dennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-dennings/) > [How the fuck can you accidentally cheat on your girlfriend? Like, oops, I tripped and my clothes ripped off and I fell in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-the-fuck-can-you-accidentally-cheat-on-your-girlfriend-like-oops/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just Fell Down the Stairs Holding a Guitar and Accidentally Wrote a One Direction Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-just-fell-down-the-stairs-holding-a-guitar-and-accidentally-wrote-a/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [“Some people die accidentally. It's a fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/some-people-die-accidentally-it-s-a-fact/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [No offense into love accidentally, but love not even God, who should forgive mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/no-offense-into-love-accidentally-but-love-not-even-god-who-should/) Mak\_786 > [I'm not really one of those people who goes and writes some big back story and agonizes over characters. 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So we need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/more-and-more-other-countries-are-able-to-manufacture-things-cheaper/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Lady Luck is indifferent. She smiles sometimes, and she frowns sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/lady-luck-is-indifferent-she-smiles-sometimes-and-she-frowns-sometimes/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [The invention that most people know me for is the Super Soaker water gun. I knew the gun worked well, and I knew it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/the-invention-that-most-people-know-me-for-is-the-super-soaker-water/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [It was because of the success of the Super Soaker, I was able to at least get an audience with people to present some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/it-was-because-of-the-success-of-the-super-soaker-i-was-able-to-at/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Large companies can afford to file patents on every idea they have. Small companies, we have to weigh our options, do the research. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/large-companies-can-afford-to-file-patents-on-every-idea-they-have/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I have a collection of SuperSoakers. I have managed to keep most of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-have-a-collection-of-supersoakers-i-have-managed-to-keep-most-of/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I can remember times when we'd be having parties, and people would be dancing and everything and I would be sitting there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-can-remember-times-when-we-d-be-having-parties-and-people-would-be/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Being an independent inventor is tough. You develop a product, patent it, then you're looking for someone who will see the benefit from this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/being-an-independent-inventor-is-tough-you-develop-a-product-patent/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I didn't want to grow old and find that I didn't do what I could have done, that I didn't put my best foot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-didn-t-want-to-grow-old-and-find-that-i-didn-t-do-what-i-could-have/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I consider myself a general practitioner. I do electronic things. I do toys and water things, mechanical stuff. I'm very, very flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-consider-myself-a-general-practitioner-i-do-electronic-things-i-do/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Peer review is fine, as long as you're making incremental improvements to a technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/peer-review-is-fine-as-long-as-you-re-making-incremental-improvements/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I decided I could develop a toy and get some revenue from that and then use that revenue to really become an inventor and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-decided-i-could-develop-a-toy-and-get-some-revenue-from-that-and/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I wound up getting offered a job at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory where I invented a power supply mechanism for the Galileo space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-wound-up-getting-offered-a-job-at-the-nasa-jet-propulsion/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [I've invented a new type of engine that converts heat directly into electricity with no moving mechanical parts. It's called the Johnson Thermo-Electrochemical Converter,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/i-ve-invented-a-new-type-of-engine-that-converts-heat-directly-into/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) > [Especially when you have a lot of technology you're developing as a small company, trying to protect that technology is a real problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lonnie-johnson/especially-when-you-have-a-lot-of-technology-you-re-developing-as-a/) [Lonnie Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) [Explore all 40 Lonnie Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lonnie-johnson/) ## More Accidentally quotes > [I'm accidentally in love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pheonysia-biden-missgerrard88/i-m-accidentally-in-love/) Pheonysia Biden á¦â« (@missgerrard88 > [In my journey as a cartoonist, I seem to have accidentally stumbled into all sorts of traps, damnations and blacklists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-leunig/in-my-journey-as-a-cartoonist-i-seem-to-have-accidentally-stumbled/) [Michael Leunig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-leunig/) > [If you’d just center your thoughts and affections upon the Lord, you’d be better off accidentally than you’ve ever been on purpose!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-wommack/if-you-d-just-center-your-thoughts-and-affections-upon-the-lord-you-d/) [Andrew Wommack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-wommack/) > [Whether Earth was deliberately terraformed, in other words, or whether it was seeded with the spores of life from crashed comets or whether, indeed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/whether-earth-was-deliberately-terraformed-in-other-words-or-whether/) [Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/) > [I'm not really one of those people who goes and writes some big back story and agonizes over characters. I think you kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/i-m-not-really-one-of-those-people-who-goes-and-writes-some-big-back/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [No offense into love accidentally, but love not even God, who should forgive mistakes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/no-offense-into-love-accidentally-but-love-not-even-god-who-should/) Mak\_786 > [“Some people die accidentally. It's a fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/some-people-die-accidentally-it-s-a-fact/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [I just Fell Down the Stairs Holding a Guitar and Accidentally Wrote a One Direction Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-ferrell/i-just-fell-down-the-stairs-holding-a-guitar-and-accidentally-wrote-a/) [Will Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-ferrell/) > [How the fuck can you accidentally cheat on your girlfriend? Like, oops, I tripped and my clothes ripped off and I fell in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-the-fuck-can-you-accidentally-cheat-on-your-girlfriend-like-oops/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Accidentally dance-punched myself in the face during 'Livin' on a Prayer.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-dennings/accidentally-dance-punched-myself-in-the-face-during-livin-on-a-prayer/) [Kat Dennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kat-dennings/) > [Keep in mind that when public figures get in trouble for something they said, it is usually not because they misspoke, but because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-carr/keep-in-mind-that-when-public-figures-get-in-trouble-for-something/) [David Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-carr/) > [How can I tell you that I love you,when you don't even smile at me when our eyes met accidentally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-rala/how-can-i-tell-you-that-i-love-you-when-you-don-t-even-smile-at-me/) [Joy Rala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-rala/) > [I accidentally bumped into my ex today...With my car...at 60mph...on purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-accidentally-bumped-into-my-ex-today-with-my-car-at-60mph-on-purpose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I started in radio, again accidentally. I wasn't looking for this kind of work at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-elizondo/i-started-in-radio-again-accidentally-i-wasn-t-looking-for-this-kind/) [Hector Elizondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-elizondo/) > [It's almost like, when someone plays poker for the first time, they might be a professional poker player out of ignorance, just accidentally winning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-hill/it-s-almost-like-when-someone-plays-poker-for-the-first-time-they/) [Jonah Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-hill/) Browse all 163 Accidentally quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was working on a heat pump that used water as a working fluid, and I made some jet pumps for it. 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