The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

54 MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. The plant is sufficiently extensive, and is fully adapted for the manufacture of all kinds of tyres, from those of field-gun carriages weighing 25 kilogrammes (55 Ib.) to the largest locomotive tyres 2.200 metres (7 ft. in.) in diameter, weighing 650 kilogrammes (13 cwt.). The gun hoops vary in weight from 25 kilogrammes (55 Ib.) to 1 ton, and in width from 50 millimétrés (2 in.) to 280 millimétrés (11 in.). On leaving the finishing rolis, the tyres are transferred by a hydraulic crane to a slab, where they are stamped hot, with revolving hearths, Figs. 131 and 132, one for tyres up to 1.500 metres (4 ft. 11 in.) in diameter ; and the other for tyres up to 2.500 metres (8 ft. 2T7K in.) in diameter. A 3-ton hydraulic crane serves for lifting the furnace top and for shifting the tyres in and out of the furnace. As soon as the proper temperature for annealing is reached, the tyres are taken out and placed in the open on cast-iron slabs, where they are allowed to cool. Sixty tyres can be annealed in these two furnaces every twelve I I J I- J L i i Figs. 131 and 132. Tyre Annealing Furnaces. and thence they go to two 95-ton liydraulic presses, which finally shape tliem and give the finished diameter. Annealing.—Most of the tyres and hoops are after- wards annealed. For this work two types of furnaces are used : The first is a horizontal furnace 2.600 metres (8 ft. 6 in.) wide and 16 metres (52 ft. 6 in.) long with four grates in one of the sides ; this will contain 140 wheel tyres, weighing from 35 to 38 tons. The time occupied is as follow : Heating................................14 hours. Cooling ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 Total ...............62 hours, equal to an output of about 20 tons. Near the annealing furnaces, and under the same shed, are two horizontal tubulär boilers, with inside fireboxes ; these are required, as the steam generated in the boilers attachée! to the re-heating furnaces is not sufficient for supplying the whole o£ the power. The dimensions of these boilers are the following : Diameter Length Diameter of fireboxes Length of tubes Grate area Heating surface 2.800 m. 9 ft. 2J in. 8.000 ni. 26 ft. 3 in. 1.100 m. 3 ft. 7^ in. 4.500 ni. 14 ft. 9 in. 4 sq. m. 43 sq. ft. 215 sq. ni. 2314.32 sq. ft. The second type is vertical, and there are two of these Hydraulic Plant.—The pumps that supply water to