The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

REHEATINGr FURNACES. 85 lis energy is transmitted by two sets of toothed wheels, gearing at 20 to 1, corresponding to eight cuts per minute. To prevent any serions fractures, the flywheel only drives through a safety bolt, which would be sheared off if a piece of unusual résistance came between the blades. The movable catch which régulâtes the length of the biooms to be cut off, slides on a square shaft, on which it is made to hold at all the distances required. Each bioom, on leaving the shears, is stamped with the number of the cast, and the quality mark. Reheating Furnaces.—Formerly the ingots were re- heated in a gas-fired soaking pit, and were carried hot by a crâne to a tilting frame placed between two rollers of the door in three parts, all of which are operated independently by a hydraulic ram connected to the doors by chains. The arrangement is similar to that of the armour-plaie reheating furnace. ' Each furnace can hold fourteen ingots of 1300 kilo- grammes each (26 cwt.) ; these, when charged cold, are rolied less than five hours after. This shows an output of 45 tons per twelve hours, the average coal consumption being 125 kilogrammes (2| cwt.) per ton of cold ingots. In current work, however, the ingots are charged hot when each furnace can receive easily up to 150 tons of ingots, which are charged at a temperature varying from 900deg. to 950 deg. Cent. (1697 deg. Fahr.); this reduces co o Cn O ----51^--j- 12-Ton Hot Ingot Wagon. series which run from the miil to the shearing machine. As, however, this method was surrounded by varions dis- advantages, amongst others the difficulty of getting rid of the slag which accumulated in the air and gas chambers, it was abandoned, and the present furnaces above the ground level were substituted. There are two of the latter, placed as shown on the general plan of the rolling-mill départaient, Plate XXXVII. ; they are served by an electric travelling crâne. Each furnace has two fires of the usual type, provided with air blast, one ai each end, the flame outlet being at the back in the middle of the furnace length. The hearth is 6 metres (19 ft. 9 in.) long and 2.40 metres (7 ft. 10| in.) deep ; the height under arch is 1.30 metre (4 ft. 3tV in.). At the front there are two large openings 2.200 metres (7 ft. 24 in.) wide, each one being closed by a the coal consumption to 35 kilogrammes (77 Ib.) per ton of ingots. The flames on leaving the furnace serve to heat a multitubular boiler of approximately 163 square metres (1754.58 sq. ft.) heating surface of the same type as that shown in Figs. 186 to 189 (page 79 ante) ; each of these bollers produces about 20 tons of steam per twelve hours. The ingots are placed in the furnace on brick supports .300 metre (Hyf in.) high above the hearth, in two rows of four ingots at the fire bridges, and two rows of three ingots in the middle of the furnace — fourteen ingots in all. They are laid lengthwise in the furnace, with sufficient space between them for the circulation of the flame. This is easily done with the Q-shaped charging device suspendecl from an electric travelling crâne ; three-