The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

XIX.-EX AMPLE S OF WORK EXECUTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION SHOPS. L—MARINE ENGINES. Havino' described the arrangement of the Construction Department ai Creusot, it will be of interest to give a description of some of the typical work that has been produced there. Commencing with marine engines, it will be seen from the annexed Table (see page 103) how large a number of such engines has been completed, aggregating nearly half a million horse-power. The commencement of this brandi of work at Creusot dates back for about 60 years, the first marine engine having been completed in 1839; this was for the corvette “ Pluton,” a beam engine for the French Navy, indicating 660 horse-power. Besides the marine engines, of which particulars are given in the Table, Messrs. Schneider and Co. have built in their Con- struction Works, 90 engines for river steamers and for the folio wing coun tries : France... French colonies Russia ... Spain.......... Austria Italy Egypt.......... Japan .. 65 2 4 6 6 3 2 2 90 Engines of the “Labrador” (Figs. 263 and 264).— The engines for the “ Labrador,” a frigate for the French Navy, were built by Messrs. Schneider and Co. at their Creusot Works in 1839. They were completed the same year as the engines of the “ Pluton,” and were followed by those for the Canada, Caraïbe, Orénoque, and Albatros. As will be seen from the illustrations, they had a vertical cylinder which worked the shaft by means of two beams placed at the bottom part of the engines, and a direct connecting-rod. Steam distribution was effected by disen- gaging levers and slide valves. The nominal horse-power was 450, and the linear speed of piston per second averaged 1.150 metre (3 ft. 9J in.). A jet condenser was used. Engines of the “ Mogador ” (Figs. 265 to 267, Plate LIII.) — The engines for this frigate were built by Messrs. Schneider and Co. in 1846 ; they were the first oscillating engines constructed at Creusot for the French Navy. The following are some particulars : Vertical engines, with two oscillating cylinders of equal dimensions, connected together and working paddle-wheels. Distribution by disengaging levers and slide valves ; jet condenser ; 650 nominal horse-power ; 20 revolutions per minute ; average linear speed of piston per second, 2 metres Q 269, “ St. The engines of the “ Mogador ” were considérée! for a long period as the best in the French Navy; this frigate rendered great service during the Crimean War. indicated horse-power was 1,950. Engines of the “St. Laurent” (Figs. 268 and Plate LIV.) — The engines for the mail boat Laurent ” were built by Messrs. Schneider and Co. in 1865 for the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique for their New York service. The “St. Laurent” was the first screw steamer of this company. The illustrations show the general arrangements of the the engines, which hacl two horizontal cylinders with toothed wheel gearing. The nominal horse-power was 850> and the number of revolutions of sliaft, 40 per minute, the number of revolutions of propeller being 70 per minute. Steam distribution was by means of slide valves and Steplienson link motion. The linear speed of pistons per second averaged 1.750 metre (5 ft. 9 in.). Ar a contrast to these very early and historical examples of marine engines constructed by Messrs. Schneider and Co., particulars will now be given of a few of the more recent and important of the engines built at Creusot for the French Navy. Engines of the “ Magenta.”—The engines of this first-class French battleship are four in number, of a vertical type, with two cylinders, compound ; they are connectée! in pairs over two skafts, each shaft driving a propeller, lhe principal dimensions of the engines are as follow : m. in. Diameter of high-pressure cylinder 1.060 41|i ,, low-pressure ,, 2.020 79| Length of stroke 1.000 39g The two engines on each side of the ship can be worked, connectée! or disconnected, and driven separately. Each one of the four is provided with a horizontal tubular con- denser, a double-acting horizontal air pump, worked by a separate compound engine, and with a centrifugal circu- lating pump, driven by a single-cylinder engine. All the slide valves are of the usual type, those of the high-pressure cylinder being fitted with a special expansion device. The distribution slide valves are controlled by link motion. The reversing gear of each engine is worked either by hånd or steam power, and that of each two engines on one side of the ship can be connected when the two engines are working simultaneously. Ail the crankshafts, Intermediate, R