The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

104 MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. Engines of the “Alger.”—The first-class cruiser “ Alger ” has two main vertical engines, of equal power, triple-expansion, each engine driving a screw propeller. The principal dimensions are the following : m. in. Diameter of high-pressure cylinder 0.860 33U ,, mean-pressure ,, 1.360 5.3J, ,, low-pressure ,, 2.060 81 Stroke 0.850 33/5- Each engine is providecl with a horizontal tubulär | condenser, with brass tubes, two single-acting vertical air pumps, and one centrifugal circulating pump, these pumps ' being worked by a separate two-cylinder engine. The high-pressure slide valves are cylindrical ; the mean | and low-pressure slide valves are of the usual flat type, and are balancée!. They are all controlled by link motion. Each engine is fitted with reversing gear, worked by hand or steam power. The pistons are of cast steel, each one being fitted with two rods, United at their lower end by a crosshead, which carries the connecting-rod pins and guide sliding-blocks. The foundation plates which support the crankshaft bearings, and the frames which support the cylinders, are also of cast steel. All the crankshafts, Inter- mediate, and propeller shafts, are hollow and of forged steel; the propellers are of bronze of a special quality, cast in one piece. The Condensed water discharged by the air pumps of each main engine, is collected in a tank fitted with filters through which it passes before returning to the boilers Special evaporators for the production of fresh water are used for making good waste in the feed. The boilers, of the Belleville type, as prescribed by the French Admiralty forthis cruiser, are 24 in number; they are placed in eight | compartiuents, and are connected with two funnels. The principal characteristics of the boilers are the following : Registered steam pressure Total grate area ... ,, heating surface 17 kilogs. 70.08 sq. m. 2068.28 sq. m. 241.8 1b. per sq. in. 754 sq. ft. 22,263 sq. ft. The boilers are fed by eight Belleville pumps worked i by separate motors. The maximum total power contracted for was 8,000 indicated horse-power at 120 revolutions, with a maximum pressure of 12 kilogrammes (170.7 Ib. per square inch) at the valve chests. The trials gave the followinp' results : Duration of trial hours 6 24 12 4 6 Number of engines working 2 2 2 2 2 ,, boilers ,, 9 18 24 21 8 Average revolutions 74 101.5 115.4 116.1 Total power realised, horse- power ... 2,055 5,346 8,038 8,231 828 Goal consumed per horse-power per hour ... ...kilogs. 0.650 0.700 0.735 0.764 0.865 Ooal consumed per horse-power per hour 1b. 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.9 86-Ton Torpedo Beats.—Messrs. Schneider and Co. have in course of construction 21 of these torpedo boats. Fig. 279. Plan of the Triple-Expansion Engines of the French Ironclad “Charles Martel.”