The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

156 MESSES. SCHNEIDER AND CO.’S WORKS. difficulties were overcome, and Messrs. Schneider and Co have succeeded in keeping the weight low while giving to the paddles a useful area, large in relation to the immersed surface of the midship section of the towboat and of the lighters forming its convoy, notwithstanding the small depth of the huil. The principal dimensions of these two towboats (Figs. 513 to 515) are the following: Extreme length 60 m. 197 ft. 0 in. Main breadth to outside planking 8 m. 26 ft. 3 in. Maximum bi'eadth to outside paddle- boxes 15.800 m. 51 ft. 10 in. Mean depth amidships to outside plank- ing 2.820 in. 9 ft. 3 in. Draught in working trim ... 1 ni. 39f in. Displacement with gear and coal on board 300 tons. 300 tons. Indicated horse-power 1,000 1,000 Number of revolutions of paddles per minute 35 35 The huli is entirely built of steel plates and angles, and is divided into nine compartiments by eight watertight bulkheads. The first compartment is 6.770 metres (22 ft. 2T9T in.) in lengtli, and contains the chain lockers and w.c. The second, 5.400 metres (17 ft. 8f in.) in length, con- tains the galley for the crew, and two cabins with bunks and lockers for the master and the skipper. The third, of the same length as the second, is fitted with benches and tables, and sei’ves as dining-room for the crew of 10 men. 'I'he fourth, 10.100 metres (33 ft. lf in.) in length, is the stokehold, and contains two Niclausse multitubular boilers, two feed pumps, and the coal bunkers of a capacity of 30 cubic metres (1,060 cubic teet). The stokehold is in communication with the engine-room throurfi two water- tight doors, which enable it to be completely isolated. The fit'th, 11.450 metres (.37 ft. 6 j in.') in length, is the engine-room, which contains, besides the main engines, a condenser, a circulating pump, and a filter. The sixth, aft of the engine-room, is 6 metres (19 ft. 8| in.) in length, and is divided into three berths for the engineer, the carpenter, and stokers. The seventli, of same length as the sixth, is provided with bunks and lockers for the crew. The eighth, 4.800 metres (1.5 ft. 9 in.) in length, serves as a store-roo n and magazine for the gear and accessories. The ninth compartment, 4.100 metres (13 ft. 5^ in.), remains empty. Each one of these compartments is provided with a companion ladder; the draining is fully insured by 12 hand-pumps, which are worked from the deck, two ejectors with suction to the hold, and by the circulating pump, which can discharge 100 cubic metres (3,532 cubic feet) per hour. Besides the usual gear and accessories required by law, each towboat is provided with a windlass for 22 milli- métrés (]■§■ in.) chain ; two 300-kilogramme (6 cwt.) anchors, with 100 metres (328 ft.) of chain ; and with a steam steering apparatus fitted on the bridge, which can cause the rudder to turn 90 deg. in 15 seconds. The boilers are fitted with movable tubes, entirely free to expand ; the tubes are so arranged that they can be removed and replaced from the front of the boilers. The principal dimensions of the boilers are the following : Grate area Heating surface Registered pressure ... 9.80 sq. m. 292 sq. m. 15 kilogs. 105.50 sq. ft. 3143.17 sq. ft. 213.346 Ib. per sq. in. The engines are of the inclined type, direct-working, with three cylinders and triple-expansion ; their principal dimensions are the following : Diameter of cylinders ... .530 m. 20J in. .830 m. 324 in. 1 350 m. 53| in. Stroke 1.600 m. 63 in. Revolutions 35 35 The condenser is tubular, surface-condensing ; it is so arranged, however, that it can work by injection wlien the engines run at a reduced speed. The air pump is worked from the main engine by means of eccentric and lever gearing ; it is vertical and single- acting. The circulation of cold water in the condenser is obtained by means of a centrifugal pump worked by a separate engine ; this pump can discharge 100 cubic metres (3,532 cubic feet) per hour. The paddle-wheels are fitted with hinged floats ; they are 4.800 metres (15 ft. 9 in.) in diameter, and are so arranged that the connecting pieces of the hinges are in tension. The working parts of the hinges are on the inside surface; the floats are made of steel plates 12 millimétrés in.) thick, and are curved in a special manner. The results that were expeeted of this type of tow- boat were fully realised during the trials and in service. The coal consumption per horse-power per hour did not exceed 650 grammes (1.434 Ib.), and these boats were not only powerful enough to insure the service between St. Louis and Pont St. Esprit, and between Tournon and Lyons, but they often handle the complété service between St. Louis and Lyons without assistance, as the extra, tugboats which ply between Pont St. Esprit and Tournon do not work satisfactorily. Four of these tugboats have been in service since 1896, namely, “Le Pilat,” “Le Ventoux,” “Le Pelvoux,” and “ Le Canigou ; ” and two others, “ Le Taillefer ” and “ Le Galibier,” are in course of completion in the Chalon yard. Torpedo-Boats. — Messrs. Schneider and Co. have built at their Chalon yard more than fifty torpedo-boats of all dimensions, and on the most improved types, for the French, and for foreign navies. They have delivered lately to tlie French Navy a new type of torpedo-boat