STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 505, 31 December 1869, Page 2

STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

•m It Las been explained to us tint the Superintendent of the Fire Brigade recommended the purchase of a lighter, not a less powerful steam fire engine. Mr Harris states that Messrs Shand, Mason, and Co, have effected great improvements in the construction of steam fire engines since the " Extinguisher " was made. They now construct engines of greater power in les3 compass, and it is one of these that Mr Harris recommends. The following description, from the Engineer, of Sept. 3, explains the kind of thing we want: — On Wednesday week a new steam fire engine, by Messrs Shand, Mason, and Co, was tried on tie banks of the Surrey Canal, in the presence of a number of gentlemen interested in that class of machinery. The engine has been built for the city of Hamburgh, and will shortly be sent out; it weighs 35 cwt, and embraces all Messrs Shand's latest improvements. In outward appearance it much resembles their ordinary vertical steam fire engines, the only visible difference being that there are three vertical bucket and plunger pumps, driven by three steam cylinders placed directly over them. The buckets of the pumps are each 6 1 6th in in diameter, and the plungers 4Jin. The steam cylinders are each s£in in diameter, and steam and water pistons have a common stroke of 6io. Alidway between the cylinders and pumps a Bhaft is placed, having three cranks at equal distances from each other on it, and they are set in motion by slotted crossheads in the piston rods. The boiler is one of Mr Shand's latest patent boilers, being an upright one, with nearly horizontal water tubes across the upper part of the fire-box; each row of tubes is placed so that the next row crosses it at right angles, causing the flame to be thoroughly broken up and driven among all the tubes. The steam formed within them is

readily disengaged, and rashes out at the higher end, and the cooler water descends on the other side of the circular tube plate and enters the lower end of the tubes; thus a perfect circulation is kept up. The tubes are lin in diameter, and can be easily got at to clean out by removing the outer shell of the boiler, which is connected with the fire bos with bolts and nuts, as in other boilers by the same firm. The fire wa3 lighted at 4h llm 52sec, the boiler being filled with cold water; in 3 mm 18 sec there was slbs of steam; lOibs in 4 mm 33 sec; 2Olbs in 5 mm 18 sec; 30lbs in 6 mm 8 sec; 6Olbo in 6 mm 38 sec: lOOlbs in 7 mm 5 sec. The engine was then started with two jets, £ln and Jin, then another Jin was opened, and finally another fin jet. The four jets were kept playing for some time to a height of about 100 feet, steam pressure 140lbs; water, lOOlbs. Next, a single jet of l£in was attached, and a height of 140 feet reached, and then a ljin jet, which reached about 160 feet, steam pressure being HOlbs, and water 130lbs to 1351b5. Mr Shand states that at Leeds the engine threw ajetl^in in diameter to a measured height of 180 feet, and would, doubtless, have reached the same height on this occasion had not the wind been so strong. During the working of the engine two things were particularly noticeable, and they were, first, the abundance of steam produced by the boiler, for the engine was running nearly all the > time, with the fire-door open (directly it was closed the steam rose to 1451b5, and twice to laOlbs on the square inch); and, secondly, the absence of all vibration or movement about the engine; and though running about 160 revolutions per minute (26J in ten seconds), when the hand was placed on the frame or wheels no motion whatever could be detected. The jets thrown were remarkably steady, though the engine had no suction airvessel, and inly a small delivering air-vessel. It also is without fly-wheel, but, nevertheless, runs as regularly as an engine fitted with one. The greatest horizontal distance to which it is capable of throwing water is 220 feet; but from the place in which the trials were conducted being rather confined, it was not tried on Wednesday for horizontal distance. The boiler throughout worked well, not priming at all, but carrying its water very steadily; it is one that most probably would be admirably adapted for small steam launches on account of the ease with which it can be cleaned out— a matter of great importance in such small craft. The following, from the Hamburgh Nackrichlen of Sept. 24, refers to the same engine :— Yesterday morning, near the St. Michael's Church, the official trial took place of a new steam fire engine, which has been manufactured by Messrs Shand, Mason, and Co., of London, for our Local Fire Commission. The water was drawn from a reservoir in the neighbourhood of the English planke (a street), and the height to which the water should be projected was to be ascertained by marks on the church tower, but, owing to the exceedingly strong wind which prevailed at the time, the height could not be ascertained. At half-past nine the trial commenced with the lighting of the fire, and in the space of seven and a-half minutes there was 1001 b of steam pressure, and the engine began her duty in earnest through a line of hose 80 ft long ; the steam pressure quickly rose to 1 20 ib., and was kept at this pressure with the most perfect ease. After this the fire engine was taken to the harbour, when it was again tried, and did her work in a most excellent manner. It drew water from the river Elbe for a depth of 20 ft., and, notwith* standing this, it threw the water to a very considerable height. At both trials the president of the deputation, Senator Pateraon, as well as several other members of the deputation, were present, and expressed the?? entire satisfaction at the results attained. This engine, which gave such considerable proof of its working capabilities, can be transported at a quick speed by two horses.