A history of the growth of the steam-engine . Fig. 130.—Beam-Engino. The crank and shaft are of wrought-iron. The valve-gearis usually of the form already mentioned as the Stevensvalve-gear, the invention of Robert L. and Francis B. Ste-vens. The condenser is placed immediately beneath the MARINE ENGINES. 381 steam-cylinder. The air-pump is placed close beside it, andworked by a rod attached to the beam. Steam-vessels onthe Hudson River have been driven by such engines at therate of 20 miles an hour. This form of engine is remark-able for its smoothness of operation, its economy and dura-bilit
A history of the growth of the steam-engine . Fig. 130.—Beam-Engino. The crank and shaft are of wrought-iron. The valve-gearis usually of the form already mentioned as the Stevensvalve-gear, the invention of Robert L. and Francis B. Ste-vens. The condenser is placed immediately beneath the MARINE ENGINES. 381 steam-cylinder. The air-pump is placed close beside it, andworked by a rod attached to the beam. Steam-vessels onthe Hudson River have been driven by such engines at therate of 20 miles an hour. This form of engine is remark-able for its smoothness of operation, its economy and dura-bility, its compactness, and the latitude which it pennits inthe change of shape of the long, flexible vessels in which itis generally used, without injury by getting out of paddle-engines of large vessels, the favorite type,. Fio. 181.—Oscillating Engine and Feathering Paddle-Wheel. which has been the side-lever engine, is now rarely built. Forsmaller vessels, the oscillating engine with feathering pad-dle-wheels is still largely employed in Europe. This styleof engine is shown in Fig. 131. I^ is very compact, light,and moderately economical, and ej^cels in simplicity. Theusual arrangement is such that the feathering-wheel has thesame action upon the water as a radial wheel of doublediameter. This reduction of the diameter of the wheel,while retaining maximum effectiveness, permits a highspeed of engine, and therefore less weight, volume, andcost. The smaller wheel-boxes, by offering less resistanceto the wind, retard the progress of the vessel less than those 382 THE STEAM-ENGINE OF TO-DAY. of radial wheels. Inclined engines are sometimes used fordriving paddle-wheels. In these the steam-cylinder lies inan inclined position, and its connecting-rod directly con-nects the crank with the cross-head. The co
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidc, booksubjectsteamengines
