The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-02 00:00:00

STEAM FIRE ENGINE.

Some interesting experiments were made yester-
day at the Waterloo-bridge-wharf, with a view of
testing the efficiency of a new steam fire-engine
which has just been completed by Messrs Shand and
Mason. This engine is the second of the kind that
has been made, but in the construction of the present
such a considerable reduction of weight has been
effected as to materially extend its sphere of use-
fulness, while it is anticipated that others of still
lighter proportions may be built. The whole machine
is mounted on high wheels, with a fore-locking car jj
-
riage, and is, of course, intended for rapid transit
by means of horses. The box contains the hose and
implements, with a driving seat and space for fire-
men. Its extreme dimensions are 121 feet long by,
6 feet 5 inches wide, and 8 feet high without chim-
ney. The total weight, including firemen and im-
plements, is nearly three tons, or almost double the
weight of the ordinary Brigade engine. This in-
crease of weight is apparently the only disadvan-
tage which it possesses when compared with the
common Brigade engine ; in all the other and more
important qualities the superiority of the steam fire
engine is so great as to leave no room for compari-
son with any other. Like the common fire engine,
this one by steam can be worked either with a suc-
tion pipe, or water may be drawn from the cistern.
which forms part of the engine itself. The steam
cylinder and pumps are made entirely of gun-
metal; the valves of indiarubber, as in the floating
steam fire-engine ; and the whole machinery is of
the simplest and strongest construction, and not
liable to be damaged by any amount of jolting over
rough roads. The • boiler is of the upright tubular
construction, affording ample means for superheat-
ing the steam ; there are 199 brass tubes, 1+ inch
outside diameter, and 15 inches long. The firebox
is of copper, 3 feet 4 inches diameter ' • the cylinder
is 81 inches diameter, with 6-inch stroke ; one
water cylinder is 6 inches diameter, with 6 inches
stroke, the other 7;1, inches diameter, with a 4-inch
stroke, the two being equal in cubic contents. In
designingthis engine other important circumstances
besides obtaining the best theoretical steam pump
have had to be taken into consideration, such as
weight, bulk, means of transit, and accommodation
for hose, implements, &c. The London Brigade
engines have pumps consisting of two single act-
ing cylinders, 7 inches diameter and 8-inch stroke.
The average rate of working at fires is not more
than 40 strokes per minute, and, as the cylinder
contains 616 cubic inches, it follows that a London
Brigade engine delivers at its average rate of work-
ing 88 gallons per minute. The water cylinder of the
steam fire engine contain 340 cubic inches, and,
as it can be readily worked at no less than 218
strokes per minute, it will thus be equal to three
Brigade engines at their ordinary rate of working.
The rapidity with which steam can be generated
is, of course, an important point in the construction
of a machine required for duty on the most sudden
emergencies, and this point had been satisfac-
torily ascertained before the trials of yesterday.
I Nevertheless, in the course of the experiments it
was demonstrated that a pressure of 101 b. steam
could be generated in six minutes from the moment
of lighting the fires ; a high pressure was obtained
in 101; minutes, and the engine was immediately in
full work. Of course, in the ease of an engine of
such description being generally adopted, as there
is no doubt that eventually it will be, the fires
would always be kept laid, and lighted while the
horses were being. harnessed ; so that the whole
machine would be in full motion on its way to a
fire. Yesterday, while working easily, the engine
threw a !,-inch jet of water in a perpendicular
column 130 feet into the air, while a column of one
inch diameter was thrown in the same manner up-
wards of 90 feet. When it is recollected that a
Brigade engine cannot throw a 1-inch column more
than 40 feet high, the immense advantage of the
steam fire-engine may be seen at a glance. The
most striking evidence of its superiority was, how-
ever, shown when it supplied two hose and threw
two I-inch columns 60 feet high, and three columns
of the same dimension more than 40 feet. This
was not throwing more water than three of the
common Brigade engines, but throwing it to a
height which the whole of them united could never
maintain. When tried horizontally the immense
superiority of the steam engine was equally appa-
rent, the 1-inch column of water was thrown over
the ground to nearly 140 feet, and the 4-inch
,jets
went to a greater distance, and more steadily. The
whole experiments were in the highest degree suc-
cessful, and we trust ere long to see this most admi-
rable and important invention entirely supersede
the " established" engine, which in point of effici-
ency is about 50 years behind the age.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales visited
the Exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water Colours
yesterday.
It is probable (says the Scotsman) that the
Edinburgh banquet to Lord Brougham will take place
about the third week in October. It is not unlikely that
Lord Chancellor Campbell will be present.
Mr. Lindsay intends to move for a committee of
the whole house to consider of removing all burdens and re-
"frictions especially affecting merci t shipping.