The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-06
Steam Fire Engine Trial.


Commissioner Cooper to have two steam fire engines built
for the of the city which to be ready for use
the close Of the present year In accordance with
these Instructions Mr. Cooper advertised for proposals to
build two fire engines and the contract was oven
tuay awarded TO Messrs. Lee Larned for $le 500 One
OF the engines has since been completed and was tried at
the Bowling Green yesterday at T. NJ in the presence
Of Street Commissioner Cooper and number Of the active
members of the New York Fire Department.
This engine is in fact, street locomotive and propels
itself over any ordinary road street II down
through the city from the Novelty Works with great ease
yesterday and steercd through the crowded thorough
fares without any accident transpiring. This novel
feature of these engines in this country
Philadelphia they dragged TO the fire by men, and
in Cincinnati by horses. An objection 10 these engines I'M
medatey suggests itself and that is that they cannot be
brought lire quick enough il they have to remain in
the house until the steam is raised but is the intention
its projectors 10 keep the steam up constantly day ana
night after il gets into active service.
The result OF the trial yesterday entirely satisfactory
to the Street Commissioner. MOBILES of all sizes, from
two inches, tried but as no measurementwas
made give accurate table Of the distances to
which the thrown Suffice TO say that in the
opinion all who the trial this engine did quite
rs well the Philadelphia engine did in Wall street The
most extraordinary performance was stream thrown
from the top OF high building near Bowling Green
through IS inch nozzle which must have shot up at
also reached great height, probably 100 feet
through pipes with inch nozzle. The hremen and
members Engine company NO az attended 10
pipes putting the water and the Ike and worked with
will. This company have pctitioned the Common Coun
Gil for steam fire engine.
The total weight of this engine about FIVE tons. Steam
be raised working pressure in from six to ten mi
nutes but is intended that steam shall be Kept up at all
times that the engine may start at moments warn
ing This be done at a moderate expense compared
with that of supporting horse establishment for hauling
the engine When it reaches the the parallel rods
disconnected which be done IL instant, and the
power then acts upon the pump alone. The pump dis
charges 30 gallons per revolution, and may be ran with
r1tyff
up to 225 Al its ordinary rate of working il will dis
charge from six hundred TO seven hundred gallons per
minute, through single inch nozzle, or its equva
lent in smaller streams, giving velocity sufficient
for a horizontal throw OF two hundred feet aud up
boier-a peculiar of the upright tubular boiler-com
bring. IN the highest degree, ghness, activity and
strength II contains ia Of vertical tubes, arranged
apnuiarly within the other-thc outer OF 2n
inches, a.d the Of y inches diameter-the annular
space between the two being occupied by water. The
furnace composed OF y inch tubes 40 in number, set
close together and opening into steam drum above and
ring shaped wafer bottom below Its height from CRATE
TO steam drum, s AZ, feet, Height Of steam drum, is
feet inches Crate area S0i square inches iue area,
21is square inches total fire surface 400 square feet
The boiler has been tested under steam pressure Of 200
ibs and II believed to be safe under much higher pres
sure ordinary working pressure 100 lbs The cylinders
of ~ inches diameter and Ii inches stroke. The
valves operated by stationary link and reversing
lever BY means OF which the steam may be out Oh at any
point in the stroke, giving the benefit OF expansion III
any desired degree, or may be nstantaneousy re-
vcrsed The connecting rods from the engines
act cranks, placed not as in locomotives,
upon the shaft Of the driving wheels. but upon inter
mediate shaft revolving fixed bearings upon the frame,
and operating the pump rotary force pump, OF the
argest eve From tins the power is transmitted by
parallel rod the driving wheels behind, the axle of
which kept at uniform distance from the intermediate
shaft by two strong arms, called radius rods, which take
hold Of each shaft It's ends The moving parts Of the
engine consequently undsurbed by the motion OF the
wheels however rough The road may be- the power being
accurately transmitted 10 them, whatever position they
may take below the centre ne OF the cylinders
The frame bed. Of boiler and angle IRON, : hung upon
four strong springs running lcngthwse, and
spring under the hinder axle. The front springs
placed the other the line Of the centre OF the
carriage hold Of vertical spindle. connected with
forward axle by kind OF universal Joint, and having
the top horizontal crank by turning which, by means
Of a winch aud screw the direction Of the axle Is
troed the carriage scered with great facility and
precision THIS engine generated much more steam than
ia could