New-York tribune., 1873-03-06
AMERICAN MAXINE ENGINES.
THE MACHINERY OF THE UNITED STATES STEAMER
TENNESSEE.

THE MACHINERY OF THE UNITED STATES STEAMER
TENNESSEE.
OF late years the many improvements in en-
rineering construction have enabled boilers to be SO
built that higher pressure OF steam can with safety DC
carried The direct result is the revival OF compound
engines whose principles enable hghpressure steam 10
be used TO the best effect and obvate certain practe
difficulties which otherwise would prevent sea-gong
steamers from employing the full benefits OF the expan
Iive properties Of steam. The engines being con-
structed at Messrs. John Roach Sons works in TINS
city, for the Tennessee, designed to replace tho
former machinery, which while In the ship proved ut-
tery insufficient to prOpel her at maximum speed OF
over ten knots per hour. The new machinery IS
OF the compound type -Four steam cyhhdeiS'
being placed horizontally on one side OF the smart act
through the medium Of two connecting rods backward
on the shalt TIE two cylinders for the use OF the hs
pressure inches in diameter and 40 hehes
stroke Between these and the shaft are placed the TWO
low pressure cylinders inches in diameter, with the
same stroke smaller Opposite these but on
the other side Of the propeller shaft Is the suraceeo
denser, massive structure having almost eOV tuDes'
feet inches and hye-eghths OF an inch diameter
There are 10 boilers the last being nearly nnsheu
These are cylindrical with Hat ends, each boiler having
two furnaces and tubes feet inches long py %
inches diameter The total length Of each boiler Is ~
feet inches diameter, II feet inches. Inc totai
crate surface OF the 10 boilers Is 4S square ieeb hn
the total heating surface is upward OF lsooo square
feet. iron comprising the shell OF these Doers
tbree-fourhs OF inch in thickness. IL Is expected
that these will supply steam OF IS pounds pressure
while the engines make co turns In minute, driving
large composition four-baded propeller weighing up
ward OF 10 TONS The builders have guaranteed that tho
shin will make IA knots per hour, ana consume but "
tons of coal per hours This for vessel $40 feet long
can be considered very satisfactory. The superin-
tendent Mr. Henry Levrat, s the designer and prides
himself 80 far upon having planned the largest com
,a n, gi,es aver built Ia this country At first sight
f one were 10 cricise the machinery OF the fenessee
IL might be supposed that the boilers were rather sma
for the engine nut practice will soon test the skill Oh INC
designer and make all criticism useless
one OF the vessels OF the Pacific Mail Line OF
steamers Is at the dock, receiving single COM
pound engine. imported BY the Company from
England Tho hun of tho ship built In
Chester and is the largest iron steamer ever built on
this side OF the Atlantic The Colon, the new boat OF
the Pacific Mail IL well worth seeing and any skilled In
sch matters can examine thoroughly the English style
of building machinery II IL refreshing for AN American
10 contemplate the fact that we have not enrey los.
the which once we were almost at the mead anu
that We can la the Of all predictions to the con-
rsry construct zen vessels ~ pi'ee NOT aRts Tanou'