The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-12-15

NIHWn Olt aIlC OH TO C10 numm0r..
The heating of such largo. masses
OF steel uniformly throughout with,
out burning the outside is an opera.
tion of great dehcacy, and which is
very successfully performed at tho
Krupp works. On arriving at the
hammer the crane chains are placed
around the ingot and it is hoisted
to the anvil, underneath tho ham-
NOR. For tho immense fifty ton
hammer, which is the largest in use
at the works, the anvil or casting
which receives the transmitted blow
weighs 100000 pounds, and rests
upon foundation which is built up
from an excavation one hundred
feet in depth. After being wrought
lndor the great steam hammers to
give the metal the texture required,
and the gun ingot the necessary
form, tho tube ingot is taken to the,
boring and turning establishments,
where tho exterior is turned smooth
to receive the first layer of hoops,
tho breech block cut and the in
terior channel bored out. In tho
operation of burning tho ingot loses
half it's weight in the lathe.
TIE Ifoop1NGs
The tube is now ready to receive
the first layor of hoops For those,
large steel ingots ore cast and
forged into flat lengths. These are
cut into pieces of the size required.
for the rings and are forged into O.
peculiar shape. They have holes
near either end, which nre Joined by
a slot being cut into the ingot-
Wedges are driven into the slot and
it is gradually widened out and
worked undor q hammer into u ring
like shape. This has at this stage
of the operation about half the
diameter and twice the thickness Of
the finished hoop. It is then heated
and put over the rolls of a machine.
similar to those used in the manu-.
facture of wheel tires. In revolving
the rolls approach each other
gradually, rolling tho hoop to it's
desired size. BY this operation it.
will be seen that an endless fibre is
being developed in the direction of
the hoop circumference A jet of
water is constantly playing over the
steel mass while It is, being
developed on the rolls, thus, pre-
venting any distortion. It is stated
that in this way hoops of any re~
quired diameter can be produced,
but not of a width exceeding six
inches. These hoops so manufac-
tured haver like the large tube in
gots, no seams or Yields, and are
very uniform in texture. Every
thing being ready for the hopping
the main tube is placed, muzzlo
end up, in Il vertical position, and
the hoops slipped on to their places.
The hoops are previously heated in
boiling lead, and, when the expan-
sion is Judged sufficient, are takon,
out of the bath, wiped clean, slung
to above the mr1zzlo i'm line with
their intended position and let CO..
They fall heavily along down the;
tube until they reach their position.
Here they cool slowly, and con-.
tracing form perfect contact with:
the tube. The hoop manufacture.
and subsequent adjustment are very
delicate operations. The calcula-
tons involved are very nice, as the,
diameter of the hoops as first manu.
factured, have to be so calculated
that after the expansion in the bath
and subsequent cooling they will, on.
contracting, have Diane tor which
will cause them to exert certain
pressure, to be the same in all of
the same layer, upon the main tube,.
and upon each other when super
imposed. Upon the successful per-
formance of the hopping depends
to greet degree, the guns strength,
and durability. The first layer of:
hoops having been placed in posi-.
ton the gun is again taken TO- the
turning establishment, and the sur.
face Of the first layer which is to
receive the second is turned down
to the required diameter. The.
second and third layer being in,
place the end hoop on the guns
again goes to tho turning establish
ment. The hoops are kept from.
working by key rings, these being
small hall hoops, with rectangular
sections let into scores out to re-
ceive them in tho tube and first
| laver and in tho Hrst opd oooo,,I