The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-19
HOLLOW STEEL.
Herr Mnnnesmnnn's Iuventiou, and Some
OF the Advantages Tic Claims for n.

| Herr Mnnnesmnnn's Invention, ana some
of the Advantages Tic Claims for ~.
WASHINGTON. July 19.-Some three years ago
tho President OF tho Association Of Mechanical
Engineers OF tho United States at q conyou-
tion held in this city, briefly described new
process for working steel Tho design is TO
/ substitute for solid sections hollow ;oel. thus
securing greatly reduced weight aud increased
strength. At that timo the process was only
| known in Germany. and tho great Advantages
claimed for IL now had not then been nscer-
tanned. The idea was the creation OF Herr
| Mannesmann Of Germany who had boon for
many years evolving tho theory in his mind.
! Whether the process will accomplish all that
! Is expected romans to DO soon. There must
be, however, great confidence in its general
practicabiity, for q plant costing si00huO0
has been erected in Germany. and plans have
! been made to carry on the work extensively.
| Recent experiments Mt tho workshops OF tho
! company have brought tho now process into
great prominence and have been tho subject
OF several confidential reports to tho Secretary
OF War from Capt. Theodore 4. bingham. mill
| tary attachG TO our Legation ut Berlin.
| The process OF manufacture. briefly de-
| scribed, consists in forcing II solid ingot OF
steel heated to the color of rcd cherry. through
two massive coucal-shaped rollers placed at
an ohliQue angle. which rcvolve in con-
| trary directions. The tremendous power used
to force the steel between these gigantic rcpui-
sorry rollers gives to the stoel as it comes forth
n hollow twisted share. This twist is nccon-
| tuated and closely compressed by coming in
! contact with n movable restraining bar. which
| moves many degrees slower than the carriage
| which forces the steel through tho rollers.
| During this slow process the steel is kept at
| its original temperature, which renders II sus-
| ceptible TO the twisting process without rup-
| turing ha 0lrna Of tho ba
rollers can be so regulated as to make the fin
| ished product any size. The chief advantage
| claimed for this new process Of Mannesmann
| ia to give 10 the hollow metal all the strength
that solid bar possesses. together with In
creased lightness, besides retaining the elias
ITCHY that makes stee so valuable a metal.
The applicability Of the process is not re-
stricted to the working Of stool. but it may be
used with like results in Transforming bronze,
brass. and copper. although with the latter
metals such an intense degree OF heat is not
necessary. A black heat will suffice TO work
those metals successfully.
As matter Of course any radical departure
from the ordinary methods OF working steel
which is capable OF being utilized 10 the art OF
warfare earnestly engages the attention Of the
officers OF the ordnance departments OF the
army and navy. Consequently the reports OF
Capt. Bingham havo been eagerly studied
There is not sample OF the work in this coun-
try but the theory is quite well understood
from the graphic reports submitted by Capt,
bingham The great expense necessary to
erect a perfect plant will probably preclude
for the time being. any American company from
attempting to adopt the now process.
In Berlin recently Herr Mannesmann ap-
peared before gathering OF experts and ex-
planned tho uses 10 which the hollow steel may |
he, adapted. The experts were chiefly army
n n n Inn n1 tt.,fN
were coriined to TIA: branch OF mechanics. |
There is no country which pays more atten-
lure than Germany ana it IS quite i n tU
thai Herr krupp will lind strong competitor |
pany. So far it has made no guns. which Is |
hrupp's CHIEF industry but Mannesmann |
from a series OF tubes which will be 30 deli
cateiy calculated that the assembling Of tho |
tubes tubes VII be- matter o. ease 10 weld the
ented by the Thompson Housto on Electrical |
Company OF Lynn: Mass. will be used. Tho
into the manufacture OF articles under this
new process quite extensively.
Another point brought forth In favor OF this
new inv ention is the use to which this hollow
stoel may be applied. It Is n well, known fact
bar of tue same size, Its resistanc is greater,
besides having the decided ADVANTAGE OF supe-
rior lightnes+ In The artillery the heavy axles
Increase the weight the horses are obliged 10
drag at rapid gallopw when battery, goes into
position. BY the electrical proces the spokes
OF the wheels can be welded TO the hollow
shalt, which would; OF course. necessitate the
claimed that he could by aid OF the Increased
llRhtness OF the gun ana Its carriage draw into
able for siege batteries. Probably ii he sue sue
ceeds in this direction the recoil from the first
over the field like a runaway baby carriage.
In the use Of this process TOR the manulac-
guns Great obstacle Constantly e1eo ,D
by ordnance officers will, be overcome. The
recent exneriment with the pneumatic dyna-
stvely that the accuracy OF the gun depended
largely upon the construction Of the shell; II
suits as claimed by Mannesmaun. this insurer
able difficulty that has been in the pathway Of
Capt. Zalinski Will be eradicated.
Within the past year .seventy-fve Of the
ninety-oight regiments OF the German cavalry
factured by the Manncsmann Company. From
1906 to 1915 one OF Napoeon,s famous cavalry
With was ss s The | %S3den ps1aT@
ed most effective service and was
famed for q, Its brilliant charges; Since
popular. and now that European armies are
drilled to receive the charge Of cavalry, lying
popularity, This manicure renders inerect-
I've the use Of the sabre which has always been
in skilled hands will now be much more yaua.
BILE than the sabre.
find much wider field Tor his invention i in he
navy than In the army. BY using his process
c rulsers as well as battle ships Will be finished
OF with light but strong arinor, capable Of re-
sisting shots from tho most powerful guns.
solid steel masts, which have supnlantod wood
have to give way to tho hollow steel mast OF
the Mannesmann manufacture. Not only will
the largo ships have hollow masts, but also tho
racing yachts. which arc obliged now to 90 TO
Oregon far their tall slender spars.
Capt Birney OF the Ordnance Corps OF
about, the new invention which is de-
signed to ievoutioniao all the cstnb-
mnfhOIl
OF steel lie said, "Iunderstnnd Tho theory
perfectly although never have seen sample
OF the work turned out. II must 10 ouOrmous-
ly expensive. and doubt, even If the Invention
performs all that il is promised 10 do that our
Government WI ever take itnp Non have
ali that wO can do to ret sufficient apprOUrin-
tions Tor tho newly started gun plant AT Wafer
vlieL Tho first expense was very large. and
we have not yet got all tho machinery that We
need. TO take UP this new process would
make it necessary for US to spend three or four
do Va urn InlLEInn tim INIT