The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-12
MUSCLES OF A WARSHIP.
a ooMPhRIsoN OF VARIOUS MODES
or TRl NSMITTING POWER.

" iuy In working the Multitude OF EuEineu on
Naval vessei-A single system Desirable.
An interesting comparison OF tho merits OF
tho various means now In use for
power from tho main engines Of war vessels to
tho multitude Of auxiliary engines has been
made by George W. Dickie, manager OF the
Union Iron Works OF San Francisco, and a
paper on the subject was read at the recent
meeting OF the American Society OF Mechanical
Engineers in this city. As several OF the now
warships were built under Mr.. Dlckio's super.
vision, anything he has to say upon the subject
will deserve attention. although, as he says, the
makers OF tho various styles Of auxiliary ma
chinery may not agree with him fully.
A modern wnrship 10 n mass OF intricate ma
ehinory. Besides tho engines that drive her
propollinE screws and the power capstans and
winchcs. she must have appliances for working
her guns and ~turrets, for hosting ammunition,
battlodoors, for ventilatiug. and many other
purposes. From end to end of her and from
ksei to Runwale there must be means TO dis.
tribute power. aud Mt the present time there is
no one system In use even upon a single ship.
Unfortunately" Mr.. Dickie says, ION Gov.
ernment vessels tho work which has to be done
BY machinery 10 divided up and placed under
the cognizance of various bureaus. each having
o decided preference for some particular mode
. OF transmitting power which might really BIO
the best for the particular work OF that bureau.
but not applicable at all to the class Of work un.
der tho coRniZancc OF another bureau. the result
being that In one ship we are very likely to find
three different methods Of transmitting power
in use. and no one in charge master of any one
method.
Electric power is generated for lighting pur-
poses. for controlling searchlights. operating
small fans for special purposes. and for signal
purposes. In quite n largo number of vessels
electric power ia used to operate ammunition
hoists, and in one or two recent cases the lighter
turrets have been operated by electric motors.
In some vessels now building a further extern
sion OF electric transmission OF power is being
made to II include. the large turrets and all tho
that we now have tho Ordnance Bureau fairly
I'm some Of our sbips the distribution OF mower
n"h,as $500, aiaa,rio "a hrd.am,a -.
mission, the main battery being operated, in.
cIudinu the ~turrets. by hydraulic power. while
the ammunition for all secondary guns is served
by electric hoists; while in others. the battle.
nbip Oregon bcine n good examine. tho main
turrets and their guns are not only entirely op-
Grated by hydraulic motors, but all ammuni-
t,on ho;sta ,brouohout tbe sb;n bott,edoors
y" no'o'' .no 'nlp'
&c, are worked from inc same source OF power.
This vessel has also hydraulic steering gear.
Compressed air has been used to some ex.
tent as a means Of transmitting power on some
OF our vessels, and is provided on all vessels
carving torpodoes for charging these intricate
self propelling proicctiles.
"There are also those who advocate the use
working Of all turrets. ammunition HOSTS. and
even the manipulation of the guns, The Blu
renu OF Steam Engineering naturally favors
this direct application OF steam rs the most
economical method in power used, in weight
and in efficiency.
ting power 10 ali parts Of a modern warship It
Is not possible to compare one method with an.
other as a whole and from actual experience,
there being no one ship with a complete system
Of transmission from n central generating sta
having an eonafly complete system from a cen.
trail generating station OF another type"
Mr. Dickie assumcs that ni The o1erntions re.
curing power on n warship can. through prop-
,erly designed machinery, be performed by
sssss 5 re" compressed MmrrpSrSess stSn air. r. or oItsens, Mssef u"aef
In ali of our war vessels" he saws, steam
ia used direct on n large number of the onxiiiarv
machines throughout the vessel. end IN ali az
them, except those lifted with hydraulic steer.
ing gear, the steam is carried from end to md Of
end and the steam steering gear at tho other
requirine two lines Of steam:heated pipe for the
whole length of the vessel. Between these
points. both on upper and lower decks. mn.
chimes are operated by steam on all our ships.
I'm the unner decks there are steam winches.
steam windiass, steam boat cranes, and steam
ash hoists; and on lower decks, outside the en-
Eine and boiler compartments. there are steam
nedo cha rgin rnhs sie seuS sts ar oH gaar soG i nor so %
Of The vessels steam turning pear for turrets
and steam ammunition hoisis e
"Tho presence Of steam pipes in all compart-
ments Of n war vessel must he considorrd in
connection with the business in which tho YES.
eei Is IN he engaged and that is IN fight II
vouid he didicnit IN overestima,o The loss
which might result from n hroken steam nine in
sny ron,nsrt,nent un5nr tho III 5ont - 80 ~
yessel in action. Such an accident might moi
only involve tho loss nj all mon In such n con,.
nartment Int tho total Il isahlenen Of the sbin
a n aphting machine" '"o u"
Then Mr.. Dickts apeaks of the heat which
steam pipes and engines must of necessity give
M. and saws that il is difiiCuIt IN 500 hnyy ,ndc,
exnosnre n this heat men cav he exnnctad tr
nerform nil the dnties NJ The nndcr.aeck force !,
Tine Of action ''o'
Hydraulic transmission Of power involve,
mono of these dangers or discomfort Mr. Dirki,
Jaws. and ia certainly superior IN steam bIt h,
questions its cronouy hecause with the nrcsen
Tnrm NJ mochincrv t6o nn,nniny nnrInos T'rs
be- run at their full canncity even when The min
imum of work ia being done Half he tnta
halter nowor nf the shin wnuld no absnrbcd h
ouch an instaliation he snys.
Compressed mir seems fo have The preatos
number Of advantages in Mr.. Dickie'ss rsiime
fion. hut eloctricitv has many fcnturcs In con,
mend il. One Of lis ndvantnGcs ia that cIe'
tricify is now the fnshionable agent for move
Il,,.iLn,;n - r. 80 800