New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-05
CURTIS AND PARSONS TURBINES.

Americans will naturally be glad TO hear that
the Curtis turbine, which was publicly tried in
NewYOri Bay last Thursday, is superior in
some important details TO the Parsons motor
of the same general type. When a steam
CINE is employed to prOpel ship it is desirable
that it shall be able TO reverse it's motion
promptly and effectively. The English turbine
fails 10 do in satisfactory manner Mr..
Parsons accOmplishes the object by supple
menting his regular cylinders with other ones
placed on the same axial lines and operating
on the same shafts. Mr. Curtis has not dis
closed his method yet but in practical service
ii shows striking efficiency Again. all of Mr.
Parsons's shafts-thus far he has shown pref
erence for three-must rotate in the same direc-
ton Mr.. Curtis has an Independent engine for
each Of two shafts, and can go ahead with one
and back with the other. This is an exceeding
~ useful power to possess in maneuvring.
Twin screw ocean liners and war vessels
equipped with reciprocatng engines already
possess if. There is nothing novel about il.
But the inability of the Parsons engine TO be-
have In similar manner gives its American
rival a distinct advantage. The employment OF
only one screw each shaft, made possible by
a slower rotation. also impresses engineering
experts favOrably. How the two turbines COM
pare in coal consumption cannot yet be told, but
already enough is known about the American
engine TO Justify much confidence.
Mr.. Curtis has revealed nothing new as to
the economy OF space and saving in weight
which result from the use of turbines instead of
reciprocatng engines Mr.. Parsons had already
demonstrated this great virtue of the former a
virtue that may be utilized in either of two
ways. The whole space needed for the old type
of motor may be occupied by turbine mechan-
a increase Of
the same power may be developed and the extra
room thus made available devoted TO the stor-
age of more fuel or cargo. The choice will be
dictated by the service which is expected OF a
vessel thus propelled. For express steamships
perhaps the greater power would be preferable
for the sake of speed. On the other hand. naval
craft might take advantage of the new system
TO prolong their cruises without recoaling In
any case, lightness and compactness are OF
peculiar value in marine engines and It is in
navigation that the finest triumphs of the
turbine are likely to be effected.
Interesting was the ease with which the
Revolution outfooted the Monmouth the other
day, that feat was the least significant part of
the trial. Speed is the result of a combination
of factors. and It is fair TO draw comparisons
only when vessels are more evenly matched.
With slight change of conditions the Curtis
boat might have done better or worse than she
did. One essential of good time is slenderness
In the new British cruiser Good Hope the width
is a feet and the length 900, the former being
about one-seyenth of the latter For the
deutschland the corresponding dimensions are
% ana bo2 rect the breadth being nearly re-
duced TO one-tenth of the length. Mr.. Fint's
Arrow goes step further her beam being only
1212 feet while her water line length is 40 feet
bow far II is safe or comfortable to go in the
direction of slimness 1t is impossible TO say. 1t
is to be observed, however, that the Revolution
measures lao feet On her water line and has