Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-21
Brakes for Ships May Prevent Many Disasters at Sea-

O07HEN the full realization of the
WV fate of the Titanic was upon
the nation, brakes for ships
were suggested means for mini
MIXING disasters at There were
those who maintained that if the Ii
tanic had been equipped with efficient
brakes it would not have added to
catastrophe's long toll.
Statistics were Investigated and
showed that in little more than half
century there had been 100 frightful
calamites at sea, including the Titanic
and the Empress of Ireland. In these
100 marine losses over $4,000 people
succumbed. More startling still was the
knowledge that after the wreck of the
Titanic no single person was sufficient
ly alarmed to cancel his passage, and
so far as could he learned the Titanics
fate deferred no one from embarking
on an ocean voyage for business or
pleasure. With blind and simple faith
people continued to sail and vessels
continued to sink-at least, during the
next two years $500 lives were lost at
sea and statistics recorded thirty three
wrecks.
Gradually, however, the public was
awakening to the fact that something
must be done. Ultimately the public
forced the adoption of wireless. and
some few grew intensely interested in
the ship brake. This interest has in
tensifed and hroadened to such an ex-
tent that today there are many who be-
leve firmly that there is a big future
for the ocean brake. 1t has the support
of many prominent and progressive
people. who hope to see it generally
comm ercialiZed
At the Washington navy yard
number of experiments have been made
in the model basin testing different
kinds of brakes for ocean use. The
basin is in itself a distinctly interest
ing feature. 1t is an enormous tank
some thirty feet wide and few hun
dred feet Tonga bit of the sea trap
ped for government purposes. Direct
ly over it runs peculiarly construct
ed apparatus. a sort of bridge which
can swiftly traverse the length of the
basin. A model is securely attached to
this queer bridge and rushed through
the water at the desired speed. Deli
cate yet accurate and complicated
mechanism records measurements of
tests.
The model basin has installed a
Matchmaking apparatus since it's orig
inal construction. A huge fan. driven
by a motor. regulates the size and
the frequency of the waves. These
waves are trapped to prevent them
from in any way returning and so in
other end of the basin provides a
place for this extra water. This device
enables experimenters to test a ships
speed in high sea and also its roll
ing qualities.
The basin has an unusual capacity,
and can test 1 so more models than Eng
lands great tank used for similar pur-
poses. The basin has been used to ex-
pertinent with approximately 1000 mod
els. Many of the tests made at the
navy yard are for private parties. Gov
eminent tests are considered SO abso-
lutely reliable that private concerns are
all anxious to obtain the permission of
the Navy Department for the govern
ment service in case they wish to es-
tablish beyond dispute the accuracy of
experiments.
1t is believed that the greatest benefit
to be derived from the brake for ships
is to assist the ship in slowing down
much more quickly than ordinarily.
Particularly valuable is the ship brake
If there is danger of the ship ground
ing or immediate risk of collision.
Capt. w. S. Smith of the Navy De-
partment became so interested in the
question of ship brakes that he de-
signed the Lacoste ship brake. This
brake was invented by Sir A. Lacoste
of Canada.
The Lacoste ship-brake is simple, and
for that reason appeals to many who
are competent to judge. In making a
model for testing the brakes the steam
ship st. Louis was chosen good
type to follow. After the construction
of the model and before the brakes
were adjusted. three runs We're made
in the model basin. This was done in
order to ascertain the exact power and
speed first without. and then with the
brakes. Ten runs were made with the
brakes.
With brakes applied tests were
made for stopping power. pressure:
speed, size of brake and number of
pair In testing for speed the oper-
ators started the model with brakes
closed, and in this way 1t was possible
to obtain not only the reduction of
speed for each advancing foot, but also
the reduction of speed for each second
of time from the start, when the brakes
were closed. to the finish. when the
brakes were open. One pair of brakes
gave results that were propOrtionately