Grue à vapeur, Compagnie Belge (Charles Evrard), Exposition universelle de 1867
English: quote from souce: "Amongst the articles exhibited at Paris by the Compagnie Belge of Brussels whose works are under the direction of ML Charles Evrard is a steam travelling crane constructed on a plan patented by M Neustadt of Paris Of this crane which is intended tor raising loads tip to 5000 kilogrammes or nearly 5 tons we give engravings above The radius of the jib is 19 ft 8 in and the height 26 ft 3 in and all the gearing both for turning the jib and traversing the crane along the rails is worked by steam power The carriage or base plate of the crane is of cast iron and it is carried by four cast iron wheels having wrought iron tyres Each of these wheels carries a spur wheel and these spur wheels are geared into by four pinions which derive their motion by means of bevel gear from a vertical shaft which passes down through the centre of the crane post This arrangement which serves for giving the traversing motion to the crane is somewhat complicated The crane post which is of cast iron is keyed mto the frame and is fitted at the top with a wrought iron pin provided with a steel face on which the greater part of the weight of the crane &c is received The frame consists of a hollow cast iron column the upper part or cap of which rests on the crane post whilst the lower part is guided by a series of horizontal rollers To the frame are attached the steam cylinders the gearing for transmitting the motion to the chain wheel the brake the jib and other details The two steam cylinders which are placed vertically are 5.5 in in diameter with 7.5 inch stroke and the distribution of the steam is effected by the ordinary link motion The steam is supplied from a vertical boiler having an internal firebox with two transverse water tubes The boiler is placed so as to serve as a partial balance weight and it is fed by a donkey pump The arrangement of the hoisting and traversing gear will be readily understood from an inspection of the engraving The hoisting chain instead of being coiled on a barrel or drum in the usual way merely passes over a chain wheel after leaving which it is turned back into a trough of sheet iron placed between the tie bars supporting the jib and led over a pulley ut the upper end into the jib itself which serves as a receptacle for it This arrangement cons titutes one of the main peculiarities of the crane The traversing and turning gears are thrown into and out of gear by friction cones or clutches these clutches being worked by hand levers arranged as shown in the engravings The jib is of a box section and is formed of wrought iron plates and angle irons The lower end of the jib is connected to the frame of the crane in the manner shown in the side elevation and the upper end is supported by a pair of tie rods each made in two parts connected by a tube or ferrule into which they are cottered By removing the cotters the jib can be lowered to a height of about 18 ft so that it can pass readily under bridges &c The platform of the crane is arranged so that the mar in charge has ready access to all the parts and it carries in addition to the boiler the water tank and coal bunker and a counterpoise The total weight of the crane is 25,000 kilogrammes or rather under 25 tons and our engravings of it have been prepared from drawings with which we have been supplied by the makers" from page 187m, 6 Sep 1867