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Title: |
1877 Article-Fishkill Landing Machine Co., Mills Portable Steam Engine |
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Source: |
Scientific American, V36, 19 May 1877, pg. 303 |
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Insert Date: |
4/12/2017 5:04:00 PM |
The war in Europe, which has just begun, cannot fail to create a greatly increased demand for American breadstuffs; and as the prospects for the grain crop, as reported from all sections of the country, were never better, our farmers will doubtless require more steam engines this year than ever before. The engine herewith illustrated is well adapted to farm and plantation purposes. It differs from others of its class in the arrangement of the engine on the boiler. The steam cylinder has a broad base, which is fastened to the smoke box by bolts, so as to prevent leakage of steam, however great the strain. Connecting the cylinder with the saddle which supports the crank shaft are two wrought iron bars, constituting the framing, which receive the working stress of the engine. The free expansion of the boiler under all pressures is provided for by the arrangement of the saddle, which is not fastened to the boiler. The condensing feedwater heater is placed directly under the boiler, and the feed pump is located below the water line in tank and heater. A single eccentric drives the pump and steam valve. The governor is driven directly from the crank wheel, without any carrying pulleys, as will be seen in the engraving, and will work equally well in any position. The speed of the engine can be quickly and readily changed by the engine driver without leaving his usual place. The cylinder is fitted with a balanced valve and automatic cut-off, which adjusts itself to do the work required with economy. The steam dome is large and high, and is located directly on top of the steam chest and within the smoke stack. The road wheels are entirely of wrought iron with the exception of the hubs. The wearing surfaces in this engine are large. The driver's seat, being on the opposite side of the engine, does not show in this engraving. We learn from the manufacturers that a thrasherman in Iowa, who has run one of the Mills engines for three years, states that he has thrashed one thousand bushels of wheat from long straw with one quarter of a cord of wood and ten barrels of water. In another case, a similar result was obtained with less than five hundred lbs. of soft coal. Other good results, similar to the above, are reported. We are also informed that a trial of a fifteen horse power Mills engine, made last year by Mr. William Barnet Le Wan, of Philadelphia, Pa., fixed the duty at two and nine tenths lbs. of combustible, and twenty-six and eight tenths lbs. of water, per indicated horse power per hour. The engineer will perceive that this duty is remarkably high. This economy has been accomplished without increasing the total weight of the engine.
As far back as the Vienna Exposition, Professor R. H. Thurston, then acting as Commissioner for this country, stated in his report on portable steam engines that, although the English builders were far in advance of all others exhibiting, the Mills engine rivalled the best of them. The engine is made in three different styles, namely, the mounted farm engine as shown in the engraving, the self-moving or thrasher's locomotive, and the self-contained or semi-portable for stationary purposes. For prices and other particulars, address the Fishkill Landing Machine Company, Fishkill-on-the Hudson, N. Y., or Thomas J. Fales, 18 Park Place, New York, agent for foreign countries. |
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1877 Fishkill Landing Machine Co., Mills Portable Steam Engine
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