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Title: |
1890 Article-McIntosh, Seymour & Co., Special Compound Steam Engine |
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Source: |
The Steam User 1890 pg 54 |
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Insert Date: |
4/17/2011 7:14:08 PM |
A good deal has been both said and written on the question of how best to arrange power plants for electric-light stations, and the two systems or plans usually adopted have each their advocates among men of great practical experience. Subdivided power, which avoids entirely both the great waste of fuel due to running an engine under a light load, and the necessity of shutting down from an accident to any one part of the apparatus, and direct belting to dynamos, with its simplicity, freedom from friction and other disadvantages of shafting, are the prominent advantages derived when a number of smaller engines are used. On the other hand, when larger, slow-running engines with shafting have been employed, it has been possible to use a much more economical type of engine. Thus it was felt that there would certainly be sooner or later a great demand for an engine which, while possessing the essentials requisite for direct belting, such as simplicity, small attendance necessary, and capacity for running at a high rate of speed, should also be an economical engine.
One of the first engines placed on the market meeting these requirements is a high-speed compound engine manufactured by Mcintosh, Seymour & Co., of Auburn, N. Y. The general style of this engine is shown in the cut on the opposite page. It is a horizontal tandem compound engiue of the doublecrank class, with two overhanging wheels, and entirely self-contained. The high-pressure cylinder and receiver have steam-jackets. The chief and most important peculiarity is the arrangement of the high and low pressure valves, each with its actuating gear being placed on opposite sides of the engine. This is patented, and is believed by the manufacturers to be essential in a successful high-speed compound engine. It is the only arrangement of a tandem engine which permits each valve to be driven in a direct and separate manner without a complicated driving-gear. The tandem form is necessary for smooth running at high speeds, for it is impossible to " cushion" on the low-pressure side of a double compound engine, since the cylinder exhausts into a vacuum, while in a tandem engine sufficient compression may lie obtained in the high-pressure cylinder alone.
The governor, or automatic cut-off regulator, valves, frame, shaft, and moving parts generally, are similar to those of the Mcintosh & Seymour high-pressure engines, which are so favorably known for efficiency, simplicity, and durability.
A large number of these engines, in sizes ranging from 50 to 300 horse-power, are running with great success in various electric-light stations. |
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1890 McIntosh, Seymour & Co., Special Compound Steam Engine
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