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Title: |
1908 Article-Northwest Thresher Co., New Giant Steam Traction Engine |
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Source: |
The Traction Engine, Its Use and Abuse, 1908, pgs. 142-146 |
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Insert Date: |
3/22/2014 7:28:15 PM |
THE NEW GIANT ENGINE.
This traction engine, which is built by the North "West Thresher Co., has all its machinery mounted directly on the boiler shell. As usual with such a mounting, this engine has a very short wheel base and can therefore make very short turns. The boiler is of the return tubular flue type, with a fire-box inside the large flue. Fig. 30 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the boiler, and the end view shows the location of the return flues. The Shelby seamless tubes are used for the return flues, which are all located under the water-line.
The smokestack is located in the rear over the fire-door, and has the upper part hinged in order to allow the engine to pass under low bridges. A half spherical spark arrester is generally attached.
This company furnishes a Penberthy injector and a Clark independent steam-pump with their engines.
The exhaust is arranged in such a manner that it can either be directed through the feed-water heater or turned into the stack, or it may even be divided between the two so that both can be used at the same time. The exhaust nozzle is fixed and draught is regulated by directing more or less of the exhaust steam into the heater. Two safety valves are generally used, which are set for two different pressures; that is, one of the safety-valves blows off before the other.
The water-tank is placed on top of the boiler over the front wheels, and is furnished with a steam syphon.
The engine, either simple or compound, is of the side crank type with cylinders, piston-head, cross-head, crank-disc, gearings, etc., of cast-iron. The connecting rod, shafts, and crank-pin are made of steel.
The Woolf valve gear, Gardner spring governor, sight-feed cylinder lubricator, and solid oil-cups are used.
The fly-wheel is provided with a friction clutch. All levers and handles as well as pump and injector can be operated from the engineer's platform.
The transmission of power from the engine shaft to the traction wheels is accomplished by a train of spur gears. In this train of gears is also introduced the compensating gear, which is provided with bevel steel pinions enclosed in a shell. On the outside of this shell acts a solid steel band as brake.
The traction wheels are of large diameter with broad rolled-steel tires. All spokes and braces are also made of steel. The steering chains as well as the draw-bar have strong spiral steel springs introduced between the points of attachment and themselves. Steel springs are also supporting the rear axles. |
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1908 Northwest Thresher Co., New Giant Steam Traction Engine
1908 Northwest Thresher Co., New Giant Steam Traction Engine (Boiler)
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