Chris's Build of Steering Engine

[crueby]

Fantastic! ..... er......gnomes, eh?  Well, I didn't like that nice finish on those parts anyway! Thanks Chris. 

PS do we know what the shipyard that actually built Kearsarge did to remedy this little hoo ha? I've thought of a few ways but just wondered how the real thing was done. Visualize the foreman reviewing the drawings - "why those  "    and then a quick visit to the design office 

No details in the archives about the actual build process, on a ship that huge I'm sure there were multiple goofs in the original plans that had to be corrected in the shipyard.
For reference, this is the ship - BB5 Kearsarge, sailed as part of the 'Great White Fleet', it was later converted to a crane ship and served in WW-II. The technology of warships was changing amazingly fast back in those days, many ships only lasted a handful of years.

[Vixen]

I find all this history absolutely fascinating; it adds so much more to a build record. It puts everything in context

Mike

[crueby]

I find all this history absolutely fascinating; it adds so much more to a build record. It puts everything in context

Mike

Definitely! It was amazing to see the steering engines like the one my model is based on still running on the river steamers in Michael's videos. This Kearsarge one is a lot larger since its for a much larger ship, the pistons for it are 15" diameter, and according to the plans the whole steering engine system was over 16 tons, including the screw driven tiller system and the telemotor, which is a electric/hydraulic motor that is like a remote servo to spin the input shaft on the steering motor. They list out six different systems for the steering engine, with a table showing which clutch has to be in which position to use any one of the backup systems. Amazing redundancy but critical for a warship. On the river steamer, there were just two options.

[steamer]

Fantastic! ..... er......gnomes, eh?  Well, I didn't like that nice finish on those parts anyway! Thanks Chris. 

PS do we know what the shipyard that actually built Kearsarge did to remedy this little hoo ha? I've thought of a few ways but just wondered how the real thing was done. Visualize the foreman reviewing the drawings - "why those  "    and then a quick visit to the design office 

No details in the archives about the actual build process, on a ship that huge I'm sure there were multiple goofs in the original plans that had to be corrected in the shipyard.
For reference, this is the ship - BB5 Kearsarge, sailed as part of the 'Great White Fleet', it was later converted to a crane ship and served in WW-II. The technology of warships was changing amazingly fast back in those days, many ships only lasted a handful of years.

The OHIO was stretched at the last minute because the same shipyard was building a bigger and better one for the Russians in the slip next to it.   The US Navy freaked out, and stretched BB12 and upped the power from 2   5000 HP engines to 2 8000 HP engines that Chris is modeling   My original build plans show BOTH engines....but she ended up with the 8000 HP engines.

Freidman talks about it in his book.

Dave

[crueby]

Dave, Freidman did a couple of books on battleships, which do you have?

[steamer]

Hmnmmm   I own it, but it's not to hand at the moment..     Taking care of my daughter at the moment....she got my flu.....kinda bad.  I'll dig it up this weekend after the "festivities"....


Dave

[crueby]

This morning the mounting holes in the cylinder blocks and faceplate were all drilled/countersunk/tapped as needed, both blocks bolt in place with no wiggle (measured the diameter of the SHCS's that I'm using to get the clearance holes down tight on them, didn't depend on the screw thread tables since I know factory made screws do vary slightly). Here is a shot of the two blocks, one on the faceplate in the cylinder-centered position. I've marked the two blocks for which side is which since they need to be mirror images of each other, also when I was drilling the mounting holes I put dimples in the top  face to mark the bore centers, that will be handy for layout of the shapes.


So, next time I can start making swarf on the cylinders!   

[Michael S.]

Chris hurry, you have to give first aid to one of your workshop elves. He has injured himself and is writhing in pain.

I'm curious how the blocks will change.

Michael

[Michael S.]

On the original engine, the cylinders were also marked several times so that they are not confused.

[cnr6400]

 

[crueby]

Chris hurry, you have to give first aid to one of your workshop elves. He has injured himself and is writhing in pain.

I'm curious how the blocks will change.

Michael

I told him NOT to try and lift the engine block by himself!   

I am still working out the order of operations on the blocks, will need to make a list to keep it all straight in my mind. I think I'll probably do the outsides of both blocks first, then bore them for the piston and valve. Or the other way around. Not decided yet!

[crueby]

On the original engine, the cylinders were also marked several times so that they are not confused.

Its a lesson learned early on - parts that were machined the same and should be interchangeable are not always interchangeable!

[crueby]

Was about to start marking up the top/sides of the blocks for the cylinders, when I realized that there was an easier and faster way to do the top circles than getting out the compass, adjusting, testing, readjusting, hoping that the point was in the center, etc.  Just bolt the thing onto the faceplate and let the lathe scribe the circles!

That also reminded me to knock the corners off the one end so that it could clear the ways when in valve-centered position!   

[cnr6400]

Let the ka thunk ka thunk ka thunk begin! 

[crueby]

Let the ka thunk ka thunk ka thunk begin! 

Hopefully no kathunkas, all the outside cutting will be on the mill and rotary table, and the boring wont be interrupted cuts, so I am hoping just for a lot of whirring sounds!