A HUGE CRANE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 76, 22 December 1917, Page 15

A HUGE CRANE

AT COCKATOO ISLAND. The 150-ton floating crane "Titan" was launohed last week at the Commonwealth Naval Dockyard, Cockatoo Island. When oompleted, it will bo the largest crane in the southern hemisphere. The dimensions of the pontoon are: Lepgth, lGßft.; width, 78ft. 6in„ depth, lift.; draughty Bft. The crane, which is of tho derricking and revolving jib type, is designed for lifting a load of 150 tons at a maximum radius of 90ft. at a speed of Bft. per minutei and a load of 100 :ons at a radius of 125 ft. The maximum height of the Tiook above the wator at a-90ft. radius is 150 ft. In addition, there is an auxiliary block capable of lifting a maximum working load of 30 tons at the maximum outreach of the jib, which is about 133 ft., also a jigger hoist of 10 tons capacity arranged to travel along the undor side of the jib. Tho power for operating is supplied by a single-ended boiler of tho cylindrical-multitubular type, providing steam for thrco olectric generating, sets at 210 volts of a total capacity of 490 kilowatts supplied by ; the British Westinghouse Company, and driven by engines built by Messrs. Browett, Lindley and Co., England. The usual auxiliary engines necessary in a vessel of the kind are supplied; All the crane motions are driven by separate electrical motors by Messrs. Siemens. The pontoon is non-self-propeilinp:. The crane was designed By Messrs, Cowan nnd Sheldon,-of Carlisle, England, with whom tho contract was placed through Messrs. Fyvie and Stewart. of Sydney. The contractors are building all tho parts of the crano except the pontoon, which was built at Cockatoo Tsland from tho raw. materials supplied by the contractors. Tho dockyard is also eroding nil parts of the crane, no light undertaking when it is realised that the weight of tho jib alone is 130 tons, .a.nd this has to be lifted to a height of over ">oft. before it can bo shipped into place. Tho building of this crano has r.ot escaped the vicissitudes of the war. Romo of the parts, including the two main lifting screws, which were valued it over .£IOOO, were lost at sea, owinor to the activities of tho enemy. Thib caused serious delay.