WORLD’S STRONGEST ROLLING MILL ENGINE

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 245, 11 July 1921, Page 5

WORLD’S STRONGEST ROLLING MILL ENGINE

What is claimed to bo the most powerful rolling mill engine in the world is now in course of erection in a British steel works. It is intended to drive a train of 32-inch finishing rolls for large sections of steel. Some idea of the enormous size of the engine mqy bo gained from the fact that the face of a man standing on the ground just comes to a level with the crunk shaft—the engine being a vortical one. The maximum horse-power developed is 28,000 at a speed of Ito revolutions per minute. There are three cylinders, each to inches in diameter, and with a stroke of 52 inches. Joists up to 24 inclres deep and 12 inches wido will be rolled in this mill. The makers have given ft guarantee that this huge engine will bo capable of reversing f-ur Hines in one minute, and they are confident that tho engine will do -better than tho guarantee. This rapidity of reversal. which is of grout value in increasing output, is secured by a most ingeniou’ system of valve gears. The. engine Is carried on n massive concrete foundation. with an iron casting two feet deep, weighing over 160- tons, embedded in it. Small auxiliary engines aro used to operate the reversing gear and. also the stop valves.