The Ship Brake.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 36, 8 January 1883, Page 3

The Ship Brake.

♦ Mr McAdams' ship brake Las been tried with signal success m America. The following account is given by the New York Herald of the experiment. For the purpose of the experiment a medimnhsized . side-wheel excursion Steamer was 'used, which makeß daily trips between City Point (South Boston) and Long Island, The vessel had been fitted with the apparatus for some time, and everything got m readiness to display, ; its workings :— <r At & o'clock the signal to start was given, and away went the vessel past Eort Independence, and out into, the middle of the harbor. Just then the pilot bjew a whistle of warning to notify those aboard that he was about to test the faith of the invention, and m another moment there was the Slightest perceptible lurch, and the vesdel stood almost still m the water. pEfy; actual measurement the steamer had not drifted over 10ft before the engineer was enabled to reverse fiis engine and change the direction of the Yesßel. The engine on the steamer was of 60 horse^poweTj.and the vessel waß .going at the rate of 12 miles an hour at the time, which is the limit of her speed. She was put about again, and the experiment repeated with greater success, the steamer not going over 10ft after the « fios" were let go. Again and again was the test applied, until it was fairly decided that the introduction of the brake m no way nffected the construction of the Vessel, nor "damaged it m any manner. .Mr Me Adams, who was on board the City -Point, then ordered the engin eer to start his vessel, let so the fins> and keep up steam to see if the vessel would go forward. Bat with all the force applied the steamer refused tj budge and stuck like a rock m the water. The invention consists of a pair of iron shutters or fins, the area of which is m direct ratio with, the siza of the ship and .hinged one on each side of the/stern poßti They shut close; to the sides ot the vessel, and are kept so by a simple apparatus on deck, which is connected with the pilothouse. When the signal , is given to * let go,' the stays connected withthie fins allow then to open at 'right angles, and cause the stoppage of ..the vessel almost instantly. The water being a yeildlng body, acts as a ipring or cushion, and none of that jarring or shock is experienced such as is felt on 1 a r railroad when the brakes are applied. The present contrivance is guaranteed to stop any vessel no matter what the size or rate. of speed, inside of her own length at leaßt.