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第81章

industrial biography-第81章

小说: industrial biography 字数: 每页4000字

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nothing of the greatly extended use which it has been the direct

means of effecting in wrought…iron and steel forgings in every

description of machinery; from the largest marine steam…engines to

the most nice and delicate parts of textile mechanism。  〃It is not too

much to say;〃 observes a writer in the Engineer; 〃that; without

Nasmyth's steam…hammer; we must have stopped short in many of those

gigantic engineering works which; but for the decay of all wonder in

us; would be the perpetual wonder of this age; and which have enabled

our modern engineers to take rank above the gods of all mythologies。

There is one use to which the steam…hammer is now becoming

extensively applied by some of our manufacturers that deserves

especial mention; rather for the prospect which it opens to us than

for what has already been actually accomplished。  We allude to the

manufacture of large articles in DIES。  At one manufactory in the

country; railway wheels; for example; are being manufactured with

enormous economy by this means。  The various parts of the wheels are

produced in quantity either by rolling or by dies under the hammer;

these parts are brought together in their relative positions in a

mould; heated to a welding heat; and then by a blow of the steam

hammer; furnished with dies; are stamped into a complete and all but

finished wheel。  It is evident that wherever wrought…iron articles of

a manageable size have to be produced in considerable quantities; the

same process may be adopted; and the saving effected by the

substitution of this for the ordinary forging process will doubtless

ere long prove incalculable。  For this; as for the many other

advantageous uses of the steam…hammer; we are primarily and mainly

indebted to Mr。 Nasmyth。  It is but right; therefore; that we should

hold his name in honour。  In fact; when we think of the universal

service which this machine is rendering us; we feel that some special

expression of our indebtedness to him would be a reasonable and

grateful service。  The benefit which he has conferred upon us is so

great as to justly entitle him to stand side by side with the few men

who have gained name and fame as great inventive engineers; and to

whom we have testified our gratitudeusually; unhappily; when it

was too late for them to enjoy it。〃



Mr。 Nasmyth subsequently applied the principle of the steam…hammer in

the pile driver; which he invented in 1845。  Until its production; all

piles had been driven by means of a small mass of iron falling upon

the head of the pile with great velocity from a considerable height;

 the raising of the iron mass by means of the 〃monkey〃 being an

operation that occupied much time and labour; with which the results

were very incommensurate。  Pile…driving was; in Mr。 Nasmyth's words;

conducted on the artillery or cannon…ball principle; the action being

excessive and the mass deficient; and adapted rather for destructive

than impulsive action。  In his new and beautiful machine; he applied

the elastic force of steam in raising the ram or driving block; on

which; the block being disengaged; its whole weight of three tons

descended on the head of the pile; and the process being repeated

eighty times in the minute; the pile was sent home with a rapidity

that was quite marvellous compared with the old…fashioned system。  In

forming coffer…dams for the piers and abutments of bridges; quays;

and harbours; and in piling the foundations of all kinds of masonry;

the steam pile driver was found of invaluable use by the engineer。  At

the first experiment made with the machine; Mr。 Nasmyth drove a

14…inch pile fifteen feet into hard ground at the rate of 65 blows a

minute。  The driver was first used in forming the great steam dock at

Devonport; where the results were very striking; and it was shortly

after employed by Robert Stephenson in piling the foundations of the

great High Level Bridge at Newcastle; and the Border Bridge at

Berwick; as well as in several other of his great works。  The saving

of time effected by this machine was very remarkable; the ratio being

as 1 to 1800; that is; a pile could be driven in four minutes that

before required twelve hours。  One of the peculiar features of the

invention was that of employing the pile itself as the support of the

steam…hammer part of the apparatus while it was being driven; so that

the pile had the percussive action of the dead weight of the hammer

as well as its lively blows to induce it to sink into the ground。  The

steam…hammer sat as it were on the shoulders of the pile; while it

dealt forth its ponderous blows on the pile…head at the rate of 80 a

minute; and as the pile sank; the hammer followed it down with never

relaxing activity until it was driven home to the required depth。  One

of the most ingenious contrivances employed in the driver; which was

also adopted in the hammer; was the use of steam as a buffer in the

upper part of the cylinder; which had the effect of a recoil spring;

and greatly enhanced the force of the downward blow。



In 1846; Mr。 Nasmyth designed a form of steam…engine after that of

his steam…hammer; which has been extensively adopted all over the

world for screw…ships of all sizes。  The pyramidal form of this

engine; its great simplicity and GET…AT…ABILITY of parts; together

with the circumstance that all the weighty parts of the engine are

kept low; have rendered it a universal favourite。  Among the other

labour…saving tools invented by Mr。 Nasmyth; may be mentioned the

well…known planing machine for small work; called 〃Nasmyth's Steam

Arm;〃 now used in every large workshop。  It was contrived for the

purpose of executing a large order for locomotives received from the

Great Western Railway; and was found of great use in accelerating the

work; especially in planing the links; levers; connecting rods; and

smaller kinds of wrought…iron work in those engines。  His circular

cutter for toothed wheels was another of his handy inventions; which

shortly came into general use。  In iron…founding also he introduced a

valuable practical improvement。  The old mode of pouring the molten

metal into the moulds was by means of a large ladle with one or two

cross handles and levers; but many dreadful accidents occurred

through a slip of the hand; and Mr。 Nasmyth resolved; if possible; to

prevent them。  The plan he adopted was to fix a worm…wheel on the side

of the ladle; into which a worm was geared; and by this simple

contrivance one man was enabled to move the largest ladle on its axis

with perfect ease and safety。  By this means the work was more

promptly performed; and accidents entirely avoided。



Mr。 Nasmyth's skill in invention was backed by great energy and a

large fund of common sensequalities not often found united。  These

proved of much service to the concern of which he was the head; and

indeed constituted the vital force。  The firm prospered as it

deserved; and they executed orders not only for England; but for most

countries in the civilized world。  Mr。 Nasmyth had the advantage of

being trained in a good schoolthat of Henry Maudslaywhere he

had not only learnt handicraft under the eye of that great mechanic;

but the art of organizing labour; and (what is of great value to an

employer) knowledge of the characters of workmen。  Yet the Nasmyth

firm were not without their troubles as respected the mechanics in

their employment; and on one occasion they had to pass through the

ordeal of a very formidable strike。  The manner in which the inventor

of the steam…hammer literally 〃Scotched〃 this strike was very

characteristic。



A clever young man employed by the firm as a brass founder; being

found to have a peculiar capacity for skilled mechanical work; had

been advanced to the lathe。  The other men objected to his being so

employed on the ground that it was against the rules of the trade。

〃But he is a first…rate workman;〃 replied the employers; 〃and we

think it right 

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