42 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[February, 



simple, straightforward, and direct manner, the power by which the 

 striking block B is lifted, or raised up. Gravity performs the down- 

 ward action for us in a most direct manner. In order to set this steam 

 hammer in action, steam of such a pressure as, operating upon the 

 underside of the piston, will a little ■ more than balance the weight 

 of the block B, is conveyed from a suitable boiler, (situated in any 

 convenient part of the premises,) through the pipe P into the valve 

 box, in which a slide valve of the most simple form works. The 

 valve being up, permits the steam to press upon the underside of the 

 piston, and up goes the block B to any height (within the limits 

 of the length of the cylinder) which the forge man may require. 

 The handle E is now moved in the contrary direction, which not only 

 prevents any further admission of steam, but also permits that which 

 had entered, to escape by the pipe L; the instant this is done, the 

 block B descends with all the energy and force due to its weight and 

 the height through which it falls, and discharges its fall and entire 

 momentum upon the work then on the anvil, with such tremendous 

 effect, as to set the blows of all previous hammers at utter defiance .' 

 In fact, the power of such a hammer is only limited by the size we 

 please to make it, as tie principle is capable of being carried out to 

 any extent; whereas, in the case of such hammers as in Fig. 1, they 

 have their limits, by reason of the very mass of material causing them 

 to be weaker se, by the intestinal contraction of the iron which com- 

 poses their mass, and which in their action is so destructive and 

 trying to such a form ; the consequence is they generally break over 

 just behind the neck. 



I have only alluded to the means which this steam hammer gives 

 of obtaining tremendous blows. But energetic and powerful as it is, 

 it is at the same time one of the most striking examples of the mana- 

 geability of the power of steam; inasmuch as, when we desire to have 

 any variety in the intensity of the blow, varying from the most gentle 

 m;<-cracking tap ! to the most awful smash, we have simply to 

 work the valve handle in proportion, and by so regulating the exit of 

 the steam we can let down the block, like closing a well hung window, 

 or arrest its downward progress in an instant at any part of its stroke, 

 and retain it there at any required height at any required time; on 

 the other hand, by duly regulating the entrance of the steam, we 

 can lift the block to any required height, from the face of the anvil 

 or surface of the work, and so regulate the amount or rapidity of the 

 blows accordingly. 



The form and arrangement of the steam hammer, as given in Fig. 

 2, is such as present experience shows to be most convenient, ac- 

 cording to the scale on which the sketch is made out, the distance 

 between the standards O O gives a clear space of 12 feet, namely, 

 six feet on each side of the centre of the anvil, and six feet height 

 clear over head, as figured in the sketch. But these proportions may 

 of course be varied at will, as the principle of this steam hammer 

 affords every facility to extention or otherwise. The space on each 

 side of the anvil, in front and behind, being quite clear of all ma- 

 chinery, gives every facility to the introduction and management of 

 the work, when we progress, as will be evident and fully appreciated 

 by practical men. 



The comparatively small space which the entire apparatus of the 

 steam hammer occupies, may be judged of by a glance at the sketch, 

 Fig. 2, as compared with that of the ordinary construction in Fig. 1. 

 Had 1 turned the standards in the sketch, Fig. 2, so as to give a side 

 or edge view, the contrast in respect to space occupied would have 

 been much more striking. As regards the comparative original cost, 

 any one the least accustomed to such matters will at once see the vast 

 advantage in that respect in favour of the steam hammer, to say 

 nothing of its vast superiority as to efficiency and little liability to 

 derangement; in fact, so simple is it, that there is scarcely anything 

 to go wrong. One great source of its durability in this respect is the 

 manner in which the mass of the block is raised, namely, through the 

 medium of the most elastic of all bodies— steam ; which, in place of 



1 About five to six per cent more pressure than will just balance the block 

 gives all due activity to the upward or lifting action of the block. 



*5! i 





any destructive jerk, as in the case of motion conveyed by impulse 

 through solid media, so apparent and destructive in its effect in the 

 case of the apparatus of the ordinary forge hammer, with the 

 steam hammer the lifting motion is performed so smoothly as to be 

 absolutely silent in its action, as if the great block had forgot, for the 

 while, that it had any weight at all. I do not intend here to rival the 

 celebrated Caterfelto by wondering at my own wonders ! but truly 

 the action of this simple but most powerful machine, is not a little 

 striking, both in its action as well as effect. I think experience will 

 prove that I am not too far yielding to sanguine expectations when I 

 state, that the vast facilities which this invention gives to the treat- 

 ment of large masses of wrought iron, will introduce quite a 

 new era in the manufacture and working of wrought iron. We have 

 now, by means of this steam hammer, a power and capability of pro- 

 ducing forgings of wrought iron of any dimensions, whose soundness 

 will give the best evidence of the value of the invention in that re- 

 spect, and from the vast facilities of executing the most ponderous 

 and acquired forms the saving of time and finish which can be at- 

 tained under such a hammer will also prove that a great step has 

 been made in the mechanical arts. In conclusion, it may perhaps be 

 as well to remark on the valuable and important influence which such 



