Proceedings, &c, for 1885. 163 



ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION A. 



25th March. 

 High-speed Engines. Professor Kernot. 



The minutes of the last meeting having been read and confirmed, 

 Professor Kernot said he desired to place his resignation as chair- 

 man of the section in the hands of the members, as he did not 

 think it either becoming or in order for one man to be President of 

 the Society and chairman of one of its sections ; and as the Society- 

 had honoured him by electing him to the Presidency — lately 

 vacated by Mr. Ellery, amidst the regrets of all — he thought this 

 a fitting opportunity to give place to a worthy successor. 



There was a unanimous feeling among the members present that 

 such a step would be detrimental to the best interests of the section, 

 and Professor Kernot was urged to reconsider his determination. 

 He promised to consider the matter most carefully, and seek the 

 advice of Mr. Ellery, who, he was sure, would give such advice as 

 would be wisest and best in the interest of the section and of the 

 Society. 



The ordinary business was then proceeded with. Two subjects 

 were on the notice paper — 



(1.) A review of the present state of machine development, 

 under the title of u High-speed Engines," by Professor Kernot. 



(2.) A paper by Mr. W. R. Kennick, on " Boiler Riveting." 

 This latter was postponed till next meeting. 



Professor Kernot, President of the Society, gave a brief outline 

 of the development of the steam engine. The old engines, he 

 said, were usually of large size, working at low velocity at low 

 pressure, relying largely on the vacuum, and increasing the speed 

 by means of pulleys and cogwheels. The general tendency of 

 modern practice, on the contrary, is towards high speed direct-acting 

 engines. Since the work done is the product of the force exerted 

 into the distance over which it is exerted, it follows that the 

 greater the speed at which a machine can work the less will be the 

 stress on the parts and the lighter the parts can be made. At the 

 present time two lines of investigation and experiment are being 

 followed: — 1. Single-acting engines represented by the Brother- 

 hood, Westinghouse, and many other types. 2. Double-acting 

 engines, represented typically by the Porter- Allen engine. The 

 Westinghouse, the most modern of single-acting engines, has two 

 cylinders, with cranks 180 deg. apart. The centre line of the 

 cylinders runs clear of the shaft in such a way that on the steam 

 stroke the connecting rod is nearly in the centre line. Thus little 

 friction is caused in the cylinder by the obliquity of the connect- 

 ing rod. On the return stroke, when no work is being done, the 



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