Antrieb eines Dampfschiffs

Oszillierende 2-Zylinder Nassdampf-Verbundanlage, Dampfmaschine von Escher-Wyss und Cie, des Dampfschiffs DS Rigi

Dating

1893 - 1894

Persons

Escher, Wyss & Cie. (Escher Wyss bzw. Escher, Wyss + Co., Monogramm EWC) (1805 - 1983), Hersteller/in

DGV Dampfschiffgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees (Dampfschiff-Gesellschaft, Dampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees) (1870 - 1959), Betreiber/in oder Benutzer/in

Description

Oszillierende 2-Zylinder Nassdampf-Verbundanlage, Dampfmaschine von Escher-Wyss und Cie, des Dampfschiffs DS Rigi.

Signature / Inscription

Signatur / Beschriftung: Beschriftung: "Escher Wyss / Zürich"

Object type

Object (three-dimensional)

Geography

Territorium: Vierwaldstättersee

Material / Technique

Eisen, Metall

Dimensions

350 x 210 x 210 cm

Inventory number

VHS-404.01

Legend

Engine of the steamship Rigi Steam engine with oscillating cylinders by Escher, Wyss & Cie. Water-borne craft were amongst the earliest means of transport to be powered by steam. The SS Rigi was fitted with two engines during its working life. The first, dating from 1848, was a 2-cylinder low-pressure steam unit from Penn & Son in London. Horse-drawn carts transported it on the final leg from Schliengen, Germany (near Basel) to Lucerne. In 1894, the entire propulsion system consisting of engine, boiler and paddle wheels was renewed; the cost of doing so came to CHF 40,000. Again equipped with oscillating cylinders for reasons of space, the power plant, supplied by Escher, Wyss & Cie. of Zurich, was of a 2-cylinder wet steam compound design. This increased the speed from 17.3 to 19.7 km/h compared to the earlier engine and reduced coal consumption from 14 to 11 kg/km.