telescoping funnel

[lowell.b.campbell]

Most steamships in late 1800s had telescoping funnels, I think mainly to keep them from blocking the sails when sailing instead of steaming. Some during war seemed to be to avoid battle damage, e.g. the Dunderberg. Does anyone know the mechanics of the extending and retracting? Could it be done while the boiler was fired up? Being a mechanical engineer, I am probably way overthinking this; maybe they just used raw manpower and pulleys.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome to CivilWarTalk.

Great question. I've often wondered the same.

We have quite a few naval experts here, I'm sure they will answer this question.

 

[rebelatsea]

Most steamships in late 1800s had telescoping funnels, I think mainly to keep them from blocking the sails when sailing instead of steaming. Some during war seemed to be to avoid battle damage, e.g. the Dunderberg. Does anyone know the mechanics of the extending and retracting? Could it be done while the boiler was fired up? Being a mechanical engineer, I am probably way overthinking this; maybe they just used raw manpower and pulleys.

Welcome to CWT and the Naval Forum, initially raising and lowering the funnel was done with a system of pulleys and ropes using the masts and rigging in the time honoured way. Later donkey engines were used to power the hoists, even hydraulics and steam lifts were used, but for the most part ,at least with the ironclads it just wasn't worth the effort involved and funnels were left permanently erect. the hoisting gear being removed at refit, or in the case of HMS Alfred, by her own crew.

 

[reading48]

Hello and Greetings from Penna.

 

[chellers]

Welcome from East Texas.

 

[OwenRichards]

I was wondering this myself, thanks for asking.

Oh, welcome from 'merrie olde' (read as: 'kinda run down, but we are trying to keep our spirits up over here') England.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

It seems to me there was a recent image posted of a telescoping funnel's gear... I can't remember where it was. Searching...

 

[Patrick H]

Welcome from Missouri. I enjoy questions like this. I always learn something new from the responses.

 

[Mike Serpa]

Some threads about telescopic funnels.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/uss-kearsarge-mollus-photos.94366/

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-shenandoah.92723/

 

[MRB1863]

Lowell,
Welcome from Pennsylvania. Interesting post. Thanks for bringing it.

 

[rebelatsea]

They were more trouble than they were worth, in icy conditions the gear sometimes froze so the funnel wouldn't go up or down, small obstructions between he sections could cause he same thing, and on occasions the funnel would decide to lower itself as on one notorious occasion at Spithead on HMS Victoria (three deck line of battleship) when an inspecting Admiral came on deck to find the deck had vanished in a thick cloud of smoke and soot ! Apparently his comments to the captain were somewhat pithy !

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Some threads about telescopic funnels.

Thanks, Mike. I knew it had been covered not long ago, but I was having retrieval failure as to where!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Although this is from an early twentieth century patent, I'm sure the mechanics are similar to the nineteenth century ships.

http://www.google.com/patents/US1283817

 

[vikingbear]

Hi from way up north, still digging out from the white stuff.

GRIZZ