SMITH BOLNES ENGINE

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Published in La Vitrina
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31 Jan
2018

MPT210

Year1960

Cast iron, Copper

Made by: Empresa Nacional Elcano, València. Marca Smith & Bolnes

3.35 x 5.25 x 1.8 m

A low-speed, two-stroke 1,120 h.p. diesel engine. 7 in-line pistons, with one being a backup.

It was extracted from the merchant vessel named Dragonera which was built by the Juliana Constructora Gijonesa S.A. shipyards in 1960. At the beginning of the 1990s, due to its bad condition, it was agreed to donate it to the Society for Underwater Explorations in order to sink it near the dike breakwater, thereby integrating it into the Underwater Park. This engine had been extracted beforehand, and was donated to the Escola Taller de Tarragona in order to be used educationally in the engines module.

On March 18^th 1994, the work of extracting, cleaning, repairing parts and preparing it for incorporation in the museum and exhibition began. A crown-wheel was fitted around the engine, powered by a reducer motor, making it possible to move the whole assembly of crankshaft, connecting rods and pistons slowly, provided with a closed system of greasing. The iron bench raises the engine 50 cm above the ground for easy observation, and a ladder at the rear allows visitors to gain access to the top and view the cylinders, thanks to the methacrylate domes incorporated.

Since 2000 it has formed part of the permanent exhibition of the Port of Tarragona Museum.