Question on identity of well car payloads

[bbussey]

Can someone tell me what these payloads are?  One of them is en route to Bath Iron Works in Maine.  I'm trying to get the specs on this to create a rapid prototype version for the ESM well car.  Also trying to find pics of the back side.

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Chris333]

Part of a rolling mill?

[Missaberoad]

My guess would be a gear reduction unit for a US warship. Possibly a Westinghouse...

Judging by what was being built at Bath in the 1980's it would likely be for either a Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser or a Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, all used very similar GE Gas turbine engines so likely used similar setups.

I couldn't find any photos in my limited research, but likely asking the marine/military modeling community should turn up some info...

Edit: not the best photo but you can sort of see one at the back of this turbine assembly being lowered into the USS Bunker Hill https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/USS_Bunker_Hill_%28CG-52%29_LM2500_modules.jpg

[bbussey]

Those are at least additional pieces of information with which to hunt down documentation.  I'll contact GE and see if they can be of help.  Thanks.

[Snark45]

Think this is the other side?

http://www.charlielehman.com/activities/

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[bbussey]

Definitely possible.  So, it's called a Main Reduction Gear.  Another clue to work with.

[Hornwrecker]

The full description of it is:  double helical, articulated locked train, double reduction, main reduction gear. (had to know all that for the rating exam)

If you want to see the guts of one of them, have a look at chapter 3 of the MM 3&2 manual in convenient pdf format.

http://militarynewbie.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/NAVEDTRA-14151-Machinists-Mate-3-2-Surface.pdf

[jnevis]

Our resident SWO (surface Warfare Officer) Skipper type immediately recognized it as a DDG/CG reduction gear.

[bbussey]

Excellent!  Any idea of who the manufacturer was and/or where to get specs on the dimensions?

[Missaberoad]

Excellent!  Any idea of who the manufacturer was and/or where to get specs on the dimensions?

Everything I found pointed towards these being made by Westinghouse.

[Hornwrecker]

I've only seen Westinghouse ones in the ERs I worked in, nuke 600# steam plants.  I think GE might make ones for subs, as well as the circle W.

[bbussey]

I will contact Westinghouse and see if they have the information in their archives.

[Hornwrecker]

I'd be interested in seeing any response or info you get.

From what I remember, the larger, and older, MRGs were more "house" shaped, with rounded edges and corners, unlike the ones pictured above, with lots of gussets and showing where the quill gears and bearings are placed.  I've got the pleasure of participating in the opening up of one of these for inspection.  Had to build a tent around it, count every tool that went into the control point, and suit up like for an operating room.  The precision is amazing on them, and access into them was more difficult than access into the reactor compartment on a ship.

Depending on which periods you are modelling the NH, they'd make for some interesting loads to Electric boat in Groton.  Earlier than the Nautilus, the largest carload, single component would be the F-M diesel engines. Starting with the nuke subs, then you'd have the reactor vessel, 2 steam generators, reduction gear, 2 SSTGs (ship's service turbine generators (chapter 2 of that pdf,  a few 100 kW more output than the photo) and the EDG (recycled F-M diesel), then maybe the fuel elements for the reactor (not sure how the brand spanking new ones were shipped).

[jagged ben]

I will contact Westinghouse and see if they have the information in their archives.

hmmm.   Might want to try Eaton, Siemens, CBS, or Toshiba.   

(In all seriousness, if Westinghouse made that reduction gear, they probably sold the division that made it to someone else decades ago.)