A high-pressure screw propulsion system refers to the type of propulsion mechanism used in a vessel, such as a ship or a tugboat, to generate forward thrust and propel the vessel through water. The term “screw” in this context refers to a propeller, which consists of rotating blades that push against the water and create propulsion.
In the case of the O.W. Cheney tugboat, it utilized a high-pressure screw propulsion system. This indicates that the engine driving the propeller was designed to operate at relatively high pressures. The specific details of the engine’s construction and operation are not provided in the available information, but it typically involved the use of a high-pressure steam engine.
In a high-pressure steam engine, steam is generated at a high pressure and directed into a cylinder where it acts on a piston, converting the pressure energy into mechanical motion. This mechanical motion is then transferred to the propeller shaft through a series of connecting rods and crankshafts, ultimately driving the propeller.
The high-pressure aspect of the system implies that the steam used in the engine was generated at elevated pressures, which allowed for greater efficiency and power output. Higher pressure steam engines were commonly used in marine propulsion during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the O.W. Cheney was in service.
Overall, the high-pressure screw propulsion system of the O.W. Cheney tugboat enabled it to generate the necessary power to navigate through the water and perform towing operations effectively.
