André Chapelon

André Chapelon ( born October 26, 1892 in Saint- Paul-en- Cornillon, Loire, † July 22, 1978 in Paris) was a French mechanical engineer.

Life

Chapelon is considered one of the most capable steam locomotive designers ever. He began his career as " Ingénieur des Arts et Manufactures " in the first half of the 1920s when the Compagnie Paris -Lyon - Méditerranée (PLM ). In 1925 he joined the research and development department of the railway company Compagnie du chemin de fer de Paris à Orléans (PO).

Due to the poor economic situation of the interwar period had Chapelon in the financially weak PO deal mainly with the improvement of existing machines. Deviating from the usual in Dampflokomotivbau constructive approach by rule of thumb and experience he went with a scientific precision to the technical details of the constructions. This reflects the success of his designs is much justified.

Notable increases in power he reached the rebuilding of locomotives from the consistent application of thermodynamic insights. In this context, he was a special advocate of compound machines. Chapelon was able to increase the thermal efficiency of its locomotives to an amount of about 12 percent, an amount that was never achieved elsewhere.

1934 Chapelon was appointed chief engineer of the POMIDI along closed paths of PO and MIDI appointed.

After a study tour the U.S. in 1938 Chapelon was planning more efficient new buildings should achieve a synthesis of the principles of design of two leading Dampflokbau nations and their time would have been far ahead. The merger of the four major networks for the French SNCF began, however, new priorities which these plans fell victim. So it was never granted Chapelon, from the ground to construct for France to a new locomotive. Only for Brazil, he was able to design from the ground up new locomotives.

Well-known and successful locomotive conversions Chapelon were the 4701 PO, at that time (1931 ) with 3000 hp, the most powerful engine of Europe, the 240 P and the SNCF 242 A 1, which were with capacities up to 5300 hp as the largest and most powerful steam locomotives in Europe.

During test drives 1 Zughakenleistungen of around 6000 hp were measured at the 242 A, which corresponds to a boiler output of about 6600 horsepower.

His expertise was also used after his retirement from working life to cope with problems of tracking at high speeds. Chapelon, thus contributing to the success of the French high speed trains ( TGV).

André Chapelon was last " Ingénieur en chef Honoraire " SNCF.