Chapter I: Front Matter

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Transcriber’s note:

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

Text enclosed by equal signs is in bold face (=bold=).

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A detailed transcriber’s note is at the end of the book.

MAXIMS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BOILER ROOM.

_This Work is Fraternally inscribed to W. R. Hawkins, R. F. Hawkins
and F. P. Hawkins._

MAXIMS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE BOILER ROOM.

Useful to Engineers, Firemen & Mechanics,

Relating to Steam Generators, Pumps, Appliances, Steam Heating, Practical Plumbing, etc.

by

N. HAWKINS, M. E.,

Honorary Member National Association of Stationary Engineers, Editorial Writer, Author of Hand Book of Calculations for Engineers and Firemen, Etc., Etc.

Comprising Instructions and Suggestions on the Construction, Setting, Control and Management of Various Forms of Steam Boilers; on the Theory and Practical Operation of the Steam Pump; Steam Heating; Practical Plumbing; also Rules for the Safety Valve, Strength of Boilers, Capacity of Pumps, etc.

Theo. Audel & Co., Publishers, 63 Fifth Ave., Cor. 13th St., New York.

Copyrighted 1897—1898—1903 by Theo, Audel & Co.

_PREFACE._

_The chief apology for the preparation and issue of these Maxims and Instructions, for the use of Steam users, Engineers and Firemen, is the more than kind reception of Calculations._

_But there are other reasons. There is the wholesome desire to benefit the class, with whom, in one way and another, the author has been associated nearly two score years._

_The plan followed in this work will be the same as that so generally approved in Calculations; the completed volume will be a work of reference and instruction upon those works set forth in the title page. As a work of reference the work will be especially helpful through combined Index and Definition Tables to be inserted at the close of the book. By the use of these the meaning of every machine, material and performance of the boiler room can be easily found and the “points” of instruction made use of._

_This work being issued in parts, now in manuscript, and capable of change or enlargement, the editor will be thankful for healthful suggestions from his professional brethren, before it is put into permanent book form._

GEORGE STEPHENSON.

ROBERT FULTON.]

CONTENTS.

Page
PREFACE 7
INTRODUCTION 9
MATERIALS 12
Coal 13
Wood 14
Peat 14
Tan 15
Straw 15
Coke, Charcoal, Peat Charcoal 15
Liquid and Gas Fuels 15
Air 16
Table of Evaporation 18
Fire Irons 19
Handy Tools 21
The Tool Box 22
THE FIRING OF STEAM BOILERS 24
Directions for Firing with Various Fuels 28
Firing with Coke 28
Firing with Coal Tar 30
Firing with Straw 31
Firing with Oil 32
Firing on an Ocean Steamer 32
Firing of Sawdust and Shavings 33
Firing a Locomotive 36
Firing with Tan Bark 36
Points Relating to Firing 37
Foaming in Boilers 42
A CHAPTER OF DON’TS 44
STEAM GENERATORS 48
Description 49
An Upright Steam Boiler 50
The Growth of the Steam Boiler 52
Marine Boilers 60
The Surface Condenser 65
Operation of the Condenser 66
Water Tube Steam Boilers 67
Care of Water Tube Boilers 70
Sectional Boilers 71
Locomotive Boilers 72
Standard Horizontal Tubular Steam Boiler 79
Parts of the Tubular Boiler 81
The Triple Draught Tubular Boiler 83
SPECIFICATION FOR 125 HORSE POWER BOILER 85
Type 85
Dimensions 85
Quality and Thickness of Steel Plates 85
Flanges 85
Riveting 86
Braces 86
Manholes, Hand Holes and Thimbles 86
Lugs 86
Castings 86
Testing 87
Quality and Workmanship 87
Fittings and Mountings 87
Drawings 87
Duty of Boiler 87
MARKS ON BOILER PLATES 88
CONSTRUCTION OF BOILERS 89
Quality of Steel Plates 90
Nickel Steel Boiler Plates 91
Riveting 91
Bracing of Steam Boilers 96
Rule for Finding Pressure or Strain
on Bolts 99
Gusset Stays 100
Riveted or Screw Stays 101
Inspector’s Rules Relating to Braces in
Steam Boilers 102
Rules and Tables 105
Boiler Tubes 110
Portions of the Marine Boiler which
become Thin by Wear 112
EXAMPLES OF CONSTRUCTION AND DRAWING 113
Rule for Safe Internal Pressure 117
DEFINITION OF TERMS 121
Tensile strength 121
Contraction of area 121
Elongation 121
Shearing strength 121
Elastic limit 121
Tough 121
Ductile 121
Elasticity 122
Fatigued 122
Malleable 122
Weldable 122
Cold-short 122
Hot-short 122
Homogeneous 122
BOILER REPAIRS 123
Repairing Cracks 123
Defects and Necessary Repairs 124
Questions
by the Proprietor to the Engineer in
Charge, Relating to Condition of the
Boiler 127
Questions
asked of a Candidate For a Marine
License Relating to Defects in Boiler 127
THE INSPECTION OF STEAM BOILERS 129
How to prepare for Steam Boiler
Inspection 130
Issuing Certificates 131
The Hydraulic Test 131
ENGINEERS’ EXAMINATIONS 133
MECHANICAL STOKERS 134
CHEMICAL TERMS AND EXPLANATIONS
RELATING TO FEED WATERS 136
Chemistry 136
Element 136
Re-agent 136
Oxide 136
Carbonate 136
Acid 137
Alkalies 137
Chloride 137
Sulphates 137
Silica 137
Magnesia 138
Carbonate of Magnesia 138
Lime 138
Soda 138
Sodium 138
Salt 139
ANALYSIS OF FEED WATER 140
Directions 140
FROM ARGOS, IND. 140
FROM SIOUX FALLS, S. D. 140
FROM LITCHFIELD, ILL. 141
FROM CHELSEA, MASS. 141
FROM MEMPHIS, TENN. 141
FROM PEKIN, ILL. 141
FROM TIFFIN, OHIO 141
CORROSION AND INCRUSTATION OF STEAM BOILERS 142
Preliminary Precipitation of Water 144
A precipitator for Sea Water 145
Scale Deposited in Marine Boilers 146
A locomotive-Boiler Compound 149
“Points” Relating to the Scaling of
Steam Boilers 149
ENGINEERS’ TESTS FOR IMPURITIES IN
FEED WATER 153
Use of Petroleum Oil in Boilers 155
Kerosene Oil in Boilers 156
Mechanical Boiler Cleaners 159
Scumming Apparatus 161
Use of Zinc in Marine Boilers 162
BOILER FIXTURES AND BELONGINGS 164
Boiler Fronts 165
Furnace Doors 168
Fusible Plugs 171
Grate Bars 173
Water Gauge Cocks 176
Glass Gauges 177
The Mud Drum 179
Baffle Plates 180
Dead Plate 180
Steam Whistles 180
The Steam Gauge 181
Steam Separator 183
Sentinel Valve 184
Damper Regulators 185
Fuel Economizer and Feed Water Purifier 185
Safety Valves 187
U. S. Rules Relating to Safety Valves 189
Feed Water Heaters 196
Capacity of Cisterns 202
Water Meters 203
“Points” Relating to Water Meters 204
The Steam Boiler Injector 206
“Points” Relating to the Injector 209
LAWS OF HEAT 212
THE STEAM PUMP 215
Classification of Pumps 217
Points Relating to Pumps 219
Calculations Relating to Pumps 222
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES RELATING TO WATER 224
STORING AND HANDLING OF COAL 225
CHEMISTRY OF THE FURNACE 226
Oxygen 229
Carbon 229
Hydrogen 230
Nitrogen 230
Sulphur 230
Carbonic Acid Gas 230
Carbonic Oxide 231
Table 231
HEATPROOF AND ORNAMENTAL PAINTS 232
PRESSURE RECORDING GAUGE 233
HORSE POWER AS APPLIED TO BOILERS 234
Rule For Estimating Horse Power of
Horizontal Tubular Steam Boilers 235
BOILER SETTING 236
Setting of Water Tube Boilers 239
Points Relating to Boiler Setting 239
KINDLING A FURNACE FIRE 241
Sawdust Furnace 242
PIPES AND PIPING 244
Joints of Pipes and Fittings 248
STEAM AND HOT WATER HEATING 251
Points Relating to Steam Heating 254
Ventilation 265
Heating by Exhaust Steam 267
Care of Steam Fittings 268
Tools used in Steam Fitting 269
Cocks 270
Valves 271
Steam Fittings 274
Steam Pipe and Boiler Coverings 275
Linear Expansion of Steam Pipes 276
The Steam Loop 278
BOILER MAKERS’ TOOLS AND MACHINERY 281
STEAM 282
WATER HAMMER 283
HAZARDS OF THE BOILER ROOM 285
Fuel Oil 289
WATER CIRCULATION 294
CHIMNEYS AND DRAUGHT 296
PLUMBING 298
Piping and Drainage 299
Lead Pipe Joints 300
Repairing Pipes with Putty Joints 303
Bending Lead Pipe 304
Plumber’s Solder 305
Plumber’s Tools 306
USEFUL TABLES OF WEIGHTS OF IRON AND
COMPARISONS OF GAUGES 309
NOISELESS WATER HEATER 312
ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES 313
Burns and Scalds 313
Glue Burn Mixture 315
Insensibility from Smoke 315
Heat-stroke or Sun-stroke 316
Cuts and Wounds 316
Bleeding 317
Frost Bite 318
Broken Bones 318
Poultices 319
How to Carry an Injured Person 319
PERSONAL 320
INDEX 321
ADVERTISMENTS 333