A Catechism of the Steam Engine Part 33

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 55. THRUST BEARING. Messers. Bourne & Co.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 56. COUPLING CRANKS. Messers. Bourne & Co.]

652. _Q._--How is the thrust of the screw shaft received?

_A._--The thrust of the screw shaft is received upon 7 collars, each 1 inch thick, and with 1 inch of projection above the shaft. The plummer block for receiving the thrust of the shaft is shown in fig. 55, and the coupling to enable the screw propeller to be disconnected from the engine, so that it may revolve freely when the vessel is under sail, is shown in fig. 56. When it is required to disengage the propeller from the engine, the pins pa.s.sing through the opposite eyes shown fig. 56, are withdrawn by means of screws provided for that purpose, and the propeller and the engine are thenceforth independent of one another.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 57. LINK MOTION. Messrs. Bourne & Co.]

653. _Q._--Will you describe the arrangement of the valve gearing?

_A._--The end of the screw shaft, after emerging from the bearing beside the disc, is reduced to a diameter of 4 inches, and is prolonged for 4-1/2 inches to give attachment to the cam or curved plate which gives motion to the expansion valve. This plate is 3-1/2 inches thick, and a stud 3-1/2 inches diameter is fixed in the plate at a distance of 5 inches from the centre of the shaft. To this stud an arm is attached which extends to a distance of 2 inches from the centre of the shaft in the opposite direction, and the end of this arm carries a pin of 2-1/2 inches diameter.

From the pin most remote from the centre of the shaft, a rod 2-1/2 inches broad and 1 inch thick extends to the upper end of the link of the link motion; and from the pin least remote from the centre of the shaft, a similar rod extends to the lower end of the link of the link motion. This link, which is represented in fig. 57, is 2-1/4 inches broad, 1 inch thick, and is capable of being raised or lowered 25 inches in all. In the open part of the link is a bra.s.s block, which, by raising or lowering the link, takes either the position in which it is represented at the centre of the link, or a position at either end of it. Through the hole in the bra.s.s block a pin pa.s.ses to attach the bra.s.s to the end of a lever fixed on the valve shaft; so that whatever motion is imparted to the bra.s.s block is communicated to the valve through the medium of this lever. If the bra.s.s block be set in the middle of the link, no motion is communicated to it, and the valve being consequently kept stationary and covering both ports, the engine stops. If the link be lowered until the bra.s.s block comes to the upper end of the link, the valve receives the motion of the eccentric for going ahead, and the engine moves ahead; whereas if the link be raised until the bra.s.s block comes to the lower end of the link, the valve receives the motion of the backing eccentric, and the engine moves astern.

Instead of eccentrics, however, pins at the end of the shaft are employed in this engine, the arrangement partaking of the nature of a double crank; but the backing pin has less throw than the going ahead pin, whereby the efficient length of the link for going ahead is increased; and the operation of backing, which does not require to be performed at the highest rate of speed, is sufficiently accommodated by about half the throw being given to the valve that is given in going ahead. A valve shaft extends across the end of the cylinder with two levers standing up, which engage horizontal side rods extending from a small cross head on the end of the valve rod. A lever extends downwards from the end of the valve shaft, which is connected by a pin to the bra.s.s block within the link; and the link is moved up or down by the starting handle, which, by means of a spring bolt shooting into a quadrant, holds the starting handle at any position in which it may be set.

654. _Q._--What is the diameter and pitch of the screw propeller?

_A._--The diameter is 7 feet and the pitch 14 feet. The propeller is Holm's conchoidal propeller. Its diameter is smaller than is advisable, being limited by the draught of water of the vessel; and the vessel was required to have a small draught of water to go over a bar. This engine makes, under favorable circ.u.mstances, 100 strokes per minute. The speed of piston with this number of strokes is 700 feet per minute, and the engine works steadily at this speed, the shock and tremor arising from the arrested momentum of the moving parts being taken away by the counterbalance applied at the discs.

LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE.

655. _Q._--Will you describe the princ.i.p.al features of a modern locomotive engine?

_A._--I will take for this purpose the locomotive Snake, constructed by John V. Gooch for the London and South Western Railway, as an example of a modern locomotive of good construction, adapted for the narrow gauge. The length of the wheel base of this engine is 12 feet 8-1/2 inches. There are two cylinders, each 14-1/4 inches diameter and 21 inches stroke. The total weight of the engine is 19 tons; and this weight is so distributed on the wheels as to throw 8 tons on the leading wheels, 6 tons on the driving wheels, and 5 tons on the hind wheels. The engine is made with outside cylinders, and the cylinders are raised somewhat out of the horizontal line to enable them better to clear the leading wheels.

656. _Q._--What are the dimensions of the boiler?

_A._--The interior of the fire box is 3 feet 7-1/4 inches wide by 3 feet 5-1/2 inches long, measuring in the direction of the rails. The area of the fire grate is consequently 12.4 square feet. The bars are somewhat lower on the side next the fire door than at the side next the tubes, and the mean height of the crown of the fire box above the bars is 3 feet 10 inches. The top edge of the fire door is about 7 inches lower than the crown of the fire box. The fire box is divided transversely by a corrugated feather or bridge of plate iron, containing water, about 3-1/2 inches wide, and of about one-third of the height of the fire box in the centre of the feather, and about two-thirds the height of the fire box at the sides where it joins the sides of the fire box. The internal sh.e.l.l of the fire box tapers somewhat upwards to facilitate the disengagement of the steam. It is about 2 inches narrower and shorter at the top than at the bottom; the water s.p.a.ce between the external and internal sh.e.l.l of the fire box being 2 inches at the bottom and 3 inches at the top.

657. _Q._--Of what material is the fire box composed?

_A._--The external sh.e.l.l of the fire box is formed of iron plates 3/8ths of an inch thick, and the internal sh.e.l.l is formed of copper plates 1/4 inch thick, but the tube plate is 3/4 inch thick. The fire grate is rectangular, and the internal and external sh.e.l.ls are tied together by iron stay bolts 3/4 inch diameter, and pitched about 4 inches apart. The roof of the fire box is stiffened by six strong bars extending from side to side of the fire box like beams, and the top of the fire box is secured to these bars, so that it cannot be forced down without breaking or bending them.

658. _Q._--What are the dimensions of the barrel of the boiler?

_A._--The barrel of the boiler is 3 feet 7-1/2 inches in diameter, and 10 feet long. It is formed of iron plates 3/8ths of an inch thick, riveted together. It is furnished with 181 bra.s.s tubes 1-7/8 inch diameter and 10 feet long, secured at the ends by ferules. The tube plate at the smoke box end is 5/8ths of an inch thick, and the tube plates above the tubes are tied together by eight iron rods 7/8ths of an inch thick, extending from end to end of the boiler. The metal of the tubes is somewhat thicker at the end next the fire, being 13 wire gauge at fire box end, and 14 wire gauge at smoke box end. The rivets of the boiler are 3/4 inch diameter and 1-1/2 inch pitch. The plating of the ash pan is 5/16ths of an inch thick, and the plating of the smoke box is 3/16ths of an inch thick.

659. _Q._--Will you describe the structure of the framework on which the boiler and its attachments rest, and in which the wheels are set?

_A._--The framework or framing consists of a rectangular structure of plate iron circ.u.mscribing the boiler, with projecting lugs or arms for the reception of the axles of the wheels. In this engine the sides of the rectangle are double, or, as far as regards the sides, there are virtually two framings, one for the reception of the driving axles, and the other for the reception of the axles not connected with the engine. The whole of the parts of the outer and inner framings are connected together by knees at the corners, and the double sides are elsewhere connected by intervening brackets and stays, so as to const.i.tute the whole into one rigid structure.

The whole of the plating of the inside frame is 3/4 inch thick and 9 inches deep. The plating of the outside frame is of the same thickness and depth at the fore part, until it reaches abaft the position of the cylinders and guides, where it reduces to 1/2 inch thick. The axle guard of the leading wheels is formed of 3/4 plate bolted to the frame with angle iron guides.

The axle guards of the trailing wheels are formed of two 1/2 inch plates, with cast iron blocks between them to serve as guides. The ends of the rectangular frame are formed of plates 3/4 thick, and at the front end there is a buffer beam of oak 4-1/2 inches thick and 15 inches deep. The draw bolt is 2 inches diameter. There are two strong stays on each side, joining the barrel of the boiler to the inside framing, and one angle iron on each side joining the bottom of the smoke box to the inside framing.

660. _Q._--Of what construction are the wheels?

_A._--The wheels and axles are of wrought iron, and the tires of the wheels are of steel. The driving wheels are 6 feet 6-1/2 inches in diameter, and the diameter of crank pin is 3-1/2 inches. The diameter of the smaller wheels is 48-1/2 inches. The axle boxes are of cast iron with bushes of Fenton's metal, and the leading axle has four bearings. The springs are formed of steel plates, 3 feet long, 4 inches broad, and 12 inch thick.

The axle of the driving wheel has two eccentrics, forged solid upon it, for working the pumps.

661. _Q._--Will you specify the dimensions of the princ.i.p.al parts of the engine?

_A._--Each of the cylinders which is 14-1/4 inches diameter, has the valve casing cast upon it. The steam ports are 13 inches long and 1-5/8 inches broad, and the exhaust port is 2-1/2 inches broad. The travel of the valve is 4-1/8 inches, the lap 1 inch, and the lead 1/4 inch. The piston is 4 inches thick: its body is formed of bra.s.s with a cover of cast iron, and between the body and the cover two f.l.a.n.g.es, forged on the piston rod, are introduced to communicate the push and pull of the piston to the rod. The piston rod is of iron, 2-1/2 inches diameter. The guide bars for guiding the top of the piston rod are of steel, 4 inches broad, fixed to rib iron bearers, with hard wood 1/4 of an inch thick, interposed. The connecting rod is 6 feet long between the centres, and is fitted with bushes of white metal. The eccentrics are formed of wrought iron, and have 4-1/8 inches of throw. The link of the link motion is formed of wrought iron. It is hung by a link from a pin attached to the framing; and instead of being susceptible of upward and downward motion, as in the case of the link represented in fig. 57 a rod connecting the valve rod with the movable block in the link, is susceptible of this motion, whereby the same result is arrived at as if the link were moved and the block was stationary. One or the other expedient is preferable, according to the general nature of the arrangements adopted. The slide valve is of bra.s.s, and the regulator consists of two bra.s.s slide valves worked over ports in a chest in the steam pipe, set in the smoke box. The steam pipe is of bra.s.s, No. 14. wire gauge, perforated within the boiler barrel with holes 1/12th of an inch in diameter along its upper side. The blast pipe, which is of copper, has an orifice of 4-1/4 inches diameter. There is a damper, formed like a Venetian blind, with the plates running athwartships at the end of the tubes.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 58. SAFETY VALVE. Gooch.]

662. _Q._--Of what construction is the safety valve?

_A._--There are two safety valves, consisting of pistons 1-3/16 inch in diameter, and which are kept down by spiral springs placed immediately over them. A section of this valve is given in fig. 58.

663. _Q._--What are the dimensions of the feed pumps?

_A._--The feed pumps are of bra.s.s, with plungers 4 inches diameter and 3-1/4 inches stroke. The feed pipe is of copper, 2 inches diameter. A good deal of trouble has been experienced in locomotives from the defective action of the feed pump, partly caused by the leakage of steam into the pumps, which prevented the water from entering them, and partly from the return of a large part of the water through the valves at the return stroke of the pump, in consequence of the valve lifting too high. The pet c.o.c.k--a small c.o.c.k communicating with the interior of the pump--will allow any steam to escape which gains admission, and the air which enters by the c.o.c.k cools down the barrel of the pump, so that in a short time it will be in a condition to draw. The most ordinary species of valve in the feed pumps of locomotives, is the ball valve.

Notwithstanding the excellent performance of the best examples of locomotive engines, it is quite certain that there is still much room for improvement; and indeed various sources of economy are at present visible, which, if properly developed, would materially reduce the expense of the locomotive power. In all engines the great source of expense is the fuel; and although the consumption of fuel has been greatly reduced within the last ten or fifteen years, it is capable of being still further reduced by certain easy expedients of improvement, which therefore it is important should be universally applied. One of these expedients consists in heating the feed water by the waste steam; and the feed water should in every case be sent into the boiler _boiling hot_, instead of being quite cold, as is at present generally the case. The ports of the cylinders should be as large as possible; the expansion of the steam should be carried to a greater extent; and in the case of engines with outside cylinders, the waste steam should circulate entirely round the cylinders before escaping by the blast pipe. The escape of heat from the boiler should be more carefully prevented; and the engine should be balanced by weights on the wheels to obviate a waste of power by yawing on the rails. The most important expedient of all, however, lies in the establishment of a system of registering the performance of all new engines, in order that compet.i.tion may stimulate the different constructors to the attainment of the utmost possible economy; and under the stimulus of comparison and notoriety, a large measure of improvement would speedily ensue. The benefits consequent on public compet.i.tion are abundantly ill.u.s.trated by the rapid diminution of the consumption of fuel in the case of agricultural engines, when this stimulus was presented.

CHAPTER XI

OF VARIOUS FORMS, APPLICATIONS, AND APPLIANCES OF THE STEAM ENGINE.

In the English edition of this work, the first part of this chapter is devoted to examples of Portable and fixed Agricultural engines, of different makers and styles of workmanship, but not in sufficient detail, nor ill.u.s.trated on large enough scale to be of practical value as models, forming rather in fact an ill.u.s.trated catalogue of the manufacturer, than a study for the mechanic. On this account, they have been entirely omitted, and their place supplied by a few ill.u.s.trations from American workmanship, not only of Steam Engines, of various forms and applications, but also of various machines, or appliances, connected with the working of engines, as for the determination, or regulation of pressure, of the boilers; for the supply or feed of the boilers, the regulation of the speed of the engine, and the like.

The Gauges used in this country to show the pressures of steam in boilers are of various constructions, but perhaps the most common is the Bourdon, or, as it is known here, the Ashcroft gauge, from the party introducing it, and holding the patent. Fig. 59 represents its interior construction. It consists of a thin metallic tube, _a_, bent into nearly a complete circle closed at one end, the steam being introduced at the other, at _b_. The effect of the pressure of the steam on the interior of the tube is to expand the circle, more or less according to the pressure, the elasticity of the metal returning the circle to its original position, when the pressure is removed. The free or closed end of the tube is connected by a link _c_ with a lever _d_, at the opposite end of which is segmental gear, in gear with a pinion, on which is a hand, which marks the pressure on a dial. The dial and hand are not shown on the cut, but are on the exterior case removed to show the construction.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 59.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 60.]

Fig. 60 is an elevation of a boiler with Clark's Patent Steam and Fire Regulator attached, for the control of the draft of the chimney by the pressure of steam in the boiler. It consists of a chamber, _a_, with a flexible diaphragm or cover on top, in communication with the boiler. On this diaphragm rests a plunger or piston, which is held down like a safety valve, by a lever and weight, _b_. The end of the lever is connected with a balanced damper, _c_, in the chimney. The weight, _b_, is placed at any required position on the lever, and when the pressure of steam in the boiler, exerted on the diaphragm, becomes sufficient to raise the weight, the lever rises, and the damper begins to close, and to check the draft in the chimney. When properly adjusted, the machine works on a variation of from, one to two pounds between the extremes of motion. When the dampers are very large, say 3 feet or over, they should be set on rollers, like common grindstone rollers; the regulator should be attached directly to the damper, the length of the pipe connecting the regulator with the boiler being of no account.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 61.]

Porter's Patent Governor, fig. 61, is a modification of the ordinary centrifugal governor. Very small b.a.l.l.s are employed, from 2-1/4 to 2-5/8 inches in diameter. These swing from a single joint at the axis of the spindle, which is the most sensitive arrangement, and make from 300 to 350 revolutions per minute, at which speed their centrifugal force lifts the counterpoise. The lower arms are jointed to the upper ones at the centres of the b.a.l.l.s, and connect with the slide by joints about two inches apart.

The counterpoise may be attached to the slide in any manner; for the sake of elegance, it is put in the form of a vase rising between the arms, its stem forming the slide. The vase is hollow and filled with lead, and weighs from 60 lbs. to 175 lbs. It moves freely on the spindle, through nearly twice the vertical distances traversed by the b.a.l.l.s, and is capable of rising from 2-1/2 to 3 inches, before its rim will touch the arms. It is represented in the figure as lifted through about one half of its range of action.

The standard is bored out of the solid, forming a long and perfect bearing for the spindle; the arms and b.a.l.l.s are of gun metal, the joint pins of steel; every part of the governor is finished bright, except the bracket carrying the lever, and the square base of the standard, which are painted.

The pulley is from 3 to 10 inches in diameter, and makes in the larger sizes about 125 revolutions, and in the smaller 230 revolutions per minute; the higher speed of the governor being got up by gearing.

Mr. Porter warrants the following action in this governor, operating any regulating valve or cut-off which is in reasonably good order. The engine should be run with the stop-valve wide open, and, except the usual oiling, will require no attention from the engineer, under any circ.u.mstances, after it is started, until it is to be stopped. No increase in the pressure of steam will affect its motion perceptibly. The extreme possible variation in the speed, between that at which the regulating valve will be held wide open, and that at which it will be closed, is from 3 to 5 per cent., being least in the largest governors. This is less than 1/6 of the variation required by the average of ordinary governors, and is with difficulty detected by the senses. The entire load which the engine is capable of driving may be thrown on or off at once, and one watching the revolutions cannot tell when it is done. The governor will be sensibly affected by a variation in the motion of the engine of 1 revolution in 800.

Notwithstanding this extreme sensitiveness, or rather by reason of it, it will not oscillate, but when the load is uniform will stand quite, or nearly, motionless.

For the supply of the water to the boiler, in many positions, it is very convenient to have a pump unconnected with the engine. On this account it is very usual in this country to have what are called donkey pumps or engines independent of the main engines, which can be used to feed the boilers, or for supplying water for many other purposes.

Fig. 62 is a longitudinal section of the Worthington Steam Pump, the first of its kind, and for many years in successful operation.