A GOOD GEAR AND PINION LUBRICANT

The gear and pinion of the Imperial Dam roller gate hoist
shown below is coated with Keystone 29 Lt. lubricant. This lubricant
is used on all roller gate hoist gears at the dam and on the hoisting
chain pins. It remains in place very well and is quite effective. Addi-
tional information may be obtained from Imperial Irrigation District,
Imperial, California.

RRR OR K

READY -MIXED CONCRETE

Ready-mixed concrete is being used more and more in the
maintenance and repair of irrigation structures and facilities. A re-
cent booklet published by the Portland Cement Association "Ready-Mixed
Concrete for the Farm," although directed to the farmer as the title im-
plies, has some useful and informative suggestions for maintenance
forces. The booklet is written to help the user of ready-mixed concrete
and information is given on:

How to order the right quality of concrete for your job.
How to estimate the amount of concrete needed.

How to organize the job so that construction runs smoothly.
How to place, finish and cure concrete for the best results.

Copies of the booklet can be obtained by writing the Portland
Cement Association, 33 West Grand Ave., Chicago 10, Illinois, or
your local Portland Cement Association representative.
ROKK OK
18


INSULATION FACILITATES WINTER CONCRETING

The practice of covering concrete with tarpaulins and heating
by various methods to retain heat and moisture in concrete during freez-
ing weather is expensive, inconvenient, and sometimes harmful to con-
crete. The use of insulation to provide the needed protection offers
many advantages and the practicality of using insulating materials on
forms and on unformed concrete surfaces to retain the heat and mois-
ture was the subject of a study by the Bureau of Reclamation. Results
of the laboratory and field investigations are summarized in the Bu-
reau publication, Engineering Monograph No. 22, which reported the
studies made and demonstrated the feasibility of protecting freshly
placed concrete from
freezing and loss of
moisture by the use
of insulation of sev-
eral types.

Insulation mate-
rials successfully
used include spun
glass and rock-wool
bats and blankets and
fiberboard. Spun glass
insulation attached to
the outside sheathing
of the form at left pro-
vided very satisfactory
protection during con-
struction in Kansas
during the winter of
1953-54, Encased in
tough, water-resistant
Sisal-kraft, the spun
glass blankets are very
durable and weigh but
0, 24 pounds per square
foot.

Spun glass insula-
tion blankets supplied
in rolls 10 feet wide, 25 feet long, 1 inch thick, and weighing 60 pounds
per roll, as shown in the upper photograph on the following page, were
placed directly on unformed concrete surfaces in the same area, The
blanket was obtained at a cost of about 11¢ per square foot, The light
weight of the rolls makes handling convenient, One workman can carry
a roll of the material to a concrete placement and cover the surface of
the concrete as placing operations proceed,

Spun glass insulation blankets cut to stud spacing and fastened
to the outside of the form sheathing by 1- by 2-inch wood strips nailed
to the forms are shown in the middle photograph on the following page.
The form had been reused seven times.

12


the facing page. Preparation of the subgrade for the lining is shown in
the lower photograph on page 1. The work was initiated October 22,
1957, and completed October 23, 1957.

The lateral was overexcavated to provide for 9 inches of com-
bined earth and gravel cover over the lining after placement. The slopes
were flattenedto 23:1, and where sandstone was encountered, the subgrade
was excavated slightly below grade and refilled with earth material to
provide a cushion to pre-
vent possible puncture
of the film. The rough
excavation was made with
a dragline and fine-grad-
ing was accomplished
with hand shovels, rakes
and a lightweight lawn
roller. Trenches were
cut into the slope at the
elevation of the top of
the lining, as shown in
the photograph at left,
to anchor the film and
to prevent surface water
from seeping under the
lining. Cutoff trenches
18-inches in depth were
excavated at both inlet
and outlet transitions to
prevent water from

getting under and displacing the lining.

Placing of the lining was easily accomplished by using a two-
wheel trailer in the bottom of the lateral to carry the box containing the
plastic. The lining was
first unfolded in the bot-
tom of the canal and then
unfolded again toward
each side slope as shown
in the photograph at left.
A minimum amount of
earth material was placed
in the trench at the top of
the lining by hand meth-
ods to hold the plastic in
place while the cover
was being placed by the
dragline. Placement of
the lining for the entire
400-foot reach was com-
pleted without difficulty
in about one hour. The



CANAL LININGS

Two publications that may be of interest to you on the subject
of canal linings are: (1) Lining Irrigation Canals, and (2) USBR's
Lower-cost Canal Lining Program.

The Portland Cement Association's illustrated, 32 page book-
let "Lining Irrigation Canals," discusses the need for canal linings, the
economics of lining, general design considerations and describes the
types of linings that can be constructed with portland cement. Included
are concrete, plastic soil-cement, compacted soil-cement, and shot-
crete linings: precast lining units and pipe; and cast-in-place concrete
pipe. Copies of the Portland Cement Association booklet can be obtained
by writing the Association at 33 West Grand Ave., Chicago 10, Illinois.

The '"USBR's Lower-cost Canal Lining Program," is a paper
prepared by a member of the Bureau of Reclamation's Lower-cost
Canal Lining Committee recently published by the Irrigation and Drain-
age Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers. It is a sum-
mary of the Bureau's program since it was initiated in 1946. Copies of
the paper, published in the Journal of the Irrigation and Drainage Divi-
sion of the ASCE as Paper 1589, may be obtained by writing American
Society of Civil Engineers, Publication Office, 2500 South State Street,
Ann Arbor, Michigan.

OR KK

GPO 854535

19



reliable than utilizing heated enclosures. Field performance records
show that top surfaces, edges, and corners of walls are critical points
and that considerable more insulation should be provided at these points
than for adjacent surfaces. The study indicated that for locations with
climates similar to that of southern Nebraska or northern Kansas, 1-
inch of commercial insulation blanket or bat on 2-inch sheathing or its
equivalent will usually be adequate for protecting formed surfaces of
walls 12-inches or more thick; 2 inches of commercial insulation
blanket or bat or its equivalent will usually be adequate for tops of
walls or floor slabs; and 1 inch of commercial insulation blanket or
bat or its equivalent will usually be adequate to protect unformed sur-
faces of mass concrete.

The large number of continually changing conditions that af-
fect the generation and retention of heat in concrete make it advisable
to check the temperature of the concrete at regular intervals during
the first 3 days after placing. One important advantage of insulation
is that the residual heat does not dissipate rapidly. If the temperature
of the concrete is measured twice daily, there is little danger that
the temperature will drop to the critical point without ample time to
secure additional protection.

Bureau specifications have been revised to make winter con-
creting more practicable. The use of 1 percent calcium chloride, by
weight of cement, is required when the mean daily temperature at the
site of the work falls below 40° F. For concrete curing by sealing
compounds, protection is required at 50° F for only 72 hours if the
protection is obtained by means of adequate insulation in contact with
forms or concrete surfaces, If insulation is not used, protection
against freezing is required for an additional 72 hours.

The quoted Engineering Monograph was prepared by George
B, Wallace, Canals Branch, Division of Design, Commissioner's
Office, Denver, Colorado, from data obtained in the Denver Labora-
tories, and supplied by field forces, Engineering Monographs are
published in limited editions for the technical staff of the Bureau of
Reclamation and interested technical circles in government and pri-
vate agencies. Their purpose is to record development, innovations,
and progress in the engineering and scientific techniques and practices
that are employed in planning, design, construction, and operation
and maintenance of Reclamation structures and equipment. Copies
may be obtained from the Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal
Center, Denver 2, Colorado, and Washington, D.C., Engineering
Monograph No. 22, published under date of October 1955, is obtain-
able at a cost of 55¢,

* KOR KOK

16


forces is accomplishing a far better job than formerly accomplished
by the use of a propane burner, The modified burner has improved
the efficiency of the operation by 20 to 30 percent, and, although the
greatest improvement has been on the drains and larger canals, some
further savings are being realized by being able to burn the entire sec-
tion of smaller canals. The photograph below shows a lateral after the
diesel burning operation. Brush has been cut along the sides of the
bank prior to burning.

For further information regarding the conversion of the chemi-
cal spray unit to a weed and brush burner, write the Regional Director,
U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Amarillo, Texas, or the Project Man-
ager, Middle Rio Grande Project, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Albu-
querque, New Mexico.

OR OK ROK


Approximately the same amount of subgrade preparation :
would be required for any type of membrane lining. The ease and time
required to install this plastic membrane was a large factor in reducing

the costs.

The above photograph shows the completed lining installation
looking downstream. Where the canal prism is more than 20 feet and
the length to be lined more than 400 feet, additional lengths of the plastic
could be joined in the
field to reduce the
weight for handling con-
veniently. The Bakelite
Company advises, how-
ever, that practically
any width and length of
film can be supplied and
handling in the field will
be the controlling factor
on the size of sheet to be
used. The ease in making
field splices between two
sheets of the vinyl plastic
film was illustrated dur-
ing the installation where
it became necessary to
patch a tear in the film
which occurred during
the unfolding process,



plastic remained soft and pliable even though the temperature was only
slightly above freezing during placement.

The earth cover was silty sand material obtained from over-
excavating the canal section. A template was constructed and pulled
along the bottom and side slopes of the canal to level the earth cover
prior to placing the gravel cover. No particular difficulty was ex-
perienced in placing the earth cover. The plastic apparently withstood
the impact of the material dropping from the dragline bucket without any
noticeable tearing of the lining. No doubt the excellent condition of the
canal subgrade contributed to the successful application of the cover
without damage to the membrane.

7 | The gravel cover
was hauled to the site

in dump trucks and picked
out directly from the
truck with a clam shell
bucket and placed in the
canal section in one op-
eration, as shown in the
photograph at left.

In order to secure
comparative costs which
could be used for esti-
mating the cost of simi-
lar work on other proj-
ects, labor and equip-
ment costs were kept on
the installation. These
are given below. A mini-
mum of supervision nor-
mally would be required
for installation of this type of lining and the costs would be reduced ma-
terially on a larger installation using experienced personnel. Accord-
ingly, costs somewhat lower than shown would normally result.

Dragline, excavation. . .... . . $216.00
Dragline, placing earth and

gravel cover .... . 204,00

Loader, loading graveltrucks. ... 36.00

Patrol, cleanup work ..,.e+.-. 88.00

Labor, fine grading subgrade. . . . 168.55

Labor, smoothing earth cover. . . . 164,80

Labor, smoothing gravel cover... 69.01

Transportation... 2.1. +e eee 43.74
Engineering and Supervision

(Field Costs)... .... . 206.17

Total installation cost . . $1,196.27

Installation cost per square yard
(756 square yards) ..... $1.58

4


A CONVENIENT CONVENIENCE OUTLET

The control box at the Dome Turnout on the Wellton- Mohawk Canal,
Gila Project, Arizona, as shown below, includes the usual electrical
equipment necessary to operate the turnout gates and a switch for control-
ling the flood lights for the headworks, In addition, a convenience outlet
to supply current for power tools used in maintaining the works has been
provided by O&M forces, This has proved to be a useful addition.

HK KK

PAINTING "CYCLONE" TYPE FENCING

The Consumers Power Company, Saginaw, Michigan, has developed
a new technique in the maintenance of "cyclone" type fencing used to pro-
tect many structures including, substations, pumping plants, material
yards and other facilities.

Periodic painting and maintenance of this type of fencing material
is often neglected because ordinary methods using hand brushes or spray
equipment are time consuming and costly. The power company uses or-
dinary sweeper's brooms as applicators and report the method to be fast,
thorough and economical.

eR KE
17



SPRAY UNIT CONVERTED TO BURNER

There are approximately 350 miles of large riverside and
interior drains and 200 miles of relatively large main canals on the
Middle Rio Grande Project in New Mexico, As arule, these waterways
and drains are 8 to 12 feet in depth with comparatively long side slopes.
Willows, salt cedar and other native vegetation grow profusely onthese
side slopes,

The weed control procedure in the past had included chemi-
cal spraying of this vegetative area using a 33-foot hydraulically oper-
ated spray boom, After the brush had been killed or controlled, the
next step consisted of mowing with a heavy duty mower leaving the tops
of the dead vegetation and other debris in place until it had dried suf-
ficiently and could be burned. Burning of the vegetation and tumble
weeds that accumulate throughout the perimeter of the drains and water-
ways was accomplished largely by the use of propane-butane burners
mounted on trailers pulled behind trucks or tractors,

Unfortunately, the length of the boom used was limited to
about 10 to 15 feet of area; the radius of the boom from the edge of the
trailer, Accordingly, this limited the burned area to only part of the
canal and drain slopes. To complete the job, it was necessary to use
laborers and hand burners to extend the burning to the bottom of the
canals, to the water surface in the drains, and to the tumble weeds
generally located near the water's edge.

The project was well equipped with chemical spray equipment,
which included a 33-foot hydraulically operated sectional spray boom.
E. W. Elliott, Operation and Maintenance Supervisor on the project,
reports that this boom was utilized with an adapter to spray a burner
oil or a like material and accomplish the job more effectively and
economically. A photograph of the unit in operation is shown on the
cover of this issue of the Bulletin.

The spray equipment, all mounted on a one-ton, 4 by 4Power
Wagon, consists of a Peerless Model TVB 56 turbine pump, direct con-
nected to a Wisconsin Engine No. AHH. A 4-foot extension was added
to the end of the spray boom, and with a tee and two sections of pipe,
provided for the mounting of three 6502 tee jets at 20-inch spacings,
The tee jets were drilled out to enlarge the holes and make it possible
to apply approximately 100 gallons per hour of diesel oil in small drop-
lets at an approximate pressure of 25 psi. The more detail view of
the burner in operation on the following page shows the 4-foot extension,
burner tip and bracing of the burner tee to the extension pipe.

With the 33-foot boom and extension, and pumping facilities
on the spray truck, it is now possible to completely cover the entire
perimeter of the drains and large canals with a minimum of effort.
While the use of oil as a catalyst for burning debris and willows is no
innovation, this burnerconstructed by the Middle Rio Grande Project


AST COPY - DO NOT REMOVE

LS

\

|

)

Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES
RELEASE NO. 24

April, uals] ORY - 0),NOT REMOVE

CONTENTS
Plastic Canal Linings

Expanded Metal Walkway AS
Spray Unit Converted to Burner SS
Suspension of Safety Nets Across Canals

Basic Facts About Diesel Fuels SN

Insulation Facilitates Winter Concreting S
A Convenient Convenience Outlet °
Painting “Cyclone” Type Fencing @w

A Good Gear and Pinion Lubricant

Ready-Mixed Concrete

Canal Linings (Publications) SY


BASIC FACTS ABOUT DIESEL FUELS

(Reprinted from the January 1958 issue of CONSTRUC-
TION METHODS AND EQUIPMENT. Copyright 1958
by McGraw-Hill Publishing Co., 330 West 42nd St.,
New York 36, N. Y.; further reproduction is prohib-
ited.)

Just what is diesel fuel? What properties should the best
grades possess? Does the color of fuel mean anything? These ques-
tions about diesel fuels are among those asked frequently. The field
engineers of the Standard Oil Company of Ohio answer these and other
questions in an article in the January 1958 issue of Construction Meth-
ods and Equipment. The article, presented in nontechnical language,
stresses many points that are of interest to all operators of diesel
equipment.

What is Diesel Fuel?

Diesel fuel comes from the part of crude oilthat evaporates less
quickly than gasoline, but more quickly than lubricating oil. Crude oil
consists of hundreds of compounds called hydrocarbons which are "boiled
off'' the crude at various temperatures. At about 90°, gasoline begins
to boil from crude; at about 600°, lubricating oil begins to accumulate.
Between these two extremes are found the distillates--furnace oil, kero-
senes, and diesel fuels--which begin to boil off at approximately 300°.

What Does Color Indicate?

Nothing, At one time, color was a fair indication of the qual-
ity of diesel fuel, but advances in refining have made color a completely
irrelevant factor today, except for showing up unusual and obvious cases
of contamination,

What Does Smoky Exhaust Indicate?

If diesel fuel is of high quality and of the type recommended by
the engine manufacturer, smoke from a diesel exhaust may indicate some
type of misadjustment. A great deal can be learned from the color of the
smoke. Blue smoke indicates that lubricating oil is being burned. White
smoke means that the engine is operating at too low a temperature. Black
smoke, most visible at full throttle, indicates that there is not enough air
present to support complete combustion. (It's time to check air filters.)

Must Fuels Have High ''Lubricity''?

It is true that, to some small degree, the fuel tends to lubri-
cate the injectors, but cleanliness is a much more important quality, be-
cause most injector problems are caused by dirt or water. Under no cir-
cumstances should motor oil be added to diesel fuel. Diesel fuel must
fall within a minimum and maximum viscosity range. If it is too viscous,
it will not atomize properly as it is sprayed into the combustion chamber.

10


SUSPENSION OF SAFETY NETS ACROSS CANALS
(Suggestion R2-58-114)

Safety nets are installed across the Friant-Kern Canal of the
Central Valley Project, California, above all siphon inlets and some
other canal structures, The safety devices consist of wire netting sus-
pended from a cable. The nets become clogged with debris and require
cleaning about once a month during the midsummer season,

The cleaning operation
was formerly accomplished by
men ina boat. It was a danger-
ous undertaking as the men
were working immediately up-
stream from siphons and check
gates, some of which were of
large capacity.

Jeff Neilsen, Fresno,
California, a project employee
suggested the idea depicted in
the photograph at left, to over-
come some of the hazards as
well as to speed the cleaning
operation with a reduced num-
ber of men. Sections of the
netting are suspended from
easily obtainable and inexpen-
sive pulleys which ride the
cable as shown. By hooking
the netting sections together
with harness snaps, they all
may be pulled to one side of
the canal, disconnected and
cleaned without anyone having
to enter the canal,

The device works as
simply as reeling in the dry
clothes on an endless clothes
line from the steps of the back
porch, Further information
may be secured by writing the
Regional Director, U. S. Bureau of Reclamation, Sacramento, California,

KK KK


as shown in the lower photograph on the previous page. The repair was
made without difficulty and without delay to the work using solvents and
materials furnished by the manufacturer. The manufacturer reports
that field splices made in this manner can be expected to develop at
least 80 percent of the tensile strength of the material.

eR KK

EXPANDED METAL WALKWAY

The expanded metal walkway shown below is located on a check
of a lateral on the Arizona Canal, Salt River Project, Arizona, and is
typical of many such installations on the project. This type of walkway
is much preferred by the project forces to cast-in-place concrete walk-
ways and is less expensive. The project forces feel that the expanded
metal provides a safer operating deck in that it is skidproof. The walk-
ways of this type are made in the project shops from purchased stock ma-
terials.

KEK KK


{774 Inch earth cover, 2%: 1 slopes
| 5 Inch gravel cover, 2 %:1 slopes

fp -Existing subgrade 14:1 slopes
/

NL ff ott

a
Original WS. 27"
/

rf

“Anchor trench re mil black vinyl film lining (furnished
in one piece ,/7 feet wide by 400
feet long)

R-9N Lateral, Heart Mountain Division
Lining installation Sta. 202+06 to Sta. 206+06
Hydraulic properties of original lateral

Q=10 sec.- ft

V=18 ft/sec.

Side slopes = hel

Bottom width = 4 feet (approx.)

TYPIGAL GROSS-SEGTION OF EXPERIMENTAL
BURIED PLASTIC LINING INSTALLATION



13

When applied to forms,
the blankets are cut to the
stud spacing and secured be-
tween the studs to the outside
sheathing. The tops of walls
are protected by placing a
strip of blanket over the con-
crete surface and securing
the strip to the sides of the
forms either by tacking or
weighting down with boards,

The blankets should be
in direct contact with the top
concrete surface. If rein-
forcing or dowel steel extends
through the top of a wall place-
ment, it may be punched
through the blanket, or the
blanket may be slotted and
fitted snugly around the bars,
as shown in the lower photo-
graph, When an air space
exists between the blanket
and the concrete surface,
small holes in the insulation
permit cold, dry air to enter
below the insulation which
seriously detracts from the
beneficial effect of the blan-
ket.

Rock-wool bats 2 inches
thick with black building pa -
per encasement were also used
in the Kansas-Nebraska area
to protect freshly placed con-
crete from freezing and loss
of moisture, The bats were
obtained at a cost of about 44¢
per square foot. Bats of this
type of material may also be
obtained in 13- and 4-inch
thicknesses and with special
reflective encasements if
desired,

The use of rock-wool bats
on the form for one structure
is shown in the photograph at
the top of the following page.


The blankets were used to protect the concrete before and
after the forms were stripped, as shown in the photographs above, and
to protect the subgrade of future placements. During extremely cold
weather, small butane burners inside the barrel provided supplemen-
tary heat prior to stripping forms. Also the subgrades were protected
by placing the burners under the insulation while it was draped over
the reinforcing steel cages, As soon as the forms were stripped, blan-
kets were placed in direct contact with the outside concrete surface
and weighted down, when necessary, to prevent circulation of air under
the blankets.

The job-made rock-wool blankets were very durable and a
blanket of this kind with proper care and handling should be quite
serviceable, The greatest disadvantage of the job-made blankets was
the rapid consolidation from 2-inch to 1-inch thickness and the ac-
companying loss of protective efficiency because of the consolidation,

Fiber insulation board has also been used to protect formed
concrete surfaces on the Colorado-Big Thompson Project in Colorado.
Panels of 1/2-inch fiberboard were fitted between the form studding
and separated from the sheathing by 1-inch furring strips, thus forming
a 3/4-inch dead air space, A variety of insulating boards in various
panel sizes is available, Asphalt impregnated or coated fiberboard is
also available and is designed for outdoor use, while the uncoated
board is not,

Balsam-wool bats were used to protect concrete in bridge
piers in South Dakota, where the work was performed during January
and February. These bats sell for approximately 9¢ per square foot
for double bats 2-inches thick and 6¢ per square foot for standard bats
1-inch thick, in the area in which they were used,

From the study made it may be concluded that concrete can be
satisfactorily protected from freezing temperatures and dry winter
winds by the use of insulated forms and surface blankets, This type
of protection is considerably less expensive and is more uniform and

15


PLASTIC CANAL LININGS

As a part of the continuing search for satisfactory and low-

cost linings for irrigation canals that can be installed by project forces,
using a minimum of equipment normally available on an irrigation proj-
ect, an experimental test section of buried plastic membrane lining was
constructed on a lateral of the Heart Mountain Division, Shoshone Proj-
ect, Wyoming. The work was accomplished in the fall of 1957 and a pre-
fabricated, black, vinyl plastic material 8-mils in thickness was used for
the 400-foot long experimental installation,

Preparation of the
lateral subgrade and in-
stallation of the plastic
lining were performed
by project forces, using
project equipment. The
lining material was do-
nated by the Bakelite
Company of New York.
The black, 8-mil thick
vinyl film was furnished
in one piece 17 feet wide
and 400 feet long. The
weight of the plastic lin-
ing material was approxi-
mately 350 pounds. The
film was packaged at the
factory, accordian-folded
into a cardboard box
about 4-feet long by 1-
foot thick. The Bakelite
Company is currently
wholesaling this mate-
rial at about 40¢ per
Square yard, according
to R. H. Kennedy, Chief,
Operation and Maintenance
Branch, and W. H. Swen-
son, Head, Materials
Section, who reported the
installation work.

The condition of the
lateral before lining is
shown in the upper photo-
graph at left. A typical
cross-section of the lined
lateral is shown, and its
size and hydraulic char-
acteristics are given on



OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES

Release No. 24

April, May and June - 1958

INTRODUCTION

This bulletin, published quarterly, is circulated for the bene-
fit of irrigation project operation and maintenance people. Its princi-
pal purpose is to serve as a medium of exchanging operation and main-
tenance information. Reference to a trade name does not constitute the
endorsement of a particular product, and omission of any commercially
available item does not imply discrimination against any manufacturer.
It is hoped that the labor-saving devices or less costly equipment de-
veloped by the resourceful water users will be a step toward commer-
cial development of equipment for use on irrigation projects in a con-
tinued effort to reduce costs and increase operating efficiency.

Better ways of doing things and the saving of time and money
are the purposes of this bulletin. If you have any ideas, shop made
devices of your own design to do a job easier and better, or equipment
modifications, they may be of value to other irrigation projects. Send
in your ideas--a descriptive article with photographs and sketches to
put the idea across--to the Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer,
Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, Denver 2, Colorado,
Attention: D-400.

In order to insure proper recognition to those individuals
whose suggestions are published in this and subsequent bulletins, the
suggestion number as well as the person's name will be shown. All
Bureau offices are also reminded to notify their Suggestion Awards
Committee when a suggestion is adopted.

ORK RK

Division of Irrigation Operations
Commissioner's Office
Denver, Colorado



This means that the fuel will not burn completely. If the proper fuel is
used, there is no need to add a lubricant.

Should Anti-Freeze be Added?

No, Anti-freeze tends to disperse water throughout the diesel
fuel, This can easily build up rust on check valves, springs, plungers,
and bushings in the injectors. Ina short time, rust can lead to scoring
of these parts.

What Properties do Good Fuels Have?

Cleanliness--Because the diesel engine injection system is a
precision instrument, diesel fuel must be free from dirt, water, and
other contaminants. Ina relatively short time, dirt and water will
score or rust check valves, springs, plungers, and bushings in the in-
jectors,

Low sulphur content--All fuels contain varying amounts of sul-
phur. In some forms it is inactive and harmless, but in other forms it
can contribute to corrosive engine wear.

Proper pour point--The pour point indicates the fuel's ability
to flow through the fuel system at low temperatures. The pour point
should be low enough so that fuel will flow properly at the lowest ambi-
ent temperatures expected during the engine's operation.

Volatility--The ability to change from liquid to vapor is called
volatility. Because diesel fuels burn only in a vaporized state, volatil-
ity influences combustion and is responsible for the amounts of smoke,
odor, and harmful deposits that an engine develops.

Ignition quality--The cetane number is a yardstick of how
quickly a diesel fuel will ignite after it is injected into the combustion
chamber. Fuels with high cetane numbers ignite quickly, which means
the engine starts easily and runs smoothly. The American Society for
Testing Materials (ASTM) recommends a minimum cetane number of
40, except for application under certain weather conditions when a
higher cetane number may be desirable.

How Should Diesel Fuels be Stored?

Because the diesel injection system is susceptible to rust and
scoring, great care must be exercised to keep fuel as clean as it is
when delivered from the refinery. It is a dangerous practice to pump
storage tanks completely dry, because water and sediment settle to the
bottom. When new fuel is pumped into the tank, it stirs up sediment.
For this reason, fuel should not be used immediately after it is deliv-
ered; it should be allowed to stand in storage for at least 24 hours.
Care should be taken to see that the storage tanks are tightly sealed.

HR KOK


is 5
4) LTT re

The bats were placed between studs spaced 18 inches on centers and
fastened to the outside of the form sheathing by battens along the edges.
The forms were of extra sturdy construction designed for numerous re-
uses, The tops of the walls were protected by a double thickness of the
blanketing material, Each blanket was composed of 2 inches of rock
wool held together with a burlap covering.

The rock-wool bats covered with building paper were less dur-
able than the spun glass blankets covered with Sisalkraft paper. The
building paper covering deteriorated quite rapidly when exposed to wet
weather, and it is recommended that bats of this type be covered with
chicken wire or water-resistant paper for prolonged use. However, the
rock-wool bats shown were used for 6 weeks, while each set of forms
was used to place 9 wall panels.

Job-made rock-wool blankets were used during the winter in
the Superior, Nebraska, area to protect concrete in siphon barrels. The
blankets were constructed by the local construction forces at a cost of
30¢ per square foot. A 13- by 17-foot piece of canvas was laid out on
sawdust on a wood platform and mopped with hot tar. A 2-inch layer of
rock-wool insulation was placed on the canvas while the tar was still hot.
Following this, more hot tar was mopped on the rock-wool and a layer
of burlap covered the treated rock-wool. The canvas was lapped 6 inches
around the edges of the blanket and mopped onto the burlap withtar. The
resulting blanket was 12 feet wide, 16 feet long, and nearly 2-inches
thick. However, the rock-wool soon consolidated to a thickness of slight-
ly less than 1 inch,

14