New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-04-01
ExpIo.Iou, Of steam Boilers.


| ExpIosIons Of steam Boilers.
| Communicated 10 Tho Nev-Yofk Tribune.
The following paper, on the Explosion OF Steam
Boilers and accidents to the working gear on board
of Steamboats,, was prepared as part OF the An
nual Report of the American Institute to the LIE
gislature of New York. But having been read by
several scientific gentlemen including some mem
hers of Congress, who, in view OF lhe great I'M
portancs of the subject have recommended an
earlier publication OF it than could be obtained by
the Legislative Report, it is now published IN the
present form for public information. 1t is hoped
the important suggestions and plausible reasoning
in this paper, may lead to some valuable discov
cries with regard to the mysterious po,cer exerted
in these explosions, which is certainly as yet but
very imperfectly understood. TB. WAKEMaS.
March 20, lsis.
For T. B. Wakenan. Superintendent oftte Am INSTITUTE;
| DEAR SIR: Your note Of yesterday was handed
to me this morning. You say For this years
volume of the Transactions OF the Institute 1t is de-
sirable to have a document on Explosions OF Steam
Boilers aud other serious accldenst to the work ng-
gear which so frequently cccuron board steamboats,,
| and as was on the Committee tOc Examining
Steamboats, during our last air the officers OF the
Institute respectfully solicit my views on this sub
ect."
Permit me to say, wish the Superintendent had
selected some other member of the Committee tor
a Report on this very important scientific subject,
! whose chemical knowledge and practical expert
| ence was superior to anything possess, particu-
| larly 50 because the Yearly Volume of the Trans.
| actions OF the American Institute form sort OF
encyclopedia or record Of the most valuable i'm
| provements and inventions in Agriculture, Com
| MERGE Manufactures and the Arts for the time be
| ing The subject you have proposed is one OF no
ordinary character. The explosions OF steam boil.
ers bursting of steam chests and breaking OF the
working gear of the steam-engine frequently cause
such serious loss of life and property particularly
so on the Western rivers, where the high pressure
engine is in general use Yet these serious acct.
dents too frequently happen to both high and low
pressure boilers, aud the workinggear Of their ELI.
| giDes
Explosions of steam boilers, bursting of steam
chests and other serious accidents to the working
gear, OF occurrence in the early history OF
the steam engine while steam OF lower tempera-
| ture was in common use. These dreadful accidents
seem TO have originated and kept pace with the
use Of gh-pressure steam, or steam OF very high
temperature. Steam of thirty pounds or less pres
sure TO the square inchoD the piston Is perhaps the
most yielding, elastic, Manageable and free from
danger of any known prime mover and at no time
nor under any circumstances can such elastic steam
exceed the cohesive strength of the weakest part
of said boiler before it bursts open. That is to say
The pressure OF such elastic steam at no time can
exceed the cohesive strength OF the weakest part
OF the boiler in which such steam IS generated
By careful examination OF the cause OF these ex
plosions and other serious accidents TO the work
ing gear it is evident that this explosive property
or element, be the same whatever 1t may, is gener-
ated by the high temperature OF the materials con-
tanned in said boiler, and is something other than
pure elastic steam Although steam of great pres.
cure may burst open a cylindrical boiler laterally
in ita okaet ia bOllpr
asunder endwse, because the strength Of the boil
at the ends is nearly double that OF the body OF
the boiler Yet in very many of the recorded acct
dents the ends of the boiler were burst out. and
thrown several hundred feet. This certainly could
only have been effected by an almost unlimited ex.
plosive power, which is not contained in the prop.
critics of elastic steam.
We can form some accurate idea of the strength
of this explosive element by a careful examination
of the strength required for the boilers, working
gear and frames as now used In steamboats,. For
the frstclass river steam vessels, their measured
strength ia at least 500 lbs. to the square inch
the area of the piston, and for sea going steamers
upward of 700 lbs. This enormous strength has
been shown TO be necessary by long contin-
ued experience. IL is evident from the frequent
accidents to the working. gear well boilers
that this great strength 10 more than equal to the
force which occasionally acts on the piston. AL
though so lbs to the square inch the safety valve
for high pressure engines is perhaps than their
general load, and for low.pressure engines not one
fifth this load is used, yet the average strength Of
the boilers and the working.gear is required to be
made TO resist from ten 10 fifteen times this press
ure, and whenever the temperature ia the boiler
exceeds that required for generating elastic steam
only, the working. gear or boiler are often broken
and scattered TO the winds as so many rotten sticks
This explosive element sets all calculation at de-
iance, and IL is certain therefore that there does
exist within the boiler and cylinder at certain times
n far thar rod b,sth
enormous strength OF the boiler aud working gear.
Much of the mysterious operation OF this expo-
sive power seems 10 have originated in supposng
that explosions OF steam boilers and the breaking
of working gear were exception 10 other expo-
siye phenomena. By a careful comparison of the
explosive effects phenomena from powder. light
ming nlam msble and other explosive matter, IL
will be seen that the same explosive element is
alike present In each For example the bursting
OF cannon and guns Its well known fact thar
II the muxxc be barely held under water. or closed
with a cork and fired with only an ordinary charge
Of powder. the bursting seldom ever fails. al.
though tho cohesive strength ot the breech may be
twenty times the estimated strength required for
a regular charge OF powder. Tho explosive effects
OF lightning aud innsmmable Ras break aud scat
tor eycty opposing resistance, In steam boilers
the saiety.valve and steam susgc seem Ia indicate
with sufficient precision tho variations In the
strength of elastic steam bat neither saletyyal,c
nor stesn,g usge are OF any value "a Indicate the
presence OF this dreadful explosive element
Persons well acquainted with tho various chem.
ics equivalents ct sa explosive character arc be.
ginning Co freely Investigate this subject Of explo
sion. la steam boilers
oue Of tho most popular works OF the present
time recently published by Oliver Smith. AN q |
member ol the American Institute. Ia pages 81. -
aud -, mentions the explosion. oi steam boiler.
and Gays, The elaslicit, ef the steam sill have |
vesy naturally some. though, comparatively spesk
log very little effect In the esse' Also Mr John |
Wilder, seien,iic engineer ~ this City, has 70
Gently published . pamphlet On the causes and ct