New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-04-05
Explosions in steam Engines and the Means Of
prevenfiau.

Explosions In steam Engines ana the lucnns o
Prevention.
To tie Editor Of ne 7rsbVae;
Since the last Christmas two hundred citizens
have persisted by explosions, a most lamentsble
proof of the failure Of all the methods Of proven
ton hitherto adopted and as without exception
they have been based on the assumption that the
conditions under WI eh explosions occur are molly "
ed 70 tie boirs It Is just 70 conclude that the fsare
Of these methods necessary consequence OF that in
itsuon.
At In. same tine the effects produced BY the Steam IT.
zine are 90 ssat snd readily increased almost without
limit, th. the constant Occurrences Of phsnomsns ncom'
os,ls with the properties Of elastic steam hes not pre-
dg.sd the conviction thst "a, construction Of s engine
/ On, o(tAe primary eaus,s Of srPlorre acton
nj, well known both from observation and long con
tpu.d and varied experiments that in every possible
case the production ofsteam 10 the work OF e0nrder.oe
time While sxplosonssrs instantaneous 10 every known
case between ts regular and eqosble working and the
sreu0n Of irresistible force the bsfsrote OF ths
sevsr.l yssrs ago cylindrical engine b9iler 10 Nc
Queen. foundry this City was rent ssunoef ana one
tbird Of m length pro the street oy explosive
action killing s course an unfortunate PASSENGER anu
lodi inz in the second story Of the house opposite
Many similar Instances nave occurred, Ine 70.
DAYS ago IN Phsd phs cylindrical boiler was rent
direcfons each causing the death Of person who stood
path. and falling at considerable distance from 10
l original place
il bic that elastic steam, which acts 10 every
direction with equal force should produce these enses
because CYL oneal boiler will burst open lseraly A.
ess nan half the force Of which reno u a.nna
sr end wise II may be mechanically proved mus " ~
fne cut from smooth round stick win y. Da.s o.
4 Cylindrical piece. Onehali lIs own efouhi1ie 81 -
snsth the bark will represent The shell or meta OF &C
pondng portion Of boiler aod the surfaces Of ~o =
the ends pposts relative forces OF steam TO reno 7
! boiler asunder enowiss. o.,
Divide the piece sthwse through s center the sur
face. Of the wood divided are double the us
ends which shows the opposite restye forces OF s,es ~
% double bot the amount Of bark divided ia eqnAi y
~ asursment the circumference, wnch SHOWS 'nst "a
Az equal srensh Of metal the lateral pressure - douDs
that en5wise Every ctrsn who values hGnsn ne soa
his duties 10 its pressfvatton, should sse thls a
Eyon the Inherent properties Of the cylinder Euelid -
~ IL possible that the power which rend'a cyhndf-
-. boiler a,undsr end wise should have any ssssnsbe
density magnitude but In suoh ooieI n-Ie Is ony
water and steam, water combined with elementary
eaf or csorc the recognized principle OF force IN every
astic fluid s then TO the caorc when SCI rec We TO
fer the effects elastic steam cannot produce frCf JDhn
.on eoopsring the statements Of Watt Laplsce IRE and
others the latent best Of steam at s degrees IN
other words II water at so Fahrenheit be conVeod INC
steam 22 Of 30 parts OF heat employ have raised
the temperature 1870 degees the other have pfoouGed
the vapOr without increasing the sensp
heat is In this wonderful property as Ia many others
identical with electricity which It has been ione Known
IL evolved from steam. the instant Of condensation
That latent heat cs0ric does not remain IN conons
with and Ia the form OF steam except eIur
pressure the strength Of the boiler IL sufficient witnes
and when is let of by the safety valve. ms
s escape instantaneous; must be equay 20 "neh
the steam valve opened aud the steam passes into ne
cavitv OF the nozzle bot the csloric which leaves Its
combination escape from the nozzle when u men
oot charged lie yaen lar How the discharges are
osds 10 not well understood that the nozzle and clear
nee OF the piston the focus Of explosive acton IL De
nonststed by the enormous but nsuibclent feneh "
the working parts OF the engine
The Of preuention man gs-he nozzle rnt De
array unnecessay wasteiu and dangerous ano te
valves worked directly In the ends OF the cylinder 10 m
ner OF which the printngpress Is an excellent
type These required equally Tor safety ana the
improved working of the ugns, but from their application
20 the security Of human lie and to agricultural manu-
featuring and mining purposes viii denys no Peeg9,sy
advantage. JOhN WIDEN