New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-11

been blown out Of the safetyvalve without doing harm
II water IN steamboat boilers will keep constant cir
cula;ion the danger of exnosiOn would be largely
while The boats are lying in ths slips.
At this point recess taken.
REPORT oP TIE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.
Aftar the recess the Committee appointed by super
yrg Inspector Low 20 inspect the valves and boiler Of
Gle WesiAdl presented The following report:
t, "NEwYoRK, Aug 10, ISL
"SIH: In comp'iancc with the Instructions ~ yomr
tested thr steam gauge safety valve and cc.-np safety
valve Of inc steamer Wc5tiod. They have $50 tested
portions Of iron takcn from tho boiler points near
The line oil fracture ana beg leave to report the following
"Iirsi: Respecting the steam gauge, This was tested
was connected 20 the main steam pipe The result was
s S c ar 20 below % iD ou g0Th 70 "a pos IN x
cess Of the true pressure, the maximum error being u
lest, order to confirm its correctness, the West
fields gauge was tested; the standard, mercury
cOrroborated the test made on board the
boat The greatest error found lin ranging from four
be m tho Weseid gauge one pound ia excess OF the
pressure. In no within this range did the gauge H.
dicate loSs than the true pressure. 49,
"SCcondtThe safcty-valve removed from the
boiler the lever ana stem Strengthened ana 1t was then
Fletcher, Harrison & Co., and tested by mercury
gauge. On the first trial on the 9TH instant, when
the valve som the valve blew of freely az "a pounds
pressure, and on the second trial the 9th inst at 2
from The valve stom the lrt trial it blew of freely
at % pounds pressure and on tire second trial the same
"lSOTE-FIom MAJ k7 on the lever this was supposed
IN be- The position OF the weight when used board the
Wrstied. The actual distance Of weighC from valve
sten. measured By Mr. Copeland before the valve
removed from the boiler, was zGl inches.
"Tre weight was then placed on the extreme end Of
the lever, IN which poluon II would retain the greatest
pressure that could be retained without extra weights
being placed the lever. On the first trial it blew
freely at 81 pounds pressure, and ON the second Trial at -
pounds pressure.
ION account Of some testimony given in regard the
hight which a Glgty-y alive would Int different
pressure, il was deemed advisable 10 make expert
mcnts which would settle tins point. The weight
ut 27t pounds the valve lifted lcth OF an inch the
steam pressure then gradually increased and az 20
pounds pressure the valve raised 1892 OF an rch and
IS pounds Of an inch. 1Iese results would
seem TO settle the point that TIE pressure increased
the lit 81 the salcty-yalye also Increased.
Third: The lCCEup valve, which Is known "a the
America valve Was attached 10 the boiler OF the
McssIs. Fletcher, UJrl1sOu Co., and tested by MGR
curry gauge. The weight OF the lookup valve set
by tie scale the levers at n pounds. Upon sub
hitting il to the steam pressure II blew on at
either that the scale had been laid out originally incor-
recty that the valve had become less sensitive ~ on
idatiOn distortion of tic pdrts. In testing the iron
taken from tie boiler six spec mems were so cJ Cu' tt
OF the iTun and Fix specimens, 80 that the test
OF strength should be across the grain. OI the
whole twelve tests, but ono ll-d rom In proper lul-
ulgtiOn OF the testing gauge. the measurements ~
bO,h WERNER aud Mlclr0meter scales. Inc re-
suits Of trials Of strength with the grain wer",
maximum 1888 pounds per square inch; minimum,
44,J2 pounds. O. tAc SIX tIla5 the average Wa" 1,y
pounds. Tie results of Trials across the lrd in Xin
ij.sgl pounds per .nuaIc tff minimum, o,bt IJUIU-
or ia, 1--WE trials tlt aver. 20 wac 4O,eJ1 POUNDS
AL u "alcL - respectfully submitted
"ANDEEU FLET 7rr,
OWN. W.