, 1873-02-14

lication il you see ft. The often recurrence OF
is becoming matter OF punnc
interest, and, as large number OF boilers "nlca
hare exploded have given evidence OF having
contained sufficient amount OF water, pe1hhps
the communication here presented WILL Dc tne
,neans of calling public attention to new cause
for boiler-e1plosion; and, Il any benefits are ae-
rived from this new theory, as presented to tho
secreta1Y Of the Treasury and Board OF super
7isipr inspectors, then the object OF the writer
in nnb1ish,ne it will have been accomplished
Yours truly, cAh11lH aAA9oS'
CHICAGO, Feb. II, 1873.
co.cuus1oAr1oH TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISING
INSPECTORS, WASHINGTON, D. c.
CHICAGO, Jan. 49, 1869,
nv,,rrrry. The often occurrence OF boiler
explosions, and consequent destruction OF prop
erty, many times involving loss OF n1e or serious
disaster must be my apology for presenting iG5
your consideration my views on sup1ect WHICH
NAV seem to you well-nigh exhausted.
MANY thinking men, skilled in engineering,
haye thought they had discovered the cause OF
90 much disaster in electricity, generated IN tue
boiler; in decomposition OF water, tne1eoy P1o
stsls aus1s aad the popuar theory of low water
hsva .iwayg been skeptical on these points
especially 80 Of tho theory that az EXPLOSIONS
are occssioned by low Waser: fhse th 9esii peen
am amount Of heating surface exposed to the
watar is. in theory, only capable Of ra1sng me
temperature Of the water in the ooner, say u "
20 degrees at most, even When req nos; ~. tf,,1
ticient, certainly TO Dc III" 'A'0' - 0@''' N''D
disaster. x 4ho ,o,,.
propose, therefore, to present Tor the con.
sideration Of your honorable noay tue tesus e,, ~
an investigation that has EXTENDED 'n1ousn
many years, and believe can SNOW yoo D LUZ 4o1o
natural cause than any OF on 'ao5e oG The IDEAS here
bring the subject before the Pubic; oehS1Ie hnh -
that you are the proper channel through "hlca @ 70
qsh bod Of
nj nj men me- f6r tbat purpose in the United States.
vii take for illustration . boiler q inches IN
diameter, with two flues Is inches N d3auetet.
The usual height Of water considered safe viii
be- inches above the duea. 1t will contain Tor
| ;ta eeotionu area $50 inches Of water, after de-
ducting the area Of the dues, riyets, etc. The
ares OF the upper two inches lat the watel,nne3 I
who1e water contained in the boiler. think !
am Within the 1imits Of observation when
sav That the rise Of water in the
boiler. when the engine is started and
-nora have found, in stopping the en-
cine to try the water, that it has been lowered
fwo gauges without extra foaming, as 1t ls called.
/ dnd, When the engine and boiler are M At rest,
the water remains perfectly 9t 10 HWY Any
off bv any cause, boiling takes place, and the
water rises in The boiler. The g1obulea Of steam
r;s;ne throueh the water must have
placs hence, when the water .a.. is .nala hl,eo
and inst here it has troubled me to know what
hacs1e of all the heat OF ca1orio taken up by the
wnter Wills the boiler Was at rest. Experiments
have shown tn the water can be heated s =, 70
when tfa steam is drawn OF as it is mauufac
+1red. and becoraiug satisfied OF this, have
+annd +ha fn1lnzgfnp results:
4 small boiler. 20 inches in diameter and
feet long, was placed IN R1cx-MoFk xsn n,sa M1n na
fnI1'@S' iii of Tater. snd through it's upper sid
1kept tight by stuhing- 3 rod Vas passed
down into the water, on the end or WHICH .
cross-piece WAS fastened ana ot LIZ ~ ~ e..
~ " ron+s;daS smother cross- tail Was placed, ant
a rope attached to each end and led to SAT
diatanoe. Steam Was now raised until the gaug'
indicated 15o pounds: The ropes - wete Pm Pul1e' M
e1d tha water Violently agitated- The boiler e1
n1nded in an instant This was repeated with
11rassure-cnuee which would indicate BY
: nointet-hand, and the result was the same
leaving the pointer-hand IS high it would Co.
helieye 45O bounds.
:, Ao.in- A rlass-retott was placed over spirit
1a1n0- and the water was brought to boil, whe
Il immediately rose in the .retort some diatanct
| but. on stopping the outlet Of steam, II leu
it's original height. After getting up p1esaa1l
: | Of steam. It Was again opened, and the Watt
oyerho8ed, eubs1ded On partially checking tn
f1ow of etaau. Nov, We find from the shape {
. our ususlly-constructed boilers, that the stea1
t or css, when generated, has not only to puah i
: waT through column Of water, but ditfuse itse
/, |. through the whole mass and cannot escal
nnti1 The whole is charged with all it can contau
r and. when liberated, t will rush to the point
= eeress with all possible despatch, nor will it va
to be liberated from it's wet bath, but carry Ma'
= with It, producing what is called foaming; GaaG,
: have observed, and have found d i5om III sa1I
" that almost ali engineers have made tne e1n u
observation, that, when An engine Is f. stane s4se
After having been at rest for TINS, me s.1@
viii rise several pounds, Gradually 1eeeaaa* &c ;.e
itB original pressure !nis ssen eari, ~ ~ maize
plainly that there is steam OF eatpl1 ~ Hn ~;
stored away in the water OF ne oouel, ~ ~ ~
- IN my oP1n1on' 4o 'A40 ~'>'0