Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-17
BOILER CONSTITUENTS.
What They should be in the Estimation of
the Boiler Manufacfurers' Association
second Days Work.

What They Shonld De IN the Estimnfi0n of
the Boiler Manufacfurers' Association
Second DAYS Work.
Yesterdays sessions of the Boiler Manu-
facturers' Association was more largely at
tended than the first. The Committee on
Materials and Tests reported, and, as this
feature is one of the most important to be
considered, it was given close and extended
attention. The committee stated that if no
limit is placed to the cost of producing
boiler steel its excellence can be extended
far beyond the average requirements in good
practice. Good material costs considerably
more than that generally used, loose inspec-
tion laws or their careless administration in
ducing purchasers to invest in low priced
boilers on account of ignorance of the i'm
portance of the subject. The committee
stated that the requirements suggested
would pass the most rigid inspection known
in the United States, and both makers and
buyers are exhorted to not only care but to
an enlargement OF heart and consciousness
of responsibility. In brief, the conclusions
arrived at are:
The use of cast iron in mud drums, legs,
necks, etc., in any part of boilers subject to
tensile strain is dangerous. 1t may be used
for hand-hole plates, crabs, yokes, etc., but
only the better quality thereof, known as
"gun metal" metal of soft texture and
high degree of durability. Strengthening
rings of manholes should be of homogeneous
steel, or wrought iron, or soft and annealed
steel castings should be used. In testing
materials for boilers it is recommended that
the marine section, grooved, should be dis
carded, and the eight-inch straight or re-
duced section be substituted. On the test
piece is required, tensile strength, 55 900 to
$1,000 pounds per square inch; elongation,
% per cent for plates three-eighths inch or
less thick; 2S per cent for plates three
eighths to three-fourths inch thick, and 30
per cent for plates over three-fourths inch
thick. The reduction of area as test is
founded to be utterly unreliable. There
should not be more than 0.035 per cent of
phosphorus nor more than 0.02 of sulphur
in good boiler steel.
Boiler steel up to l-inch in thickness
should be capable of being doubled over
and hammered down upon itself without
showing signs of fracture, and above that
thickness be capable of being beat round
mandrel of diameter equal to one and
half times the thickness of the plate to an
angle of 1S0 degrees, without signs of dis
tress. 1t is recommended that all tests be |
made at the mill, three pulling and three
bending at each heat. If one fail the man.
ufacturer to have the right to test fourth |
piece, but if two fail the entire heat to be |
rejected. Flangin2 of steel should not be |
done at less than good red heat, and not a |
blow be struck after the plate cools to less
than a cherry red, by daylight. After
Hanging, anneal by cooling from an even
dull red heat for the whole sheet in the open
air. Rivets should be made of good char
coal iron or very soft, mild steel Of &c. 900 to
90, 600 pounds tensile strength, AN elongation
OF not less than 80 per cent in eight inches:
chemical composition same as specified for
plates.
The report Of the committee was discussed
at the afternoon session.
james G. Mitchell, Frank L. Bigelow, E.
D. Meir, r. Hammond, A. n. Raynal were
appointed the Committee on Boiler Setting.
1t was decided that preliminary reports on
subjects for to-day's discussion should be
submitted here and full ones made at the
February meeting, to be held in New York.
The evening session was called to order at
o'clock. The first business taken up was
The consideration of the Proper Rules for
Rivetting and Caulking." The discussion
hat ensued was taken part in by Rob M.
Connery, of Philadelphia; Thomas J. Dris.
,oll, of Columbus; Richard II. Bate, of Con-
G. Sullivan, Newark, A. 7.
Douthett and others.
Then followed discussion on the subjects
which were reported at the afternoon ses-
ion and held for consideration, which in
,luded "Manheads and Manholes,' % "Brac-
ng, Stays and Proper Tube Spacing" +" AT |
oh &C Uo1- fC |