The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-11-27
Doctor Of Machinery.

Among the multitudinous trades and
professions in New York there are
many which are entirely unknown,
even by name, to the general public.
One of the least known and most in
teresting is that of the expert in ma
chinery. The work of a machinery
specialist is far higher than that Of a
skilled engineer, and many years of
experience and special training are
necessary to fit the expert for his
duties. There are only about half a
dozen Of these men in the country,
one in every large city. When any
thing GOES wrong with machinery
plant Of whatever nature, the cause Of
which the engineer in charge, fre-
quently the builder of the engines,
cannot discover, the machinery doctor
is called in. Every chief engineer Of
a big plant may be called a specialist
so far as the machinery under his
charge is concerned, but the specialist
in machinery is an expert in engines
of every description.
Though he has never seen the en-
CINE before, he rapidly diagnoses the
case and prescribes a remedy, just as
doctor does for sick patient. The
instrument most used by him is
dentophone, which consists of thin
steel rod about foot long, which he
holds between his teeth and applies
to the head of the cylinder. To the
practiced ear Of the expert every sound
transmitted from the cylinder tells
story. The working of the piston in
the cylinder, and, indeed, of the whole
engine, can be heard distinctly in this
manner by anybody, but it takes an
expert to tell just what those sounds
mean.
In the case of mysterious knock
ing which was heard in the cylinder
of the big driving engine in a large
spinning factory not long ago, an ex-
pert was called in to determine the
cause. Every method had been tried
to discover where the trouble was, but
without avail. Bearings were exam
ined, the cylinder was taken apart,
and every part well oiled, all to no
purpose. When the expert came he
traced the mysterious knocking from
the cylinder, along the piston rod,
crank shaft, and through the main
shaft, away off among the looms, where
one Of the looms was found to be the
cause of the trouble.
Often an experts services are re-
quired in the case of synchronizing
looms. IF all the looms in a big spin
ming factory happen to beat together, as
sometimes happens, the vibration is
strong enough to bring the building
down. For the same reason soldiers
always break step when going over
suspension bridge, for otherwise the
measured tramp Of the many feet all
striking the ground at the same time
would seriously endanger the structure.
The power Of sound is also enormous
when exerted in particular way.
Every substance in nature has key
note, and when sound of the same
pitch is caused near it, considerable
amount of vibration is produced. When
the great tubular bridge was being
built across the Menai Straits, which
divide England from the island Of
Anglesea, travelling violinist nearly
caused the collapseof the whole struc-
ture. He happened, while playing, to
hold for considerable time note
which chanced to be the keynote Of
the huge bridge structure. The sound
echoed along the vast tube and re.
echoed with ever-increasing force until
the whole bridge vibrated as if an
earthquake were taking place. The
bridge engineer, who was near by,
instantly OWNED the cause, and stop
ped the playing Of the violinist.
Part Of the business Of the machin-
cry doctor consists in so arranging the
distribution of looms and other ma
chinery that their working will not
endanger the stability Of the factory.
Defects in boiler can also be instant
ly determined by the practiced ear Of
the specialist. A plate in the boiler
is selected which is known to be in
good condition, and he takes mental
note of the pitch of the sound made
when the plate is struck with ham
merS All the other plates are struck
in the same way, and any one which
does not ring true and conform to the
correct pitch is examined and replaced.
A case is on record where machin-
cry specialist was crossing the ocean
and detected capitalization in the
centre of the shaft, thereby averting
what might have been serious acci-
dent in midocean. Measures were
taken to strengthen the shaft in the
place where the quick ear Of the ex-
pert detected weakness, and when the
vessel was docked his suspicious
proved correct.
Few men even with the most ex-
haustive training can become experts
at this business, as it requires mar
velous quickness' Of ear and delicate
perception of sound with which few
men are blessed. Technical knowledge
is of little avail of itself, and fine
engineer might be poor machinery
doctor, just as great musician might
make an Indifferent piano tuner.
Whenever a big mill is erected,
specialist is always consulted as to
the placing of the machinery, and his
fee is generally well worth the expense
and trouble which an injudicious dis
tribution of machines may cause.-N.