Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-01
DOCTOR OF MACHINERY.
Curious Defects which Tie Must Dis
cover and Remedy.


New York TribuneD
Among the mutitudinous trades ana
professions I'm New York there are many
which are entirely unknown. even oy
name, 10 the general public. One OF the
least known and most interesting IS
that of the expert in machinery. The work
OF a machinery specialist Is Tar higher
than that OF skilled engineer. and many
years OF experience and special training
are necessary to fl the expert Tor MS
duties There are only about half dozen
Of these men in the country, one In every
large city When anything goes wrong
with a machinery plant of whatever ma
ture. the cause OF which the engineer IN
charge. frequently the builder OF the en-
gines. cannot discover. the machinery doc
lor IL called in. Every chief engineer OF
a big plant may be called a specialist
80 far as the machinery under his charge
is concerned. but the specialist in ma
chinery IL an expert in engines OF every
description.
Though ne has never seen the engine
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 con-s
ssts Ola thin steel rod about foot long.
which he holds between his teeth and APP
plies 10 the head of the cylinder. To the
practlced 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 en-
CINE, can be heard distinctly In this man
ner by anybody but II takes an expert
to tell just what those sounds mean.
In the case Of mysterious knocking
which was heard in the cylinder OF the big
driving engine in a large spinning factory
not long ago. an expert was called In
to determine the cause. Every method
bad been tried to discover where the
trouble was, but without avail Bearings
were examined 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 cylin-
der, along the piston-rod, crank-shaft.
and through the main shaft. away OFT
among the looms, where one of the looms
was found TO be the cause of the trou-
BILE
Often an experts services are required
in the case Of synchronizing looms II
all the looms I'm a big spinning factory
happen To beat together. as sometimes
happens. the vibration is strong enough
to bring the building down. For tn
same reason soldiers always break step
when going over a suspension bridge,
for otherwise the measured tramp or
the many feet ali striking the ground at
the same time would seriously andanger
the structure. The power Of sound Is
also enormous when eXerted I'm a particu-
lar way. Every substance in nature has
a keynote. and when a sound OF the
same pitch Is caused near II a consdera-
BILE amount of vibration Is produced
When the great tubular bridge was being
built across the Menai Straits. which
divide England from the Island OF An
glesea, travelling violinist nearly
caused the collapse Of the whole struc-
ture. He happened. while playing, TO hold
| FOR a considerable time note which
CHANGED to be the keynote of the huge
| bridge structure. The sound echoed
along the vast tube and re-echoed
with ever-ncreasing force until the
whole bridge vibrated as If an
earthquake was taking place. The
bridge engineer, who was near by, in
stantly OWNED the cause. and stopped
the playing of the vIolinst.
Part OF the business OF the machinery
doctor consists in so arranging the dis
tribution Of looms and other machinery
that their works will not endanger the
stability of the factory. Defects In
boiler can also be instantly determined
10y the practiced ear Of the specialist.
li1le III the DDllcF Is selttttu WHICH -
known to be in good condition. and he
takes mental note OF the pitch of the
sound made when the plate is struck
with hammer. All the other plates are
struck In the same way, and any one
which does not ring true and conform 10
the correct pitch Is examined and re-
placed case ia on record where
machinery specialist was crossing the
ocean and detected specialization In the
centre OF the shaft. thereby avefting
what might have been a serious accident
in mdocean. Measures were taken TO
strengthen the shaft in the place where
the quick ear OF the expert detected
weakness. and when the vessel was
locked his suspicious proved correct.
Few men, even with the most exhaust
i've training, can become experts at this
business. az il requires a marvellous
auickness OF ear and delicate perception
of sound with which few men are blessed.
Technical knowledge H. 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
a specialist is always consulted ar TO the
placing Of the machinery. and his fee ~
generally well worth the expense ana
trouble which an injudcous distribution
OF machines may cause.