The record-union., 1896-08-23

Aa1SAiASIy Inc pipe SuOp, amongst
others, is fully up to date in this line.
and machines for threading and cut
ting pipes from one-fourth Of an inch
to ten inches in diameter are to be seen
here
An engine, air compressor and pipe
bending machine also attract the at
tention.
The pipe-bending machine is worthy
of notice; it consists of an air pres
sure cylinder 10x12 inches, bolted on
table 1ox4O inches, supported by four
columns of two-inch heavy pipe about
six feet from the floor. Near the cen
ter Of these columns are four cross bars
or slides, set vertically in pairs, made
Of the same material. On these slides
are two rollers in movable frames,
which are adjusted to the desired posi-
ton from common center by a right
and left hand screw. The third roller
by which the bending is done is at
tached to the cylinder piston cross
head. A four-way valve governs its ac-
tion. The pipe to be bent is placed
upon the lower rollers, and the power,
applied to the upper roller, bends
the pipe to any curve. This machine
obviates the frequent necessity of heat
ing the pipe in the fire; it is a labor
saving device designed by the foreman
in charge.
But is not in the pipe shop
where the result of the labor of this
class of workmen is to be looked for
A glance at the locomotives under
construction and in course Of repairs
gives an explanation for the use and
need of these machines.
Racks loaded with a perplexing va
riety of pipes in every form and size
are situated on the outside of each pit
in the machine shop, and all Of these
pipes have to be replaced before any
of the engines undergoing repairs are
sent into service.
The ancientS were adopts at working
lead. The Roman plumbers made their
lead pipe from sheets twelve feet long;
some specimens are still preserved.
Plumbing in lighthouses and palaces
of Herculaneum and Pompeii attest to
their ability. Lead pipe has given way
to the harder metals, cast and wrought
iron, the latter the invention of the
present century. Lap-welded iron pipe
is made from strips Of iron rolled the
needed width to form a circumference
for the pipe required. These strips are
heated in a, furnace and bent from
end to end into the form of a loop by
a machine called the Crocodile" 1t
is simply a long swedge and fuller as
used in blacksmith work.
The second stage consists in heating
the bent strips in another furnace, at
the door of which is situated a long
table. with a small carriage or trolley,
operated from beneath by sprocket
wheels from each end connected by
an endless chain. bent lever grip,
secured to the carriage, holds the metal,
while the handle is dropped into one
of the links on the sprocket chain that
draws the pipe from the furnace
through tongs, in which cast iron dies
or molds are secured. The tongs are
held steady in the operators hand and
prevented from travelling withthe metal
by an angle bracket on the front end of
the table. This operation is repeated,
leaving the pipe in the shape of an
ellipse with the edges drawn closely
together for welding. 1t is now treated
TO a very high temperature, and then
welded, one-half length at a time in
Ike manner. The final heat is for siz-
ing. after which it is placed between
table rollers to be Strengthened. The
cutting, testing and threading COM
pletes the article for use. No mould or
former is used to perfect the interior
as one might suppose from its exact
circle. A gang of sixteen men can turn
out 10000 feet per day.
In the early 70s the locomotive from
its primitive simplicity, with it's old
fashioned plunger pumps, working from
the piston crosshead, its single blow-off
pipe, and occasionally a heater pipe to
prevent the pumps freezing in cold eli
mates. gradually underwent a change,
and was adorned with the many modern
ingenious devices that competition and
advancing science have placed at the
command of the manager of the mo-
five power, and which have been adopt
ed. seemingly regardless of expense, for
fhe safety and luxurious comfort Of the
travelling public.
The water injector-that mysterious
and remarkable invention by which
water is lifted from the tank and forced
into the boiler against its own steam
pressur-has supplanted the water
munger pumps, and the Westinghouse
Air nnuap. with its air reservoirs, cylin-
ders and other attachments. supersedes
the former simple hand brake, and now
claims its relative position on the engine
and commands constant care and atten-
tion.
The air signal whistle relieves the old
bell rope; steam heaters for Vestibule
cars avert danger from fire by the car
stove. rotary engines to run electric
headlights: firepumps with their attach
ments: storage reservoirs for Pintsch
pas for lighting cars; water sprinkIers
for wheel tires; water journal coolers
connected to every axle box TO prevent
heating and delay on fast runs: devices
for blowing sand by air pressure under
the engine driver wheels TO prevent
slippage; air bell ringers, and an end
less number of skillfully planned in
yentions which have been adopted to
promote efficiency and regularity Of ser
vice. now compose the complement OF
auxiliaries of the modern locomotive.
These additions to the engine give the
miner his vocation and responsibility
where formerly few feet of pipe COM
v,teted the entire outfit of the old style
engine: to-day, a fully equipped pass
enper engine requires nearly 900 feet ot
nine to place it in running order.
AZ the designers of machinery not in
<rnouentlv leave TO the workman g
choice Of minor details in making con-
nections with the several parts, the
Ingenuity of the piper is constantly
called into service and displayed in The
1eatness and completeness of the vari-
o,,a narts to carry out the general de-
sign.
The steady advance in mechanical ap-
-,ioncee. the changes which time an(
exnerience demonstrate desirable, re