The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-04-23
ENGINEERING SHOW
AT COLLEGE
ENGINEERING SOCIETY PUTS ON
ANNUAL EXHIBIT FRIDAY
EVENING
VISITORS SEE WHAT IS ACCOMPLISHED
In the Different Departments of Engi
neering-Exhibit Is of Much Inter-
est to the Visitors

The student engineering society of
State College held an engineering ex-
hibit on Friday evening in which many
demonstrations were shown which
were of interest to the average person
as we'll as the engineer. The first e
hibit was that of coal analysis. This is
used to determine the principle con.
stitutents of coal, which point. out the
characteristics of coal in burning. BY
means of the heat-value tests of coal,
sometimes called the British Thermal
units, the consumer knows the actual
number of heat units he Is buying,
thus enabling him to choose his coal
intelligently.
Visitors were shown how the 100, 900
pound testing machine is used in
crushing concrete cylinders and cubes,
speciments of wood and metals, beams
of wood and reinforced concrete; also
in pulling apart chains and rods made
in the forge shop. The cement ard
concrete speciments were made by
the students in their regular class
work and were tested to determine
the safe loads which could be applied
in natural practice. The information
obtained from these tests enables the
engineer to design structures which
will be economical and safe.
Laboratory steam engine indicators
were shown in use on two engines, one
of which was equipped for a brake test.
Indicator cards were frequently taken
and observations were made of the
speed of the engine and the load of
the brake. From the results of this
test the operation and condition of the
engine were determined. Samples of
the fue gas as it came from the
boilers were analysed. This analysis,
together with the color of the smoke
and the temperature Of the gases, en-.
ables a complete determination of the
condition Of the fires and the efficiency
of the boiler plant. A Junker's Gas
Calorimeter was in operation and the
heat value Of gas used in the labora-
tories was determined.
An apparatus for adjusting and cali
brating steam gauges was set up and
its operation explained. Without some
device of this kind for celebrating
steam gauges frequently, the ordinary
gauge could not be relied upon. A
gasoline engine equipped with indica-
tor rigging, thermometer for measur-
ing the temperature of jacket water,
and speed counters, was in operation
and frequent indicator cards were
taken.
The electrical department was well
represented and it's exhibit consisted
chiefly in demonstrations. The funda-
metal principles of the arc light were
shown, and the automatic adjustment
of the carbons was explained. A gaso-
line engine was belted to a small
dynamo outfit arranged to represent
an electric lighting system which
could be used on any farm, and the
lights necessary for the exhibit were
furnished by it. A shunt dynamo was
in operation as well as another direct
current dynamo, which was used to
drive a three phase alternator having
three groups of lights operating in
star connection.
A Ball engine drove the large dyna-
mo which operated a direct current
motor driving a three phase dynamo
which in turn furnished power for a
three phase motor. The alternating
current motor and dynamo were fitted
with special disks to show the differ
ence in speed. The switch board con-
Meeting the two had an arrangement
for starting the motor, also for chang
ing the direction of the revolutions and
for measuring the current in any one
of three lines by means of a single
ammeter.
In the civil engineering department
different instruments were exhibited,
consisting of surveyors and solar
compasses, the various styles Of levels
including architects, irrigation and
engineers, and transits with solar at
tachment: also the plane table and
the various hand instruments. By
means of these instruments the SIM
plest farm surveying was demonstrat.
ed as well as the most complicated
railroad and geodetic surveys. Draw