The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-05-13
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ton. are described by Capt. H. r. sheldon In an
article contributed TO the American Elevator and
Grain Trade tChicago). Says Captain Sheldon,
In part:
Three great divisions Of the United States De
parrnent OF Agriculture the bureaus OF chemistry.
plant Industry and markets. are Inclined TO take
some reports OF bomb outrnges with n grain OF
salt, and more than a grain OF science These
bureaus have combined TO investigate. and. II pos
sible, control the mysterious explosions and hres
which occur In threshing machines and which
are known to the general public as dust ex-
blossoms
Last year. In the wna wa)a section OF south.
eastern Washington. there reports OF mp.
proximately - explosions and fires. the property
loss involved being In the neighborhood OF 1884,
600. In the paouse region. also In south
eastern Washington but of slightly larger area
than the Walia Waa. where smut and grnndust
explosions had been more numerous than in any
other section In previous harvesss. there were
about 40 explosions with property loss of about
$4,000
ut seems advisable TO describe more fully the
factors which combine 10 produce grnn-dust
explosion in n fhreshing machine. The first in
gr.dlent for the combination In smut. ain-dus,.
or a combination of both. frequently
ours, liberated IN the separator during threshing
operations.
THAT the preventive appliances. particularly
dust collecting fans. designed by the department
investigators and the threshing. machine manufsc.
turers are efficient not be doubted. There In
no record of any explosion occurring in a machine
that had been properly equipped with these de
vices though these machines operated In
the same section under conditions Of high tenn
perature low humidity and dus,--an prime fac
tors for the occurrence Of dust explosions"
Most often. apparently. the source Of ignition
Is static electricity. great charges OF which are
- he fhrr tfaatf nh tb.
ton OF racing heifs whlrring cylinders and PAS
sage ~ grain and dust metal surfaces
In short Captnin Sheldon explains the thresheY
becomes a huge dynamo, constantly making and
storing electricity. which, unless given n closed
metal path 10 the ground. viii pass between metal
nar,s or OF into The air in the form ~ sparks
or the necessary heat for ignition may be sup.
piIed by n spark produced ny metallic or foreign
substances passing through the machine; q heated
hearing the flame from n stray match or the coal
of a discarded rgaret- He gn~s on:
"A great reduction In the number Of explosion.
probably can be obtained by ~ wiring the ma
chimes as TO carry 20 the ground aerumuisi. ted
charges of static electricity.
Much snccsss hns resulted from the use NJ
hre-extinrutshsr adapted TO grain sspara,or~
which In the event 81 FIRE not only saves IN. ma.
chine but prevents the spread Of The nafn.- 10
nearby grain sDd straw
THE scientists conducted special experiment.
with devices Intended smut dust and
dirt from the grain.
As n result Of recent conference tn S~a,,le
between rerr.srtafiyss 81 the Department Of Agyt
culture. Washington state nre officials and retrr.
srntatixcs Of Insurance companies and under
writer's associations. recognition wil he given by
these Insurance interests 70 the devices recon.
nendei by the Department FOR the prry.y,,lon os
explosions and nrs- In thrrshing machines Thi.
has resulted in q Copper rent reduction OF in.ur
anee rates machines IN the Pacific Northwe-x,
properly equipt,-6 with 'uS-eoiiectinx fan. nr.
extingulsher wiring system. tn. former RAJ.
machines has been practically prohihittve be-
ing ten 20 eleven dollars and nfty cents per hun
dred-
So. you wan; TO watch your dust. ron can
send for bulletin prepared by the bur.au NJ
chemistry. entitled Grain Dust Explosion Proven.
nnn-- And by communicating with IN. bpr.s,
you ran get into touch with trained In dus,
EXPLOSION prevention