Each successive generation of engineers has added certain _unwritten
experiences_ to the general stock of knowledge relating to steam
production, which have been communicated to their successors, and by
them added to, in their turn; it is within the province of this book to
put in form for reference, these unwritten laws of conduct, which have
passed into MAXIMS among engineers and firemen—a maxim being
an undisputed truth, expressed in the shortest terms.
SOLILOQUY OF AN ENGINEER. “Standing in the boiler room and looking
around me, there are many things I ought to know a good deal
about. Coal! What is its quality? How much is used in ten hours or
twenty-four hours? Is the grate under the boiler the best for an
economical consumption of fuel? Can I, by a change in method of
firing, save any coal? The safety-valve. Do I know at what pressure
it will blow off? Can I calculate the safety-valve so as to be
certain the weight is placed right? Do I know how to calculate the
area of the grate, the heating surface of the tubes and shell? Do
I know the construction of the steam-gauge and vacuum-gauge? Am I
certain the steam-gauge is indicating correctly, neither over nor
under the pressure of the steam? What do I know about the setting
of boilers? About the size and quality of fire bricks? About the
combination of carbon and hydrogen of the fuel with the oxygen of the
atmosphere? About oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen? About the laws of
combustion? About radiation and heat surfaces?
“Do I know what are good non-conductors for covering of pipes, and
why they are good? Do I know how many gallons of water are in the
boiler?
“What do I know about water and steam? How many gallons of water are
evaporated in twenty-four hours? What do I know about iron and steel,
boiler evaporation, horse power of engines, boiler appendages and
fittings.
“Can I calculate the area and capacity of the engine cylinder? Can I
take an indicator diagram and read it? Can I set the eccentric? Can
I set valves? Do I understand the construction of the thermometer,
and know something about the pressure of the atmosphere, temperature
and the best means for ventilation? Can I use a pyrometer and a
salinometer?
“Without going outside of my boiler and engine room I find these
things are all about me—air, water, steam, heat, gases, motion,
speed, strokes and revolutions, areas and capacities—how much do I
know about these?
“How much can be learned from one lump of coal? What was it, where
did it come from? When it is burned, what gases will it give off?
“And so with water. What is the composition of water? What are
the effects of heat upon it? How does it circulate? What is the
temperature of boiling water? What are the temperatures under
different pressures? What is latent heat? What is expansive force?”
These are the questioning thoughts which fill, while on duty, more
or less vividly, the minds of both engineers and firemen, and it is
the purpose of this volume to answer the enquiries, as far as may
be without attempting too much; for the perfect knowledge of the
operations carried on within the boiler-room involves an acquaintance
with many branches of science. In matters relating to steam
engineering, it must be remembered that “art is long and time is short.”
The utility of such a book as this is intended to be, no one will
question, and he who would not be a “hewer of wood and a drawer of
water” to the more intelligent and well-informed mechanic, must possess
to a considerable extent the principles and rules embraced in this
book; and more especially, if he would be master of his profession and
reputed as one whose skill and decisions can be implicitly relied upon.
The author in the preparation of the work has had two objects
constantly in view; first to cause the student to become familiarly
acquainted with the leading principles of his profession as they
are mentioned, and secondly, to furnish him with as much advice and
information as possible within the reasonable limits of the work.
While it is a fact that some of the matter contained in this work is
very simple, and all of it intended to be very plain, it yet remains
true that the most expert living engineer was at one time ignorant of
the least of the facts and principles here given, and at no time in
his active career can he ever get beyond the necessity of knowing the
primary steps by which he first achieved his success.
The following taken from the editorial columns of the leading
mechanical journal of the country contains the same suggestive ideas
already indicated in the “soliloquy of an engineer:”
“There is amongst engineers in this country a quiet educational
movement going on in matters relating to facts and principles
underlying their work that is likely to have an important influence
on industrial affairs. This educational movement is noticeable in
all classes of workmen, but amongst none more than among the men in
charge of the power plants of the country. It is fortunate that this
is so, for progress once begun in such matters is never likely to
stop.
“Engineers comprise various grades from the chief engineer of some
large establishment, who is usually an accomplished mechanic,
carrying along grave responsibilities, to the mere stopper and
starter, who is engineer by courtesy only, and whose place is likely
to be soon filled by quite another man, so far as qualifications are
concerned. Men ignorant of everything except the mere mechanical
details of their work will soon have no place.
“Scarcely a week passes that several questions are not asked by
engineers, either of which could be made the subject of a lengthy
article. This is of interest in that it shows that engineers, are not
at the present time behind in the way of seeking information. Out of
about a thousand questions that went into print, considerable more
than half were asked by stationary engineers. These questions embrace
many things in the way of steam engineering, steam engine management,
construction, etc.”
The old meaning of the word lever was “a lifter” and this book is
intended to be to its attentive student, a real lever to advance him
in his life work; it is also to be used like a ladder, which is to be
ascended step by step, the lower rounds of which, are as important as
the highest.
It is moreover, the earnest wish of the editor that when some,
perchance may have “climbed up” by the means of this, his work, they
may in their turn serve as lifters to advance others, and by that means
the benefits of the work widely extended.