Boiler Accessories Care of Boilers

BOILER ACCESSORIES: CARE OF BOILERS Any amount of time spent in the proper care of a steam boiler will be amply repaid, for this is of great importance. The boiler, of course, should be so designed and constructed that all parts can be inspected readily; but this is of little benefit unless proper and rigid inspections are made. All internal fittings, such as fusible plugs, water alarms, feed-pipes, and the like, should occasionally be examined to see if they are tight and in good working order. If due care is not given to the boiler, its life will be materially shortened.

The following rules for the management and care of boilers have been established by the Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Company, and should be carefully followed, whether the boiler is insured by the above-mentioned company or not: 1. Condition of Water. The first duty of an engineer, when he enters his boiler-room in the morning, is to ascertain how many gauges of water there are in his boilers. Never unbank or replenish the fires until this is done. Accidents have occurred, and many boilers have been entirely ruined from neglect of this precaution.

2. Low Water. In case of low water, cover the fires immediately with ashes; or, if no ashes are at hand, use fresh coal, and close ash-pit doors. Do not turn on the feed under any circumstances, nor tamper with or open the safety-valve. Let the steam outlets remain as they are.

3. In Case of Foaming. Close throttle, and keep closed long enough to show true level of water. If that level is sufficiently high, feeding and blowing will usually suffice to correct the evil. In case of violent foaming, caused by dirty water or by change from salt to fresh water or vice versa, in addition to the action above stated, check draught, and cover fires with fresh coal.

4. Leaks. When leaks are discovered, they should be repaired as soon as possible.

5. Blowing Off. Clean furnace and bridge wall of all coal and ashes. Allow brickwork to cool down for two hours at least before opening blow-off. A pressure exceeding 20 lbs. should not be allowed when boilers are blown out. Blow out at least once in two weeks. In case the feed becomes muddy, blow out six or eight inches every day. When surface blow-cocks are used, they should be frequently opened for a few minutes at a time.

6. Filling Up the Boiler. After blowing down, allow the boiler to become cool before filling again. Cold water pumped into hot boilers is very injurious, from the sudden contraction set up.

7. Exterior of Boiler. Care should be taken that no water comes in contact with the exterior of the boiler, either from leaky joints or from other causes.

8. Removing Deposit and Sediment. In tubular boilers, the handholes should be frequently opened, all collections removed, and fore-plates carefully cleaned. Also, when boilers are fed in front and blown off through the same pipe, the collection of mud or sediment in the,rear end should be removed frequently.

9. Safety-Valves. Raise the safety-valves cautiously and frequently, as they are liable to become fast in their seats and useless for the purpose intended.

10. Safety-Valve and Pressure-Gauge. Should the gauge at any time indicate the limit of pressure allowed by the insurance company, see that the safety-valves are blowing off. In case of difference, notify the company's inspector.

11. Gauge-Cocks, Glass Gauge. Keep gauge-cocks clear and in constant use. Glass gauges should not be relied on altogether.

12. Blisters. When a blister appears, there must be no delay in having it carefully examined and trimmed or patched, as the case may require.

13. Clean Sheets. Particular care should be taken to keep sheets and parts of boilers exposed to the fire, perfectly clean; also all tubes, flues, and connections well swept. This is particularly necessary where wood or soft coal is used for fuel.

14. General Care of Boilers and Connections. Under all circumstances, keep the gauges, cocks, etc., clean and in good order, and things generally in and about the engine-room in a neat condition.

15. Getting Up Steam. In preparing to get up steam after boilers have been open or out of service, great care should be exercised in making the manhole and handhole joints. Safety-valve should then be opened and blocked open, and the necessary supply of water run in or pumped into the boilers, until it shows at second gauge in tubular and locomotive boilers; a higher level is advisable in vertical tubulars as a protection to the top ends of tubes. After this is done, fuel may be placed upon the grate, dampers opened, and fires started. If chimney or stack is cold and does not draw properly, burn some oily waste or light kindling at the base. Start fires in ample time, so that it will not be necessary to urge them unduly. When steam issues from the safety-valve, lower it carefully to its seat and note pressure and behavior of steam-gauge.

If there are other boilers in operation, and stop-valves are to be opened to place boilers in connection with others on a steam-pipe line, watch those recently fired up, until pressure is up to that of the other boilers to which they are connected; and, when that pressure is attained, open the stop-valves very slowly and carefully.