Hand-book of land and marine engines, including the modelling, construction, running, and management of land and marine engines and boilers

Front matter

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Introduction

n[^HE object of the writer in preparing this work has -L been to present to the practical engineer a book to which he can refer with confidence for information regarding every branch of his profession. Many of the books heretofore written on this subject are full of formulae for calculating questions that may arise in the engine-room ; but, as they are generally expressed in algebraical form, they are of little service to the majority of engineers ; for, however useful such formulae may be to the scientific, they can be of no practical value to men who do not fully understand them. It is also no less a fact that nearly all writers on the steam-engine deal more with the past than the present. This is to be regretted, for, however interesting the bygone records of steam engineering may be, as a history, they cannot instruct the engineer of the present day in the principles and practice of his profession.

An experience of over thirty years with all kinds of engines and boilers enables the writer to fully comprehend the wants of the class for whom^. he writes, and what they can understand and employ. With this object in view, ' he has carefully investigated all the details of Land and Marine Engines and Boilers, taking up each subject singly, and excluding therefrom everything not directly connected with Steam Engineering. Particular attention has been given to the latest improvements in all classes of engines,

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Vlll INTRODUCTION.

and to their proportions according to the best modern practice, which will be found of special value to engineers, as nothing of the kind has heretofore been published. The book also contains ample instructions for setting up, lining, reversing, and setting the valves of all classes of engines, — subjects that have not, up to the present time, received that attention from writers on the steam-engine that their importance to engineers so justly merits. It also contains a complete Lexicon of Central, Mechanical, and Natural Forces, which will be found of great value to engineers, as scarcely anything of the kind that has heretofore been published, has been applicable to American practice. A large portion of the work is devoted to the examination and discussion of the principles of Hydro- and Thermodynamics, which include Air, Water, Heat, Combustion, Steam, Liquefaction, Dilatation of Gases, Molecular and Atomic Forces, Dynamic Equivalents, subjects with which the practical engineer should be fully conversant ; as to ignore the principles of any subject is similar to building a structure without knowing the strength of the foundation ; for it was only by a minute and careful analysis of the physical phenomena which convert heat into a motor force that the steam-engine has been brought to its present perfection. The strength of materials, design, construction, care, and management of all classes of Steam-Boilers are also fully discussed.

The writer candidly admits that the work may be found somewhat defective in language, but he firmly believes that it will be found perfectly accurate and reliable in all other respects.

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Contents

F(yr a full reference to the Contents in detail, see Index, page 583,

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Introduction . . .7