Handbook of the steam-engine. Containing all the rules required for the right construction and management of engines of every class, with the easy arithmetical solution of those rules. Constituting a key to the 'Catechism of the steam-engine.'

Front matter

£ 18

^9*

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Preface

The present work, designed mainly as a Key to my * Catechism of the Steam-Engine/ has, during its composition, been somewhat extended in its scope and objects, so as also to supply any points of information in which it appeared to me the Catechism was deficient, or whereby the utility of this Handbook as a companion volume would be increased.

The purpose of the Catechism being rather to enunciate sound principles than to exemplify the application of those principles to practice, it was always obvious to me that another work which would point out in the plainest possible manner the methods of procedure by which all computations connected with the steam-engine were to be performed — illustrated by practical examples of the application of the several rules — was indispensable to satisfy

VI PREFACE.

the wants of the practical engineer in this department of enquiry. The present work was consequently begun, and part of it was printed, several years ago, but the pressure of other pursuits has heretofore hindered its completion ; and in now sending it forth I do so with the conviction that I have spared no pains to render it as useful as possible to the large class of imperfectly educated engineers to whom it is chiefly addressed. It is with the view of enabling its expositions to be followed by those even of the most slender scientific attainments that I have introduced the first chapter, explaining those several processes of arithmetic by which engineering computations are worked out. For although there is no want of manuals imparting this information, there are none of them, that I know of, which have special reference to the wants of the engineer ; and none of them deal with those associations, by way of illustration, with which the engineer is most familiar. Indeed, engineers, like sailors and other large classes of men, have an order of ideas, and, to some extent, even a species of phraseology of their OAvn ; and the avenues to their apprehension are most readily opened by illustrations based upon their existing knowledge and experience, such as an engineer can best supply. By this familiar method of exposition the idea of difficulty is dis-

PREFACE. Vll

pelled ; and science loses half its terrors by losing all its mystery.

If I might infer the probable reception of the present work from the numerous anxious enquiries addressed to me from all quarters of the world during the last ten years, touching the prospects of its speedy appearance, I should augur for it a wider popularity than any work I have yet written. The questions propounded to me by engineers and others, in consequence of the offer I made in the preface to my ' Catechism of the Steam-Engme,' in 1856, to endeavour by my explanations to remove such difficulties as impeded their progress, have had the effect of showing more clearly than I could otherwise have perceived what the prevalent difficulties of learners have oeen ; and I have consequently been enabled to give such explanations in the present work as appeared best calculated to meet those difficulties for the future.

To several of my correspondents I have to acknowledge myself indebted for the correction of typographical errors in my several works, and also for valuable suggestions of various kinds, which I have made use of in every case in which they were available.

I may here take occasion to notify that I have lately prepared an Introduction to my * Catechism of the Steamyjj! PKEFACE.

Engine/ which reviews the most important improvement?

of the last ten years ; and which, for the convenience of

persons already possessing the Catechism, may be had

separately. These three works taken together form a body

of engineering information so elementary as to be intelli

gible by anybody, and yet so full that the attentive student

of them will, I trust, be found not to fall far short of the

most proficient engineers in all that relates to a knowledge

of the steam-engine in its most important applications.

J. BOUBNE.

Chapter I. Arithmetic Op The Steam-engine

Pr'.nciples of Numeration

Addition ......

Subtraction .....

Multiplication .

Division ...*..

Nature and Properties of Fractions

Addition and Subtraction of Fractions

To Reduce Fractions to a Common Denominator

Multiplication and Division of Fractions

Proportion, or Rule of Three

Squares and Square Roots of Numbers

Cubes and Cube Roots of Numbers . .

On Powers and Roots in General

Roots as represented by Fractional Exponents .

Logarithms .....

Compound Quantities . . . .

Resolution of Fractions into Infinite Series

Equations .......

PAQB 1 n

Chapter II. Mechanical Principles Of The Steam-engine

Law of the Conservation of Force Law of Virtual Yelocities .

Nature of Mechanical Power .

78 79 90

X COSIES iz.

PAG*

Mechanical Equivalent of Heat. ....

SI

Laws of Felling Bodies .....

. 93

Motion of Fluids ......

Centrifugal Force

11 7

Bodies ReTolrini: in a Circle .....

Centres of Gyration and Percussion

The Pendulum

. 114

T„e G"'OTernoT

Friction ........

. 113

S:rength of Materials .....

Strength of Pillars.. Beams, and Shafts

. 12-8

Chapter III. Theory Of The Steam-hsgixe

Bstnre and Effects of Heat .

. 134

Abs :lute Zero .......

. 136

Thermometers .......

. 1ST

Dilatation .......

Liquefaction .......

. 150

Vaporisation ......

Pressure of Steam at Different Temperatures

. 157

Specific Heat ......

Phenrmena of Elulii:i:n .

. 168

Communication of Heat .....

Combustion ... ...

. 174

Thermodynamics ......

Ext:.ns::n of Steam

V-.".: ;itv and Friction of Funning Water

Nominal Power G meral Proper Steam Ports Steam Pipe .

Safety Valves Feed Pipe

CHAPTER IV. ??. ~?:r.r::'\"S o? steam -ex GENtES. 213 212 216 218 219 22]

CONTENTS.

XI

PAGH

Air-Pump and Condenser ....

. 222

Injection Pipe ......

Foot Valve . ...

. 223

Feed Pump .....••

Land Engines : — Cold "Water Pump .

. 227

Fly Wheel .

Governor ....

. 230

Piston Rod . . . .

Main Links ...

. 232

Air-Pump Rod .

Back Links , . .

. 232

Studs of the Beam . • •

Main Centre . . .

. 232

Main Beam . . .

Connecting Rod ...

. 238

Fly-wheel Shaft

Crank . . . •

. 240

Crank-Pin . . . .

Mill Gearing

. 246

Marine Engines ; — Crosshead . . .

Side Rods . . .

. 258

Piston Rod . . . .

Connecting Rod . . .

. 263

Crosstail ,

Side Lever and Centres

. 267

Crank . . . <

Paddle Shaft

. 278

Air-Pump

Air-Pump Rod . . .

. 280

Air-Pump Crosshead

Air-Pump Side Rods

. 284

Dimensions of Caird and Co.'s Marine Engines

Dimensions of Maudslay and Field's Marine Engines

. 290

Dimensions of Seaward and Co.'s Marine Engines

Tables of Proportions of Engines

. 294

Locomotive Engines ....

Chapter V. Proportions Of Stea1i-boilers

Velocity of Draught in Chimneys Proportions of Wagon Boilers no xii coxte:s-ts %•.

PAoa

Proportions of Rue Boilers ...... 311

Proportions of Modern Boilers . . . 314

Indications to be fulfilled in Marine Boilers . . . 316

Strength of Boilers . . . . 320

Example of a Locomotive Boiler . ... 329

Chapter VI. Powee And Peep0e2iance Of Engines

Construction and use of the Indicator .... 333

Counter, Dynamometer, and Duty Meter . . . S72

Heating Surface in Modern Boilers ..... 375

Relative Surface Areas in Boilers and Condensers . . 3S0

Giffard's Injector ....... 383

Comparative Efficacy of Hydraulic Machines . . . 385

Power required to Drive different Factories . . . 3SG

CHAPTER TH.

STEAM NAVIGATION.

Resistance of Vessels ...... 399

Friction of Water ....... 4>3

Speed of Steamers of a Given Power . . . .429

General Conclusions ...... 453

Examples of Lines of Approved Steamers .... 454

RECEIVED. ^«

HANDBOOK

OF

THE STEAM-ENGINE