The Iron Age 1913-12-25: Vol 92 Iss 26

Established 1855 New York, December 25, 1913 Vol. 92: No. 26 Progress in Boiler, Tank and Plate Shops Some of the New Methods Introduced and Improved and Special Equipment Utilized in Well Organized Shops to Increase Output BY C. A. is a noteworthy fact that, while every possible effort been made toward improving the equipment of machine ops and increasing their operating economy, this gain is not been attended by corresponding progress in the ork of the ordinary boiler, tank or plate shop, apart, of urse, from the manufacture of large water tube boilers nd some of the high grade tubular boilers, which is a line production in a class by itself. Within the past year or two, however, a change has een observable in the attitude and methods of the men responsible for the operation of such shops, and many new ideas are being devel- ped. Perhaps it is incor- rect to say “new,” for most of the ideas have hereto- fore been carried out some- where; but the effect on the industry as a whole is the same. Recent tendency has been to gather up these iso- lated examples of improved ethods and make them re general in their appli- ition. This is due, for the ost part, to four principal uses, such as gatherings superintendents and remen at conventions, re experiences have een interchanged; ex- hange of visits among lants; suggestions made in advertisements and rinted matter of manufac- ers of boiler shop equip- nt or carried from place place by their salesmen, onstrators, erectors and hers, and the exigencies repair work, particularly fig j—An railroad shops. [he photographs repro- ed herewith show appli- tions of tools in locomotive boiler, firebox, tank and ten- work, where some of the most ingenious, time-saving hods have been introduced. Fig. 1 is an adaptation of a ybolt driver as a holder-on, for which purpose it drives o the head of the rivet and is used in a position close e sheet, to which an ordinary holder-on is not adapted. 2 shows a self-supporting device made on the same iple as the staybolt driver and pneumatic holder-on referred to, and Fig. 3 illustrates its use in combina- with an ordinary pneumatic hammer. Fig. 4 shows a ‘ial tool, which in this case is arranged for knocking off heads of rivets from a firebox, the record made at the the photograph was taken being 430 7%-in. rivets per 1427 Adaptation of a Staybolt Driver as a Holder-On for Use Close to a Sheet Where an Ordinary Holder-On Cannot Be Employed TUPPER hr.; and in Fig. 5 it is set for punching them out. Fig. 6 illustrates an adaptation of a somewhat similar tool for holding on and driving up mud drum rivets, and in Fi it is shown putting in firebox flue sheet rivets for an oil burning engine, these rivets being driven flush with the inside. The same view displays a rivet buster attached to a yoke, as used for removing the burrs from wrappet sheets. A feature of this photograph is also the self supporting crane, the jib of which is swung from a portable structural column and used for holding up the tool. This support can be set down anywhere by one of the shop cranes and used for hold ing up a great variety of pneumatic tools. Its base can be seen directly back of the operator. The above described photographs wer: taken in the shops of the Southern Pacific Company, at Los Angeles, Cal., under the direction of Supt. D. P Kellogg, who is in charge of the work there This ingenuity in the us of small tools has been car- ried into larger work \t one of the principal heavy plate shops of the country the writer found many sp¢ cial devices. Spacing table for accuracy and speed in punching large sheets are no longer a novelty; but at this plant there is one de signed by the superintend ent which is believed to be the largest of its kind and possesses a number of unique features. This is so constructed, with automatic adjustments, that a single operator is enabled to set regulate the spacing and punching and otherwise handle the heaviest plate that can be put upon the table Sheets weighing as much as 7000 Ib. have been punched here, and the one mai assigned to the work has been ample for all requirement At the time of the writer’s visit this spacing table was arranged for punching out three notches, 2 x 6 in., on each side of a heavy plate. Twelve binding bolt holes, 4% in in diameter, were also to be punched, one on each,side of the six notches. These plates, as it subsequently developed, were set, notched and punched on both sides of the sheet at a rate slightly in excess of 20 per hr. With this table the ordinary sawtooth rack movement is replaced by one involving a steel templet, which, together with its locking 1428 THE IRON pins, will accurately space any layout within the scope of the table. These templets can, of course, be designed to cover an extremely wide range of work; they are quickly and accurately made and but little time is required to attach any templet to the table. The design and arrange ment of the table are such that the only limit to the size of the plate to be punched is the room available in which to operate. For example, sheets 30 ft. in length and 34 in thick, that are punched for 7%-in. rivets in one, two or four rows, can be handled as readily as the smaller sizes. Thx table is built almost entirely of structural shapes, the only cast iron used being the spreaders and stools for carrying the beams or rails. This style of construction not only gives a very light table but also one of considerable flexi bility, which will yield to the weight clamped upon 11 without impairing the accuracy of the work to be per formed. In numerous shops throughout the country a marked distinction is beginning to be made between the require ments of heavy, slow punching and those of light, quick wcuck. For the latter purpose especially designed rapid production machines, capable of both regular and irregula: punching, will soon be as common, relatively speaking, as tools, serving similar purposes in machine shops. The same is true of bending rolls, straightening machines and shears, necessitating for the larger shops a more compre hensive line than formerly, although with these tools the > Fig. Figs. 2 and \ Self-Supporting Holder-On and the distinction referred to has always been made to a greater extent than with punching machines. In the speed and efficiency of each the arrangement of the drive, particularly by geared or direct-connected motor, has much to do. For all cold-cutting outside of plate shearing an interest- ing development is the rapidly growing use of high-speed friction saws, the cutting blades of which are usually mounted directly on the shafts of motors especially de- signed for this class of work. This limits the speed to that of the motor, in each case, but by gearing the saws can be brought up to any speed. The method is coming more and more to be regarded as the most economical yet devised, both from the standpoints of speed and kerf and also of the effect on the material; so that it promises to become general. On the subject of drilling operations in plate, tank and boiler shops an extended treatise might be written; but in general it may be said that machine shop methods are being everywhere successfully introduced, notwithstanding many essential differences in conditions. The use of multiple head group or radial drilling machines, with the spindles of the former and the saddles and columns of the latter so designed as to admit of any spacing between centers or of irregular spacing, is, however, one feature which has been carried even farther in plate shops than in machine shops, owing to the more varied need of drilling in even or staggered rows or peculiar formations. For holding the work, in drilling along circular, elliptical or other arcs, there has also been developed the magnetic “old man,” which is ordinarily a home-made de AGE December 25, vice that shows considerable ingenuity and varies wit requirements of the shop. One of a portable type se: the writer in a manufacturing plant where plate is handled was the invention of the foreman in cl This device is made of two channel bars held tos with suitable braces and provided with three round legs. Inside of the channel bars, and mounted on w is a carriage which permits of an easy movement of drill back and forth. A pneumatic drilling machin suspended on a spindle in the center of this carriag is raised or lowered by a simple lever. The frame swi: freely around the upright from the magnets, thus alloy work to be done in a complete circle or, by adjusting radius, in any curved or irregular formation. The hol power of the magnets can be regulated, up to the cap: given by their winding, to suit the work to be done; there is practically no limit to the size of the work can be handled with apparatus powerful enough. countersinking and light drilling the lever feed answers the purpose, but by substituting a regular screw feed h drilling can be done. Tools used in some shops include drilling and thread- ing and reducing machines especially for staybolts and similar work, together with the ordinary bolt threading cutting and pointing machines used for odd lots not carried in stock. Furthermore, tools common to machine i shops, such as slotting, shaping and even milling ma ay It Is Used in Conjunction with a Pneumatic Hammer chines, are coming into more extended use, and a note- worthy tendency is the introduction of planing machines for truing the edges of heavy plates. Other machine work on frame supports, rods, heads, etc., is usually done in a regular shop for that purpose forming part of the same plant, failing which a small auxiliary machine and tool shop is maintained. Simple grinding, cutting-off and threading operations are taken care of as may be most convenient. Riveting apparatus, from the small pneumatic hand tools to the huge hydraulic gap riveters, has been steadily improved in efficiency, enabling operations to be gradually speeded up, but there have been no recent developments of special interest. Among the larger machines an ex- ample of the best practice is a type of hydraulic riveter, seen by the writer in several locomotive shops, which is designed to handle entire boilers, with firebox tops, tanks and tenders, complete. One of these has, for example, a depth of gap of 14% ft. and a width of gap of 54 in. The maximum pressure capacity, at 1500 lb. exerted by the pump, is 125 tons; but, by a special system which has been worked out for this class of riveting, multiple pressures of varying degrees, say 25, 50, 75, 100 or 125 tons, can be exerte:!, depending upon the size of the rivet and the work to be done. The head of the riveter is flush, which per- mits work to be swung in; and, as the bottom of the ram is also flush, there is no limit to the size of the boiler, tank or plates to be riveted. The width of the gap also enables fireboxes to be swung clear and, with the flush construc- tion of the ram, to be riveted into place. A hydraulic crane to mn ty dun mber , 1913 THE IRON AGE J Fig. 4 I l ; 5—-A Special Tool in Use for Cutting Off Riv Heads a I olding the work forms part of the equipment. This however, each of these subjects calls r special 20-tons capacity and also operates under 1500-lb. pump _hensive treatment by itself, no attempt will be made he ire. A separate operator for this is dispensed with to do more than call attention to their importance: hains conveniently suspended for the movement of the In the case of difficult work, and where strength ol ge and trolley. nstruction is a material factor, welding has been resorte \ feature of riveting work on the shop floor or about to as an aid to flanging. One j bserved by the writer yards is the increasing use of portable rivet heaters which will serve as an illustration of this tendency f these is ordinarily self-contained, carrying a sufh sisted of heavy water jacket plates for a smelting furnace supply of oil for the day’s work, and can be rolled the flanges of which were very wide, with t ner it into any place where a small truck will go. The turned nearly square There was altogether too mucl iting capacity of such a furnace is usually about 400 4% stock at these corners to bend and press them into the in. rivets per hr., and the apparatus can be operated necessary shape entire, and therefore autogenous welding any of the various shop pressures on the compressed was resorted to as an aid to the flangu perati t r lines. By reducing valves, however, the air pressuré stock at the corners being cut away and V-shaped piec« he oil tank is always kept low, overcoming any danger welded in. Another job consisted of a large sheet stee <plosions. If the air hose is accidentally cut or punc blast pipe, which required for its construction a number red, as, for example, by being jammed against some of angle irons of special shape. To make these angle irp plate edge or corner in the shop, the oil immediately irons two pieces of sheet steel were cut out and welded lrains back to the tank, killing the fire and avoiding any together at the corners. This method of making the angles ident proved to be not only better but cheaper than the olde In contrast to the steady but comparatively uneventful system. For heavy, irregular shaping and flanging a advance of riveting has been the more rapid gain of tice borrowed from naval construction is the use of marin flanging and welding in boiler, tank and plate shop work bending floors, which in a few of the lants are vé re rapid because of the ground that had to be made up. __ effectively utilized. anging of heavy plates is a subject to which, except In handling flues and tubing for boilers ndensers and a desultory fashion, very little attention has been paid ther purposes, combination pneumatic machines for swag years past Manufacturers have usually accepted it ing, scarfing and welding have been introduced in many lgingly as a necessity along certain lines, but to be shops. With one of these a 2-in. flue, for instance, can be ided wherever possible. The expensive machinery swaged and welded in about 5 sec., making a smooth weld eded for first-class results, including flanging presses both inside and out and leaving the flue an even thickness lange clamps and flange punches, has further militated \ rotary flue welder is also being successfully uss igainst this work. Notwithstanding all obstacles, however Furnaces for annealing, flanging, hot-pressing a1 tl ise of both hot and cold flanging has, within the past heating of rivets, tubing and other stock continue to be or three years, grown by leaps and bounds. This is mainly of the oil and gas-fired types; but the use of | to the greater strength of construction required by dered fuel threatens to make heavy inroads on this practi gher pressures and temperatures; and, as in the case of In the burning of oil an improvement brought about | castings, manufacturers are turning largely to out- many installations, as observed by the writer, is in having custom plants having special facilities for flanging it take place entirely within the combustion chamber same is true, to a considerable extent, of dishing and outside of the heating area proper. Here, at the bottom, r forms of regular and irregular hot pressing. As, the oil is broken down to the hydrocarbon gases, which at Se Fig. 6 Fig. 7 gs. 6 and 7—-A Device for Holding On and Driving Up Mud Drum Rivets and Putting in the Flue Sheet Rivet Fir the top of the chamber come in c sary to complete ntact with the air neces- This not but also increases -ombustion only simplifies the process and makes it more efficient, the hourly capacity of the furnace, thermal value of the crossing the bridge The blower where in economy over those of only a few years ago. Motor drive is now general, and some very ingenious systems of automatic electrical control, including manipula tion from some central point, have been worked out. In contradistinction, also, due to the fact that the fuel is immediately wall into the systems installed marked effective upon neating area proper. with furnaces and advance in else shops show a operating and efficiency setting up a blower anywhere, often back of a rubbish heap, the tendency now is to bu to the former practice of ld an entirely separate compartment for it, with an ample intake There fact, The most gratifying supplied with pure air. are, in improvements line all along the feature f the year just closing, so far as boiler, tank and plate shops generally are con cerned, is the fact that the apathy and indifference of former times seem to have been definitely shaken Real progress has been apparent lately, and much mort al will unquestionably be made in the near future Special Feed Vertical Milling Machine The Garvin Machine and Varick streets, New York City, the market a vertical-spindle feed Company, has recently placed on milling machine, having an in either direction for both the slide and a self-contained drive Spring accelerated table and the cross Among other points of in- terest is the means for changing the back gears, a vertical adjustment of the spindle slide with micrometer stops and binder handles, a feed versing the feed, centralized contr the protection of gears change box with means for re 1 of all movements and iving the bracket on the base of the splined shafts to the arrangement The cone pulley dr machine is carried by a machine, and is connected by spindle. It that this facilitates the appli motor drive, it being possible to transmit power from a motor bolted on to the cone pulley shaft by a silent chain. The power is applied through bevel and gears to the prolongation of the upper ends of the spindle and the back shaft. It is possible to drive the is pointed out ation ot the bas¢ spur spindle directly at high speeds or through the back gearing at slow speeds by simply shifting one gear, the case being the The nose of the spindle is 3% in. in diameter and is threaded with a 3! 3rown & Sharpe Nx sufficient to enable a cutter 12 in The table oblique direction of rotation in each same. -pitch left hand thread to take a 24 cutter, the power being in diameter to be handled Sellers rn f movement is by a otion of ar worm having a ball thrust bearing and controlled A New Vertical Spindle Feeds or the Table und the Cross Sli THE IRON AGE December 25, by a pilot wheel. Both the table and the cross sli: fitted with double feed boxes, giving the regular very fast feed at will. A separate handle is provide throwing in each kind of feed, which is controll dogs on the table and the cross rail in the customary There are two sets provided. One set permits th to be tripped in either direction and brings the part against a solid stop, while the others are buttons » trip but permit of passing over. The same handle o1 cross slide rail throws in and trips the feed. The and regular feeds are in the same direction, so th is possible to make quick jumps over intervening sp between cuts. To prevent both kinds of feed from thrown in at the same time, an interlocking arrangen is provided. A turn of the change feed handle throws change box out of action and when this is done a spe lever on the box can be operated to traverse the tab the cross slide back and forth rap)\!y by power. To vent accident, this lever is interlocked with the change | Labor Legislation Pending in Congress The National Council for Industrial Defense, 30 Chu street, New York, calls the attention of employers t bill now being urgently pressed upon Congress by tl Federation of Labor which embodies in one enactment all the various proposals to relieve labor organizations fron civil or criminal responsibility and judicial interferenc: that have been severally pushed in recent years. The bill in question is H.R. 1873 and S. 927, identical measur: introduced in the House by Representative Bartlett a: lh in the Senate by Senator Bacon, both of Georgia. Th: lederation of Labor indorsed this measure in its conver tions of 1912 and 1913; instructed its executive committe: to procure immediate enactment witnout change; through that committee has presented these demands to the Presi dent and Congress, and now by circalar appeal is asking for the organization of committees uf union men to wait on senators and congressmen in each State in the coming olidays and is urging the sending of individual letters to representatives demanding the immediate passage of the measure without alterations. The National Council for Industrial Defense states that “never before has it proposed in this country or elsewhere that the right to be protected against a combin tion or a conspiracy depeads upon che class to which the conspirators belong and not the acts which they agree lo or actually accomplish.” been The proposed act is chara “vicious class legislation, which undertakes t it lawful and right for laborers or farmers to con bine and do things to better their condition that remain rimes and conspiracies if done by merchants to increas‘ the price of their gouds or manufacturers to fix the pric« ‘f their wares.” terized as ' mak¢ Increase in France’s Pig-lron Capacity Because of present and projected improvements 1 iron and steel works, France’s output of pig iron is ex pected to be increased by 1,500,000 tons in the next thre The Aciéries de France will replace the two smal! blast furnaces at their Isbergues Works (Pas de Calais district) by two others of larger capacity for the pr duction of Thomas pig iron. The Forges du Nord et d Est have recently installed a,third blast furnace at thet new works at Valenciennes. The Forges de Anzin con template the erection of two blast furnaces, and toward the end of 1914 the new works at Pont a Vendin of the Lens-Commentry-Four-Chambault firm, equipped for yearly output of 300,090 tons of pig iron, will start ope! ations. In the eastern district the construction of thre new units at the Homecourt works and the reconstruc- tion of the seventh blast furnace at the Moulaine works are planned. According to a recent report of the Chief Mining Inspector, there are at present III iron ore con cessions in the Department of Meurthe and Moselle, of which 56 are working. The total production jn 1912 was 17,000,000 tons, against 14,800,000 tons in I09IT. years The Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railroad Company is making preliminary surveys for the proposed new ore dock at Ashland, Wis. The present dock will also I roundhouse constructed. be improved and a new ber 25, IQ1I3 New Norton Plain Grinding Machine A 3x18 In. Tool Possessing a Number of Interesting Mechanical Features x 18 in. plain cylindrical grinding machine brought Norton Grinding Company, Worcester, Mass., lly useful in k and for tasks as tool work such w of a Recently Developed Machine Plain Cylindrical Grinding grinding small twist drills and parts of typewriters, sewing achines, phonographs, cream separators, roller bearings 1 electrical apparatus. It is made to swing 3 in. in diam- give room for suitable steady rests for supporting rom % to I in. in and up to 18 in, in but is best suited for work under ™% in. in diameter. lesigned for finishing cuts only, where there is not m 0.004 to 0.008 1n. of diameter, nan tr stock to be removed 1 the iit diameter of the work he machine is self-contained, no overhead works be- It can be driven by belt either from above by a motor placed on the floor at the back. le reverse is pneumatically cushioned, making it le to operate the table at a maximum speed of 27 ft / juired ‘ r Eight table speeds are provided, the slowest being per minute. The automatic and hand cross new design and sacrifice in sizing the work feeds nothing in the matter of The control of the work iew of the Left Hand End of the Machine THE IRON AGE revol on and table tra sé s W le ¢ I in be started separately 2 i } ig f the work always stops the table, wl t ed nless the work is re lving The act ng ‘ able nnects the handwheel for n g e table by ind lis is disconnected when the ta $ st able Ss f new design in that the fo 5 ‘ ) iil ways on which it slides tecting th und ury. The steady rests, designed especially for small work, are provided with m mete tops ranged for quick handling he rkshoes are of steel hardened and ground Four w eeds are provide ranging from 160 to 640 r.p.m Che. wheel spind hrome-nickel forging, carefully heat treated The shaft are self-oiling and the loose pulley 5 1 sel neg roller bearing. The footstock spindle is hardened, as al are many other parts of the machine, insuring maxim wearing qualities. Ample provision is for yn the wheel and work and he S t k Tt veniently arranged for cleaning The machine wheels 10 in. in diameter, with a 4-1n. face Taper 2 in. per ft. can be ground Two wheels are furnished, one for the eg and tool steel, and the other for cast iron ar steel. The equipment includes a center grit ment, arranged to grind the center points perfectly round e and to 6o-deg. included angl lifter f is required, a special attachment é ‘ [The weight of the machine plet vith all is about 1800 Ib Lord & Taylor’s new store it 5 rk ( under construction, is to be equipped with Buffal and ventilating apparatus and Carrier air was ! humidifers, this apparatus constituting one of t irgest ontracts of its kind placed in 1913 There are to be 64 fans, all driven by direct-connected motors, the sizes and speeds being selected less operation. multiblade type, and the remainder will be fans and propeller wheels. Eleven Carrier will clean and humidify the incoming air, each washer being equipped with special reference to noise Of these fans, 25 are to be of the Conoida cone air wasners with the Carrier system of automatic humidit ntrol The Clyde shipbuilding returns for the year 1913 will prove the best on record. It will be the third ecutive year of prosperity at the Scotch shipyards Ere oe ee gem ate 1432 Large Motor-Driven Grinding Machine A Manufacturing Tool for Handling Shafts and Other Work Up to 20 Ft. The Landis Tool Company, Waynesboro, Pa., has com pleted a large motor-driven plain grinding machine, which is intended as a manufacturing tool for handling work up to a maximum diameter of 30 in. and a length of 20 ft. In addition to grinding large shafts, it can also be used for the finishing of heavy rolls and engine crank and other shafts. A number of motors are used for driving various parts of the machine, some of them mounted on separate carriages. Three motors are used for driving the machine. One is for driving the grinding wheel, one for revolving the work and traversing the wheel and one for operating the water pump. nected The second of these motors is belt con- rith the gear box at the end of the machine, which is arranged with a clutch mechanism, so that it is possible to start and stop the drives, either singly or together without reference to the motor. This motor operates at a constant speed, and changes in the speed of both the work and the traverse of the wheel are made by an arrangement of gears and clutches, all of which are operated from one position at the front of the machine In all, there are 1¢ THE IRON AGE December 2 5 ’ different work speeds, ranging from 2 to 45 r.p.m. a: changes of wheel traverse speed, from 2% to &4 ir min. The grinding wheel is driven by an adjustable-s motor, which is controlled by a set of apparatus mo on the main wheel carriage. The standard size of w used with this machine is 30 in. in diameter and ca: reduced 8 in. in diameter before it must be discar The proper peripheral or cutting speed is secured for size within the range of wear of the wheel by mar lating the controller. As will be noticed from the view of the grinding wheel, the motor is mounted up separate carriage and travels on a track formed by base af the machine. The two carriages are entirely dependent, except for an arm connection for propel the motor carriage as the wheel carriage is traversed. motor carriage is mounted on large diameter rollers, w! are fitted with ball bearings. Metal guards are provi to protect the track surfaces upon which the carri: travels. Sliding contact shoes and feed wires, locat along the body of the machine, are used to transmit + electric current to the grinding wheel motor. A meta guard is provided to protect these wires and prevent a: thing from falling on them from directly above. The grinding wheel slide for feeding the wheel toward Front View Front View of the Grinding Wheel Head Rear The Grinding Wheel Drive from the Rear View FOUR VIEWS OF A NEW LARGE PLAIN GRiNDING MACHINE WITH SPECIAL MOTOR DRIVE ember 25, 1913 vay from the work has a rapid mechanical feeding nism, which is operated by a vertical lever located en the handwheel regulating the feed and the motor ler, this arrangement being clearly brought out in ont view of the grinding wheel head. This mechan- s employed for moving the wheel back from the work ly while changing from one piece to another or from srtion of a piece to another, where there are several ters to be ground and also for returning the wheel ly to the grinding position. The action of the con- lever is the same as the direction of motion of the |, the lever being pushed toward the work to feed the in and moved back when the wheel is to be taken from the work. In addition, the customary hand is provided, together with an automatic arrange- for feeding the wheel at the reversing points. \n automatic motor starter and field rheostat is used controlling the motor. Emphasis is laid upon the fact this gives an efficient arrangement, since the con- r can be set to give the wheel the proper feed for any f diameter within the wearing range and the motor erated by an ordinary knife switch. Positive control peration is claimed for this arrangement, since with omatic starter the speed gradually increases after starting switch has been closed. Bronze is used for all : spindle bearings which run continuously while the ma- ine is in operation, and the spindles themselves are of hardened and heat treated steel. The starting box of the vater pump motor is mounted directly upon the motor elf, an arrangement which, it is pointed out, will be found convenient for the operator. The starter for the work driving and grinding wheel traversing motor is not »wn, the location of this varying in accordance with the esires of the customer when the machine is*installed. Joint Engineers’ Meeting in New York lhe American Electrochemical Society, New York Se tion, of which H. B. Coho is secretary-treasurer, II! Broadway, New York, announces that the next meeting will be a joint one with the American Institute of Elec- trical Engineers and the New York members of the Amer- ican Society of Mechanical Engineers, on the evening of Friday, January 9, in the auditorium of the Engineering Societies Building, 29 West Thirty-ninth street, New York Dr. C. O. Mailloux, president of the Electrical Engineers, will preside. After the meeting the members of the sec tion will be the guests of the American Institute of Elec trical Engineers at a smoker to be held in the rooms of the Institute. The subject to be discussed is “The Power Problem in the Electrolytic Deposition of Metals.” Law- rence Addicks, superintendent United States Metals Re- ining Company, will speak on “The Limitations of the Problem”; H. E. Longwell, mechanical engineer, Westing- house Machine Company, on “The Mechanical Side of the Problem”; F. D. Newbury, division engineer, Westing- se Electric & Mfg. Company, on “The Electrical Side the Problem.” 1 The Wisconsin Manufacturers’ Association has re- elected its officers. Harry W. Bolens, president Gilson Mfg Company, Port Washington, is president; A. Hirshheimer, sident LaCrosse Plow Company, vice-president; Wil- George Bruce, Milwaukee, secretary; Frank J. Sensen- ner, Neenah, treasurer; James A. Fetterly, Milwaukee, sistant secretary and treasurer. The directorate includes rge Ingersoll, Beloit; A. L. Osborn, Oshkosh; Fred- Robinson, Racine; C. A. Johnson, Madison; D. P. Lamoreaux, Beaver Dam, and Gen. Otto H. Falk, president llis-Chalmers Mfg. Company, Milwaukee. he General Electric Company, Schenectady, N. Y sold to the Chase Rolling Mill Company, Waterbury n a 750-kva. alternating-current generator; to the tn Metals Corporation, Bayonne, N. J., a 370-kva r-generator set with blower equipment and switch- rd; to the Standard Steel Car Company, New Castle, 54 motors ranging from 5 to 50 hp.; to the Union n Works, San Francisco, Cal., four 200-hp. induction rs with starting compensators; to the United States minum Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., ten 20-hp. induc- motors with starting compensators. THE IRON AGE 1433 Machine for Cutting Racks Automatically An improved type of automatic rack cutting machine for handling work up to 30 in. in length has been brought out by the Standard Mfg. Company, Bridgeport, Conn In addition to cutting racks, it is also possible to convert the machine so that gears may be cut. The various special — 7 . . — — ~ Ren — ae — apnea —— oe ; A New Automatic Machine for Cuttir Racks | p to 30 In. | ig features of this company’s line, such as the quick return of the cutter, the raising of the cutter clear of the work for the return stroke which permits indexing to be done during the return stroke, the locking of the index plate and the quick changing of the amount of index, have all been embodied in the construction of this machine The machine has a deep oil pan, mounted on low sub stantial legs, with detachable wings. It is pointed out that this pan, in combination with the oil pump, insures a large flow of oil on the cutter, without waste due to splashing or overflow [he cross rail is keyed to the table ands fastened in position by set screws and braced underneath. The vise has long bearings with a gib on the inside to compensate for wear. There is an adjustable steel jaw running the entire length of the vise for holding the racks, saws, or other work that is to be cut. The vise also carries a rack at the front throughout its entire length, which engages with a crank operated pinion for returning the vise after the work has been completed. An automatic adjustahle trip provides for the throwing out of the feed when the work is completed. A large bearing is provided for the cutter spindle and an overhanging support for its outer end is relied upon to eliminate vibration and secure accuracy. Vertical and horizontal adjustments controlled by screws are provided for the slide carrying the cutter spindle, with a micrometer adjustment for accurate gauging of the depth of cut The equipment of the machine includes four stroke cams for ordinary work and special stroke cams for special jobs The Nordberg Mfg. Company, Milwaukee, Wis., is pre- paring for shipment to a Canadian mining company a special air compressor, 18 and 30 x 36 in., variable capacity, two-stage, and a 23 and 23 x 48-in. geared duplex air hoist- ing engine. Their completion has required nearly six months, the entire work being on special patterns and designs. The Nordberg Company only recently invaded the Canadian field in competition with British manufac turers, and several large contracts are in prospect for delivery during the first half of 1914 As a result of the work of the corrosion committee of the Institute of Metals, London, England, the ordinary 70:30 tube of commerce has deen shown to be far sur- passed in resistance to dezincification by tubes containing 70 per cent, copper, 28 per cent. zinc and 2 per cent. lead, and by those known as “Admiralty,” having 70 per cent. copper, 29 per cent. zinc and I per cent. tin. Muntz metal, 61 per cent. copper and 39 per cent. zinc, has been found unsuitable. eine webs Saige Intricate Forms of Cast Iron Explained The Guesses Made on How the Intricate Shapes Were Obtained and What the Actual Method is, with Its Latest Results In The Iron Age of November 13 a number of photo graphs were reproduced of gray cast iron in the form of delicate leafy what might be Japanese carvings. It explained that these were reproduced not only because they would prove interesting in themselves, but readers might like to offer an explanation for them or suggest the procedure neces to get the results. The iron formations were made by Alexander E. Outerbridge, Jr., metallurgist of William Sellers & Co., Inc., Philadelphia, who has recently obtained some unusually striking the fantastically shaped cast iron. Some of these are shown in the accom- panying illustrations and Mr. Outerbridge describes the method of their production. Some guesses have been made by read- {f The Iron Age, and indeed one of these suggested a process substantially the same as that followed by Mr. Outerbridge, lacking one important feature only. Inter- esting details of these contributions and also of explanations made by others directly to Mr. Outerbridge, also been here. It will be recalled that made of the fact that some of vines, shrubs and called Was because sary examples of ers ot have compiled mention was the tendrils, if the fin- est parts of the may so cast iron be called, slender and so springy that, if touched, they Vi- brate for minutes at a time, some- times are so responding to ordinary trem- i room. tor- ors in a Some of the mations, in fact, were so. delicate that care was needed to prevent breakage. T he _ accom- panying group of photographs show some of the later results. They were poured from dregs remaining in ladles Experiments have been made by substituting straw charcoal, as suggested by one of our correspondents, the straw burns away too rapidly for the metal to so long, delicate filaments. The metal instead forms a pool of iron in the bottom. Taller castings than 4 ft. have not been attempt although they could just as readily be cast Io ft. h Mr. Outerbridge asserts, but he would not know how support or handle them. One of the latest castings t on the form of a fir tree. The molders, in a mirthful m decorated it for Christmas with all sorts of gaily color: advertisements, cotton waste, chaplets, trow slickers and other small implements their trade. The general effect at a distan really remarkable, and the tree placed on an elevation so that every 1 entering the foundry could see it. Some of the earlier guesses hazarded as possible solutions were: the lost-wax process imbedding plants in fine molding sand a: burning out the organic materials at very high temperature and pouring in a white | mold; long immersions of iron castings a weak acid solu tion, which slowly dissolved the ir leaving the car- bon, etc, in a skeleton form. A guess from a prominent metal- lurgist was that the metal was skil- fully poured into water. Another theory suggested was that the mol- ten iron was poured into a pipe coated inside with magnesite and sur- rounded with a coil of insulated wire through which powerful currents were sent tobacco was from a dynamo As Mr. Outer- bridge suggests, this correspondent of common foun- evidently did not dry iron, being know that molten poured into a CAST IRON IN INTRICATE FORMS iron is not subject rough wooden box Hight of the Tree-like Result in the Middle May be Apprehended by the 2 ft. Rule to magnetic influ- ; Shown About 8 in the Lower Part is Concealed in the Box, Which is Filled , . without bottom, 4 with Sand as a Support. About 8 in. of the Other Specimens are Like- ence. About 30 ft. high, 12 in wise Imbedded in Sand and All Forms are, of Course, Accidental years ago, Mr square on the in- Outerbridge men side at the bottom and 8% in. square at the top. This tioned, a patent was issued in this country for casting box rested on a bed of sand and it was filled with chilled cast-iron carwheels in an iron chill ring surrounded pieces of broken charcoal. top 1 percolated The iron was poured in at the through the charcoal to the bottom. The box was lifted off in a few minutes and the charcoal allowed to burn slowly away, leaving all the filaments of the iron intact. The castings made in the box were all about 4 ft. high when cast ‘and taller ones could be easily made, but they would be difficult to handle The castings as shown in the photographs rest on the bottoms of boxes 8 in. deep, filled with sand to support them in upright position. It is noticeable that many of the tree-like castings have shapes like small birds perched on the branches. There are no duplicates and infinite varia- tions in forms result from varying the size of lumps of charcoal and proportion of fine granulations. and down with a wire coil connected with a dynamo. He was directed to test the plan, notwithstanding his assertion that iron was non-magnetic at any temperature above cherry red, and so it proved to be. Needless to say the patented process was never used. One guess which came very close to the real solution was made by Joseph A. Powell, of the Baird Machinery Company, Pittsburgh, who wrote in part as follows: “Years ago, the writer, when a boy visited a copper plant (whether a mine, a foundry or something I do not remem- ber), at Point St. Ignace, across from Mackinac Island. At that time there was made for my father a copper casting very similar in general form to the gray iron casting shown at the right hand of the first picture in the 1434 iber 25, 1913 d line of the cuts shown on page 1095 in the Novem- : issue of your always welcome Jron Age. This was by pouring the hot metal into a flask in which a iful of straw, twisted and crushed by the hand, had placed. The hot metal burned the straw away, g fantastic shapes of the metal itself. Just how the npled-up straw is placed in the mold I do not know, rather suspect that these iron castings were made <actly the same manner as the beautiful copper orna- that was in our home for many years.” Mr. Outer- ee regards this process as possible on a very small , pouring an ounce or two of copper, but is not feasible ng a large amount of molten metal. fhe head of an engineering and metallurgical labora- in Philadelphia suggested that the results indicated ht possibly be obtained by the following method: repare a cylindrical mold, say 6 ft. in diameter and n. deep; provide the pattern with a longitudinal opening, a %4-in. pipe; pour the melted metal at a high tempera- to about half the depth of the mold; use the pattern a stopper some inches above the level of the melt, ling it there securely; get out of the way and let an e or two of water through the pipe and see what pens. A pinch of dynamite, with its peculiar tendency exert its force downward, might do the job better ms to me the trick could be done effectively in some way as this.” y another it was suggested that the castings might b« tained by a method analogous to that used for artificial that is, the molten iron is forced through small nings under pressure. Another guess was that the stigator had melted and drawn off the “eutectic,” leaving a sort of metal skeleton. A number of other more wr less ingenious suggestions have been made, the most pular idea being that the molten iron was poured into yme viscous liquid, like whale oil, or molasses, or even water. It seems to be generally conceded that the pro- duction of such intricate and delicate forms in cast iron indeed, in any metal) is as novel as it is astonishing experts. - New Merchant & Evans Motor Tractor The Merchant & Evans Company, Philadelphia, Pa., has ut on the market a tractor truck which is rated as a four- vehicle, but is claimed to be strong enough for 10,000 The novelty of this truck consists in the arrangement the motor clutch transmission and jackshaft as a unit a dead front axle, so that axle, engine, transmission, kshaft, ete., turn with the wheels up to a 90-deg. angle and left. The turning is effected by means of the ering wheel through bevel gears rotating a worm that ngages the circumference of a large worm wheel attached the forward part of the main frame. The tractor is so ide that bodies of old vehicles can be used which are litable for the work contemplated. The greater part of e load is carried on a body with steel wheels, thus sav- ng the cost of rubber tires. The vehicle is pulled by the wer-driven front wheels and not pushed from the rear, is requiring less fuel consumption. ‘ he George Weidley, designer for the Premier Motor Mfg mpany, Indianapolis, Ind., has perfected a new auto- bile engine which he will publicly exhibit for the first e at the Automobile Show in New York in January. has fewer parts than the standard engine and will t the poppet valve type. Mr. Weidley claims that t 75 per cent. more mileage can be gotten out of line than from the present styles of engines. It is s sed as to be dust and dirt proof. There are no new nciples in the make-up of the engine but a new appli- n of the standard principles. The American Blower Company, Detroit, Mich., has n an order from the Ford Motor Company for eight washers, each with a capacity of 56,000 cu. ft. per min. ese washers will be installed in new Ford factory ldings. Another large order recently taken by the erican Blower Company, which has just been shipped, for washers having a capacity of 160,000 cu. ft. per to be installed in the Kaufman department store, ttsburgh. nm THE IRON AGE 1435 Flanging Machine for Barrel Bottoms \ new type of bottom flanging machine, which is de signed for turning out tops and bottoms with rectangular flanges for barrels, tanks, etc., has been built by the Niag ara Machine & Tool Works, Buffalo, N. Y. It can be used for producing heads of different diameters and is offered as a substitute for presses and dies where the cost of doing the work in that way would be prohibitive in many -ases on account of the large number of dies required In addition to forming flanges, the machine can also b used for cutting circular disks and for slitting sheets The machine is single back geared and has both tight and loose pulleys. The main gear is mounted on the lowe shaft and the upper shaft is driven from it by a compet sating connecting gear. The lower flanging roll \ Machine for Turning Out Barrel and Tank Heads and Bottoms with Rectangular Flanges and Also for Cutting Disks and Slitting Shee mounted on a vertical shaft that driven through bevel gears from the main shaft The upper shaft can be ad justed laterally to compensate for variations in the thick- ness of the material, an eccentric segment lever located at the front of the machine within easy reach of the operator being provided for this purpose. It is also pos- sible to raise and lower the upper shaft by a system of screws, spindles, gears and a handwheel mounted on top of the machine, it being pointed out that this variation i1 hight does not move the shaft out of a horizontal posi : ’ tion. To prevent the metal from being distorted during the flanging operation, two holddown rolls are mounted on the slide in front of the upper flanging roll. These rolls can be raised and lowered quickly by an eccentri lever to facilitate the removal of the flanged disks. These machines can be furnished in a number of dif ferent sizes, the one illustrated having a capacity of disks from 14 to 60 in. in diameter. No. 10 gauge, soft sheet steel and lighter can be used and the maximum hight of flange possible is 1%4 in. In addition to the flanges shown in the line drawing, a number of other shapes can be pr duced by employing various kinds of forming rolls. By removing the flanging rolls and substituting rotary cut ters, it is possible to cut circular disks in No. 8 gauge metal from 8 to 53 in. in diameter and also to slit sheets. The Harris Automatic Press Company, Niles, Ohio, has secured from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing at Washington a contract for 16 wetting machines to be used for moistening the paper on which currency is printed. Bde oy lle Se wt m oe 4 given. 1436 THE Tabular Laying Out of Roll Passes Its Application to Four Methods of Rolling Rails An article in Stahl und Eisen for October 9 by C. Holz- weiler, rolling mill superintendent at Rothe Erde, Aachen, Germany, deals with a tabular method of laying out roll passes in order to assist in getting good results. been in use at Rothe Erde for more than 30 years. i xample the The case —Seve of an design of the nine n Pa of these passes. This and 4 deal with the web, the web, No. 3 the I ass a sses wit beam, consists of No. thickness of > in Germany X section IN passes Y. 2), 18 IRON It has As an hrst from the bloom to the finished section is shown, and a table giving an analysis 15 columns. Nos. 4 giving the width through 4 the ratio of this thickness at each pass to that of the preceding the web, and No : in other words, the amount of reduction at each pass. With the exception of the first pass where a heavy draft is taken the ratio decreases fairly continuously from 1.67 to T.o8. Columns 5 to total hight and N« 4 shows the ratio of that se Bloom reases a Width, m.m 138 139 140 142 145.5 a losed pass from ‘tions may WEB Thick ness, Ratio | o m.m 180 120 1.5 86 +-1.40 62 38 45 +1.36 34 +-1.34 26 1.31 20. 1.27 16 +1.24 14 +1.18 1.04 to I be 00. Thi oe produced in f these hights thickness the 13 deal with the flanges. N 6 the ratio o the web s shows the just as No It gradually in- s gradual rise is chosen so oe ne finishing passes with AGE December 25, : high flanges. Column 7 shows the hight of each f from the pitch line at each pass, and whether the flar rolled in an open or closed pass. No. 8 gives the numbers of these hights. No. 9 gives the projection flanges from the web to the free end, and again show open and closed passes. No. 10 gives the thickness « flange at the web, and No. 11 shows the ratio number this dimension. Nos. 12 and 13 give similar details fo: rree end of the flanges. The last two columns, Nos. 14 Fig. 3—Nine Pa Fig. 4 sses with No Upsetting Pass Seven Passes with No Upsetting Pass 15, give the radius of the fillet uniting the flange and web, and the ratio number of this dimension. Four Met