The Iron Age 1915-02-25: Vol 95 Iss 8

} SOUVAUUNDAEUUUAUUDOADUEORAUOROEOOEROUDOROUROREOONGOT DOES OR EES { Established 1855 New York, UYLEUUUEEUMNEDOOORTEDODUODUEDULGATUEEEEAET AU SDUEEEPUEU TTA AEOELAU EDU ARUTA ATED EEDA EDTA ATED ETE THVULEULEUUGEEEEDADUNTOOUDAOO UAT AAAUAUDSOORE EEA A EEE TEPEELE LA February 25, 1915 Vol. 95: No. 8 Water-Cooled Equipment for Sheet Mills Furnace Shields and Flooring for Steel Works—Palm Oil Melting Plant —New Design of Some new designs of equipment for open-hearth steel works and sheet and tin-plate mills have been developed by the Knox Pressed & Welded Steel Company, Farmers Bank Building, Pittsburgh, Pa. They include water-cooled shields for furnaces, floor standing, palm oil melting plant and a type of annealing box with an arched roof. All of the equipment was designed by L. L. Knox, president of the company, and is protected by patents. The water-cooled shield is designed for use as a substitute for the older method of protecting furnace-door openings by an open sheet of water, An Installation of Water-Cooled Furnace Shields and Floor which is being discarded in modern sheet mill prac- t The chief feature of interest in the construc- tion of the shield is that the workmen are protected from the intense heat of the furnaces not at the coors alone but also over the entire front of the ‘urnace. A space is left in the center for the air reservoir which has two swiveled elbows. This ar- rangement results in a current of fresh air blowing istantly on the operator, irrespective of the posi- nm in which he may be. Openings are provided through which the ropes controlling the dampers and the doors are manipulated. No water is ex- t t 441 Annealing Boxes posed, which would would tend to ra the humidity in the plant. The draft caused by the heat in the space left between the furnace front and the water-cooled shield is relied upon to carry off any gases and smoke. Washout connections are provided, and the water supply and outlet are placed to obviate air or steam pockets from forming insids the shield. The water-cooled floor, which is designed to be used'in connection with the furnace shields is found to improve the conditions for the men working about the sheet heating and pair furnaces and rolls ot nerw ise 1 Sheet and Tin-Plate Plant by providing a cool floor for them to stand upon when doing their work and also cooling the air at the furnaces. These floors, which are of the builder’s standard construction, are made wrought steel throughout, with a view to elimi- nating breakage. The floor consists of 5 ft. wide of %-in. rolled top plate and a bottom plate of half that thickness, welded together at the edges of the sections. In the l-in. space between the upper and lower floor plates for the water are baffles of 1 x 1%4-in. bars, which are riveted in place to divide the section of the floor into four cham sections Sree) at ee ova mest a Png tg a ee a es THE IRON AGE Details of the Water-Cooled Floor for Sheet and Tin-Plate Mills oe ped J nd the General Arrangement of the Floor: Sketch Showing the General Arrangement of a Plant for Melting the Casks of Palm Oil equal width and to cause a complete circu water back and forth as indicated in the ons. The sections of the floor are con- one end by a 34-in. pipe, thus making the ntinuous unit, irrespective of the number ng Box with an Flanges t the Joints Arched Roof and Upturned sections and doing away with the necessity of more than one supply pipe and outlet to wh standing. [he arrangement of the floor in connection with of furnaces is brought out in one of the ac- npanving drawings, while details of the baffles nd the method of connecting the various sections f the floor are also presented. The water bosh or tension tank is welded to the upper floor plate and les are drilled in the latter to admit the water, the level of which is regulated by the elevation of the outlet. Ordinary circulating water is relied ipon to keep the floor cool in summer, while by heating the water employed in winter the floor is ept warm. In the palm oil melting plant, the utilization of principle of gravity simplifies the operation. The object of this plant is to reduce the palm oil from the solid state, in which it is shipped, to a juid without any loss of casks or oil. The casks ntaining the oil are rolled into the steam heated elting chamber upon tracks, beneath which is ated a steam coil, and remain there until the oil thoroughly melted. During the melting process oozes through the crevices in the cask into the melting chamber and is carried by a pipe to the refining kettle, which has a steam jacket. \fter the oil in the cask is thoroughly melted the nber door is opened and the casks are run out tracks to have their contents emptied into the kettle, where the water is driven off and the reign substances permitted to settle. The refined : then drawn off above the line of the sediment to a second steam-jacketed kettle at a lower level, ere it is kept at the desired temperature for use. chamber and the kettles are of the builder’s lard welded steel construction, and the former pported on a rigid structural steel base with leries to give access to all parts. The features of the annealing box are the elimi- tion of the ordinary riveted lap joint by the turn- ut of the flanges which also has a tendency to e the dead air space on the inside of the box, ise of an arched roof and the making of all the of the same size. The turning out of the res of the units enables them to be joined up without penetrating the main body of the by rivets. A 7-in. filler plate, which is riveted etween the flanges, is also inserted at the joint s carried over the top like a yoke, thus giving iss-like frame for the top of the box. Another burpose of the flanges is to reduce the dead air wr THE IRON AGE $45 space on the inside of the box. All of the unit the annealing box the are : i wide, which it is emphasized results in a reduction Same s1Ze, of the repair costs, as the units can be replaced without scrapping the box. The rivets employed are of special design and special analysis steel and are said to give a much longer life to the box tha is secured when rivets made from ordinary steel ar: used. At the present time, all of these devices are use in a number of the leading sheet and tin-plat: mills in the United mills in the Wheeling district States. One of the tin-plat has had its premises completely equipped with the water-cooled shields, this installation being the one shown in the accon panying halftone Blueprint Drying and Ironing Machine A machine rated to dry and iron 2000 blueprint of ordinary size per hr. has been designed by Jame W. Townsend, 49 West Sixteenth street, New York City. of three large rolls, 18 in. in diameter, and a smalle1 or ironing roll. Two continuous sheets of employed to convey the wet print through the ma chine, the print being carried through between th: two sheets. The frame structural which it is emphasized enables new parts te be s cured easily in the remote event of breakage. The rolls, which are 30 in. wide, and the ironing roll are heated by gas, the supply pipe passing in through the open center into the interior of the roll. A small air chamber, similar to that used on the burner of an ordinary gas located just inside the entrance to the roll, and the pipe makes two right angle turns, the last length of pipe running the en tire width of the roll and close to the inner circum ference. This pipe is perforated with a series of small holes, and the gas is ignited by the introdu tion of a lighted taper. The supply of gas is regu lated by the valve shown on the vertical pipe. The machine is motor driven, the power being transmitted through a series of reduction wheels to the driving pulley. This is located on the opposite end of the shaft, which can be seen projecting to the left of the middle roll. A pinion on this shaft meshes with gears on the adjacent rolls and the gear on the middle roll in turn meshes with a second The machine, as shown, consists essentiall cloth ars is of section stove, is Machine for the Large Quantities of \ Recently Developed and Ironing of Continuous Drying Blueprints, et pinion that transmits power to the roll at the right end. The ironing roll operates by friction, the amount being varied by the take-up shown under- neath it at the right of the machine. Adjustments NSE eI ae gare Sime age th een en 444 THE IRON for varying the tension on the two sheets of cloth are provided. These are located at the upper right and the lower left corners of the machine, the for- mer being clearly shown in the illustration. In operation the prints as they are taken from the washing tank are fed into the machine at the upper left end of the machine and pass along on the moving cloth. As there is a distance of 2 ft. between the edge of machine and the first roll, it is pointed out that the operator has plenty of chance to make certain that the print is smooth before it passes into the machine. The prints pass around the first roller, where practically all of the water on the surface of the print is removed. In its pas- sage around the second or middle roller, the print becomes practically dry and then passes between the third roller and the ironing roll for final drying and ironing. The diameter of the roll at the exit side of the ironing roller is made small to insure the de- livery of the print in a flat condition. Other applications of this machine are the drying of photographs, wall paper, ferrotype plates, etc. An Improved Universal Milling Machine A universal milling machine, including among its equipment a patent belt shifting arrangement and an interesting arrangement for controlling the quick power movement of the knee, saddle and table, has been developed by the Oesterlein Machine Com- pany, Cincinnati, Ohio. These arrangements elimi- nate the shifting of a heavy belt, the returning of the table after a cut, or making long adjustments by hand. The control levers are all centralized in a convenient position for the operator. In addition to the universal machine a plain type is built, the two styles being identical except for the swiveling saddle. The construction of the machine is somewhat massive, and the parts which are generally respon- sible for vibration, it is pointed out, are rigidly built. The column, which is 13!%5 in. wide, and the base are cast in one piece with a heavy front wall, to serve as a slide for the knee and the main spindle support. The bearing on this slide for the knee extends 51% in. above the top of the latter, which | J A Recently Developed Universal Milling Machine Equipped with a Special Belt Shifting Mechanism and a Treadle Con trol for the Rapid Power Traverse of Knee, Saddle and Tablk AGE February 25. 1915 tends to reinforce the column and give a lo: rti- cal guide. It is emphasized that in this way yigja. ity and accurate vertical movement are Recesses or large openings are not found the sides of the knee and the top is solid, bot! t} front and back, and is reinforced by a hea rib, which is located slightly below the center op ing. This opening is spanned entirely by the saddie when it is directly over the former, and the ad tage claimed for this construction is that th« screw can be placed in line with the spindle cent The machine is driven by a cone pulley of diameter, the smallest step measuring 10 in With a view to reinforcing the power obtained jp this way, the spindle has a positive drive for the arbor by an interlocking recess and flat. The spindle, which is of special steel, runs in bronze bearings, lubricated from oil wells located in the column, and provision is made for taking up wear The belt shifting mechanism enables the belt to be moved from one step of the cone pulley to the next by a single turn of the handwheel, and the move- ment of the lower fork is transmitted to the coun- tershaft overhead, which it is pointed out places the belt in the desired position on the countershaft cone pulley practically instantaneously. This ar- rangement protects the operator from bodily in- jury and also gives practically all the advantages of a single-pulley type of machine. From the spindle the feed is transmitted by a roller chain to the feed box, where all the changes, 16 in number, are controlled. Only four of the rates of feed leave the box running faster than the spindle. From the feed box the feed is trans- mitted through a universal joint and telescopic shaft to a tumbler in the knee, which is designed to reverse all the feeds. From here the feed is dis- tributed to the table, saddle and elevating screws, it being emphasized that this method of delivering power to the feed screw avoids all torsional and radial strain. The driving gear is mounted to float on a hardened and ground steel sleeve, through which the screw passes, and is clutched into another sleeve, mounted and keyed upon the screw imme- diately alongside the lead screw nut. The arrangement for quick power movement of the knee, saddle and table consists of a fleeting mo- tion for whatever feed is engaged and is operated by depressing one of the treadles located at either side of the machine base. These treadles are con nected by levers and shafts to a fork operating a clutch at the rear of the machine which is nor- mally engaged with a gear driven from the feed box. When the clutch is shifted by depressing the treadle it becomes engaged with the quick speed from the lineshaft, and when the treadle is released th clutch automatically engages with the feed box speed that is being used. This arrangement, it is pointed out, eliminates all chance of error through its use, as the device does not in itself engage the feed. Safety stops are provided at the limits of all motions. . For cutting spirals on these machines, a unl- versal milling attachment is employed, so that the eutter can be set at an angle. This arrangement takes the place of swiveling the table. The smallness of Germany’s trade with Canada as compared with that of the United Kingdom and the United States is shown by a special report of His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for the Dominion, !" which it is stated that for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1914, the value of German goods imported was £12,900,000, against £28,500,000 from the United Kingdom and £90,600,000 from the United States. Grinding Large Shells | and Projectiles The Norton Grinding Company’s Prac- tice as Adopted by Important Manu- facturers Described by C. O. .vton O. Smith, sales manager of the Norton ng Company, Worcester, Mass., read an inter- esting paper at the recent conference of Nor- employees, on the development of grinding nery for the manufacture of war munitions equipment. We print herewith what he had to regarding the grinding of projectiles, together the illustrations. In Fig. 1 is shown one of the Norton 18 x 96-in. ontained motor-driven machines in the projec- e department of the Bethlehem Steel Company, Fig. 1—An 18 x 96-In South Bethlehem, Pa., for grinding projectiles ring 10, 12, and 14 in. in diameter. The wheels mn this work are 24x2x 5, 24-L or M. About n. is removed from the diameter when finish ng. The limits are plus or minus 0.0005 in., the average time on a 12-in. projectile, grind- e body only, is 40 min. to machines for grinding shrapnel the Nor- Grinding Company is prepared to speak with lerable authority, as it has made a thorough of the subject and is carrying on still further tigations. The blanks shown in Fig. 2 were for the purpose of demonstrating what could e on the 6-in. and 10-in. machines. 3 illustrates the English 15-pounder shell | on the nose and body only. The diameter losed or headstock end of the shell is finished lathe. Smith Norton Plain Grinding Machine The English 15-pounder diameters is seen in Fig. 4. shell ground on all The Canadian manu facturers are producing these shells by the two operation process. The E. W. Bliss Company, to which were sold 10 machines, is by the three-operation process. two weeks machines have been sold and the prospects in that territory finishing then During the past into Canada, are very bright for large sales after these machines have been demonstrated. The French shell, with the three-operation pro esas cantata ‘ 7 Equipped for Grinding Projectile Box cess, Fig. 5, is practically the same as the English shell, except in minor details. The samples were made up in accordance with the French specifica tions as the demonstration just mentioned was in connection with an order for 16 machines from L’Eclairage Electrique, Paris. The blanks had been rough turned to 0.015 in. over finish size and were ground to a limit of plus or minus 0.004 in. Three machines were set up for three operations shown, one operator making the complete demon stration on a lot of five blanks. No. 1: the Operation 120 per hour. 5 pieces in 2 min. 30 sec., or ~ Operation No. 2: hour. 5 pieces in 3 min., or 100 per Operation No. 3: 120 per hour. 5 pieces in 2 min. 30 sec., or 445 +t ee os ee ee aap a rae ee omen neat s gee 2 1 fg tien 446 THE IRON February 25, 19): AGE Fig The Tw yperation Process of Grinding Englis! Shrapnel The guarantee on which the order for the above mentioned 16 machines was secured was: Operation No. 1, 90 pieces per hour. Operation No. 2, 70 pieces per hour. Operation No. 3, 75 pieces per hour. If labor conditions are such that one man is allowed to operate two machines, we recommend that the 6-in. machine for operation No. 1, and 10 x 36-in. machine for operation No. 3 be provided with power crossfeed, without table traverse, and the production guarantees slightly reduced; a unit of equipment would then be made up as follows: Operation No. 1: two 6x 32-in. machines; one operator; 120 shells per hour. Operation No. 2: two 6x 32-in. machines; two operators; 120 shells per hour. Operation No. 3: two 10x 36-in. machines; one operator; 120 shells per hour. All shells must be rough turned ready for grind- ing and our guarantees of production are based on removing not to exceed 0.015 in. from the diameters 0x56 Macrunt CQvipreo to Carn A Wren. ARANG Ton Troe 2 Owncrens On Tat Whee aft Stem. Funrose Mac rune Au 3o i> Dut fpr Trg Woas Wricets 4 l rig ar "| Ut { ‘ ai | aii | o q | a t | i | i } | | et Lt | . i 4 _ a aaa x N A Ag nN Fig. 4—Th Fig. 6—The Radial Truing Device for Shrapnel Wor Machine with the grinding wheel, working to a limit of plus or minus 0.004 or 0.005 in. The samples have two qualities of finish. The rough finish is demanded by the Canadian inspe tors as the surface must hold paint. Fortunately, we can determine the finish by selecting the prope: work speed and grinding wheel. The best whee! we have found to date for producing the roug! finish on the first is 12-24, 4-36 K vitrified, or L silicate. To obtain the good finish, we recommend 24 comb, grade K, vitrified wheels. The 6 x 32-in belt-driven machine is recommended for operations Nos. 1 and 2. For operation No. | a 12x 11% wheel is used, while for operation No. 2 wheels 14 in. in diameter and ranging up to 2%2-in. face, depending on the length of the nose curve. Aside from the grinding wheels the equipment is identical for these two operations. Fig. 6 shows a device for truing the wheel to obtain the nose curve. It is a very simple attach- ment which clamps to the table as indicated. The macaennmnisiiichenanetinbianentstamaine Orr Manon”: 6252 Macronc Za wees. re wre | | | | \} | yd tT) | = | | | | | | a, 2S Ire RATIONS. 10x36 Macnin wPPtD To Canny A Wr 6s Tact Anp Are ror Truma 2 T Inc Writes Fig. 5—The Three-Operation Process of Grinding Fre! Shrapnel a Machine 10 x 36-In Blank on with Wide Centers Wheel Shir ed head screw is provided for locking the ng member when truing a straight face on nding wheel. By withdrawing the screw ts slot the swivelling member can be rotated gh the required arc for producing the nos¢ Norton standard 10x 36-in. belt-driven ne, for shrapnel grinding, or work of similar ter, is arranged to carry a grinding wheel 2 n diameter up to 7!»2-in. face, as shown in with the shrapnel blank on centers. The wheel, as well as the large-diameter wide-face e pulley may be noted. These machines are to absorb a maximum of 40 hp. and as a re of precaution we provide vertical stops on heel slide to prevent its lifting under the t cuts. Attention is also called to the two ters on the work. These two diameters are ned by means of the micrometer crossfeed ich as there is but 0.010-in. difference be- these on a shrapnel shell, the variation in the wheel on these two diameters is hle 10x 24-in. special purpose machine was rily designed for the Ford Motor Company, ribed in The Iron Age of January 7. These es are equipped with wheels 20 in. in er up to 7%-in. face. This is the type of sold to the E. W. Bliss Company for grind- e body of shrapnel shells. It is not provided ower table traverse, but has a table traverse the righthand end of the base for truing nding wheel. The removal of a horseshoe from between the hub of the handwheel and ew bearing permits the movement of the maximum distance of 3 in. by the rack and t the left front of the base. 8 shows the method of grinding the inside Heald Machine Arranged for Grinding Shrapnel Internally THE IRON AGE 147 of the shrapnel shell as offered by the Heald Machine Company, Worcester, Mass. The grinding wheel is formed for producing the curvature at the open end, and a former, or two settings of the spindle, are required for producing the inner sur face, as the shell in this case has two tapers. Substituting Bronze Castings for Steel The McGill Metal Company, Vagparaiso, Ind., is casting copper base metal compositions in permanent steel molds or dies. These castings are designed as substitutes for machine parts formerly made of steel, the advantage claimed for this method of production being that the expense of machining, grinding, harden ing, finishing, etc., is practically eliminated. At the present time the company is producing bevel gears of small sizes in large quantities by this method The structure of the casting is said to be finely granular or fibrous, dense and homogeneous. The cast ings can be forged red hot or cold and machined easily It is emphasized that vibrations, shocks, strains and a reasonable amount of heat do not influence the grain of these castings. A high polish can be tests made of the gears with heavy rates of speed are said to even though no lubricant was Physical tests of the material gave of from 75.000 to 85,000 Ib. per sq. in., with an « secured, and and at high practically employed loads have show wear, a tensile st limit of 30,000 to 40,000 Ib The elongation ranges from 18 to 23 per cent., and the reduct ea was between 17 and 24 pe ‘ American Society for Testing Materials The American Society for Testi Materials - wil hold its eighteenth annual meeting at Atlantic City N. J., at the Hotel Traymore, Jun to 26 inclusive An amendment is proposed to the by-laws providing fo the publication in each Year Book proposed né standards or amendments to ng standard proved by a two-thirds vote of meeting but sti ject to a vote at the recular meeting a vear follow before the standard can be regularly adopted The membership is being asked to indicat letter ballot whether ve lie | do} standards should be determined by etter ballot society at large or whether this p y should be gated. British Iron-Ore and Pig-Iron Output in 19! The United Kingdom’s output of iron ore 19] according to recent official figures, was 15,99 Zo g! tons, valued at £4,543,558, con valued at £3,763,837 tons ns, 206,937 tons The pig iron obtainable fron Britis! ‘ in 1913 is given as 5,138,958 tor valued at £22.09 x4 against 4,451,636 tons, valued at £16,419,298 i: 112 10,260,315 fron The total pig iron produced in 1913 wa 25,707,518 tons of ore, against 8,751,464 from 158,969 tons of ore in 1912 The average price p ton of the ore mined in 1913 was 5s id. ($1.40) compared with 5s. 5d. ($1.32) in 1912 An Electrica! Carnival Wee! , beginning (jctober 1s, to be held in the United States and Canada, is sug gested by the Society for Electrical Deve lopmer t. which held a meeting of electrical manufacturers, jobber contractors, dealers and other recently in New York City, to discuss the subject It is felt that ich a week would call attention in a forcible manner to many | uses of electricity not apprehended and would tend to impart a boom to general business ‘ The Niagara Frontier Purchasing Agents’ Associa tion, John H. Burns, McCarthy Bros. & Ford, Buffalo, N. Y., president, has changed its name to the Purcha ing Agents’ Association of Buffalo, as better expressing the scope and membership of the association. Meeting are held at the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce 448 A Two-Belt Rotary Polishing Machine For automatically finishing hardware and other small parts, John C. Blevney, 209. Parkhurst street, Newark, N. J., has brought out a two-belt polishing machine. The general principle of the machine is the same as that of the builder’s tube polishing ma- 41 Recently Developed Machine for Automatically chine, which was illustrated in The Iron Age, March 17, 1910. That machine, however, was intended only for giving the tubing or other material but one treatment with the polishing belt, while in this machine two belts are used, one for roughing and the other for finishing, and the table has a rotary motion instead of a reciprocating one. The machine uses two abrasive belts passing over the two outer pulleys, while a leather belt running over the middle pulley and one of the outer ones in- side of the abrasive belt drives the latter. The pressure of the abrasive belt on the work to be fin- ished is secured by the weight between the middle pulley and the right hand one for the belt shown at the front of the machine. The leather belt has a series of V-shaped ridges extending across its entire width, which provides a cushion and permits pockets in the abrasive belt to hold the grindings and carry them off the work without scoring the latter. The weight on the inner side of the belt is sufficient to keep the latter in contact with the surface of the material being polished and also permits the abrasive belt to follow irregularities in the surface of the material. In operation, boards filled with a number of iden- tical pieces are placed on the table as the machine rotates it, feeding them first under the roughing belt and afterward under the finishing belt, bring- ing them back to the operator to be replaced with other work. The long handle extending across the machine controls the motion of the table. When this handle is depressed the feeding of the table and the grinding are stopped, although the belts continue to move. When this lever is depressed, the table may be moved by hand in either direction on the roller bearings. Gears 2 in. in diameter and 1% in. thick have been finished on both sides, ready for nickel plating, at the rate of 75 per min. on this machine. The Service Gear & Machine Company, Reading, Pa., has purchased the stock of gears and shafts of the service department of the American Die & Tool Com- pany, transmission and rear axle manufacturer of the same city. THE IRON Finishing Equipped with Two Polishing Belts and a Rotary Table February 2 AGE A Heavy Industrial V-Bottom Dum) Ca; The Orenstein-Arthur Koppel Company, Pa., has developed a heavy type of V-shape: car for quarry and industrial plant servic; heavy materials have to be handled. Thes have a capacity of 2 cu. yd. and have a hight of 43 in. The low } enables them to be easi! ed by hand, although th: constructed for heavy steam shovel loading, and the ab. sence of lift or swinging doors eliminates parts that are like- ly to get out of order. One of the special features of the car. which is designed for locomo- tive haulage on a 30-in. gauge track, is that the boxes are located wheels, which are of cast steel. This arrangement, it is emphasized, does away with the breakage of journal boxes and wheels. At the plant of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, where 40 of these cars are in use, it has been found that the maintenance charges have been reduced considerably and a saving in time, which is obtained by not having any cars on the repair track, is also effected. A flat bottom quarry car, in which the hight from the head of the rail to the top of the body is only 2 ft., has also been developed. This low hight renders it unnecessary for the loader to lift stone up over the side of the car after straightening up. The cars are built for 36-in. gauge track and are arranged to dump to one side only, the door lifting bearing inside the Hardware. A V-Bottom Dump Car Having a Capacity of 2 Cu. Yd, That Has Been Developed for Heavy Service in Industrial Plants up when the body is tilted by a hoist engaging the side of the car and lifting it. The level capacity of the car is 23 cu. ft. Eye Accidents in Wisconsin The Industrial Commission of Wisconsin, according to a recent report found that over 70 per cent. of a!! the injuries to workmen caused by chips, nails an¢ other small objects affect the eyes. Out of a total of 34° cases reported, 32 men lost the sight of one of their eyes entirely, 217 had eyes injured, 75 suffered from lacerations, 7 from impaired sight and 15 from bruises. The causes of the above injuries were as follows: 288 were hit by chips, 14 by nails, 4 by stone from blasts, » by bursting water glasses and 42 by other small objects. The Commission states that of the 70 per cent three- fourths of the eye injuries could be avoided by wearing goggles. Electrical Precipitation of Dust The Cottrell System’s Commercial Applications Presented to the American Institute of Electrical Engineers—Its Relation to the Iron Industry ectrical precipitation of dust in gases may n important roéle in the steel industry’s future pment. This is a strong impression carried yy not a few of those who attended the Friday morning session last week at the third annual meet- the American Institute of Electrical Engi- neers in New York, February 17 to 19. The theo- retical and practical applications of this compara- ively new principle or invention were impressed on the institute’s members by three important papers t this meeting: “Electrical Precipitation—Theory the Removal of Suspended Matter from Fluids,” W. W. Strong of the Mellon Institute, Pitts- “Theoretical and Experimental Considera- tions of Electrical Precipitation,” by Prof. A. F. Nesbit, University of Pittsburgh, and “Practical Applications of Electrical Precipitation,” by Linn Bradley, of the Research Corporation, New York. Before the presentation of these papers the hairman, P. M. Lincoln, president of the institute, expressed his extreme gratification in being able to call upon Dr. Frederick G. Cottrell, the inventor f the Cottrell system of electrical precipitation as well as the real founder of the Research Cor- poration. Dr. Cottrell, in prefacing his remarks, stated that his function at this meeting was rather that of an enunciator, in that he was to introduce the subject of the morning by outlining the historical steps that led up to the present development. burgh; HISTORY OF ELECTRICAL PRECIPITATION The earliest reference to electrical precipitation, said Dr. Cottrell, was in 1824 when a professor of mathematics in Leipzig, Germany, caused the smoke in a smoke-filled bottle to fall to the bottom by an electrical discharge from the wire of a friction machine. He had observed, as others have, how a heavy rain often follows a severe thunder bolt; how sleet and hail often fall increasingly succeeding heavy peals; how cloud bursts are often preceded heavy storms. In 1850 C. F. Gothard performed the same ex- periment of throwing smoke to the bottom of a jar d published an account of it in the Mechanics Magazine of London. Only incidental references to electrical precipitation followed these, one of which was the discharge of dust from a gas, mentioned in Biedermann’s Annalen in 1878. The first technical applications were suggested lependently and almost simultaneously in Eng- and Germany. On August 9, 1884, Abel Walker, manager of a large lead works in England, took out patents and on October 2 of the same year Carl Mueller was granted similar patents in iny. Walker’s patents were the outgrowth of riments made by Sir Oliver Lodge which the tter had published before the Royal Institute and Society for Chemical Industry. What Mr. er was after was not really electrical precipi- but the studying of the effect of hot and cold es on dust-filled air. He noticed that when a rod was thrust into dusty air a dark space red between the rod and the cloud. In en- ring to ascertain whether there were any ‘al phenomena in these experiments, he elec- the rod and found that the dust was com- driven away from it. iY a These events brought the subject fairly before the public and future developments date directl) from this. Mueller’s work in Germany was not so important. The work of these three men is re ferred to down to recent times, a number of patents appearing but nothing permanent being contributed to technical development. An installation was put in the flues of the smelters at the lead works witi: which Mr. Walker was connected tical. but it was impra DR. COTTRELL AND THE RESEARCH CORPORATION In 1905 Dr. Cottrell with others started in vestigations at the University of California to de termine the practicability of these older experi ments. The results were satisfactory, the work grew and it became necessary to put it on a more stable basis. This led to the organization of the present institution handling the work. by local capital it grew and became stabilized Later the patents and all his rights, Dr. Cottrell stated, were turned over to the Smithsonian Insti tution in order that the profits resulting from the application of the patents, already well might be applied to the advancement of scientifi research and investigation. The idea was to render Developed assured, discovery, already made, the mother of new dis covery and thus contribute to the scientific and technical development of the industrial arts. For the was substituted administrative reasons organized in 1912, sonian Institution. Research Corporation, for the Smith The objects of the Research Corporatio i stated charter aré To provide means for the Ilvancement technical and and experimentation by) extension of scient contributing the net earnings of the corporation, over and ibove such sum or sums ma hve reserved or retained and held as endowment fund working capital, to the Smithsonian Institution, and wh other scientific and educational institutions and societies as the board of directors may from time to time select order to enable such institutions ind societies to conduct such investigations, research and experimentation Orgar ized in 1912 as a stock corporation but precluded by its charter from paying dividends and capitalized by a group furthering Dr. Cottrell’s objects, profit, the Re successfully ac desirous of of gentlemen search Corporation uncer nstallation of the without personal took and omplished the Cottrell processes in various industries throughout the country, with the result that in two years’ operation its surplus has provided the capital of $20,000 required by its charter, and a fund of over $100,000 for scientific research THE MELLON INSTITUTE AT PITTSBURGH Co-temporaneous with this development was a sim! lar one in Pittsburgh. Prof. Robert K. Duncan, in his system of industrial research into smoke and dust prob lems and their elimination, planted the which ripened into the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research of Pittsburgh, financed by R. B. Mellon of that city, the home of which is to be dedicated this week, a monu ment to Dr. Duncan’s energy. While the work of this institute is principally along the lines of smoke abate ment, the two institutions are working together their patents are being consolidated. In answering the question as to how far can the de velopment go beyond what has been done, Dr. Cottrel!! said that Sir Oliver Lodge in his original work had two objects in view; first, the precipitation or collection of industrial fumes and smoke; and second, the precipi tation of fog in the open. Much has been accomplished and will be still achieved as to the first. In fog dis pelling Dr. Cottrell was confident that in t near fu- seed and 449 ca er eerie i { i} ee i : Y : [] : 450 THE IRON ture experiments would be conducted in New York harbor by which it was probable that fog at least two boat lengths ahead of a vessel would be electrically dissipated. PRINCIPLE OF THE COTTRELL PROCESS The principle of Dr. Cottrell’s process may be described by means of a_ well-known experiment: If a metallic needle point is placed opposite a flat metal- lic plate and the needle is connected to one pole and the plate to the other pole of a high-voltage direct-current supply line, electricity streams out of the needle point and charges the gas molecules in the space between needle and plate. The gas molecules thus receive an electric charge of the same sign as the needle point, hence opposite to the sign of the charge of the plate. They are, therefore, attracted by the plate and move toward the plate. This is the old, familiar phenomenon of the “electric wind” which may be illustrated by blow- ing out a candle flame brought into the space between needle point and plate. Now if the space between needle point and flame is filled with a gas or fume in which particles of dust, etc., are suspended, these dust particles will be immediately charged with electricity and will therefore move toward the plate, stick to it and give up their charges. The speed of movement of the particles will be propor- tional to their charge and to the electrostatic field in- tensity (in volts per centimeter) in the space between point and plate. PRACTICAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS In his paper on the practical applications of the Cot- trell system of electrical precipitation, Mr. Bradley gave many striking illustrations of dust elimination from the gases and fumes of lead and copper smelting works in various parts of the United States. The successful attempts at the Raritan Copper Works, Perth Amboy, N. J., in recovering by this process the valuable fumes from silver refinery gases after they had passed through a water scrubber were recounted as well as the removal of the chlorine gas contained in the gases from the Hooker-Chemical Company at Niagara Falls, N. Y. These and other commercial applications were illustrated by lantern slides and moving picture films, and practical demonstrations of the removal of smoke and zinc fumes were displayed on a large scale on the stage of the auditorium to the intense satisfaction of the institute. THE PROCESS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY The important bearing of the Cottrell process on the steel industry was alluded to by Mr. Bradley in the following paragraph from his paper: Owing to various reasons beyond our control, tests of the electrical processes for the cleaning of iron blast- furnace gases at the Bethlehem Steel Company were delayed. Arrangements now are being pushed so as to commence tests on a fairly large scale at the earliest possible date. It should be feasible to employ the processes either for cleaning these gases for stoves and boilers, conserving the sensible heat contained in the gases when they come from the furnace top, or for gas engine purposes, having cooled the gases previously. Perhaps both schemes will be tested at the Bethlehem plant, although the dry and hot gases will be handled first. The results are expected to have a very im- portant influence in this field. Canada has 29 rectangular water-jacketed copper blast furnaces, the majority of them in active operation up to the beginning of the war, according to a bulletin, “The Copper Smelting Industries of Canada,” by Alfred G. Wilson, issued by the Canadian Department of Mines. Their total hearth area is 2580 sq. ft., with a total rated capacity of 15,600 net tons in 24 hr. They are controlled by seven different companies as follows: Canadian Cop- per Company, 6; Mond Nickel Company, 2; Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company, 5; Granby Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company (2 plants), 11; B. C. Cop- per Company, 3, and Tyee Copper Company, 2. Five of these seven plants have copper converters also. AGE February é*, 1915 Heavy-Duty Electrical Bridge R. .me, A new portable electric reamer that is e: designed for bridge and construction wor! kinds, and for use in large shops, has been de by the Cincinnati Electrical Tool Company, n- nati, Ohio. A special type of slip socket switch of special construction form a part new too! hre sizes, for ream. ing holes 15 16. 1-1/6 and 1-316 in. in diameter are built. + h e notor, which is in- tended for use on direct cur- rent only, is of the series wound, four-pole type and is en- tirely inclosed Air cooling by a fan mounted on A Recent Design of Heavy-Duty Elec- the cries) Reamer That Eine Soe he Mt is pro Work and Use in Large Shops vided. The brush holders. are mounted on fiber blocks and the binding posts holding the leads are designed to secure contact by compression springs. This arrangement, it is pointed out, does away with the use of nuts and screws and is relied upon to prevent the latter from loosening in service and becoming lodged in the motor. Four removable window guards give access to the brushes, thus enabling them to be replaced quickly without removing the cap or dis- turbing any part of the machine. The switch used is of the quick make and break type with a release lever in one of the side handles. Protection against overloads is provided. The special type of slip socket which is used eliminates the drift key and holes in the spindle, and this arrangement is relied upon to prevent dirt and grease from lodging in the spindle. Chrome nickel steel is employed for the gears, which are fully inclosed in the lower head of the machine and are mounted on roller bearings. Grease is employed for lubrication and the chamber in which the gears are located is separated from the motor housing by a plate, thus preventing oil and grease from get- ting into the windings. Annular bearings are used on both ends of the armature shaft and a ball thrust bearing is employed to take care of the spindle thrust. armature Pressed Steel Car Profits Less A decline in net earnings of $1,482,465 in 1914, as compared with 1913, is shown in the annual report of the Pressed Steel Car Company, with a parallel reduc- tion in surplus of $1,302,816. Concerning the situation, President F. N. Hoffstot said in part: “Fewer than 70,000 cars were ordered during the year from all the car manufacturers, and of this number only 1705 freight and 308 passenger cars were placed between August | and December 31. The company secured its proportion of the orders, but ended the year with less freight ca orders on the books than in any year of its history. With the large surplus and the poor demand for existing equipment, there has been little incentive for the rail- roads either to buy new cars or to put bad order equ!p- ment in repair, and unless general business improve* or the large trunk lines undertake to fill what are known as vacant numbers, the outlook is not promising. F. ry 25, 1915 THE IRON AGE 451 UNNEL WRECKING CRANE lor the electric operation of the crane a 600 volt, direct-current motor, having a capacity of 115 j ni for * of co ous service, or 200 hp. for a Provision for Operation by Steam or Electricity hp. for 1 hr. « ntinu ervice, 01 i the Special Feature use in and about the Detroit River tunnel, a ition wrecking crane, built for either steam tric operation was supplied to the Michigan Railroad, by the Industrial Works, Bay City, VV This combination arrangement is employed the crane can be used for work outside of innel, as well as underground if the latter ever be necessary. The crane differs from e supplied by this company for use in the Central Terminal at New York, which was ated in The Iron Age, May 14, 1914, in that be operated by steam or electricity and is not le end crane. A third rail or a flexible cable by the crane will supply power in the ele while a system of piping provides for tion by steam from some outside source, such accompanying locomotive. An interesting re of the crane is the use of an automatie cab} e r paying out and reeling in the main power ne he general construction of the crane is similar standard 120-ton steam wrecking cranes used erican railroads. The car body is 26 ft. long |, ft. wide, and the weight of the crane i ted over a wheel base of almost 20 ft. The um radius of the main block is 25 ft. and the is 9 ft. less. The capacity of the main at right angles is 32,000 lb. at a radius of and 44,000 lb. at the minimum radius. Th: ary hoist with which the crane is provided i capacity of 24,000 Ib. at a 25-ft. radius. To idd stability during heavy lifting, telescoping out- ers are provided. These outriggers are located iry) itti A Combination Wrecking Crane Designed the sides and the end, and when all are in the capacity of the main hoist is 240,000 Ib. \7-ft. radius and 160,000 lb. with a radius of When only the end outriggers are used, the of the main hoist is 140,000 lb. at a radius , and the auxiliary hoist has a capacity of lb. at a 25-ft. radius. Air and hand brakes vided, with provision for both automatic and air operation. The airbrake system the control of the operator, with engineer’s electric air compressor, etc. is short period, is provided. It will operate on voltages ranging from 300 to 700 volts, the current taken from the third rail shoes through a « ring. From the collector the current livered to a switchboard which contains all the neces sary operating switches and instruments. The troller is of the standard street railway type. The automatic cable reel, which is supplied for paying out and reeling in the main power cable, ha a capacity for 500 ft. of insulated power cable an peing yiector is de ring c con 1 i is operated by a motor which receives current through the cable whenever the crane in service Any change in the pull on the cable, such as would result from movement of the crane in either dire tion, results automatically in the desired paying out or reeling in of the cable, it being emphasize d that the automatic control is obtained the action of the motor alone without the use of a1 intermediate or external deVices, such as frict clutches, et Hoisting with either the main or auxiliar varying the boom radius and slew r are oper ’ that are entirely independent of each other, but be performed simultaneously With the maximun rated load of 120 tons, the crane ie iew ing at the rate of 1 r.p.m. The boom can be raised or lowered under full load, and a special drag 01 pulling line connection is attached to its under sid When the crane -is self-propelled peed ap proximately 4 miles per hr. but when coupled in train, it may be hauled over main line tracks at peed of 60 miles per hr. No boiler is furnished with the crane, and the steam required for operation taken from an out side source through a systen piping, having a steam tight slip joint at the center of revolution, vlectrit Uperath that the crane will slew over 180 deg. in either direc tion. When the crane is operated by electricity the piping revolves with the crane. The Merchant & Evans Company has added to its lines of sheet metal products previously carried in stock at 315-317 Champlain avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, a complete assortment of sheet brass, brass rods, iron pipe-size, brass tubing, copper rods and sheet copper Quick shipment of all of these products in Cleveland and vicinity is thus assured. ds pineal eal - + ‘ a - s e My te et ae etme epeenaeer EE o— ee T B SE e MP EET WR = retain tes, Pert tae tr we ore 452 THE IRON AGE ANOTHER SURGICAL MAGNET Instrument at Westinghouse Works for Extract- ing Iron Particles from Human Body The removal of pieces of shrapnel steel-jacketed bullets by the use of powerful electro-magnets in hospitals abroad has been acclaimed by many news- papers as the very latest application of science to surgery. It is interesting to note that the West- inghouse Electric & Mfg. Company has installed in the relief department of its East Pittsburgh works a notably powerful magnet for removing metal em- bedded in the flesh. The magnet is mounted on a box containing the resistor which is used to regulate the amount of current flowing through the coils. It requires 4000 watts for its operation, or enough power to supply 100 32-candle-power Mazda lamps. It is designed for operation on 70 volts, and as the circuit from which it draws current is used for testing purposes in the works and ranges from 70 to 120 volts, a resistor is necessary. It is not an infrequent occurrence for steel and iron workers to get bits of metal in their eyes or hands. Previous to the installation of a magnet the only means of removal was by probing, a method which is as uncertain as it is painful. Since this machine was put in operation it is a very simple proceeding to extract such particles. The portion of the body in which the foreign particle is em- bedded is placed near the pole tip of the magnet, the switch closed, and the magnet does the rest. The pole is removable, a number of different shapes being supplied for various classes of work. It is very common for flying bits of metal to lodge in the eye. Should they strike with force enough to become embedded, the removal, without the aid of a powerful magnet, is likely to be diffi- cult as well as painful. The protecting coating of the eye must be cut, and there is danger that in- stead of removing the particle, it may be pushed further into the eye. When the foreign body is once within the eyeball it is properly a case for the specialist. Steel workers