Gas-Engines and Producer-Gas Plants

system has been described in order that this manual might be kept within proper limits. Moreover, the best-known writers, such as Hutton, Hiscox, Parsell and Weed, in America; Aimé Witz, in Fr

ve not been hitherto published in any work, and are here formulated, after an experience of fifteen years, acquired in testing over 400 engi

ntenance, and should be kept entirely free from dust. As a general rule, the engine space should be enclosed

nterest of safety. Long lines of pipe between the meter and the engine should be avoided, for the sake of economy, since the chances for leakage increase with the length of the pipe. It seldom happens that the leakage of a pipe 3

ne, reduces the cross section and sometimes clogs the passage. Often it happens that water condenses in the pipes; consequently, the piping should be disposed so as to obviate inclines, in which the water can collect in pockets. An accumulation of water is usually manifested by fluctuations in the flame of the burner. In places where water can collect, a drain-cock should be inserted. In places exposed to fros

-ME

es. Width, inches. Depth, inches. Diameter

ft. in. in.

3 11 913?1

133?4 105?

1?4 181?2 12

?16 1911?16 1

5?8 2111?16 1

1?2 245?16 20

5?16 255?8 25

?16 305?16 271

5 337?16 2915

03?16 403?16

ted under normal conditions. Two chief causes tend to falsify the measurements in

he meter should be placed as near the ground as possible. The evaporation also increases with the volume of gas delivered. Hence the meter should not supply more than the volume for which it was intended. In order to facilitate the return o

.-Wet g

on. If the meter be inclined forward, or from left to right, the water can flow out by th

like. Freezing of the water can also be prevented by the addition of alcohol in the proportion of 2 pints per burner. The water is thus enabled to withstand a temperature of about 5 degrees F. below zero. In

.-Dry g

only with difficulty and where the water is likely to freeze. In the United States the dry meter i

ess of the fluctuations in the water level. On the other hand, it is open to the objection of absorbing somewhat more pressure than the wet meter, after having bee

ion through a

y meter may be used to advantage, since all such liquids have more or less corro

ion through a

controlled by levers M, actuated by transmission shafts O, driven by the bellows. The meter is adjusted by a screw which changes the throw of the cranks E and consequently affects the bellows. The movement of the crank-shaft D is t

prevent fluctuations

bber bags o

ovided with an incandescent tube, the gas-supply pipe of the igniter should be fitted with a small rubber pouch or bag, in order to obviate fluctuations in the burner flame, caused by variations in the pressure (Fig. 44). As a general rule, the supply-pipe sho

with rubber bags (Fig. 45), which form reservoirs for the gas and, by reason of their elasticity, counteract the effect produced by the suction of the engine. Nevertheless, in order to insure a supply

f some fabric impermeable to gas. Suction of the engine creates a vacuum in the casing. The diaphragm bends, thereby actuating a valve, which cuts off the gas supply. During the thre

-An anti

ion is the more certain. Such devices are very effective in maintaining the steadiness of lights. On the other hand, they are often an obstacle to the operation of the engine because they reduce the flow and pressure of the gas too much. In order to obviate this difficulty, a pressure-regulator should be chosen with discrimination, and of sufficiently large size to insure the maintenance of an ade

pressure-

anti-pulsators, it is advisable to place a stop-cock in advance of th

s in series (Figs. 48 and 49), for large pipes; but it should be borne in mind that the total section of the branch pipes should be a

Arrangement o

o any scale a semicircle having a diameter equal or proportional to that of the main pipe (Fig. 50). The sides o

rmanently regulated, according to the quality and pressure of the gas and according to the load at wh

g.

g.

e in causing vibration will be treated. The manner in which the suction of air is effected necessarily has as marked

such as the breaking of the frame by reason of back firing, of which more will be said later. If an independent chest be employed, its closeness to the ground renders it possible for dust easily to pass through the air-holes in the walls at the moment of suction, and even to enter the cylinder, where its presence is particularly harmful, leading, as it does, to the rapid wear of the rubbing surfaces. This evil can be largely remedied by filling the air-chest with cocoa fiber or even wood fiber, provided the latter does not become packed down so as to prevent the air from passing freely. Such fibers act as air-filters. Regular cleaning or renewal of the fiber protects the cylinder from wear. In a general way, care should

ity of evacuating the cylinder as completely as possible is, nevertheless, not always reconcilable with local surroundings. To a certain extent, the objections to long exhaust-pipes are overcome by rigorously avoiding the use of elbows. Gradual curves are preferable. In the case of very long pipes it is advisable to increase their diameter every 16 feet from the exhaust. The exhaust-chest should be placed as near as possible to the engine; it should never be buried; for the

thod of mou

. Alkaline or acid water will always corrode a bronze cock. In order that the pipes may not also be attacked, they are not disposed horizontally, but are given a slight incline toward the point where the water is drained off. If pi

woodwork and other combustible material. By no means should the exhaust discharge into a sewer or chimney, even though the sewe

ould be tested for tightness. The combined action of the moisture and hea

st-pipe; otherwise it may happen, when the engines are all running at once, that the products of

s if the pipe starts from a point beyond the exhaust-ches

stos, is shown in a general way in the accompanying Fig. 53. The object of this arrangeme

r muffling the noise of the ex

ce of rain. Exhaust-pipes are subjected to considerable vibration, due to the sudden disc

d of securing

ce with the provision of general or local laws, which impose certain conditions. The