Records of steam boiler explosions

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I

^ •!

X

RECORDS

ov

STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS,

BT

EDWARD BINDON MARTEN,

Mbm. Inst, op Mxohanig^l EMonnnsBs; Associaxb of Institution op

Civil Enginhxbs, and Ohibp Enoinbxb to thx

Midland Steam Boiler Insfbciion and Assubanoe Co.

LONDON :
E. & F. N. SPON, 48, CHARING CROSS

STOTOBRIDGE :
V R. BROOMHALL, 148, HIGH STREET,

18G9.

I&L .e - ^2-

PREFACE.

Accurate information as to Boiler Explosions must always
be useful to those who are interested in the safe working
of Steam Boilers.

The following pages contain very brief abstracts of records
obtained for the Midland Steam Boiler Inspection and
Assurance Company, by whose permission they are now
republished in a compact and convenient form.

By permission of the Council of the Institution of
Mechanical Engineers, the records are prefeiced by a paper
on Steam Boiler Explosions and their records, and on
Inspection as a means of prevention, read before that
Institution at Manchester, August 1st, 1866.

All names of Works or Firms are omitted from the
records as unnecessary.

On Steam Boiles Explosions and theib Records, and on
Inspection as a Means of Prevention, bt Edward B. Marten,

MEM. INST. M.E. A.I.C.E., EXCERPT MiNUTES OF PrOCEEDINOS OF THE

Meeting of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, at
Manchester, 1st August, 1866, Joseph Whitworth, Esa,
President, in the Chair. By permission of the Council.

The subject of Steam Boiler Explosions, which was brought before
this Institution in Juney 1848, in a paper by the late Mr. William
Smith of Dudley in reference to an explosion near that place, and
again in 1859 in a paper by Mr. Longridge on the economy and
durability of stationary boilers, is one of great importance and is
now attracting increased attention. The first public notice of the
subject was by a parliamentary committee in 1817, which was
appointed in consequence of a very fatal boiler explosion in London
in 1815 ; evidence was then collected as to steamboats, and many
boiler explosions were referred to. That committee recommended
among other things that boilers should be made of wrought iroui
instead of cast iron or copper, which had been the materials mainly
used previously ; that thoy should be inspected and tested ; and
that there should be two safety valves, each loaded to one third of
the test pressure, under penalties for any excess. A great part of
the information now existing upon the subject^ especially in regard to
the earlier explosions, is to be found in the records of inquests after
fatal cases ; and some of the careful reports of eminent engineers
on those occasions have materially assisted in the formation of
correct views as to the causes of explosion. Latterly also the
printed reports of the inspectors of mines, and more especially the
reports of the explosions of locomotives, illustrated by diagrams by
the inspectors of railways, have furnished very valuable information.
Since the subject has been taken up by private associationB for the

B

6 BOILER EXPLOBIOKS.

prevention of explosions, many more records have been published,
although their usefulness is much impaired by their not containing
the names of the places whereby the explosions could be identified.

When the writer's attention was first directed to this subject,
he met with great difficulty in obtaining correct records of boiler
explosions, from which to arrive at the results of past experience ;
and wishing to base his own opinion on facts, rather than on the
inferences of others however reliable, he followed the example of
the Franklin Institute in their elaborate investigation of the subject,
and collected aU the records he could find; and by way of
facilitating reference, arranged an index, a manuscript copy of
which is presented with the present paper to the Library of this
Institution. All must be agreed as to the importance of reliable
information on such accidents as boiler explosions; and the
writer would suggest that this Institution may materially aid in
obtaining the desired records and placing them within easy
access, by becoming the depository of reports on explosions, and by
inducing those who have the opportunity to forward copies of
reports, that these may be arranged so as to be easily found and
consulted. It is very desirable that these reports should as
far as possible be illustrated by sketches, as aids to the description ;
and also by slight models like those now shown to the meeting,
by which the whole matter may be seen at a glance. So few
persons comparatively have the opportunity of examining boilers
after explosion, that the most erroneous ideas have prevailed,
and theories have been advanced which would soon be dissipated
by practical experience or by reading accurate reports. It would
abo very much aid in the understanding of published matter on the
subject, if full descriptions of each case alluded to in illustration
could be obtained. These records are as useful to the engineer as
the *' precedents "or ** cases " to the lawyer or the surgeon. After
any serious explosion, the newspapers of the neighbourhood in
which it has occurred contain voluminous articles describing the
disastrous result and the damage done, which, although useful as
far as they go, do not in the least assist in arriving at the cause of
explosion. The really important particulars, such as the description

BOILER EXPLOSIONS. 7

and conBtructioii of the boiler, its dimensions, and the pressure at
which it worked, are in most cases omitted altogether.

The record of explosions presented to the Institution contains
a list of the boiler explosions in each year of the present century,
as far as known to the writer, with the names of the places, and
the description and sizes of the boilers, and the supposed cause
of explosion, together with references to the books or papers &om
which Airther information may be obtained. Of course many
of the explosions have to be put down as uncertain in some of the
particulars ; but every year improves the record, as fresh information
is obtained, and with the assistance of the members of this
Institution it might be made far more perfect and extensive.

The total number of explosions here recorded is 1046, and they
caused the death of 4076 persons and the injury of 2903. The
causes assigned for the several explosions are very numerous, and
are no doubt incorrect in many cases ; but they may be generally
stated as follows :
397 are too uncert&in to place under any heading ; but of the rest
145 were from the boilers being worn out, or from corrosion, or

from deteriorated plates or rivets.
137 from over pressure, from safety valves being wedged or
overweighted, in some cases intentionally, or from other
acts of carelessness.
125 from faulty construction of boiler or fittings, want of stays, or

neglect of timely repair.
119 from collapse of internal tubes, generally from insufficient

strength.
114 from shortness of water, or from scurf preventing the proper
contact of the water with the plates ; or from improper
setting so as to expose the sides of the boiler to the flame
above the water line.
9 from extraneous causes, such as effect of lightning striking
down the stacks upon the boilers, or from Are in the building
or explosion of gas in the flues.
1046 total number of explosions.

Ui|lSi^^tJ|^iM'fi|itti>gdeBori|>tioiiB:—
|^f1a't»an|:9fU(g^W«iler8iiiteniBU7 fired.

s;^S«n#*l|''^iH7 fired.

"^HgyMt^M or crane boJlera.

■^m^'^^^^on tave been i

ig or mill fomaoes at

'hen the steam 'waa used

in the boiler waa

pressure, many boilers

atmospheric pressure

ipsed or crumpled up ;

Tolve still found on old

boiler in the neighbour-

l^his way by collapse from

[ccidentiashowiLinfig. I.

R^^e'If^^^^-^^a^ early explosions irere a
||^b^>di|nk^^&?, which compaied with
_B^^:gaaSa!^constracted, that no one

'.g. ^. .^. ^i. .^. .5. ■■;

•S«^Si»4i.^i^4> :*: .«.

BOZUBB XZPLOaiOVS. 9

thought of any other cause than the insufficient strength of the
▼essel to bear the expansive force of the steam contained in it.
When the advantages of high-pressure steam became recognized,
and the boilers were improved so as to bear the increased strain,
the tremendous havoc caused by an explosion led many to think
that something more must be required than the expansive force of
the steam to produce such an effect; and they appear to have
attributed to steam under certain conditions a detonating force, or a
sudden access of expansive power that overcame all resistance. To
support this somewhat natural supposition, it was asserted that the
steam became partially decomposed into its constituent gases,
formiog an explosive mixture within the boiler. That this belief
is stiU sometimes entertained is seen from the verdict of a jury even
in the present year, 1866, in the case of the explosion of a plain
cylindrical boiler at Leicester, shown in Pig. 2^ the real

Fig. 2.
cause of which appears to have been that the shell of the
boiler was weakened by the manhole. It seems hardly necessary
to point out the fallacy of imagining decomposition and recomposition
of the steam to take place in succession in the same vessel without
the introduction of any new element for causing a change of
chemical combination ; but it is necessary to refer to this supposition,
as the idea is shown to be not yet extinct.

Again it has been asserted that the steam when remaining quite
still in the boiler becomes heated much beyond the temperature due
to the pressure ; and that therefore when it is stirred or mixed or
brought more in contact with the water by the opening of a valve
or other cause, the water evaporates so rapidly as to produce an
excessive pressure by accumulation of steam. In support of this view
the frequency of explosions upon the starting of the engine after a
short stand is adduced ; but it is very doubtful whether by this means
a sufficient extra pressure could be produced to cause an explosion,

10 BoiLEB explosions:

unless the boiler had been previously working up to within a very
small margin of its strength. Explosions are seldom caused by a
sudden increase of pressure, but rather by the pressure gradually
mounting to the bursting point, when of course the effect is sudden
enough. Nor is it necessary in many cases to look for much increase
of pressure as the cause of explosion ; for it is far more often the
case that the strength of the boiler has gradusJly degenerated by
wear or corrosion, until unable to bear even the ordinary working
pressure. It is so very easy, when examining the scene of an
explosion, for the first cause of rupture to be confounded with the
causes of the subsequent mischief, that in many cases erroneous
conclusions have been arrived at in this way.

The most important points to find out in connection with any
explosion are the condition of the boiler and all belonging to it
immediately before the explosion, together with the locality of the
first rent, the direction of the line of rupture, and the nature of the
fracture ; as everything occurring after the instant of the first rent is
an effect and not a cause of explosion. As soon as the first rent has
taken place, the balance of strain in the fabric is disturbed, and
therefore the internal pressure has greatly increased power in
continuing the rupture ; and also the pressure being then removed
from the surface of the water, which is already heated to the
temperature of the steam, the whole body of the water gives out its
heat in the form of steeim at a considerable pressure, and thus
supplies the volume of steam for carrying on the work of
destruction. When thus quickly generated, the steam perhaps
carries part of the water with it in the same way that it does in
ordinary priming; and it has been thought by some that the
impact of the water is thus added to that of the steam, to aid in
the shock given to all surrounding obstacles.

It is seldom that one out of a bed of boilers explodes without
more or less injury to the others on either side of it ; but sometimes
two boilers in one bed, or three, or even five, have exploded
simultaneously.

The causes of boiler explosions may be considered under the two
general heads of^ —

pitaelf as originally
_ , bad material,

^H'69l|^|tt'Un'^S'4ft>B9^er irom wear and
Bi^JNAvMkS^SpSjTGSi^ter 6r accmnulation
g^Tiffli '^^''B' '^l^ff^'fiy 'fll'jf goneial thinning,
JlVT8tf'Q^^9^||Plv*^lf9l' ''' from flaVB or
^4^''^' ■'{Wli&^fi'^'V °^ i^P^t^d strain ;
'*i'M'i'''^8L ^^l'*^'^ artaDgemeDtB

'S^^^l^fMyp^fl^^oBioiis were &om
^ wi-Bl&pSSsStiiifw'^B^i^^ '^^d ^^'^ ^^^

.. .„^.,. ,.^^<>'il|lg^aiSl5W?ii(Sft»fcsier to work were

„^!i^^%|'^|^^>^|^5£2^^**ft» 4vS selected aa the one

-i^^^l^^f^?^^^*^^^'^ of copper or cast
•atrSi.^a* ^aaW^iittrvA an .oa_ u-rarJAi^^^i^^^i^if^g weakest possible

• ebown in Fig. 3.

r-^'i-'*'

^Sjeferred to by tie
!MpFaa of a caat-iron
Zgfi thin to bear the

^- The flteain being

' " ~:#^OKfAf D'O JHfWiario presBare u a meoiu

" y^'W^Jytt*^*''"'^*' ^ *^ eitemal

** "^ if pressure of the ateam

("B^igaQ^jjR^d it is beliered were

J[f 7fl j|ilA4iS/<|| ^^t BheUa, like baireb, and

'W'WjISl^*^^'^^'' '^ evea a Btoue chamber

Q^S^CB^SI^GIITriIwiHI ^ boiler, with internal

toainJn9.KAMli9>titto£nd piping. These boilers
[■S<&^'flA£%^*)S^*£<i given in Figs. 6 and 7,

'"•^'■:i:l:2i:

* J^-Sg.

UfM*e external pressnie of the

boilers, with an
sbown in Fig. ti.

|||l<9B%lP3!W*jrJR6 outside shell and

* * oof J *ial c * is a ft

f tf

to way wear at all,
t« front plate with
I in case of need,
in Fig. 9,, made
i, with an internal
fThen cast iron
B intended for high
D of tnbes of small
If 's boiler, so much

« v""~s *•■';£ --=~*~™ s~»r '■■-irat~-J*™^'^^'7 committee

t^S^Sfeife'«^-*|?*!;?S^«S»4^3l^^3Uted of nine cast-
* &> it* **" ii u i ii "Y" -,5>,- -it- -a- -a-

||e'%2i:3^^Sng, set in brit^work

^tifliilfH:

li'9?i^Bllijp>SJ£u

■ These small tabes were

1 tnuiBverfiely above

Mugain with a still larger

JP^^''^ °^ ^^7 explosions

I iSJSUn obt^ned; but it is

("m^— 43lt ^^ iMAJBl^'lt treacherous material,

fWWitfw*^!?'*' and that the effect

^nii}C8ritQ3S«4B< Ht^ boiler burst at oDce

^«9i8|'^K»^IJ^aiit with great velocity,

^mtSI H^^f WSllSl 0} <^>'i'> stance of large

B«lS«[A'4ia?lA^Sl S I case with wrongbt-iron

fH^M^IcattsZ^MI^e the shapes were most
^4f'*w*''^*^''^-T^^^'^'' before. One of the
n... > _ .«.. _ . ""iFig. 11, with round top

Rg. 12.

i made to bear even the

^Mh numerous stays. la

jg: boiler the bottom was

I being weakened by the

^Jm^^^ii^tj^ under each variation of

|b^a^ 3P-SIv>3«^an must be constantly

' "'''•'S:i^d'S^«|8ii^.expIosion at Chester in

^l|g>^^a^^on improved in its steam

rJ^^K ^b>cave instead of flat, as

i'^£i^Cii|^i^^?IlSlEi:^|!ee was greater and also

f4
•i
It

_ ISI^l'^* flame in the flues.

"'""hif'l.l:*'**"

^IB: ends aB in Fig 13,

ilf(ii

correepond wiih the
'fill reqaired nnmerons

^jij.

II of the boiler being

^'vxplodons show Jl the

way at the bottom,

iia^ETin 1842, where the

>j they also BometiDies

kj^Hrection conEosted in
l^wilers atill exist that

ii.

"if*--

ig. 15, ao that the whole

Fig. 18.

:ii^ required i

Ijo alter \ia shape under

|Uhe great disadvantage

jjface for ita size or cubic

^'y from eediment on the

lial spot. The spherical

shown in Fig. 16, by

convex ; and afterwards

w^l^l^Mi^fll^r^ncave bottom, with the

**■ :»:•»;'»"

'^' -*- 'S* ^- '•! -♦- .*-

80 well in the

|«r Haystack boiler.

I, measuria^

icb water and eteam

Perhaps no foim

ibecauBe of the great

of the inherent

not been obtained

they seldom

it mDch attention,

litionB at collieries.

into the fire{ilace

'^gle iron round the

■^ ^'m^ ^^h^^^ ^^3^"**^"* springiDg of

;£Ki^i3c^^^ciTvi®-^3'B^i^!li^!g:tim^&; and the weakness

'' ^ * ^^^<^*B}^^^)*''^^^t^^M^S "" *''® brickwork

""■^ S^^%ll!^ii§6fi^ of this continued

tSr^%i^i^aK^MK% model exhibited.

r~^2 (|§i^|eEBiZBlt^^S)ilers upon stays for

I^fn^^t^^fwl^-^^E^ as 12 and 15 feet

^^«i^«^£b- latei has been the

'^^^^^^l^^^l^P^ P^"^ ^*^ Smetbwick

As the force of the

Wj^^^'U^^^^^^Hr'''**''"' giving wayi and

mS^wSi.'*j!^S}i^; example that occurred
1^ where the exploeioti was

^being: torn off all round

1^ into two pieces ; wbile

, »E in one mase, and were

%^^^^^^^^^^^^^*^^^^*^'"^^^ "^^ '^ ^^^'^ ^'^

•^^^^W^^i^^k*^^^i4'^ «)g>e of «>gl« iron- "

«w»fl^k«j^«j^«j^k*V v^k «^» a^k «^» a^k

»*

iterpoBed

;f|if4t||Ss^

■S^ ^ M ~ ZC"

n of the boiler ;

as fihown by the

was accordingly

been made to rise

iringing could not

have had to stand

bottom ; bat as

the concavity was

!to bear an up and

tFig. 21, and the

have been if the

^fsfe^^:

•*••»"»"»•■

Shown in Fig. 23,

^lli|[Mf|^,|pqiMi_gFWg||j^rcbed and cnrred flae
i»n\c&i^Jm9»9»n^ii within the boiler before
l9^flV i&!8tV^AT"A^^^^'^'^^*'° however mnst
iM^ifW^fl^Sflll' the boiler greatly. In
■tK'||^8K£U^i^S6w^ted by the dotted lines,

fff»5fff|i|;i,:'

^^^BOkVf StAliatftc^ffilS^ilerB by leesening the
^^■^^''-'**lMl«|^fc&,ffljtft, of the Plain Cylindrical

B^SjMt Qn|^^lnds of cast iron, whicb

J|^9^:J|,li)ie»Mtig>j^Mposed to the fire, as
;i)iet^iflSl|^ 18 i|L>@^^|p1o3ioD8. The flat ends
|^'!^^''*^^J;|^^^'^I^°- ^^' ^" *'^P°^ to the

td wagon boilers, and are

iBsnre like dram heads,

ly also require long stays

are sabject to so mnch

L^und for long together,

"*" cotters.

jT^_^«»^!/ii^>a^^^'^ia^ati^Sii^«ay Always being sprung by
'f4^'v9JI^^''^^^^^*^'^^*e?V^l*^*er less spherical shape,

.j>n:|rV';:%:E''^tif|>a|^d^!BiJi^<ValH^J^AiBplKrical, as shown in

Jl^^.^^^^^^fl. ^..ft. .ft. .ft.

I*!L-

any other form

IS the whole of

ia« no tendenoy

model exhibited.

'our of the plain

BO easily cleaned

•work at every part

equally to Tiew.

boilers ext«rDaIly

ij^i^iaiBd by the action

"" Ifcry from accnmnla-

preveut«d &om

he direct action

70 or 80 feet, aa

;aet fiimaoeB, these

ike," owing to the

ijfierce flame for Ita

•^tt^.^ler by exposure to

*"'""'avea succession of

'tf?'^Ns*W^'<^V^^>« great length

■«• •»•■ s;'»- "»• •»• •«•

^'Ifil&^^^k^t&^&StCH^^til the ends met

■iititcSir

§t^pR §^f *§*:f5| f Siif '^' '■ "''°" " ^

diemeter of the rin^

^been found to work well
tieat of six puddling

thave been very frequent
proportionate number of
~ " ~ poaitionB at oollieiy and
!Fig. 27, lepresents an

^gpe. They generally open

___ _ S^Srhich has become dete-

_i^^"J^^^^I^S^i^'^^^S proper contact of the
f '".^^r -g-^ 'Iff. . jt- ^. ^. ^. ;^; .jt- .jt-

3:.-i'Ss

.t^^ibe boiler, which

23

^^tr quali^ injured,
br loosened. The
It^'tion to the Bound
ifl^M; tiie other end
^oTthen runs ap each
the shell to open

that an explosioa

■IS^^'^t of the TariouB

"" ■ held in contact

luo observation of

model exhibited.

§«..)(..R..«..«..;..«.^. s -

""iMTxif' ^'^ - '■^' '^^' -*- *** '"

W£«i

^"■^/■C^^

1^ 'lover part of Hm
£@*he liberated part
^fell some distance
i^ side firom which
^|qbou examination,
3ba of the bottom,
^3 angle iron of the
^^ore. This seam
__ 1^ turned, and tiiey
^iMSrt^ched off, but not

»iS^*;$?^|l^^B^^r^J^^i^>ed the diverting
^^i^^m6^|& 4gu^|iuVD^ ^t^^^ftr off at a tang^^
>1^-.S|-^i-*2S=^i^feS^Wthe sound upper

r pliim oylindrical
'. boilers have been used

_ ^ J a combination of

W^g(^<Rjfae^-||.S?^ of these known as the

'"■**"""^"'^"~"'~" ', Fianoe that it i

) shown in Fig. 2S

:?|^1|J|'.iiir^

l^^^jj^'e^'i'j^^^'^i^ j^^I^I&ter connected b7apiight
|^^^'^^^:^i^«g^^^.-S4iiother form called the
^^^ai^viE^U|r^^3i^^jl|ii deBcribed at a pierioaB

'^';i^^^BsKdinga Inst U. E. 18SS

^^t^sS^To combinations of plain

a^«^> a^liui ca: examine internally,

l^^'^i^o^uni which has to find ite

^p^^ water away with it,

j«XSSii^|^^ feneration of steam and

r^^g^m^ IS*>8| ^egCCj^reiigtbeii the pUia
FS^jfgtStSl^lg^ju are Bometimes
F^^§fM^*W'9^-W^^ prinoij^e that,

^^^^ifli|hl|a^ja§^|^^^2gllie tranHvorse the
^^^^:^V^:i|3e^:^«f^|lw^reat«Bt amoimt of

many years been
igement, througk
^ace. These are
of wagon boilers,
. 32, where a tube

^^i^^^fe'^^?^$^-*!^^.^*l^I ^'"° cylindrical

'Sm'Sm' M .1!P» S t

ll^!^§^0^<§A^j|l|)!^)llrnitun» OTerUie file and

:;i^^^^^|B<|9C9:!^|^<:|3^35 s fab« ftom the buck

4ft* a^* *S* flift* aITb «Ak «ff >*7» ^?p 44«»

i^^R^^I^*>r^-^^l^^tiflgltp|S^S3:side. The boilers in all
^^^$£|^^t^t::^^|E^tiaii of tabes has tmded
<^^^^^p^iu^^*^'^">^^%^^^^^'')^^" i^ order to make

pi

^liSIMShSfSl^'Ueii plsea by
B«l'tg^jHiifJSlJ5j§ .ketch Fig. 36,

-'■ — ^ed£^^^«t^i^hatnpton in 1865,

'er the fire where

•h of longitadiitBl

^S^i^jS^atee over the fire

[{^^t^ Beams cgmpletely

3ijliiM>iS:aM^i^gC«tf Bveral of tlie fomiB of
^, lLt|||tB^ii^^^pUtxaction known as the

plain cylindiioal shell

ite Bteam yery rapidly ;

over the fire and along

end of the tnbe widens

. fireplaoe, has led to

[Kow made of this form.

Lhnrgh in 1821 was of a

wagon-topped fireplace

form of boiler oocorred

m in 18S4, and at

^^'oing the flie inside the

t7^^'^n,'4^riMlfttiSB«l in CoiDwaU gave

Ave

M( great nnmber of

^fhat have happened,

,ae boiler shown in

increased but the

•A'J^.

~~ in the same

y^Zhe two-tabe boiler,

varioDB particular
made to unite into
ig what is blown

i^^iij^^i^:^.'^* 40, and in other

• .*!?. •#• •#* •#* '^f "^it* -S*

S>

*'^^^^%^'BtJS*'m1m*^^^m^foi through firom end

p3^afifi8it»i«M«S*i»S**w;'Sf'i increased, and the

****""' ^^aller transverBe tabes

*i J^iij^k^^t^^^k^fraatages ore gttined by

^J*(SgC:^i2^lraK^|^H''K^ greater difficulty i

-*» •£■■ .^j -jj.^r .« . .w -w-'

»^^t£s!l experiments, led to .

. of different makes

Unioh the shell and the

thas taken consideiable

Bitnbee when expoBed to

S,^l^'a great many boilers

(^«Vi>t^4IS»^|Bt^*^3pge tubes vithout the

^^J^k^^^lB^j^oi^ioh boilers are used in

_ _ £lthan can be considered

''^E'^^^^'fr^n'^-^r''^^"' °^^ boiler after

EcC^>>§l»||of^p||^j=^ tube from the want

'\J^i6 still been believed

^'<^S&^i(f^a^ifi^3J^3rB of this construction

ttSc^Sj^j^^^^Ktremely numerous, yet
'•K»»Sw^«*S*iV^l'e lias been considered
^^i^lh^T^^^^l^^- A sketch of a boiler

iVijI^liioh exploded at

■I

'f^^^r^itB'IS^^Bist high external
.'H^^flVyQ B^^JPll^^^ftt the Bupport of

boiler internally
tensioa is not also

1b in tliB midst of

from it ; and the

which, moat eteam

above it for the

o heated &om

and tiie mud

mischief, and

diaadvanti^B
about within them
rlindiical boiler, as
of ezpanaioa
ij)aratiTely cool shell
ont ; OF if the ends
[itii^ in the tube, which
[•iron softer or more
;!. Ifotwithstaading
.— - j'i^i^li excellent one.
■ ■■ ■■ •■ », ,.^^6-'^P^^'° ^"i made to
,'^>'I-tfs»|-*^i'ii^.if«'^;lieat from various
' ^ '^'^^■'iS^Clj^^ul^.^he plain cylindrical

.••J§1'S-m!$1

a dmeB as mimy bb eight

|§l|@JilSWO^S( boiler. One of the

"mm am' '£> '£•■'*•■■'£»

waa tha Upright
which WBS oliginally

Jfy. 44.

and 16 feet high.

[;t^ diameter and 28 feet

u^^Iro made for one, two,

'" ~ ist of a cylinder with

'loentral tabe feiin the

jiAi^th the dde tabea join.

>rtion of the eheU, and

the centre tube into

'i^'^^.P^^^-4-'M

. .jj. ^. ..^. ^. .j(. .^. .j(.

jlithere' is great beating
^S^j^d does not strain the

N
,11

VlfttS ll?V$V?il S{$3* ^ t^ horizontal
i'J|kw>l?«7a|f ^t^; and 08 both ends

- < ""'^taHf H^^yg^d yet the steam is

^'A^Wt^OS {tittle priming ; and

^JURljKIS&tPdflt^fffjMdned, as a man can

*■""""' """l^fifSfWw Btand in the midst
"'^^ tl89tt*'U*io'^ ^<yn liable to

}.'||4^i]|lthe7 do bOTBt they

tvivlfn^iM^fi^'S^^ '^^^ ^^^ other

"~ "~8p8''W™ employed at th«

^*jy>^^*o make it desirable

iS*fwt mnch delay, as the

|tu% Also an exploeion

~'gi!ron being scattered

C^^TS hare arisen from
^l^explosioQ at Dudley
■^wu plate forming

i.

^Mlliin^'S'sil^^'JSraV^ aides or the tabe by

-^-^^=--"^** — — ^ in Fig. 46, that the

irly sheared the aogle

down the cestre

le boiler was violently

lissiiing Hteam and water

^S]^iaitSiti9iB)i:^*l9i|JiiBed ID conaection with
lIST^I VSAMUl Sf^r w n/nace working into each

IVrM'*Al|fir£**S''^''^'' *'^° ^ placed a
^^li|§b«itwu>.'i£klii|tA fatal explodons have

|Uib'0UX?^Wi»iB«ife]'iiSi1i 1862.
.5: .^ .^ .jr .J. .5. .|. -^

'^pSS^iJl^tJI&^fS^S^^vo been much need in

"" li^^ •boiler standing on end,

~ be flame passing np the

tbe form of a chinmey

t'Tbe tube passes through
' that tbe plate is not
by contact with water ;

^^n lined on the inside

i Iplate from the flame.

_ _ __^_ le of this Chimney boiler

~ ble to examine

K

_j5 a single-fnmace boiler

^0^ in Fig. 48, where the

the previous boiler

' Ofl 49» 40* -^^ ^ffi* aftp

H^3t^g^£^^vi|eBtl?3rioua shapes bave been
-jj.- .g.- . jji . jj. -y- .jj. ^. .31. .3^. .)^. .5.

'.@^i|!:^'lt'm!lVV'WH>a<ilw^i'*'8'> ■>>' ti"' <>»

■f -i^l W-'|:| -f -t-f *

with au mternal
increaaing the

-«?=

^" . «^ 3i^ "S" •£" '£"

"^ ~ "iB^^tCSEEipvrfiF in anch a way that
I'^i^^Tald the exterior shell

_ 1863, resulted from

^&^S*^5i>i|@(^S^|i|it^!!4C'^^ general form, but

^^wS^i^*|ij^[^[^^ila of coDstraction.

il fireplace is of conical

Mjf. fil.

!^^6 ft. 10 ing. at bottom,
;a flat annular bottom.
^ preBsnre the conical
at the top of the cone,
in Fig. 51. The flat
^e cone and ude tubes,
la ; and the top flew np
ipled heap, as shown in
i^ that a boiler of each
iloaion.

fiige and varied class of

iress object of avoiding

pipes of small diameter,

'i||> a^Snt carriages were first

""" of small pipes, set

^tfith a general receiver

BOILER EXPLOSIONS. 37

hare saoh small drculation of water that they very soon burnt out,
and also led to much priming. Afterwards, narrow chambers made
of corrugated plates set like the cells of a battery were tried, but
without much success. The multitubular boilers of the locomotiye
type soon, superseded all others as quick steam generators, and
until lately they have been considered as almost absolutely safe from
explosion. It is found however that the barrel of these boilers is
peculiarly liable to furrowing, owing to the strain weakening the
iron in certain lines. Perhaps no boiler shows more clearly than
the locomotiye how necessary it is that every part should be open
to examination; and also how unwise it would be to use for
stationary purposes small cramped up boilers, only intended to
meet the necessities of locomotion. Many explosions of locomotiye
boilers have taken place ; but it is not necessary to give details in
this paper, as they are Mly given in the published official reports
of the government inspectors.

Among the form of boilers designed to obtain very rapid
generation of steam, combined with increased safety from explosion,
may be specially named that consisting of a system of small pipes
within a shell with an artificial circulation of water, an^ also the
boiler consisting of a cluster of cast-iron spheres, both of which
have been described at previous meetings of the Institution (see
Proceedings Inst. H. E. 1861 page 30, and 1864 page 61) ; but
neither has been much used in this country at present. The boilers
also which consist chiefly of small tubes hanging down into the fire,
with smaller tubes or other arrangements within them for securing
a natural circulation, deserve mention, as they appear successfully
to accomplish that end.

The principle of all these small boilers appears to be that only
a small quantity of water should be contained in them, so that there
should not be a reservoir of danger in the shape of a mass of highly
heated water ready to be converted into steam if a rupturei takes
place : and it cannot be denied that this is an advantage. But on the
other hand these boilers of small capacity, which evaporate their
whole contents in a few minutes, are subject to new dangers from

88 BOnJES SXPLOSIOKS.

that very caufie; and although admirably adapted for purposes
where steam is wanted quickly on a sudden emergency, as in the
case of fire engines, or where the generating power required varies
each moment, as in the locomotive, they are for the most part ill
adapted for ordinary stationary purposes, such as the mill or the
colliery. They require constant firing and vigilant attention to the
feed, and cannot be left for a time with safety like the ordinary
stationary boilers. It has to be borne in mind also that the very
reservoir of danger so much dreaded is also a reservoir of power,
which assists in the steady maintenance of the machinery in motion.
The large mass of water heated to the evaporating point, the heated
brickwork of the flues, and the large fireplace, are so many assistauces
to regularity, and enable the man in charge to attend to his other
duties without the risk of spoiling the boiler or letting down the
steam by a few minutes' absence from the stoke hole. Steam
employers are found at present to prefer the known dangers of the
large boilers to the supposed safety of small boilers, which they
fear are troublesome in practice.

Many of the early boilers were rendered weak by the injudicious
manner of arranging the seams. The longitudinal seams were made
in a continuous Hne from end to end, as shown in Fig. 24, page 20,
with the transverse seams also continued completely round the boiler,
so that at the comer of each plate there were four thicknesses of iron.
The crossing of the seams, as in Fig. 25, page 21, adds much to the
strength, and also often prevents a rent from continuing forward to a
dangerous extent.

It is scarcely requisite to mention the necessity of good material
and workmanship to secure strength in a boiler, however perfect
the design. If the plates are of weak and brittle iron, or imperfectly
manufactured, they will never make a good boiler. Apart firom the
strain upon the boiler when at work, the iron has to undergo the
strain of the necessary manipulation, shaping, and punching,
during the construction of the boiler. If the plates forming the
boiler are^not well fitted to their places before the rivet holes are

i

_-.j usingthe drift ia

^l£9^° using imperfect

'g^S^'V*'^ with eaeh other ;

"■ ~" fporwarde hy eicesBivs

'hich IB Hure to ehov

£oat uneqaal internal

___ _ <§|to work at all ; and

|n4cG9tM*J[>£i^RpM. "Bimately to disaster.

I

"3?" ^P a^. .W. "■!■"

[•^^';t^.Hiich lessened by the
" MigIHi§>are fixed upon the
i^j^p^ of thie defect. Not
;C|^cB:af the boiler in one
i^^^it^^l^dl^t^S^^t Steam domes are
' '^Sio'^eGlR^-^^ the boiler, the hde
^*S*%^%^^"l9^i' '>^ *^» dome; and

|^^i^?S^^^^^l^^P*4'^^S^^J^^^'^^ii iB^e square or
ig^i^^^^^^l^^^^^^'as shown in Fig. 58.

" 'ife^'v ^^^S^^fi'^^^^'^^JRi**^^* properly arranged

tilers they are oftea

JAioal direction of the

l^wgSi^ as in the sketch,

.^■9*«>9, ••

■^^*^''£S4^V^4^l'li|'^^ in tB6S. Thii boiler

.^

ifnl S fS^''S'l'89°i'i ^^^ 7et the manliols

SJuuD a few inches of one

i6V!fipC9<* i^i^r which was not

" ~ te strength at the small

manhole that it gave

ia?ItB|^6le lid, after which the

iSV reaction acroaa eeveral

1:1

Lt of the manhole is
by 14 inches i

'^'I^u^.a^^ily 2 ft. fiins. diameter,

i^SEt^K^n^ate for it. The repeated

^^.^^^—---Xa^^i'gi'i^^l^^mei with the preseiire

J^A)£^^s;^^{@'^^*Ss way ont through the

i- on^ —fc_ BO ._*-!. -aiij^B|j^jjjjj^ ^ Birmingham

BOILEB EXPLOSIOirS. 41

The preceding examples haye shown how explosions often result
from fanlts in the oonstniction of boilers ; and the following instances
illustrate the explosions caused by mischief arising during working.
A boiler perhaps more than any other structure is subject to wear
and tear ; and let it be worked ever so carefully, it will seriously
deteriorate. The wonder is, considering the work they have to
perform, that so many boilers are found which have worked twenty,
thirty, or even fifty years without explosion. The terms wear and
tear however are too vague for this subject, and the mischief met
with must be considered under distinct heads.

There is no doubt that the thing most to be dreaded for boilers
is corrosion ; because when the plate is once thinned, it cannot be
strengthened again, but must remain permanently weakened.
Corrosion the more deserves attention because it is easily detected by
moderate vigilance, and can generally be prevented by moderate care,
or by the boilers being so arranged that they can be readily examined
in every part. Corrosion has been the direct and unmistakeable cause
of a very large proportion of the explosions that have happened :
it occurs both inside and outside the boHer, according to circum-
stances, and attacks the iron in various ways and in different places.

Internal corrosion sometimes takes place from bad feed water,
and its effects are different in extent in the different parts of the
same boiler. It very seldom thins the plate over a large surface
regularly, but attacks the iron in spots, pitting it in a number of
holes. These are sometimes large, as if gradually increasing from a
centre of action ; and sometimes small, but so close together as to
leave very little more space whole than that which is attacked. A
very curious example of the latter was exhibited to the meeting, and
shown in Figs. 56 and 57, cut from the lower part of the shell
of a large tubular boiler externally fired. The corrosion was
greatest along that part of the shell most exposed to heat, and was
so extensive that two boilers exploded simultaneously. The boilers
had been at work sixteen years, but the corrosion commenced
about eight years before the explosion, when the feed water was
rendered corrosive by being obtained from some iron mines.

if..^=...?il»s€*l'

J^ -was not considered

to which it extended

f-i^"e^j^tii the half size section,

exhibited to the

from the Bweep plate

g!ch had irorked abont ten

and attacked the iron

The protection

^e feed water is worthy

!»]^tii^d it is seen that the

.ji+^'i^ehaBnot been chipped

^^h^^tl^tB over the hollow, as

■ r-^s' •*• •»• . . ■ •*• •»• •»• •»• •*• •»• -^.

boilers are fed

chemical vorka

interrals into the

bnt canseB deep

;«nppoeition that the

the cooling of the

[^t a, piece of about

When the boiler ia

vith the cortofiivo

oaosea oorromon.

ma; be seen, and if

ijnied nu&ce. In

44 BOILEB SZPLOSIOirS.

fdture working each of these blisters forms a cozyitant unprotected
point for attack. It is frequently seen farther that such corrosion
is arrested if water be used which deposits scurf; but fresh blisters
and renewed corrosion will result from a return to the use of the
bad water.

The internal corrosion called furrowing has proved a frequent
cause of explosion, especially in locomotiye boilers. It differs from
other corrosion by being in deep narrow continuous lines with abrupt
edges. It will sometimes go completely through a plate ; and is
found where a sudden change of thickness occurs, either along the
lines of the seams, or opposite the edge of angle-iron attachments.
This effect is supposed to be due to the alternate springing of
the plates under each variation of the pressure or temperature,
causing the line of least resistance to receive a strain somewhat
similar to that produced by bending a piece of iron backwards
and forwards for the purpose of breaking it. This line of injury
is exposed to constant attack from corrosion, because the scurf is
always thrown off from it.

External corrosion is a far more frequent cause of explosion in
stationary ^boilers; and it arises from many causes. The most
frequent cause, although the most easily detected, is leakage from
the joints of the fittings on the top of the boiler, which are too
frequently attached by bolts instead of rivets. This evil is much
increased when the boilers are covered with brickwork, which holds
the water against the plates, and hides the mischief from observation.
It is astonishing to find how much damage is allowed in this
way to go on without attention, until the tops of boilers are
corroded so thin that little holes burst through. These are
sometimes found stopped with wooden pegs or covered by screwed
patches of plate, either of which cause leakage that hastens the
mischief, as shown by the sample exhibited. Boilers exposed to the
weather will of course become corroded like anything else made of
iron and not painted ; and yet so much mischief is sometimes caused
by leakage beneath improper covering that exposure may almost

SOILBB XXPLOBIOVfl.

45

be said to be the smaller evil of the two, as it is better to see what
is going on than to rest in false secnrity. No covering will be
found cheaper, or better, in the long run, than a roof, which prevents
the loss of heat by exposure, and yet allows free access to all the
fittings and joints on the top of the boiler.

Some examples of the evils of covering can be given that have
come under the writer's observation. A set of boilers had been well
covered by arches of brickwork, so built as to keep out all water,
and also set so as to touch the boilers only at intervals, leaving a
space generally of a few inches. After about seven years' working,
the whole of the tops of the boilers were discovered to be dangerously
thin, and had to be renewed. The cause was leakage from the
jomts of fittings and seams of the boilers, and the issuing steam had
been drawn along the space between the boilers and the arches, and
had escaped at a place where it had not attracted notice. In another
case, a somewhat similar set of boilers were covered with ashes, to
prevent the loss of heat by radiation ; and the rain and the leakage
beneath the ashes, in conjunction with the corrosive matter from the
ashes themselves, thinned the tops of the boilers to a dangerous
extent in less than two years. A sketch of the corrosion caused in
this instance by covering with ashes is shown in Figs. 60 and 61.

J^. 60.

46

BOILBB EXPLOSIONS.

Similar mischief has been noticed in boilers covered with sand,

Mff. 61.

as shown in the sketches Figs. 62 and 63, which represent an
instance of corrosion after eight years' working ; although nothing

V

Fig. 62.

Bg. 63.

forms a better covering than sand for preventing loss of heat hj
radiation. In both these, examples it will be seen that the corrosion
has continued until the thickness of the plate has been so eaten
away that a hole has been burst out at SS. A very good covering is
formed by brickwork in cement ; or various cements made for the
purpose, which adhere to the surface of the plate and yet show
leakage; or such materials as sacking or felt; or sheet-iron
casing, leaving about 6 inches of air space all roand the boiler.

0$Bf^i^(&idkacBS of the plate
' " '" ; similar corrosion

t Longhboroogh in
« concded part, and
inler several times,
S^h^^hC^■C€^it^}>^nd^^B manner shown in
^/^•a^i/fSiC'i^^S/^oiS^iia^l occiirred at Leeds in

^^'$^'r^4|u|:<i*>^ the side fluea of

'"''™*:»K5SSJ^'6^iiR".%i*iiOT boilers are emptied

£SLiSgii'.^|«^l£p:^ViS!4pda7 night, and long

«■

'SlMtlv* tt*^ ^ ™'^° f^noh hotter

<«ie iojnred and spniDg

- -.tjir= r

IP'lJgibB} HtQil^n HO caused. This

the scale hy the

]Sir£ When the boiler is

~ id cause that corrodon

obseired tooccoi to

have been seen thus

|4>aiid in all the boilers

telling were exhibited

in Figs. 66 and 67,

BOILEB XZFLOaiOirB. 49

desenres attention^ as it shows the effect of a jet of steam and

J^. 67.

water from the leaking rivet B, in cutting a series of channels into
the plate along the coarse of the dotted lines EEE, and producing
a hole in the plate at &• Thia corrosion had been going on for
about four years, but was in a part of the boiler seldom seen in
ordinary examination. Many explosions have resulted from this
form of corrosion; for when a rent is once made, the fracture
continues along the thinned channel of the plate.

The corrosion most to be dreaded, because most di£Scult to
detect, is that which takes place where the boiler is in contact with
brickwork ; and it is found alike in all forms of boilers set in brickwork.
When found at the part where the side flues are gathered in at the
top against the boiler, it is usually occasioned by the leaking of
fittings or feed pipes, or by rain being allowed to run between the
boiler and the brickwork. More than one explosion has been caused
by the droppings from a roof being allowed to fall upon the tops of
the flues. When the corrosion is found at the point where the
bottom flue walls touch the boiler, it is frequently caused by the
leaking of seams that have been strained by the weight of the
boiler; and this often arises from want of care to replace the
brickwork, after repair of the boiler or flues, in such a position as
to take again its proper proportion of the weight of the boiler.
Gases have been met with where the shape of the bottom of
large boilers has been quite altered by such means. The
brackets on the sides of heavy boilers have not only been strained so
that the rivets or bolts have leaked and caused corrosion, but they
have also bent or cracked the side plates of the boiler. The
bracket shown at B in Fig. 53, page 40, made of only an angle iron
with a piece of plate attached, is especially liable to cause injury if
the brickwork is not rebuilt close up to the angle iron, as the

IjMlI^ 'S* '^I'^t J^f gS Lj^^-iron riTetted at top

=\iwi:ii|ti;a..

Ibettec form of bracket

k$>£l

JBMSflglfl wbere the bottom
-^M^'aBH' Sir longwben in contact

^ifBtlllSi exploded have beea

)fi Biiftta''j^-^aaM upon tbe brickwork,
"■sti'fi *tt>l w >^ in Fig, 7^ -waB caused

,» . -^ „ _^ i* '"'* 8^* *•" ^'i*

imfS/'^^ S nt Itt )i||'!||mckwork of the flues is

L , l^pi^SkiMJ llliaa).M|i Hil^& little space between

ifltSk^bg^<f|ij|Py^;^^ in increased beating

ll^jj^^^f getting into the flnaa

....-! SSA_».|gQg3 sufficiently roomy

,t the indications on tbe

ledied, and corrosion

;uiTed in a boiler with

fiiiCB were too narrow

|waB only discovered by

engine pumps were

lently found that the

IS extensively corroded

only prevented by the

,te for the oval shape.

>f tbe corrodon, and

.-^..ff,.«.;.. .. -.

^^^^;.||j^S^t'^<Ti^<||ta^a&^^ELrtB indicated by the

l)W«ttA£fC9'<SB^^VS4'^^>°^ going 01

m'' „.

*-~-''g^»4wkMitOS^£taui an expk

bit ths c&ose of an

give way and

ronld not be

only local, and

the

a piece of plate

ivjng the steam

; the thickness of

inch byootroaion

tkage at the seams

and also from the

It the plate by the

if the piece blown

■S&leT may be thrown

steam, as in an

If the corrodon

Bare to continne imtil
of the small models

ifi'MJtjiiiiif*"

Mi9}W'1S^tSwa?w«9 fi r P^^ cylindrical IxHler

whole length where it
at Wigui in 1865, and

m

>'-.^-.

■jj,.^,.^.^..j(..j(.

by accomolation of

Bcnrf being grodnally

dangerona tUckness

on Uie bottom. The

rerheat«d, becauae not in

down into a " pocket,"

If the acarf that

agh to redat the

nntil the acnrf anddenly

so violently as to dlatorb

^^o^of the grate. 8nch was

fjA large plain cylindrical

fires placed dde by

borat out over the third

similar pocket in a

ie|> at Dndley in 1S64, after

leaning, is ahown in the

Siii5ijfti>l6f3i>ifi«I€^

Bonif had filled

iaLW!SMM*^^i^^ at the bottom,
1 1 hard descriptioii ;
iturre, and thinned

'mm

1, and the plates
[molation of mad-
very full of mod,
,g the week but
.VS^h time the deposit
S-J disengaged again
but hardened into
ories to the plat«a
lues cause that first
ictore and leads to
vited to the Ueetiiig
ships, carelessly left
boiler, as seen in
left in the boiler

54 BOILER EXPLOSIONS.

and forming a nucleus for the scurf to accumulate upon. Other
specimens show that foreign matter must have been put into the
boiler to stop leaking.

Accumulations of scurf in the feed pipes at the point of entrance
into the boiler have also caused explosion by stopping the supply of
water. The same result is caused by the freezing of the water in
the pipes which are exposed, and each winter one or two boilers are
injured or exploded from this cause, especially small household
boilers placed behind kitchen grates. Scurf cannot be considered
so great an evil as corrosion, since it can be removed, and if this is
done in time, the boiler is restored to its original condition.

The advantage of a pure water, which does not deposit scurf, is
so great for the supply of boilers that it is always worth while to
go to considerable expense for obtaining it ; or to take some steps
for purifying the feed water as much as possible. If it is only mud
mechanically suspended, which would deposit by gravity on the
bottom of the boiler, frequent use should be made of the blow-off
apparatus. If the impurity is light enough to be carried to
the surface in the form of scum, the blow-off apparatus should
discharge from the surface of the water as weU as from the bottom.
If the impurity is chemically suspended in the water, some
one of the many substances which form the refiise from various
manufactures, and which may contain suitable ingredients, should be
used to counteract the effect of the impurity. Common soda will
answer the purpose perhaps better than anything else. It must not
be forgotten however that the blow-off apparatus must afterwards
be used more frequently, to rid the boiler of the foreign matter,
or the mischief will be increased. In marine boilers, constant
attention is necessary to get rid of the saline deposit; and in
stationary boilers using impure water an equally systematic attention
is needed to get rid of the earthy deposit.

Perhaps no cause of explosion is oftener mentioned than shortness
of water, and this is not unfrequently coupled with turning on the
feed suddenly into an overheated boiler. Many explosions have
been attributed to this cause, when closer investigation would have

, . , , . J f si wMcli collapsed

l^^nD^RaRiiHrlgg^ll^ and the rides of

.1^6' Wi^fipgj^^^^SflUyMt although exposed

llSr&liSftmWtN'^'lgT^^ through the

tetiW«h@^i|iML'Bw In this case the

I JlfllliiinilKlit^fc^at if a boiler nrns
|^\gfi»s7lf|B4||]£|i'gl|oUer, there most;

^ik«lff4Vlii||j0.^'Syw-off pipe or any
js,- '*«- ^ ^19 ^^^JSPt'l'ffJi^Sfmt of shape upon

^-»>*^ ^::>i I ^o^&>^^^|^^^'^ to the fire irould
•3|^X "^'%^'^a^ ^^'*%p''l^^^§|>-A'^'& subridence of the

l^^'-'^tyi- ^**>^wie^»Wi^&^t^Wiiug the presanre,
*^^«\-*4 ;J?'^^^!a"*^'*i"^^^ '-^apw^ ^Se^riek, in the present
:M^sC^K«5Jig5t;^ ^^^y^lrtf tfe?^ line, as shown in

-W^^' ■^' ■*' '*** **** '*** *** '*■ *** ■ '*"

i^igi^k before the orer-

"" I, aa OBual, carried

I^^^^Br would gradually

l"^^^^ heat of which

>iatioa than the

56 BOILER XZFLOSIOirS.

ordinary safety yalyes would carry off. The danger would not
arise so mucli from the excess of steam generated by the heat
accumulated in the heated plates of the boiler, as &om the injury
and strain that would be caused to the plates by the undue
expansion and sudden contraction, especially as this action would
take place on only a portion of the boiler. A singular case, bearing
on this point, may be mentioned. A four-Aimace upright boiler,
like that shown in Fig. 44, happened to run so nearly empty,
through the accidental sticking of the self-acting feed apparatus,
that the level of the water sank to the top of the hemispherical
end forming the bottom of the boiler. The feed apparatus then
became released of itself, and, the feed being turned full on, the
water gradually rose until the whole occurrence was only discovered
by the leaking at the seams that had been sprung, which caused so
much steam in the flues as to stop the working of the fdmaces.
The overheating had been sufficient to buckle the plates, and in one
place a rupture had almost commenced ; but there was no explosion.
Ey way of direct experiment upon this point, boilers have been
purposely made red-hot and then filled with cold water, without
causing explosion.

It has been supposed that boilers sometimes explode from
overheating without the water level being below the usual point, or
without the accumulation of scurf previously alluded to, but simply
by the rapidity of the evaporation from an intensely heated surface
causing such a continuous current of steam as to prevent the proper
contact of the water with the heated plate. Such has been the
cause assigned for the explosion of a three-furnace upright boiler at
Birmingham in 1865, shown in Fig. 75. A piece of plate
about 3 fb. by IJ- ft. was blown out of the side, at a place where an
enormous flame impinged continually. The plates had flrst
bulged out, and then given way in the centre of the bulge, each
edge being doubled back and broken off. There was no positive
evidence as to the water supply ; but the crown of the centre tube,
which was much above the bottom of the part blown out, remained
uninjured.

A somewhat similar case was that of a large horizontal boiler

186S, as shown
one of vhiolk

:i

'^'^^'Tj?'^ "5° ^m;?jrtr»^(%«»^,f[Wlien an explosion

^-^ ^IJ^i^pJ^wlToE^^J&en properly welded
^^*^^|:n*\^I«l^^«l i^^nS'W^oad wh«n put ia.

^^"''

on each side;

>f the boiler. Ttie

end and the top

_ __ fitst instance, bnt

|t^*cHiqEBg; although not so

'- "|*^^^«ly rap d ebullition

It^i^am had to pass up

{§^B§|& produced such a

flt"^B ^P "^ '^^ ^'^

■Qte^^omtion of the iron

r^ni^ 1864 and another

'DJgJMilers had worked

58 BQILEB EXPLOSIOITB.

and escaped notice ; bnt when the plate that fails is foimd to he
brittle and of bad iron, the fault is rather attributed to the effect of
working than to original bad quality. Of course this is not always
the case, as the injury done to plates by overheating has been already
explained. Pieces of plate haye in some cases been erroneously
pronounced to be deteriorated by work, which have been taken from
situations in the boilers where they were not exposed to any action of
fire that could cause oyerheating ; and therefore in reality the injury
could only have taken place when the boiler was being made,
by burning the iron in bending it to the required shape. A frequent
cause of fatal injury to boilers is injudicious repair, whereby
the crossing of the seams is destroyed, as in the explosion at
Wolverhampton in 1865, previously referred to and shown in
Pig. 36. Horeover the edges of the old plates, already tried by
the first rivetting and the subsequent cutting out of the rivets,
are frequently strained again by the use of the drift to draw them
up to the strong new plates ; and many a seam rip is thus started
which ultimately causes explosion.

Many explosions have been caused by the want of proper apparatus
for enabling the attendant to tell the height of the water and the
pressure of the steam, and also by the want of sufficient apparatus for
supply of feed water and escape of steam, or by the failure of one or
other of these ; but such explosions can only be referred to generally
in the present paper. The mountings on a boiler are usually so open
to observation, and the importance of having them good and efficient
ifi so universally acknowledged, that much remark is not needed.
Hention has already been made of the sticking of self-acting feed
apparatus as a cause of mischief, and similar failures of floats and
gauges have constantly happened ; but this should by no means be
considered to condemn self-acting apparatus, either for assisting in.
the steadiness of working, or for giving warning of danger. The
apparatus however should be relied on for assistance only ; and an
attendant cannot be called careful who leaves a boiler dependent on
such apparatus without watching. The self-acting principle has
been seen by the writer applied in a novel and useful way in a
recording prefMore gauge, which proved the more interesting as it

BOILXB SXPL08I0H8. 59

liad shown the Actual piesaure of steam at the time of the explosion
of one of the boilezs with which it was connected.

Among the nmnerous boiler explosions that have been attributed
to over-pressure through deficient arrangements for escape of steam,
in many cases the safety valves have been placed on the steam
pipes in such a manner that the communication with them was cut
off whenever the steam stop-valve was shut, which is just the time
when the safety valves are most wanted. Safety valves are too often
found needlessly overweighted ; and it is believed that many boilers
are constantly worked with safety valves so imprudently arranged
and weighted, tliat they could not carry off all the steam the boilers
would generate without a very great increase of pressure.

It is concluded that enough has now been said to show that
boiler explosions do not arise from mysterious causes, but generally
from some defect which could have been remedied if it had been
known to exist. It only remains therefore to consider what is the
most ready and efficient way to discover the true condition of a
boiler. It has been maintained that this end is best accomplished
by what is called the hydraulic test, in which a pressure of water is
maintained in the boiler for a given time at a certain excess above
the working pressure. This test is undoubtedly useful so far as it
goes, and is perhaps the only one that can be applied to boilers with
small internal spaces, such as locomotive boilers, not admitting of
personal inspection over the whole of the interior ; and it is also
admirable for testing the workmanship of a new boiler. But on the
other hand the conditions of a boiler at work are so different from
those which exist during the hydraulic test, that this alone cannot
be depended on ; for old boilers have been known to stand this test
to double their working pressure without apparent injury, although
known to be dangerously corroded. The difficulty also of seeing or
measuring the effect of the hydraulic test upon large boilers set in
elaborate brickwork is so great that little practical benefit has
resulted in many cases.

It is believed by the writer that the surest way to ascertain the
true condition of a boiler is to examine it at frequent intervals in

60 BOILEB BXPLOfllOirB.

every part, both inside and outside ; and as this can only be done
when both the boilers and the fines can be readily entered, it is
specially important that facility for examination should be made a
consideration in selecting a construction of boiler. Permanent safety
should be considered as an element of economy, in addition to its
still higher importance in reference to the preservation of life.

BRIEF ABSTRACTS

FKOM REPORTS ON

STEAM BOILER EXPLOSIONS,

PRB8KNTED TO THE

MIDLAND STEAM BOILER INSPECTION & ASSURANCE Co.,

BT

EDWARD BINDON MARTEN,

OHIEr KMaiNEXB TO THB COMPAirr.

Iksertption is shortened as much as possible, and faeiUtated by
slight sketches, showing the position of the fragments or Une of fracture,
and the general eonstruetion of the Boilers,

REPUBLISHED BY THE PERMISSION OF THE COMPANY.

8T0UEBBID01 : B. BBOOMHALL, PBIKIEB, HIGH SIBXXT.

1869.

I^Sfi^^^^^'^ft^'^'^*^^^ sure to
l'^9.B)SfH|tf|;*l of th«

cuntiniie until

small models

itnre in varions cases of

pltun cylindrical b«»ler

'j||^(r||i:fl9ic|^f^M« whole length where it

ffiiffl;! K.|y|^S£i^ 3^1^^ at Wigan in 1865, and

-J.:

^ % * t^I^Kt^S^^^^nBicfii^wed by aecamnlation of
'■ ■ di^&f%^^4|SU^^^ Bcnrf being gradoallf

"^Im^^S'^^-S^'^M^ a daQgerons thickness
..B». _•«>« *""°?J5|g^pB on the bottom. The
,ted, becanse not in
^^Ks down into a " pocket,"
"^ugh. If the scurf that
pd enough to remst the
nntil the scurf saddeoly
|>$0 violently as to distoib
pi the grate. Snch was
Urge plain cylindrical
[^rge fires placed side by
hurst oat orer the third
A similar pocket in a
:at Dndley m 1864, after
L^^eaning, is shown in the

:i(iii-fiJi>I'®iiiili'?»lw

wmrf had filled

•• £■ m ~ • w ■ ••

|'ji9s*£^.li^'wf£fUt$l^ 0*^ ^^ bottom,
ilA?l£%^4SfS^Si*rfiV^l'^'>'^ deBcription ;

and the plates

imulation of mud.

very full of mad,

ig the week bat

time the deposit

fiij disengaged ^ain

but hardened into

tjuiiea to the plates

cause that first

loture and leads to

to the ATeeting

'5hips, careleBsly left

left in the boiler

.!feBfi}l'*JMM£**'-

I was attached to tfa»
pitiiiDed circular to the

_^ __ • diameter. All the

Jp^JBISf J|iQ£iIthotigh the boiler waft

|tt4'wlft^|<|fcl™e»t'7weaT. The

*^| self-registering gnage

Ibt exceed 20 lbs.
Jent longitudinally, and
is%^£'^ "»gB o^ pkteg, and
iKsiaWlaiid blew away to a

Ndi^S'««iK'l9. B)^||mouth of the tube was
fwlQn^'ia'lMiW^'Siied in the back part of

^E^y tbe intrinsic weakness

_ _ ■> Bi -v.. _ ^j^^ boiler had been

l^place, and its strength

l^le to bear even a few

by hemp, careiidly
there had been

!•:■£■

ahortneBa of

Aberoam in 1866,

'fljft.Vje, which collapsed

^.A^8||e and the ridee of

31^^' although exposed

IVS^^'fi^'^'H''"''^ through the

^i|i|»tg||lftfl In this case th«

l§ra«^9f^Pl4^Sl"'^ '^ ^ boiler miu

'fls^ ttiWigut&flAltedTitbaiiyoaier
'"'*t»H^|i®>8|fftl8|ow-off pipe or any

^^d^>$i^^J^}<^l^;VouId happen. If

__x^^i^^^^^l^>i(^^^S^e feed were turned

■^K^^K^'^^^S'l^'SS'^^p'^^ to the fire irould

■hot, aad so much

g the presBure,

jtffiok, in the present

line, as shown in

1 before the over-
is nsual, carried
IT would gradually
_ » heat of which
|!ilM''^"g'^i^*lSsi*^i^SF<>™ti<>ii t^Bn the

^l«$!|!i|!ISlflifi»ii|iM

•a

Imeter in the barrel,

wide, 2ft. 4in. bigh,

fire box, two 12-iDcIi

back of the barrel.

■an exterior smofee-box

with ooe Bpriog safety

;here was no pressure

libolted on so that the

^ping, bnt it had been

id it was nearly fall

lat and un strengthened,
id was driven into the
reared against a wall,

■yery dirty state, caused

iper contact with the

not admit of proper

the proper protection

191

30ft. loDg and 6ft.

from tlie engine

iare, then remained

The bciler was

diameter, a float

than once repaired

i^ia over the fire had

'"" explodon, but not

juBt been started

le boiler had been

~ *~[aV.:^iy^^;)^a|^£^^ned ont flat, and

s:*:;lf:^i^^^|jt bemigpherical end

aaar and rigbt hand.

_ _ _ I "^^ after

i^^4s- « 'ft' fir v.-fi-
^^^^^^^^/f^i^^^S^SK*"'^ ^^e failure of a
s — -: Jl^^f's»^"8&l'^W^'T«^ by ago, and o

.s.»***lipi.i.

- .Z,4Srmm

J«g;^«| S^I^JlJh^oal ends, 23ft. long, and

^i^^^^^^^:^>^ set so as to be fired

Ifcwas seldom need. The

>r>^ace, tbe neck of which

£til|fd*^*|^^^^e!§Mgrt^ flame was carried by a

n the stack on tbe right

p^^^ie^*^g^i^^«^t|^ with a 4j-inch aafelj

hT _*_ _*_ "S" _*--5- ""

gtthe left band side had

i and 4th rings of plates

^tached from the boiler.

e distance to

„ ,if,

K^y^Hlb^MSfiide of tbe boiler became

Es -usT - 5T - H ti!s» SEU..KE.* buIgcd outwards with

^|^|>j^^^|S<^^^^^pen. The over-heating

~|-^'*I^*g?'@!f^^S{^^> ^"^ *'' ™^S^^ poBsibly

theat of a mill fhrnace

j_3^_JjCs^Siw^*^^Br line, leading to Buch

Ka^aa¥D:^^k||iit|^^3^(^iect of tbe water to keep

lii^''l^««jltiii'l'.«.s. "^•'■

WiP)HkS«&0#<lilS{Samq«)> a ihed, but no

„«-.s,.s. , .T.SSViC-S-.l!.

'-SpJ^:f5"l'4l»fer, with one tube

aie were no stiengtji-

h^i^*-han<l, and had onl7

M-Si;-jV-»::»;.:,:S':s::i:j--S"a-

9in. diluneter, (nbe

sjl^ff jifflfl BftSi^ y jM^ Ba too weak to soBtaui

|tif^.;-«^.'£*- - 7.>ytt«rf.

£fllfl(|f|&^tCI (||<|Jg^|pot injured, it is 011I7
^M]9v>B ••S^B^fH^KflB™^^^^'^''^ °^ placing
^ShMt w> ,5s} g yff 3^g pBr WB8 beneath a work
I g^^jPt^L^r^^flJiBalttie displaced, allowing
^^Rp'BiiSP&^S'fl'^St*'^ '^^^^ ^^ ^^ room

Ml "S" "S" **■ **■ ■*• ■*• "B*

~ ^^^Q^fr w^a^^sed, and sliglttly rent,
.. .. _-- .. * -.- ^ attendant

^ter level, allowing the
i unable to bear the

*i^B^d 3ft. 2|in. diameter,

m

mV^ ivWV® HjUpW^oS) ^0 ^P opened

plate, and bo mnch
ordinary working

diameter, 60 lbs.

that the longitudinal

joint A patch

id as the rivet holes

caused by driftiiig,

i;

vhen two rings of

at each side untU

n distance of about

|2nd was liberated and

pieces of the shell.

a few yards and

little injured.

fireplace, had

.e to bear the very

over the £replaoe

i^flnd deposits of scurf

it of the water with

sijiil#llit

IkiSed.

some steam winches

Sk¥^e ovetlieating of the

#9^°^ over preflsure in

igi^SiUfi-gf^lff;

2 kOUd, 18 vgurtd.

I

diameter, tnbea

id with steam gaage,

loaded to S4 lbs.,

i^lbe., and had been at

^^fthe shell were torn off
ly round, and moved

■l^^t side of the back of
SM^Zhy the leaking of the

9 ktOed, 4 injurtd.

id 7 ft. diameter, tnbe

43 lbs., fitted with

for saoh a boiler,

)|^^£D^^^AIg^|&UTe goage.

Iliont end was blown
^pf ^^jom^plid was driven against

lti^cI^i^i||d^9^Bitithiii it, were driven
w^SliBtanee away. Very
^perty.

iesB of the tube of so
wbich made it unable
It is very probable,
[ithe preesore was con-
^^e of the engine, and
;led in the machinery.

liameter, | inch plates

it part of tbe bottom
allowed tbe sides to
itroyed and torn into

the defective state
kingitndinally, were

•1

.S: II

t

li^S^M|SKiniS|ffii|(Ha»Qeter, U\m 1ft. Sin.

-»ia«2 7 '*w''I^^£>^^F^SH^3§i^> ""'^ allowed the

T ; -3^. .4. .;2. .3^. -5^. -*• -*•

■ ■ ■ ■! .*..«.

^^^^5Sci^^^^^^$*S^ 4m. diameter, and
i "W'^y'w^^i^^^**^^ ^era defective, the

' ** J'^wTFw't^i^' w™?*'''''" "^ ^°^ defectire
■a 4^i*V 'i^^^^*^«fii^^l^, is of a similar boiler

' ^ 1 .^^HS^g^Pat^^hna^uriug the time another

^IM > ^^^l^iii^^^^ ^3^^the vat«r vea required

S * 1| >*^t^'^^0'^Cnt^?^P^°^^ ^^^ balloon, and

ntv^^^^^^^^tlMt had become fast, and

lS^^«lft9if!S?^4@{:eSaffiWi the bottom gmre

_ _ Aiade the boiler riw
'aJ|&oJ,D!^tance away flattened

':m^

6m. diameter, taper

[f^eter at back, } inch

forming the bottom

guage, a preaanre

jrier side of the shell,

o open out by the

^wn to a oonsiderable

^^ "^^tt^naiiPSi^S^^^^^ thrown to the

ii«^i&»i W^'^^] away from tiie baok.

'¥fil^''H*9J^i^i8lflK^'^ on the side valla
's^A^Kfeft-JiH^'tt^ boiler was thereby bo

yt«5[lt||»the ordinary working

ii!lfiHli_

Hi

-s-

i'-S£'-»-

"■«■:■»: -ft. ^

diameter, taper tabe,

_ , and 2fl;. diameter at

'B^^tted with glass water

safety valve loaded to

ting place in the second
caused the death of a
lot injured or moved.
of water, and as the
in charge may have
J^ice, and the laminated
tube peculiarly liable

I toil's I^b^iameter, g inch plates,
))«^l^^ W<^™d 2 floats.

were thrown to a con-
[bn pUoe inunediatdy

f the BheU by
SfP^?)^iiAS'^W«rfiiilof the VAt«r with

[g^.^n^BT^am^ter, f inch plates,

'M M*MJiB^ltfe end iras separated

LSMfts^wff-K of the shell &om

' the pressure bad at

I kilhd, 4 itu'urtd.
diameter, tabe, 4ft.

^rt^^ toting Eteam and water
*■ — ^S^i'Wtn ijggj. tj^g ordinary

t-

^^^jl^^'l^-^k^^^^/^s^rtl^^elgliainetet, and of

id only 4ft. 2in. long,

ineffleiently

Bnch

'^'i^itS.'ft'E^tilltBi'"''" ' p™™ »'

Kt^tM tt-tt H'tt WW, and the guage cocks
^y^QS3£BfM)iftJb2£48pJBiiig water in the boiler

I'lS^-^ 8 I^^J HsF"'^*'^^ ^^ '"'y ^^

^W*iilt^tHiil|||aRl^raatiniied along the top

"tt y 1 yitj* > 1 1 B tf^ JSfvastVie- shaped strip of

' ** "'^"" ■|'»(>^4s?i^te; two strips about

n^lll^ Ji ^^c boiler had been

' ~|D^4S Wth the back about

Y^kTitiMfSff ^' °^^ daring a

'3 J^a{§it^^tion of Bteam caused

r. .jj. .5. ^ .^. .jj. .^. .^,

lei^:: none injured.

r^ the Tessel, and the
jM^C^Brge piece 1

BOHEB EXPLOSIONS IS 1866.

was 6ft. lin. long, 2ft. 5in. diameter the fire-box end was 8ft.
wide, and 2ft;. 4in. deep ; the fire-box was 2fk. 5iia. wide, and
2ft. 7in. high, and 1ft. 9^in. deep, with 23 tubes passing from it
through the barrel to the smoke box and chimney. The boiler was
fitted with a 2in. safety valve, which was intended to blow at 45 lbs.,
but as there was no ferrule, it is supposed to have been screwed
down to a much greater pressure.

The upper portion of the shell over the fire-box rent through the
manhole, and allowed the shell to open out and fall on each side.
A large portion of the front plate was also torn off.

The cause of the explosion was the weakness of the manhole,
which was not strengthened by any ring, and also excessive pressure
from want of proper safety valve.

No. 33. Breage, June Wth, 1 hiUed.

Cornish Boiler, 36fL Gin. long, and 6ft. diameter, f inch
plates, 45 lbs.

The tube collapsed and rent, and the issuing contents caused the
death of the attendant.

The weak tube of such large diameter, \?as unable to bear the
ordinary working pressure, having no strengthening rings.

No, 34. Nottingham. June 19^A. 2 killed, 4 injured.

Locomotive, J inch plates, 140 lbs.

The explosion occurred at the left hand side of the ring of plates
in the barrel next the fire-box, and below the foot-plate. The rent
tore along the edge of the lap and into the next ring of plates.
The reaction of the issuing contents threw the engine off the rails.

The cause of the explosion was partial corrosion at the point of
rupture and strain of the plates, as the boiler itself formed part of
the frame of the engine.

No. 35. Richmond. June 26th. 2 injured.

Locomotive, being tried for the first time. The funnel came in
contact with a bridge, and the dome was also torn off.

BOILES EXPLOSIONS IN 1866.

No, 36. Qainthro' June 29th. none injured,

1^0 details have been obtamed.

No, 37. Durham, July 2nd, 4 hiOed,

Plain Cylindrical Boiler, 30fb. long, and 6fb. diameter, f inch,
plates, 28 lbs. It had been repaired a short time before the
explosion, with 5 new plates.

The boiler was torn up into several pieces, but the main portion
remained flattened out on the seating, while some smaller pieces
were sent 250 yards away.

The cause of the explosion was the deterioration of the boiler,
and its frequent repair over the fireplace.

No, 38. Liverpool, June 12th, 4 injured.

Elephant Boiler, 20ft. long, and 4fb. diameter, g inch plates, and
worked at low pressure. The bottom shell had a tube through its
whole length.

A rent took place in the lower part of the fireplace, and extended
along the bottom, and the reaction of the issuing contents caused
the top to rear up.

The cause of the explosion was supposed to be that the bottom
plates were worn too thin to bear the ordinary pressure.

No, 39. Sheffield, July ^th, none injured.

Two Tube Cornish Boiler, externally fired, 30ft long, and 6ft.
diameter, g inch plates, 40 lbs.

The second seam over the fire gave way, and the plate sank down
upon the fire.

The cause of the explosion was the deterioration of the seams
over the fire, in consequence of the deposit of scurf which could
not be properly cleared ojQ^ owing to the internal tubes.

No, 40. Oldham, July lAth, none injured.

Boiler, with two internal famaces, 9ft. 6in. long, and 2fb. 11 in.
diameter, g inch plates, nniting into fm» tube beyond.

boiler.
I, Bud the steam
,ted than the

^P^»A&V.I|4g|i*^m^p. It was a pluD

-TWfc-5?.^ -|i.®yW5j8Bfe, and 7ft. diameter.

l-S''M'*l^!^l|^'^''#Tif^°' revolved, and

i MJtt^ttj* ipreBsnre of 30 Ibe.,

„.__ _i^S?'B8&'8 a large manhole

'S*^IS''i^'*^>' t^B bdler was too
^r()^Qg caused a central

. T -?--ii-:«:

in^tC^Vi ""'" plat«j with
_ '" '" front, and returned

|^HlASfB«HVOT{iU9<l@.t:be hemispberical end.
i(lli)'^^^®*'"^H''^''^' ""'^ separated from

i|j|i|f|4f.ti-i<

^^^)*^9^^1I*^"'^3'!° ^^ "°S of plates at
I: ^rifcW*^^ 'gf !gyalmBM of the flat ends

good dietauce,
direction.

of the boiler,
□0 stajB, and

bj two men,

23ft. luDg, 5ft. Sin.

1 kiUed, 3 tiered.
leter, with 140 2-in.
broad, and 5ft. deep,
wae fitted with two

the left side, 2ft. 6in.
and the ieening water

8 killed, 5 it^rtd.

•.Jjr,J(».j(..^..j(.

m

in4St>M><B*t

vSVs^ M'^S'Bf " internal cbamber

K Kin. diameter, vith

tSf'6|i>^MllM'UMf^£*Vl' W'' portion remaining

fBiffiiiflaiWlie water, and the
j^CKftjU^Sf'to be thrown on to

_-»«i ^T- - " %i^^|ftid^l^'aiameter, taper tube
jdd 2ft. 6in. diameter

MrS^^i^^^^:^*^"^wfc and the isBuing

l^le^iaSiQ^c^^t^fiBi^t^d by tesUng.

SfiillliiOftoi'S^S^"''' -ft '°°>> p>*'^

lBlw^'c|&ISi|§^'M^K^4BLtci^i iuid tbe main bulk

|i?IW»**"-lf='

-«

■, witli tDbes,

I 'MTM*^A,'^^g| I p^iBheU, aUowlDg the

ItjJu^.Ai^dij^tothe right The
&H;«($flktt'»mli2beaaiid hack end,
|-|^ Aitf%5(Ajn,^(t||. The tahee were

S'w'AjHfB.fS^^lil^'^^ ^^ coping
— ^'W^W''M'Wj^^wfl^'^ ^^"^ Ttsiniored.
(1 S XjMi^iM^SV eBffl^B ferbeatdng.

Bf"l»nffl laa'" Blaf « irtfl^i show their podtioiL

None t^urwil.
Hi^SR^-ehottneBB of Tatei^
~ the doot frame.

1 *>ifured.
leter, f inch plates,

of plates waa torn

^rf^fiil||U|jgl^a rested against the
^aT^a^'^Apr^ihear the ordinaiy

iWl;*WWSo*-S4|iifJWet«r, tube 2ft. «iii.

BOILER EXPLOSIONS IN 1866.

diameter, f inch plates, 100 lbs. It was doTible-rivetted, and the
erown of tube was strengthened with angle iron. The shell was
formed of six rings, each of two plates alternately jointed top and
sides. The third ring from the front had stripped off, and was
thrown to the right and forwards against a wall. The line of rent
was confined to the plates forming the ring, which was an outer
one, and covered the two adjoining rings in the laps, the rent being
from the edge of the inner lap to the nearest rivets. The first rent
had taken place in the solid iron, about 1 inch from the rivets of a
seam on one side, and from this the rent had extended along the
seams on either side, and of course the whole ring soon tore off when
the equilibrium was destroyed by the first rent.

The fittings of the boiler were sufficient, except that there was
only one safety valve, and that was so constructed that it could
only open a very little way.

The cause was a defect in the iron at the point of the first rent,
and accumulated pressure during the time of standing.

No, 54. Macclesfield. September 25th. none injured.

Multitubular Boiler, with Urge internal fireplace, 60 lbs.

The furnace crown became overheated from shortness of water,
and was crushed down and torn across two seams. The boiler was
lifted from its seat and thrown back against a stone wall.

No. 55. Chelmtford. October 5th. 1 killed, 7 injured.

Agricultural, 45 lbs., and had only just been set to work.
The crown plate to the fire-box was so deeply corroded from long
wear that it gave way, and the issuing contents scalded those near.

No. 56. Greenwich. {Fig. 24.) October ^th. 2 hiUedf 2 injured.

Marine, 16fk. long, slightly oval, front end flat, 8ft. 6in. wide,
7ft. lOin. high, and the dimensions of the back hemispherical end
were 2ft. less each way, § inch plates, 26 lbs. There were two
internal fireplaces, of irregular shape, uniting at the back into one
flue of similar shape, which did not come to the front, but passed
through the steam space, and out at the top of the boiler.

ft.^^jffitt^Jl|||||i9.steam np, the
^^|/5^«^ttlifc|l|iS9<^tQwing aide, as s!

wing

ahovm

I

"^^Jg ^jl^kH-^iOWIVa^V'^^^ to escape into

" ~ ,*. .ff.. ft. ;S::S: -«..»-

^BW^a|^ ^ "S^^^^*^ ^"^B ttie edge of
i|2p»^!^^i^S5alEi^^5ttly nicked in the

iGvets from the crown

'^?^^5£c^^2**Sp''^!^ ^^'^°' ^^ fiimace

side of the fnmace.

There was also a

shell, as shown in

s-

" "j*riiWi.many pieces, leaving

g]^^)^ f^^£: :'^£>'€tf^*€^ ''^ '^^ rents showed

Siunstrengthened hy a

^^'^tTm^ am .S '^taMJiat ]<fliiBB iHctares had led &vay

■ri;".'.\".^/M>,.g^4f ;'ti^#,S^ to m«k« ita ^y

l-^lk^ront plate divided into

:*>]|(ti^3iS^:i^^^ySiile the back plate y
— —- — - - — v--v«.v»._ .. J ^Q j]jg mmjj^3_

of ovetheatii^, but

jiPAdoii paaaed through the

|4tie action of the fire,

[rirater. The manhole

plat«, and held in by

'hen carelessly screwed

le was standing after

J^tjlve Traa very defective,

fd^aCtst almOBt any pressure,

Itt^ited mach higher than

"ig^il led to the sudden

igs, rendered it onaUe
i^^?^ safety -ralve ought to

IkiOed.
, internal flue Sft. Sin.,
on three saddles, irith

>tto]n of the boiler,
jlie issuing costoata

They -were 16ft.

somewhat less at

I* intomd fireplaoeSf

1%^ &oat and passed up

jjShell into the foimel.

oataide £i^laces

!bnt the veaknesB of

Btays between Uie

iimtisgs to the boilei

cWToded that they

allowing the sideB

Each shell fbll at

of the front ends

>»f the side Sues that

^Small pieces of the

aA«a9t theTewel

•«^''^&'^-A<f 'fl<tS%lBi(^B &= leakage of the vessel,

and 2ft. 6in. dismeterr

leat passed fhiongli a

ix and ohimDey-

jiboz end vae torn trom

"fragmentB tliat could be

. Part of the fire-box

boiler vas tm-T nllmg ,

;m it, first struck a rail

reboimded to a point

[oftiwered &om the river to
that, although

was Bhovn by the

JftresBure must have risen

and to more t^*" the

■ffiiameter, tube 4&, 6in.
~ nnnsnally lai^ dcmie
of the shell was cut
'iSras peculiarly weak.

JiSllllIilr"

lemg got up
9 oaugedby

^ *|'£^|>''«*Sll|JSj^Blfrt 1^™ been very

^•^^^t^^^*^&teA in tlie eketoh,
EBMOtptural^^UShe jonctore of the
^ JrapTflKr^ iff*' side of it, and so
i«H%^&^ri^4^tents of the boiler
^icXpW^^u^^^^te boiler on its seat.

I§

8in. diameter, tn£fl

UTer-presstm, as the
of the safety valve
ion that he could
i^t, to be available

*■

ig, and dft. dianeter.

^Bk>?Jaio8|cnifg|l4A?die edges, and i

jt oraok aliovn in sketch,
»i|&^^ commencement of the
"^•^•rented &om leaking b;
'SF^ngth.

giving, tlie mazilid waa
f through the floor, and
^the manhole, and hlwwn

one aide,

itrived to oomrpensate at

strain irhen rerolving,

togeth^ ^rere sufficient

irking presBure of 12 lbs.,

to 35 lbs.,

jpij^ying the steam, althoi^k

year) clearly show that
fire, or any chance of
very great deatraction,
of prtitun which is bo
the haroo caused by

- 1 fH^i»§§^t#i:

__ __ inainjwred.

. — _—. . — _ — . ^^ fireplaces united

iitt'w^'J"*""""

iimis^i.

:|[A^anctiork of fumaces
i-^y g^ak shape as to be

iter, 1 inch plates,

ifid. Two 111-incli

id of the boiler, and

Binoke box and

]|^^^:i: 2 Mhd, 8 itywtd.

_j3^^in. diameter, tabes-
■DPjjQ^iil^e approved manner.

^te^^^ was mptorod at tiie-
.^M)t^:^:&gmB of rivete on each

afc-'S'-' * !•*»■•«

ffll^fcMJ^ffjjymjgp^rand tnined completely
> y IJyC tt**MT&"¥T fflfm^ "* it VBB before.

MnguA^^^Vjl^Si^Bi^She BeamB beneath the
imfS^flff^MytgUu^^i'^SicaaBeot explosion.

■"■|iK»i^l^*^SS»^*8, 9ft. long, Sft. 8in.

,--,'"^l/^ftt'^ tt^H^ ^^ raaotion of the
.M&SamfMiMMhBSiaii (ha^arda away, and one of
>^^I^Sr^:i|^^^flew to a oonsidorabls

r«K^]0ii@aSfra'Vfi((^|'^^ they gave way on
'^f'f'^^^'S^'^^'^T^'^S^^ temporary stoppage of

;^fflK5ii®»|^CCff™^'™ and thinness of

OB > affi. ai^ajv* .g. . A. aft. -S.

■tt- -it. -ja^ .gs . -i- .^. .^. .Sa-

kil^g^^A^E^iameter, tabes 21t. Sin.
^t^^aSP'^^^S^'' v^B ^xeA in each of

' * ^^^^^."^ ^'''l^S'':!^ o^oltaA^ shell.

BOILEB EXPLOSIONS IN 1866.

Both the internal fdmaces collapsed, until the crowns almost
tonched the fire bars, as shown in dotted lines, but without fracture.
The back of the shell, on the right side, had evidently been over-
heated, and had rent along the centre of a bulge, and this rent had
extended along the line of rivets of the transverse seam on each
side, allowing two rings of the plates of the shell to open out flat
as shown. There was a bulge on the plate, on the right side of
shell, corresponding with the one which parted on the opposite side.

The cause of the explosion was overheating of the plates from
shortness of water.

No,. 10. Aberdeen. Deoeniber 2Wi. 1 injured.

No particulars have been obtained.

^^ififjf J;ii|i|!lN 1867.

iUhDiBl^rfiitPJiffid, canEdng great damager

3 ft*U»^ 3 m/ufW.

■*- * -IS-

^S;^^3 lbs. preffliiro. Only

tnd had worked before at

pd, and old fitting-boles

warn at front end, over

back, and front end

of explosion waa, that

^r^, and alao inoaatioaB

BOILEB EXPLOSIONS IN 1867.
No. 3. Sheffield. (lig. 2.) January 2nd. 1 killed, 4 injured.

Fig. 2.

One Tube ezlemallj fired, 30ft. long, 6ft. Gin. diameter, with
dished ends. Tube 2ft. 9in. diameter, slightly oval. Pressure
60 lbs* Tnbe collapsed sideways from end to end, becanse it was
not strengthened by hoops or other means, which were the more
needed, because it was slightly oval, and the longitudinal seams were
nearly in one line.

No. 4. Preeton. Jamiary Zrd. 1 killed.

Boiler for heating apparatus. Fire was lighted without noticing
that as there was no safety valve, and that all escape of steam was
prevented by the connecting pipes being frozen.

No. 6, Weeterham. January 5ih. 1 killed.

Cast-iron Boiler for heating water for a horse shower bath, fixed
behind an ordinary fireplace. Burst and caused great damage, owing
CO the. pipes being frozen. There was no safety valve.

No. 6. Barr. January 9th. 1 kUled, 3 ir^ured.

Kitchen Boiler, which borst because the supply pipes were stopped
by frost, and there was no safety valve.

No. 7. Iiondon. January llth. 1 killed.

Cornish, 12ft. long, 4ft. 6in. diameter, tube 2ft;. 4in. diameter,
pressure 40 lbs. Small piece of plate was blown out near the
bottom, and the boiler was displaced by the reaction of issuing

L^W£9'^^^S(||tff^^^fe^^69BiTe external corrooion
s} - .9iSft*^i?. noneii^iired.

^BoH4B>jH>'M^ae Bre was do b

I 00 safety valve

k,j(..^..j(..jj..j(..j(.

leter. Fressare 30 to

>attened out and ecattered

itch BO as to show their

a veiy long time, and

lino.

|i!^^: 2 JdBed, 2 injuivd.

^tc^Iabes 1ft. lOin. diameter,

'■^i- ^^^^^a^^'^^tting boilur upwards by

.|#li§W:|;f Sf iiiS.«|! '

— •• " " " ~ " .~ _••.

ii

ieS^icini to the centre, the

S)fi> ^ 1 killed, i it^ured.

i^fi^'^Sve way at centre of

^tui^I&^idt&d it was BUBpected

,.-„_j. Ill -»..».

^:^i^^^?9|^d. Tubecollapeed

^imr^tbont iujnriug front
^^l^tfijter, bat most likelj

iSwSlf^^fB^^^fitmt^^tHi,^*^ fonn and worn out

i4|^ii«J^.|| ^l.'S« lU!<A3»»r«iL

i^ii:if4l;i »«^«»f-i

-„*fi^.!^:sS^^3Eg:j^^^g^^;^i and tnboB blew out.
''4!^S^""«^I^#'Jli& ^^ safety valve waa

r?w^> ^1^ ^^° while the engine

'^ f|p-^09«^^^^;|Hyg|gor feed-pipe, and

«-

fW'll-.Q9S|lWl|gf^Ved b7 ^ght angle
^i£&l|d|^^^<Hted. The cause of
S|| §ft£il8[AS^8B ^Hffll ffi owing tx) verj bad
~ - - — .— - knife edge in Ibie

3ft. 10m. diameter,

years old, bnt jnat

apBdd from one end

i^^i^g to iU weakness,

:l^^^j^pgs^^cS^3:^r.^«^i;ChS^at» i inch, pressare

*S* ■*• J^; -S'-ss' -»■ -*- ■»■ ■»• ■»■ ■»• -*-

K^^^l^p)^E|^^SI3frA[SllSpi^>B<''^" the escape

H^^^^^^u;^*^! ttl| MraBiS s^v ||)g ill t^o ^t pipe.

^liifiilijil::

leter, pktes -fg inch,

very inieriur. Piece

•■ ^ •«••«« n — •*-~si-~ ^^^^ **' blow ont

ffiS I 'Iff'Bn'M LW ^B ^ ploHJon was, tlie large
fSS»i>9'»tW,M/i W^t^^^ '^^ too small, and

. -.- 'W, j* vj! ■;;j:'^ai|g'^B^e.-^a^I^wn away and broken to

■'^''^^fi^^i^'^^^^^^-'^^W'^^^^^^W "^'^'^ '^^ explosion was

'^^^^'^C^'^JEtq^n^^^i^BS^^Kned by its being made a

^^^^i^ii^'^if^^^i^^^S^^^'^^^^^^^ and thereby

' • ' j^^.

diameter, tube 3ft.

li$j|||fndH came out and

[]^f^]ie|ttlKing broken. The

A£|^9ffciBaaHhip, and tabo

i-

distanccfl, bnt are

J^jkI portion. Tte cause

eplaoe, and external

•^P?®i j|»*i 'f^.W:?

1 killed, 2 Htjureti

Bottom blew oat and

^^^$i fell over on to another

roBion along the bottom

j,> 3 kiUed, 3 iiyured.

_ f^fOBiOQ vu corrosion

jibe 2ft. 7in., tapering
and about the

Ii!^(illje£l&§'^eam and hot water

ii1>e 1ft. 6iti. diameter,

^m (Hug' mb^-;i^»

ySfiB^'f|fl.SLf^lB[«W and want of

[1t£' I9i^'il9n» DO stays. End plate

stays, and

_ in monih-piece of man-

iB^t^£^^^ allowed lid and upper

-*'

V-audemeath. Top
ilo the front. The

'|§'C^HI^BMaAiieJt'the bottom where

.;JS*J8frfi*3B*- - noneiajtcred,

r<^*^BK9*'^«iSpiirur want oi proper
I .?9iltttfcBjg^l?.B!,Hid throwing boil^

40 lbs. It was
ib patched. The

I^^^S^^^'bigb, 2ft. 4in. wide,

|ti(n) of burel blew off.

)'dSf^lS<Iifl}>C9saie from locked Bafety

'Sk^*"^ U[4S'i^.Ri^l**flBdfibui. diameter, premre
IC _^'^ jf.HjHiH^h^f §{S||pD portiou tluownback
•£^a^J^AJ^4ft^!£^^'^b'^^B^^i^*^^ root of aogle iron, &nd
;;^/d^^^g^i^>!^A^f^'t|£i^^A^ cause of explosion wag

X I .•..•;ia"*;a;'*'.-.

;il^t|l||f|i|i

ti^|Bh^ not iojored.
^tom part »f taper

I

f#|:*liili .

' -!-"*■ :If:^:|r

N^ S^^^ttS^S^'^^-
»8^SrfiCMjaMySf^Ca'.nbe had been taken out,

i»»ifitfi»?^Sl'- >^ ■ ■■ ■

^tmfm^Sf^tm^^QesB of
I^SSASASI^tttlflSa^ifB to compemate

Main shell thrown

coiiHtraction in
for loss

;^M^^iu^^:*g^^^gfl!^^t«r, tabe 4ft. diameter,

|>colla^>sed for the whole

id a blank flange ased to
thont shutting the stop-
iblew oat when the bolts

}(»'^^-S^:^^!^j>lif23rd. 8 kiOed, 4 iiy^

:w:-ffi"-E'-iii.-"a"'

^^^8fiift|i^?^^^aWber, tnbe 3ft. 2in. diamet«r,
J:3lEf^t^^*Tl$|t^g bottom, and two ring!

■

I

I part resting on

;h, p1at«fi { inch.

re 8 lbs. Boiler

[ftafety valve loaded

Itfreasnre lor an old

•JJ[» Mjj^w mj& -gj- • • •

- j^^[ii8mfl'|*i^*i^*to a knife edge aUaloDff
2 kObd, 1 ii^id.

S^*^*^*^''^'^^^^'^^*^'^' plates f inch,

_ ^^i^^^li^^^i^ <^ i^^v plate had latel;

.g^ii^^r^^ii^k^^^^^ and rent, and back end

;^^@2^i^4^-^^^ plosion WW detenoration

.j(..j(..Y--a--a--a-

^**^^v-~£" "£"

il|i|(illtiifii«ilil:i868.

diameter, f inch
n up, and all tiie

iBition. The caoae

old and much

irdinaiy presBura.

'v^the entrance of the

'xi the weaknesa.

1 km«d, 5 injured.
■used for genenttmg;
IT, -^ inch plat«B,
1, owing to inferior

li long, 6fL Gin. d

"" preasure. The dotted
) collapBed from end to
*''■ the veokueaa of so

loin, diameter, g incli

In sketch the external

le Been. The tube

rent open at one seam,
Ithough the boiler itself

■tSg. -^9^ V^^ia^or view of fire-box with

i^^ffiS^^^^-W-**!*^!^^^ corroded to lesa

ii

ISI -^-^-^-

.■,<..:3.„^.-as-_^.^^^,j^^»^^^^ flie grate.

^"^^^'^'E^Slfi^ 2in. long, 6ft.

jCof the tulwB being

^her in tlie

me overheated fiom

i.^!9^]^*^fI|E«C^£i!^Bitle disturbed.

--*-.5.-l?i;'f*1i:':i:.S.

'1^5^!i?^i;^^WW^r. Tnbe 2ft. 3m.

i^5i^P%^^^*^B'^'^®^^^'* "^ *^^ reaction
*§i^'^}^^^'^-'^^*i<S^vr^5«^i^U^gMb!>^ttom were redaced
***S!4Sil'||^-i|i^^y|i,gjj|jj^lrickwo,k, .0 that

I

P^' i^'g^l'^Sf H'^V>?V dotted linM in aketoh,
^^p']Pjl1^^^?t-K|[k^|0a. long, 7ft. diameter,

in the flues veie

with a central letam

tbe boiler. The ddes

packed closer together,

flattened on both

left side collapsed and

te, blowing out the grate

if^ifii^ir

' -«• '

:*:

-■~ >^ *

•_• •_' ■_' _ "ii* "it* "it' "it" "ji* "Se» "Sc"

long, 3ft. 1 1 in. diameter,

lend gave way at the root

60 yards to the rear.

•3ip by the reaotioa of the

i^i^tS^^^^. The cause of explosion

.jj. .^. .^. .^. .^j. .^. .^.

I

§S^il5i|fgi§'S' diameter, | iaoh
®'ro1lrilGCI^Sr^^Sl™ t^ scattered,

f lately put on, and
igiC^:^^n^j|&i^igI wear, that it Tm

fsMr*" •*■■*■

^^^^k^l^ffel^^^a^'^^onlars have been

^-^—TJK^&^&t^'^ji^iown out and did

jPa^X^S^!^p^!i*ii^t of proper stays.

**■ — 1 injured.

.4ft. Tin. diameter.

The tube
weakness with

1 Itmed.
collapsed, owing

- f( ft 'WMtnrBreA

^ W^hh:g»^'34ft. long. Tube
"^KSPW^ ^e collapsed owing

yjUtyil^^e^^HuflftAb at a faulty place at tlie
_. ^ I, allowing tlie hot water

_ia^S»iW. I killed.

nlSffffil^o^^th small retam tnbe, 7it.
|«K^#Qdj8^Mjb, tube 2ft. Tin. diameter,
^rB>H ■■ ^S^^^^'^^^ ""^ '^"^ ^'^^^ owing
^SfWf 89^5^'f S^(°^'^°°' "'^ ^ ooQtents
iBigLM A«^«|pii^aKe to the boat
; ?»•$.•• *fi|*S^, 5 .III, ••

■long, 3ft. diameter, ^ inch

id-hand boiler, and rent

work, owing to its having

1 injured,

diameter, g inch plates,

and cansed conBiderable

le distance. The end was

*"""'™ '"?,! iB|^!^^S("tS t^ ^£iwo internal foinace tubes

*

t attached

npvardB,

m^tto violently escape.

) than iiEUal at

ir>0tii«it«B(Ik^lisafe, eTsn at the

wftiff"i« . ^

<■--**-$,-

~>I<^ diameter, f inch

:d longitudinally.

Lorated, and gave

into 4 pieces,

1 hSled, 6 atfurtd.

, -s.:&^'

l;!IISt||^^gj^^§lr ises.

iSliameter. Tube 3(t 3ia.

iThe seams were arranged

the seams, but had torn

■ ^imr- -^^i" extensiTe corrosion had

O^^iiil ^cVflij^tfLd aU the aheU was blown
' '*'' ** ' ^.lflj.f fend for end.

imw»\ ... w

tume vy'ured,

^fn^^ diameter. Tnbe 3ft.

Q Left hand tube collapsed

GOthout Btreagthening rings.

:^:vVif:|^it'ii

Idiameter. Tnbe 2fL Sin.

The shell was blown

|i^* intact. The bottom was

;h of the boiler was so

pressure.

3 mjwrtd.

-, a ^lg1|S| I diameter, g inoh
IjjH B«{|oat of tlie bottom,

J^ipi£i|S$)r§;Ji«.n^r, ginch plates.
S-'^^yll^R^ffi^'ffli MulSjgirKB. preasore. Both

il§f^^^=^ii¥l*i:®S:S The inside was
*^^5ui^i^;^f^%[^^^ai^.-i^4gplg:iMirowat the line of
^i-:^.i:jg^^(^j^-,i^feg^^^ the boiler in the

|3eJ|9^KSeB3C^^£@hi) alter the circular
■" '*! J9l '*' '*' *♦*

lij^Sjfljg connecting rod
^^ierced the boiler,

''^il^Hl^A^lt^i^^^lfVin. long, fift. diameter,
*S*S>'^|faiite'!ll'r parted at a Beam over
^'H^ii HtS^'^^S^^™ upwards and to a
^1«a«Si B IS9AM''«a'4tiB^ part of the boiler was
-^vS^ H^gpfll |ffifg?3Ppace at a aeam-rip at the
'Q.'^&BSiq||{iHi Mtj^t^ffbile tbe fire waa being

m\

'~ "f^jy ilfr'^'TO'^'»^"'ff' ^7 ^^ <'^"> steam

,9j^ltQ^'.MSSl€KJlPtii^ preBBore of ateam was

K';ifeiMftt»<*M B^^ M.fcW- @ was torn in pieces, and

diameter, f inch

way on the side where

being too low, and the

thrown Bome distance

its remaining attached

[pvhile the front end was

thrown also to the

•s-

boheb explosions m 1868.

%

m

H ! I

No. 31. Liverpool. {Fig. 17.) August 20^.

7 hiUedf 5 if^red.

Two Famace Chimney Boiler, 42ft. 4in.
high, 6ft. 9in. diameter, i inch plates, 50 lbs.
pressure. Nearly half the bottom plate was
blown out, and the issuing contents found their
way into the furnace and increased the damage.
The . line of rupture near where it joined the
shell was corroded almost to a knife edge, which
so reduced its strength as to make it unable to
bear the usual working pressure of steam,
in addition to that of the column of water
in the boiler.

No. 32. Aecrington. August 21st. 1 hCUed,

A Eier or Steam Bleaching Chamber, some-
what like No. 2, and not used for generating
steam, 9ft. high, 8ft. diameter, ^ inch plates,
50 lbs. pressure. The bottom blew out, and
the shell was torn to pieces. The cause of
explosion was weakness of the ruptured end,,
and want of care in working.

No. 33. Birmingham. September llth. 1 MUed,

1 injured.

Two tube Cornish. The manlid was wrongly
fixed outside with internal clamps. It was
being screwed up tighter to stop leaking when
the bolt broke, and the lid came off and allowed
the contents of the boiler to escape.

-Ry.jr.

^-!^Eli^§nSI^J|i8ft. 6m. long, 6ft. 6in.

&'*fl?fi$(i0Q^§Him4s, 40 lbs. pressure. la

jjr eggMw^^Jaft IM* ^» 8 lo allow the tabe to be

"P^fl^» j-4ttt ^d and mptnied at tw»

|^£tMl|glj|f gf gg fi|l^|^ as to knock down the

[^^ Bl'Sld X^iS' iGQ' SrW ^1>o was in a very weak

^£agli!j^i>J^}n^rai^ll|^^g4rear the usnal working
.^. .jj. .j(. ij(. .^. . jj. . j{. -f -

:ifi|:;s

i • ||«f[|^ii^ i||il .

iii

i'fl^'^^M^S^^ilif'i^' wu Tent mt«
fjSjt^ .a'i&^jj£'ncn)tted line in iketch
ffeWti^tttAS^I^ltbiid the fragments

■'"'^'"^wS'-W'S^ft"^ position. The
_PVtir<^S^"Mf - gWrip must have
'tt|MiJ|if^c«^^S£^ Kive extended &om
BJ|iS^'lk¥j!^4SLd aato bennable

i^#Jli!-'M'<8^^^^''N''^ ^^ °^^ ^°

"tSflV^Mt A thick accomu-
plate to become

I^igh, 7ft. diameter,
^«f plate was blown
i;Ihe issuing contents
'as said to be over-
centre tabes were
iverheated &om the
rapid a generatioii

Tt ■¥ ** ■¥ -B"B"B"SC.

■k :*:

BOILEB EXPLOSIONS IN 1868.

No. 38. Glasgow. October 12th. 1 Mled, 1 injured.

Plain Cylinder, 39fb. long, 5ft. diameter, g inch plates, k small
piece of plate about one-and-half-feet area blew out of the bottom^
and the contents issued so violently as to do much damage, although
the boiler itself was not otherwise injured. The ruptured plate was
corroded to ^ inch thicknes» by the leaking of seams, caused by
the feed water entering close to the bottom of the boiler.

No. 39. Swansea. October ISth. 2 killed, 1 injured^

One of twenty-four. One tube Cornish, worked by two fdrnaeesy
23ft. long, 6ft. Oin. diameter. Tube 3ft 9in. diameter, i inch
plates, 40 lbs. pressure. The tube was divided by a wall down the
middle. The tube collapsed sideways. It was said that one side
was overheated through shortness of water, but it is more than
probable the explosion was owing to the weakness of so large a tube
without strengthening rings.

No. 40. Preston. October 16th. 2 injured.

This was an arrangement of pipes, called an " Economiser," placed
in the flues of a set of boilers for heating the feed water. It wa»
shattered into fragments, causing considerable damage. As the
whole apparatus was said to be in proper order, the explosion had
been attributed to coal gas in the flues, and some peculiarities in the
ruptured pipes bear out the supposition.

No. 41. London. {lig. 21.) October 19th. 6 injured.

Mff. 21.

Kitchen Boiler, for supplying hot water to the top of a lofty
house. It was rectangular, 3ft. 6in. wide, 2fk. 6in. high, and 1ft.
deep. The front was blown out and caused considerable damage.

^BQFnBgh no pressore of
"f^iKerlooked that the
il^k^uld gire Enifficient

2 kOttd, 10 mptruL

"'" g!<^4'&'£W9t^S'^a§S^IS'Doh plates, 50 lbs.

HvSS*^ -£ ■^-y^-5^3|^J^^*3&"^«. 2ft- 6in. high.

-»l.*-_tfB^f«_-*^^:^;^^^g^:|^^^ aUow tube to bo

ttejS fire ban, and rent

iQKa^^^topen at each side,

of the tube w

•3he odlapae of the

diameter, i inch

tpletelf off. The

ihole, which had no

St and caused several

Ib^S'^iler, and the rents-

[si^Enp of the boiler.

IBI

S diameter, i inch plates.

at bottom, 5ft. Sin.

[wressare. In the sketch

i^^e internal fire-box to be

I ^^ces, man J of which were

n as to the cause of the

not ¥617 fiiTn^T stayed,

i?& by coiTOfflon round the

?«t the back. The back
ilj corroded, and allowed

9^a^ie given which are not
i^^l^list.

none ii^ired.
long, 5ft. 6in. diameter,

1! ,5.--.:.-»it»l^itf

' • - Ss@ J*P'8'^^*S''-9. ~ fe?!*"™"^ to g«t low,

181

lie steam to escape

-J- :i

STOUBBBIDaB :
PBINTBD BT B. BBOOXHAIXi, HIGH 8T1IBBT.

"iizj^ ^