MECHANICS OF THE HOUSEHOLD

McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.

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MECHANICS
OF THE
HOUSEHOLD

A COURSE OF STUDY DEVOTED TO
DOMESTIC MACHINERY AND
HOUSEHOLD MECHANICAL
APPLIANCES

E. S. KEENE

DEAN OF MECHANIC ARTS
NORTH DAKOTA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE

First Edition

McGRAW-HILL BOOK COMPANY, Inc.
239 WEST 39TH STREET. NEW YORK

LONDON: HILL PUBLISHING CO., Ltd.
6 & 8 BOUVERIE ST., E. C.

1918

INTRODUCTION

This book is intended to be a presentation of the physical principles and mechanism employed in the equipment that has been developed for domestic convenience. Its aim is to provide information relative to the general practice of domestic engineering. The scope of the work is such as to present: first, the use of household mechanical appliances; second, the principles involved and the mechanism employed. It is not exhaustive, neither does it touch many of the secondary topics that might be discussed in connection with the various subjects. It does, however, describe at least one representative piece of each type of household apparatus that is used in good practice.

The mechanism used in the equipment of a modern dwelling is worthy of greater attention, as a course of study, than it has been heretofore accorded. The fact that any house, rural or urban, may be provided with all domestic conveniences included in: furnace heating, mechanical temperature regulation, lighting facilities, water supply, sewage disposal and other appliances, indicates the general use of domestic machinery in great variety. To comprehend the application and adaptability of this mechanism requires a knowledge of its general plan of construction and principles of operation.

Heating systems in great variety utilize steam, hot water, or hot air as the vehicle of transfer of heat from the furnace, throughout the house. Each of these is made in the form of special heating plants that may be adapted, in some special advantage to the various conditions of use. A knowledge of their working principles and general mechanical arrangement furnishes a fund of information that is of every day application.

The systems available for household water distribution take advantage of natural laws, which aided by suitable mechanical devices and conveniently arranged systems of pipes, provide water-supply plants to satisfy any condition of service. They may be of simple form, to suit a cottage, or elaborated to the requirements of large residences and made entirely automatic in action. In each, the apparatus consists of parts that perform definite functions. The parts may be obtained from different makers and assembled as a working unit or the plant may be purchased complete as some special system of water supply. An acquaintance with domestic water supply apparatus may be of service in every condition of life.

The type of illumination for a house or a group of buildings, may be selected from a variety of lighting systems. In rural homes, choice may be made between oil gas, gasolene, acetylene and electricity, each of which is used in a number of successful plants that differ only in the mechanism employed.

Any building arranged with toilet, kitchen and laundry conveniences must be provided with some form of sewage disposal. Private disposal plants are made to meet many conditions of service. The mechanical construction and principles of operation are not difficult to comprehend and their adaptation to a given service is only an intelligent conception of the possible conditions of disposal, dependent on the natural surroundings.

There are few communities where household equipment cannot be found to illustrate each of the subjects discussed. Most modern school houses are equipped for automatic control of temperature, ventilation and humidity. They are further provided with systems of gas, water and electric distribution and arrangements for sewage disposal. These facilities furnish demonstration apparatus that are also examples of their application. Additional examples of the various forms of plumbing and pipe fittings, valves, traps and water fixtures may be found in the shop of dealers in plumbers and steam-fitters supplies.

Attention is called to the value of observing houses in process of construction and the means employed for the placement of the pipes for the sewer, gas, water, electric conduits, etc. These are generally located by direction of the specifications provided by the architect but observation of their installation is necessary for a comprehension of actual working conditions. It is suggested that the work be made that of, first, acquiring an idea of established practice, and second, that of investigating the examples of its application.

Preface	[v]
CHAPTER I
Page
The Steam Heating Plant Heat of Vaporization—Steam Temperature—Gage Pressure—Absolute Pressure—Two-pipe System—Separate-return System—Overhead or Drop System—Water-filled Radiators—Air Vents—Automatic Air Vents—Steam Radiator Valves—The House-heating Steam Boiler—Boiler Trimmings—The Water Column—The Steam Gage—The Safety Valve—The Draft Regulator—Rule for Proportioning Radiators—Proportioning the Size of Mains—Forms of Radiators—Radiator Finishings—Pipe Coverings—Vapor-system Heating.	[1]
CHAPTER II
The Hot-water Heating Plant The Low-pressure Hot-water System—The High-pressure Hot-water System—Heating-plant Design—Overhead System of Hot-water Heating—Expansion Tanks—Radiator Connection—Hot-water Radiators—Hot-water Radiator Valves—Air Vents—Automatic Hot-water Air Vents.	[37]
CHAPTER III
The Hot-air Furnace Construction—Furnace-gas Leaks—Location of the Furnace—Flues—Combination Hot-air and Hot-water Heater.	[51]
CHAPTER IV
Temperature Regulation Hand Regulation—Damper Regulator for Steam Boiler—Damper Regulators for Hot-water Furnaces—The Thermostat Motor—Combined Thermostat and Damper Regulator—Thermostat-motor Connections.	[59]
CHAPTER V
Management of Heating Plants General Advice—The Economy of Good Draft—General Firing Rules—Weather and Time of Day—Night Firing—First-day Firing—Other Day Firing—Economy and Fuels—For Burning Soft Coal—For Burning Coke—Other Rules for Water Boilers—Air-vent Valves on Radiators—The Air Valves—End of the Season—The Right Chimney Flue—“Smokey” Chimneys.	[70]
CHAPTER VI
Plumbing Water Supply—Water Cocks—Bibb-cocks—Self-closing Bibbs—Lever-handle Bibbs—Fuller Cocks—Wash-tray Bibbs—Basin Cocks—Pantry Cocks—Sill Cocks—Valves—Kitchen and Laundry Fixtures—The Bathroom—Bath Tubs—Wash Stands and Lavatories—Traps—Back-venting—Soil Pipe—Water Closets—Washout Closets—Washdown Closets—Siphon-jet Closet—Flush Tanks—Low-down Flush Tank—Opening Stopped Pipes—Sewer Gas—Range Boilers—The Water-back—Excessive Pressure—Blow-off Cock—Location of Range Boiler—Double Heater Connections—Horizontal Range Boilers—Tank Heaters—Overheater Water—Furnace Hot-water Heaters—Instantaneous Heaters.	[82]
CHAPTER VII
Water Supply Water Analysis—Pokegama Water—River Water—Artesian Water—Medical Water—Organic Matter—Ammonia—Hardness in Water—Iron in Water—Water Softening With Hydrated Silicates—Chlorine—Polluted Water—Pollution of Wells—Safe Distance in the Location of Wells—Surface Pollution of Wells—Water Table—The Divining Rod—Selection of a Type of Well—Flowing Wells—Construction of Wells—Dug Wells—Open Wells—The Ideal Well—Coverings of Concrete—Artesian Wells—Driven Wells—Bored Wells—Cleaning Wells—Gases in Wells—Peculiarities of Wells—Breathing Well—Freezing Wells—Pumps—The Lift Pump—The Force Pump—Tank Pump—Well Pumps—Wooden Pump—Pumps for Driven Wells—Deep-well Pumps—Tubular Well Cylinders—Chain Pumps—Rain Water Cisterns—Filters—The Hydraulic Ram—Single-acting Hydraulic Ram—The Double-acting Hydraulic Ram—Domestic Water-supply Plants—Gravity Water Supply—Pressure-tank System of Water Supply—The Pressure Tank—Power Water-supply Plants—Electric Power Water Supply—The Water Lift.	[125]
CHAPTER VIII
Sewage Disposal The Septic Tank—The Septic Tank With a Sand-bed Filter—The Septic Tank and Anaerobic Filter—Limit of Efficiency.	[168]
CHAPTER IX
Coal Oxidation of Hydrocarbons—Graphitic Anthracite—Cannel Coal—Lignite—Peat—Wood—Charcoal—Coke—Gas-coke—Briquettes —Comparative Value of Coal to Other Fuels—Price of Coal.	[182]
CHAPTER X
Atmospheric Humidity Humidity of the Air—Relative Humidity—The Hygrometer—The Hygrodeik—Dial Hygrometers—The Swiss Cottage “Barometer”—Dew-point—To Determine the Dew-point—Frost Prediction—Prevention of Frost—Humidifying Apparatus.	[196]
CHAPTER XI
Ventilation 196 Quantity of Air Discharged by a Flue—Cost of Ventilation—The Wolpert Air Tester—Pneumatic Temperature Regulation—Mechanical Ventilation—The Plenum Method—Ventilation Apparatus—Air Conditioning—Humidifying Plants—Vaporization as a Cooling Agent—Air-cooling Plants—Humidity Control.	[219]
CHAPTER XII
Gaseous and Liquid Fuels Gaseous and Liquid Fuels—Coal Gas—All-oil Water Gas—Pintsch Gas—Blau Gas—Water Gas—Measurement of Gas—Gas Meters How to Read the Index—Prepayment Meters—Gas-service Rules—Gas Ranges—Lighting and Heating with Gasoline—Gasoline—Kerosene—The Cold-process Gas Machine—The Hollow-wire System of Gasoline Lighting and Heating—Mantle Gas Lamps—Open-flame Gas Burners—The Inverted-mantle Gasoline Lamp—Portable Gasoline Lamp—Central Generator Plants—Central-generator Gas Lamps—Boulevard Lamps—Gasoline Sad Irons—Alcohol Sad Irons—Alcohol Table Stoves—Danger from Gaseous and Liquid Fuels—Acetylene-gas Machine—Types of Acetylene Generators—Gas Lighters—Acetylene Stoves.	[250]
CHAPTER XIII
Electricity Incandescent Electric Lamps—The Mazda Lamp—Candlepower—Lamp Labels—Illumination—The Foot-candle—The Lumen—Reflectors—Choice of Reflector—Lamp Transformers—Units of Electrical Measurements—Miniature Lamps—Effects of Voltage Variations—Turn-down Electric Lamps—The Dim-a-lite—Gas-filled Lamps—Daylight Lamps—Miniature Tungsten Lamps—Flash Lights—The Electric Flat-iron—The Electric Toaster—Motors, Fuse Plugs—Electric Heaters—Intercommunicating Telephones—Electric Signals—Buzzers—Burglar Alarms—Annunciators—Table Pushes—Bell-ringing Transformers—The Recording Wattmeter—To Read the Meter—State Regulation of Meter Service—Electric Batteries—Battery Formation—Battery Testers—Electric Conductors—Lamp Cord—Portable Cord—Annunciator Wire—Private Electric Generating Plants—Storage Batteries—The Pilot Cell—National Electrical Code—Electric Light Wiring—Outlet Boxes—Automatic Door Switch—Plug Receptacles—Heater Switch, Pilot and Receptacle—Service Switch—Local Switches—Pilot Lights—Wall and Ceiling Sockets—Drop Lights.	[305]
Index	[385]

MECHANICS OF THE HOUSEHOLD

CHAPTER I
THE STEAM HEATING PLANT

The use of steam as a means of heating dwellings is common in every part of the civilized world. Plants of all sizes are constructed, that not only give satisfactory service but are efficient in the use of fuel, and require the minimum amount of attention.

The manufacture of steam heating apparatus has come to be a distinct industry, and represents a special branch of engineering. Many manufacturing companies, pursue this line of business exclusively. The result has been the development of many distinctive features and systems of steam heating, that are very excellent for the purposes intended.

Practice has shown that large plants can be operated more economically than small ones. Steam may be carried through underground, insulated pipes to great distances with but small loss of heat. This has lead to the sale of exhaust steam, from the engines of manufacturing plants, for heating purposes and the establishment of community heating plants, where the dwellings of a neighborhood are heated from a central heating plant; each subscriber paying for his heat according to the number of square feet of radiating surface his house contains.

In the practice most commonly followed, with small steam heating plants, the steam is generated in a boiler located at any convenient place, but commonly in the basement. The steam is distributed through insulated pipes to the rooms, where it gives up its heat to cast-iron radiators, and from them it is imparted to the air; partly by radiation but most of the heat is transmitted to the air in direct contact with the radiator surface.

The heating capacity of a radiator is determined by its outside surface area, and is commonly termed, radiating surface or heating surface. Radiators of different styles and sizes are listed by manufacturers, according to the amount of heating surface each possesses. Radiators are sold at a definite amount per square foot, and may be made to contain any amount of heating surface, for different heights from 12 to 45 inches.

The widespread use of steam as a means of heating buildings is due to its remarkable heat content. When water is converted into vapor the change is attended by the absorption of a large amount of heat. No matter at what temperature water is evaporated, a definite quantity of heat is required to merely change the water into vapor without changing its temperature. The heat used to vaporize water in a steam boiler is given up in the radiators when the steam is condensed. It is because of this property that steam is such a convenient vehicle for transferring heat from the furnace—where it is generated—to the place to be warmed. This heat of vaporization is really the property which gives to steam its usefulness as a means of heating.

MECHANICS OF THE HOUSEHOLD

INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ITHE STEAM HEATING PLANT

CHAPTER I
THE STEAM HEATING PLANT