Interior
Ashcroft Steam Gauge.
Q. What should be done in case the steam gauge becomes defective?
A. When the steam gauge has become broken by freezing or otherwise, and there is none on hand, the engineer may run by setting the safety valve so that it will blow off within from ten to fifteen pounds less than it is ordinarily set at, and then by careful firing, run until a new gauge can be procured, which should be done without delay.
Some engineers have been known to make a practice of running without a steam gauge.
Q. Would you recommend this method?
A. No, it must be resorted to only in case of a sudden accident and where shutting down would cause great loss. Every engineer should have an extra steam gauge on hand, to be used in case of accident to the one in use.
SAFETY VALVE.
Safety Valves, or pop valves, as they are sometimes termed, are made in many different kinds and styles, but the one most commonly used on a farm engine is constructed with a coil spring, which is adjustable, to allow the valve to pop off at a certain pressure. When the pressure exceeds this amount, it raises the valve from its seat and allows the surplus steam to escape. It should be set with the steam gauge, to allow a little margin of steam pressure over that which is necessary to drive the load, and should be compared with the steam gauge frequently to see that it works accurately. It is furnished with a lever for raising the valve, which should be raised occasionally to see that it operates freely.
