458

MODERN STEAM PRACTICE.

stuffing boxes and glands, to suit the direction of the expansionand contraction of the copper pipes. In all bends care must betaken to fit a collar on the end of the pipe, the gland and bottom

Fig. 344.—Branch Steam Pipe.

a, Branch pipe. b, Stuffing box and gland. C, Loose bush.

bush being first placed on the pipe; this precaution is necessary,as bends under pressure have a tendency to assume a straight line,and fatal accidents have occurred from the steam by its reactiveforce blowing out the bend and filling the engine room directfrom the boiler.

Clothing the steam pipes. — In Order to prevent condensationtaking place in the passage of the steam to the cylinder, all thesteam pipes should be carefully clothed with feit, secured with finewire wound round the pipe, and covered over all with canvas sewntightly on, which should receive two or three coats of paint. Insome instances the pipes are lagged with wood, and secured withneat brass hoops.

Separator .—Some makers fit a moisture Separator to the steampipes. This appliance acts by abruptly changing the flow ofthe steam, and is similar to those used for land engines, whichhave been explained in a former part of this Work. By this meansmuch of the moisture is got rid of, trickling down the baffle plateto the bottom of the Separator, and then run off by a valve into thebilges, or used for washing and cooking purposes.

Covering the boilers .—To prevent radiation, and consequentlywaste of fuel, the boilers are lagged in all available parts. Thisform of lagging consists in fastening square pieces of wood at thecorners and at intermediate distances on the boiler, the wood beingfastened by small stud bolts and nuts; feit is then laid in between