The Traveling Engineers' Association to Improve the Locomotive Engine Service of American Railroads Part 20

A. This packing is put on top of boxes to a.s.sist in keeping dirt and dust out of oil holes, also to aid in gradual lubrication from the top.

If this packing is disturbed it will permit dirt and grit to work into oil holes and on the bearings as well as feed the oil away too rapidly.

11. Q. How do you adjust grease cups as applied to rods?

A. Screw down plug until you feel a slight resistance from the grease, stop when grease shows between bra.s.s and pin; this should be sufficient over the division.

12. Q. Is it usual for pins to run warm when using grease?

A. Yes; grease does not work properly until it gets warm enough to flow readily over the bearing.

13. Q. What effect does too much pressure produce?

A. Wastes grease and increases the friction until the surplus amount is worked out so the bearing runs free on its journal.

14. Q. Is it necessary to use oil with grease on crank pins?

A. No.

15. Q. When an engine is equipped with Elvin driving box lubricator, how can you tell whether a sufficient amount of lubricant is in the grease receptacle?

A. The indicator wire fastened to the bottom of the grease cellar indicates the amount of grease left in the cellar.

16. Q. Why should engine oil not be used on valves and cylinders?

A. Engine oil loses its lubricating qualities before it gets up to the temperature of the valves and cylinders when they are working steam.

17. Q. At what temperature does engine oil lose its lubricating qualities? At what temperature for valve oil?

A. Engine oil begins to separate and give off gas at 345 degrees F. The temperature of steam at 120 pounds is 350 degrees F., while valve oil has a flash test of 520 degrees F. The temperature of steam at 235 pounds is 431 degrees F., much lower than the flash test of valve oil.

18. Q. How and by what means are valves, cylinders and the steam end of air pumps lubricated?

A. By a sight-feed hydrostatic lubricator.

19. Q. What is the principle on which a lubricator operates. How does the oil get from the cup to the steam chest?

A. The lubricator is located in the cab so there is a gradual descent in the oil pipe from the lubricator to the steam chest. Above the oil reservoir is a condenser that is kept filled with water condensed from steam fed from the boiler. The pressure of this water comes on the oil in the oil tank below it, forcing oil through the sight-feed valves; it then pa.s.ses up by the sight-feed gla.s.ses to the oil pipe and steam chest. The use of the gla.s.ses is to make the drop of oil visible as it leaves the sight-feed nipple so the amount of oil fed can be regulated.

Steam from the boiler fed to the lubricator at boiler pressure through the equalizing tubes balances the pressure which comes from the steam chest when the engine is working steam.

20. Q. How should the lubricator be filled?

A. First close all valves connected with the lubricator, open drain plug and remove filling plug, allowing water to escape until oil appears with it. Drain plug should then be closed. Fill the oil tank in the usual way, being careful not to overflow it; then replace filling plug.

If the supply of oil is insufficient to fill the lubricator, water can be used to finish it, as the lubricator will begin feeding sooner when filled full.

21. Q. After filling lubricator, what should be done?

A. Open the steam throttle to the lubricator wide, then carefully open the water valve, but do not open the feeds until sure the chamber in the gla.s.s is filled with water.

22. Q. How long before leaving terminal should the feed valves be opened? Why?

A. About fifteen minutes; this time is necessary to allow oil to feed through the oil pipe and reach the steam chests.

23. Q. How many drops should be fed per minute?

A. From one to seven, timed by the watch, depending on conditions.

Cylinders of large size require more oil than smaller ones.

24. Q. If lubricator feeds regularly when working steam and too rapidly after shutting off, what is the trouble?

A. The opening in the choke plug at the lubricator or through the steam valves at the steam chest is too large and should be reduced to the proper size by applying new chokes or valves.

25. Q. When valves appear dry while using steam and the lubricator is working all right, what would you do to relieve these conditions?

A. Ease off throttle for a few seconds to reduce the steam chest pressure and drop the reverse lever a few notches to give the valve a longer travel; oil held in the pipes will then flow down.

=FEDERAL REGULATIONS=

=For Inspection of Locomotive Boilers and Safety Appliances=

1. Q. What is the purpose of the federal rules and regulations for inspection of locomotive boilers?

A. So that all railroads operating under the laws of the United States government, would be obliged to maintain their boilers in a safe working condition.

2. Q. What is the purpose of the quarterly and monthly interstate inspection cards placed in the cab of the locomotive?

A. So that the federal inspector or engineer may see that the locomotive boiler has received its monthly or quarterly inspection.

3. Q. What const.i.tutes a safety appliance, as applied to a locomotive?

A. Any appliance that is placed on a locomotive for the purpose of protecting the employees from personal injury.

4. Q. Name some of the safety appliances found on a locomotive?

A. s.h.i.+eld for tubular gla.s.s lubricators, also s.h.i.+elds for water gla.s.s, automatic couplers, with lever attachments, air brakes, etc.

5. Q. In what condition should safety appliances be maintained?

A. They should be maintained in first cla.s.s condition.

6. Q. What should be done in event of any of the safety appliances being damaged while engine is in service so as to render it unsafe?

A. Warn all employees whose duties require them to work around the locomotive of its unsafe condition, then make report to those in authority so that it may be taken out of service until repairs are made.

7. Q. What effort should be made on the part of the engineer to prevent persons using a safety appliance which he knows is damaged and unsafe?