S316

 

Fig. 11 shows the structure of an alloy of the following com-
position: '

 

It shows that the lead has liquated, leaving an unsound metal.
The dark spots are holes and the lighter particles lead. That
such a segregation of the lead -greatly reduc=es the value of
a composition of this nature is very evident,

Fig. 12. A metal of fo-llowlng composition:

Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ’I6.(§6
Tin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11.68
Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 10.83

  

This shows a still greater segregation of lead. In this metal
the lead is very unevenly distributed, it having formed large
pools through the alloy. _ _ _ _

Of all metals, lead is by far the first in anti-friction qualities;
and if to the strength of copper and tin there is added a suit-
able proportion of lead, thoroughly and evenly distributed
throughout the mass, the bearings as they wear are constantly
in contact with soft anti-friction particles of lead, which are
backed by the harder particles of copper and tin. If in such an
alloy the lead is not homogeneously distributed and_without
liquation, both the wearing and anti-frictional qualities are
greatly affected. . _ _

After going through the who-1-e subject of the composition of
metals suitable for bearings, the thoroughly homogeneous alloy
of the proper portions of copper, tin and lead seems to- m-e to
be best suited fo-r the purpose, and this has also been demon-
strated in actual service by the use of such alloy on all the
reco-rd—breaiking trains of recent years, notably the New York
Central & Hudson River fly-er from Albany to Buffalo-, which
made the run of 4361/2 miles in 407 minutes, -with the bearings
perfectly cool throughout the entire run; and on the fleetest
ocean greyhounds that cross the ocean.

The alloy of copper, tin and lead, of proper com-position and
homogeneous structure, I think I am safe in saying, has -greater
anti-frictional qualities than any other composition of sum-
cient strength to be used as a journal brass in railroad service.
This fact has been demonstrated several times by actual prac-
tical tests, and, furthermore, it does not deteriorate in remelt—
1l'l .

is structure is of such importance in a bearing metal, I
think the micro-test should be included in all specifications as
equal, if not greater in importance than chemical analysis.

ADVANTAGE OF IMPROVED TOOLS FOR RAILROAD
SI-IOPS.*

We find that where a careful selection and proper application
has been made of improved tools in shops the saving in time
over the old methods of getting out the same class of wo-rk is so
great as to set aside all doubt and beat down all prejudice here-
tofore existing in the minds of a few mechanical men who are
10th to depart from old and tried ways. Your committee finds
that the introduction of truly improved tools for meeting special
railway repair shop work has been slow, considering the great
advantages derived from their use, and from facts ascertained in
making our inquiries, we are satisfied that a large majority of
our master mechanics are not reading upon or keeping posted
with the progress made by some of their brothers in this impor-
tant line, or if they are, then their managements fail to appre-
ciate their efforts, or act upon their suggestions.

As your committee on the subject of motors, in their full and
complete report at our last convention covered this field so well,
we decided not to touch to any extent upon this part of what is
considered by many as pertaining to our subject of improved
tools; at the same time we Want to emphasize and indorse all the
committee suggests and to add that even since their report was
submitted rapid strides have been made in the invention and in-
troduction of powerful and convenient motors having electricity
and compressed air to actuate them and with the advantages of
being adapted to special or universal service which enables them
to cover almost every variety of Work for which detached or in-
'dependent motion is desirable, and the extended use of them in
connection with the latest improved tools designed to work with
them is strongly urged by your committee. The great improve-
ment made in heavy shop tools and the very successful efforts
to introduce features in them for wider scope and greater ca-
pacity is familiar to all who have looked into the subject, and
your committee assumes in: the matter of heavy lathes, planes,
slotters, shapers, etc., that all interested are posted, and we pro-
pose to confine our report to the more special tools, those gotten
up with a view of dispensing with all work formerly done by
hand where possible to machine it. -

These are the great labor and time savers, and consequently
do as much, and in some cases more, to reduce cost of repairs on
locomotives than the heavy tools, and, strange to say, they have
received but little attention in proportion to their worth, if we
may judge from the lack of general introduction. These consist
in part of milling machines, vertical, horizontal and universal,
turret lathes of special design, special brass lathes, grinding
machines. 15001 Sharpening’ devices, cold sawing and cutting off
machines, threading machines for turned bolts, etc., to dispense
with cutting threads on lathes, and some of the latest designs of
light shapers, slotters and quick return -planers.

Possibly the most important of the improved tools are the lat-
est designs of milling machines. With these we are enabled to
machine almost any part of locomotive machinery that cannot

’ be handled in our lathes and planers, and also finish and fit

*Report before the Master Mechanics’ Association, June, 1898.

parts that could only be done by hand heretofore, and owing to
their ease of adjustment we are enabled to design work to be
machined by milling very cheaply that would have been-. difficult,
if not impossible to handle in any other machine. A visit to
some of the large building shops where heavy milling II1a,Chine1‘y
has been so -generally introduced would be quite a revelation to
those who have failed to keep up with the subject. Thereseems
to be no limit to their usefulness, and but few, if any, jobsarise
in ordinary practice that cannot be handled in a Well designed
milling machine. Your committee finds that the introduction of
-light milling machines years ago, which could be used only for
cutting gears, fluting reame-rs, taps, etc., and which proved too
small to be of any general use, hadthe tendency to prejudice
many shop men against them-, and the fact that only recently
such machines as are calculated to take the place of planers,
slotters and other tool-s have been available, has no doubt had
much to do W-ith the slowness of shop managers to take hold of
them, but now that it is possible to select a machine to suit your
work we strongly recommend their use, and find that a saving
of at least 20 per cent. over the ordinary planer can be obtained
where a heavy milling machine is worked up to its full capacity
on most work.

Perhaps the next most important, if not equal, adjunct in the
way of improved tools for machine shop is the turret lathe,
These tools are now made very strong and heavy, ‘designed to
cover a large variety of Work, and for nearly all kinds of turn-
ing from the solid bar.

With a properly built turret lathe not only are bolts for en-
gine work, but all pins, bushings, collars, etc., for any des(3rip_
tion of machinery, etc., can be rapidly produced, and accurately
duplicated. The attachmentlsfor threading makes them much
faster and more accurate than the old method of threading in
ordinary lathes. Your committee recommend none but the best
and heaviest turret lathes. There are many on the market like
the poor milling machines, and not worth the room they occupy.
Too much care cannot be exercised in selecting what are consid-
ered improved tools for shops, and this applies with great force
to tools for railroad shops, where we cannot afford many, if any,
costly special tools, but must confine ourselves to purchasing
such improved, or even ordinary machines, that are as universal
as possible in their action. We find that with the best designs
of turret lathes in the hands of smart and intelligent operatives
who adapt the machines to the work in hand, and work them to
full capacity, that a saving of from 45 per cent. to 55 per cent. can
be obtained in all kinds of bolt and pin work, over the ordinary
methods of doing this work in lathes.

Your committee finds that great improvement has been made
in the machinery for handling brass work in shops, and, not~
withstanding we are constantly trying to reduce, or dispense
with connections and attachments as far as possible, we still
have a large number of brass and other metal fittin-gs to pro-
duce, and shops that are prepared, or desire to make their
own oil cups, gauge cocks and standard brass fittings, would do
well to look into the matter. Many of the best of these machines
will lessen the cost of production of this class of work at least 50
per cent., and the output is far superior in fit and finish, owing
to the arrangements for accurate duplication. ‘There are now
available several makes of quick return high speed planers and
shapers for light work designed to keep all small jobs out of the
heavier tools, and Where a. shop is confined to two or three
planers, all of them probably I36 inches or over, with. one or more
heavy shapers, one of these machines will be found not only
very convenient, but most profitable. They handle rod keys,
liners, keys for frames, etc., and for quick time on brass
work of all kinds, are indispensable. These newer designs are
small, but heavy and compact, and should not be confounded
with the flimsy little machines so generally on the market, with
which all shop men have become disgusted, owing to poor de-
sign, extreme lightness and uncertainty of feed, etc.

Your committee is pleased to note the more general tendency
on the part of many shop men to take advantage of the
suggestions made and points given on this subject in our former
reports of committees on this subject. It encourages us to hope
our efforts are appreciated, and that good is being done by tlfe
Association's action in keeping this most important matter to
the front. This is especially apparent in- the number of pneu-
matic and electric motors in use, and particularly the former.
We find but few shops who new depend upon the old ratchet for
drilling and reaming, and the number of belt and rope con-
veyors, and old—fashioned devices for obtaining motion, are
growing less every day. We find that where comp-ressed air is
being used in connection with the best motors for drilling, ream-
ing, boring, tapping, chipping, calking, screwing inn stay bolts,
riveting tanks, ash pans, and many other uses, that the average
saving over the old hand methods is from 36 to 40 per cent., and
on some jobs, is over 50 per cent., particularly in drilling shops
where ratchets were formerly used. The average saving in
boiler shops fully equipped with good pneumatic tools to cover
all lines where they have proven an advantage is about 50 per
cent., and by some who have given the matter much thought is
considereld much above this figure when great saving in time
engines are laid up for boil-er work is counted. We find fewer
improvements in our blacksmith shops than in other depart-
ments of railroad works, the old methods prevailing in them to
a much larger extent than in others, and we suggest to our
master mechanics, and foreman blacksmiths, to go» around, 01‘
write for particulars as to what is being done in this line at
so-me of our leading railroad shops, those of the Union Pacific at
Omaha, the Santa Fe at Topeka, and many others, having‘ intro-
duced compressed air with great results on certain ‘work.

Outside the shop proper, in the yards and buildings for storing
material, scrap iron, is a great field for saving labor by con-
veniently arranged pneumatic lifts and motors, many foremen