172 APPLICATION OF STANDARDIZATION AND GRAPHICAL 



Mr. Meyer : — In regard to Mr. Stevens' point, as to the pitch of the tubes, I am glad 

 he mentioned that. All the diagrams were based on a standard distance between tubes, that 

 is to say, vertically, the distance from the outside of one tube to another is 1 inch, and 1J4 

 inches horizontally. That point has been brought to my attention on several occasions. 



In an endeavor to crowd in a large amount of heating surface, the designers have often, 

 gone to work and spaced the tubes closely together. In some cases I have seen boilers where 

 the distance between the tubes was only 13/16 in,ch. I remember one case where some peo- 

 ple who were designing a boiler, stationary engineers, not accustomed to marine practice, had 

 as low as ^ inch. The best practice is tO' keep the distance between the tubes 1 inch vertically 

 and ly^ inches horizontally, both for the purpose of cleaning the tubes and getting proper 

 circulation. 



As regards the weights of boilers, the diagram- of the weights is based on something 

 like 300 calculations of individual boilers, and I am safe in saying these are correct within 

 1 or 2 per cent, unless there are exceptional features in the design of the boiler. 



Commander Stevenson Taylor, Past President: — I have not very much to say on 

 this paper, except to express my appreciation of the work which has been done towards stand- 

 ardization, and that brings to my mind the different points of view as to the necessity of 

 standardization. It is but a very few years ago that one of the most distinguished mem- 

 bers of our Society, in speaking on the subject of making standardized ships, said: "You 

 might just as well have wives standard for all men as to have ships standard for owners." 

 Of course the developments of the last two years have perhaps changed his mind, though I 

 think not. I have not discussed the question with him recently. 



Mr. Stevens has brought to mind an important question as to the design — that is, the 

 space between the tubes — and I notice that the plans on Plates 65 and 66 show no occasional 

 extra water-spacing between the tubes such as it has been my practice for years to- make. It 

 seems to me that the design on Plate 67, in that respect, would be a better design, because 

 such ejctra water-spaces furnish a greater opportunity for circulation of water. 



I would like to ask Mr. Meyer to express his opinion on that subject in his concluding 

 remarks. Perhaps he has had experience that warrants putting so many tubes together, 

 without extra spacing, as he shows on Plates 65 and 66. 



May I express my appreciation, sir, of the care with which Mr. Meyer has prepared this 

 paper, which will be very useful for quickly determining at least the main points of boilers 

 in designing them for any required purpose? 



The President: — -Does Mr. Meyer desire to present any further remarks? 



Mr. Meyer : — The point that Mr. Taylor has just brought up regarding single-combus- 

 tion chamber boilers, i. e., the spacing of the tubes above the furnace, is interesting, and I am 

 aware that many of the designers do space the tubes above the center of the furnace in single- 

 combustion chamber boilers, instead of 3J4 to 4J4, as much as from 7 to 9 inches apart, 

 and some people do consider this good practice. I myself think there is a good deal to it, 

 because naturally the crown of the furnace is the most efficient heating surface, and you will 

 be more likely to obtain definite circulation by providing space for the water to go through. 

 However, in the designs with which I have been familiar we did not do that. I have in 

 mind a certain boiler, with a single-combustion chamber, which is 16 feet in diameter, with 



