Trials of Portable Steam- Engines at Cardiff. (j'd 
attached. The steam then passes to a regulator, or starting-valve (which is a 
plain slide), and issues into the slide-jacket, in which are two short slides, 
joined by a rod, and two bridles. 
These slides are cast iron, and have on their backs two cast-iron expansion 
valves, joined by a rod with two T's. 
There are no means of altering the distance apart of tke valves, but the 
variation in expansion is made from time to time, as may be required, by 
shifting the jx)sition of the expansion eccentric ; this is done by means of a 
set screw passing through a plate, which drives the eccentric, and through 
a slot in the eccentric itself. Such a regulation, of course, can only be made 
when the engine is standing. 
The cylinder and covers are steam-jacketed. 
The governor acts upon an ordinary throttle-valve. 
The feed-pump is bolted just alongside the smoke-box on to the water- 
heater (next to be described), the pump lies at an incline, and is worked by 
its own special eccentric. The feed is always being drawn, and the surplus 
water is returned to the feed-tub through a regulating cock. From the rising 
valve of the feed-pump the feed goes through an inch copper pipe, which 
circulates 5 times in a cylindrical beater, placed alongside the barrel of the 
boiler, through which heater the waste steam passes. The feed is delivered 
at the fire-box end of the heater into a pipe, attached to a check valve placed 
on the side of the fire-box, at which point the feed-water enters the boiler. 
2. In this instance all the feed-water must be heated, as there is no bye-pass 
to let cold water direct into the boiler. The feed-heater is thoroughly cleaded, 
and, on the top, there is a chequer plate, which serves as a gangway, or standing 
place, for the attendant, when oiling the engine. 
The bearing-wheels of this engine are of wrought iron, with cast bosses. 
The hind-wheels support a solid wrought axle, attached to the front end of the 
fire-box. The fore-wheels are on a wrought axle, bolted to a wooden bed. 
The perch-pin passes through a forging fixed to the under side of the barrel of 
the boiler, a little behind the smoke-box. There is a stay from the fire-box 
to the perch-pin, and there is a pair of locking-chains to limit the motion. 
The boiler and fire-box are cleaded all over. 
There is a closed ash-pan, provided with a damper, adjustable by means of a 
sector and thumb-nut. 
This engine ran for 4'h. 8 m. of actual time, and for 4 h. 15 m. 36 s. 
mechanical time, giving a consumption of 3 • 29 lbs. of coal per brake horse- 
power per hour. 
The consumption of coal per gross indicated horse-power was 3 • 02 lbs. per 
hour, that horse-power being 9 '8. 
The temperature of the feed-water was about 210°, and the quantity evapo- 
rated 1370 lbs., equal to 10-89 lbs. of water evaporated from 212° per lb. 
of coal. 
On a subsequent trial for regularity of running it was found that the 
ordinary governor and throttle controlled the engine pretty fairly, but not 
thoroughly well. 
It will be seen from the diagram that the slide was badly set. The 
exhibitors attribute this to carelessness in final adjustment at Cardiff. 
The next engine was (No. 4991), by Messrs. Tasker and Sons, 
of Andover. Price 210Z. 
The diameter of cylinder is 9", length of stroke 1 foot ; total heating surface 
158 square feet; total fire-grate area 4* 7 square feet— at the time of trial the 
ivhole of this was in use, the grate not being diminished at all. 
