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36 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
PUMP TESTS IN ICE MAKING AND REFRIGERATING.
Probably one of the most severe tests of pumping
machinery ever made was by the Ice and Cold
Machine Co.. at the ice making and refrigerating
plant. Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis,
during the entire period of the fair. This should
be of more than ordinary interest to the practical
mining engineer. The photographic view in Fig.
1 shows two Cameron boiler feed pumps, 8x6x13,
installed in the boiler house, and used for supplying
two water tube boilers of 750 horse power.
Fig. 2 shows two 10x9x18 Cameron special brine
circulating pumps, of the light service pattern,
having long bodies and composition linings, which
were also in operation at the above mentioned
plant, and were used alternately in the refrigerating
pipe line, which was claimed to be the
longest continuous line in operation using brine
as a refrigerating agent. These pumps were in
constant use day and night during the entire time
of operation, May 14, 1904, to the close of the
Exposition December 3, of the 500-ton refrigerating
machine, with the two ice tanks capable of
making 120 tons of ice daily, and cold storage
space of 100,000 cubic feet.
Brine at a temperature of 10 degrees above
zero was put into the pipe line and pumped
Fig 1. Boiler Feed Pumps, 8x 6 x 13.
through the various and numerous refrigerator
boxes, containing 60,000 cubic feet, at the German
Tyrolean Alps, 7,000 feet distance from the plant,
the brine traveling through the pipe a distance of
over 14,000 feet after leaving the pumps, before
returning to the brine coolers.
These pumps required but little attention from
the busy engineers, and withstood the constant
rack and severe strains to which they were subjected,
owing to their high efficiency, perfect design
and thorough construction; the secret of success
of all Cameron pumps. Having automatic
governors, they maintained continuously a constant
pressure in the service pipe line, thereby
making a uniform and regular feed to each and
every refrigerating coil connected to the line; and
they were so designed and constructed as to permit
of the instantaneous opening of any of the
large valves without detriment to the steam or
brine cylinder heads.
Mr. P. D. C. Ball, proprietor of the Ice and Cold
Machine Co., is quite enthusiastic in their praise,
and speaking from his own experience, and for
his company, says: "We can say that the service
rendered by these pumps, both as boiler feeders
and as brine pumps for the pipe line was entirely