THE MECHANICAL LABORATORIES.
Strength of Materials Laboratory.—The Sinclair Laboratory for work
in materials testing was founded on the original donation of Mrs. John Sinclair,
of New York City, as a memorial to her late husband. The collection
has since been considerably enlarged. It contains a Riehle 100,000-lb.
machine, arranged for tensile, compressive, and transverse tests, and with
an attachment for taking autographic diagrams; an Olsen 100,000-lb. machine;
an Olsen torsion machine of 50,000-inch-pounds capacity; a Ewing
machine for finding the modulus of elasticity of various materials; hand
machines for testing rods and wires under pull, and small specimens of
timber and cast iron under transverse loads. It is also equipped with
accessory measuring instruments, which include a Riehle extensometer; an
Olsen compressometer; and a Ewing optical extensometer of great delicacy.
Hydraulics Laboratory.—The laboratory equipment for work in
hydraulics comprises a steel tank for weir experiments with interchangeable
bronze notches; a hook gauge for measurement of surface levels; a
stand-pipe provided with a set of standard bronze orifices for experiments
on efflux; commercial pipe and elbows arranged for determining friction
losses; and the necessary scales, tanks, manometers, etc. It also includes a
pump which is piped to circulate water from a cement cistern to a tank
in the attic of the building.
Cement Laboratory.—This laboratory is completely equipped for
making the standard cement tests. It contains a Fairbanks tensile tester of
1,000 lbs. capacity; an Olsen steaming oven for accelerated tests; an Olsen
drying oven with automatic temperature regulation; moist air closets; and
all the required small apparatus.
Oil Testing Laboratory.—This laboratory contains an Olsen-Cornell
Oil Tester for determining the relative performance of various oils under
conditions of practical use. It is equipped with the smaller apparatus such
as flash and chill point testers, hydrometers, a viscosimeter, etc., necessary
to the determination of the physical properties of lubricants.
Steam Laboratory.—The steam laboratory is located in a large and
well lighted room in the basement of the Mechanical Laboratory. Its
equipment is designed to illustrate the theory involved in Mechanical Engi-neehing,
to give practical instruction in the handling of machinery, and to
teach the fundamental methods of experimental work. It contains a Ball
high-speed engine; a De Laval turbine with condensing and non-condensing
nozzles, which is direct connected to a 25 kw. alternating current generator;
an Otto gasoline engine with a special piston for alcohol; a Wheeler
surface condenser to which the exhaust from any of the steam units may
be connected; a steam pump; steam traps, etc.
For boiler tests, the boilers of the University Heating and Lighting
Plant are used.
The instrument room contains the necessary apparatus for carrying
out complete tests. Among this may be mentioned several indicators, thermometers,
gauges, planimeters, with standards for their correction and
calibration; an Orsat apparatus; separating and throttling calorimeters, etc.
